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Garrett Mendez
Garrett has been involved in El Sistema music education for the better part of a decade, having travelled to Acarigua, Venezuela in 2009 to see the movement at its roots. He participated in the inaugural conference of El Sistema USA, he has been a guest instructor with the Baltimore OrchKids and Brazil's Orquestrando A Vida, and he was a consultant in the creation of Bravo Waterbury here in Connecticut. Garrett is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at King School, in Stamford. Garrett is also the Artistic Director of the Archipelago Project, an acclaimed chamber music ensemble and organization that is dedicated to advocating the musical arts through performance, residency, and consultation. Garrett has toured with The Archipelago Project across the United States, Europe and South America. An active performer, Garrett is currently the Bass Trombonist with the Bridgeport Symphony and has played with prestigious ensembles throughout the Midwest such as the Detroit Chamber Winds. He has also performed with groups including the Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Sigmund Romberg Orchestra, and as a backup musician to jazz greats such as John Clayton and Dee Dee Bridgewater. An active educator as well as a performer, Garrett has been the Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Albion College in Albion, MI (2002), as well as serving as a sabbatical replacement for Elliot Chasnov's University of Illinois Trombone Studio (Spring Semester 2005). Garrett is currently working on his Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Illinois, and has received a Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Trombone Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Ian has been a part of PROJECT MUSIC since its inception, and assumed the role of Executive Director in 2017. Prior to working with PROJECT MUSIC, Ian worked as a music teacher in various schools in New York, Connecticut, and the US Virgin Islands. He continues to teach a private trumpet studio, and regularly leads music classes at the King School in Stamford. In addition to earning a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the State University of New York College at Fredonia, Ian studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in 2012, and is a graduate of the YOA Global Leaders Program. In recent years, Ian has worked with several organizations within the US El Sistema movement, and is a recurring clinician with Vive La Música in Panguipulli, Chile. An active musician himself, Ian has studied and performed on three continents, and currently does the majority of his playing with theatre orchestras, and with his Dixieland jazz band.
Calida Jones
Director of Development & Advocacy
Calida Jones began studying the piano at the age of 3 while attending Nursery School, and switched to violin at the age of 6 when she entered Thomas G. Pullen Performing Arts School in Landover, Maryland. In 2012, Calida was hired by the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra to design and implement the El Sistema inspired program "Bravo Waterbury!" (Bravo). She continued her work in Waterbury until August of 2018. She continues to consult with organizations all over the country.
An accomplished musician, social justice advocate and educator, Calida's work has taken her all over the world teaching and performing. Calida is passionate about intentional purposeful teaching and community engagement. She is committed to correlating the art of teaching to life skills, and community building. During her tenure as the Artistic Director of Bravo in Waterbury, she had the privilege of creating dozens of community collaborations, as well as ongoing performance opportunities for the youth in Waterbury. Calida has had the privilege of speaking multiple times at the prestigious Yale School of Music, Duke University, Ravinia, The Connecticut State Capitol, The Hartt School of Music, and was a TEDx speaker in San Jose, CA.
A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Bachelors of Fine Arts in Violin Performance), she received her Masters in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from The Hartt School of Music. Calida is honored and humbled to have received awards, and honors during her career including a scholar fellowship at the Aspen Festival of Ideas, The Elizabeth Mahaffey Fellowship, a Grammy nomination for the Music Educator Excellence Award, the Father Thomas H. Dwyer Humanitarian Award for her work in Waterbury, Connecticut, and the 2018 CT Arts Hero Award in Waterbury CT. Calida serves on the Board of El Sistema USA, and chairs the Racial Diversity and Cultural Understanding Committee; she also serves on the board of the CT Arts Alliance as well as the Taskforce for the After-School Socio-Emotional Understanding Team.
Kayla Coker
Willlie Bruno
Percussion Teaching Artist
Willie Bruno is a native of Darien, Connecticut and holds a Bachelor of Music in performance from Berklee College of Music, after graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2013. He has played in various jazz and rock groups performing for private and public functions as well as in pits for musical theatre throughout the East coast. During high school, Willie was chosen as the first chair drummer for the Connecticut All State High School Jazz Band in 2006. Over the course of his career, Willie has had the opportunity to perform with such great musicians as Rufus Reid, John Scofield, Maria Schneider, Dave Liebman, Vic Juris, Bob Franceschini, the Dafnis Prieto trio, and more. Willie has collaborated in performance with other El Sistema-inspired organizations including Baltimore's OrchKids program, and Bridges: Harmony Through Music from Vienna, VA. He is excited to be able to share his love for music and instill the same passion and joy in his students!
Owen Caprell
Low Brass Teaching Artist
Owen Caprell is a freelance trombone player and music educator in the greater New York City area. Versed in a wide range of styles, he has performed with big bands, orchestras, chamber ensembles, and more. After attending high school in South Carolina, Owen earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver in 2009. He then attended the University of Utah, earning his Masters of Music in performance in 2011. He began his teaching career while in Utah with a small private studio, and has been teaching since. He is currently on faculty at Dwight-Englewood, in Englewood, NJ, and Project Music, in Stamford, CT. Outside of music, Owen enjoys cycling, cooking, and getting outside.
Julie Lee
Flute Teaching Artist
Born and raised in South Korea, Julie began piano studies at age 5, and flute at the age of 10 when she immigrated to the United States. She immersed in thorough classical music training in high school, where she was selected to be principal flutist for numerous Connecticut Regional/All-State and Hartt School Community Division ensembles. She continued with conservatory training at State University of New York at Purchase, where she received a B.M. in flute performance under the tutelage of Tara O'Connor. Throughout her collegiate studies, she performed frequently in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings. A versatile and progressive musician, she enjoys taking on a variety of styles, with a growing repertoire that ranges from the Baroque period to 21st century. She is a highly sought-after contemporary and new music flutist, regularly premiering new works by living composers. She has also collaborated with accomplished singer-songwriters such as Natalie Merchant, Mitski, and Elijah Wolf-Christensen, in studio and live performances.
In addition to performing, Julie is a strong advocate for music outreach and education. Formerly, she hosted a series of classical music concerts and lectures for senior citizens at Atria Senior Living (Rye Brook, NY). She continues to be a devoted educator, and is delighted to be sharing her passion with students at Project Music.
Joe Kozlowski
Trumpet Teaching Artist
Joe Kozlowski is an active jazz trumpet player, composer and educator in the southern Connecticut area. Originally from Rochester, NY, Joe studied jazz and contemporary media at the Eastman School of Music under the direction of Clay Jenkins, Dave Rivello, and Bill Dobbins, among others. Aside from his work at Project Music, he leads a variety of small jazz ensembles, including the genre bending quintet Little Vikings. He has had the honor of performing in such festivals as the Rochester Fringe Festival, Corn Hill Festival and the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. As well as leading his own groups, Joe often plays the role of a sideman and can be heard on the 17 piece big band's self-titled album "Colossus."
Tommy Weeks
Woodwind Teaching Artist
Tommy Weeks is a saxophonist from Connecticut. His projects are the Syracuse NY based hip hop/funk outfit Sophistafunk as well as the northeasts' premier brass band the Funky Dawgz. He has played on stages all over the world from Spain to New Orleans to Madison Square Garden. He has been playing saxophone since he was 11 years old and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. While his roots are in Connecticut, Tommy has traveled the globe and shared the stage with countless artists such as Dispatch, Trombone Shorty, the Regiment Horns, Lettuce, Vulfpeck, Kung Fu, Chadwick Stokes, Pete Francis, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, the Grammy award winning Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Glen David Andrews, Argonaut&Wasp and Big Sams Funky Nation, just to name a few. Tommy is also a big music education ambassador; he and the Funky Dawgz have created their own after school brass band program for underprivileged children in Hartford CT who want to further themselves in the arts. He frequently visits schools to work with their jazz bands, and with students individually in private lessons.


Director & Vice President, Zhuhai Hokai Medical Instruments Co., Ltd.
Mr. Hong Yu Zhang is on the Board of Directors at Zhuhai Hokai Medical Instruments Co., Ltd. He received his undergraduate degree from Liaoning Technical University.
All Company Executives Zhuhai Hokai Medical Instruments Co. Ltd.


Raeber, A J; Sailer, A; Hegyi, I; Klein, M A; Rülicke, T; Fischer, M B; Brandner, S; Aguzzi, A; Weissmann, C (1999). Ectopic expression of prion protein (PrP) in T lymphocytes or hepatocytes of PrP knockout mice is insufficient to sustain prion replication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 96(7):3987-3992.
Raeber, A J; Race, R E; Brandner, S; Priola, S A; Sailer, A; Bessen, R A; Mucke, L; Manson, J C; Aguzzi, A; Oldstone, M B; Weissmann, C; Chesebro, B (1997). Astrocyte-specific expression of hamster prion protein (PrP) renders PrP knockout mice susceptible to hamster scrapie. EMBO Journal, 16(20):6057-6065.
This list was generated on Thu Apr 25 09:51:45 2019 CEST.


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Home » News » Copyright infringement: YouTube takes down Tiwa Savage's video
Copyright infringement: YouTube takes down Tiwa Savage's video
There are indications that one of the leading streaming platforms, YouTube has finally taken down the official video of Tiwa Savage's song, "One", following claims by artiste, Danny Young that his 2008 single "Oju Tiwon" was copyrighted by the former.
Recall that Danny Young had taken to social media to publicly call out Tiwa Savage, for intellectual property theft. The singer had accused Tiwa of stealing contents from his song titled 'Oju Tiwon', which he released in 2009.
*Tiwa Savage
The said content had been used in the female singers hit song One. The video, shot in Lagos by Clarence Peters has been taken down from the singer's channel.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/tiwa-savage-caroline-danjuma-terry-g-for-lagos-fashion-fair/
It's believed that Danny Young has reported the matter to the Youtube 'courts' who have been known for their zero tolerance to any perceived case of violated copyright laws.
Tiwa Savage is yet to react to the development.
Knocks, kudos for Asake, Tiwa Savage's new song "Loaded"
In "Entertainment"
Danny Young files N200m lawsuit against Tiwa Savage
In "Music"
Watch Tiwa Savage's video for new song, 'Loaded' ft. Asake

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The IGS 2017 Proceedings are online. You can find them here: CONTENTS http://forums.graphonomics.org/showthread.php?t=210 DOWNLOAD http://forums.graphonomics.org/showthread.php?t=209 Looking forward to IGS 2019!
View Summary by Prof.Dr. Masaki Nakagawa: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wxghxrwzcfno2sj/Summary_IGS2013.pps or download as PowerPoint Show (PPS) (11MB).
Graduate Assistantship: PhD Motor/Sensorimotor Control, Louisiana State University Position filled.
Graphonomics is the multi-disciplinary field of fundamental and applied experimental research of handwriting and related skills.
This website is the portal to all research related to handwriting.
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How to Pick the Best Guesthouse in Tonga for You
(c) Sandy Beach Resort
Advice on Choosing a Guesthouse in Tonga
Travelling to a new country, even if you're an experienced traveller, means figuring out the new styles of accommodations. Guesthouses are one of the most common types of accommodation in Tonga, which are a good way to stay in the main towns of the islands on a budget. While there are often many guesthouses in the same area, how do you choose the right one for your needs? We go over how to choose a guesthouse in Tonga in the guide below.
Quick Things You Need to Know About Staying in a Guesthouse in Tonga
Guesthouses are the cheapest type of accommodation in Tonga
Guesthouses have a communal kitchen, lounge and bathrooms, although there are sometimes ensuite guest rooms available
Tonga's guesthouses are known for changing some of their services without updating listings online, in brochures, etc. With that in mind, be aware that some facilities, like air-conditioning, breakfast and WiFi, are not always available even if stated that they are
Speaking of WiFi, if a guesthouse says it has WiFi, it usually means in the communal areas only
Guesthouses in Tonga are only located in the main towns, such as Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai (Ha'apai), Pangai ('Eua) and there's even one in Hihifo in Niuatoputapu
Most guesthouses in Tonga only accept cash as payment.
What is a Guesthouse?
While terms like "guesthouses" are used all around the world, they typically mean something different between countries. In Tonga, a guesthouse is usually a large former family home where different guests stay in private guest rooms and share communal facilities. Guesthouses tend to have a "homely" feel, much like a bed & breakfast (but not all of them include breakfast). Most guesthouses (not all) are owned and run by locals.
Guesthouses are the cheapest type of accommodation found in Tonga, making them suitable for backpackers up to older couples on a budget.
Room types typically consist of double rooms with a queen bed. Some guesthouses have family rooms, but check if this means three beds or four. Some guesthouses also have single rooms for solo travellers, while some guesthouses in Nuku'alofa and Neiafu also have shared dorms.
While most guest rooms will have a shared bathroom, there are many options for guest rooms with an ensuite shower room.
Location, How to Get There and What is Nearby?
Tonga has guesthouses in the main towns of each island group, i.e. in:
Nuku'alofa in Tongatapu
Pangai in 'Eua
Pangai in Ha'apai
Neiafu in Vava'u
Hihifo in the Niuas.
Towns like Nuku'alofa, Pangai (Ha'apai) and Neiafu have multiple choice of guesthouses, while Pangai ('Eua) and Hihifo only have one guesthouse.
When choosing a guesthouse, you need to start exploring options in the island group that you intend to visit. Don't know which island group you want to visit yet? Check out the following guides:
The Guide to Tongatapu on a Budget
The Guide to 'Eua on a Budget
The Guide to Ha'apai on a Budget
The Guide to Vava'u on a Budget
The Complete Guide to The Niuas
How to Get to There
Once you've established the island group (or groups) you want to visit and you're comparing guesthouses, it's a good idea to compare how to get to your chosen guesthouse. The easiest way is through the guesthouse's airport transfer, which most guesthouses offer. If not, taxis are available from the airport in Tongatapu and Vava'u.
What's Nearby?
As established, all guesthouses are in the main towns of each island group. However, if you won't have a car while in Tonga, then it's a good idea to check out what is within walking distance of your chosen guesthouses. Especially for Nuku'alofa, some guesthouses are quite a long walk from the city centre, which has both advantages and disadvantages.
What's Included in Your Stay?
Inclusions at your guesthouse stay can turn a good holiday into a great one, as the little extras might just make your holiday much easier and therefore, enjoyable. When comparing guesthouses in Tonga, make sure you check what facilities are available, as well as what extra services are included.
Typical Facilities at a Guesthouse
What is the normal standard for facilities in a Tonga guesthouse? Here are some typical facilities:
Kitchen with stovetop, microwave, fridge, cooking pots, crockery and utensils, toaster and kettle
Shared bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet
Insect screened windows or mosquito nets
Facilities and Services That Only Some Guesthouses Have
Free daily breakfast
Additional kitchen facilities, such as an oven, tea and coffee, toastie grill, rice cooker, etc.
Meals (extra fee)
WiFi (either paid or included)
Bicycle hire (either paid or included)
Car rental (extra fee)
Airport transfers (either paid or included)
Outside deck or verandah
In-house tours or cultural activities for guests.
What are the Best Guesthouses in Tonga?
Now that you know what to look for, here are some of our recommendations for guest houses across the most-visited island groups:
10 Best Guesthouses in Nuku'alofa
10 Best Guesthouses in Tongatapu
5 Best Guesthouses in Ha'apai
6 Best Guesthouses in Vava'u
For our top picks, see the 10 Best Guest Houses in Tonga.
More on How to Choose a Guesthouse in Tonga
10 Best Budget Accommodation in Tonga
How to Pick the Best Budget Accommodation in Tonga for You
10 Tips for Travelling Tonga on a Budget
That's it for how to choose a guesthouse in Tonga. See more amazing stays in The Top 30 Resorts in Tonga. Plus, get even more trip-planning tips in The Complete Travel Guide to Tonga.
10 Best Budget Resorts in Tonga
10 Best Guesthouses in Tonga
10 Best Budget Accommodation in Nuku'alofa
6 Best Budget Accommodation in 'Eua
10 Best Family Resorts in Tonga
10 Best Romantic Resorts in Tonga
7 Best Family Accommodation in Ha'apai


Description: Beautiful 8 week old female purebred yorkie puppy. Shots / deworming current.
Description: they are also vaccinated and microchipped, so friendly. They are 11 weeks old and are ready to go now to good homes, they have been wormed and scattered, for anything else you would like to know about them, please contact.
Description: 9 CKC certified purebred Brittany Spaniel Puppies for sale. Whelped June 24th. There's 4 female puppies & 5 male puppies available for purchase. The puppies will have their tails docked, due claws removed, de-wormed, microchipped & all updated shots.


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SAFETYHow the PG&E System WorksDiablo Canyon Power PlantNews & ArticlesUnit2 Safely Returns To Full Power After One
Diablo Canyon unit 2 safely returns to full power after one of most successful refuelings in plant history
Project provided a major economic boost to the San Luis Obispo region
AVILA BEACH, Calif. – Unit 2 at Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) Diablo Canyon Power Plant is running at full power again following a planned maintenance and refueling outage that began Feb. 3.
The outage was among the most successful in Diablo Canyon's history, given the depth and breadth of the work involved, the excellent employee safety performance, and its conclusion ahead of schedule. Unit 1 continued to reliably generate electricity throughout the Unit 2 outage.
"Diablo Canyon Power Plant plays a major role in helping PG&E deliver some of the nation's cleanest electricity to its customers," said PG&E Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Ed Halpin. "The work performed during this and other planned outages supports our safe operation of the facility, and ensures a steady flow of affordable, reliable and carbon-free energy to more than three million Californians."
About 30 projects were completed during the 48-day window, in addition to standard maintenance. Crews performed about 12,000 outage-related activities, involving about one million hours of inspections, maintenance and equipment upgrades.
Major project work included replacing a portion of the Unit 2 reactor fuel, upgrading a crane system that moves key plant components, and installing a new digital Process Control System (PCS). The PCS monitors and controls various plant systems. The Diablo Canyon team set an industry record by completing the upgrade, which involved thousands of electrical connections, in less than 50 days.
Halpin attributed the success of the outage in part to effective preparation and planning by plant personnel.
"Completing the outage in a safe and efficient manner and returning the unit to service ahead of schedule is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our dedicated employees and contractors—both before and during the outage," Halpin said. "When considering the scope of work conducted, our team of professionals turned in a world-class performance."
Each of Diablo Canyon's two reactor units is refueled about every 18 months. During a planned outage, more than 1,000 trained supplemental workers from around the country are brought in to assist the plant's nearly 1,500 employees.
Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Peter Candela said these outages provide a major economic boost to the region as out-of-town contractors and their families lodge in hotels, rent homes and patronize local businesses while working at the plant.
"Planned outages at Diablo Canyon help our local businesses thrive," Candela said. "During each outage, around $5 million is spent locally by visiting workers and their families. We always appreciate the time they spend in our community, and hope they enjoy their experiences visiting Pismo Beach and the region.
"Diablo Canyon Power Plant's two units together produce approximately 2,300 net megawatts of electricity without greenhouse-gas emissions. That total represents about 10 percent of all electricity generated in California, enough energy to meet the needs of more than three million Northern and Central Californians.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.


Halloween is over and the holiday season has started! From November 1st until into the New Year – I'm all joy and light and sparkle all the freaking time, y'all. I love Thanksgiving. I love Christmas. I love New Year's. I love all the holiday cheer in between. So it should come to no surprise to any of you that I've already got my holiday card squared away! It turned out amazing and I think that you'll enjoy learning how to create a great holiday card with Minted.
Last year, I received complimentary holiday cards from Minted and loved them so much that when they offered them again – I jumped! Not only are Minted's designs gorgeous but they are printed on the thickest paper. I also love that they offer coordinating envelopes, return address printing, AND FREE RECIPIENT PRINTING. Like, FREE free. Minted will address your envelopes FOR YOU at no charge. I feel like I cannot shout this loud enough for all my fellow slacker moms out there.
My very favorite thing about ordering my holiday cards from Minted is that I can choose from a HUGE selection of designs and colors. So huge, that it can get a little bit overwhelming. So many choices, so little time, right? But honestly, it's really, really easy if you know a few tricks. So easy, in fact, that Melanie chose the design for this year's cards! Really!
First, take a cute picture. CLEARLY, my kids are 99.9% of the reason that this image is so adorable but, in case yours aren't as cute (wink), here's a couple of tips to help you get that great shot. First, use natural light – the best place for nearly everyone to snag that gorgeous soft light is on a covered front porch (or similar). The cover diffuses the light and you'll have truer colors with less harsh shadows. Next, dress your subjects in neutrals with pops of color. For example, my kids wore soft greens and greys but with bright red and yellow coats. Finally, lower your expectations of The Perfect Picture – it's not gonna happen. Instead of posing your kids and asking them to smile and look at the camera (coughcoughatthesametimecoughcough), have them DO something like hold hands, jump, or kiss. It will make for a more natural looking photo.
Now you get to design your Minted card! This is the fun part. Just follow this link and it will take you right to the holiday card options. Now, click the green "Show With My Photo" button on the left hand side and upload your image so you can see how every single card option with your picture on it. How cool, right? Then, you can use the search options along the top to narrow down your choices by sizes, theme (New Year's, Christmas, religious, etc.), number of photos, printing type, style, and more! After I plugged in my selections, I was left with roughly 200 choices – and all were great!
Nearly every card has multiple color options and edge styles (rounded corners, scalloped, square, and more) so if you see one that you like, but aren't fond of the colors, then click through and see how the card would look in another scheme. At this time, you can also select your paper type, desired quantity, and size. Now, it's time to personalize it.
If you haven't already, this is the time to upload your photo. Also, all cards allow you to edit (and even remove) the text on the card in this section. Once you've completed that, you'll move on to selecting the back of the card. Tons of options here – blank, solid color, or a pattern. You can even choose from a variety of text and pictures – I love the "Family Infographic" one because it's like including a mini newsletter on your card.
Now it's time to work on the outside of the card – the envelopes. Lots of envelope types to choose from and you can upgrade and add envelope liners, too! I went with the speckletone kraft envelope and a coordinating patterned liner for my card. It's here that you'll add your pre-printed return address and your FREE recipient addressing (F R E E, y'all). Choose your design and then manually (or automatically import) addresses into Minted's system. You'll also have the option to create custom stamps to match your cards!
Proof your card draft and then pick one of two Minted proofing options – a free digital proof via email or an in-hand proof for a fee. If everything looks great and you're happy with your options – PLACE YOUR ORDER. See? It's really easy and fun to design and order your Minted holiday cards. I just love mine and cannot wait until they land in my loved one's mailboxes!
Get Your Minted Holiday Cards Today And Save 15% Using The Code: JOY17!


This was my first visit ever to Clifton Nurseries and there is nothing like not having any expectations about a place. I found really interesting pieces in here and a wide variety of plants to choose from.
You can access the nursery through a narrow passage between georgian houses close to Little Venice.
Amongst all the plants there is a very interesting collection of garden chairs and pieces of furniture.
The place has a very strong Victorian feeling. Clifton Nurseries started in 1851 and has been there ever since.


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African public services: not just a basket case
Tags: African Union, public service, SDGs, success stories
African countries celebrated Africa Public Service Day on 23 June, dedicated this year to 'combating corruption in public institutions through stakeholder participation and promotion of ethical leadership to realise the objectives of Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)', in line with the African Union's theme of the year for 2018.
Corruption is one of the key challenges identified by the 2018 Ibrahim Forum Report on Public Service in Africa, for African public services and beyond, impacting the quality of governance and leadership in the continent. The report findings show that corruption in the African public sector is the second highest globally, after South Asia. This is a widespread phenomenon, as 22% of Africa's population who had contact with a public service in 2015 said they paid a bribe, mostly to the police and the courts. The most likely to pay a bribe for public services are young, poor, urban males. In terms of magnitude, just in Nigeria roughly 82.3 million bribes were paid in 2016, equivalent to 39% of the combined federal and state education budget.
The fight against corruption is a key step towards building independent and professional public services. Nonetheless, to celebrate Africa Public Service Day, we would like to move beyond this issue, which is not a unique feature of the continent – as recently highlighted by H.E. Paul Kagame in a conversation with Mo Ibrahim during the 2018 Ibrahim Forum. To rethink public service in Africa in a constructive and transformative way, the key is to focus on the challenges that are endemic to the continent, and besides these, highlight African success stories, as African public services are not just a basket case.
In terms of Africa-specific challenges, between now and 2050, Africa's population will more than double from 1.2 billion to more than 2.5 billion. Africa's young and urbanising demography will put significant strain on the delivery of traditional and new services. Piling up on these demands, the 21st century poses new multiple challenges to public services, from climate change to cyber security. More so than in any other part of the world, Africa is facing all these challenges simultaneously, in a context of widening inequalities and lack of job opportunities.
The first good news is that public services are not alone. The African Union and RECs are already partnering with countries towards these goals. Moreover, local authorities and cities are an increasingly reliable players in delivering services closer to citizens. In 2018, the 20 biggest cities of the continent currently manage populations bigger than many countries. In cities such as Kampala and Johannesburg, a new generation of mayors are an example of modernising public services, supported by teams of young and motivated Africans. Moreover, beyond the public sphere, civil society and the private sector offer avenues for cooperation.
Secondly, in terms of capacity, as the examples above show, African public services are not just about men in suits doing paperwork. The President's Young Professionals Program of Liberia succeeds in attracting youth talent into public service and is currently being exported to other countries, such as Ghana, under the Emerging Public Leaders initiative. Since 2006, Rwanda has been at the forefront of ensuring performance in public service through the use of performance contracts (Imihigo), rooted in the country's cultural practice. More generally, the African Association for Public Service and Management (AAPAM), the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) and national institutions ensure exchanges and training to embed best practices across the continent.
Last but not least, Africa has demonstrated a unique capacity to leapfrog applying innovation and technology to public service delivery. In Rwanda, drones are used to deliver blood and medical supplies. Likewise in Côte d'Ivoire, drones ensure the maintenance of the country's electricity network. In Kenya, through Huduma, public services are available electronically and offline communities are reached by mobile offices. In Nigeria, digital applications have been developed to monitor the implementation of government's projects. Besides ensuring more effective services and work opportunities for young people, such positive stories also improve transparency and inclusivity.
Ibrahim Scholar Aya Chebbi appointed African Union Youth Envoy
Public Service in Africa: four key messages from the 2018 Ibrahim Forum


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Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1997
The Offshore Petroleum Development...
The Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 8)
24(1)In section 1(9) of the Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975—
(a)in paragraph (a), for "Part III of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972" substitute "Part III of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997"; and
(b)in paragraph (b), for "section 21" substitute "section 30".
(2)In section 2 of that Act—
(a)in subsection (1)—
(i)for "section 108 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972" substitute "section 194 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997"; and
(ii)for "Part VI" in both places where those words occur substitute "Part VIII";
(b)in subsection (2)—
(i)for "the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972" substitute "the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997"; and
(ii)for "section 117 of the said Act of 1972" substitute "section 196 of the said Act of 1997";
(c)in subsection (3)—
(i)in paragraph (a), for "section 117 of the said Act of 1972" substitute "section 196 of the said Act of 1997";
(ii)in paragraph (b), for "section 118" substitute "section 197"; and
(iii)in paragraph (c), for "section 119" substitute "section 198"; and
(d)in subsection (4)—
(i)for "sections 219 and 220 of the said Act of 1972" substitute "sections 224 and 227 of the said Act of 1997";
(ii)for "sections 226(2) and 227" substitute "sections 232(2) and 233";
(iii)for "of sections 219 and 220" substitute "of sections 224 and 227"; and
(iv)for "the said section 219" substitute "the said section 224".
(3)In section 9(3)(b) of that Act, for "section 32 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972" substitute "section 46 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997".
(4)In section 15(2) of that Act, for "sections 265(8) and 266 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972" and "section 265 of that Act" substitute respectively "sections 269(6) and 270 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997" and "section 269".
(5)In section 16(3)(a) of that Act, for "Schedule 24 to the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972" substitute "Schedule 15 to the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997".
(6)In Schedule 2 to that Act—
(a)in paragraph 1(2), for "section 278 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 and Schedule 24" substitute "section 195 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and Schedule 15";
(b)in paragraph 3(1)(b), for "Schedule 24 to the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972" substitute "Schedule 15 to the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997"; and
(c)in paragraph 4(1), for "Schedule 24 to the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972" substitute "Schedule 15 to the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997".


text:
Few passengers realise that if their flight arrives three hours or more behind schedule they could be entitled to a payout under EU flight delay compensation rulesWednesday, May 7, 2014
By National Geographic Traveller (UK)
There are few things more frustrating than being stuck in an airport, going nowhere. But what most people don't realise is there could be some money in it.
According to compensation specialist refund.me, since July 2012 less than 2% of eligible passengers have successfully claimed for delays. This low figure stems partly from a lack of awareness — many passengers don't know that if their flight arrives three hours or more behind schedule they could be entitled to a payout, provided they're travelling on either an EU airline or a flight departing from within the EU.
The compensation is fixed at between €250 (£205) and €600 (£493) per person, regardless of cabin class or flight cost (the exact amount depends on the length of the delay and the overall flight distance). There are also qualifications — compensation isn't applicable if the delay is due to circumstances beyond the airline's control, such as severe weather or strikes.
Passengers affected should make their claim direct to the airline. Anyone who feels they've had a claim unfairly dismissed should contact either the Central Aviation Authority (CAA) for ex-UK flights, or, if your flight departed from outside the UK, that country's equivalent body. If the CAA feels you have a case, the airline is likely to concede and pay up. But if it still refuses, you can take it to the small claims court, and use the CAA's verdict as evidence to support your case. caa.co.uk
European Union passenger rights
Regulation 261/2004 came into force in 2005 and established common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays of flights.
europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/index_en.htm


Facebook has been rumored to be preparing a "check-in" geolocation feature for a while, and it may now be getting closer to a reality. A third-party app is said to be the way it will be implemented in a joint effort with Localeze, the company that handles Twitter's "Places" directory and allows users to attach a tweet location from devices that allow the function.
Facebook acquired a similar service called "Hot Potato" which focuses on events rather than locations for about $10 million dollars, and the talent there may also be involved in this project as well. The biggest competitor here would be Foursquare, whose geolocation app has become popular with Facebook users.


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In 2016, many artists are lucky if they release one or two albums in their lifetime before they return to a life solely based on pleasing fans on the road.
Few artists would have the ambition (or would be allowed) to release a double album in 2016.
The album finds the guitarist—who is coming to Connecticut to play at the Infinity Hall in Norfolk on June 11—recording 23 blues, jazz, and funk tunes. The album was produced by Grammy Award winner Warren Riker (Lauryn Hill, Carlos Santana), Grammy Award winner Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy), and Delfeayo Marsalis (Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis). It also includes guests such as guitar gunslinger Joe Bonamassa.
We caught up with Ana via email to talk about the new album and the tour.
ANA: I came up with this idea a few years back when some of my fans would come to me and say: "I've made a compilation of your blues songs for myself and your jazz songs for a friend of mine who likes your jazzy side." I thought- I could do this myself and make a theme record. My imagination went wild and i considered doing this on three different CDs. That way I can have something for my blues and rock fans and something for people who want to hear more – new and different music from me.
O: Was this a project that you intended to finish with so much material or was it a direction that grew as the muse guided you?
A: Many people put out these days double CDs- they go for the quantity: go in the studio record a bunch of songs, and put both what's successful and what's not on it. "Trilogy" was always about quality in the first place- then quantity. This was from the start three different projects, booked at three different sessions, three different producers, and three studios .and only the very successful takes that turned out exactly how I heard them beforehand – actually made it to "Trilogy." There were more songs, more takes, but only the "cream" made Trilogy.
O: How did you go about deciding what tracks made the final cut?
A: I mostly know exactly what I want to hear in a song- exact groove, drum pattern, horn style- is it New Orleans horns is it Memphis horns, rhythm section, etc. some songs had more than one take – and more than one band. All the bands were great, but only one recording – the best in my opinion – made it to "Trilogy." Some of the songs were in the making for more than four to five years and already had try outs and demos made, and they were closer than ever to their final cut. It was a matter of putting the right band to cut them.
O: Why do you feel this album is what fans are looking for?
A: I've been recording for 10 years now and most of my fans know that I won't disappoint them in putting out some recycled stuff. I always tend to come up with something new, different, reinvent my self, at the same tine keeping the core of who I am as an artist. Respect the tradition but also break the rules— having a rapper on a song or collaborating with the high end jazz crew— but simply try what's not been done: put out three CDs in the time when everyone's listening to Spotify.
O: How does it fill your need to express yourself?
A: I finally created for myself (because I release my own records) something no record company nowadays would allow: showcase the capability to switch and deliver different sounding songs on the same release. I can- and I love to- switch between the styles- and I feel I've been preparing my audience for the fact that I can do that- for more than a decade.
O: The press release says the album includes blues, funk, and jazz… What do you personally like about each genre and how each genre affects how you attack your instrument?
A: They all derive from the blues. And that's what I wanted to offer as a learning experience to the younger generation. I handpicked the jazz standards that are very bluesy and if you listen to Sarah Vaughn or Ella Fitzgerald or Wes Montgomery they all sounded very bluesy comparing to the modern jazz and fusion. I particularly love the bluesy side of jazz. All my other styles: funk, soul, rock also have strong blues background. But the most important discovery in the case of "Trilogy" is – it's made to bring out three completely different sounds of myself and it's recorded that way on purpose but at the same time volumes really fit well together- which just showcases that I as an artist can color all these styles of music and make it my own.
O: You've also been out on the road as part of the Experience Hendrix tour. As a guitarist, what do you admire most about Hendrix and how did his playing influence you as a player? What other players have influenced you through the years and why?
A: Hendrix is a huge influence. His playing is timeless. His lyrics and the way he handles guitar with feedback and those stages 50 years ago, just one man, plus guitar, plus a wall of amps, he could control the sound and make it work in an amazing way: his "Star Spangled Banner" at Woodstock is an art piece on itself—when the guitar does the talking instead of you. He gives his stand against the war just through his guitar. Other guitar players that influenced my playing are: Albert King, Freddie King, B.B. King , Albert Collins, Django Reinhardt, John Scofield, Sonny Landreth, Elmore James, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and many more.
O: For the Infinity… what can fans expect?
A: I will be with my band and we'll be playing the songs of "Trilogy." The band is excited to play the new tunes and they sound awesome.
Ana Popovic performs at the Infinity Hall, Route 44, Norfolk on Saturday, June 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39 to $59.


text:
Creation and Curation of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine Hackathon Dataset
Marc Kohli, James J. Morrison, Judy Wawira, Matthew B. Morgan, Jason Hostetter, Brad Genereaux, Mohannad Hussain, Steve G. Langer
Radiation Physicists
In order to support innovation, the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) elected to create a collaborative computing experience called a "hackathon." The SIIM Hackathon has always consisted of two components, the event itself and the infrastructure and resources provided to the participants. In 2014, SIIM provided a collection of servers to participants during the annual meeting. After initial server setup, it was clear that clinical and imaging "test" data were also needed in order to create useful applications. We outline the goals, thought process, and execution behind the creation and maintenance of the clinical and imaging data used to create DICOM and FHIR Hackathon resources.
Journal of Digital Imaging
DICOMweb
RESTful
Dive into the research topics of 'Creation and Curation of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine Hackathon Dataset'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Informatics Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Medicine Engineering & Materials Science 78%
Datasets Medicine & Life Sciences 62%
Imaging techniques Engineering & Materials Science 60%
Servers Engineering & Materials Science 22%
Computer supported cooperative work Engineering & Materials Science 22%
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Engineering & Materials Science 21%
Maintenance Medicine & Life Sciences 18%
Kohli, M., Morrison, J. J., Wawira, J., Morgan, M. B., Hostetter, J., Genereaux, B., Hussain, M., & Langer, S. G. (2018). Creation and Curation of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine Hackathon Dataset. Journal of Digital Imaging, 31(1), 9-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-017-0003-5
Creation and Curation of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine Hackathon Dataset. / Kohli, Marc; Morrison, James J.; Wawira, Judy et al.
In: Journal of Digital Imaging, Vol. 31, No. 1, 01.02.2018, p. 9-12.
Kohli, M, Morrison, JJ, Wawira, J, Morgan, MB, Hostetter, J, Genereaux, B, Hussain, M & Langer, SG 2018, 'Creation and Curation of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine Hackathon Dataset', Journal of Digital Imaging, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 9-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-017-0003-5
Kohli M, Morrison JJ, Wawira J, Morgan MB, Hostetter J, Genereaux B et al. Creation and Curation of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine Hackathon Dataset. Journal of Digital Imaging. 2018 Feb 1;31(1):9-12. doi: 10.1007/s10278-017-0003-5
Kohli, Marc ; Morrison, James J. ; Wawira, Judy et al. / Creation and Curation of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine Hackathon Dataset. In: Journal of Digital Imaging. 2018 ; Vol. 31, No. 1. pp. 9-12.
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text:
Between Two Millstones
Book 1: Sketches of Exile, 1974-1978
translated by Peter Constantine
University of Notre Dame Press ($35)
by Jeff Bursey
The Publishers Weekly review of Between Two Millstones calls its author "a onetime giant in the world of letters." There are indeed few figures like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008); among his major achievements, the three-volume The Gulag Archipelago revealed to the entire world the extent and purpose of the USSR's penal system, and the novel cycle The Red Wheel revisits the origins of the Russian Revolution. August 1914 and November 1916, the first two books in this mammoth and compelling synthesis of disparate material, were recently succeeded in English translation by the first volume of March 1917, with three more volumes to follow, and the cycle will conclude with the two-volume April 1917.
Controversial in life and in death, this "onetime giant" doesn't attract readers now the way he did in the 1970s. While we can't hold dead writers responsible for the company that keeps them, invariably we look askance at them when we see them held up by those whose philosophy or ideology we don't share. If someone unfamiliar with Solzhenitsyn decided that because conservatives touted him that this meant he was a cranky Orthodox Christian, a fascist, a czarist, or a traditional novelist—and therefore not worth reading—then this would be a lost opportunity to hear a distinct humane voice, like Dostoyevsky or Vollmann or Akhmatova.
Serialized in a Russian journal from 1998 to 2003 and revised by Solzhenitsyn in 2004 and 2008, Between Two Millstones, a memoir newly translated into English, is loosely structured so that two main topics can be covered: his life in Switzerland after he (and eventually his family) is removed from his homeland, and his search for a new place to live so he can work in peace on The Red Wheel and other projects. The former citizen-prisoner (he refers to the USSR as "the whole Great Soviet Prison") had his life turned upside down by exile and the world's attention. Though Solzhenitsyn describes what he's going through with his usual directness, one can only imagine the impact of such a traumatic and abrupt separation, with no known future, from country and kin. He "emerged from a great tumult" within a repressive regime where he had to hide almost everything he did and guard almost everything he said; in an apparently welcoming world, reporters endangered his family while they were still in the USSR by hounding him for pronouncements on international affairs. Cautious, bewildered, and off-balance, Solzhenitsyn made missteps, and he often voices this refrain, with variations: "from the very outset the Western media and I were not to be friends, were not to understand one another."
The five chapter titles summarize the strain of these first four years even after his reunion with his family: "Untethered"; "Predators and Dupes"; "Another Year Adrift"; "At Five Brooks"; and "Through the Fumes." Solzhenitsyn felt overwhelmed by sudden fame. In Zurich, where he lived first, any stranger could open the gate of his garden and come knock on his door. Not all wished him well ("the police of two countries had already warned me that I was on the hit list of international terrorists, as I knew well enough; and these terrorists were trained and supplied by the Soviets"), but for a man accustomed to working discreetly and persistently, even the best-intentioned visitor could usurp his writing time—as did invitations, appeals, and messages from abroad that filled his house with mail. Alongside his painful adjustment to Western manners is a presentation of successive errors that started in the USSR and continued for some time after his exile, when he dealt with strangers, translators, publishers, and lawyers. "In the USSR, that hard and unforgiving land, all my steps turned into a series of victories," Solzhenitsyn writes. "Yet in the West, with its limitless freedom, everything I did (or did not do) ended up in a string of defeats. Did I ever fail to make a mistake here?"
Of great interest to read about are the arguments Solzhenitsyn had with Andrei Sinyavsky and Andrei Sakharov, his suggestion to Vladimir Nabokov on subject matter, the KGB assassination and smear campaigns (also involving his ex-wife), and how he was praised or criticized by Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Henry Kissinger, and Jimmy Carter. The book's appendix contains letters and other documents that show how such public figures, as well as institutions, wished to honor him, use him for political purposes or, in the case of media outlets, transform his words and actions into stories that could be sober or sensationalist. Solzhenitsyn resists the allurements offered by various people, in part due to a well-honed suspicion of motivations—though as the book amply proves he was not infallible, nor did he think of himself that way. At times he comes across as overbearing, but this is understandable; to survive the carceral environment of the USSR demanded from him, apart from strength of character, a high self-regard and a pugnacious ego. In this first volume of Between Two Millstones (one more is due out next year), Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who spoke out for the many who survived or perished in the camps, tells an engaging tale of his initial exposure to Western ways.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Summer 2019 on September 4, 2019 by Kelly.
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C. S. Lewis on Why Myth Matters Volume 24, Number 3, Fall 2019 (95) →


text:
Voice Training Index
Timing & Rhythm
Vocal Health
Vocalises
Teachers & Coaches Workshops & Courses
Books for Singers
Audition Repertoire
Backing & Repertoire
Diction & Language
Free Vocal eBooks
Vocalise Books
BPM Counter
Practice Online
Spectographs
Vocal Scales
Acts & Bands
Fun & Freebies
Teachers & Coaches
Vocalist & Club
Amazon Affiliate - opens in new window
Diction for Singers
Diction, Phonetics, Vowel Chart, IPA Chart, Books, Resources at VOCALIST
Why is Diction Important?
When the listener hears a song, the words and music create an image, feeling or emotion to which they can relate. When the song is heard repeatedly this creates familiarity and the listener starts to understand the sentiments further, picking up words, even non-sensical ones that encourage participation.
Although both music and lyrics are important, in vocal music it is the text that provides an explanation for the musical accompaniment. If the words cannot be understood, the song can become meaningless.
This is not the case with all forms of compostitions. Instrumentals and classical music have their own 'spark' that ignites the listeners imagination, however, in most forms of contemporary music, pop, rock, blues, jazz, soul, rap etc., the words are an integral part that need to be expressed clearly by the singer in order for the sentiment or story to be understood.
Now, I know what your going to say! There are singers whose vocals are barely understood or mixed low in the track and in some cases the effect is intentional to fit the type of song that is being performed, but in most cases, the singer needs to pronounce and project the words clearly.
Probably the best example of this is a local live music venue. How many times have you attended a live gig, only to be frustrated that you cannot hear the singer..... sometimes thats caused by a lack of professional sound engineering, or a problem with the volume of the band, but often it is caused by the singer slurring or muffling the words due to bad diction.
Listen closely to the majority of singers and bands who attain acclaim within their field of music, the one connecting factor is the ability to distinguish the lyrics. The words that form the story or identifying feeling of the song can be understood, even if the call backs, shouts and odd screeches cannot.
They are successful not just for the quality of their music, but also because they recognise that their fans want to understand the song and it is the singers job to make it look and sound as easy as possible.
Another important aspect of practicing pronounciation is the way the shape of the mouth and placement of the tongue for each vowel and consonant effects the tone and brightness of the notes produced. Learning how to manipulate these shapes and positions in conjuction with correct breath control can aid in improving tone, range and clarity. Part of developing a good vocal technique involves improving vowel and consonant production so sound those E's & T's!
Singers spend more time singing vowels in comparison to the consonants which is why so much importance is placed on them when practicing. Vowels are formed by the shape of a combination of parts that form the vocal tract including the tongue, lips and nose. Each tongue placement and mouth shape gives the vowel it's own characteristic (known as formants) which identify the vowel to the listener i.e., sort, sought.
Vocal Vowels
Exploratorium Exibit. Hollow plastic models of the human vocal tract turn the squawk of a duck call into vowel sounds!
Phonetics Flash Animation Project
A collaborative effort of various departments at The University of Iowa which includes animated libraries of the phonetic sounds of English, German and Spanish with animated articulatory diagrams, step by step descriptions and audio-video of the sound spoken in context aimed at students of phonetics, linguistics and foreign language.
Good diction requires the crisp, clear pronounciation of consonants, without which the audience would be incapable of understanding a word you were singing. Ask your singing teacher or consult a diction textbook for more information on consonants.
Try the following exercises from Vocal Repertoire (German/English) site Japanese versions available on request.
A simple v-exercise
Fast m's
More voiced consonants
The French voiced j
Variation on z and v
Voiced consonants - m -ng
Stirling University's on-line phonology course
Includes useful information, diagrams and exercises to enable readers to learn more about vowel, consonant and speech production.
Speaking of Speaking
by Peter Mapp takes a look at how speech is constructed with spectograph diagrams and a list of consonant phonemes.
For more links to information on vowels and consonants, read Frequencies and Harmonics or download free Spectograph software.
What is the International Phonetic Alphabet?
Some forms of singing like opera, classical and early music require the vocalist to sing in several different languages. It is not always possible for the singer to learn each language fluently, so a form of alphabet based on pronounciation was created to enable them to translate several languages by using The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Texas Sings talks at more depth on this subject providing examples and further information.
Phonetics Dictionaries and Translators
Freeware and Shareware downloadable programs that translate text to the phonetic alphabet for Windows, Mac and Linux available at Brothersoft.
Diction Books & Audio Books
In Association with Amazon.co.uk & Amazon.com
This is just a small selection of books and audio books available in the diction & language books section. For foreign language online dictionaries, resources and translation, visit the languages section. Visit our Books For Singers to see our full book and audio book list which includes exercises, music theory, vocalises, sheet music, audition repertoire, and tuition books for singers of all standards and styles.
A Handbook of Diction for Singers by David Adams
Written for the student whose native languge is English, this book is designed to serve as the core text for courses in Italian, German, and French diction required of all voice majors. It is also intended for voice teachers, vocal coaches, conductors, and anyone else who deals with the singing of texts in these languages. The book begins with an overview of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), then provides for each language a list of IPA symbols corresponding to its sound and explains the pronunciation of its specific sounds and sound combinations, with detailed discussion of syllabification and word structure, diacritical marks, vowel lengths, double consonants and consonant clusters, and the use of dictionaries. Illustrated with numerous musical examples and exercises, this text concentrates on the pitfalls that most affect singers.
Read More Amazon UK
Read More at Amazon USA
International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers:
A Manual for English and Foreign Language Diction
by Joan Wall
A solid foundation for learning all aspects of the sounds of singing, this manual is highly recommended as an aid for singers and teachers. Widely adopted as an auxillary text, the book is designed specifically so that singers can lead themselves through the text.
Joan Wall is a voice professor at Texas Woman's University, where she has taught diction courses for more than twenty years. She was a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), presenting seminars and workshops, and has had a celebrated international performing career, singing as a principal with the Metropolitan Opera, the Deutche Opera Berlin, and in concerts, operas, and recitals throughout the United States.
Phonetic Readings of Songs and Arias
by Berton Coffin, Ralph Errolle, Werner Singer, Pierre Delattre
Since 1964 the first edition has served singers, teachers of singing, and students of lyric diction as a guide to the correct pronunciation of songs in foreign languages. Lyrics and phonetic transcriptions are presented together, so that a song may be correctly articulated from the first reading. The 413 songs included have been carefully selected from Coffin's "The Singer's Repertoire" (1960) and are representative of the most frequently performed vocal repertoire, with songs and arias for all voice classifications. This second edition contains revised German transcriptions with diphthongs altered to be of better acoustical and vocal value in singing, correlated with Coffin's "Overtones of Bel Canto" (1980).
The Singers' Manual of English Diction
by Madeleine F. Marshall
This well written book on the phonetics of English diction contains the rules and pronounciations of words in the English language. The book guides performers in singing clearly without the use of regional accents and incorrect pronunciations and whilst seemingly incongrous by todays standards, in the hands of a singer using correct vocal technique it is an essential resource.
Vowel Chart
Berton Coffin
UK Price: £9.50
US Price: $10.00
This vowel chart defines the vowel colour changes in chromatic progressions for all voices. (also included free in 'Coffin's Overtones of Bel Canto' and 'Coffin's Sounds of Singing' which are both available in the diction & language book section.)
Read more at Amazon UK
Diction Related Links
These are just a small example of the extensive links to online exercises and lessons we have available in the Singers Articles section, which contains complete listings of lessons, exercises or articles available on each site with direct links to the page (when not a framed site) plus answers to pretty much everything a beginner, intermediate, advanced singer or teacher needs to know! (All links open in a new window).
About Diction
Tom Schilling's informative newsletters provide a variety of tutorials
An introduction to the sounds of languages
based on Peter Ladefoged, Vowels and Consonants.
Are the Corner Vowels Like Primary Colors?
an insight into vowels with diagrams and explanations of ongue positions provided in .pdf format by the National Center for Voice & Speech.
Articulation of clear vowels, Phrasing
Anthony Winter's Voice Studio, Sydney, Australia provides various online lessons and exercises.
Articulation of the consonants and intelligibility
by Lloyd W. Hanson available at L'Atelier du Chanteur
Ask A Linquist
is a service provided by the Linguist List an internet network for professional linguists. Anyone interested in language or linguistics can ask a question and get the response of a panel of professional linguists.
Baroque Performance Practice
A Study in Articulation by Michael Black.
Diction Domain Homepage
An interesting resource for speech and song specialists who want to know how to pronounce absolutely everything in practically any language. Includes a very useful, specially devised IPS (International Phonetic Symbols) ASCII Equivalents Table that enables you to discuss pronunciations via your computer screen and the Internet.
Diction for Singing
Article in .pdf format by David Jones, D.M.A SFA Regents Professor of Music, Voice which includes IPA Charts, definitions, rhythmic diction and articulators. Click Here for the html version from Google.
Diction Helper
exists to be in service to young singers and their teachers, providing downloadable recordings of foreign-language texts for use in preparing classical solo songs for auditions, competitions, or ongoing vocal study. Site now includes downloadable podcasts on practicing and some free sample downloads of songs in their database.
How to Apply Technique to Repertoire
A constant question for singers by David Jones
International Phonetic Alphabet:
free downloadable scalable outline fonts for both Macintosh and Windows systems. They contain every base character, diacritic, and suprasegmental mark currently prescribed by the International Phonetic Association.
International Phonetic Association
Reproduction of The International Phonetic Alphabet chart, covers Consonants (Pulmonic and Non-Pulmonic), Diacritics, Other Symbols, Suprasegmentals, Tones & Word Accents, and Vowels.
IPA fonts
thread suppling information on where to find ipa fonts from Ask a Linguist - handy messageboard/listserver to find answers to language queries.
IPA chart in Acrobat (.pdf) format
One page, consise chart, developed by the International Phonetic Association for linguists.
On-Line Phonology Course
Centre for English Language Teaching Stirling University
SIL Home Page
includes information about styles of language learning software such as IPA fonts
The Singers Resource Site
Contains an online version of the International Phonetic Alphabet, a description of the larynx with diagrams, vocal tips, example practice schedule and warm ups.
Sounds from Additional Languages
many languages are included, including Akan, Arabic, Dutch, Greek, Hebrew, Polish, Russian, and Yoruba - includes audio files.
Speaking Vowels Versus Singing Vowels
National Center for Voice & Speech (.pdf format)
Texas Sings
has some insights into learning repertoire plus online vocalise, articles on vocal care and diction complete with graphs showing correct tongue placement for each vowel.
The i Vowels
Interesting and informative article on tongue positioning and the i vowel posted to The Vocalist.org International Discussion Group by Lloyd W. Hanson.
The sounds of Ladefoged, A Course in Phonetics
A complete pronuciation guide to the IPA alphabet. Most of the materials are directed towards English sounds, but there are also samples of French vowels and uvulars, German vowels, Greek, Hausa consonants, Italian, Vietnamese, Xhosa and other languages - includes audio files.
Vocal Points
Article by singing teacher to the stars 'Tona de Brett'.
Very useful chart which aids in learning dialects by showing how parts of the mouth move to make various vowel sounds. Provided by Dialect Coach Joel Goldes.
Vowels & Diphthongs
This tutorial from Championship Men's A Cappella Multi-Part Harmony Chorus 'The Alliance' contains guidance, vowel examples, modification and a warm up exercise.
Vowels: The Troublesome Trio
Vocal Point of View, tips and techniques for reducing range inhibiting tension by Dede Wyland at iBluegrass.com
Dropdown Menu by Brothercake
Clipart from
Music Graphics Galore, Rad Graphics,
Goldclipart, GraphicsFactory, Animation Factory


Sunderland missed the chance to gain ground on Barnsley in League One last night as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Oakwell.
They Tykes, who still sit in second place, remain four points ahead of Jack Ross's side after the dull affair, although the Black Cats have a game in hand.
With just ten games left of the season, the North East club will be praying for some good fortune to help them achieve an immediate return to the second tier.
But instead, they were handed a blow of their own when it was announced that winger Duncan Watmore would likely miss the next 8-10 weeks with injury, as good as ending his season.
So, just how big a blow will this prove to be for Ross and his side?
"It's a very big blow.
"Watmore gives the side a real energy and drive when he plays and would play a big role in the run-in.
"What a cruel blow this is.
"Watmore has shown promising signs since coming back from a long-term injury lay-off, and this will be hugely frustrating.
"Gutting predominantly for Watmore himself, given his recent struggles, but also for Sunderland after a disappointing result.
Fixture list sees Oxford United's fate in their own hands, but can they take it?


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Modern Twists on the Classic French Manicure
by The Pink Charm April 23, 2022 085
The traditional pink and white French manicure has been around for decades, and we can see why. First brought to the scene in the 1970's by Jeff Pink, founder of Orly. He created this staple in the nail industry out of necessity for a natural nail look that made wardrobe changes quick and uncomplicated. The flesh colored base with white tips became increasingly popular, making its way to the runway shows of Paris. Throughout the years, we've seen quite a few reforms of the classic, and today, it's had a major revival. Our friends at SNS Nails shared with us these trending innovations on the classic French manicure that you simply need to try.
The Pink & White Classic French
It's obviously a requisite that we mention the fundamental classic pink and white. If you love a natural nail look that goes with everything, this timeless beauty is right up your alley. For an up-to-date take on the beloved classic, go for an almond shaped nail with a mirrored smile line or any other trending nail shape of the year.
Colored French Tips
If you're bored with the classic French mani, try this updated take featuring colored tips, which is proving to be a popular choice on social media among celebrities and influencers. To nail this look, opt for muted shades, bold ones, or mix and match a few of this season's hottest colors. We can bet you're going to continuously see this French mani popping up again and again.
The Ombre French
For the most feminine of French manis, the ombre French is a stunning option. A softer take on the much loved classic features a blurred line of demarcation contrary to the traditional sharp, blunt line. Keep it simple with the traditional pink and white, or gold bold with the color of your choice. Check out this easy tutorial on how to get ombre nails with ease using SNS's Air Ombre product and dip powder, which reigns supreme in durability and shine.
The Reverse French
The reverse French, also known as the half-moon mani, is essentially the same idea as the classic but instead, a smile line is created at the base of the nail instead of at the tip. There are a plethora of variations for this using color and negative space to make this rendition of the French super fun and unique.
The One-of-a-Kind French
Nail art seems to be taking the internet by storm, and we're not mad about it. If you're a commitment-phobe and can't fully commit to a full nail's worth of it, opt for this one-of-a-kind French, starring nail art from the smile line up. This is the perfect opportunity to express yourself and get creative. A quick search on social media and we are seeing loads of ingenious designs we are completely swooning over!
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WAXING: Every thing you need to know


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War of the Worlds: The New Wave Earth Defender Pledge
War of the Worlds: The New Wave base game and the Irish Sea expansion with all unlocked stretch goals. The expansion will come bundled in the base game box. (If you're looking for a version that includes the playmat, we've got that too.)
War of the Worlds: The New Wave
War of the Worlds: Irish Sea Expansion
All Kickstarter Exclusives
War of the Worlds: The New Wave is an asymmetrical deck-building game with a playing board for two players. The game events unfold several years after the original "War of the Worlds" story by H.G. Wells.
The extraterrestrial invasion is occurring once again, but this time the Martians have arrived on a giant spaceship that lands in one of the backwater districts in Scotland. During the game, one player commands the alien forces, and the other one leads the UK self-defense units. The main objective of the invaders is to completely annihilate the population of Great Britain, while the opposite side needs to deal enough damage to the Martian army.
The game is played with two asymmetrical decks of cards, a playing board, tokens, and miniatures.


Blue Hat accepts payments from clients in two methods: Bank Transfer or online payment via Credit Card. Upon signing your agreement with Blue Hat or accepting price estimates / quotations, you will be receiving an invoice from Blue Hat corresponding the requested services.
For Bank transfers, Blue Hat will be sharing with you the company's IBAN number. Please note that all transfer fees and bank charges should be covered by you.
For Credit Card payments, Blue Hat will be sharing with you a URL via email that will redirect you to Payfort payment gateway with a preset amount according to the invoice shared and approved by you.
A payment gateway is the intermediary between the client (you) and the business (Blue Hat) in order to send and receive online payments safely. Blue Hat uses Payfort, the most trusted payment gateway in the Middle East and an acquisition of Amazon, to accept online payments via Credit Card and reduce the risk in doing so.
When payment is due the client (you) will receive an email link via Payfort. Payments are accepted with a Visa or Mastercard and in the following currencies: *US Dollars*. Blue Hat cannot be held liable for any losses occurred in exchange rates.
We ensure that you and your card information are kept safe with Payfort's Advanced Encryption Standard Security. All payments are done through SSL connections to encrypt credit card numbers and account information, ensuring your data is protected from any misuse under a secure network. A Payfort fraud management team is also available to create rules and criteria that reduce fraud, monitor transactions and detect any anomalies during transactions.
If you wish to terminate an agreement, please refer to the termination clause of your agreement with Blue Hat or contact your assigned project manager.
At Blue Hat we respect your privacy and regard highly the importance of your personal information.
This is why the information you provide us will not be sold or passed onto any 3rd parties.
We don't and never will store your credit card information and only use the secure gateway Payfort to allow transactions.
We also do not store any cookies (a small folder of information that's sent to your web browser) on any of your devices.


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Timmins hospital dealing with high numbers of people with respiratory illnesses
The Timmins and District Hospital's assessment clinic has been busy seeing people with respiratory illnesses.
"We're seeing in the community for sure higher volume of kids and adults with respiratory type illnesses," said Doctor Chris Clark, medical lead for the Timmins and District Hospital's Assessment Clinic.
"The other thing that's going on is limited access to medications for parents to treat kids with Advil or Tylenol in the community, some antibiotics are short in the community so it's just a bit of a perfect storm."
The assessment clinic is located across the road from the hospital at 651 Ross Ave. East and is open seven days a week. A physician is on-site in the mornings.
Anyone over the age of two, especially those with a family physician, can book a test at the clinic.
"We can swab here for strep throat, for RSV, for influenza, for COVID," said Clark.
"And we also want people to come here to seek treatment for COVID if they're at high risk whether they're compromised or unvaccinated or have significant co-existing disease."
The assessment clinic has seen 74 people since testing began on Nov. 21. Officials said people can avoid long waits in the emergency room by making an appointment at the clinic.
"Our volumes are up 20, 25 to 30 per cent over where we were pre-COVID and probably there's a quarter of all the presentations of people coming in with respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throats," said Jodie Russell, manager of infection prevention and control for Timmins and District Hospital.
"So that's atypical for us at this time of year."
While Russell and Clark want people to get help as quickly as possible, the Porcupine Health Unit is promoting prevention.
"So really recommending indoor mask use, so when you're in a large crowd or gathering, to wear a mask, especially around children and people that are more vulnerable," said Lynn Leggett, manager of infectious diseases and clinical services.
Leggett said the health unit has also added more flu vaccine clinics at its Pine Street office location.


The basking shark, A.K.A me is a filter feeder. A filter feeder is a sub-group of suspension feeding animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles……(sorry I got some plankton in my mouth, BLAH) ….. from the water. Oh, talking about mouths when I swim forward with my mouth open my gill rakers filter zooplankton, very small fish and invertebrates. I guess you can say I'm on a SEEFOOD diet.
People usually want me for my hide to make leather products and my fins for shark fin soup. They also use my cartilage for traditional Chinese medicine. Do I look tasty? I'm being protected with restrictions in many countries under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). I'm also being protected by sharktrust.org both are groups that are helping to save us basking sharks did I mention they're really nice. Since 2008 it hasn't been allowed to fish for or keep if accidently caught basking sharks in the waters of the European Union.
In conclusion you should protect me because I'm a vulnerable species for extinction please do your part because I'm obviously wonderful, fantastic, amazing and those who don't should swim with the fishes………..oh I thought you would've left by now…………..bye.


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Utah Valley University Ranks Highest In The State For Student Earnings After College
KUER 90.1 | By Jon Reed
Published April 6, 2021 at 5:00 AM MDT
Brian Albers / KUER
Based on the average salary of graduates, Utah Valley University was ranked the top school in the state, according to Optimal's Salary Score.
The college data firm Optimal has come out with a new list that ranks schools based on the average salary of alumni. It allows students to compare schools by how much graduates from each major earn on average compared to the same programs at other schools.
The rankings are based on graduate salary data provided by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard
The company said providing that data can better equip students to choose where they should attend and what to study, which has become increasingly important with student debt rising and a lack of well-paying jobs.
"Now, more than ever before, students are concerned with being able to support themselves, and are in need of the data that illustrates how much they can make in their chosen field after graduation," a press release announcing the new rankings said. "Think of [the data] as a predictor of earning potential and [return on investment] for one of the most crucial investments a student will ever make."
According to the rankings, Utah Valley University is the top school in the state, with a salary score of 67.4. Stevens-Henager College, a private school in Ogden, ranked last with a score of 17.85.
While no Utah schools broke the top 50 overall, several individual degree programs rank among the highest in the country. UVU's aviation bachelor's and business associate's degrees ranked fourth and seventh in the country, respectively. Brigham Young University came in second nationwide in liberal arts and marketing degrees and third in graphic design.
Jeff Strohl, director of research at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, said he's supportive of efforts to give students a better idea of what they can make after graduating. He said while people with a college degree on average tend to do much better than those with only a high school education or less, it's become increasingly important which degree they get as outcomes can vary widely.
Data like Salary Score can help people make more informed decisions, but he said in reality students don't tend to use the information as designed.
""There are 750,000 combinations of institution, program and degree level in the United States," Strohl said. "Go try to figure out how to make a decision with that type of information. It's like cereal at the grocery store, you've got what's in front of you — what mom and dad do or something that you've dreamed to be. And then there's all this other choice. After a certain point, there's information overload."
Strohl said to really make the data useful, it should also include things like average debt levels, the range of potential salary outcomes and the potential impacts of a recession on a field. But including all of that in a way that's easy to digest is a tall order.
EducationUtah EducationUtah Valley UniversityBrigham Young UniversityHigher Education
Jon Reed
Jon came to KUER by way of Los Angeles, where he was a freelance reporter and production assistant for NPR member station KCRW. He received a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. Prior to reporting, he spent six years in the film industry as an editor and post production coordinator, and worked on everything from Hollywood blockbusters to independent documentaries. He mostly preferred the latter, until the slow gravitational pull of public radio drew him away altogether. At KUER, he covers a little bit of everything, paying special attention to quality of life issues and the economy.
See stories by Jon Reed


Whatever your aspirations, nobody wants their garage to be a mess. You can have a sleek showroom for your very hot wheels, a combo workshop/garage storage space, a potting shed, a tool room or even the ultimate man cave.
With a little planning your garage can be useful and the envy of all your neighbors.
There are lots of things in your garage that you don't need. You didn't even need some of them when you bought them, but we all do that. Let's get rid of the obvious stuff. Recycle that 5 year old paint, it's no good anymore anyway. Lose that old sports equipment that is way past its prime (not your prime, the equipment's prime), trash those useless items that take up space and collect dust...let's be realistic here and you are well on your way to a cool garage.
Just because you can't use it doesn't mean somebody can't use it. Haven't mowed your lawn in years? Somebody can use that lawnmower. You don't need 4 snow shovels taking up garage storage, and your golf clubs from 1984 just might make some kid's day. Go ahead, let it go...it's good for your psyche as well as your space.
Separate your stuff by category. Power tools with power tools. Gardening stuff with gardening stuff. You get it. This rule should apply to everything. It makes it easier to organize, easier to find things when you need them and your things will disappear less often. Remember our credo: A place for everything and everything in its place.
There is space in your garage that is not being used. There are all kinds of specialty racks and garage storage units that can be attached to the ceiling and that can easily be lowered when you need something and pulled back up to the ceiling when you are through with it until next year (Christmas Decorations for example?). There are bicycle racks, storage boxes, platforms...all incredibly useful for storing stuff you don't need to get to every day.
Safety is even closer to Godliness than cleanliness. Potentially dangerous chemicals such as paint thinner, fertilizer or gasoline should be stored in a locked cabinet to keep curious children and pets out of harm's way. Don't forget to ventilate those spaces! Also, power tools, saws, anything sharp should be locked up or stored on high shelves to keep potential accidents at bay. Kids need to be protected from themselves … adults too sometimes.
You can clean up the existing concrete floor with all kinds of new and effective eco-friendly concrete cleaners that use microbe or enzymes to get rid of oil stains and the like. Better yet cover the floor with either an epoxy system or the amazingly cool floor tile systems made specifically for garages. Your garage can look like a NASCAR workshop! A clean floor makes a world of difference in the look and feel of the entire garage.
There are great cabinet and shelf garage storage systems available to help turn your garage into a multi-purpose masterpiece. How about a work bench with tool storage and lighting and a clean top for "projects". Into gardening? How about a potting bench or s bonsai work shop? A sports fanatic, a rack, shelf, basket or hook for every single piece of sports paraphernalia in your vast collection? A golfer? How about a storage rack to protect your valuable clubs as well as a place for shoes, accessories and all those putters that just don't work anymore...you know, the ones you didn't get rid of as per section one.
An added benefit to your garage storage transformation is that if everything is stowed away where it belongs, the likelihood of damage to your cars from falling stuff is lessened significantly. Just a thought.


Peter van Osch Groenteproducties (Vegetable Productions) in the village of Leunen in Limburg, grows 130 hectares of iceberg lettuce, 100 hectares of spinach and 70 hectares of various types of lettuce, including lollo bionda and lollo rosso, as well as escarole in the outside soil. The harvest is from May until October. For spinach it is from mid-April until mid-November.
"We coordinate the colours and the types of lettuce we grow, with Versland Selection", says Peter van Osch.
"Furthermore we must find out what is feasible. If Versland Selection wants us to grow a certain species, we investigate the possibilities, as a higher growing risk, for instance due to failure, requires a higher compensation. Together we decide which is the best option".
A colleague-grower brought Van Osch into contact with Versland Selection. Since 2012 he has been delivering products to their complete satisfaction.
The vegetable grower is quite happy with the way that matters are dealt with.
"Every day the packaging is checked. The numbers are always correct. And although they do not always pay the highest price, the amount is always transferred to my account within a fortnight. These are two very strong points of Versland Selection. Moreover they always keep their word and I am very much in favour of that", concludes Van Osch.


The Women's Business Togetherness Celebration offers its attendees highly respected women with pertinent information, valuable resources, and connections to take the next step in starting and sustaining a business. It includes women connections strong on personal development, marketing, funding, finance, technology and health and wellness. It includes widely respected leaders, innovative entrepreneurs, and a marketplace of ideas, exhibits, and networking. The event is designed to benefit women from all walks of life with a desire to become business owners. We welcome women who want to work from home or ones who desire to create an office outside the home.
Women in central Illinois have enjoyed an event that provides value and a forum for building successful businesses, economic and social mindfulness and positively influencing the community around them. The Women's Business Togetherness Celebration will continue the tradition of empowering, encouraging, and educating women and providing resources in every aspect of their lives, and embracing philanthropy by donating a portion of its proceeds to participating charitable organizations. Join us for dinner, awards, and networking as a way of growing our businesses.


Spinal dysraphic lesions due to incomplete fusion and consequent failed disjunction of a limited segment of the dorsal neural tube during primary neurulation are the subjects of this chapter. We use the term "limited dorsal spinal nondisjunctional disorders" (LDSNDs) to encompass several known varieties of such lesions, namely, limited dorsal myeloschisis (LDM), congenital spinal dermal sinus tract (CSDST), mixed lesions of the two, and other closely related complex lesions (Wang et al. 1993; Pang et al. 2013a; Eibach et al. 2017). All of these probably share a common embryogenetic mechanism and similar clinical manifestations.


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Mets general manager fired after admitting to sending explicit texts and images to female reporter
National Zoo panda cub named Xiao Qi Ji or 'Little Miracle'
by: ASHRAF KHALIL , Associated Press
This handout photo released by the Smithsonian's National Zoo shows a panda cub named Xiao Qi Ji in Washington. More than three months after his birth, the National Zoo's new panda cub finally has a name. Officials at the Smithsonian, which runs the zoo, announced Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, that the cub born on August 21 would be named Xiao Qi Ji, which is Mandarin Chinese for "little miracle." (Smithsonian's National Zoo via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than three months after his birth, the National Zoo's new panda cub finally has a name.
Officials at the Smithsonian, which runs the zoo, announced Monday morning that the cub born on August 21 would be named Xiao Qi Ji (shee-OW-chee-jee), which is Mandarin Chinese for "little miracle."
The choice was the result of a five-day online poll that drew nearly 135,000 voters to choose between different Mandarin Chinese names. In a nod to Chinese tradition, the name was not chosen until 100 days after the birth.
Monday's announcement comes on the day the zoo shut its doors to the publicfor the second time this year due to the the COVID-19 pandemic. Smithsonian officials announced last week that the zoo and the seven museums that had been operating at limited capacity would all shut down indefinitely as the virus continues to spike locally and around the country.
The Smithsonian first shut down all its facilities in mid-March. But the zoo reopened on July 24 and other museums gradually reopened other museums with timed entry passes to keep the crowds low.
Even if the zoo were open, the indoor panda house would have remained closed to the public, making the zoo's popular panda-cam, the only way to view the baby bear, who doctors say is up to 10.4 pounds and starting to crawl.
NEW YORK (AP) - Mets general manager Jared Porter was fired Tuesday after sending graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office.
ESPN reported late Monday night that Porter sent dozens of unanswered texts to the woman, including a sexually explicit picture. ESPN said it obtained a copy of the text history, and many of the messages and photos he sent were displayed in the report online.
Local woman starts her own business after hiring freeze last March
Two women wounded in Waco Wednesday night shooting incident


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Q: make project run on start up after using installshield light I want my solution run on startup after installing it using installshield light on VS 2012. is there an easy way to do so? also, is there a main difference between doing it with registry key or doing it with shortcut in the startup folder?
Thanks for your help! :)

A: Here's an article that describes the behavior of the different options:
INFO: Run, RunOnce, RunServices, RunServicesOnce and Startup
The main thing to realize is that your program should not require UAC elevation.  It goes against Windows Logo guidelines to put an elevated application in the automatic startup.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Transhumanism is a movement pushing the limits of our biology—of our senses, intelligence, and lifespans—with technology. Its supporters have reached a critical mass and now include some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley and beyond, among them Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Ray Kurzweil. In this provocative and eye-opening account, journalist Mark O'Connell explores the staggering (and terrifying) possibilities that present themselves when you think of your body as an outmoded device. He visits the world's foremost cryonics facility to witness how some have chosen to forestall death, discovers an underground collective of biohackers boosting their senses by implanting electronics under their skin, and meets with members of a team urgently investigating how to protect mankind from rogue artificial superintelligence. In investigating what it means to be a machine, O'Connell shines a light on our ancient desire to transcend the animal condition—and offers a surprising meditation on what it means to be human.
Transhumanism is a movement pushing the limits of our bodies—our capabilities, intelligence, and lifespans—in the hopes that, through technology, we can become something better than ourselves. It has found support among Silicon Valley billionaires and some of the world's biggest businesses.
In To Be a Machine, journalist Mark O'Connell explores the staggering possibilities and moral quandaries that present themselves when you of think of your body as a device. He visits the world's foremost cryonics facility to witness how some have chosen to forestall death. He discovers an underground collective of biohackers, implanting electronics under their skin to enhance their senses. He meets a team of scientists urgently investigating how to protect mankind from artificial superintelligence.
Where is our obsession with technology leading us? What does the rise of AI mean not just for our offices and homes, but for our humanity? Could the technologies we create to help us eventually bring us to harm? Addressing these questions, O'Connell presents a profound, provocative, often laugh-out-loud-funny look at an influential movement. In investigating what it means to be a machine, he offers a surprising meditation on what it means to be human.
MARK O'CONNELL is Slate's books columnist, a staff writer at The Millions, and a regular contributor to The New Yorker's "Page-Turner" blog; his work has been published in The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The Observer, and The Independent.


A busy executive is seeking a Personal Assistant/House Manager. This position requires the ability to pivot between administrative tasks in the office as well as personal household needs for a high level executive & his family. A mature disposition, strong attention to detail, extreme confidentiality, and ability to keep up in a frequently fast-pasted work environment (and city) is required. While this role is generally Monday-Friday 8:30AM – 6:30PM, some days can start or end earlier depending on the on-going projects and executive's needs. There will be times where you are required to work weekends and frequent travel is required.
This is a great, long-term opportunity for qualified candidates with verifiable professional references, excellent written and verbal communications skills, computer literate (Word, Excel, Outlook) and above all have the ability to keep the day organized and running smoothly. Must have a clean background, legal authorization to work in the US and the ability to relocate. Male candidates preferred. Please send your resume and salary requirement for consideration. Immediate Hire!