text:
Cardinal Weather
WCRD
Witmer makes jump from player to coach in 1 year
Shane Witmer laughs on the bench during a match this season. Witmer serves as a volunteer coach for the Ball State men's volleyball team after playing four years. DN PHOTO ALLISON COFFIN
By Jake Fox
February 23, 2016 | 12:00pm EST
Shane Witmer career stats (2012-2015)
Career record - 70-42
Kills - 586
Kills per set - 1.72
Total blocks - 196
Digs - 528
Shane Witmer has always made his teammates laugh.
A jokester, he calls himself.
Witmer was a four-year starter for the Ball State men's volleyball team. Just a year removed from graduation, he's back on the court at Worthen Arena as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cardinals while working on his master's degree in accounting.
As a player, Witmer always tried to keep the team loose on the floor. He's just an easygoing guy, team members say.
Witmer has carried the same attitude into coaching. After all, he was good friends with a lot of the guys on the team. He even roomed with some of them.
One of the biggest differences for Witmer as a coach is trying to get the players to take him seriously, he said. The transition from starting outside attacker to assistant coach in less than a year has been hard for Witmer, but it's one that he's come to enjoy.
"I think a lot of the guys respect me because they know I want them to be really good this year and know I want them to get better," Witmer said. "I think when I do [step in to help them], I think they really do listen. Even though maybe they'll [laugh]."
Ball State had an average year during his freshman season, but Witmer helped elevate the Cardinals back into the national conversation over the next two years with a combined 43-14 record.
A lot of the players from those teams are gone, but Witmer serves as a bridge from one generation of players to the next.
"The progression has been pretty awesome," he said. "We've had a bunch of really good players; a bunch of guys going over to play in Europe, so that's cool. But I think it's almost like a changing of the guard, so to speak."
This year's team is off to a 11-3 start. With only four seniors, it's a fairly young team, so with success has come some growing pains.
"It's hard to watch, especially because there's a lot of young guys on the court right now that don't have as much experience … So there's obviously a bunch of me that wants to be out there to help them," Witmer said.
A year ago, Witmer was ready to step away from the game for awhile. His shoulder was injured. His body was tired. He had finished his playing career at Ball State, and he was burned out.
But in his season exit interview, the coaches — who knew he would be back for grad school — asked him to serve as this year's volunteer assistant. They knew he'd be busy with classes but having a familiar face around that could be an intermediary between the coaches and the players would be invaluable.
Witmer couldn't turn down the opportunity. He knew he'd miss the game, and coaching has helped ease the process of letting go.
"One, it allows me to help the guys where I can. I think I'm knowledgeable and can help," Witmer said. "Other times, it's just nice to be around volleyball, too, because I miss it. I did it for four years. It's hard, but at least I'm around it."
Sitting on the bench with head coach Joel Walton and assistant coaches Kevin Furnish and Jim Palilonis is better than watching the game from the stands for Witmer, who has built good rapport with all three coaches.
He said it's nice that the coaches trust him to step into match huddles and point out things he sees.
Witmer also knows that he can talk to the coaches about anything.
"[Palilonis] and Furn[ish] can come to me and ask me about anything," he said. "We can go from talking about volleyball to talking about who knows what."
Walton said sometimes Witmer is even more successful than the other coaches in getting the players to work on something.
"He is one of their comrades, so to speak," Walton said. "They seem to be a little more willing to listen to what he has to say because he was always someone that was respected, even if it was because there was a sense of humor and a sarcasm that [Witmer] had."
Witmer says he isn't sure whether he will coach volleyball in the future. He's in a one-year master's program and has a job lined up in Indianapolis. Right now, it's a one-year commitment, Witmer said. But it's also something he'll never rule out.
And if it is just a one-year gig, he's got the perfect personality to help a young team break out of its shell.
Sitting on the bench between sophomores Matt Walsh and Mitch Weiler before the third set against Barton on Feb. 12, Witmer says something that makes both players crack a smile.
They may not be his teammates anymore, but Witmer is still making them laugh.
Ball State defeats Bellarmine and UIndy on historic Senior Day
By Charleston Bowles / 8 hours ago
During Saturday's match against the University of Indianapolis, senior diver Caitlin Locante broke the program record on the 3M board with a score of 323.625. She passed the 318.67 score that Whitney Adams recorded back for the Cardinals in 2012.
'Next man up' mentality guides Cardinals in completing season sweep of Huskies
By Connor Smith / 10 hours ago
However, just like they have routinely for weeks, the Cardinals didn't let that get in their way against Northern Illinois (2-10, 1-6 MAC). Ball State used depth to its advantage in a 78-58 victory at Worthen Arena, completing a season sweep of the Huskies.
A late fourth quarter push is enough, Cardinals take down Ohio in overtime
By Charleston Bowles / 3 days ago
Ball State Women's Basketball (5-5, 3-3 MAC) went on the road and stole a victory against Ohio (5-4, 3-3 MAC), 88-85.
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Caledonian | Old Morris Tobacconist Victoria BC, Fine Cigars, Humidores and Tobacco Merchantile.
Founded on an ingenious Virginia bright-leaf blend, Caledonian tobacco is manufactured in the Scottish tradition, with absolutely zero chemical additives. Plus, all the tobaccos used in this mix are long cut. An epically pure blend.


Amy completed her undergraduate music degree at the Hannover music school in Germany. She's performed with the German Chamber Academy, North German Radio Orchestra and was invited regularly to perform in concert series' throughout Germany. Returning home to Alberta she completed her Masters of Music degree at the University of Alberta. Amy performs regularly with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Violet Collective, Ultra Violet, the Opera Nuova Festival Orchestra, and local string quartets. This summer Amy will be teaching at the Edmonton Symphony's string program for adult players and will be performing at the Algonquin Music festival in Ontario. When Amy is not playing cello she is the proud wife of an Edmonton Metro EMT and busy Mom of their two young children, Meara and Finley.


text:
HomeNewsEFT Switching ServicesAny bank can now join National Financial Switch: NPCI
Any bank can now join National Financial Switch: NPCI
Category:	EFT Switching Services
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has said any bank with round-the-clock core banking solution capabilities, with/out ATMs, can now join the national financial switch (NFS) through a sponsor bank. NPCI is an umbrella institution for all the Retail Payments Systems' in the country.
The move is aimed at facilitating even non-scheduled urban cooperative banks and regional rural banks to have access to the national network of over 78,000 ATMs in the country, NPCI managing director and chief executive A P Hota said in a release. So far, access has been limited to only scheduled banks with RTGS membership, he added.
Meanwhile, the NPCI also said the total number of banks which have opted to join the inter-bank mobile payments service (IMPS) network have crossed 27 with two more private sector lenders joining the network over the past fortnight.
With the above change, two cooperative banks which are now only sub-members – The Pandharpur Urban Cooperative Bank and Dr Annasaheb Chowgule Bank at Kolhapur- have already gone live on the NFS network.
While the Pandharpur Urban Cooperative Bank has three ATMs and is sponsored by ICICI Bank, Dr Annasaheb Chowgule Bank is sponsored by HDFC Bank and has only four ATMs. But with this facility, the customers of these banks can access any ATM in the country.
"This is a step forward to inclusive growth of financial services and serving customers of the smaller banks, UCBs and RRBs," Hota said. The sponsor bank scheme on the NFS network will improve ATM connectivity across the country, even in the remotest areas, he added.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/any-bank-can-now-join-national-financial-switch-npci/articleshow/9598792.cms
NOTE: Both banks, viz., The Pandharpur Urban Cooperative Bank and Dr Annasaheb Chowgule Bank at Kolhapur, are amongst the clients of Sarvatra, the pioneering ASP for NSF sub-membership model.
NFS RuPay Sub-member Bank

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
News
====

Versions after 0.7.1 follow `CalVer <http://calver.org>`_ with a strict backwards compatibility policy.
The third digit is only for regressions.

Changes for the upcoming release can be found in the `wokkel/newsfragments` directory.

..
   Do *NOT* add changelog entries here!

	 This changelog is managed by towncrier and is compiled at release time from
   the news fragments directory.

.. towncrier release notes start

Wokkel 18.0.0 (2018-12-04)
==========================

Features
--------

- Wokkel has been ported to Python 3. (#81)
- wokkel.pubsub.PubSubClient now supports retrieving items by identifier. (#82)

Fixes
-----

- wokkel.generic.Request.stanzaType now defaults to the value of the class
  variable if `stanzaType` is not passed to `__init__`. (#80)
- wokkel.delay.Delay.fromElement now also catches `TypeError` when parsing
  timestamps, to work around a bug in dateutil. (#83)
- wokkel.muc.MUCClientProtocol now properly updates user role and affiliation
  upon presence updates. (#84)

Deprecations and Removals
-------------------------

- wokkel.generic.prepareIDNName is deprecated in favor of
  unicode.encode('idna'). (#85)
- Python 2.6 and older are no longer supported. (#86)
- wokkel.compat no longer includes named and value constants (now in
  `twisted.python.constants` through `constantly`). (#87)
- wokkel.compat no longer includes `BootstrapMixin` and
  `XmlStreamServerFactory`, as they are included in the required version of
  Twisted. (#88)

Misc
----

- #89

0.7.1 (2013-01-12)
==================

Features
--------

- wokkel.generic.Request.parseRequest is a new convenience hook for parsing
  the payload of incoming requests using fromElement.
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterItem can now represent item removals and has methods
  for XML (de-)serialization (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterRequest is a new class to represent roster request
  stanzas (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterClientProtocol.getRoster now returns the roster
  indexed by JID (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterClientProtocol uses the new RosterRequest for sending
  outgoing requests, using the new request semantics (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterClientProtocol uses the new RosterRequest to provide
  access to addressing and roster version information in the new callbacks
  for roster pushes (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterPushIgnored can be raised for unwanted roster pushes
  (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterClientProtocol and RosterRequest now support roster
  versioning.
- With the new wokkel.xmppim.RosterClientProtocol.setItem roster items can
  be added or updated (#56).

Fixes
-----

- wokkel.component.Component now reconnects if first attempt failed (#75).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterClientProtocol now properly checks sender addresses
  for roster pushes (#71).
- Make sure twistd plugins are installed properly (#76).
- wokkel.component.Router.route now sends back an error if there is no known
  route to the stanza's destination.
- Properly encode IDN domain names for establishing client and server
  connections. This resolves an issue with Twisted 12.3.0 that made it
  impossible to initiate any connection using Wokkel (#77).

Deprecations
------------
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterItem.jid is deprecated in favor of entity (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterItem.ask is deprecated in favor of pendingOut (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterClientProtocol.onRosterSet is deprecated in favor of
  setReceived (#71).
- wokkel.xmppim.RosterClientProtocol.onRosterRemove is deprecated in favor
  of removeReceived (#71).

0.7.0 (2012-01-23)
==================

Features
--------

- Added method wokkel.data_form.Form.typeCheck for type checking incoming Data
  Forms submissions against field definitions.
- Added method wokkel.data_form.Form.makeFields to add fields from a
  dictionary mapping field names to values.
- Added public function wokkel.data_form.findForm for extracting Data Forms
  from stanzas.
- PubSubRequest.options is now a wokkel.data_form.Form.
- wokkel.data_form.Form can now be used as a read-only dictionary.
- Added support for configuration options in Publish-Subscribe node create
  requests.
- Added support for subscription options in Publish-Subscribe subscribe
  requests (#63).
- Added support for Publish Subscribe subscription identifiers.
- wokkel.pubsub.Item can now be used to send out notifications, too.
- Added a twistd plugin to set up a basic XMPP server that accepts component
  connections and provides server-to-server (dialback) connectivity.
- Added support for managing affiliations of Publish-Subscribe nodes,
  server-side.
- Added iq request (set/get) tracking to StreamManager and provide a new base
  class for such requests: wokkel.generic.Request. Unlike
  twisted.words.protocols.jabber.xmlstream.IQ, Such requests can be queued
  until the connection is initialized, with timeouts running from the moment
  `request` was called (instead of when it was sent over the wire).
- Added support for Delayed Delivery information formats.
- Added support for XMPP Multi-User Chat, client side (#24).

Fixes
-----

- XMPP Ping handler now marks incoming ping requests as handled, so the
  FallbackHandler doesn't respond, too. (#66)
- Incorporate Twisted changes for component password hashes.
- Completed test coverage for Data Forms.
- Made sure Data Forms field labels don't get overwritten (#60).
- Service Discovery identity is now reported correctly for legacy
  PubSubService use (#64).
- Various smaller Service Discovery fixes for PubSubService.
- Completed test coverage for Service Discovery support.
- Publish Subscribe events with stanza type error are now ignored (#69).
- Publish Subscribe requests with multiple 'verbs' are now properly parsed
  (#72).
- Publish Subscribe requests that have no legacy support in PubSubService will
  now result in a feature-not-implemented error (#70).
- Publish Subscribe subscription elements now have the correct namespace when
  sent out.
- Incorporated Twisted changes for passing on a reason Failure upon stream
  disconnect.
- Fixed race condition and nesting issues when adding subprotocol handlers to
  their StreamManager (#48).
- Reimplemented Service Discovery requests using new Request class. By reusing
  common code, this fixes a problem with requests without addressing (#73).

Deprecations
------------

- wokkel.compat.BootstrapMixin is deprecated in favor of
  twisted.words.xish.xmlstream.BootstrapMixin (Twisted 8.2.0).
- wokkel.compat.XmlStreamServerFactory is deprecated in favor of
  twisted.words.protocols.jabber.xmlstream.XmlStreamServerFactory (Twisted
  8.2.0).
- wokkel.iwokkel.IXMPPHandler is deprecated in favor of
  twisted.words.protocols.jabber.ijabber.IXMPPHandler (Twisted 8.1.0).
- wokkel.iwokkel.IXMPPHandlerCollection is deprecated in favor of
  twisted.words.protocols.jabber.ijabber.IXMPPHandlerCollection (Twisted
  8.1.0).
- wokkel.subprotocols.XMPPHandlerCollection is deprecated in favor of
  twisted.words.protocols.jabber.xmlstream.XMPPHandlerCollection (Twisted
  8.1.0).

0.6.3 (2009-08-20)
==================

Features
--------

- Add a jid attribute to XMPPClient (#18).
- Add a better presence protocol handler PresenceProtocol. This handler
  is also useful for component or in-server use.

Fixes
-----

- Use fallback port 5222 for failed SRV lookups for clients (#26).

0.6.2 (2009-07-08)
==================

Features
--------

- Add support for XMPP Ping (XEP-0199), doubling as example protocol
  handler (#55).
- Provide examples for setting up clients, components and servers (#55).
- Make Service Discovery support accept non-deferred results from getDiscoInfo
  and getDiscoItems (#55).

0.6.1 (2009-07-06)
==================

Features
--------

- Add an optional sender parameter for Service Discovery requests (#52).

Fixes:
------

- Fix regression in DeferredClientFactory (#51).
- Make IQ timeouts work with InternalComponent (#53).

0.6.0 (2009-04-22)
==================

Features
--------

- Server-to-server support, based on the dialback protocol (#33).
- Enhancement to InternalProtocol to support multiple domains (#43).
- Publish-subscribe request abstraction (#45).
- Publish-subscribe abstraction to implement a node in code (#47).
- Enhancement to PubSubClient to send requests from a specific JID (#46).

Fixes
-----

- Remove type interpretation in Data Forms field parsing code (#44).

0.5.0 (2009-04-07)
==================

This release drops support for Twisted versions older than 8.0, including
Twisted 2.5 / Twisted Words 0.5.

Features
--------

- Support for sending and receiving Publish-Subscribe node delete
  notifications with redirect.
- Service Discovery client support, including an overhaul of disco data
  classes (#28).
- Initial support for building XMPP servers has been added:

  - XmlStreamServerFactory has been backported from Twisted Words (#29).
  - An XMPP router has been added (#30).
  - A server-side component authenticator has been added (#30).
  - A new server-side component service, that connects to a router within the
    same process, was added (#31).

Fixes
-----

- Publish-Subscribe subscriptions requests work again (#22).
- Publish-Subscribe delete node requests now have the correct namespace (#27).
- NodeIDs in Service Discovery requests are now returned in responses (#7).
- The presence of stanzaType in toResponse is now checked correctly (#34).
- Data Form fields are now rendered depending on form type (#40).
- Data Form type checking issues were addressed (#41).
- Some compatibility fixes for Twisted 8.0 and 8.1.
- Various other fixes (#37, #42) and tracking changes to code already in
  Twisted.

0.4.0 (2008-08-05)
==================

- Refactoring of Data Forms support (#13).
- Added support for Stanza Headers and Internet Metadata (SHIM) (#14).
- API change for PubSubClient's methods called upon event reception (#14).
- Added client-side support for removing roster items.
- Implement type checking for data forms (#15).
- Added support for publish-subscribe collections:

  - Correct handling for the root node (empty node identifier).
  - Send out SHIM 'Collection' header when appropriate.
  - New Subscription class for working with subscriptions.
  - API change for PubSubService:

    - The subscribe method returns a deferred that fires a Subscription
    - The subscriptions method returns a deferred that fires a list of
      Subscriptions.
    - notifyPublish's notifications parameter now expects a list of tuples
      that includes a list of subscriptions.

- Added PubSubService.notifyDelete to allow sending out node deletion
  notifications.

0.3.1 (2008-04-22)
==================

- Fix broken version request handler.

0.3.0 (2008-04-21)
==================

First release.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: WPF Material Design: Create language selection I am trying to create a language selection in WPF.
I tried to use ComboBox but it didn't look as I wanted and it also seems that the ComboBox doesn't accept images very well in certain sizes.
I have the following code:
<ComboBox Height="auto" Foreground="White">
    <materialDesign:HintAssist.Hint>
        <Image Source="image/eua.png" Width="50"/>
    </materialDesign:HintAssist.Hint>
        <ComboBoxItem>
            <Image Source="image/italy.png" Width="50" Height="50"/>
        </ComboBoxItem>
        <ComboBoxItem>
            <Image Source="image/eua.png" Width="50" Height="50"/>
        </ComboBoxItem>
</ComboBox>

in the code above the image appears as follows

How can I best do that?
The image below shows the shape you would like it to look.
When selected, show the language flag

and When clicking on the flag, show the other options

A: You can try data template
<ComboBox>
    <!--Material:Design.Hint-->
    <ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
        <DataTemplate>
            <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
                <!--TextHere-->
                <!--Imagehere-->
            </StackPanel>
        </DataTemplate>
    </ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
</ComboBox>

A: You can try the code below. It has been tested with pictures of different sizes. If you have a problem, you can leave a comment.
<ComboBox Width="100" Height="35">
        <ComboBoxItem IsSelected="True" >
            <WrapPanel>
                <Button Width="30" Height="30" >
                    <Button.Template>
                        <ControlTemplate>
                            <Image Height="25" Source="image/usa.png" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
                        </ControlTemplate>
                    </Button.Template>
                </Button>
                <TextBlock Text="English-1" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
            </WrapPanel>
        </ComboBoxItem>
        <ComboBoxItem >
            <WrapPanel>
                <Button Width="30" Height="30" >
                    <Button.Template>
                        <ControlTemplate>
                            <Image Height="25" Source="image/england.jpg" VerticalAlignment="Center"></Image>
                        </ControlTemplate>
                    </Button.Template>
                </Button>
                <TextBlock Text="English-2" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
            </WrapPanel>
        </ComboBoxItem>
    </ComboBox>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Update value in Kivy (Python) widget I'd like to display numeric values coming from a sensor (Tinkerforge ambient light sensor) in Kivy widgets. Unfortunately the variable 'illuminance' doesn't seem to change at all and the widgets display '0'.'illuminance' seems to update nicely and gets printed on the console. What am I doing wrong?
import kivy
import random
from kivy.clock import Clock
from kivy.app import App
from kivy.uix.label import Label
from kivy.uix.boxlayout import BoxLayout

from tinkerforge.ip_connection import IPConnection
from tinkerforge.brick_dc import BrickDC
from tinkerforge.bricklet_ambient_light import BrickletAmbientLight

HOST = "localhost"          # Tinkerforge IP and port
PORT = 4223
UID = "uM9"             # sensor ID

illuminance = 0

ipcon = IPConnection()          # Create IP connection
al = BrickletAmbientLight(UID, ipcon)   # Create device object
ipcon.connect(HOST, PORT)       # Connect to brickd

class TimerTink:
    def tinker(self):
        illuminance = al.get_illuminance()  #read sensor value
        print(illuminance)

class TinkerApp(App):
    def build(self):
        main_layout = BoxLayout(padding=10, orientation="vertical")
        for i in range(2):
            h_layout = BoxLayout(padding=10)
            for i in range(2):
                lbl = Label(text=str(illuminance),)
                h_layout.add_widget(lbl)
            main_layout.add_widget(h_layout)
        event = Clock.schedule_interval(TimerTink.tinker, 1/2)
        return main_layout

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app = TinkerApp()
    app.run()

Finally it's working, thanks to @YOSHI 's suggestions:
import kivy
import random
from kivy.clock import Clock
from kivy.app import App
from kivy.uix.label import Label
from kivy.uix.boxlayout import BoxLayout
from kivy.uix.floatlayout import FloatLayout

from tinkerforge.ip_connection import IPConnection
from tinkerforge.brick_dc import BrickDC
from tinkerforge.bricklet_ambient_light import BrickletAmbientLight

HOST = "localhost"          # Tinkerforge IP and port
PORT = 4223
UID = "uM9"             # sensor ID

illuminance = 0

ipcon = IPConnection()          # Create IP connection
al = BrickletAmbientLight(UID, ipcon)   # Create device object
ipcon.connect(HOST, PORT)       # Connect to brickd

class TinkerApp(App):

    def build(self):
        i = 0
        main_layout = BoxLayout(padding=10, orientation="vertical")
        h_layout = FloatLayout(size=(300,300))
        self.label = Label(text=str(illuminance),pos=(i*100, i*100),size_hint = (.1,.1))
        h_layout.add_widget(self.label)
        main_layout.add_widget(h_layout)
        Clock.schedule_interval(self.timer, 0.1)

        return main_layout

    def timer(self, dt):
        illuminance = al.get_illuminance()  #read sensor value
        self.label.text = str(illuminance)
        print(str(illuminance))

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app = TinkerApp()
    app.run()

A: The function 'tinker' in the TimeTink class takes 2 arguments: self and dt
def tinker(self,dt):
    illuminance = al.get_illuminance()  #read sensor value
    print(illuminance)

or you change the line where you call the method to sth. like this:
event = Clock.schedule_interval(lambda dt: TimerTink.tinker, 1/2)

for more info visit the doc for kivy.clock.
Edit: (maybe this works)
import kivy
import random
from kivy.clock import Clock
from kivy.app import App
from kivy.uix.label import Label
from kivy.uix.boxlayout import BoxLayout

from tinkerforge.ip_connection import IPConnection
from tinkerforge.brick_dc import BrickDC
from tinkerforge.bricklet_ambient_light import BrickletAmbientLight

HOST = "localhost"          # Tinkerforge IP and port
PORT = 4223
UID = "uM9"             # sensor ID

illuminance = 0

ipcon = IPConnection()          # Create IP connection
al = BrickletAmbientLight(UID, ipcon)   # Create device object
ipcon.connect(HOST, PORT)       # Connect to brickd

main_layout = BoxLayout(padding=10, orientation="vertical")
for i in range(2):
    h_layout = BoxLayout(padding=10)
    for i in range(2):
        lbl = Label(text=str(illuminance),)
        h_layout.add_widget(lbl)
    main_layout.add_widget(h_layout)
def tinker(self):
    illuminance = al.get_illuminance()  #read sensor value
    lbl.text = str(illuminance)
    print(illuminance)

class TinkerApp(App):
    def build(self):
        event = Clock.schedule_interval(tinker, 1/2)
        return main_layout

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app = TinkerApp()
    app.run()


text:
The Maldivian Crisis: What Can India do?
Ashok Sajjanhar
Ashok Sajjanhar is President, Institute of Global Studies, and a former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia.
The newest crisis in Maldives which erupted on 1 February 2018 took both the government and the people by surprise. In a unanimous judgment, the five member Supreme Court of Maldives directed that nine political prisoners including former President Mohamed Nasheed should be set free as cases against them were politically motivated. It ruled that fresh cases be initiated against them. In addition, the Court instructed that the 12 Members of Parliament who had been stripped of their positions by President Abdullah Yameen because they had defected from his Party, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), should be immediately reinstated and the new session of Parliament be convened with the participation of these 12 members on 5 February 2018.
The judgment was warmly welcomed by Nasheed and his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) as well as by all members of the opposition alliance. They said that, with this judgment, Yameen had lost all credibility and should resign. At the same, however, they also expressed serious apprehension that Yameen will not abide by the judgment. This is exactly what has transpired. Notwithstanding the wide measure of support and welcome accorded to the Supreme Court ruling by a large segment of the international community including the Secretary General of the United Nations, USA, UK, EU, India, Australia, Canada, etc., Yameen's administration contended that it was not possible to implement the ruling as this had been arrived at without hearing the government and also because it would lead to a serious law and order situation.
Yameen appears determined to ride roughshod over all domestic protests and demonstrations, and international sentiments and concerns. Maintaining that the Supreme Court verdict was an attempt at a coup, Yameen imposed an emergency for 15 days and arrested the Chief Justice and another senior justice of the Supreme Court, as well as his own half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the first President who ruled from 1978 till 2008 and who is now supporting the Opposition.
No doubt, as a result of threats and the strong arm methods employed by Yameen's security forces and agencies, on 6 February, the remaining three members of the Supreme Court reversed their earlier decision to free the nine arrested political prisoners. This has added a fresh twist to the unfolding tense and depressing saga.
Several countries have expressed strong concern at the developments, with the United States issuing a veiled warning by saying that the ''world is watching.''
India's Response
India's relations with Maldives have been frayed for some time and particularly since 2012 when Nasheed, the first democratically elected President, was deposed by force and Abdullah Yameen became President in 2013 after a highly controversial and dubious election. Since then, Maldives has progressively cosied up to China at the expense of India. This started with the cancellation of the Indian company GMR's contract for building Male airport and awarding it to China during President Xi Jinping's 2015 visit. Yameen has enthusiastically boarded the bandwagon of the Maritime Silk Road initiative launched by China in 2013. During Yameen's presidency, Maldives has leased out several islands to China which could be used for building bases as part of the "string of pearls" strategy to encircle India and reduce its influence. The latest development in this narrative was the signing of an FTA with China after a suspiciously hurried approval by the Maldivian Parliament. Yameen has tried to soothe India's frayed nerves by maintaining that Maldives continues to follow the ''India First'' policy and by sending his Foreign Minister as a special envoy in January 2018 to reassure the Indian government.
Some suggestions have been made that India should take a leaf out of ''Operation Cactus'' in 1988 through which it restored President Gayoom to office when Maldives confronted a coup attempt by some disgruntled Maldivians with the support of armed Sri Lankan mercenary raiders. Under the current circumstances, however, such action is not possible as the situation is entirely different. At that time, the lawful President of the country had sought India's help. This time, if action were to be contemplated, it would be against the legally elected President, however dubious the conduct of the election in 2013 might have been. Nasheed, who has been living in self-imposed exile in London since 2016 and who is currently in Sri Lanka, has issued a fervent appeal to India to militarily intervene and restore democracy.
India has issued two statements since the crisis erupted, one on the morning of 2 February exhorting the Maldivian government and all its agencies to abide by the Supreme Court judgment and the second on 6 February conveying that it was ''disturbed'' at the imposition of emergency by the Maldivian government. The Supreme Court judgments issued on the evening of 6 February revoking its earlier decision to free the nine political prisoners and nullifying its ruling that the Judicial Services Commission had no mandate over the Supreme Court judges have obviously been obtained under intimidation and coercion of the security agencies.
Under the above circumstances, ''No Action'' is not an option for the Indian government. At the same time, however, its immediate response and action cannot be to put boots on the ground, although it has been reported that an armed contingent including aircraft and ground forces have been placed in readiness and is ready to swing into action at short notice.
India will need to employ a graduated approach in dealing with the evolving situation. It will also need to be in regular and constant touch with its international partners including USA, EU and other likeminded countries. Yameen appears to have adopted a brazen attitude because he might be feeling confident about China's support. China's capacity to intervene in a substantive manner in the Indian Ocean, if it were required to do so at any stage, is severely limited. India's actions are likely to receive full and whole-hearted support of the international community, except possibly China and Pakistan. Saudi Arabia and UAE who have been pouring huge funds into Maldives are likely to keep their own counsel and not come out openly in support of Yameen.
The strategic significance of Maldives for India has been growing over the last many years. In addition to the growing influence of China in the country, Maldives has been getting increasingly radicalized and coming under the influence of fundamentalist Wahhabi ideology. Islamic State (IS) and Lashkar-e-Taiba are also reported to have established bases in the country. Several hundred young men and women have deserted their homes to fight for the IS in Syria and Iraq. The rapid growth of radical Islam in India's vicinity is a matter of serious concern for India and for regional security.
This is hence an opportune moment for India to safeguard and protect its strategic interests in the region. In addition, India has about 25,000 Indian expatriates in Maldives who are engaged in a number of professional pursuits. Their safety and security is a matter of acute concern. India could be forced to take some military action if its nationals come under imminent threat. No indication of this has been evident so far.
India needs to be measured, sober, quick and firm in any action it takes. While watching and monitoring the situation closely, it needs to be battle-ready to respond to any development appropriately. In conjunction with the UN and other democratic countries, India should apply unrelenting pressure in a graduated and calibrated manner on Yameen to restore freedom and independence of the Supreme Court, lift the state of emergency, implement the 1 February judgment and ensure that Mohamed Nasheed is able to contest the Presidential election due to take place later this year. India has been getting increasingly exasperated with the unfriendly and insidious antics of Yameen over the last five years. The constitutional crisis is a welcome opportunity for India to reassert its influence in its maritime neighbourhood and to establish genuine democracy and freedom in Maldives. Much will also depend on how prolonged and unrelenting the street protests and demonstrations by the Maldivian opposition in Male are. India will be able to help and support only to the extent that the demand for democracy and freedom from within the country continues to put pressure on Yameen and his security forces.
India-Maldives Relations
The 2018 Maldivian Presidential Elections: Two-horse Race between Development and Reforms
Maldives Needs Help Now and India Alone Can Provide it
Time to Revitalise and Expand the Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives
Political Turmoil in Maldives
India and Maldives: Ties Must Be Consolidated


text:
package com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.Loaders;

import java.util.ArrayList;

import org.json.JSONArray;
import org.json.JSONException;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Context;
import android.content.IntentFilter;
import android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase;
import android.support.v4.content.AsyncTaskLoader;
import android.support.v4.content.LocalBroadcastManager;
import android.util.SparseArray;

import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.ArbiterProject;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.BaseClasses.BaseLayer;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.BaseClasses.Layer;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.BaseClasses.Server;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.BroadcastReceivers.LayerBroadcastReceiver;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.DatabaseHelpers.ApplicationDatabaseHelper;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.DatabaseHelpers.FeatureDatabaseHelper;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.DatabaseHelpers.ProjectDatabaseHelper;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.DatabaseHelpers.TableHelpers.GeometryColumnsHelper;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.DatabaseHelpers.TableHelpers.LayersHelper;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.DatabaseHelpers.TableHelpers.PreferencesHelper;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.DatabaseHelpers.TableHelpers.ServersHelper;
import com.lmn.Arbiter_Android.ProjectStructure.ProjectStructure;

public class InsertFeaturesLayersLoader extends AsyncTaskLoader<ArrayList<Layer>> {

	private LayerBroadcastReceiver loaderBroadcastReceiver = null;
	private ArrayList<Layer> layers;
	private Activity activity;
	private Context context;

	public InsertFeaturesLayersLoader(Activity activity) {
		super(activity.getApplicationContext());
		this.activity = activity;
		this.context = activity.getApplicationContext();
	}

	@Override
	public ArrayList<Layer> loadInBackground() {

		String projectName = ArbiterProject.getArbiterProject().getOpenProject(activity);

		String path = ProjectStructure.getProjectPath(projectName);

		SQLiteDatabase projectDb = getProjectDb(path);
		SQLiteDatabase featureDb = getFeatureDb(path);

		SQLiteDatabase appDb = getAppDb();

		ArrayList<Layer> layers = LayersHelper.getLayersHelper().
				getAll(projectDb);

		layers = removeLayersWithoutGeometryType(featureDb, layers);

		SparseArray<Server> servers = ServersHelper.getServersHelper().
				getAll(appDb);

		layers = addServerInfoToLayers(layers, servers);

		String json = PreferencesHelper.getHelper().get(projectDb, context, PreferencesHelper.BASE_LAYER);

		try {
			BaseLayer baseLayer = getBaseLayerFromJSON(json);

			layers = removeBaseLayerFromLayers(baseLayer, layers);
		} catch (JSONException e) {
			// TODO Auto-generated catch block
			e.printStackTrace();
		}

		return layers;
	}

	private ArrayList<Layer> removeLayersWithoutGeometryType(SQLiteDatabase featureDb, ArrayList<Layer> layers){

		Layer layer = null;

		for(int i = layers.size() - 1; i >= 0; i--){

			layer = layers.get(i);

			String geometryType = GeometryColumnsHelper.getHelper().getGeometryType(featureDb, layer.getFeatureTypeNoPrefix());

			if(geometryType == null){
				layers.remove(i);
			}
		}

		return layers;
	}

	private BaseLayer getBaseLayerFromJSON(String json) throws JSONException{

		if(json == null){
			return BaseLayer.createOSMBaseLayer();
		}

		JSONArray baseLayers = new JSONArray(json);

		return new BaseLayer(baseLayers.getJSONObject(0));
	}

	private ArrayList<Layer> removeBaseLayerFromLayers(BaseLayer baseLayer, ArrayList<Layer> layers){
		String featureType = baseLayer.getFeatureType();

		if(featureType == null || featureType.equals("null")){
			return layers;
		}

		for(int i = 0, count = layers.size(); i < count; i++){

			if(featureType.equals(layers.get(i).getFeatureType())){
				layers.remove(i);
				break;
			}
		}

		return layers;
	}

	protected ArrayList<Layer> addServerInfoToLayers(ArrayList<Layer> layers,
			SparseArray<Server> servers){
		Server server;

		for(Layer layer : layers){
			server = servers.get(layer.getServerId());
			layer.setServerName(server.getName());
			layer.setServerUrl(server.getUrl());
		}

		return layers;
	}

	private SQLiteDatabase getFeatureDb(String projectPath){

		return FeatureDatabaseHelper.getHelper(context, projectPath, false).getWritableDatabase();
	}

	private SQLiteDatabase getProjectDb(String projectPath){

		return ProjectDatabaseHelper.getHelper(context, projectPath, false).getWritableDatabase();
	}

	protected SQLiteDatabase getAppDb(){

		return ApplicationDatabaseHelper.getHelper(context).getWritableDatabase();
	}

	/**
     * Called when there is new data to deliver to the client.  The
     * super class will take care of delivering it; the implementation
     * here just adds a little more logic.
     */
    @Override public void deliverResult(ArrayList<Layer> _layers) {
        if (isReset()) {
            // An async query came in while the loader is stopped.  We
            // don't need the result.
            if (layers != null) {
          //      onReleaseResources(cursor);
            }
        }

        ArrayList<Layer> oldLayers = layers;
        layers = _layers;

        if (isStarted()) {
            // If the Loader is currently started, we can immediately
            // deliver its results.
            super.deliverResult(layers);
        }

        // At this point we can release the resources associated with
        // 'oldApps' if needed; now that the new result is delivered we
        // know that it is no longer in use.
        if (oldLayers != null) {
            onReleaseResources(oldLayers);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Handles a request to start the Loader.
     */
    @Override protected void onStartLoading() {
        if (layers != null) {
            // If we currently have a result available, deliver it
            // immediately.
            deliverResult(layers);
        }

        // Start watching for changes in the app data.
        if (loaderBroadcastReceiver == null) {
        	loaderBroadcastReceiver = new LayerBroadcastReceiver(this);
        	LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(getContext()).
        		registerReceiver(loaderBroadcastReceiver, new IntentFilter(LayersListLoader.LAYERS_LIST_UPDATED));
        }

        if (takeContentChanged() || layers == null) {
            // If the data has changed since the last time it was loaded
            // or is not currently available, start a load.
            forceLoad();
        }
    }

    /**
     * Handles a request to stop the Loader.
     */
    @Override protected void onStopLoading() {
        // Attempt to cancel the current load task if possible.
        cancelLoad();
    }

    /**
     * Handles a request to cancel a load.
     */
    @Override public void onCanceled(ArrayList<Layer> _layers) {
        super.onCanceled(_layers);

        // At this point we can release the resources associated with 'apps'
        // if needed.
        onReleaseResources(_layers);
    }

    /**
     * Handles a request to completely reset the Loader.
     */
    @Override protected void onReset() {
        super.onReset();

        // Ensure the loader is stopped
        onStopLoading();

        // At this point we can release the resources associated with 'apps'
        // if needed.
        if (layers != null) {
            onReleaseResources(layers);
            layers = null;
        }

        // Stop monitoring for changes.
        if (loaderBroadcastReceiver != null) {
        	LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(getContext()).
        		unregisterReceiver(loaderBroadcastReceiver);
            loaderBroadcastReceiver = null;
        }
    }

    /**
     * Helper function to take care of releasing resources associated
     * with an actively loaded data set.
     */
    protected void onReleaseResources(ArrayList<Layer> _projects) {
        // For a simple List<> there is nothing to do.  For something
        // like a Cursor, we would close it here.

    }
}


text:
DEBATE/PERSPECTIVE/VIEWPOINT
Will the DSM-5 and ICD-11 "Make-over" really make a difference to women's mental health?
Soumya Parameshwaran, Prabha S Chandra
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Date of Web Publication 20-Nov-2018
Prof. Prabha S Chandra
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka
DOI: 10.4103/ijsp.ijsp_34_18
The recent modifications to the classificatory systems were expected to enhance the recognition of various psychiatric conditions specific to women. Several researchers and clinicians had made specific recommendations regarding four main conditions; that is, female sexual dysfunction (FSD), perinatal psychiatric disorders (PPDs), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder and eating disorders; to improve the clinical utility of these diagnoses. While FSD has undergone considerable change with its own special place outside of mental health, not all suggestions regarding PPDs were considered. A major advance in both Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD11) has been the inclusion of the antenatal period in PPDs, which had hitherto been left out. However, two recommendations related to PPDs-increase in the time frame of the postpartum definition and inclusion of mother–infant interaction disorders were not considered, which we believe are valuable opportunities lost. Substantial changes have been included in the clinical manifestations and course of eating disorders, based on evidence and cross-cultural differences. One condition included in ICD-11 which may help women get better treatment is complex posttraumatic stress disorder. It appears that while there are some changes that are positive, more could have been achieved for women's mental health.
Keywords: Classification, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5, International Classification of Diseases-11, perinatal psychiatry, women's mental health
Parameshwaran S, Chandra PS. Will the DSM-5 and ICD-11 "Make-over" really make a difference to women's mental health?. Indian J Soc Psychiatry 2018;34, Suppl S1:79-85
Parameshwaran S, Chandra PS. Will the DSM-5 and ICD-11 "Make-over" really make a difference to women's mental health?. Indian J Soc Psychiatry [serial online] 2018 [cited 2019 Jul 16];34, Suppl S1:79-85. Available from: http://www.indjsp.org/text.asp?2018/34/5/79/245829
As early as 2010, in a special issue of the Archives of Women's Mental Health devoted to the revisions of classification, Joneson and Stewart had raised several concerns about the gender blindness of classificatory systems and the need to recognize how both biological and social constructs of sex and gender influence mental illness. They had recommended that in the updated versions of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD11), the influence of sex and gender be recognized, women's voices and expertise be included in the working groups, and there be a greater consideration of the role of social determinants.[1]
It is now time to examine if the two classificatory systems considered the above recommendations or did we lose out on this window of opportunity for women's mental health?
We examine specific disorders related to women which have seen some change in the new classificatory systems using a critical gendered lens. Three issues are being examined:
Has the new classification incorporated new scientific understanding about the condition?
Will it decrease inappropriate labeling?
Will it enhance detection of disorders significant for women and therefore help in developing services for women?
The conditions we examine in this paper include:
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD)
Perinatal psychiatric disorders (PPDs)
Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Other disorders.
The original classification of FSD, from the consensus panel meeting in 1998, was based on the linear model of female sexual response, which did not account for differences between men and women in their sexual response models. We now know that factors such as intimacy, relationship satisfaction, family beliefs, cultural beliefs, and early sexual experiences influence the presentation of FSD.[2],[3]
The DSM-5, published in May 2013, aimed to incorporate the newer philosophies of FSD while the World Health Organization (WHO) in the beta draft of ICD-11 specifies several changes in the section on FSDs.[4],[5],[6]
In ICD-11, sexual dysfunctions have now changed locations from "behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors" to a new section-"Conditions related to sexual health." It remains to be seen if this change will lead to the medicalization of FSDs or will it attenuate the boundary between mental and physical disorders, reduce stigma, and encourage more women to seek treatment? Another important question is whether these changes will spur more research into pharmacology for FSD.
DSM-5 has merged "desire" and "arousal" disorders in women into one entity called the "sexual interest/arousal disorder." The argument advanced was that they co-occur so often that they are essentially two sides of the same coin. The critics feel, however, that cooccurrence at the symptom level does not correspond to diagnostic equivalence.[7],[8] The separation of desire and arousal in women into distinct dysfunctions is also supported by genetic evidence and neuroimaging.[9],[10],[11] Research also suggests that although there is significant comorbidity between desire and arousal dysfunction, they may benefit from management that is targeted toward their distinct features.[12] There has also been much debate over elimination of the category of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in DSM-5, which went against the suggestions on classification of FSD by two expert panels in sexual medicine.[7],[8] ICD-11 has retained the diagnosis of HSDD. In ICD-11, the FSDs continue to be organized as desire, arousal, and orgasmic dysfunction, retaining the linear progression model. The criteria for each of these disorders have been made gender specific. However, this organization is different from DSM-5, creating challenges in harmonization.[6]
Female orgasmic disorder has been redefined as "marked delay in, marked inadequacy of, or absence of orgasm" and the phrase "following a normal sexual excitement phase" has been removed from DSM-5. ICD-11 has specified both frequency and intensity of orgasm in the description. While a detailed definition may be clinically useful, we need to remember that the word "orgasm" is easily understood when used in English but is difficult to communicate in many other languages.
"Sexual aversion" disorder and excessive sexual drive have been deleted from the DSM-5 and ICD-11. The former had limited empirical support and indicated more phobic or anxiety disorder rather than sexual disorder. Excessive sexual drive disorder among women had always been viewed with scepticism. Constructs of female sexuality have changed with time and this category deserved to be put to rest.[8]
The term "vaginismus" and "dyspareunia" were merged into "genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder" in DSM-5 and classified under sexual pain disorders in ICD-11.[3],[7],[11] The two disorders could not be reliably differentiated and the fear of pain or fear of penetration is commonplace in clinical descriptions of vaginismus.[13]
Both ICD-11 and DSM-5 now require a minimum duration and severity criteria. The dysfunction must also cause "clinically significant distress" and not just "interpersonal difficulty."[3],[7] The lack of a distress criterion often led to overdiagnosis of FSD and the current more stringent guidelines will avoid labelling and overdiagnosis of what is a common complaint in women due to interpersonal and relational reasons.[6]
Cultural relevance of the new face of female sexual dysfunction
In many cultures, especially those where women are not empowered and patriarchy is prevalent, both women and health-care providers are often uncomfortable discussing sexual health issues. Societal inhibitions about female sexuality and talking about sexual difficulties combined with lack of acceptable words as well as language may hamper expression, identification, and diagnosis. The advances made in the classificatory systems in the area of FSD will not be of much use unless there is a nuanced understanding of this aspect of women's lives. ICD-11 could mention cultural, linguistic, and social factors contributing to the diagnosis of FSD. A new exclusion criterion which mentions that FSD should not be explained by a consequence of severe relationship distress (e.g., partner violence) or other significant stressor is a positive step. A similar purpose is served in DSM-5 by the inclusion of "associated features" that mention partner and relationship issues, vulnerability (poor body image; sexual or emotional abuse), psychiatric comorbidity, stressors, cultural and religious factors (e.g., inhibitions related to sexual pleasure; attitudes toward sexuality), and medical factors [Table 1].[4],[6]
Table 1: Female sexual dysfunction in the new classificatory systems
Perinatal psychiatric disorders
In a special issue of a Women's Mental Health Journal, several perinatal psychiatrists had recommended changes in both the ICD and DSM to enhance the early detection of PPDs and to make it more clinically relevant and in keeping with advancement in science and policy.[14] These include extending the time frame of the onset qualifier to impact all mood disorders occurring in the first 6 months postpartum, rather than a restrictive time frame of 4 or 6 weeks and specifically mentioning early- and late-onset disorders. The rationale for extending the postpartum-onset specifier to 6 months for mood disorders was that it would enhance recognition and treatment of mental health problems in the first year after childbirth since it has significant impact on the mother and infant. The 6-week qualifier for both depression and psychoses could be used mainly for biological research. Removal of the "disorders associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors" category and the "not classified" descriptor in the ICD-10 would bring postpartum disorders into the mainstream, more in line with the DSM.
Other recommendations made in the special issue of Women's Mental Health Journal regarding PPD were as follows: inclusion of a code for mother–infant interaction difficulties to help clinicians and policy makers consider the impact of maternal mental illness on the infant; inclusion of pregnancy as an onset specifier; and the use of the word "perinatal" rather than "postpartum".[14] It was also recommended that childbirth-related trauma be included in the list of trauma for PTSD. This was considered important for better recognition of the disorder and better education regarding obstetric care.[15] Some changes have been made to PPDs in both DSM and ICD systems, but they are obviously not enough. A major positive change has been the inclusion of pregnancy as an onset specifier/qualifier for several conditions both in DSM-5 and ICD-11. However, disappointingly, the duration criterion remains the same (4–6 weeks postpartum). Mother–infant interaction disorders have not been included (even as a category requiring further research) and childbirth trauma does not appear in the section on PTSD. ICD-11 continues to have a category of "mental or behavioral disorders associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium, not elsewhere classified" with or without psychosis. This should have ideally been removed and replaced by a perinatal qualifier in all psychotic, mood, and anxiety disorders like in DSM-5, for better diagnosis, identification, and management [Table 2].[4],[5],[6]
Table 2: Comparison between the classificatory systems for perinatal psychiatric disorders
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Premenstrual mood or behavior change was officially categorized as a psychiatric disorder in DSM-IV. Critics argued that premenstrual changes were a normal part of women's experience. There was concern that "PMDD" or "PMS" was a Western cultural construct and women in Eastern societies reported more physical symptoms and rarely reported negative moods. In fact, some authors even termed PMS a culture-bound syndrome.[16],[17] PMDD has found a place both in DSM-5 and the ICD-11 draft and is included under depressive disorders. Another change in the DSM-5 is the inclusion of "provisional" if the diagnosis was made retrospectively; with the need for a prospective assessment of two symptomatic cycles to confirm the diagnosis.[4]
The argument for moving PMDD to a full-fledged diagnosis in the DSM-5 and ICD-11 is that clinical as well as epidemiological studies suggest that some women may experience severe mood symptoms that begin during the luteal phase and terminate with the onset of menses, often leading to impaired functioning in various domains, which improves with treatment.[18],[19] Without clear diagnostic boundaries, these symptoms may be dismissed or mistaken for a mood disorder. Having more stringent criteria will ensure that overdiagnosis does not occur.[20] This is one condition which definitely needs more research to ensure that medicalization of menstruation and the menstrual cycle does not happen and women are not unnecessarily labeled with a diagnosis of a mental disorder.
Complex posttraumatic stress disorder-will it help women with trauma histories get better care?
Gender differences are evident in several studies done on PTSD, which is known to be twice as common in women. Sexual abuse and interpersonal violence, which carry among the highest risk of producing PTSD, are much commoner in women. Women are also more likely to present with internalizing symptoms as opposed to men who more often report using substances.[21]
There has always been a question about the ability of the standard DSM definition of PTSD to capture the full range of trauma-related psychopathology. Critics have argued that it misses a distinct but important clinical syndrome identified originally in survivors of prolonged childhood sexual trauma, termed complex PTSD.[4] Complex PTSD is characterized by problems in the domains of interpersonal relationships, somatization, affect regulation, dissociation, and sense of self. A variation of this construct, called "disorders of extreme stress, not otherwise specified," was proposed for inclusion in DSM-IV. However, it was rejected due to concern about its overlap with PTSD and borderline personality disorder.[5],[6]
DSM-5 does not have this category but has a new dissociative subtype of PTSD. Pervasive negative mood, distorted negative cognitions, and reckless behavior, which may align with some conceptualizations of complex PTSD, have been added to the DSM-5 criteria.[7] ICD-11 has, however, proposed a new grouping termed "disorders specifically associated with stress," which would include a narrowly defined PTSD diagnosis and a new complex PTSD diagnosis, conditional on the presence of PTSD.
Complex PTSD has been proposed as a diagnosis for capturing the cluster of symptoms observed in survivors of prolonged trauma.[8] A study by Roth et al. suggested that sexually abused women, especially those who also experienced physical abuse, had a higher risk of developing complex PTSD.[9] Complex PTSD symptoms manifest as alterations in psychobiological processes associated with affect regulation (impulsivity, self-harm), attention and consciousness (dissociation), self-perception (shame, guilt), relationships with others (mistrust), somatic functioning (psychosomatic pain), and meaning in life (despair at future).[10],[11],[12] While it is to be seen how often this diagnosis will be made and accepted by clinicians, the fact that it is recognized and described, will ensure that women who are often victims of multiple trauma, are not labeled as personality disorders and are also able to access more trauma-based interventions.
ICD-11 and DSM-5 have introduced several changes in the classification of eating disorders based on the available evidence.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) has been redefined and terms such as denial, refusal, self-induced, which lack evidence and also convey a paternalistic attitude have been removed. ICD-11 guidelines focus on clearly observable behaviors and cognitions. ICD-11 provides a definition of "a significantly low body weight" for adults (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2), while DSM-5 mentions "restriction of energy intake relative to requirements" as a core aspect of the disorder. The provision of thresholds will prove important in increasing the diagnostic reliability. Both ICD-11 and DSM-5 have moved away from fatphobia as a necessary criterion for the diagnosis, by including engagement in persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain as an alternative. There is evidence that non-Western persons are less likely to express fear of gaining weight, making the new criterion more culture neutral and it will likely improve the cross-cultural validity of the disorder. ICD-11 now also avoids reference to the symptoms of starvation and associated endocrine disturbances. Symptoms of starvation separate females with AN from constitutionally underweight females. In light of attempts to define biological markers for mental disorders, the nonrecognition of endocrine alterations associated with AN (e.g., hypoleptinemia) represents a step backward.[22]
Binge eating disorder is a separate category in ICD-11. The recognition of this disorder would help avoid the overuse of the "eating disorder: Unspecified" diagnosis, which was considered to be heterogeneous and unhelpful. Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder, a new diagnosis in ICD-11 may be relevant for women with restricted eating patterns in pregnancy leading to problems in weight gain and nutritional deficiency [Table 3].[23]
Table 3: Major changes in eating disorders from International Classification of Diseases-10 to International Classification of Diseases-11
Mixed anxiety-depressive disorder, a common condition in primary care,[24] has been excluded from DSM-5. Instead, a specifier "with anxious distress" has been added to depressive and bipolar disorders. ICD-11, however, proposes to include mixed depressive and anxiety disorder, under depressive disorders. Including this condition may help patients (including women) get early treatment and prevent exacerbations to more serious psychiatric disorders.[25] It has special implications for women because perinatal depression is often associated with anxiety symptoms and frequently justifies a mixed anxiety and depression diagnosis.
A potential limitation of ICD-11 regarding conditions relevant to women is that fear of complications related to pregnancy, and fear of breast and genital diseases have not been recognized under mental and behavioral disorders. This would decrease recognition of and intervention for these conditions.
Will the ICD-11 Influence Mental Health Care for Women in Low and Middle Income Countries?
Most mental health problems that women in LAMI countries face are similar to those which women face globally. However, the context is different. There are higher rates of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms; limited psychiatric services; poor availability of psychological treatments; and lack of integration of maternal and mental health services. Lack of sex disaggregated data hampers planning and prioritization of health services, and as a consequence affects budget allocation. The WHO recommends comprehensive gender analyses and the need for integrating gender-relevant indicators in the existing national health information systems, to enhance the understanding of mental health problems among women.[26] In this context, the ICD-11 does not come up to expectations on some counts. PPDs should have got more importance both as qualifiers and with respect to time frame. It is ironical that PMDD a less common disorder in the LAMI setting is better recognized compared to perinatal depression or anxiety which are much more common and have the potential to cause significant disability. For policy decisions and resource allocation, using a time frame that includes "pregnancy and 1 year after childbirth" is important as has been shown in several studies from LAMI countries.[14] It would have also been important to mention that depression in women often manifests as physical symptoms that are medically unexplained (such as pain or vaginal discharge) and women may not meet all criteria for classical depression, hence leading to lower rates of detection. The inclusion of complex PTSD, however, is a welcome move for identifying women in conflict zones and those undergoing multiple trauma including intimate partner violence.
Will all the above changes or lack of desired changes make a difference to women's mental health? We think it will definitely have some impact. The recognition of FSDs may increase but being removed from the section on mental health in ICD-11, may result in a new category of professionals: Sexual health experts who will take over their care. While this will be less stigmatizing for women, it may also medicalize these conditions more. The impact of trauma such as partner violence and sexual trauma may be recognized more; however, childbirth-related trauma may continue to be underrecognized. In the case of PPDs clearly more could have been done. Including pregnancy as a qualifier is a positive step but restricting the time frame limits its utility. We hope that the final version of the ICD-11 will incorporate some of the suggestions made by researchers in the field and attempt to discuss conditions with a gendered lens.
In conclusion, while quoting Bob Marley's song- "No Woman, No Cry" for the positive changes in the new classificatory systems, we would say that there is no reason for women to smile either!
Johnson J, Stewart DE. DSM-V: Toward a gender sensitive approach to psychiatric diagnosis. Arch Womens Ment Health 2010;13:17-9.
Basson R. Human sex-response cycles. J Sex Marital Ther 2001;27:33-43.
Wright JJ, O'Connor KM. Female sexual dysfunction. Med Clin North Am 2015;99:607-28.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). American Psychiatric Publication; 2013.
World Health Organization. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. World Health Organization; 1992.
World Health Organization. ICD11 Beta Draft; 2017. Available from: http://www.apps.who.int/classifi cations/icd11/browse/f/en. [Last cited on 2017 Sep 15].
Derogatis LR, Sand M, Balon R, Rosen R, Parish SJ. Toward a more evidence-based nosology and nomenclature for female sexual dysfunctions-part I. J Sex Med 2016;13:1881-7.
Goldstein I, Kim NN, Clayton AH, DeRogatis LR, Giraldi A, Parish SJ, et al. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder: International society for the study of women's sexual health (ISSWSH) expert consensus panel review. Mayo Clin Proc 2017;92:114-28.
Burri A, Greven C, Leupin M, Spector T, Rahman Q. A multivariate twin study of female sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med 2012;9:2671-81.
Bishop JR, Moline J, Ellingrod VL, Schultz SK, Clayton AH. Serotonin 2A – 1438 G/A and G-protein beta3 subunit C825T polymorphisms in patients with depression and SSRI-associated sexual side-effects. Neuropsychopharmacology 2006;31:2281-8.
Arnow BA, Millheiser L, Garrett A, Lake Polan M, Glover GH, Hill KR, et al. Women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder compared to normal females: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neuroscience 2009;158:484-502.
Maserejian NN, Shifren J, Parish SJ, Segraves RT, Huang L, Rosen RC, et al. Sexual arousal and lubrication problems in women with clinically diagnosed hypoactive sexual desire disorder: Preliminary findings from the hypoactive sexual desire disorder registry for women. J Sex Marital Ther 2012;38:41-62.
Binik YM. The DSM diagnostic criteria for vaginismus. Arch Sex Behav 2010;39:278-91.
Austin MP. Classification of mental health disorders in the perinatal period: Future directions for DSM-V and ICD-11. Arch Womens Ment Health 2010;13:41-4.
Condon J. Women's mental health: A "wish-list" for the DSM V. Arch Womens Ment Health 2010;13:5-10.
Chrisler JC, Caplan P. The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde: How PMS became a cultural phenomenon and a psychiatric disorder. Annu Rev Sex Res 2002;13:274-306.
Cosgrove L, Caplan PJ. Medicalizing menstrual distress. In: Caplan PJ, Cosgrove, editors. Bias in Psychiatric Diagnosis. USA: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing group; 2004. p. 221-32.
Pearlstein TB, Halbreich U, Batzar ED, Brown CS, Endicott J, Frank E, et al. Psychosocial functioning in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder before and after treatment with sertraline or placebo. J Clin Psychiatry 2000;61:101-9.
Halbreich U, Borenstein J, Pearlstein T, Kahn LS. The prevalence, impairment, impact, and burden of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS/PMDD). Psychoneuroendocrinology 2003;28 Suppl 3:1-23.
Epperson CN, Steiner M, Hartlage SA, Eriksson E, Schmidt PJ, Jones I, et al. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Evidence for a new category for DSM-5. Am J Psychiatry 2012;169:465-75.
Tolin DF, Foa EB. Sex differences in trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder: A quantitative review of 25 years of research. Psychol Bull 2006;132:959-92.
Micali N, Hebebrand J. Anorexia nervosa through the looking glass of the draft ICD-11 diagnostic criteria: A disorder in transition. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2015;24:1149-52.
Uher R, Rutter M. Classification of feeding and eating disorders: Review of evidence and proposals for ICD-11. World Psychiatry 2012;11:80-92.
Das-Munshi J, Goldberg D, Bebbington PE, Bhugra DK, Brugha TS, Dewey ME, et al. Public health significance of mixed anxiety and depression: Beyond current classification. Br J Psychiatry 2008;192:171-7.
Möller HJ, Bandelow B, Volz HP, Barnikol UB, Seifritz E, Kasper S, et al. The relevance of 'mixed anxiety and depression' as a diagnostic category in clinical practice. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2016;266:725-36.
World Health Organization, Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence. Gender Disparities in Mental Health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. Available from: http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/242.pdf?ua=1. [Last cited on 2015 Sep 15].
Parameshwaran S
Chandra PS
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5
International Classification of Diseases-11
perinatal psychiatry
women%26#39;s mental health
Will the ICD-11 ...


For the last few years the global economy had been steadily declining, and thus putting a lot of people out of business. Now in 2014, things seem to be back on track, and the countries that were the worst sufferers are regaining their financial strength. The economic disaster that started back in 2008 has taught us quite a few lessons regarding investment. Hence, nowadays it is essential to know how to build wealth safely even when the economy is going through a tough situation. In order to avoid a financial disaster if the economic disaster strikes, it is wise to closely follow the rules which are given below.
Panic kills more than the catastrophe itself. The worst thing that you can do while an economic meltdown seems to be at doorstep is to follow the crowd and jump into the fire, and take rash decisions in the spur of a moment. The wisest thing to do is to invest where no one is treading into. Gold and treasury bonds are a safe refuge, but they lose their edge when everyone starts buying them. So, keep your focus on things which are not going well. Investing in the stocks can be a wise investment, even if the market condition is uncertain. Just hold on to it, the price is bound to rise.
An economic meltdown can also provide the perfect platform for launching your own business. During such a time, companies are in need of temporary advisers and consultants. You can easily buy a domain name with just a few dollars and can start your online business right from your home. It would help you open a second source of income which in turn may result in accumulation of wealth. Apart from business, you can also opt for part time jobs like design works, and freelance writing, in order to add some extra wealth in addition to your regular income.
The best way to build wealth even during the time of economic meltdown is to invest in real estate. You can be rest assured that the cost of the real estate is going to rise sooner or later. It is a fact that while values of all other assets depreciate, the value of real estate always appreciate. Hence, investing money in real estate can always be a lucrative choice if you want to build wealth. Emphasizing on residential properties can help you garner more income that commercial properties. As house prices are at all time low, invest money to buy houses, and just wait for the price to rise up.
It may sound bizarre but it is true that a suffering economy offers the best opportunity to implement your wealth building strategies. You can make use of this time to invest wisely and garner huge returns, thus building considerable wealth. All that you need to do is to identify the right market condition and the right place to invest.
Got any other ideas to building wealth in a difficult economy? Please share them in the comments section below.


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Arts & Life Arts & Entertainment The Arts
Yeomen the fascinating dark horse of Gilbert and Sullivan operas
Posted: 04/6/2018 1:51 PM	| Last Modified: 04/6/2018 6:25 PM	| Updates	| Comments:
GARY BARRINGER
Sam Plett (left) and Jean van der Merwe appear in a scene from The Yeomen of the Guard.
This article was published 6/4/2018 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Hark, all those who might wrongly believe librettist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan only wrote comic operas filled with jibes, jokes and jolly tra-la-las. Get thee hence to The Yeomen of the Guard.
The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Winnipeg presented the fascinating dark horse of the Victorian writing team's "Savoy operas" that premièred in 1888, with the 130-year old chestnut set in the mid-16th century. It's rife with Shakespearean-style prose but still packs an emotional wallop, rivalling the loftiest grand operas of more "serious" composers as Verdi and Puccini.
Last staged here in 2008, the 150-minute (including intermission) production directed by Reid Harrison features an all-Manitoba cast with a particularly strong orchestra led by music director/conductor Michelle Mourre, now in her fifth year on the G & S podium.
The opera tells the tale of Colonel Fairfax, sentenced to death on false charges of sorcery, who secretly weds singer Elsie Maynard to avoid leaving his estate to his cousin accuser. With the help of Sergeant Meryll and his family, the colonel escapes, only to return as "Leonard Meryll" and back into Elsie's arms as her lovesick jester Jack Point collapses from heartbreak.
Having pointed out the emotional undertow of this work, it's important to also mention there are still plenty of laughs along the way during its twisting, convoluted plot, with the story's principal characters brought to life by some fine performers.
One of those is Nick Urquhart, who breathed fire into his role as Wilf Shadbolt every time he came onstage. He crafted a swaggering, cocksure head jailer who attempts to woo Zoe Gotziaman's pouty ingénue Phoebe with "anecdotes of the torture chamber." Urquhart also displayed keen acting skills and razor-sharp comic timing, matched by his penetrating vocals heard in Hereupon we're both agreed, among others, sung with relish.
Jayne Hammond's "strolling singer" Elsie Maynard is another standout, her clear soprano voice soaring over opening-night's crowd of 274 during her lyrical solo Tis done! I am a bride!
Nick Urguhart and Zoë Gotziaman act in a scene from The Yeomen of the Guard.
Jonathan Stitt also crafted a believable Colonel Fairfax — and even more so after losing his goofy beard from Act I as he morphs into his doppelganger "Leonard." He projected assured confidence during his two solo arias, Is life a boon? and later, a compelling Free from his fetters grim, despite some slight tension in his upper range.
What a joy to see two pillars of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society doing what they love best. Cathryn Harrison delivered a crisply enunciated When our gallant Norman foes as Tower housekeeper/spinster Dame Carruthers in love with the always incomparable Fred Cross's Sergeant Meryll. Cross's plot-driving portrayal infused the entire production with dignified gravitas, with this beloved singing-actor seemingly born to perform Gilbert & Sullivan, while spewing out "thee's" and "thou's" as naturally as reciting his own name.
Ben Townsley makes every minute count as the "real" Leonard Meryll during his brief stage time, with his less-is-more portrayal adding to Act I trio Alas! I waver to and fro, while Sam Plett also brought his booming bass-baritone voice to his role as Lieutenant Cholmondeley.
The chorus of townspeople and Yeomen (whose bright red "beefeater" uniforms and white ruffs popped like candy apples against Sheldon Johnson's Tower of London set) filled the stage with energy during each of their ensemble numbers.
Yeomen is arguably really Jack Point's story, and Jean Van Der Merwe rises to the challenge of filling his seemingly jolly character with well-nuanced, aching vulnerability. He navigated his two tongue-twisting patter solos, "I've jibe and joke" and "Oh! a private buffoon is a light-hearted loon" with crisp confidence, that belies the darker emotional undertow that begins to take root after his beloved Elsie begins slipping away from his grasp. His collapsing during the joyous finale, Comes the pretty young bride, clutching Elsie's wedding bouquet as she gives her heart to Colonel Fairfax is as good as it gets — breaking our hearts just as his has cracked open in grief.
It admittedly took a while for this show to get going, with some dialogue feeling sluggish, and several early amplification issues that were quickly resolved. The opera itself is also unevenly paced (be forewarned), with Act I clocking in at nearly 90 minutes, followed by a significantly shorter second half. Cutting several of the Act I arias should be considered in future.
Harrison creates several particularly compelling stage tableaux, including a darkly disguised executioner poised with his blade just before intermission, and the final stage picture of the slumped over jester against the wedding revelers. The production rounds out with effective lighting by Rob Mravnik and realistic period costumes created by Jan Malabar and Harlequin Costumes.
With The Yeomen of the Guard traditionally billed as a comic opera, it feels folly to call it thus. However, let's just say Gilbert and Sullivan's venerable work remains one for the ages, with its potent themes of love and loss still shuddering across generations.
Opera review
The Yeomen of the Guard
The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Winnipeg
Performances Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Pantages Playhouse Theatre
Updated on Friday, April 6, 2018 at 3:21 PM CDT: Corrects photo caption.
6:25 PM: fixes typo in story


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Jakobs Colours
Dátum vydania: 11. apríla 2015
Vydavateľstvo: Hodder & Stoughton
Rozmery: 2,4 cm x 14 cm x 21,6 cm
Autor: Hawdon Lindsay
Cena v e-shope: 16,10 €
O knihe: This heartbreaking and tender novel will appeal to readers who loved Sophie's Choice, Schindler's Ark and The Book Thief. Austria, 1944. Jakob, a gypsy boy - half Roma, half Yenish - runs, as he has been told to do. With shoes of sack cloth, still bloodstained with another's blood, a stone clutched in one hand, a small wooden box in the other. He runs blindly, full of fear, empty of hope. For hope lies behind him in a green field with a tree that stands shaped like a Y. He knows how to read the land, the sky. When to seek shelter, when not. He has grown up directing himself with the wind and the shadows. They are familiar to him. It is the loneliness that is not. He has never, until this time, been so alone. " Don't be afraid, Jakob," his father has told him, his voice weak and wavering. "See the colours, my boy," he has whispered. So he does. Rusted ochre from a mossy bough. Steely white from the sap of the youngest tree. On and on, Jakob runs. Spanning from one world war to another, taking us across England, Switzerland and Austria, Jakob's Colours is about the painful legacies passed down from one generation to another, finding hope where there is no hope and colour where there is no colour.


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Book and movie review: 'The Art of Racing in the Rain'
"The Art of Racing in the Rain" will pull at your heartstrings, both the movie and the book.
Graphic by Natalie Brink
A Look at the Book
Natalie Brink, News Editor
When I picked up Garth Stein's "The Art of Racing in the Rain" in a frenzied rush to read it the night before I had to write an essay about it, I didn't expect to cry at the first chapter. Since it was a book for school, I thought it would be as dry and boring as all the other required books in English. I was very wrong.
"The Art of Racing in the Rain" is a dramatic novel that follows racecar driver Danny Swift and his family through the eyes of his faithful golden retriever, Enzo. The driver and dog support each other through the trials of life. From Danny's relationship with a woman Enzo feels he can't compete with, to babies, the harsh realities of a racing career and a cunning murder of crows that torments Enzo.
The emotional impact this book has had on me is immense. Usually, when a dog narrates a story, it has an overall comical effect. This novel had funny moments (see: a murder of crows that torments Enzo), but the main tone is sensitive and full of humanity. Enzo's narration offers the readers an innocent lens with which they can witness the heartbreaking story. A human voice would taint the story, add grudges and bitterness. But a dog narrator removes these negative burdens from the storytelling. Enzo still dislikes some characters, but not in a way that distracts from the plot, like what would happen if Danny was the story's narrator. Using a dog as the narrator was a brilliant twist to the drama genre.
The characters in this book are all wonderfully crafted. They come across as living people, and I do not know how Stein does it. I do know that these rich characters allow for complex relationships to form between them. And even Enzo is a well thought out, fully realized character. His noverbal relationships with Danny and, begrudgingly, Eve (Danny's love interest) seem realistic, even with one of the characters being a dog. Enzo even becomes the protector of their daughter Zoë, which is truly the most touching relationship in the book.
Every reader knows where the book ends to some extent, because the first chapter takes place when Enzo is old and dying. It also features a dog as its main character, so his death is no real surprise. Still, the ending hit me like a bag of wet cement. To this day, I can't reread the book (I usually reread books that I love) because of how it ends ー and also because how it starts. It makes narrative sense as to why Stein framed his story this way, but I wish the book ended differently. I should mention the book has an epilogue of sorts to soothe the pain of the ending. So if you end up reading it you won't be completely devastated, just mostly devastated.
I read this book freshman year, and it is still one of my favorite books. Certain moments are so poignant that they stay with me still. Such as Enzo knowing a terrible truth about Eve but not being able to tell anybody because he is a dog. Or Enzo's rivalry with the crows that winds up with him tricking them into eating his own waste. This is a book capable of slipping into your thoughts days or years after you have read it, and I think that is something only extraordinary stories can do.
If you love dogs in any way, shape or form this book with be both a really distressing and a really uplifting read. If you love books in any way, shape or form this book has a wealth of literary merit for you to uncover. It will make you cry one moment, but laugh the next. It is a complex family drama that grips you until the very last page. My advice is that anyone looking for a genuinely touching, intimate story about the life of a family should pick up this book. You will most likely cry more than once, but if you are willing to read it, you will uncover the delightful storytelling that Stein has to offer. Just take a deep breath and dive in.
Natalie Brink is a senior, and this is her third year on the Vandegrift Voice staff. In the spring, she competes in UIL journalism. When she has free time she reads as much as she can and walks her dog. She hopes to pursue a career in journalism after graduation.
A Look at the Movie
Claire Lawrence, Entertainment Editor
Last night I decided to sit down, test my emotions and finally watch "The Art of Racing in the Rain," a dramatic and romantic yet comical film that put the incredible story by Garth Stein on the silver screen. Directed by Simon Curtis, this magical adaptation stars both well-known and arising actors, such as Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried and Kevin Costner, who voices the adorable golden retriever, Enzo.
This creative film features a love story like no other. Following not only the relationship of Denny, played by Ventimiglia, and Eve, played by Seyfried, but also the bond between a man and his dog, it's already a movie bound to captivate audiences of all ages. The story starts will Denny's spontaneous decision to buy a puppy one afternoon and picking Enzo out from the liter. Named after a Ferrari, this adventurous pup and busy racecar driver begin their journey together in the urban area of Seattle. Once Eve, Denny's love interest, steps into the picture, the story takes a bit of a turn. The audience relives the life of a family: getting married, buying a house, settling down. All of these experiences are pictured not only in the perspective of Enzo, keeping some shots private and secretive, but also narrated by him.
Diving head first into one of the biggest aspects of this film that caught my attention, I would have to say the cinematography was phenomenal and perfectly captured all angles and moods necessary for telling such a heart-felt story. Most of the shots are done normally, with cameras focusing on family aspect and picturing the dog living alongside them, but some were done from the dogs perspective. The audience gets to see Enzo's world through his own eyes, with close-up shots on Denny, Eve and their daughter, Zoë, whenever they were eating dinner, playing in the yard or having important conversations in the kitchen. Along with the interesting shots that were taken from the angle, producers also managed to incorporate a coloring scheme that informed the audience on the mood of a scene or to represent the progression in emotion. There was one moment when the shots were montaged together, showing a passing in time. As the montage went on for longer, shots got darker, with cloudy skies or dim house lighting to convey something monumental was about to occur in the plot.
Another thing I applaud the screenwriters for is managing to not stray far from the original meaning behind a story like this, and managing to keep an audience engaged without too many negative emotions involved. I mean come on, it's a movie where the main character is a dog, and you go in expecting it to NOT make you cry? Ridiculous. "The Art of Racing in the Rain" had the perfect balance of emotion to keep things interesting without drowning the viewers in tears. I feel as if too much emotion would've caused the film to lose sight of the overall message that's told at the end. There were several moments that kept me guessing and just the right amount of scenes to get my eyes watery.
Now, I am not one to cry during movies, so it's rare for me to write a review where I can say that I was genuinely emotional for at least half of this movie. It's one of those classic story-lines that hit close to home and manage to top my list of "Top Five Saddest Things Ever Watched." I'm glad I had my best friend by my side the entire time, because at least then I wouldn't be an awkward bundle of blankets crying on my couch, alone in the middle of the night. I had someone to share my emotions with. If you are interested in seeing this movie, which you should be, because it's a cinematic masterpiece, I suggest taking a loved one you (preferably a dog). That way, you can have a fluffy shoulder to cry on when things get crazy and a companion to hug once it ends. After all, you should cherish every bit of time you have, because you never know when the rain will wash them away.
Claire Lawrence, Opinions Editor
Claire Lawrence is a senior and this is her third year on the newspaper staff. She wants to study journalism in college and eventually become the editor of a successful publication. She also enjoys theater and writing music.
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