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Prince: Batman Motion Picture Soundtrack 30 Years Old Today
Posted on 20/06/2019 by Matt P (movingtheriver.com, soundsofsurprise.com)
At the beginning of 1989, the tabloids were full of rumours that Prince was in dire financial straits.
While that seems unlikely, with hindsight it does seem a curious decision for him to take on a soundtrack gig for such a huge mainstream movie, stepping right into the belly of the Warner Bros. beast.
But then it's also not much of a surprise that he smashed Batman out of the park. On many levels, it was the perfect project for the time – the movie's themes appealed to his post-Lovesexy spiritual concerns and also tapped into his own feelings about fatherhood. He explored those themes poignantly on 'The Future' and 'Vicki Waiting'.
Musically, in the main he retreated from Lovesexy's album's dense, complex, band-inspired sounds and went back to a minimalist approach, pushing his guitar right to the fore and making liberal use of samplers and a Fairlight.
But even though 'The Future', 'Electric Chair', 'Partyman', 'Batdance' and 'Lemon Crush' are essentially one-chord jams, Prince knows exactly how to hold the attention with false endings, escalating riffs, hysterical guitar solos and quirky chord voicings. The net result is a somewhat forbidding but still undeniably funky album.
Also he doesn't scrimp on the dancefloor classics – put on 'Partyman', 'Trust' or 'Batdance' (a UK #2 and US #1) and to this day you'll get any party started. Elsewhere, 'Scandalous' is a brilliantly-sung, sometimes funny seduction ballad in the tradition of 'Do Me Baby' and 'International Lover', while 'The Arms Of Orion' is a pretty – if somewhat trite – ballad.
The album was a smash hit, selling over a million copies in its first week of release and becoming his first US #1 album since Around The World In A Day. Prince was almost returning to his Purple Rain popularity, no doubt helped by the huge success of the movie too.
But this kind of mainstream success was short-lived. Something was eating him up inside – in typical form, he regrouped immediately and took on a deeply personal project, the doomed Graffiti Bridge movie/album.
It was a funny old end to the decade. But a totally Prince one. Probably his least-remembered album of the '80s – though arguably the last great album he delivered – Batman is ripe for rediscovery as we reach more end-of-the-decade, spiritual/political uncertainty.
Posted in 1989, Album Reviews, Funk, Pop, Prince	/ Tagged batdance, batman, partyman, prince, purplerain, sheenaeaston, thearmsoforion, warnerbros	/ Leave a comment
Book Review: Prince And The Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions by Duane Tudahl
There aren't many titles in the 'complete studio sessions' pop library. Mark Lewisohn and others have done sterling work in this area on the Beatles, and Elvis's career has been similarly scrutinised. But the relative lack of material begs the question – do we really want to know everything about our icons' recording histories?
When it comes to Prince, the answer may be a resounding yes, since his mystique is so bound up with his status as a master multi-instrumentalist, famously with hundreds of unreleased songs in the studio vaults.
So such a book was probably only a matter of time, but fair play to Duane Tudahl for 'The Purple Rain Studio Sessions', a mainly fascinating day-to-day diary of Prince's studio work (at LA's Sunset Sound and various facilities and warehouses around Minneapolis) when he was recording the songs that made up Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day and key side projects with Sheila E, Jill Jones, Stevie Nicks, The Time and The Family.
The first half of the book is fascinating for three reasons – it outlines the vengeful decline of one band (The Time) and the adrenalized formation of two others (The Revolution and The Family), though you have to be a major fan of the former to enjoy these sections. It also captures Prince at a crucial juncture in his career, when he was going from mid-table journeyman to title contender.
What comes across loud and clear in the second half is the relentless forward motion of Prince's creative drive – for example, just a week before the start of his Purple Rain tour, he was completing work on both the Around The World In A Day and The Family albums! We also get a real sense of his famously-short attention span – he curtailed the Purple Rain tour at its absolute peak, bored of the material after only six months.
But the bane of the book is repetition. Too many calendar days are similar – there's only so much you can say about two weeks of 'Baby I'm A Star' overdubs. In Tudahl's need to flesh out sometimes fairly uneventful studio days, he uses variations on very similar quotes.
But he also gets some great interview material from almost all of the major players, and there are plenty of revelations and interesting theories – he reveals that 'When Doves Cry' was written on Tuesday 1st March 1984, two days after Prince lost two Grammy awards to Michael Jackson. Did this double setback prompt some fairly uncharacteristic introspection, spawning his biggest hit?
Prince is also revealed as a major Springsteen fan, bringing the saxophone sound into his music mainly due to Clarence Clemons' playing with The Boss. Then there's his little-known charity work, including a touching photo of a gig at a Minneapolis deaf school, and we also get an insight into his fear before the first night of the Purple Rain tour.
There are also interesting comments about Prince's business deals – Wendy Melvoin: 'Collaboration with Prince was a reality, but it didn't pay the bills.' Her sister Susannah goes as far as to say that Prince would test people's loyalty by paying terrible money. These are tantalising – if troubling – morsels, never fully explored by Tudahl.
But he gets closer than most to revealing the true Prince, warts and all. Spoiler alert: some of it isn't pretty. 'The Purple Rain Studio Sessions' is a major achievement and a real labour of love. The years of research have certainly paid off. It's a vital buy for hardcore Prince fans, but arguably only the second best book on the Minneapolis master – just pipped at the post by Per Nilsen's 'Prince: The First Decade'.
'Prince And The Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions' by Duane Tudahl is published by Rowman & Littlefield
Posted in Book Reviews, Prince	/ Tagged duanetudahl, jilljones, lisacoleman, prince, purplerain, sheilae, susannahmelvoin, thefamily, therevolution, thetime, wendyandlisa, wendymelvoin	/ 2 Comments
Story Of A Song: Jill Jones' Violet Blue
When Prince appeared on the box the other day, my mum expressed her approval. I ask why, and without hesitation she offered: 'He respected and promoted women'. It struck me initially as a weird reason but upon further reflection seemed spot-on.
He wrote many songs from a female perspective in the early '80s, many of which have never seen the light of day. Then there was Vanity/Apollonia 6 – dubious acts for some, but without too much moral adjustment you could interpret them as 'women reclaiming their right to enjoy sex'.
Then there were Prince's striking collaborations with a variety of strong, independent characters: Ingrid Chavez, Sheila E, Sheena Easton, Dale Bozzio, Mavis Staples, Cat Glover, Elisa Fiorillo, Bonnie Raitt, Nona Hendryx, Wendy & Lisa, Susan Rogers and Peggy McCreary. How many other male pop icons can boast such a coterie of female cohorts?
Then there was Jill Jones. With hindsight, her 1987 debut album, released on Prince's Paisley Park Records, is one of the great missed opportunities of his career, and its standout song 'Violet Blue' particularly demonstrates why.
The album started in the summer of 1983 during the filming of 'Purple Rain' (featuring Jill's less-than-stellar cameo), when she replaced Prince's guide vocal on 'Mia Bocca'. Sadly he didn't find time to resume work on the record until over two years later. Consequently, it's very uneven, with some decent material ('For Love', 'My Man') mixed in with middling Prince outtakes, covers and B-sides ('All Day, All Night', 'G-Spot', 'With You') and undone by rushed arrangements and drastic changes in tone.
'Violet Blue', recorded at LA's Sunset Sound in October 1986, was the last song put down for the album. Quite simply, it shows what the record could have been, and, frankly, how much Prince (and Jill) had developed between 1983 and 1986 – the vocal intro and accordion breakdown are two cases in point, not to mention the interesting chord progression and superb horn (Eric Leeds) and string (Clare Fischer) arrangements. Jill delivers a knockout vocal too, even throwing in a neat little Nancy Wilson impression via Dinah Washington.
Sadly the Jill Jones album sank without trace. She has recorded intermittently since, contributing a great guest vocal on Ryuichi Sakamoto's 'You Do Me' and playing low-key gigs. She's always a refreshing presence.
Posted in 1987, Jill Jones, Pop, Prince, Song Stories	/ Tagged 1987, clarefischer, ericleeds, jilljones, paisleypark, prince, ryuichisakamoto, violetblue	/ 1 Comment
Prince: The Lovesexy Tour @ 30
I haven't kept many VHS cassettes: 'Steve Martin Live', Japan's 'Oil On Canvas' and King Crimson's 'The Noise' are probably lurking around somewhere, and two vids that definitely won't be hitting the charity shop any time soon are Prince's 'Lovesexy Live: Volumes 1 and 2' (still unavailable on DVD…).
The Lovesexy tour kicked off 30 years ago this week, on 8th July 1988 at Paris's Palais Omnisport. The seven-month jaunt, taking in Europe, North America and Japan, was arguably Prince's greatest ever.
A spectacular in-the-round stage set was designed as a kind of 'fantasy island', half a playground and half a dreamscape, with curtains, a mini basketball court, brass bed, swing set and a Ford T-Bird which Prince 'drove' around the stage at the start of the show.
The Lovesexy tour band: left to right, Cat Glover, Dr Fink, Boni Boyer, Miko Weaver, Eric Leeds, Prince, Levi Seacer Jr., Matt Blistan, Sheila E
Taped on the last night of the European tour – 9th September 1988, at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany – 'Lovesexy Live' still makes for a thrilling watch. First, the music: this band could turn on a dime. It's hard to imagine any other set of musicians from the era pulling off the 'Adore'/'Jack U Off'/'Sister' medley. Prince's guitar playing is at its best, with creamy, delay-drenched distortion and tight, tasty Telecaster.
And of all the '80s 'pop' acts who incorporated jazz into their work, Prince may be the most successful. In collaboration with his superb horn section (Eric Leeds on saxes, Matt Blistan on trumpet), he often went back to the source: Ellington's 'Things Ain't What They Used To Be' and Charlie Parker's 'Billie's Bounce' infiltrate 'Blues In C/If I Had A Harem', and Blistan occasionally quotes from 'It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing'). Meanwhile Sheila E brings the Bay Area jazz/rock sound so beloved of Prince. Her solo feature is a highlight of his '80s live work.
Then there's the 'story'. The Lovesexy show is structured like one of those old Warner Bros gangster pictures – in the first half (lucky for us), we see an 'evil' Prince, seduced by the sins of the flesh and tempted by drugs, money and criminality, giving him an excuse to dust off Black Album standouts 'Superfunkicalifragisexy' and 'Bob George'.
Then there's punishment, atonement and spiritual conversion. Yes, y'all, the second half of the show is 'God stuff'. But if you don't go along with it, the music is enough of a spiritual experience anyway. Anyway, Prince certainly seems genuinely transported during 'Anna Stesia' and 'I Wish U Heaven'.
Europe couldn't get enough of the tour. There were no less than seven nights at London's Wembley Arena and a series of famous after-show gigs, particularly at the Camden Palace on 25th July when Mica Paris was picked out from the crowd to sing 'Just My Imagination' and Ron Wood joined Prince onstage for a memorable 'Miss You' (see below).
Ticket sales were not so good in the States (14th September to 29th November) where apparently Prince struggled to sell out many arenas, despite it being his first major tour there for over three years. But normal service was resumed when the Japan leg kicked off in early February 1989. The last night of the tour on the 13th was apparently an exceptionally emotional one.
When Prince got home to Minneapolis, he commenced work on the 'Batman' soundtrack, another project about the duality of man. It's not hard to see where his head was at as the '80s drew to a close.
Posted in 1988, Funk, Live Reviews, Pop, Prince, Rock, Soul	/ Tagged boniboyer, catglover, drfink, ericleeds, lovesexy, mattblistan, micaparis, prince, ronniewood, sheilae	/ 2 Comments
Prince's Lovesexy: 30 Years Old Today
Why is Lovesexy probably Prince's least-heralded, least-mentioned album of the 1980s? Even Dirty Mind, Controversy and Batman seem to get a better rap these days.
The cover photo said it all – this was Prince's 'spiritual rebirth' album, and you were either in or you were out. Lovesexy was also a response to his alleged dabbling with psychedelic drugs (apparently taking place on 1st December 1987) that shook him to his core, and also a response to the highly sexualised, uncharacteristically angry Black Album. He once said, 'I realised that if I released that album and died, that's what people would remember me for. I could feel this wind and I knew I was doing the wrong thing…'
So Prince shelved The Black Album – Lovesexy was the speedily-recorded, musically-rich antidote. It's one of the most challenging albums of Prince's career but also one of the most rewarding. From the opening synth chords and Ingrid Chavez's brief 'poetry', it's clear that this is something pretty special. And different.
The horn arrangements are downright loopy throughout. Discordant, dissonant. Instruments are layered to sometimes disconcerting effect. Comparisons to Zappa are not inappropriate. Prince also dials in a lot of his spiritual concerns, with God competing against the Devil (or 'Spooky Electric'), the purity of the spiritual life competing against the sins of the flesh. With a few jokes.
For many, including saxophonist Eric Leeds, the result was a bit of a mess: 'I thought it was going to be a great album, but when I heard the final mixes, I was very disappointed. I thought he had completely over-produced the music…' But the savvy so-and-so that Prince was, he was also careful to throw in three of his most irresistible, 'throwaway' pop tunes – 'Alphabet Street', 'Dance On' and 'I Wish U Heaven' – and one of the finest ballads of his career, 'When 2 R In Love'.
At once scary, profound, silly, funny, romantic and outrageous, Lovesexy still sounds fantastic 30 years on. It was Prince's first UK number one album and spawned probably the best tour of his career. Here's how prolific he was at the time – Sign 'O' The Times had only come out a year before. And many in Prince's camp believed that the Sign album and tour had a lot more legs, and that releasing Lovesexy so soon killed them off. We'll never know. But we do know now that he was coming towards the end of his Purple patch.
Posted in 1988, Album Reviews, Pop, Prince	/ Tagged ingridchavez, lovesexy, paisleypark, prince, theblackalbum	/ 1 Comment
Gig Review: The Revolution @ The Showbox, 15th July 2017
Our man in Seattle: Sebastian Wright.
A warm Seattle evening, just steps away from the iconic Pike Place Market. One of the definitive bands of the '80s are getting ready to take the stage. But one member, the lead vocalist, is famously and notably absent. How can they pay tribute without becoming a tribute act?
The Revolution are close to the end of their 29-date North American tour. Reformed with the original line-up, they provided backup for Prince throughout his creative zenith (1980-86). It's hard to think of a band who funked as hard in that era. And tonight, that's what shines through.
The Revolution, 2017: From left, Brown Mark, Dr Fink, Bobby Z, Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin and guest Dez Dickerson
Gone are the '80s fashions, the side partings, ruffs and glitter (though keyboard player Dr Fink maintains his scrubs and stethoscope). This is not a celebration of the past but rather a testament to how relevant Prince's music remains today. In the diverse, 1,100 capacity Showbox crowd, there is no hint of irony or throwback-chic. These people, many of them tattooed with Prince's 'symbol' motif, came to party. And from the opening bars of 'Computer Blue', party is what they do.
What follows is a two-hour set of peerless pop classics. There are no overwrought solos, no extended jams. Nothing outstays its welcome or is embellished. Wendy takes lead guitar but keeps true to her original riffs instead of trying to mimic Prince's soloing. It's a joy to hear a band this tight and disciplined. Their use of vintage keyboards and drum machines, at chest- splitting volume, has a transportive effect.
Joined by guest vocalist Stokley Williams, The Revolution power through 'Uptown' and 'DMSR' until noticeably dropping the energy level (and losing the crowd) with two tracks from Prince's vault of unreleased songs. Then it's back to the dancefloor, tearing through 'Erotic City', 'Let's Work' and '1999', until their next break in pace: Wendy and Lisa's quiet, melancholic and clearly deeply personal tribute to their missing bandleader, 'Sometimes It Snows In April'.
It's at this point that you hear the tears from fans who continue to be touched by the passing of their innovative, imaginative hero. For many, this is a moment of quiet reflection, surrounded by like-minded people – a cathartic release for all, including a visibly upset Wendy. As the show goes on, climaxing with 'Purple Rain', the band are overwhelmed by the ecstatic energy of the crowd.
It's not hard to understand how The Revolution, all now in their mid-50s, can keep up with touring such a high-energy show. The passion of the music, camaraderie of the players and discipline of their act transform the audience into just what they lack: their missing frontman.
Posted in Live Reviews, Prince, The Revolution, Wendy & Lisa	/ Tagged bobbyz, brownmark, drfink, lisacoleman, prince, stokleywilliams, therevolution, wendyandlisa, wendymelvoin	/ Leave a comment
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Alaska embodies the essence of our most noble ambitions: exploration, discovery, independence and determination. Ours was a bootstrap scramble for survival. Our pride is based on a long struggle to get where we are today, and our sense of place stems from the natural beauty we awake to each day.
Alaska is wonderful in its nuance and peculiar in its contrasts. It will pique your imagination and leave you inspired, not to mention curious about the seemingly average people that call this corner of the country home. Don't be fooled – Alaskans choose this place for a reason, and you will never meet more wonderful and eccentric people.
Of course, there is a lot of "normal" life to be explored. We have great restaurants, unbeatable views, shops, flowers, live jazz outdoors in the summer and a hodgepodge of cultures that span thousands of years and the flags of four nations. We ski to work, bike the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and see moose on our daily commutes. We love our FedEx hub, our access to international destinations and our quality of life.


The U.S. government authorizes paper money to use as currency. The $1 bill contains intricate markings to make it difficult for counterfeiters to pass off a fake dollar as the real thing. Merchants can refuse to accept a dollar bill if they think it's counterfeit. The way a dollar bill looks has changed many times since the United States started using paper currency in 1862. The series reflects that changes have been made.
The modern $1 Federal Reserve Notes used today date from 1963. From 1963 to 2009, 22 series have been issued. Many collectors like to try to find a dollar from each series. Another way to collect by series is to pick one series and find an issue from each of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. The Federal Reserve System serves as the nation's central bank. It has 12 regional locations. You can tell which Federal Bank printed any particular dollar by its letter designation. For example, Boston is "A," New York is "B," Philadelphia is "C," Cleveland is "D," Richmond is "E," Atlanta is "F," Chicago is "G," St. Louis is "H," Minneapolis is "I," Kansas City is "J," Dallas is "K" and San Francisco is "L." The Federal Reserve Seal with its corresponding letter is located to the left of George Washington and is the first letter on the dollar's serial number.
The series of a dollar bill is indicated by a year. It's located on the lower-right side of the bill, between George Washington's portrait and the Secretary of the Treasury's signature. The word "series" is above the year.
The series year changes on a dollar bill only when a change has occurred. A design change, a new Secretary of the Treasury and a new Treasurer of the United States require a new series year to be displayed on the $1 bill. The date displayed is the year the change was made, such as 2006. But if the change was from a new Treasurer of the United States, a letter suffix is added after the year. If that happens, the series might read 1981A, for example.
The serial number, another significant marking on the $1 bill, makes each bill unique. It appears twice: on the upper-right side of the bill and on the lower-left side. The serial number starts with a letter that indicates which of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks printed the bill. It ends with a letter that indicates the run. "A" would indicate the first run, "B" the second and so on up to "Z." For example, because the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta is letter "F," the first bill in the first run would be F00000001A. The first bill in the second run would be F00000001B.
Coin Community: US One Dollar Note Facts -- Series Years, Types, Seal Colors, Etc.


text:
How do you really feel?
Time for a rant on the city I have called home for close to 30 years.
Two things are of keen interest right now in Charlotte. Our lone item of mass transit, the LYNX light rail train, has finally expanded to my old school, UNC Charlotte. It now runs from UNCC, down Tryon Street, into the North Davidson arts district (or NoDa), through uptown, down South Blvd to the southern tip of town at I-485. The southern leg opened in 2007 and has spawned about 47 gazillion dollars in new development, the vast majority of which is super-extra-hoosey-doosey-I'm-better-than-you-because-I-have-$3000-to-spend-on-rent apartments and micro-breweries. Throughout the city, similar apartment buildings are going up. In 2018, if you want to rent an apartment in Charlotte, you have 3 choices:
1) Pay $1,200 per month at the absolute, bare minimum, but be prepared to pay closer to $2,000.
2) Choose a 40-year-old unit that is so dilapidated that you really need to have one of the maintenance staff live with you as a roommate for when something breaks every week.
3) Buy a piece and move to the 'hood.
My wife and I are using option 2 at the moment.
The city is about 40,000 units short of reasonable, affordable places to live for people who make less than 80% of the median income (about $56,000). Nothing is being built except these luxury $2,000-$3,000 per month units. And with the train line now expanded, even more of the high-end units are being built or planned near the tracks.
This highlights both the housing crisis and the transportation crisis. As far as transportation goes Charlotte really needs 3 very long train lines – the current one extended to Concord to the north and Rock Hill SC to the south, a line from Statesville through town to Ballantyne, and one from Gastonia to the airport through town to Monroe. At the absolute minimum, the first thing that should have been built is something from the airport to uptown. But of course, politicians are beholden to whoever gives them the most campaign contributions, and the west side is the least affluent side of town, so the affluent south side got the first train line. While what I have stated here is a true regional mass transit system, the only thing that is really in play are lines within the county, with the possible exception of the north line, which could go as far north as Mooresville. And even this is going to cost $6 billion. Adding to the headache is the mindset of President Trump, who wants to reduce the Federal share of road/transit building – a legitimate Constitutional responsibility of government – from 50% to 30%, while spending more money on more military than we need, nation-building abroad, and fighting the "war on drugs – none of which are legitimate Constitutional responsibilities of government. Of course, that's part of why I didn't vote for him (#VoteLibertarian). But I digress. So, Charlotte probably cannot count on more than $1.8 billion of Federal dollars for those lines. The state of NC paid 25% of the first line. However, the state legislature is mainly comprised of Bible-thumping redneck farmers that hate the city of Charlotte with a fiery, burning passion. They'll find some excuse to cut that down to 15% (like funding some pet project of a state Senator in a rural county with 20,000 people to headquarter their "Bring Back Prohibition" movement with a shiny new building or something equally dumb). So that's probably just $900 million coming from state coffers. This would leave Charlotte finding $3.billion on its own. To put that in perspective, the current half-cent sales tax that was approved by voters in 1998 was supposed to raise $1 billion over 25 years (as if the tax would be repealed in 2023, ha, ha!). That's $40 million a year. Thanks to the recession of 2001 and the depression of 2008-09, those numbers haven't come in. As of now, there's about $93 million left that the tax is expected to generate in its original lifetime. But nearly every dollar of that is already spoken for.
So how do we come up with $3.3 billion for badly-needed transit and at least another $1 billion to build places for the working-class people to live?
Two columns that recently appeared in the Charlotte Observer opinion page addressed those issues. The transit issue was addressed by the editorial board, which advocated for doubling the transit tax to 1 cent. I'm OK with this, since roads (or in this case, train tracks that serve as roads) are a legitimate function of government. If you wonder where I came up with that, it's in the Constitution, Article I, section 8, item 7. But when you need $3.3 billion, $93 million doesn't do a whole lot. To make a decent dent, you probably have to go all the way to 2 cents, which would give you about $280 million. The other item they advocated is value capture, which is requiring a share of the value of new development to be contributed to the cost of the infrastructure. The south end of the train line is believed to have added $2.1 billion in new development – that's just half of one train line. If you expect that much from the new half that just opened, and similar value on the 3 sections that are just concepts right now, then you're talking $6 billion in new development. If the developers are required to give 20% to pay for the trains, that gets you $1.2 billion. Even still, you're well over $1 billion short of what you need, unless the Federal and state government keep their current payment percentages.
The other column was about the housing issue, written by a correspondent who grew up in Charlotte. He was railing against some proposed local legislation that would prevent most of the building of "tiny houses." I'm sure you've seen this concept on Travel Channel or other places. These are literally tiny houses, usually about 400 square feet at most, so you could easily build a dozen of them on 1 acre of land, and for probably no more than $50,000. The writer, Billy Maddalon, correctly opines that the move to stop such structures from being built is two-fold – for one, we are stuck in the 1940s mindset that every house that is built must be bigger than the last one because bigger is ALWAYS better, and two, building "affordable housing" will destroy a neighborhood. This is based on Euclid's mechanical law that says, 'things that are equal to the same things are equal to each other,' or 'if A = B and B = C, then A = C.' Applied to housing, if small houses = small incomes and small incomes = undesirable people, then small houses = undesirable people. Unfortunately for Maddalon, I have lived through proof that this can be true. When I got married, I moved into my wife's apartment. Being on disability by that time, she had a Section 8 housing voucher that allowed her to rent a place in NoDa, which was just coming into its own in 2000. During the time we lived there, the complex went from a mixed-income complex to almost entirely Section 8 recipients. And the place went completely to hell. It is true that if you are renting something, you will not care for it as much as if you owned it, or at least that appears to be the mind of most people. There were 2 ways this was evident. One was trash. There was trash everywhere. People would just toss trash bags in the general direction of the dumpsters. You couldn't cross the parking lot without contacting somebody's trash. Also, as the percentage of Section 8 tenants increased, the complex responded to the lower profit margin by hiring less skilled, less motivated staff, especially maintenance. Stuff was always breaking and rarely getting fixed. We eventually moved out and into a single-family house nearby that we rented from another church member.
Now I finally get around to the main point of all this – that the mindset of Charlotteans – leaders and citizens – needs to change. Here are the changes needed:
1) Leaders need to drop the 1940s mindset on houses. Maddalon is absolutely right on this one. Back in the post WWII time, there was only one way to measure success, and that was to get a bigger house than what you had. Nothing else was deemed successful. Today, people have turned back to the preference of living an urban life and being close to work and entertainment. Also, there really are people that are just fine with living in a 400 square foot tiny house. I have to do some follow-up on how it's going, but I saw a TV program a few months ago that showed an entire tiny house neighborhood being built in Detroit, where wealth is scarce. Leaders have to embrace all options. It would also help if they weren't swayed to be slavishly obedient to every developer in town for as little as a $1,000 campaign contribution. (I ain't lyin'; a city council member turned her back on her entire district a few years back when a developer gave her $1,000 in campaign money to convince her to approve a project her whole constituency objected to.)
2) Citizens need to drop the 1950s car worship. As suburbs exploded in the 1950s, entire cities like Charlotte sprawled out to the point where it was impossible to get from point A to point B without a motor vehicle. With the rise in necessity of the motor vehicle, it was no time at all before the whole country was of the mind that you didn't just need a car, you were supposed to have a car. And if you didn't have a car, there was something wrong with you. And if there was truly something wrong with you – such as having a disability that prevented you from operating a motor vehicle – then you were a lower life form than car owners. This mindset is everywhere in Charlotte. It really looks to me like many drivers do not just want to refuse to yield to pedestrians, it looks like they want to kill them like they are cockroaches. The drivers need to accept people outside of cars as equal to them. Equally, the people outside of cars (walkers and bicyclists) need to obey the rules of the road just like car drivers. If we can cut down on the car worship, we might have some more of the brilliant people that live here coming up with brilliant ideas to close that massive funding gap to build the needed train lines.
3) Everyone, leaders and citizens, need to respect others regardless of income. People of high income must stop viewing people of low income as less than them. People of low incomes must not walk around with the assumption that everyone that has more money than them only have it because they stole it and treat them with respect. Everyone that rents a home must treat it as well as they would if they owned it. Leaders need to stop bloviating "we need more affordable housing" while they rubber-stamp every $3,000-a-month apartment development that comes up for a vote and actually come up with some incentives for developers to actually build some decent $900-a-month homes.
Again, a change in mindset will free some brilliant minds to create brilliant solutions to the issues at hand.
On March 19, 2018 By James
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


When it comes to professional athletics, especially bodybuilding and other strength-based pursuits, Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Dianabol is one of the most widely used anabolic steroids.
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If we take a look back in history, we will discover the fact that Dianabol was first used in 1945 on prisoners of war that were anemic.
D-bol was also used by famous bodybuilders in order to increase their muscle mass.
This powerful steroid is really popular even in the modern days, when numerous competitors use it in some underground cycles.
The fact that Dianabol produces immediate results contributed to its increased popularity.
Users will have the ability to increase their strength and add muscle mass without spending too much money. People can obtain an increased workout with the help of Hi-Tech Dianabol.
Dianabol has also been linked to improvements in glycogenolysis, protein synthesis, retention of nitrogen, and increased muscle strength.
Dianabol is one of the best anabolic steroids in terms of rapid increased in muscle mass and muscle function.
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Considering the fact that Masteron can block the formation of estrogen, this should be your first choice.
The recommended dose of injectable Dianabol for male athletes is 50-150 mg per week. When using Dianabol orally, the recommended dose for male athletes is 25-50 mg per day.
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Female athletes, especially girls or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, are strongly advised not to take Dianabol due to the potential for virilization, which is the appearance of masculine characteristics.
Dianabol should also not be used by individuals with high blood pressure, or who are at increased risk of stroke or certain types of cancers, especially prostate cancer and breast cancer.
Dianabol is most often stacked with a form of testosterone, such as with testosterone enanthate, Nandrolone, testosterone propionate, Trenbolone acetate, or testosterone cypionate.
Dianabol can be a fairly strong estrogenic, and post cycle therapy with anti estrogens like Clomid or Nolvadex are strongly recommended.
Hi Tech Dianabol does not feature a long half-life, since it can be included somewhere between 2-4 hours.
We can conclude the point that one daily dosage schedule may create a different blood level, with pros and cons all through the day.
The consumer also features a option, to either separate the capsules throughout the day or to bring them all at 1 time.
The standard suggestion would be to split them and attempt to manage the quantity inside your blood.
The anabolic steroid investigator Bill Roberts additionally highlights that a single-episode dosing schedule ought to possess a less dramatic influence around the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, as there's an adequate period every day where steroid hormone levels aren't exaggerated. Maybe this really is the much better choice.
Because we realize the blood concentration will peak about 1.5 to 3 hours following administration, we might additional wonder the very best time for you to consume our capsules.
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Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals Dianabol is a really powerful steroid that can also bring some important side effects, so this is why many individuals compare it to testosterone and Anadrol 50.
We need to know that methandrostenolone is really estrogenic. Early in a cycle, the user can experience Gynecomastia, since this is often a side effect during a treatment.
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By adding Nolvadex or Proviron to the mix, sensitive people are able to keep estrogen in normal limits.
If you can find more powerful drugs, such as Arimidex or Aromasin, you should definitely opt for this choice.
Poomthavorn P, Mahachoklertwattana P, Khlairit P. Childhood virilization and adrenal suppression after ingestion of methandienone and cyproheptadine. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2009 May;22(5):459-62.
Germanakis I, Tsarouhas K, Fragkiadaki P, Tsitsimpikou C, Goutzourelas N, Champsas MC, Stagos D, Rentoukas E, Tsatsakis AM. Oxidative stress and myocardial dysfunction in young rabbits after short term anabolic steroids administration. Food Chem Toxicol. 2013 Nov;61:101-5. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.03.018.
Gadzhieva DM, Paniushkin VV, SeÄfulla RD, Ordzhonikidze ZG. [Comparative study of anabolizing activity of apilac and methandrostenolone on a model of isolated overload of the rat skeletal muscle]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2002 Jan-Feb;65(1):56-7. Russian.


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Walton Primo S6 infinity Price in Bangladesh and Specification: Walton Primo S6 infinity comes with 5.5 inches display. Walton Primo S6 infinity Made by Android 8.1 and comes with 3 GB RAM. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Walton Primo S6 infinity has BSI 13MP and BSI 8MP for selfies. Based on display size, processor and other hardware Walton Primo S6 infinity come with Lithium-polymer 3000 mAh battery performance. Exclusively on Price24BD Team.


text:
package LeetcodeTemplate;

public class _0334IncreasingTripletSubsequence {

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		System.out.println(increasingTriplet(new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }));
		System.out.println(increasingTriplet(new int[] { 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 }));
		System.out.println(increasingTriplet(new int[] { 2, 1, 5, 0, 4, 6 }));
	}

	public static boolean increasingTriplet(int[] nums) {

	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Many more happy returns of the day Master Blaster!! I am also an ardent Sachin fan, the one among the torrents of Indians who not only adore but are also head over heels crazy about this genius. On this wonderful day I would like to pen down a few thoughts about this larger than life cricketer, especially his attributes that has had an impact on me.
This is one of the sole reason as to how he excelled in his career. He had high respect for his work and this ensured he stayed on stop on the game for the 22 years that he played for India. To quote one particular match when India were playing aussies in 2003-04 he was going through a lean patch and he found out that he was getting out regularly playing the cover drive on the off side. Ahead of the third test he practiced fervently and left all the balls outside the half stump. He went on to make 248 in that match and went on to silence all his critics. That is next trait I will be talking about.
There is a famous saying in English that says " Empty vessels make much noise" I am sure all the SRT fans would agree that this was true in the case of most of Sachin's critics. There were cases when People who hardly represented the country in a few matches commented on his performance, there were cases when a guy who opened for India in ODI, scored 36* at the end of 60 overs shamelessly told that Sachin's strike rate was very low in tests. Not to forget the lambasting of his captaincy. He managed to treat all of the critics, the same with a smile. Each and every time he reincarnated out of ashes like a phoenix and let his bat do the talking.This was the case in lots of matches, when he scored 248 against Aussies, when he scored his 34th century, when he scored 200 against south africa and so on. There can be no better way to silence the critics.
Whenever Sachin went on to bat he was a real delight to watch. The crisp straight drives that torpedoed from his bat, the back foot punch cover drive, the upper cut, the sweep, you name it and he played that shot to perfection. The straight drives against Warne (Sharjah 98), the upper cut against Akhtar (World cup Centurion – 2003), the hook against Caddick in the 2003 worldcup(that literally disappeared outside the grounds), These are some classic & evergreen shots that will remain etched in my memory forever. I adore him for the talent that he had. The 176 against the aussies is a true testimony to this fact. This is one of the primary reasons he is not only adored by Indians but also by cricket fans all over the world. This also might the reason why he might be the next closest thing to Bradman, which was rightly echoed by the great don himself.
It is not exaggeration if I say that his mind might have been made of adamantium. How is it possible for a man who just lost his dad a few days back to come back and score such a valiant 140. That is one of the innings that propelled him to further stardom. This was also the very reason how went to take on aussies single handedly in the Sharjah Finals & Semis and managed to win it for India. Wickets were going at the other end. But he held his calm, nerves(of steel) and managed to cross the finishing line. Even the sand storms was not able to stop the Sachin Juggernaut. The year was 1999 when he scored a super humane 136 against pakistan. He was suffering from severe back pain but he managed to brave all of that scoring a stupendous 136. He finally fell When India fell short of a few runs where we lost last five wickets for single digit. He managed to ward off the wily saqlain till he was there in the crease. He never failed to hide his emotion at the end where he cried profusely at the end of the match over the agonizing loss. It was heartbreaking to see and the entire crowd burst were moved by his plight. This also might have been the reason as how to he managed to bowl India to victory in the Titan cup giving away only 3 runs in the final over. This was also how he managed to make a comeback after each and every pain staking injury.
Throughout the 22 years of his career it has only been a journey of ascent for the little master. There has been no descent at all. The way he handled all the adulation and stardom has just been amazing. The more heights he reached, the more humble he became. He was seen more of a mentor by his team mates. That was also the reason why he is still on friendly terms with other all time greats like Lara & Pointing.This was exactly why he was more than an inspiration to the current lot of cricketers. To name a few Sehwag, Yuvraj, Kohli, Rohit etc. More than being a cricketer, He is just an amazing human being.
I had lot of key take aways from these traits that I sincerely try to incorporate in my daily Life. Many more happy returns of the day yet again master blaster. May you continue to live hale and heartily for much more days and continue to inspire and enthrall us.


text:
Alaska Mirror
Home / News / A Grandfather Died in 'Swatting' Over His Twitter Handle, Officials Say
A Grandfather Died in 'Swatting' Over His Twitter Handle, Officials Say
"Mr. Sonderman has expressed his remorse on multiple occasions. He has expressed his regret regarding Mr. Herring's death," Mr. Huffman said in an email on Saturday. "Mr. Sonderman's family had also expressed their remorse. There are many families affected by Shane's actions, including his own family."
Mr. Herring was targeted because he refused to sell his Twitter handle, @Tennessee, according to his family and prosecutors.
Smart, blunt and plain-spoken, Mr. Herring had loved computers since he was a teenager and joined Twitter in March 2007, less than a year after it started, his family said.
He knew people wanted his handle, which he chose because of his love for the state, where he had been born and raised, and had rebuffed offers of $3,000 to $4,000 to sell it, his daughter Corinna Fitch, 37, said in an interview.
"He would laugh it off and say, 'I'm not selling that,'" she said.
The last time Mr. Herring was with his three daughters and their families was a month before his death, at a Sunday dinner hosted by his ex-wife, Fran Herring, who had remained friends with Mr. Herring.
Mr. Herring often came over when Ms. Herring was taking care of the grandchildren and would help bathe them and put them to bed.
"The kids called him Graggie," because they could not say "granddaddy," Ms. Fitch said.
He called the hours he spent with his grandchildren "Graggie time."
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Ramy Simpson
Russian Connections and the Law: A Challenge for the Trump Administration
The resignation of Michael Flynn, the National Security Advisor to President Trump, has raised important legal issues. Before Donald Trump's inauguration, Michael Flynn had discussions with Russia regarding the sanctions that President Obama levied on Russia for its interference with the 2016 election. This could result in criminal sanctions against Flynn for two reasons. First, Flynn apparently misled Trump officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, and FBI officials regarding his discussions with Russian officials. The criminal sanctions Flynn may face for this range from making false statements to federal law enforcement, which could be prosecuted under 18 U.S. Code § 1001, to perjury, under 18 U.S. Code § 1621. Second, it may have been illegal for Flynn to discuss this matter with Russian officials because he was technically only a private citizen at the time. He was not a government official because Donald Trump had not been sworn into office at the time of the discussions. The Logan Act, 18 U.S. Code § 953, prohibits correspondence between private U.S. citizens and foreign governments intended to influence foreign conduct in response to a dispute with the United States.
Flynn's Discussion and the Law
President Obama imposed sanctions on Russia on December 29, 2016, for its interference in the U.S. Presidential election. On the same day, Flynn and the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, discussed the United States sanctions against Russia, and the next day, Russia announced that it would not impose sanctions against the United States. United States officials discovered Flynn's discussions with Russia when the FBI recorded the conversations through a wiretap. It is unclear if the FBI was specifically recording Flynn's conversations, but the FBI does regularly monitor Russian communications, which could explain how it obtained the recording. U.S. intelligence agencies had anticipated that Russia would impose sanctions in response to the United States sanctions, and when intelligence analysts searched for reasons why Russia did not do so, they concluded that the conversations between Flynn and the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, were an important cause.
Flynn misled Vice President Pence by saying that these discussions did not happen, which is primarily why President Trump pressured him to resign. However, lying to the Vice President in this situation is not a crime. It was what Flynn said to the FBI that presents the strongest chance of criminal sanctions. Flynn told FBI officials that he did not discuss sanctions with Russia. If Flynn was under oath and swore to tell the FBI the truth, then this would be perjury. If Flynn was not under oath, then his briefs to the FBI could be classified as providing a false statement to law enforcement. Both of these could be federal crimes given that the statement was provided to federal law enforcement. Despite perjury appearing more serious because it requires a lie under oath, both violations carry the same maximum penalty of five years in prison. However, if Flynn is convicted of perjury, a court may ensure his sentence is closer to the five year maximum than it would if he is convicted of making a false statement to law enforcement.
The prosecution of Flynn would then hinge on the context in which Flynn brought up the sanctions against Russia, the length and content of his discussions about the sanctions, and whether he knowingly lied to the FBI. If Flynn and Kislyak only brought up the sanctions in passing and the discussion was subservient to their main topic, then this would be harder to prosecute. A scenario such as this would provide credibility to Flynn's claim that he did not remember the conversation, and thus, that he did not knowingly provide a false statement to the FBI. Knowingly providing a false statement to law enforcement is a key element to the conviction. The extent of Flynn's discussions with Kislyak is not clear to the public. However, Sally Yates, the acting Attorney General when Trump was inaugurated, called the comments "highly significant." She also expressed concern that Flynn was vulnerable to blackmail by Russia because Russia was aware that Flynn had lied to the Vice President and the FBI. Yates briefed the White House on January 26th, although Trump did not ask for Flynn's resignation until February 13th.
Additionally, Michael Flynn may have lacked the authority to discuss the sanctions with the Russian government because the Logan Act prevents private citizens from interfering with foreign affairs. Trump was not inaugurated at the time of the discussions, and thus Flynn may have been prohibited from discussing these sanctions because he was still a private citizen. Despite these concerns, it is unlikely that Flynn will be prosecuted for a violation of the Logan Act. First, the Logan Act dates back to 1799 and has never been used to prosecute a citizen. Second, it is unclear whether the Logan Act prohibits the President-elect's transition team from discussing matters with foreign governments. However, looking at the plain language, it appears that the Logan Act would apply to the President-elect and his aides. A Harvard Constitutional Law Professor, Laurence Tribe, explained that the president-elect has not taken the oath of office yet, and is not a United States official, so the Logan Act should apply to him and his aides. However, it seems unlikely that the government would prosecute Flynn under the Logan Act, given the act's defunct status and the uncertainty about how a court would apply the act. A violation of the Logan Act carries a three-year maximum penalty in jail, compared to the five-year maximum penalty of perjury and making a false statement to law enforcement. This is surprising given that influencing foreign affairs appears more serious than lying to law enforcement.
The Trump Business Empire and the Emoluments Clause
Even without a conviction of Flynn, his actions only scratch the surface of a wider question: the Trump Administration's relationship with Russia. Intelligence agencies unequivocally believe that Russia hacked and released emails from the Democratic National Committee to help Trump get elected. Trump has praised Putin as a leader on multiple occasions and has urged closer ties between the United States and Russia. Furthermore, the New York Times reported that intercepted communications and phone records show that Trump aides had repeated calls with Russian officials in the year leading up to the election. It is also unlikely that Flynn discussed the sanctions with Russia without Trump's knowledge or permission.
Past dealings between Trump's businesses and Russia could pose another kind of challenge for the Trump Administration. The President's wealth and global business empire have created an unprecedented problem of separating presidential policies from Trump's business interests. The President has turned over the management of his business interests to two of his sons, who are not part of his administration. However, he did not divest his interests into a blind trust, and he still has ownership shares. Because his business dealings have involved foreign investments and investors, it is possible that his policies toward foreign governments may enhance or diminish the value of these shares. Yet the Emoluments clause of the Constitution forbids federal officeholders from accepting anything with value from foreign nations. Any attempt to increase the value of his shares through his dealings as President with foreign governments would be a violation of the emoluments clause.
It is not clear exactly what Trump's business ties to Russia have been, but there is evidence that he has received substantial capital from Russian investors, including investors who are close to the regime of Vladimir Putin. His son, Donald Trump Jr., was quoted in 2008 as saying that "Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. . . . we see a lot of money pouring in from Russia." Additionally, Trump made millions by bringing the Miss Universe pageant to Russia in 2013 and has attempted to build property in Russia in the past. If Trump has business interests involving the Russia government, and he is using his status as President to further these interests, then he would be in violation of the emoluments clause. The answer to questions about his ties with Russia would likely be in his tax returns if the public ever gained access to them.
It is unclear whether a violation of the emoluments clause could lead to criminal sanctions against a sitting President. For example, when a grand jury found that Richard Nixon was a co-conspirator to the Watergate scandal, it did not indict him because it was not certain whether a jury could indict the current President. Many scholars believe that a sitting President cannot be indicted because the Constitution gives only Congress the power to remove the President from office, and a jail sentence imposed by the courts would effectively do that. However, the Supreme Court has the ability to determine this matter, and nobody can know if a sitting President can be indicted until it does. The Supreme Court had the ability to answer this question in United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974), when it had to determine if President Nixon should be required to hand over his tapes to the special prosecutor. However, the court chose not to answer whether Nixon could be indicted as a co- conspirator because it was not relevant to whether Nixon had to turn over his tapes. Although many scholars believe that a President currently holding office cannot be indicted, a grand jury is still technically free to indict a President until the Supreme Court decides the question, which it would certainly do if an acting President is charged. Impeachment may be the only remedy if the Supreme Court decides that criminal sanctions cannot be imposed.
The Effect of These Issues for Legal Practioners
The effect of these issues for legal practioners may be to provide clarity on how and whether the Logan Act and Emoluments Clause can be applied. If Flynn had extensive discussions with Russia about sanctions, and a Court hears the case, practitioners may learn whether the Logan Act can apply to an official working for the president-elect. In this scenario, it would be plausible for Flynn to be convicted under the Logan Act and would set a precedent. Congress could also update the law in response to any charges or conviction of Flynn. Furthermore, if Trump's presidential policies affect his business interests in ways that put him in serious violation of the Emoluments Clause, practitioners may learn whether a grand jury can indict a sitting President. This would set another precedent that practitioners can use to assess the actions of future Presidents.
#DonaldTrump #PresidentTrump #FBI #VicePresident #VicePresidentMikePence #MikePence #Russia #Perjury #RussianOfficials #PresidentObama #Sanctions #Prosecution #LoganAct #EmolumentsClause #DemocraticNationalCommittee #DNC #MichaelFlynn
President Trump, Secretary Pompeo, and Criminal Contempt of Congress
Politics in the Courtroom: US Disregard for International Justice and the ICC
Mens Rea to No "Rea"—How Congress is Slowly Detaching the Foundational Intent Requirement from Crimi


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header.edition_switch.edition_label_en_ca
Who Is The Kangaroo On 'The Masked Singer'?
Story from Entertainment
Anyone Who Guessed That Jordyn Woods Was The Masked Singer Kangaroo Is Screaming Right Now
Ariana Brockington
Photo: Courtesy of Fox.
Update: After much ado, the Kangaroo was finally revealed to be Jordyn Woods. I guess everyone really knew their stuff when it comes to women in the Kardashians' orbit.
Original article follows.
For season 3, The Masked Singer added some slight changes to its format. Instead of having a whopping 18 contestants perform from the beginning, the masked celebrities have been divided into three groups of six, with each group performing three times in a row. Now we're in the super nine, and only three singers are left from Group A. One contestant who has captivated and stumped the judges and social media since she stepped into the ring is The Masked Singer's Kangaroo. Here's what we know about who this masked Kangaroo might be, and why she's looking for redemption on the Fox series.
Masked Singer Clues About The Kangaroo
There are a few main clues that matter as we watch this season and try to figure out who the Kangaroo really is. First, she's had a recent loss in her family. Second, she's said in one of her packages that ""I found myself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons." And lastly, there's the one staring us right in the face: Australia
In episode 2, we learn that Kangaroo needs to be a role model to "little roo." We see basketball players wearing the jersey number 23, one of which says "Dee Jay" on the back.
In episode 3, Kangaroo's brother (dressed as a potted plant) speaks on her behalf. He says "tragedy hit our family" and she was "the glue." The video also zooms in on a seemingly handmade Angel figurine. Later, Kangaroo gives a valentine to guest judge Leah Remini that says "We sat at the same table and your courage has inspired me."
Keep in mind, however, that clues in the first episode tend to include the most important details because the judges reference them throughout the rest of the season. Later clues are often used as red herrings to throw the judges off.
After sitting out six weeks while Groups B and C were introduced, Kangaroo finally returned to the stage as a member of the super nine. Her sensitive and calming presence was missed amongst the more elaborate staging and performances. She began her clue package stressing that she has overcome some recent struggles. She spoke about "bouncing back after kangarumers about my past" and going "through hell this past year." She also pulled out a little kangaroo from her pouch, but she later added that she has never lived in Australia.
Kangaroo said she now has confidence in herself that she has never felt before. Still, she admits that she gets nervous which is why she is constantly jumping around during feedback. These nerves seemed to return during her performance of "Not Ready To Make Nice" by Dixie Chicks. She moved around the stage very slowly and her vocals were a little pitchy. Although it was a heartfelt and solid performance, Kangaroo was noticeably nervous, which McCarthy pointed out.
Who The Kangaroo Is On The Masked Singer (Probably)
The recent loss the Kangaroo refers to could really strengthen the ongoing theory that the Kangaroo is Jordyn Woods, as it may reference the death of her father, John Woods, in 2017. He was a sound engineer who died from cancer.
The second clue also supports that theory. No one can forget the huge fallout between Woods and the Kardashians over rumours and a cheating scandal involving Tristan Thompson. That would certainly match up with finding oneself in the "headlines for all the wrong reasons."
If the Woods theory holds, the Australia nod could be a misdirect to distract the judges. Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia so that could be the simple reason the country was mentioned.
One clue also threw Twitter off in week 2: The Kangaroo mentioning she wanted to be a role model for her "little roo." Some, including the judges, thought this suggested the Kangaroo is a mother. That could still be the case, but it could also refer to Woods's younger sister Jodie Woods who looks exactly like her older sibling.
The basketball scene also points to Wood's being behind the mask. She was born on September 23, hence the number 23 jerseys, and Woods is known to DJ from time to time.
Then come the week 3 clues. Jenny McCarthy has guessed Jordin Sparks twice now and the show's writers have been known to throw in clues that could double for the real contestant and an incorrect guess from the judges. Case in point: Sparks has a brother, but so does Woods (two in fact).
McCarthy also thinks the Valentine's Day message to guest panelist Leah Remini about sharing a table was referencing The Talk, a daytime talk show on which Remini interviews all kinds of celebs. And look, that could be the case, which would open up a lot of possibilities. But, Kangaroo could also be praising Remini for opening up about accusing host Jada Pinkett Smith of having ties to Scientology on Red Table Talk; the same show where Woods did a vulnerable interview with Pinkett Smith regarding her falling out with the Kardashians.
The "tragedy" and angel are more clues that point to the loss of Wood's father. She posted multiple Instagram pictures after her father passed, calling him "our angel."
McCarthy recently guessed model and former talk show host Amber Rose. Fellow panelist Nicole Scherzinger is stuck on the Grammy clue so she suggested country music singer LeAnn Rimes. However, Kangaroo's nerves and discomfort on stage all but confirm that she is someone who does not have experience speaking or performing in front of a large group of people, like Woods. Her shaky version of "Not Ready To Make Nice" is also a clear giveaway that Kangaroo is not a trained or professional singer.
The show tends to repeat clues when the panel isn't close to guessing the correct person. Kangaroo's clues before her super nine performance mentioned the negative stories about her that have made her life difficult. The rumours could be another reference to Woods and her public rift with the Kardashians.
The baby kangaroo popped up again, but this seems like a misdirect. Just like the Australia clue made the panel briefly think the Kangaroo was Australian, the baby is being used to trick them into thinking she is a mother. The baby kangaroo looked just like Kangaroo, similar to how Woods shares a lot of features with her younger sister.
And look, it's possible that the Kangaroo is someone else. Maybe even Jordin Sparks. But these clues all seem to lead to one place.
Update: This story was originally published Feb. 12, 2020. It has been updated to reflect new clues.
Who Is The Kangaroo On The Masked Singer Season 3?
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Q: Upload file via Channel API I read the article which talk about Blobstore (https://developers.google.com/appengine/docs/go/blobstore/).
I would to know if I can use Channel API to send a file, and if it's possible, how.

A: The Channel API is designed to send text. So instead of sending a file via the Channel API, you would send a pointer to the file for the client to download. The pointer may be a datastore key, a blobstore key, a URL etc - depends on your backend really.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Shop can do fabrication, alignment and corner weight balancing so they're able to handle stock cars, but also able to handle cars that are modified and tuned as well.
Like a review said, this place has gone through a really nice remodeling and looks much better than what it looked like before. With that said, it's a good taco shop if you're within walking distance of the place, but there are other places in San Diego that offer just as good food with similar prices for a cheaper price - but you'd have to travel to get there. So, if you desire some fast Mexican food and don't feel like traveling or searching for a place - this place will satisfy.
This is a great facility for your pet (Dog & Cat). Not only are they your basic vet hospital, but they also offer kennel services which is very helpful when you find yourself away on business or vacation.
This is a great auto body shop. If you're car has been in an accident, these guys will get you back on the road quickly. I've taken all my vehicles here whenever there is some kind of damage to them (like accidentally scraping the side of the garage).
Has everything that Ranch 99 offers. Good selection and variety of Asian foods. They'll even fry the fish for you if you request it.
This is a great looking Filipino restaurant with very nice interior decor. The food here is great, but can be pricey in comparison to other Filipino Restaurants. What this place has going for it is ambiance as it looks like a well coordinated restaurant. Other Filipino restaurants tend to have mismatching tables/chairs and not so much on decorations (see Toppings Too in Union City, CA). So, I can see why the price may be a little bit more than other Filipino restaurants. This place really is more of a "restaurant" than a fast food place where you mostly just do take out.
They also have a stage where a band can occassionally play, which adds to the overall atmosphere of the place.
This place is small and the interior isn't much to look at, but then again, no one is in there to comment on the interior. The girls here can be young (not all, but a good portion). They are all friendly and aren't pushy like some dancers in other clubs. If you don't like crowds and want an easy going place, you won't be disappointed here.


So that you have the most up-to-date information, do make sure that you check these just before you apply, as these could change for the next admissions cycle.
Offers normally exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
For information about how to apply to our undergraduate courses, and for tips on making an application, please see our 'How to Apply' pages.


My high school has the lowest college-going rate in rural Cumberland County, N.J. This is the same rank the school had when I graduated in 2004 and it's the same rank it has now. So when I read a recent post on Education Week by Sarah Sparks titled, "Why Do Academically Promising Students Not Choose College?" I was immediately reminded of my high school. Many of my capable peers did not attend college or some enrolled in less prestigious institutions for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, the reason I work in the field of education is because I've always believed in my peers and in students who attend schools like the ones in my hometown. I know that their life's outcomes do not need to continue a path of poverty. With community and school supports, they can stop the cycle of poverty and put their family on the path to achieving the America Dream.
[Researchers from Harvard's Center on Education Policy] found that, of students who showed academic potential;as judged by their cumulative high school GPAs and math and verbal SAT scores—18 percent enrolled in less-selective four-year colleges, two-year institutions or no higher education at all. Moreover, students who chose less-selective colleges were less likely to continue through to earn a diploma.
"These are people who are clearly poised for success and are not clearly moving into it," said John Fullerton CEPR's executive director. "That could be because some high schools are not preparing academically kids who were high performing, and so they slip back during high school, or others might not provide the support for students" such as college selection and financial aid guidance needed to plan which college to attend, he said.
"This is particularly true of kids from lower economic backgrounds. Going to a college just because it's local or cheap may not be the best decision, because if you are more likely to drift away and drop out, that will have long-term economic consequences," Mr. Fullerton said.
Mr. Fullerton was spot on in describing many of my peers experiences. Sure, I was bright in high school, but so were many of them. There's no reason why some of them did not go straight from high school and into four year colleges. We sat in the same honors classes or some chose to take a less challenging route and enroll in college prep because they were not pushed to excel to their fullest potential. Their ability to achieve mirrored mine, but our life's took us down two different paths.
My friends and I would discuss college in high school. Once a month, a few of attended Talent Search–a partnership with the local Community College that exposed us to college. We were excused from class for an hour and our Talent Search Coordinator would teach us about the application process and taking the SAT. During Spring Break, those of us who could afford it, went on a trip to college tours. For many of us, Talent Search was our ticket out of Cumberland County. I will never forget when I had the chance to go to California the first time. It was part of Talent Search's Spring Break trip to tour University of Southern California in Los Angeles and other schools. Yet, for many, Talent Search was not enough to sway the hold their environment and family circumstances had in shaping their life's path.
I knew, and I wholeheartedly believe they knew they were more than capable. However, it was difficult to crack their tough exterior and help them believe that attending college was their doorway to success. By the end of our four years, many of my friends and peers did not go on to college or some went to the local county college, dropped out, or re-enrolled and graduated many years later. Like Mr. Fullerton said, some of my peers didn't have the proper guidance to navigate the application and matriculation process. If no one in your family has gone to college, and it's not the norm for students to go to college in your hometown or high school, applying to college can be frightening. I am lucky to have a father who is a guidance counselor by profession at a school in the neighboring town who could support me in the process. My peers, although intelligent, did not have that support.
Moreover, some didn't believe they had the financial means to go to college. Again, I had a father who knew FAFSA like the back of his hand. He could also help me apply for scholarships. I will never forget during my senior year, I would spend hours at the computer writing scholarships essays and preparing these unique scholarship packages with all of my accomplishments. During my senior year, I decided I wanted to attend the University of Maryland, and my dad informed me that since it was out-of-state, I would have to work really hard to pay for it. I ended up receiving 18 scholarships, two of which were four year and the rest were enough to pay for my entire first year of college. I was fortunate to have my dad to make a sometimes overwhelming process for a high schooler be one that was paved with love. For my peers who did not come from that family background, trying to figure out how to apply and then how to pay for college was a daunting task.
Nevertheless, a child's family's background or economic status should not determine the life they envision for themselves. That's why I would take it a step beyond Mr. Fullerton's reasons of lack of knowledge of the application process and financial aid, and also assert that tracking done in high school and the high school's college-going culture both play a significant role in a young person's decision to attend college or the colleges that make it on a student's college short list.
In my high school, students were put on different tracks. Each year, we selected classes that were either on the honors, college preparatory, or general education track. Although, my high school has a low college-going rate, the number of students who were on the honors track who attended college was quite high. Since our freshman year, we were supported and guided on the track to college. My friends who attended these classes with me are now successful in various sectors. One of my friends is a journalist, another recently graduated law school and working in the legal department of a Fortune 500 company, another is a high school guidance counselor, and another is on her way to graduating with her Masters in Social Work. I wonder just how many high school students are missing out on the chance to go to college because they're tracked in high school?
There are a lot of out-of-school factors that sway many students' decision to attend college. Nevertheless, there is much that schools can do to put more students on the right path. I believe that if my high school really invested more students outside of the honors track in going to college from the ninth grade, and put in comprehensive supports to help more students apply and matriculate into college, the college-going rate of my high school would be much higher.
What do you think? Do you think high schools, specifically that serve students from low-income neighborhoods, do enough to push students who walk the tight rope of achievement and mediocrity? What is your high school doing to create a college-going culture?
Let me know your thoughts and be sure to read more of Sarah's piece in Education Week.


The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a record number of enforcement actions for its September-ending fiscal year, including the most ever cases against investment advisers and investment companies. The SEC brought 868 enforcement cases in total, up from 807 in FY'15; 160 of the cases were brought against advisers and investment companies. Read the release from the SEC.


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Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC): This Company Looks to Return Capital to Shareholders in a Big Way
Published on May 28, 2013 at 7:44 am by The Motley Fool in News
Despite lingering fears over cuts to the U.S. defense budget and the predicted cyclical slowdown in the heavy equipment industry, Falls Church, Va.-based Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) recently announced two definitive moves that will return capital to its shareholders and could boost its stock price over the long term. The first involves the expansion of a share repurchase program that will eventually authorize the buyback of $5 billion in Northrop shares. The second concerns a substantial boost to the company's quarterly dividend.
Taken together, these moves suggest that Northrop's management team has some confidence in the company's ability to weather the coming storm. Although the company was already regarded as something of a "conservative cyclical" that attracts value-minded investors, it is likely to boost its reputation as a value play even further. Investors who wish to gain exposure to a major defense and aerospace contractor would do well to investigate this situation.
Share Buyback Authorization
Since it was already in the throes of a $1 billion share buyback program, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)'s announcement that it would add an additional $4 billion to the buyback fund was met with genuine enthusiasm. All told, the dual buyback programs could result in the repurchase and cancellation of up to 25% of the company's total float by the end of 2015. In the absence of additional positive news, this could boost Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)'s shares by 25% or more and put a hard floor on its sometimes-volatile stock price.
This aggressive repurchase plan will be financed with the company's robust free cash flow. By preventing Northrop from dipping into its cash reserves or increasing its long-term debt, this plan of attack could shore up the company's finances and make it attractive to value investors and potential buyers alike.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)'s management team has quashed speculation that the buybacks will be made with an eye to turning the company into an attractive buyout target. However, it is clear that Northrop is smaller than some of its competitors and could easily be absorbed into a larger firm's ecosystem. Its relatively healthy balance sheet lends further support to this thesis.
In addition to the repurchase program, Northrop also indicated that it would boost its quarterly dividend by 6 cents. This will result in a quarterly payout of 61 cents and an annualized yield of more than 3%. It should be noted that this dividend increase places Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) in a favorable position relative to its defense-industry peers. For comparison, The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)'s dividend yield currently sits near 2%, and General Dynamic manages a payout of just over 2.5%. Even if Northrop's stock price fails to appreciate at a brisk clip, this dividend offers investors the opportunity to "get paid for waiting."
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