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Karlie Kloss Proves That She Can Have It All – But How Does It Make You Feel?
Brandi Chang
Photo Credit: Stars Insider
Celebrity Health Tips, Fitness and WellBeing Tips, Inspiration + Wisdom, Lifestyle Tips and Beauty Secrets, Mind Body + Inspiration
Don't get me wrong, I love Karlie Kloss just as much as her 8.1 million followers do. After all, the St. Louis native is everything society suggests we should be: beautiful, intelligent, poised and extremely successful. In January of this year, the 26-year-old supermodel published a video to her 1.6 million YouTube subscribers counting down 118 things she achieved in 2018. At first watch the video is extremely sweet, inspiring and really entertaining.
In 2018 alone she walked the runway for top designers, covered countless magazines, expanded her free coding camp for girls, launched a luggage collection, attended the Met Gala, traveled the world, became engaged and also married, learned tai chi, hosted the new Project Runway, marched for gun control in Washington and remained totally awestruck at seeing her face on billboards across the country. No doubt, Karlie is doing it all. And that's really admirable.
But after further self-reflection upon my own achievements measured against Karlie's aforementioned accolades, I stopped to think about how social media is making us all feel, well, really shitty at times. We can all relate, right? Your college roommate is engaged. Your high school best friend is pregnant. Your peers are being promoted at work. And seriously, has every supermodel just booked a new million-dollar campaign? Now let's not get this confused with jealousy — that's not what this is about. And really, we should all aspire to achieve greatness while supporting other women (and men) along the way.
"But with depression and suicide rates seemingly correlated to the amount of time spent on social media, where do we draw the line between admiration and comparison?"
Integrative medicine and meditation expert Deepak Chopra believes that the misuse of social media contributes greatly, especially among young adults. He says, "I think the most alienated people are young, because adolescence has always been a confusing time when it comes to finding out who you are and where you fit in. When someone has low self-esteem, confusion about where they fit in, or psychological issues like depression and anxiety, that's the main concern."
According to Ingrid Caswell, LMFT, our self-perception has always been shaped by others. The only difference today is that social media creates a more narrow, or select, view of how we observe our peers. She says, "In terms of self-perception, people have always been influenced, at least to some degree, by what others think and feel about them. The problem with social media is that the perceptions that others have of us are often not based on real world experiences of us, but rather on images that we project out into the world in an effort to create a narrative about ourselves. What others think of us, and what we think of others, is becoming more and more meaningless."
Perhaps there is no escape from comparison, on- or offline. But maybe through mindful practice we can achieve peace with where we are — and in the course of celebrating the achievements of others.
How To create healthy Separation From Social Media…
TURN OFF your NOTIFICATIONS
While it may sound like a dream, completely shutting down and throwing your phone in a dark corner of your walk-in closet may not be the most realistic move. However, muting or hiding your phone's notifications eliminates the worst part of the phone experience while keeping all of the essential functions your phone serves intact.
SCHEDULE your SOCIAL MEDIA TIME
Designate a certain time of day to look at your social feed. Then schedule it as you would lunch or working out. Consider scheduling a few phone-free friend dates while you're at it.
Try a sociAL MEDIA DETOX
Made popular by celebrities like Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid, a social media detox can last anywhere from a day to several months. Much like a food detox, creating space between you and an unhealthy relationship, in this case with social media, can help reset your mind and distance yourself from any emotional trigger
How do you feel about the link between social media and self-esteem? Take your thoughts to our new private Facebook group to discuss in depth with our community!
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Meet the Original Greenster: Naturopathica's Barbara Close Is An Herbalist + Esthetician


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Corylus és un gènere de plantes angiospermes de la família de les betulàcies. És el gènere dels avellaners i els seus fruits són les avellanes.

Descripció
Són arbres o grans arbusts caducifolis natius de les parts de clima temperat de l'hemisferi nord. Les plantes d'aquest gènere tenen fulles simples i arrodonides amb els marges doblement serrats. La sexualitat de les flors és monoica amb aments unisexuals, els masculins de color groc pàl·lid i d'una mida de 5–12 cm de llarg i els femenins molt petits amb només un carpel vermell, d'un a 3 mm de llarg, visible. El fruit (avellana) és botànicament una núcula d'1–2.5 cm de llarg i 1–2 cm de diàmetres, envoltades per un involucre (o cúpula) que segons les espècies tanca parcialment o totalment el fruit.

La forma i estructura de la bràctea, i també l'hàbit on creix, ja sigui un arbre o un arbust, són importants en la identificació de les diverses espècies.

El pol·len de les espècies, que sovint causa al·lèrgies a finals d'hivern o principis de primavera, es pot identificar amb 600 augments pels seus característics exinis granulars amb tres porus conspicus.

Taxonomia
Aquest gènere va ser publicat per primer cop l'any 1753 a l'obra Species Plantarum de Carl von Linné (1707-1778).

Espècies
Dins d'aquest gènere es reconeixen les següents 16 espècies:

 Núcula envoltada per un involucre tou foliós. Arbusts de moltes tiges de fins a 12 m d'alt.
 Involucre curt, d'una llargada molt similar a la núcula.
 Corylus americana  — Est de Nord-amèrica.
 Corylus avellana  — avellaner. Europa, Anatòlia i Caucas.
 Corylus heterophylla  — Oest d'Àsia.
 Corylus yunnanensis  — Xina sud i central.
 Involucre llarg, dues vegades la llargada de la núcula o més, formant un 'bec'.
 Corylus colchica  — Caucas.
 Corylus cornuta  — Amèrica delNord.
 Corylus maxima  — Balcans.
 Corylus sieboldiana  — Sud de sibèria, nord de la Xina i Japó.
 Núcula envoltada per un involucre rígid i espinós.Arbres de 20–35 m d'alt.
 Involucre moderadament espinós i amb pèls glandulars.
 Corylus chinensis  — Xina central.
 Corylus colurna  — avellaner de Turquia. Sud-est d'Europa, Turquia, Caucas i nord d'Iran.
 Corylus fargesii  — Xina.
 Corylus jacquemontii  — Himalàia.
 Corylus wangii  — Xina.
 Involucre densament espinós, com l'involucre de la castanya.
 Corylus ferox  — Himalàia, Tíbet, Assam, Myanmar i Xina.
 Altres
 Corylus potaninii  — Xina central.
 Corylus wulingensis  — Sud-est de la Xina.

Híbrids
S'ha descrit el següent híbrid a la natura:
 Corylus × colurnoides

Fòssils
L'espècie fòssil més antiga confirmada és Corylus johnsonii trobada a Ferry County, Estat de Washington.

WGSRPD = World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions - Sistema geogràfic mundial per al registre de la distribució de les plantes.

n, natz = naturalitzada, subespontània;   c, cult = cultivada;   [... = introduïda (sense  especificar);

Forma vital (g = alçària de les gemmes persistents) Forma vital de Raunkiær, WCSP, Flora dels Països Catalans, ...}.

f.v.: Phan = Phanerophyta (faneròfits; g > 2-3 m);   Nphan = Nanophanerophyta (nanofaneròfits; 2-3 > g > 0,2-0,5 m);

Alçària (h): alçària total de l'arbre o de la planta (m)

[pr]: nom preferent;   [flos]: flor;   [amnt]: ament;   [frut]: fruit;   [semn]: llavor;   [cupl]: cúpula, involucre;

[silv]: salvatge, silvestre;   [cult-frut], [prod-frut]: cultivada /producció de fruit;   [cult-orn] = cultivada ornamental

Referències

Bibliografia

 MMPND - Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database [in Wikipedia] > Lists of names > Corylus
 WCSP - World Checklist of Selected Plant Families [in Wikipedia] > Corylus (Distribution, Synonyms)
 Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden > Corylus (Synonyms, Distribution)
 IPNI - The International Plant Names Index [in Wikipedia] (> Search Plant Names, > Search Authors)
 GRIN-Global Project (U.S. National Plant Germplasm System) [in Wikipedia] > Advanced Query of Species Data > Genus or species name: Corylus (Distribution, Synonyms)
 efloras.org (FOC - Flora of China, Flora of North America, ...) > Corylus- All Floras (Synonyms, Distribution)
 Mansfeld's Word Database > Corylus [Search] (Synonyms, Distribution, ...)
 The Euro+Med PlantBase >  Corylus (Synonyms, Common names, Occurrence)
 Tela Botanica. Botanique: eFlore - Fiches plantes [in Wikipedia] > Corylus > Ethnobota > Noms communs / > Nomenclature
 Flora iberica [in Wikipedia] > Seleccione un género > Corylus > Descripción del género (pdf) Corylus
 Anthos [in Wikipedia]. Sistema de información de las plantas de España > Búsquedas > género > Corylus
 Flora dels Països Catalans. Bolòs, O. de & Vigo, J., 1984-2001 [in Wikipedia]. Volum 2 > Corylus [llibre]
 IEC. DIEC2 - Diccionari de la llengua catalana [in Wikipedia] > avellaner, avellana, ...; > Consulta avançada > Definició (Que contingui el mot): Corylus
 Termcat. Noms de plantes. Corpus de fitonímia catalana > Corylus
 WGSRPD - World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions (R. K. Brummitt). The Continental and Regional Scheme. [in Wikipedia] pdf
 Wikispecies > Corylus
 Mabberley, D. J., 2008. Mabberley's Plant-book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. 3a. ed. corrections 2009. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
 Masclans, F., 1981 Els noms de les plantes als Països Catalans. Granollers, Barcelona: Ed. Montblanc-Martí-CEC.
 EPPO Global Database (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization - Organisation Européenne et Méditerranéenne pour la Protection des Plantes (en, es, fr, de, it, nl, ca, ja, pt, sv)
 Erik Gotfredsen. Liber Herbarum II. The incomplete reference-guide to Herbal medicine. Main Index. Nomina herbarum (per noms científics).
 Font i Quer, P., Plantas medicinales, el Dioscorides renovado. 4a. ed. Barcelona: Ed. Labor, 1978.
 Sánchez-Monge, E., 2001. Diccionario de plantas de interés agrícola. (es, ca, eu, gl, de, fr, en, it, pt).  Madrid: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.

Betulàcies

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Ultraviolet is the fourth and final studio album by All About Eve. It was the only album that the band released with MCA. Despite quite positive reviews at the time this album was not commercially successful, reaching only #36 on the UK Albums Chart. The two singles only reached, respectively, #38 and #57 in the UK Singles Chart. As a consequence of this, the band was dropped by MCA shortly afterward.

"Outshine the Sun" was frequently used at the band's gigs for a finale. "Some Finer Day" was the last single released by the band for twelve years, "Let Me Go Home" being the next one in 2004.

Track listing
"Phased"
"Yesterday Goodbye"
"Mine"
"Freeze"
"The Things He Told Her"
"Infrared"
"I Don't Know"
"Dream Butcher"
"Some Finer Day"
"Blindfolded Visionary"
"Outshine the Sun"

Personnel
Andy Cousin - bass, 12-string guitar (tracks 7 and 11)
Mark Price - percussion, drums, sound effect (lunar siren, track 1)
Julianne Regan - voice, guitars (track 7), bass (tracks 7 and 11); mellotron, piano, sitar & Indian pipes (track 11)
Marty Willson-Piper - electric and acoustic guitars

References

External links

1992 albums
All About Eve (band) albums
MCA Records albums


In the first part of defensive car driving skill, we will teach you, "How can you turn quickly right or left and then drive straight forward. This defensive car driving skill can be used 1. when you have to overtake any vehicle very fastly before coming other vehicle in your front. 2. You have to turn left or right before capturing in heavy traffic. Please use empty place for its practice.
No Comment to " Defensive Car Driving Skill - Part 1 "


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Students Celebrate Religious and Family Traditions
December 3, 2017 Mecca Abdul-Aziz December 6 2017, Features 0
Wittenberg students had the opportunity to learn and share various religious traditions with their families at the Celebration of Traditions this past Wednesday.
The program was sponsored by Maddy O'Malley, '18, from Student Senate, Rachel Tune and Emma Lyons, '19, from the Interfaith Committee. The purpose of the program was to celebrate student's diverse family traditions.
"Food is one of the biggest traditions; we all would come together through food," Zara Tickner, '18, said as she shared her story.
Kathryn Nydegger, '19, shared her experience of worshiping with her family while enjoying the outdoors.
"My favorite memory is being in the woods and going on a retreat where we would worship and share our experiences," Nydegger said.
O'Malley, who helped coordinate the event, was very pleased with the turnout.
"I was happy; we just wanted to have a casual event where people could come talk and listen to the religious traditions celebrated this time of the year," O'Malley said.
Students like Aacha Gregg, '20, and Danny O'Nan, '21, expressed their favorite parts of the event.
"My favorite part about the event was that you got to hear a diverse amount of traditions and saw people that didn't know each other talking to each other about their traditions," Gregg said.
O'Nan also remarked about it being a wonderful experience to hear about all the different traditions that exist.
"I thought it was a really great first step to help bridge the gap between Student Senate and the student body," O'Nan said.
Tune thought O'Malley and Lyons did a great job organizing the event, as she commented that it was wonderful to hear about traditions different people followed.
The event was an introduction to next semester, which will focus on diversity topics.
Is Witt Falling Apart?
Brooks Hedstrom Releases Book and Celebrates Publishing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


stonemayson The perfect mix of chill, upbeat and strange songs. Perfect for saturday evening in the couch with nice company and a large assortment of snacks. :) Favorite track: You Only Like What You Know.
ojdo Being an exquisite live improvisation artist, publishing an album might sound strange at first. But these tracks show what Beardyman and his live music studio equipment are capable of. My pick is one of the more pop music ones. Favorite track: Getting There.
Fredrik Angström Beardyman, improviser, looper and beatboxer extraordinaire with an album bursting with creativity.
Steve Lawson Beatbox has for many years been predominantly a live spectacle - amazing displays of skill, often by artists who struggle to maintain interest if you're not looking at them. Beardyman turns that on its head with this amazing album. Freaky-electronica that works whether you know it's a dude with a clever gob or not. Brilliance. Favorite track: Getting There.
Andrew Dubber You had me at the reference to the Improbability Drive. Favorite track: 2^25,000:1 Against And Falling.
Includes unlimited streaming of Distractions via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Imagine a machine that can let you record and mix music in real time – one that will enable musicians to get down the ideas in their head instantly, with no filter between the germs of a song and hearing it come alive straight away. Imagine the fevered genius capable of building such a perfect musical aid. Meet the BEARDYTRON_5000mkIII (Beardytron). And meet its creator…Beardyman, whose performances have been viewed over 50 million times on YouTube alone with improvisation being at the heart of the creative process.


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Electronic Music: Jim Haynes & Chris Duncan
Jan 27 2017 7:30 - 10pm $5 suggested donation
Corrosion and decay are central themes to the work of Californian media-artist Jim Haynes. Blight. Dislocation. Subcutaneousness. Toxicity. Brackishness. Psychic unease. These allusions and their process accentuate the instability of these conditions as a series of evocations, hauntings, convulsions, and evanescence. Through sound, Haynes investigate these properties of corrosion, specifically on how decay parallels and relates to the perception of time when cycles of activity collapse into stasis, and how that stasis can rupture when any number of pressures are applied. These result from a cross-contamination of ultrasound detection, shortwave reception, moribund radiophonic exploration, and/or electro-magnetic disruption.
Chris Duncan(Oakland) is just coming off of a three month residency at the Headlands Center for the Arts, where he spent most of of his time making visual and sonic work in an ocean cave just north of Rodeo Beach. For his performance at ProArts, he will create an open ended atmospheric sound piece based on a call and response between the accumulation of simple tones made from harmonica and field recordings of the ocean made while in residence at the Headlands. Blindfolds will be available and are encouraged.
christopherrobinduncan.virb.com
Chris Duncan is an Oakland-based artist who employs repetition and accumulation as a basis for experiments in visual and sound based media. Often in flux between maximal and minimal, Duncan's work is a constant balancing act of positive or negative, loud or quite, solitary or participatory and tends to lead towards questions regarding perception, experience and transcendence. Sonically, Duncan creates open ended atmospheric pieces rooted in the accumulation of simple tones made from tuning forks and harmonicas combined with field recordings of natural phenomena. Duncan earned his BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts and his Masters Degree in Art Practice from Stanford University. He has performed at Berkeley Art Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Gray Area and Pasadena Art Center, as well, he has participated in the RE:Sound series and Soundwave. Chris is currently a resident at Headlands Center for the Arts.
Based in California, Jim Haynes has exhibited internationally at the San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art, the Lausanne Underground Film Festival, the Berkeley Art Museum, WestSpace (Melbourne, Australia), and Diapason (New York). Recorded media has been published through Editions Mego, Ghostly International, Drone Records, Elevator Bath, Hooker Vision, Intransitive, Semperflorens, and The Helen Scarsdale Agency. He has also been awarded residencies at the Djerassi Resident Artists Program (California), Recombinant Media Labs (California), Jack Straw Productions (Seattle), and MoKS (Estonia). He has participated in a number of fruitful collaborations with Loren Chasse, Keith Evans, Steven Stapleton, and M.S. Waldron. Until 2015, Haynes was the Vice President and Curatorial Director for 23five Incorporated, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and increased awareness of sound arts within the public arena. He is also the lone occupant at The Helen Scarsdale Agency.


Remedies for sinus headache focuses upon unplugging the pressure that is creating the sinus headache. There is a painful, uncomfortable build up of fluid and dried mucous that will continue to build up unless some irrigation takes place.
Since most sinus headaches accompany sinus infections, go to my sinus infection symptoms page and learn about sinus infection symptoms.
And since action is required to relieve the infection, go to my Sinus Infection Remedy page to find out what to do to gain relief from the sinus infection.
Please bear in mind as you study these two pages, that sinus infections stem from a weakened immune system.
You must pay attention to your immune system. It is your shield. When your shield is down you are prey to AIDS, cancers, hepatitis, TB, pneumonia, bronchitis, and a host of other predatory pathogens (including bio-terrorist attacks).
If you continue to live in a state of low immunity, then vaccines (such as smallpox vaccine) may not work in your body. Most medications solicit your immune system to assist in fighting attacks. Even the extent of the physical (cellular) damage from radiation exposure (due to dirty bombs) will differ among people with strong or weakened immune systems. Itís a given that we may not escape exposure. But what happens after exposure may be largely up to us.
Do not live under the false assumption that if a terrorist crisis strikes our nation, you will be automatically saved if you get the vaccine or antibiotic. Nothing could be further from the truth. The state of your immune system will play a critical role in response to the medicine, or your own ability to survive. And this is especially true if no vaccines or medicines are available. There is no guarantee that any government will be able to handle the number of victims.
Itís time to give serious thought about your weakened immune system for now and later.


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Apps Technology WhatsApp
WhatsApp starts rolling out voice calling feature to Android users
NEW DELHI: After testing the feature with select users, it appears mobile messaging service WhatsApp is now rolling out the much awaited internet calling functionality to a wider set of people.
Earlier on Friday, a number of users of WhatsApp's Android app were able to get the voice calling feature activated by simply receiving a call from a user who had the service turned on. This meant that initial testers were able to extend it to their friends who further helped other WhatsApp users join the club. However, this invite system is not working for all users.
We were able to get the voice calling feature activated on our Android phone after receiving a WhatsApp call. Although, we were able to make voice calls to other Android and BlackBerry 10 users with the latest version of the app, the feature was not being activated for all users. It's possible that WhatsApp may have set a limit to the number of users one could invite or is only allowing a limited set of users at this time to test its networks.
The feature is not available yet on the iPhone although WhatsApp's recent iOS update had introduced a calling button within the chat window. The feature also doesn't work on Windows Phone hadsets, at the moment.
After activation of the feature, WhatsApp's user interface changes to feature separate screens for dialing a voice call to WhatsApp contacts, call logs and ongoing calls. The chat window also displays a calling button (represented by a phone icon). The active call screen sports buttons for turning on the loudspeaker, switching to the chat window and for muting the call.
It's worth pointing out that WhatsApp has not officially announced the rollout of the feature yet.
The voice calling feature will bring WhatsApp in direct clash with apps like WeChat, Viber and Line that already allow users to make calls and send messages. WhatsApp is the biggest instant messaging app in the world, with 700 million active users in January 2015.
3/related/ WhatsApp


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News, Notes, Talk
What to read next, based on your favorite Christmas movie.
By Katie Yee
December 15, 2021, 12:15pm
We are in that sweet spot of December in which you're (hopefully) full of the holiday spirit but without the stress of having to spend every waking moment with your family. It's the perfect few weeks in which to indulge in holiday flick after holiday flick. But when the popcorn bowl is empty and the eggnog is sitting uncomfortably in your stomach, what are you going to read? There simply aren't as many quality Christmas books as there are Christmas movies, but I have boiled down the essence of what makes these films great, and I have compiled some reading recommendations accordingly. (Note: These are not holiday-specific books by any means, but rather, evergreen titles to enjoy.) That's right, folks: I'm making a list. I'm checking it twice! I'm Book Santa. Let's go.
Home Alone → Lydia Millet's A Children's Bible
I'm a big fan of the precocious child/idiot parent genre. If you most enjoy Kevin McCallister being smarter than all the adults around him (both the well-meaning parents and the delightfully stupid conmen), perhaps you will also find much to love in Lydia Millet's latest novel, an incredible story about a group of children left to their own devices in the face of a climate disaster. There's even a sinister game they play in which they pretend their parents do not belong to them—not unlike young Kevin's wish that he has no family.
The Polar Express → Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch
If you're looking for a book that, from the very first page, makes you feel like you're at the start of a wild, awe-inspiring journey, look no further than Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch. Much like The Polar Express, it follows a boy teetering on the cusp of his teenage years: not quite old enough to be a droll adult but still with his wits and willingness to believe in something. Both stories are winding, Dickensian almost, with the odd array of characters that float in and out of the narrative by true happenstance. Theo Decker chases art—the true beauty in life—the way the hero boy in The Polar Express chases his Christmas dreams.
The Family Stone → Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections
What do you get when you bring a big family together around the holidays? Aging parents who just want the best for their children! Sibling rivalries! Secrets! Messy boots! If the family consists of Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, Dermot Mulroney, and Craig T. Nelson, you get the hit holiday classic The Family Stone. If it's got Franzen's signature touch, well, clearly it's The Corrections. Read on for all the family drama you're trying to avoid right now.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation → Halle Butler's Jillian
Oh, Clark Griswold. He just wants to have a nice Christmas with his family! He's prepared to keep a big smile plastered to his face, even with his in-laws at each others' throats! It's so nice that they could all come together, after all! It's! So! Nice! He's counting on a generous Christmas bonus from his company, so large it will cover the cost of a pool! (I guess it was a different time?) If his creepy and unrelenting optimism speak to you, I think you're going to get a real kick out of the title character in Jillian. She's got a similarly deranged This Is Fine vibe! Enjoy!!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas → John Milton's Paradise Lost
Who doesn't love a good anti-hero? Much like the Grinch, Satan just wants to rule over his own domain. He has a master plan for the world, and he's not afraid to put it into action. Just as the Grinch wants to rid the world of Christmas, Satan wants to corrupt humankind. And both must give in to their fate eventually. For one, that means carving roast with Cindy Lou Who. For another, that means turning into a voiceless snake. Ah, well.
It's a Wonderful Life → V. E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
It's a Wonderful Life is the perfect Christmas reminder that you never know how your existence has touched the lives of others. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue follows a woman who has made a strange deal: she will live forever, but she will never be remembered. As the years go on, Addie has realized that she can still shape the world, through art and the people who create it. Much like the holiday classic, it's a fascinating, surreal exploration of the power of the ripple effect.
Gremlins → Kevin Wilson's Nothing to See Here
Let's be honest: there is nothing in the world quite like the cinematic genius that is Gremlins. It's just so wonderfully weird! A man wanders into a toy shop looking for something to give his son on Christmas and leaves with an adorable gremlin and a specific set of rules he obviously cannot commit to, inadvertently allowing the spawning of a bunch of evil creatures that wreak havoc on the town. Inspired! Kevin Wilson's novel is similarly off-the-walls. I've got four words for you: children who spontaneously combust. Throughout the novel, their caregiver must learn the rules of their mysterious ailment, and along the way, she develops a moving bond with them. Both are dark and funny in equal measure and best enjoyed with a midnight snack.
Christmas Donna Tartt Halle Butler Jonathan Franzen just for funsies Kevin Wilson Lydia Millet Recommended Reading V.E. Schwab What to Read Next
Podcasts, Audiobooks + More
Lithub Daily
A profile of poet, novelist, and Björk collaborator Sjón.
Daniel Levin Becker on the rhyme and rhetoric of rap.
Katy Waldman explores the post-apocalyptic art of Station Eleven.


text:
2019 | The Year in Review
December 30, 2019 • life
As I scrolled through Google photos scouting for potential holiday card photos, I couldn't believe all of the memories made this year. So many times I had to stop and say "wow, that was this year!?" or share with my friends, saying "remember when...?"
I started Arbonne's 30 days to wellness program, losing a total of 25 lbs. I've kept them off all year!
I saw my first two musicals of the year: The Little Mermaid (yay!) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (nay!)
Sean & I celebrated 14 years together
I visited Atlanta for the weekend to see one of my Broadway faves, Sierra Boggess, in a regional production of Ever After.
5 more shows: Monty Python's Spamalot, Rock of Ages, Once, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and The King & I.
My friend Katherine tied the knot!
Two musicals: Gypsy and The Hunchback of Notre Dame
My neighborhood was out and about enjoying occasions together including Greek Independence Day and St. Patrick's Day
Two of my favorite shows (and Sean joined me for both!): The Book of Mormon and Come From Away
Attended a live taping of American Ninja Warrior
After successful avoidance for 30+ years, attended my first 80s party - with the neighbors, of course!
Speaking of decades, went to 90's trivia and won the costume contest - as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
Celebrated my sister-in-law's college graduation
No theatre this month. Womp womp.
Celebrated 9 years of marriage to Sean.
On our anniversary, Trump announced that cruises to Cuba were no longer permitted - we had a booking only 10 days away! Womp womp. We instead cruised to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Two shows, and Sean attended both: The Play That Goes Wrong and Hamilton.
Celebrated Sean's birthday and then did nothing in recovery of the first half of the year and anticipation of the second.
SIX shows, including five on Broadway: Cabaret, Moulin Rouge, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mean Girls, Oklahoma!, and Frozen
3 of those shows were because of a trip I won to NYC, so I enjoyed playing tourist in the city for a few days.
Labor Day getaway: despite living less than two hours away, I'd never been to Philly. I enjoyed exploring the city for a few days.
1 show: Mike Birbiglia's The New One
Joined a new social choir in Baltimore and performed at my first concert in....forever
Participated in my fifth Miles for Mothers
Two shows: Escape to Margaritaville and Phantom of the Opera
Another Caribbean cruise: since our ship was no longer sailing to Cuba, prices were slashed for the rest of 2019 and we figured...why not!? We even tried parasailing for the first time!
Our neighborhood's third annual "stoopsgiving"
Another quick getaway to Philly, this time with Sean
Three shows: Rent, Aladdin, and Singin' in the Rain
An extra festive neighborhood: from local lighting ceremonies to giving back in the community, we got together frequently in the holiday spirit!
Final four shows: Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays, Once On This Island, Jersey Boys, and Jesus Christ Superstar (If you're counting, yes, I saw 30 shows this year!)
Once On This Island National Tour | Hershey, PA
December 27, 2019 • theatre
Who: My neighbors & I
What: Once on This Island, the touring production of the 2018 revival
When: December 2019
Where: Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA
Why: Sand and stage? Sign me up!
Thoughts: If I'm counting right, I saw 30 shows in 2019. I can say with absolute certainty that Once on This Island was the most magical theatre experience of the year. I had never heard of it prior to the revival but a little bit of research and I knew I had to see it.
While not staged in the round like on Broadway, the tour provides it's own immersion most notably through onstage seating. For ~$20, I figured the view would be bad but took the gamble due to the uniqueness of the experience.
It was the coolest thing ever! Actors arrive on stage shortly after the doors open for a pre-show experience only those sitting on stage can truly appreciate. The set is a beach littered heavily after a storm, and characters interact with each other, discussing the damage and cleaning up until it's truly time for the show to begin. The view was always phenomenal and it often felt like the performers connected with the audience.
The show itself is short and sweet (90 minutes, no intermission). That doesn't allow it to dig as deep as other shows, but it's really more about the experience. Visually, I couldn't stop noticing and admiring all the design elements of both the set and costumes - it was so creative and relevant!
I'm hoping the tour comes to Baltimore or DC next season so I can see it again. If it's coming to your town, don't miss it! The onstage seats are a steal and will be one of your coolest theatre experiences!
Hershey, PA, USA
December 25, 2019 • holiday, life
This is the third year we took advantage of the Groupon deal for Staples - 100 cards for $25 - and they are ready within 24 hours!
I'm usually enthusiastically ready to get our cards together the first week of December, but this year was a near fail. That quick turnaround was more valuable than ever. We didn't even have a photo until a colleague snapped one at our 12/20 work party! Thankfully, cards were ready and mailed barely before Christmas.
For those of you who received one on time, yay! For those of you who will randomly receive them by NYE...womp womp. Sorry. I'll do better next year.
For those of you whose address I don't have, think of this card as yours. It means a lot to me that you're here reading along with me. Happy Holidays!
Jersey Boys | For Everyone!
Before I saw Jersey Boys for the first time, I would have told you that the Four Seasons was a hotel.
When the tour came to Baltimore a few years ago, I went out of curiosity. It was a Tony award winner (and Grammy, and Olivier winner), so it had to be good, right?
I went with my mother in law, fully expecting she'd appreciate a show about a band who rose to fame in the 60's more than I could. I was pleasantly surprised as I realized I was familiar with a fair amount of the catalog.
There was Bye Bye Baby, which I'd heard Liam Neeson attribute to the Bay City Rollers in Love Actually.
There was Can't Take My Eyes off You, the song that made me swoon when Patrick serenaded Kat in the teen flick 10 Things I Hate About You.
There was December, 1963, the song you hear...everywhere.
Sure, the songs were from the 60's, but they were classics so strong that they'd found new life in my generation. I had a blast that night and was thrilled for a second dose of Frankie, Tommy, Nick, and Bob when I heard the production was nearby at DC's National Theatre.
I attended opening week, Xennial friend in tow, and was pleased to see an age-diverse crowd (I frequently lament that I'm the youngest audience member when I attend theatre productions). In fact, the teenagers a few row in front of me were dancing in their seats when the opening number began. A woman to our right squealed every time a number she knew played. Three different Boomers in front of us whipped out their phones to try and record Big Girls Don't Cry (while I appreciate the enthusiasm, a friendly reminder that recording performances is a no-no).
I had a pretty sheltered upbringing, similar to my guest. When I asked if she was familiar with any of the songs post-show, she said:
"Personally I heard many of those songs but didn't know it was The Four Seasons or even the same band until I saw the movie. They're just popular songs I guess. For even a sheltered girl like me."
Whether born in 63, 83, or 2003, Jersey Boys is a fun crowd-pleaser that generations can enjoy together, but keep in mind that it is recommended for ages 12+ due to language and mature content.
If you're looking for some quality time with family over this holiday break, the show will be in town through Sunday, January 5. Grab your tickets and enjoy! Or, take your chances with the ticket lottery: Two hours prior to all Jersey Boys show times, individuals may submit their names in person to be drawn to purchase up to two tickets at $25 per ticket. Twenty lottery seats will be available for purchase for each of the performances. Names will be announced 30 minutes after the entry period begins (90 minutes prior to the show time). Individuals must be present, with cash, to redeem the offer.
GIVEAWAY | Jersey Boys at National Theatre DC
December 9, 2019 • giveaway, theatre
National Theatre DC is keeping the theatre magic alive all month long!
It's not too late to see Fiddler on the Roof this week (through 12/15), but I'm here with Allied Media to hook someone up for another favorite of mine next week: Jersey Boys!
I still remember the awe I felt the first time I saw this show and I'm so excited to revisit it. The performances are amazing!
Here's the rundown:
They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn't get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story -- a story that has made them an international sensation all over again.
Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Grammy Award®-winning true-life musical phenomenon, JERSEY BOYS. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that's just too good to be true.
FEATURING THE LEGENDARY TOP TEN HITS:
"Sherry" • "Big Girls Don't Cry" • "Walk Like A Man" • "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" • "December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)"
Contains authentic, profane Jersey language.
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Run time: Approximately 2 hours, 40 minutes, including one intermission
To win a pair of tickets to the opening night performance (Tuesday, December 17), Leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tune! An email address MUST be included in the body of the comment so you can be contacted if your name is drawn.
Winner will be selected Friday. December 13. Good luck!
December Magic at National Theatre DC + GIVEAWAY!
December 4, 2019 • theatre
Guys, this is a jam packed month for awesome entertainment and I don't want you to miss a second of it - I have a discount for everyone for this week and a chance at free tickets for later in the month. Good luck!
This week: Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays (BOGO 12/4!)
I was fortunate enough to see this opening night and WOW! It made me so happy to see all ages in the audience. The kids were screaming in shock and awe while the adults were laughing at the sly humor. I loved the diversity of tricks performed - this is a true crowd pleaser!
The Illusionists are in town until December 8, but if you can get there tonight (12/4), it's family night which means BOGO tickets with code FAMBOGO! You're welcome.
Tuesday, Dec. 10 - Sunday, Dec. 15: Fiddler on the Roof (+GIVEAWAY!)
Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind South Pacific, The King and I, and 2017 Tony-winning Best Play Oslo, bring a fresh and authentic vision to beloved theatrical masterpiece FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, from Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. The original production won ten Tony Awards, including a special Tony for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time. You'll be there when the sun rises on this new production, with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. A wonderful cast and lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family. Featuring the Broadway classics "Tradition," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Sunrise, Sunset," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and "To Life," FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will introduce a new generation to this uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life!
ENTER TO WIN: Comment your favorite song from Fiddler on the Roof below! Your comment must include an e-mail address in the body of the comment in order to be contacted if your name is drawn!
Winner will receive 2 hard tickets to opening night tickets for Tuesday, December 10th at 7:30 pm. Recommended for ages 8+. Winner will be drawn Saturday 12/7.
Dec. 17, 2019 - Jan. 5, 2020: Jersey Boys
Tickets on sale now!
November 22, 2019 • life, theatre
The days have been racing by as they always seem to from Labor Day until Christmas. It's been hectic, but fun!
The national tour of Aladdin made it's way through Baltimore. This was my third time seeing it (previously on Broadway and in Chicago) and this time, I brought my mom and siblings along as a birthday/Christmas gift to them. It was such a fun night out!
2. Stoopsgiving
For the third year in a row, our group of neighbors turned close friends got together for our version of friendsgiving. It's amazing to see how our group has grown.
3. Daily ritual
I might be late to the party on this, but how did I not know Amazon has their own clothing brand now?! A lot of my basic T's were getting to the worn, pilling stage and I knew it was time to replace them. Amazon has the basics in multiple weights, styles, and all the essential neutral colors in the softest fabrics — and with reasonable prices! My personal favorites so far are this Jersey Elbow-Sleeve Boat Neck Shirt and the Supersoft Terry Short-Sleeve Shirt. I've got a handful more on my wish list.
4. Singin' in the Rain
One of my favorite local theatres, Olney Theatre Center, is currently performing Singin' in the Rain. I haven't seen the film since I was a kid and wasn't sure what to expect, but it was such a strong performance (just like every Olney show I've ever seen), and I was stunned when it actually rained on stage for the titular song! If you're nearby, the show runs until January 5. Some performances have discounted tickets available on Goldstar.
5. Booties
I struggle every year to find good boots and generally order multiple pairs before I find something that works for me. I ordered these toffee leather Lucky brand booties on sale and loved them so much, I ordered them in black as well! My office mate was curious so she ordered a pair and also ended up ordering a second! They're so comfortable and go with everything.
November 13, 2019 • theatre
GIVEAWAY | Latin History for Morons at National Theatre DC
November 8, 2019 • giveaway, theatre
I have heard such amazing things about this show and I am so jealous of whomever wins the chance to attend:
Fresh off its Tony-nominated hit Broadway run, Tony Award winner John Leguizamo's one-man play LATIN HISTORY FOR MORONS is inspired by the near total absence of Latinos from his son's American history books. Known as modern theatre's most prolific Latino playwright, Leguizamo embarks on an outrageously funny, frenzied search to find a Latin hero for his son's school history project. From a mad recap of the Aztec empire to stories of unknown Latin patriots of the Revolutionary War and beyond, Leguizamo breaks down the 3,000 years between the Mayans and Pitbull into 110 irreverent and uncensored minutes above and beyond his unique style.
Don't miss the show The New York Times calls "a surprisingly poignant one-man play that slyly poses sharp and timely questions of what culturally defines American identity and who, in the nationalistic age of Trump, has 'the right' to be here."
Allied Media has graciously allowed me to give one reader two tickets to the opening performance on Thursday, November 21.
To enter, simply leave a comment sharing why you'd like to see the show!
You MUST include an e-mail address IN THE COMMENT in order for me to reach you if your name is drawn.
Winner contacted Friday, November 15. Good luck!
GIVEAWAY | RENT at National Theatre DC
October 26, 2019 • theatre
A classic favorite is returning to the National Theatre in just a few weeks and it is one not to be missed!
In 1996, an original rock musical by a little-known composer opened on Broadway… and forever changed the landscape of American theatre. Two decades later, Jonathan Larson's RENT continues to speak loudly and defiantly to audiences across generations and all over the world. Now, this Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning masterpiece returns to the stage in a vibrant 20th anniversary touring production. A reimagining of Puccini's La Bohème, RENT follows an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. With its inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear, this timeless celebration of friendship and creativity reminds us to measure our lives with the only thing that truly matters — love.
Thanks to Allied Media, I have a pair of tickets for the opening performance on Tuesday, November 12th at 7:30 PM.
To enter, leave a comment on this post with your favorite song from RENT! Be sure to include an email address to be contacted if you are chosen Winner will be contacted November 6.
Escape to Margaritaville National Tour at National Theatre DC
Who: Amy & I
What: Escape to Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett's Broadway jukebox musical
When: October 2019
Where: National Theatre, Washington, DC
Why: I'm not ready for summer to end!
I may or may not have rolled my eyes when I first heard this show would be on Broadway. I'm not that familiar with Jimmy Buffett and didn't have high overall expectations of the show...at least not enough to give it a try on the Big White Way.
I figured the touring version was worth giving a try and am happy to say it exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations! Simply put, it's a fun, happy ... "escape" show! There's lots of funny one liners, easy to follow storylines, and audience participation is encouraged (AKA it's totally fine to sing along)! They also managed to sneak in one of my favorite things...a tap number!
It's not too late to grab your flip flops and enjoy your own Escape to Margaritaville...it's still in DC at the National Theatre through October 13!
Congrats to our ticket winners!
I tried FabFitFun's Style Box
October 8, 2019 • brands. review
Between blogs and opportunistic Facebook ads, I thought I'd heard of every styling service out there. When the e-mail invitation came to try a style box from FabFitFun, I was surprised. I had no clue this was a thing! Since they waived the styling fee for the first box and ebates Rakuten was offering cash back, I figured it was worth a try to see how they'd style me and how the overall goods and experience compares to other style boxes, notably Stitch Fix which has become my personal favorite.
6 items in box
Quick, easy style survey
Wide range of price points.
Good grasp of style on first try
No "exchange" option at checkout, only buy/return
Hard to reach customer service quickly
Website can be confusing as the regular and style boxes are accessed from the same site.
Here's what they sent me:
Gina Ruffle Sleeve Top - $42
This is cute and something I definitely would have tried on had I seen it in a store. The brand is Skies are Blue which I have also received from Stitch Fix boxes. It fit fine but ultimately I didn't feel like it was flattering on me, so I returned.
Taylah Side Tie Tank - $19
It's green! And so cheap! I was in love with this right away. According to the stylist's note, each box has a "bonus" item at a lower price point, and this was the one. Kept.
Waffle Knit Button Long Sleeve Top - $46
This was super comfy but not my style at all. I avoid tie front tops, and honestly, this shirt felt pretty flimsy for $46, more like something you'd grab from Walmart. Returned.
Mia High Waist Skinny - $89
These are Kut From the Kloth, another brand I've received from Stitch Fix, and they fit like a dream. Their denim is pricier than I'm used to, but so amazingly comfortable. I would have kept these, but I realized during try on that the pair was damaged. Since I can't request an exchange at checkout, I'm currently waiting on a reply from customer service to find out how to proceed.
Drape Front Open Knit Cardigan - $42
This was so thick, soft, and comfortable! I'd happily sleep in it. Returned only because I don't need another black cardigan right now.
Nora Small Hoop Earring - $30
I polled all these pieces on Instagram and these earrings got a unanimous yes from everybody! Funny, because I knew right away that these weren't my style and I wouldn't be keeping them. It was fun to see what you guys thought, though!
As far as first boxes go, this one is the best I've received. 4 of the 6 items were ones I'd have at least tried on in a store, and nothing had me thinking "why on earth would they even send me that?". Everything fit and I feel like they understood my personal style. I appreciated the range of brands and price points. While the process is not as robust as Stitch Fix, I think it's worth a second try. What do you think - should I go for it?
GIVEAWAY | Escape to Margaritaville
September 26, 2019 • giveaway, theatre
If you're hoping to hang on to summer just a little longer, I've got just the thing for you!
Jimmy Buffett's Broadway musical Escape to Margaritaville is bringing the party to Washington, DC at the National Theatre and I have a free pair of tickets for opening night on October 9!
To win, simply leave a comment on this post: what is your favorite Jimmy Buffet tune? Be sure to leave an e-mail so you can be contacted if you win!
Welcome to Margaritaville, where people come to get away from it all — and stay to find something they never expected. With a book by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia ("My Name is Earl," "Raising Hope") and Emmy Award nominee Mike O'Malley ("Survivors Remorse," "Shameless") ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE is the musical comedy featuring both original songs and your most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including "Fins," "Volcano," "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and many more. USA Today calls it "A little slice of paradise!" and Entertainment Weekly raves, "It will knock your flip-flops off!" So don't let the party start without you.
Recommended for ages 13 and up. Run time: Approximately 2 hours, 25 minutes, includes intermission.
Winner will be contacted via e-mail October 2.
The New One | FLASH Ticket Giveaway!
Some girls look forward to fall with thoughts of sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes. Me? I'm ready for theatre season to commence! There's so much great theatre in the Baltimore-DC area, and the National Theatre in Washington DC is kicking off their season this month with Mike Birbiglia's The New One.
Admittedly, this show wasn't originally on my radar, but the fact that Lin-Manuel Miranda (you know, the mastermind behind Hamilton) says that The New One is "as perfect a night as you're gonna get" tells me that this is a show worth seeing. I'll be there on September 25 and I want you to join me! Simply leave a comment telling me which show of Warner Theatre's season you are most excited for (full season below), and you're entered to win a pair of tickets to the 9/25 performance. The winner will be contacted Thursday, September 19. Good luck!
This Season at the National Theatre:
Sept. 24-29, 2019: Mike Birbiglia's The New One
Oct. 8-13, 2019: Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville
Oct. 18-19, 2019: Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live
Nov. 12-17, 2019: RENT – 20th Anniversary Tour
Nov. 21-23, 2019: John Leguizamo – Latin History for Morons
Nov. 29, 2019: Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Diaries
Dec. 3-8, 2019: The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays
Dec. 10-15, 2019: Fiddler on the Roof – Directed by Bartlett Sher
Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2010: The Simon & Garfunkel Story
Feb. 11-16, 2020: The King's Speech
Mar. 3-8, 2020: Bandstand
Mar. 27 - Apr. 5, 2020: Sting starring in The Last Ship
Apr. 7-26, 2020: Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
May 8-17, 2020: Blue Man Group
July 22 - Aug. 2, 2020: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Frozen on Broadway
September 16, 2019 • theatre, travel
What: Disney's cash cow, Frozen, now on Broadway
When: August 2019
Where: St. James Theatre, New York
Why: Even though I think the film is overrated, it's a good one and I was excited to see Broadway's take on the story.
My most common complaint about live theatre is that I am the youngest person in attendance.
Surprise! Not the case with Frozen.
Disney expected this and planned accordingly. The show is a mere 2 hours to keep young attention spans, and a pre-show announcement welcomes the kiddos, encouraging them to make Frozen their first of many Broadway shows. YES.
Brevity aside, this is exactly what you would expect from a Disney on Broadway show. You have your original story and songs with a few small tweaks and a handful of new songs. Younger audience members will be excited by the former (brace yourselves for kids trying to sing along), while the latter is what made the show memorable for me. I've had "Dangerous to Dream" from the cast recording stuck in my head for days!
The most notable difference for me was a change in Kristoff's character, which made a lot more sense to me. Combine that with some relatable new songs and a magical snowfall at the end, and you've got a signature Disney experience.
It's a fun show and it will stick around as long as there are kids begging to go and parents who can afford their admission. While it's not nearly as elaborate as neighboring Disney on Broadway hits The Lion King and Aladdin, it hits the mark in welcoming new theatre goers to Broadway and is still a charming experience. Just be prepared for an antsier audience.
Oklahoma! on Broadway
What: The stripped-down revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic, Oklahoma!
Where: Circle in the Square Theatre, New York
Why: 1. I'm obsessed with R&H. 2. I won tickets!
This production first hit my radar when rave reviews started pouring in for the off-Broadway production. As a certified Rodgers & Hammerstein geek, I read everything I could about this new take on Oklahoma! and was dying to see it.
Unfortunately, it closed before I had the chance.
Fortunately, it transferred to Broadway with a limited run that has already been extended.
Fortunately, it was among the shows I won tickets to.
Unfortunately, despite all the cool things I'd read about this revival, it just didn't work for me.
Don't get me wrong, I knew what I was getting into. I knew about the stripped down orchestra and set and more modern costumes and new "tone" for the show. I was intrigued. I love different ways of looking at classic musicals. Some pieces worked for me: I loved that the actors were dancing on tables and throwing back Bud Lights. I cracked up at the cat fight happening between Laurie and Gertie as they violently snapped ears of corn during "Many a New Day". There were fun moments for sure.
Ultimately, stripped down was a little too stripped for me. Having the entire cast on stage made for an awkward lack of transitions. Oh, hey, Will Parker! Back from Kansas City just now? Even though you've literally been sitting on stage silently this whole time? Weird. There were way too many moments like that and it just felt weird. Ultimately, I would have just said the show was "meh". I didn't walk away with any new insights or feelings about the show.
Then we got to the ending. Again, I knew that I was in for something different. I love when revivals are true to the book but still make me see the story in a new light. Not the case here. The book is largely the same until the ending when they decide to spin the story in a whole new direction. No spoilers here, but...no thanks. I went from apathetic to angry (and slightly creeped out) in the final minutes of the show and ultimately walked away with one question:
I know my opinion is an unpopular one. The people I attended with felt the same way I did, but reviews remain high and the recently released cast recording is currently in the #2 spot, only behind Hamilton, so let's chat. If you love it, I'd love to hear why!
Mean Girls on Broadway
September 3, 2019 • theatre, travel
Who: My friend Amy & I
What: Mean Girls, Broadway's musical adaptation of the popular 2004 film
Where: August Wilson Theatre, New York
Why: Three free shows wasn't enough so we bought tickets to two more. This was one of them. So fetch!
On Broadway, we wear blue!
Thoughts: Confession time. I've only seen the movie once. It was so hyped up that by the time I saw it, I just kinda felt "meh" about it. Still, I know and enjoy the popular lines as much as the next girl and felt that a Broadway adaptation could be fun. Oh, and we got an amazing deal on our tickets.
Guys. The show was so much better than I expected. With Tina Fey on board for the show, they included all the classic moments from the film with a fun Broadway twist. Who knew you could do dance choreography with cafeteria trays? Or have an entire number dedicated to sexy Halloween costumes? The story was told well, the talent was amazing, and the songs are still stuck in my head -one of my ultimate indicators of musical success. Really, listen to the cast recording!
Seriously, I thought this would just be a fun fluffy show to enjoy during our trip, but of all the musicals we saw on this trip, Mean Girls was my favorite! Guess it's time to give the movie a revisit.
Oh, and shout out to the theatre for fun details. Seeing this in the ladies' room made my day:
To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway
August 29, 2019 • theatre, travel
Who: My friend Amy and I
What: To Kill a Mockingbird, the Broadway play based on the classic novel
Where: Shubert Theatre, New York
Why: We won tickets—thanks Broadway Across America!
Thoughts: Like most people, I'm guessing, I read To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school and haven't since. I remember that I liked it and I remember basic plot points, but I don't remember the entire story and I didn't re-read this book before watching the play.
That being said, I could tell that this wasn't a purist adaptation of the book and I can tell you I absolutely love how they presented the play! I will always pick a musical over the play, but of the 3 shows we won tickets to, Mockingbird was by far my favorite. It captured the spirit of the story while making connections to society today without being preachy and still managed to make us laugh.
Something unique about this show is that the child characters are played by adult actors. I thought this would be weird, but it actually worked very well as the children mostly serve as narrators sharing their memories with us. Their body language and costumes are that of children while their dialog is more mature. In fact, Celia Keenan-Bolger, who plays Scout, won a Tony this year for her role!
This was such a creative presentation/interpretation of a classic novel. I shouldn't be surprised since Bartlett Sher (who was behind two of my favorite Rodgers & Hammerstein musical revivals) worked on this. If I were to come back to New York with a friend, I wouldn't hesitate to bring them along to see this!
Something to consider if you're a purist: another person in our group mentioned she re-read the book right before coming to see the play and regretted that choice. The creative choices in this play worked for me but may not for some. Or maybe, just wait until after to read the book and compare notes. Either way, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this play!
Escape to Margaritaville National Tour at National...


text:
JEFF KOLLMAN teases new album 'East of Heaven' with 'Superstring Theory' Bandcamp single exclusive
2021, News
Renown American guitarist/songwriter JEFF KOLLMAN (COSMOSQUAD, ALAN PARSONS LIVE PROJECT, ASIA FJP, GLENN HUGHES) has announced a May 21 release date for his forthcoming solo album, 'East of Heaven'. 'East of Heaven' is Kollman's sixth instrumental studio album as a solo artist and his 21st overall on the Marmaduke record label. The album's advance single, 'Superstring Theory', is available as a digital exclusive on Kollman's Bandcamp site at https://marmadukerecords.bandcamp.com.
Borne out of the COVID-19 induced lockdown that hit the music industry and touring musicians especially hard, Kollman began to collect and shape musical ideas for an unplanned solo venture last March. "2020 was gonna be a busy year on the road for me. I was scheduled to go on a world tour with Alan Parsons as well as go out with ASIA FJP, Lou Gramm, and the 'Rock Pack' all-star thing. Of course, all that went out the window once the pandemic hit. So all of a sudden I had a lot more down time than anticipated. Luckily, I've always been able to make records withou having to rely on outside engineers and studios so I hunkered down and got a few of my closest friends involved to play on various tracks."
One of the the album's highlights and designated first single is the hard driving 'Superstring Theory' which sees Kollman get back to basics. "With 'Superstring Theory', I released the power of simplicity in the track. There's certainly an underlying early AC/DC influence in there. Between my solo work and COSMOSQUAD, it's easy to get complex and self-indulgent. This one is straight to the point embracing the 4/4 rock!"
Elsewhere the album turns more somber and introspective reflecting the stark reality of the past year. Much of 'East of Heaven' is a musical diary of Kollman's personal 2020 depicting isolation and loss (including 'Homage To King Edward', an improvised hat tip to one of Kollman's biggest guitar idols, Eddie Van Halen) and the psychological challenges people face with being locked down ('Isolation 2020') while the stirring 'The Mass Exodus' was written with California in mind as Kollman moved his own family out of the not-so Golden State like so many thousands of others. "I still have a home there" as the guitarist points out. "Ya gotta keep a foot in the game so to speak but I didn't feel it to be a safe place for my family anymore." The album's intimate epilogue, 'See You On The Other Side', is a followup of sorts to 2013's 'Brother To Brother', a tribute to Kollman's only sibling and former EDWIN DARE band mate, the late Tommy Kollman. "It's a solo acoustic piece until the electric solo kicks near the end of the song. I thought it would make for a great bookend to this record."
'East of Heaven' track listing:
01. Loss
02. The Mass Exodus
03. Homage To King Edward
04. Superstring Theory
05. Ghostly
06. Insomnia
07. 67 XR-7
08. Montecatini Waltz
09. Isolation 2020
10. East of Heaven
11. So Long Ago
12. Hidden Dimensions
13. The Darkness Resides
14. See You On The Other Side
'East of Heaven' features Jeff Kollman on guitars and bass, aided by a small circle of highest caliber musical friends, long-time collaborators Shane Gaalaas (COSMOSQUAD, MSG, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and Jono Brown on drums, 'Cirque du Soleil' musical director, Paul Shihadeh, on bass, and Guy Allison (DOOBIE BROTHERS, UNRULY CHILD, WORLD TRADE) on keyboards.
On the live front, Kollman is set to play his first show of 2021 at a private party in Dallas TX on March 27 featuring ZZ TOP's Billy Gibbons, FOREIGNER legend Lou Gramm, and ASIA FJP. "I can't wait to finally get out there again and rock – it's been too long! Even better – I get to play with all three acts, Billy, Lou and Asia! And Coolio is supposed to DJ afterwards. Gonna be one hell of a party!"
http://www.jeffkollman.com
http://www.facebook.com/JeffKollman
Tweets by jeffkollman
http://www.instagram.com/jeffkollman
http://www.youtube.com/guitarscreams


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Trioceros melleri  es una especie de lagarto iguanio de la familia de los camaleones, nativa de África Oriental.

Distribución y hábitat
Se distribuye en Malawi, Mozambique y Tanzania.
Su hábitat se compone principalmente de sabana de miombo, aunque se halla ocasionalmente en grandes árboles en zonas urbanizadas. Su rango altitudinal oscila entre 0 y 800 .

Estado de conservación
Las poblaciones de Trioceros melleri son afectados por el comercio de animales salvajes, y la especie ha sido incluido en el Apéndice II de CITES para limitar sus efectos.

Referencias

Enlaces externos

melleri
Animales descritos en 1865
Reptiles de África Oriental


Windows serve a number of purposes to a house. Among the largest use of windows is to allow light to enter the house. Placement of windows should be such that there is enough light into the house regardless of time of the day. Air circulation into the house is made possible by ensuring placement of windows. When windows are placed on the wind-path, one does not have to walk to the compound to enjoy a breeze. Heat in the house depends on where the sun is at that particular part of the day. While heat is necessary in some parts of the day, it may be a nuisance especially in the afternoons. Due to this fact how one places the windows highly determine the air circulation in the house, lighting especially during the day as well as heat control in the afternoon scorching sun.
Beyond serving the basic purposes, windows also serve aesthetic purposes. Windows make a house look more beautiful. While well-designed windows make a house attractive, a badly designed windows makes a house look ugly. While windows look from the outside make a house look fabulous, it becomes more attractive when windows look great from the inside. Good window treatment allows a very appealing look from the inside. Window treatment entails making a window more attractive through placing elements on, over, around and in the window. Strategic placement of these elements adds so much value to the window and the house at large.
Hard treatment is one type of window treatment. Vinyl or wood are the primary materials of making hard treatment. Like blinds, window shutters are made of wood and polyresin. Window blinds are window treatment that allows one to peep to the exterior of the house without necessarily lifting the shade. They manipulate light to ensure a customized lighting in the house from the natural environment. Features such as anti-dusts and fabric tapes have improved the functionality of the window blinds.
With just a roll upwards, window shades, made of a piece of fabric, stacks, folds or rolls to give an outside view. With blackout shades, the quality of sleep is improved as there is no light that penetrates into the room. A variety of looks can also be achieved through blackout shades. Among the variety in the market include top down, bottom up, as well as cordless and also, comes with magnificent fabrics and colors.
To ensure no light penetrates to the inside, blackout shades are lined with more layers to make it more opaque. One can add a blackout drapery panel to ensure no light penetrates into the room maximizing the effects of darkness and hence maximizes sleep till the alarm clock rings.


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Portfolio by Doreen Garner
RAP CULTURE, FEMINISM, CRAFT, PATHOLOGY, IDENTITY, FETISH, ABNORMALITY, RACE, SEXUALITY, BEAUTY, ANATOMY, CULTURAL VALUE, PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Doreen Garner. Onika, 2014. Glass, teeth, Swarovski crystals, hair weave, gold chain, polyester fiber, glitter, and petroleum jelly. All images courtesy of the artist. Photo by Doreen Garner.
Wet With Tissue, 2015. Platinum silicone, polyester fiber, spoon, letter opener, wire, and hair weave. Photo by Doreen Garner.
Mango, 2014. Glass, latex tubing, glass cabochons, pearls, Swarovski crystals, condoms, polyester fiber, pins, hair weave, and gold chains. Photo by Doreen Garner.
Hung, 2014. Latex condoms, tow truck chain, glass, pearls, hair weave, and polyester fiber. Photo by Forest Kelley.
Toothed Decatur, 2015. Glass, teeth, hair weave, magnifying lens, Swarovski crystals, metallic wrapping paper, pearls, condoms, polyester fiber, urethane rubber, brass screws, and wood stain. Photo by Rob Macinnis.
Pickled Pearl, 2015. Glass, Swarovski crystals, Swarovski pearls, baking bundts, silicone, brass pipe, plumbing tube, hair weave. Photo by Rob Macinnis.
Pickled Pearl (detail), 2015. Glass, Swarovski crystals, Swarovski pearls, baking bundts, silicone, brass pipe, plumbing tube, and hair weave. Photo by Rob Macinnis.
Swoop Band, 2013. Glass, Magnum condoms, hair weave, microcrystalline wax, latex, polyester fiber, and glitter. Photo by Doreen Garner.
Performance view of The Observatory, 2014. The artist displays herself inside a glass box, performing an oppositional gaze toward each viewer individually.
I identify, extract, and exploit the tissues that bind the sexual and the grotesque, specifically regarding the black female body. Treated as spectacle and disposable specimen, these women and their stories—Henrietta Lacks, Saartjie Baartman, the victims of Dr. J. Marion Sims—are a driving force. Identifying the voyeur as the subject, an oppositional gaze is directed towards fetish, objectification, and racism.
Take the power back, twist it, and sharpen it. Probe all cavities of the privileged viewer experience. With viscera and bling, a material mush is formulated of beads, Swarovski crystals, silicone, rubber, teeth, condoms, teddy bear stuffing, Vaseline, etc., held together by glass walls or latex membranes.
Doreen Garner (b.1986) is a Brooklyn-based artist born in Philadelphia, PA. Select exhibitions include "SHINY RED PUMPING," Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (2015), "Abjection" at the Rhode Island College Bannister Gallery, Providence, RI (2014), and "Pussy Don't Fail Me Now," Cindy Rucker Gallery, NY (2015). Garner has recently completed residencies at Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (2015) and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2014). She holds a BFA in Glass from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University and an MFA in Glass at the Rhode Island School of Design. Currently Garner is a 2015-2016 Artist in Residence at Abrons Arts Center, NY.
African American culture
M. Lamar by Risa Puleo
"I am an artist. I am a NEGROGOTHIC, devil-worshipping, free black man in the blues tradition. Those are the things I am now."
Kenya (Robinson) by Lee Ann Norman
Kenya (Robinson) reflects on the end of her MFA program and becoming a professional artist.
Sanford Biggers by Terry Adkins
Biggers has three shows this fall: an "introspective" at the Brooklyn Museum, a solo show at SculptureCenter, and an exploration of African diaspora imagery at MASS MoCA. He discusses lineage and American history with fellow artist Terry Adkins.
Work that is just about the technical or conceptual, personal or political, is fine; it meets the world with what's in fashion. But there's something else bordering on magic, that brings an artwork home, makes it land and resonate. You can't really teach that so much as conjure it.


Aguston is a stunning-looking development consisting of 269 apartments located in two towers – one 36-storeys high and the other of 24-storeys – which stands out from the crowd in every sense of the word. Whereas the majority of new developments in Bangkok today look quite similar from an architectural point of view, the look of Aguston is totally unique because the development features a 'Moorish' style of architecture similar to the styles found in Spain and Morocco. The orange shade of the two buildings together with the exquisite attention-to-detail of the carved-stone highlights means that Aguston has already become an iconic building which really stands out from the other buildings on the Bangkok skyline.
Having been completed in 2010, Aguston is ready to move into immediately. It therefore makes for a great place for anyone to live or an excellent rental property, obtaining gross yields of up to 7% per annum.


Is your brain feeling a little sluggish? Get it back in shape with these cerebral challenges.
Which career is the right one for you? You can find out with this cool quiz game. Answer each one of the questions before you design an awesome outfit that's perfect for a job interview.


The United States has won the title of the 'World's Most Competitive Economy' at the annual conference at The World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
The prestigious conference frequented by global elites had refrained from awarding the US with the number one spot since 2008 following the aftermath of the financial crisis.
The news comes as a record number of new jobs opened up in the United States in August as President Donald Trump's booming economy exhibited no sign of decreasing amid an escalating trade war with China and Hurricane Florence-hit Carolinas.
"The United States, as one of the world's great innovation powerhouses, is very well positioned in this new competitive landscape," the Forum said in an article explaining its ranking.
The U.S. is followed by Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan in the top five.
The top ten comprises the Netherlands, Hong Kong, the U.K., Sweden, and Denmark.
Roughly 70% of the U.S. score originates from data provided by international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, which typically are created with a two to three-year lag, according to the Forum.


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After gamble backfires, L.A. demands refund from banks
02 Sep, 2014 by Wayne Lusvardi
In the San Francisco Bay area, public transit riders are paying $104 million in higher rider fees to cover the cost of exotic financial insurance known as an interest rate swap. In Detroit, the inability of the city to make interest rate swap payments signaled eventual bankruptcy. So the recent news that the city of Los Angeles wants out of its 2008 interest rate swap insurance contract on a sewer revenue bond is causing concern on Wall Street and beyond.
On Aug. 12, the Los Angeles City Council threatened to stop all business with the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY) and Dexia Bank unless they paid back payments on insurance the city bought. What the city bought was insurance against risk of loss on $281 million municipal wastewater system revenue bonds.
But the city didn't buy conventional insurance coverage. Instead, officials bought an interest rate swap that provides insurance against loss — as well as the prospect of reaping a big financial gain if interest rates rose significantly. Since the city might have defaulted on the sewer revenue bond if it filed for bankruptcy in the future, the financial insurance would guarantee payment to bondholders and possibly could reap the city a big windfall if interest rates rose.
This swap was more of a calculated gamble by L.A. officials than a predatory banking practice. It is similar to a participating whole life insurance policy where the policyholder shares in any excess profits called dividends. When the sewer bond was issued in 2008, the mortgage meltdown drove up interest rates on municipal bonds. By using a swap, L.A. significantly lowered borrowing costs — by $21.7 million according to the city administrator.
Balks turn down L.A.'s demand
Unsurprisingly, the banks rebuffed the L.A. City Council's demand. Neither bank was willing to refund past insurance payments because it would mean the other party involved in the swap would have to take a loss. They understood that the city's request was akin to an individual asking his insurance company to refund his medical, auto or homeowner's liability insurance payments because he had filed no claims since 2008.
Yet this perspective didn't occur to any of the 14 L.A. council members who voted unanimously to request that BNY Mellon and Dexia return $65 million in so-called "unfair profits and fees" paid since 2008 on a $151 million interest rate swap on a sewer revenue bond.
Nor did they anticipate the reaction in financial circles. Some analysts believed that by asking for a refund, the city is signaling it can no longer afford to make the interest payments on the swap that included the sewer bond. The Wall Street Journal and many others saw this as a forewarning of municipal bankruptcy.
But the maneuver played well with those eager for a chance to beat up on big banks. Los Angeles public labor unions accused BNY Mellon and Dexia of "gouging L.A. taxpayers" with "predatory" high-risk deals and supported withholding future business if the banks didn't refund the sewer bond interest rate swap payments.
How a swap works — and how L.A. hoped to profit
To understand this controversy, it's important to understand what an interest rate swap is. Let's assume two people want to swap apples for oranges. If apples cost $1 each and oranges 50 cents each, then a fair trade is to trade one apple for two oranges and vice versa. This is the simple basis of a swap.
But if tomorrow the price of oranges goes up to 60 cents, the person receiving the oranges would get $1.20 in value and can reap a 20 cent windfall. In financial terminology, this is called arbitrage, where one can make more from a trade or from house flipping ("buy low, sell high").
But instead of a deal where one person wins 20 cents and the other loses out, if both persons agree to negotiate for a share of the 20 cents in higher value, then it becomes a win-win deal, because they also can both lower any costs of borrowing for the transaction.
Such hedging against loss by both parties in a trade when prices go up or down is what drives interest rate swaps. So it is strange that Los Angeles officials would accuse Wall Street banks of greed when greed is part of the city's motive for doing an interest rate swap.
Like an underwater mortgage
The sewer bond swap had a negative fair value of $24.7 million as of June 2013, according to city documents. A negative value interest rate swap contract is like an "underwater mortgage" where there is more mortgage owed on a property than what it could be sold for. This is a result of the Federal Reserve's Zero Interest Rate Policy, which has made borrowing money more attractive at almost no interest than in 2008 during the financial crisis.
The deal isn't a complete disaster for the city. As noted above, it lowered borrowing costs by $21.7 million. And the sewer bond insurance swap contract has until 2028 before it expires. If the Federal Reserve significantly raises interest rates during that period, the city's gamble could yet pay off.
Yet instead of explaining that the city's sewer bond insurance swap amounted to speculating with public funds, Los Angeles officials are counting on financial illiteracy among the public and the media to sell a dishonest narrative about predatory banks.
If interest rates go up sharply — as some fear because of huge pending government deficits — it's doubtful that the city of Los Angeles would refund any of its windfall to banks because it doesn't want to look "greedy."
LetitCollapse 8 September, 2014, 22:20
This is tantamount to a desperate gambler at the roulette table in Vegas slapping down his life savings on red that turns up black, and then demanding that the house refund his wager. lol.
My guess is that LA shops for a friendly judge who will force the insurance company to settle – and then the regulators allow the insurance companies to raise their rates and recoup their losses from the consumers.
It's a common racket on Wall Street these days. It all flows downhill.
Just like the recent mega-fine on BP Oil for the gulf oil spill. All that money goes into the government coffers. And then the price of your gasoline will be racheted up a nickle or a dime, specifically so that BP can recoup it's losses. lol. The gov wins. BP breaks even. The consumer gets screwed.
This is exactly what happened with the 2008 Wall Street mess. You notice it was all big fines. No jail time for any of them. And then the gov regulators allowed the big banks to hike their consumer fees on accounts, cards and loans. LOL!!!
And the average American just rolls over. In fact, the average American is so stupid that he or she doesn't even understand what's going on!!! LOL!
Federal Reserveinterest ratesLos AngelesWayne Lusvardirefund soughtwastewater bond insurancearbitageinterest-rate swaps
0 Inside Government 7 years ago
U.S., CA Attack Manufacturing
JAN. 25, 2012 By JOHN SEILER New reports show how both the U.S. and California governments have imposed severe anti-manufacturing
LAO Blows Up Bullet Train
MAY 11, 2011 There's something truly exhausting — no, dispiriting — about reading the latest state Legislative Analysts Office (LAO)
'We are destined to live with a growing and permanent underclass'
It may be building very slowly, and years later than it should have first appeared. But there is beginning to


dukesofdrag.ca » Blog Archive » ?
Puttin on the Dickz Photo Booth » ?
Oct27 Hi there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted togive a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading throughyour blog posts. Can you recommend any other blibu/wegsotes/forsms that cover the same subjects?Thanks a lot!


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Q: How to show progress bar efficiently? In my XML I have this progress bar but after download gets over it is rotating.How to attach this progress bar with my download code.
   <ProgressBar
    android:id="@+id/progress_bar"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    style="@android:style/Widget.ProgressBar.Large"
    android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
    android:layout_toLeftOf="@+id/button"
    android:layout_toStartOf="@+id/button"
    android:layout_marginTop="153dp" />

This is how I am downloading my files:
   downloadManager = (DownloadManager) getSystemService(Context.DOWNLOAD_SERVICE);

          Uri uri = Uri.parse(downloadFileUrl);
    DownloadManager.Request request = new DownloadManager.Request(uri);

    nameOfFile = URLUtil.guessFileName(urlChar, null,
            MimeTypeMap.getFileExtensionFromUrl(urlChar));
    Log.e("url char", urlChar);

    request.setDestinationInExternalPublicDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS, nameOfFile);

    request.setVisibleInDownloadsUi(true);

    myDownloadReference = downloadManager.enqueue(request);
    getProgressPercentaged();
}

And also insted  of progress bar If I want to show the download percentage like this image

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Your attention: Queen Elizabeth has a new member in her corgi family
Her Majesty has adopted... And we're all wishing we were born a corgi.
By Chloe Lal
Queen Elizabeth has reportedly adopted Whisper, a 9-year-old corgi.
Many astute royal fans will remember hearing about the darling pooch after its owner, Bill Fenwick, passed away earlier this year.
Bill was Her Majesty's game keeper on the Sandringham Estate for over twenty years.
Having lost his wife Nancy two years ago, Bill left behind a corgi and Bichon Frise.
Her Majesty with her corgi, Susan.
A royal insider chatted to the Daily Express, saying, "The Queen was very fond of Nancy and Bill and they became close friends."
"Bill was not in the best of health and was unable to exercise the dogs much. As well as the corgi he also had a Bichon Frise."
Explaining, "So most Sundays after lunch the Queen would visit him and take the pair out in the park."
"It was her way of saying thank you for being such loyal friends over the years and for looking after her dogs all that time."
It is understood that the Queen had originally gifted Bill with Whisper.
It was thought the Queen had 13 corgis at one time.
In light of her friend's passing, the monarch has decided to look Bill's corgi, permanently.
"The Queen has always had Corgis, but she made the decision four years ago not to breed anymore because she didn't want to have a bad fall," a friend to the royal told The Sun.
"She was also concerned dogs might be left without an owner if anything happened to her.
"But she couldn't resist Whisper, and now she has asked Bill's family if she can keep him."
In addition to Whisper, the Queen has three surviving pet dogs, a corgi named Willow and two corgi-dachshund crosses, Vulcan and Candy.
Whisper will be in good company, joining the Queen's one remaining corgi, Willow, and her two corgi-dachshund crosses (dorgis), Vulcan and Candy.
Her Majesty simply adores her pooches, with her furry cherubs taking centre stage posing alongside the Queen for her official 90th birthday portrait.
The mother-of-four received her first corgi at the age 18 back in 1944, and she famously confessed, "My corgis are family."
Sadly, last year she suffered a heart-wrenching blow.
Holly, her canine that famously starred in the iconic 2012 London Olympic's opening ceremony James Bond sketch, passed away.
View GalleryRoyal pets: The posh pooches (and ponies and cats) that keep this regal family company
If you've ever wonder what it's like being one of the Queen's corgis... It's even better than you could imagine.
Royal biographer Brian Hoey details the dogs' remarkable regimen in his book Pets by Royal Appointment.
He says the corgis have never eaten tinned food in their lives.
The Queen with her corgis in 1969.
The royal pooches are served a luxury diet of fillet steak and chicken breast specially prepared by a Buckingham Palace chef.
At 5pm sharp, a footman delivers the meals to the Queen, who adds the finishing touches herself, pouring gravy over the steak or chicken.
They're so pampered that the Queen hires a homeopath to treat them whenever they are ill.
When at Buckingham Palace, the dogs sleep in raised wicker baskets in a room near the royal apartments, where they roam freely.
Apparently the furry creatures do have one enemy.
Brian revealed that Prince Philip "loathes" all the Queen's dogs "because they yap too much".
British Royal FamilyQueen Elizabeth may adopt her late gamekeeper's dogs
British Royal FamilyThe Queen loses one of her beloved corgis
undefined: Chloe Lal (1)


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NautaDutilh assisted Zenitel i...
NautaDutilh assisted Zenitel in sale Zenitel Caribbean to Curaçao Growth Fund
NautaDutilh assisted Zenitel, a leading player in integrated security communications, with the sale of 100 percent of the shares in Zenitel Caribbean to the Curaçao Growth Fund, the first private equity fund in Curaçao.
Located on the Caribbean islands with the main seat in Willemstad, Curaçao, Zenitel Caribbean owns and operates the Public Safety Network in Curaçao, Aruba, St. Martin and the BES Islands (Bonaire, Eustatia & Saba). The company is a network operator and sells airtime on its own network. In addition, it sells Vingtor-Stentofon products and acts as a system integrator. In 2014 the company had an annual turnover of EUR 4.6 million and a recurring EBITDA of EUR 1.3 million. At the current exchange rate ANG/EUR, CGF pays approximately 5.1 times the 2014 EBITDA in cash.
The transaction is in line with Zenitel's strategy to divest its remaining network operations and to focus on the further profitable growth of its Vingtor-Stentofon core business.
The NautaDutilh team consisted of Elke Janssen (corporate M&A Brussel office), Ruud Smits and Rebecca Pinto (both corporate M&A New York office)
Ruud Smits
NautaDutilh coaches Belgian TechShare participants
NautaDutilh is a partner of the 2023 edition of TechShare, the pan-European pre-IPO educational programme of Eur...
Philippe (P.) Remels
NautaDutilh advises co-founders and other selling shareholders on the sale of a majority stake in S-Biomedic to Beiersdorf
NautaDutilh assisted the co-founders and other selling shareholders of life science company S-Biomedic NV on the sale of a majority stake to Beiersdorf.


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Intel Enters Quantum Computing Race, Reveals 17-Qubit Chip
Michael Feldman | October 12, 2017 08:05 CEST
Intel has developed a 17-qubit quantum computing chip, which the company has delivered to QuTech, its research partner in the Netherlands.
Source: Intel
Intel and QuTech have been working on quantum computing technology since 2015, when the company injected $50 million into the research project. Besides QuTech, Intel has also been collaborating with the quantum research institute of Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), as well as TNO, the Dutch Organization for Applied Research.
Over the past two years, Intel and its partners have developed a quantum computing simulator and key elements of the CMOS technology needed to build qubits. This latest development, though, is Intel's first public revelation of its efforts in building fully-formed quantum computing processors.
"Our quantum research has progressed to the point where our partner QuTech is simulating quantum algorithm workloads, and Intel is fabricating new qubit test chips on a regular basis in our leading-edge manufacturing facilities," said Dr. Michael Mayberry, corporate vice president and managing director of Intel Labs. "Intel's expertise in fabrication, control electronics and architecture sets us apart and will serve us well as we venture into new computing paradigms, from neuromorphic to quantum computing."
Like other designs, this version employs superconducting technology, where the silicon needs to be cooled to near absolute zero. The chip incorporates gold connectors that enables it to talk to the outside world, and what the company calls a "scalable interconnect scheme," which Intel claims will allow for 10 to 100 times more signal I/O compared to traditional wirebonded chips.
According to Professor Leo DiCarlo of QuTech, their initial work will focus will be testing the fidelity of qubits, both individually and entangled with one another. "This work will allow us to uncover new insights in quantum computing that will shape the next stage of development," said DiCarlo.
That next stage is likely to be a quantum processor with a larger number of qubits. Intel is in a race with IBM, Google, and Microsoft in developing quantum computing technology for the commercial market. In May, IBM announced it had constructed a 17-qubit chip, and in June Google revealed that it was testing a 20-qubit system. Microsoft is developing its own chip, based on "topological" qubits, but the company has yet to announce a working prototype.
The short-range goal of these companies is to get a quantum system with 49 or 50 qubits, which should exhibit what is known as "quantum supremacy." Experts believe a quantum chip of this scale, and one that can maintain enough error correction to make the qubits usable, will be able outperform the most powerful classical systems on certain types of computational problems. Google says it expects to have such a chip before the end of the year, while Intel, IBM, and Microsoft have not offered a definitive timeline to reach this milestone.
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TOP500 Becomes a Petaflop Club for Supercomputers
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Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law
Brian Etling August 29, 2015
The newest issue of Granta features some seriously captivating work, like this poem by Juliana Spahr and this story by Lorna Gibb, among many others. This "Possession" issue pairs well with an essay by our own Lydia Kiesling on possessing one's own words and the narrative potential of leaked emails.
Brian Etling is an intern for The Millions. He reads and resides in North Carolina. Brian can be found on Twitter @jbetling, and in the real world behind the counter of Scuppernong Books in Greensboro, NC.
That Kinetic Feeling
Thomas Beckwith November 5, 2014
A couple weeks ago, Darcey Steinke wrote an essay for The Millions in which she remembered her friendship with Barry Hannah. She went into detail about the freewheeling energy of his prose. Now, in a review of Steinke's latest for Bookforum, Lisa Locascio writes about the author's own talents. "Many authors bounce the sacred and profane against each another; Steinke blasts them together with the intensity of CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC)," she writes.
Passive Voice is for Missing Subject
Bruna Dantas Lobato February 23, 2016
"I wish all this telling women alcohol is dangerous was a manifestation of a country that loves babies so much it's all over lead contamination from New Orleans to Baltimore to Flint and the lousy nitrate-contaminated water of Iowa and carcinogenic pesticides and the links between sugary junk food and juvenile diabetes and the need for universal access to healthcare and daycare and good and adequate food. You know it's not. It's just about hating on women. Hating on women requires narratives that make men vanish and make women magicians producing babies out of thin air and dissolute habits." Rebecca Solnit on the passive voice, mysterious pregnancies, disappearing men, and the Center for Disease Control. Pair with this Millions review of Solnit's book The Faraway Nearby.
BW on Borders
Nick Moran November 14, 2011 | 1
Two months after the last Borders store closed its doors, Business Week takes an in depth look at the reasons for its demise.
Nick Moran | 1
Poet Laureate (Again)
Carolyn Quimby March 24, 2018
"Her exchanges with Americans in small towns and rural communities are inspiring an appreciation of poetry and history – and remind us that poetry has value for all of our lives." The Library of Congress appointed Tracy K. Smith to a second term as the 22nd Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2018-2019. For her second term, Smith edited an anthology called American Journal: Fifty Poems for Our Time, which will be published by Graywolf Press in association with the Library of Congress. Pair with: our review of Smith's memoir, Ordinary Light.
Carolyn Quimby
"Stare at us stoned like eyes determined"
Nick Moran November 23, 2011
Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach De La Rocha has penned a poem dedicated to the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Smartphone Stories
Tess Malone April 25, 2014 | 1
Despite what we might think, smartphones aren't destroying good reading habits. Rather, smartphones are enabling access to books in developing countries, according to a new study. They allow readers to find books in remote parts of the world without libraries and at a cheaper price.
Tess Malone | 1
Here Refrain
Kirstin Butler November 14, 2016
Can Cash Money be Caro's Next Project?
Nick Moran May 27, 2012
Eric Brightwell has written a great primer on "the independent years" of Cash Money Records (ca. 1991-1998). Now that the outfit has its own publishing arm, Cash Money Content, I suggest you brush up.


Corporate environmental responsibility that pays both ways.
Freelway designed a solution to help large corporates save carbon emissions by making it easy for employees to share resources and transport packages on behalf of other people. When their business needed a mobile solution, Freelway approached us via our partners, BAS ITG, to design and develop a mobile application that would extend beyond their existing website.
branch-to-branch-only deliveries. Using a fairly complex algorithm, we added flexibility by making it possible for users to not only see packages within their collection point radius, but also all the way along their route. In addition, clever logic enables drivers to list how much space they have available in their vehicle, enabling them to take more than one parcel along their route. "Services Places" is a list of public spaces such as cafés where users can request pick-up or drop-off, if their address is tricky to get to or hard to find.
The Freelway project has been a long term collaboration between Freelway, BAS ITG and 4i, and we are excited to be working on additional phases of development, expanding the offering to make it even easier for Freelway clients to get onboard.