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Top News January 9, 2021 January 9, 2021
Melania Trump was completing the photo shoot during the Capitol siege: CNN
First lady Melania Trump focused on finishing a photo project for her coffee table book as a crowd of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, A. CNN Report.
A White House source told news outlets that Melania – who has not yet commented on the events – is mentally "under examination" and does not want to "get involved" anymore.
The first lady and Trump's older children have been avoiding the spotlight since the outbreak of violence this week.
While pictures of a violent crowd storming the US Capitol were consuming the airwaves, First Lady Melania Trump was focusing on getting a photo session at the White House. According to a CNN report.
It is said that the first lady Work on a coffee table book About the restored decorative elements in the President's home and she was moderating a photo session for the project where the violent events erupted just two miles away.
"Pictures of the carpets and other items were taken in the Executive Residence and the East Wing," a source familiar with the first lady's agenda told CNN.
But with news that Trump supporters had stormed the Capitol, it was reported that Melania – along with White House President Timothy Harlith – was focused solely on getting the job done.
When aides asked her if she wanted to make a statement calling for peace and quiet, the first lady chose not to say anything and was silent.
Another source in the White House told CNN that this was because she was "examined" mentally and "is not in a place mentally or emotionally anymore where she wants to participate."
READ Asian Markets Jump On Vaccine, Hopes for US Aid; Gains capped by China data
Melania was already planning to leave the White House several weeks ago. While sources close to CNN previously said that she "just wants to go home."
The first lady has been avoiding the spotlight since a crowd of Trump supporters surrounded the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
Hooligans wanted to stop Counting the Electoral College votes Which confirms President-elect Joe Biden's victory over President Donald Trump in the November 2020 elections. Although lawmakers had to be evacuated to safety because the mob stormed the Senate hall, the vote continued after several hours.
By evening, The First Lady's Chief of Staff, Stephanie Gresham, has resigned.
"It was an honor to serve the country in the White House. I am very proud to be part of Mrs. Trump's mission to help children everywhere, and proud of the many accomplishments of this administration." Gresham told ABC News.
White House Social Secretary Anna Christina "Ricky" Nisita also resigned on Wednesday. Both Gresham and Nikita were among the longest-serving officials in the Trump administration.
Coronavirus can survive for 28 days on some surfaces: Study | Australia
The findings of Australian researchers on SARS-CoV-2 reinforce the need for effective...
Tom Hiddleston accuses Paul Bettany of stealing Loki's trick
Ben Affleck and Anna de Armas are reported to have separated
Trump-appointed judge rejected the appeal to grant Sydney Powell and Lyn Wood access to the voting machine
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The Russian "king of sausages" was killed by his bow in the sauna at his home

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This is a sponsored post on behalf of Lee® Denim, all opinions and experiences are my own. #ad #MoveYourLee I don't know about you, but the holidays had me eating VERY badly… Like candy and sweets at nearly every meal. After gaining 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I was DYING to get back on track and back in my skinny jeans, literally. Please tell me I'm not the only one.
We're only halfway through January, but I'm pleased to announce that after making some adjustments in my day to day routine I've dropped the holiday 10 (99% sure it was straight up candy weight… it's a real thing). Now I'm fitting more comfortably into my favorite wash of Lee® Dream – Faith Skinny Jeans and I'm feeling good. These jeans are super soft and have that "broken in" feeling from the first time that you put them on! I know it's just the start, but I'm getting back on track with my fitness goals for 2017, they are looking closer than ever. If you've been in a rut since the holidays, or maybe you just needed a reminder that "Yes! You can do this!" Here are my 3 Tips To Fitting Back Into Your Skinny Jeans!
This is the most effective way I know of to get back on the ball with health and fitness goals. There is a lot of power in using a food journal and writing down everything you put in your mouth. It is not only good for accountability with yourself but it creates the habit of awareness, which is huge if you want to keep up with a real lifestyle change.
Whether you're into Running, Zumba, Yoga or Boxing… just move! And move 3-5 days a week for at least 30-60 minutes. Something magical happens when you let those endorphins flow and you work up a good sweat. Learn to love the amazing and powerful body that you have, it may surprise you how much it truly loves you back.
This tip may seem like an odd one, but I used to look like a total bum when I was trying to lose weight. I wouldn't buy new clothes and I felt unattractive. As a result, I hated how I looked and my progress was "never enough". If you dress in a way that makes you look and feel beautiful as you slim down, you'll continue to reach your goals and feel amazing at every stage!
I hope you each are having an amazing day and that you remember to love your amaing selves and body, after all it's the only one you've got!
Lee®, a VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) brand, is an iconic American denim and casual apparel brand. Lee's® collections include a uniquely styled range of jeans, pants, shirts, shorts and jackets for men, women, and boys. Founded by H.D. Lee and backed by over 125 years of purposeful design and craftsmanship, Lee's® movement-inspired innovations, versatile styling and superior fit continue to inspire generations of brand loyalists. For more information, please visit www.lee.com.
Love your tips! And I couldn't agree more with number five. Especially workout clothes. I found if I have cute workout clothes to work out in. It's a lot easier to get up early in the morning!!!


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Celebrating the Achievements of Women in the Workplace Every Day
Submitted by Alliance Data
International Women's Day celebrates the accomplishments of women, while recognizing the ongoing need to close the gap in gender equality. The 2020 International Women's Day theme is #EachforEqual, meaning collectively, everyone plays an important role in creating a gender equal world. Alliance Data's efforts to foster an environment of diversity, equality and inclusion has been recognized within the Company (62 percent of the global workforce is made up of women) and beyond. Over the last year, Alliance Data was named one of the 2019 Best Workplaces for Women by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE, included on Forbes' 2019 list of Best Employers for Women and named to the 2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI).
Alliance Data knows that gender equality is good for business, and good for the world. In recognition of International Women's Day and the continuing collective action toward gender equality every day, women throughout the Alliance Data enterprise share their individual thoughts and stories on being a female leader in a global organization:
Why is International Women's Day important?
Laura Santillan, SVP, Finance, Alliance Data: It is important to promote the achievements made by women and acknowledge the progress that has been made so far, but it is also a significant opportunity to reflect on what still needs to be accomplished to achieve full gender equality.
Pinar Ozyetis, General Counsel, LoyaltyOne: I strongly believe in the perspective that is advanced by organizations like Catalyst – that progress for women is progress for everyone. Alliance Data and its lines of business, like the AIR MILES® Reward Program in Canada, do a lot to promote diversity and inclusion. International Women's Day provides an opportunity for focused, deliberate reflection about how far we've come and progress yet to be made.
Tell us about a female mentor or leader throughout your career that has been particularly inspiring.
Sarah Gaver, Senior Manager, Strategy and Market Insights, Alliance Data Card Services: I have been very fortunate to have worked for women I respected and admired throughout my career. Over my five years at Alliance Data, Julie Fire, Vice President, Enterprise Delivery, stands out as a leader who has been particularly inspiring.
Julie is authentic, collaborative and a true advocate. I appreciate her ability to connect people to the bigger picture, challenge the status quo and advocate for her people. Julie has grown her career while raising a family and giving back to the community. When it comes to balance, I love the glass and rubber ball juggling metaphor; at any given time, you have a number of balls in the air and it's important to recognize what is rubber and what is glass – what you can let go and what's critical at that moment in time. Julie embodies that.
Laura: I would say that the culture at Alliance Data is one in which if you excel at your job, assume additional responsibility and work hard, you are rewarded. During my over 15 years with the Company, I have been able to witness women across the organization in positions of power and executive leadership, women who were great at their job and truly impacted the organization and women who lead by example through actions one could emulate. Being a leader means setting a good example and helping others be more effective.
What excites you the most about the work you do at Alliance Data?
Pinar: As General Counsel for LoyaltyOne, I have the privilege to regularly work with many Associates including members of our Senior Leadership Team (SLT). I have always been impressed by how smart, capable and motivated our Associates are. Through my day-to-day functional role, and by virtue of being on our Women's Leadership Initiative Advisory Committee, and the mentorship roles that I have, I am fortunate to form meaningful, positive relationships with many of our Associates. A core value of mine is that the success of our lives can be measured by the strength of the relationships we've formed throughout it, and so the opportunity to work with a wide range of quality people is both inspirational and exciting.
Laura: The opportunity to contribute and be involved in the Company's most significant strategic decisions has been exciting. You have to have a thorough understanding of the impacts of the options being weighed on the organization to ensure they are accounted for correctly. Who said accounting couldn't be exciting?!
What advice would you give a woman just starting out in her career?
Sarah: Your career may not be linear and that's okay. In fact, it could work out for the better. I started my career in consulting, candidly, not because I planned to but because it was one of the few businesses hiring during the recession. It seemed interesting enough and I needed a job (not talking points that I included in the interview). During my time, I worked for a number of clients across a range of industries. I was able to leverage my experience with a hospital system to move into health care where I led the marketing function. And my work developing training programs for two large issuers provided helpful experience when I joined Alliance Data. It's not what I imagined my career path to be when I started, but I've learned so much and had the chance to do really interesting work.
Find more information on Alliance Data's commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion here.
Alliance Data
Alliance Data® (NYSE: ADS) and its combined businesses is North America's largest and most comprehensive provider of transaction-based, data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions, enhancing the critical customer marketing experience; the result is measurably changing consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its clients create and increase customer loyalty through solutions that engage millions of customers each day across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and other emerging technologies.
Headquartered in Dallas, Alliance Data and its three businesses employ approximately 11,000 associates at more than 70 locations worldwide.
Alliance Data consists of three businesses: Alliance Data Retail Services, a leading provider of marketing-driven credit solutions; Epsilon®, a leading provider of multichannel, data-driven technologies and marketing services; and LoyaltyOne®, which owns and operates the AIR MILES® Reward Program, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program.
For more information about the company, visit our website, www.alliancedata.com, or follow us on Twitter via @AllianceData.
More from Alliance Data


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@interface GLRecommendStore_RecordCell : UITableViewCell

@property (weak, nonatomic) IBOutlet UILabel *namelb;
@property (weak, nonatomic) IBOutlet UILabel *adresslb;
@property (weak, nonatomic) IBOutlet UILabel *codelb;
@property (weak, nonatomic) IBOutlet UILabel *timelb;

@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Allen Edward Bourner
Place: Farleigh Hungerford, Bath
Allen Edward Bourner was run over in Farleigh Hungerford.
He had been a sergeant in the Royal Corps of Signals.
A saloon car was identified as having been involved. The driver said that he had pulled round a car and felt the wheels touch something and that when he got out, he saw Allen Bourner in the road.
However, the police said that they examined his saloon car and found no sign of a mark or a collision.
A Regimental Sergeant-Major said that he had been at a dance with Allen Bourner earlier on and had asked him to leave as he thought that he had been under the influence of drink.
see Western Daily Press - Saturday 07 June 1941, p5


Global Terror Deaths Down But Jihadist Threat Levels Increase For ME & Africa - 2019 Is The Battle of Hearts and Minds.
Recorded deaths from terrorist attacks may have reduced globally in 2017 according to the newly released 2018 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report but terrorism and insurgency groups are becoming more organised, coordinated and focusing on winning hearts and minds of the local population than ever before.
The Middle East and Africa remain the most vulnerable and unstable region in the world as a coalition of ISIS and Al-Qaeda Jihadist groups linked to organised criminal networks are becoming more strategic, choosing to focus less on number of attacks and more on the significance and long term impact of targets. The 2018 GTI report should not be misconstrued as an indicator of reduced terrorism threats globally but rather a jihadist change of strategy, challenges in recording death from terrorist attacks , selective media reporting and global terrorism fatigue.
The 2018 GTI report by the Institute for Economics and Peace has recorded a 27% decrease in death from terrorist attacks in 2017 compared to 2016.
It also cites a reduction from 79 to 77 countries where someone died as a result of a terrorist incident. Attacks and deaths as a result of terrorism in Syria, Iraq and Europe dropped significantly since 2016. North, Central, Sub Saharan Africa and the Sahel where Boko Haram factions , Al-Shabaab and AQIM linked jihadist groups operate recorded more attacks and more casualties than anywhere else in the world .
Taking into context attack patterns in 2018 , what explains the 2017 drop in the number of terror related death and has Africa become a fertile ground for Global Jihadist to settle after the fall of Raqqa and Mosul?
The level and nature of attacks leading to mass casualties may have dropped in Iraq and Syria after the slow but steady collapse of ISIS strongholds in Raqqa and Mosul between 2016 & 2017. The eventual collapse led to a balloon effect in parts of Middle East and Africa particularly in Libya, Egypt, Afghanistan, Mali, Northern Nigeria and Somalia by Boko Haram ISIS faction (Islamic State of West Africa Province – ISWAP) AQIM and Al-Shabaab Al-Qaeda branch.
The demise of Mosul and Raqqa did not lead to the disappearance of surviving ISIS fighters into thin air – the leadership negotiated its way out of the ruins, moving its remaining fighters across Turkey, Libya, Lake Chad and the Sahel region. The transitional gap of moving hundreds of men and resources to link up with other ISIS networks like ISWAP , time required for new arrivals to understand the theatre of operation , may account for some reduced terrorist activities and deaths immediately after the collapse of Raqqa and Mosul in 2017. Compared to current activities in 2018, the balloon effect has its greatest impact in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel where experienced foreign fighters Returnees have joined ranks with ISWAP and other existing AQ and Al-Shabaab networks.
These African based Jihadist groups are benefiting from the experience and capacity of these foreign fighter returnees (FFRs) and they are taking the battle to the military and other hard targets.
No doubt the GTI reports rates Nigeria, Somalia, Libya, Congo DRC , Rep of Congo , Central Africa Republic, Cameroon, Mauritania, Niger, Chad, Mali, Kenya … low and very low score in peace and stability for 2017 thanks to the displacement effect of the collapse of Raqqa and Mosul.
What accounts for reduced attacks and deaths in Europe in 2017. Again the effect of the gradual collapse of Raqqa and Mosul forced ISIS leadership which directed and claimed most of the attacks on European soil to focus on re-strategizing and seeking alternative territory to flee Syria and Iraq.
Equally key was an increase in security spending and community vigilance efforts within Europe following random truck, knife and gun attacks on soft targets. Most European governments including the UK introduced more proactive measures and increased spending and human resources towards anti terrorism and counter terrorism activities. This measures led to reduced vulnerability of public places and preferred terrorist high value targets. The more difficult the target, the less attractive it is to a terrorist, hence less casualties. For Example, the UK and most countries in Europe have promoted community awareness activities on social media, newspapers and mainstream media platforms – visible adverts in popular spots like' see something say something ' , how to spot and report suspicious activities and video adverts on what to do when faced with a terrorist gun , knife or van attack may have played a real and psychological deterrence effect on potential terrorist attacks but also increased population knowledge and confidence to recognise and report suspicious activities. Terrorist rely on the element of surprise and they would avoid selecting hard targets or anyone with a high survival skill knowledge.
Catchy adverts like ' when to Run – Hide, fight and Tell ' worked against amateur terrorist.
Are this 2017 figures realistic? The report acknowledges blind spots. In remote areas in Asia, Middle East, Sub Sahara Africa, Lake Chad Basin where ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliated groups and others operate – ADF in Congo DRC & Uganda , Boko Haram factions , Al-Shabaab – daily small scale or attacks on individuals that result in casualties are hugely under reported. In some cases this is down to limited or no access to Internet or mainstream media. When terrorist attacks however large or small scale occur beyond major cities like London, Paris or New York , or do not happen in or have a direct impact on Western interest and victims, these attacks and casualties do not make it to the media or are simply ignored as not media worthy. These small and remote numbers are missed by a large margin especially in situations where less simultaneous Jihadist attacks occur against Western and mainstream media news-worthy targets.
The real number of casualties from security service men and women is still a reporting taboo shrouded in 'classified documents'.
Official reporting of casualties from military and security personnel is the most under reported when a terrorist attack occurs especially in Africa and the Middle East. The story goes that it is always the terrorist that gets killed in their numbers and not the military or other service men and women. This underreporting or hiding of real casualty numbers of service men and women is a strategy applied by most states in the Middle East and Africa to avoid creating panic amongst service men and women in and outside battle field. There is the need to maintain fighting moral, avoid negative reactions from the population and family or friends of the fallen. Above all, not reporting the real number of service men and women casualties is done for propaganda against enemy fighters. The natural military tactics of ' when you are strong , show you're weak and when you're weak , show you're strong' kicks in automatically. These hidden figures could make a difference to the real death toll recorded in the GTI report.
Winning Hearts and Minds: Have Jihadist groups Changed Strategy?
Every successful battle, especially one that is asymmetric in nature depends largely on the support and trust of the local population that each side depends on to either get intelligence, hide their activities or get moral support. Intelligence is the key and security services as well as jihadist groups understand the need to win the hearts and minds of the local population to survive and sustain their activities. The focus on winning hearts and minds by ISIS linked Jihadist groups has resulted in a change of attack tactics within the past two years.
ISIS and Al-Qaeda linked Jihadist groups are now focusing on a long term strategy of winning hearts and minds. They avoid attacking the local population or claim attacks that kill innocent people to avoid loosing face. Hence a reduced and deliberate tactics by these groups to avoid carrying out attacks that have the potential to kill innocent civilians.
Lessons from the collapse of Raqqa and Mosul indicate that Jihadist groups are focusing on long term strategic planning and limit attacks on soft civilian targets so as to win the battle of hearts and minds necessary to realise their perceived goal of a Caliphate. They focus their attacks on sensitive government infrastructures rather than busy markets , shopping malls , Mosque where innocent civilians are likely to be the highest casualties. But this tactics can change in 2019 if Jihadist groups become more desperate.
Deaths from Terrorist attacks may have fallen in Europe, Syria and Iraq in 2017 but ISIS coordinated, inspired and directed attacks increased in Africa and the Middle East due to the ISIS displacement effect. The jihadist key players like ISIS and Al-Qaeda May have gone quiet in Europe in terms of their attacks and casualty level but these groups are certainly not silent in other areas of the world especially Africa. In the long war against global jihadist groups, the number of attacks should not be mistaken for a low threat level. A more globally coordinated effort beyond words is required to reduce to the bear minimum the threats that these jihadist pose to global peace and security particularly in Africa and the Middle East which seem to represent the weakest link in efforts to tackle ISIS and Al-Qaeda growing influence.
David Otto is the CT Director of TGS Intelligence Consultants Ltd and the Preventing Radicalisation and Violent Extremism Programme – Step In Step Out (SISO) based in the United Kingdom. He is also Senior Counter Terrorism Advisor for Global Risk International. David's Work focuses on designing and implementing sustainable Anti Terrorism, Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime solutions to prevent and respond to vulnerabilities, political Instability, insurgencies and Organised Crime – between the geographical boundaries of the West and Africa. Under TGS Prevent initiative – SISO – David Otto was instrumental in organising the first ever African focused Counter Terrorism awareness conference in London (26th May 2015) in collaboration with the University of East London on the topic – 'RADICALISATION. He is frequently invited by NGOs including the UN, NATO, Interpol as a frontline practitioner and academic to share his knowledge and experience on government community resilience strategies in Europe, Asia and Africa, especially on national proactive intervention initiatives within local communities, national security sectors and prison settings. He is regularly invited and quoted by key news channels Aljazeera, BBC News, Arise TV, BEN TV, PRESS TV, VOX Africa, Channel TV, and AILTV …as an expert to share his opinion on security and Counter Terrorism from an African and western link perspective. His work has been published, and features in international newspapers, social media – IBTIMES,CNN Awake Africa, Africa Voices etc. David holds a BA (Hons) in Law and Criminology; Master of Science (MSc) in Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime; Diploma IMIS -Information Technology 1 and 2; Micro-computer and Network Systems; and Business Communication. David Otto is a Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist (CAS) & Certified Master Anti-Terrorism Specialist (CMAS) with the Anti-Terrorism Association Board. He is also a Certified Level 2 Prevent and Safeguarding Trainer.


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BEIRUT (AP) — Rostom Ghazali, the Syrian general once considered the most powerful man in Lebanon and a key suspect in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, has died in a hospital in the capital Damascus, a Syrian activist and local media reported on Friday.
Ghazali, in his early 60s, was once head of his military's powerful political security branch and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad's most trusted generals. There was no official government comment and the circumstances of his death remain unclear.
Director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdurrahman said Ghazali died nearly two months after he was admitted with a head injury. Abdurrahman said Ghazali had been clinically dead for weeks, quoting informed medical officials in the hospital.
The Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV, which has access to Syrian officials, and other Lebanese TV stations also reported Ghazali's death, quoting officials. Reports at the time of Ghazali's injury said he was beaten by the bodyguards of another Syrian general, in a dramatic escalation of a political dispute.
The reports said the disagreement between the two generals started after Ghazali's men were not allowed to play a bigger role in a government offensive against opposition fighters battling the government.
Lebanese media reported that both Ghazali and his rival general were sacked. Reshuffles in Syria's security and military apparatuses are generally not made public. Ghazali, a Sunni Muslim from the southern village of Qarfa, rose in the military to become the intelligence chief in Lebanon in 2002, replacing long-serving general Ghazi Kenaan who became Interior Minister.
Ghazali kept the post until 2005 when Syrian forces had to withdraw from the tiny Arab country, ending nearly three decades of military presence following massive anti-Syrian protests after Hariri's February 2005 assassination.
A U.N. probe later that year concluded that high-ranking Syrian and Lebanese security officials, including Ghazali, plotted Hariri's assassination. A U.N.-backed tribunal is currently trying five Hezbollah members in absentia over the killing. Both Damascus and Hezbollah have strongly denied involvement.
In 2012, after a bomb killed four of the country's top generals in Damascus, Ghazali was named by Assad as head of the Political Security Department and stayed in the job until mid-March. With Ghazali's death, several people accused by anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians of being involved in Hariri's killing have died.
Kenaan, the Interior Minister, died in his Damascus office in late 2005 about a month after speaking with investigators about Hariri's assassination. Syrian officials said he shot himself to death, but some in Lebanon believe he was killed.
Syria's Deputy Defense Minister Asef Shawkat was among several top generals killed in a Damascus bombing in July 2012. In 2005, an inadvertently released passage of a U.N. investigative report on the killing cited a witness saying that Shawkat, head of military intelligence at the time, was among those behind Hariri's assassination. Shawkat was the brother-in-law of Assad.
In October 2013, Maj. Gen. Jameh Jameh was killed while fighting rebels in eastern Syria. At the time of Hariri's assassination, Jameh was the second highest ranking Syrian intelligence official based in Lebanon and was Syria's intelligence chief in Beirut.
Meanwhile, Syrian state TV said a plane on a training mission in the country's south crashed because of a technical failure and the pilot is missing. The Observatory however reported that Islamic State fighters downed the plane.
There was no way to independently verify the conflicting reports.


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« Amy Coleman: A Stellar Blues Performer from Brooklyn | Main | Happy 71st Birthday, Bob Dylan! »
HR3—Rare, Youthful Talent Hits a New York Stage
Very rarely in this life does one get to see—up close and personal—an eruption of singular young talent that is both mesmerizing and thrilling. But last night, I had such a moment in a small New York City nightclub at the American musical debut of two 20-year-old Canadians—guitarist Julien Sandiford and drummer Max Lazich.
Teamed with veteran bass player, Hansford Rowe, this new trio is called HR3. What was barely contained on this small stage at 78 Below on Columbus Ave. was a musical tour de force driven by three talented improvisational artists.
Julien Sandiford—remember that name—is an extraordinary guitarist who is already among the best in the business. Yet, he's only 20-years-old, and has been playing seriously since he was 12. He practices five to seven hours a day and can play anything, including even what he doesn't know. ("He doesn't know this song well, but you'll never know it," Rowe quipped.)
Julien Sandiford
Max Lazich is the drummer. He's also 20. He met Sandiford when they were students at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. The pair then met Hansford Rowe, a professional bassist who has been a member of Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Gongzilla and a project called Moment featuring Spanish guitarist Jordi Torrens.
From these meetings, HR3 was born.
The group officially plays jazz, but never the same way twice. Their list of influences pretty much explains what happens on stage. The names include Brice Marden, the minimalist painter; Miles Davis and Charles Mingus, the jazz pioneers; and Frank Zappa, the eclectic musician and composer.
Marden's paintings, which are hard to describe, are often born from a particular experience, or in reaction to having spent time in a specific place.
Miles Davis created and manipulated ritual space, in which gestures could be endowed with symbolic power sufficient to form a functional communicative, and hence musical, vocabulary. He cared about individual expression, emphatic interaction and creative response to shifting content.
Mingus focused on collective improvisation, similar to the old New Orleans jazz parades, paying particular attention to how each band member interacted with the group as a whole. In creating his bands, Mingus looked not only at the skills of the available musicians, but also their personalities.
And Zappa dabbled in virtually all kinds of music—jazz-rock fusion, guitar virtuoso, electronics wizard and orchestral innovator. He was seen establishing a coherent and personal expression.
When you take the sum of these influences, some of each can be found in HR3's performance. The trio was clearly winging it often, and would trade smiles to communicate after pulling off a particularly thrilling improvisational challenge. It was fun to watch their on-stage interplay.
In fact, Rowe, who spoke for the group during the performance, said working with Sandiford and Lazich offered improv possibilities "higher than average" than with other players. An understatement, to be sure.
Lazich said after the performance that a recording of any HR3 show would be different from another because of the interplay between musicians. That was a big part of the magic of this group, combined with the uncompromising artistry of all the musicians.
Sandiford, who also composed several of the songs played, performs on a Framus guitar. Framus, a German company, made guitars, basses, lap steel guitars and banjos from 1946 to 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part of Warwick GmbH & Co. Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen (Germany). Rowe is also a pioneering artist using Warwick bass guitars. The company sponsored the HR3 performance.
In a Sandiford composition, titled "Ambivalent," the young guitarist showed his stuff. His playing style reminded me of the work of guitarist Les Paul, who had a similar approach. The group also did a couple of Spanish songs in tribute to Torrens.
Sandiford and Lazich not only did their performance debut in New York City, but it's their first trip to the United States. There is little doubt in my mind they will return soon. Their's is a rare, undisputed talent that is the beginning what I suspect will be a long and fruitful career.
Julien Sandiford (left) and Max Lazich
Posted by Frank Beacham on May 18, 2012 at 09:19 AM in Music | Permalink
Tags: 78 Below, Hansford Rowe, HR3, Julien Sandiford, Max Lazich


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I keep encountering moments with friends and colleagues when someone is struck suddenly with a very unhappy tummy, and is in need of quick digestive aid, for a little help when — oops! someone ate wheat bread and shouldn't have, to help with gas troubles, some weird food combination that left a tummy churning, you name it. The digestive system is of course extremely important to our overall health and well-being, and when there is imbalance, one can even develop depression or anxiety troubles. But right now I am just going to address a group of herbs called carminatives. Essentially, a carminative is an herb that helps expel gas. So using a carminative is more of an acute treatment, though it can be part a long-term strategy to help with chronic digestive woes of any kind. Maybe that sounds icky, the thought that – gasp – your body might in fact have moments when gas is produced, but let's face it, we all have "moments" and certainly our children too. At those times, carminatives can be of great assistance, and should always be in your herbal arsenal. I will list some wonderful carminatives to have on hand in the space below, but I also want to point out two ready-made tinctures (alcohol or glycerite extracts) that are fabulous for kids and/or adults.
1. Chamomile. Yes! it's also a nervine, and therefore great for calming your nervous system, but this delicate apple-spiced tisane (water infusion) has a time-honored tradition of soothing the digestive system. It is especially frequently used for children with its mild, sweet taste, gentle action, and comforting aroma. Chamomile is easily incorporated into a regular routine for adults and children alike and one can include other tasty nervine-carminatives to this blend such as lavender.
2. Lemon Balm. Like many other mints, lemon balm contains a high quantity of volatile oils that work to ease digestive woes. Lemon Balm, with its bright, lemony fragrance, also helps lift the spirits, so if Seasonal Affective Disorder AND tummy complaints are your bane, this is a great herb for you. It is worth noting that fresh lemon balm works best for the nervous system support but dried will help with digestive woes just as well as the fresh herb.
3. Fennel. Known for its mild anise or licorice flavor, all parts of the fennel plant are edible and provide digestive relief. I often keep the seeds on hand with this purpose in mind, and as it is also a great galactagogue (helps promote milk flow in breast feeding women), this is a wonderful herb of choice for women who are pregnant, post-partum, or nursing and experiencing both tummy trouble and the desire to support their milk flow. IT also soothes colic (because of the digestive connection) and so it is great to impart to baby via breast milk or as a water-infusion via spoon or eye dropper.
4. Cinnamon / Cassia. Usually what we think of as cinnamon is actually cassia, a close cousin. True cinnamon is sweeter than cassia, which can have a notably hot taste. The volatile oils are what usually give carminatives their power and both cinnamon and cassia have them in spades, so both are useful for digestion. Cinnamon & cassia are also energetically warming and can work as a 'catalyst' to enable other herbs to work better, and to stimulate digestion when food choices have been energetically damp or someone is convalescing. It is worth noting that cinnamon has also shown quite a bit of promise for people with diabetes, as it appears to stimulate insulin activity, helping the body to process sugar more efficiently.
5. Peppermint. I can't neglect the power of menthol, the source of peppermint's unmistakeable flavor. Spearmint is a milder mint that can be used almost interchangeably with peppermint, but if you source good quality dried peppermint, you will be astounded by how intense the flavor is. Mint is very easy to grow and root. I actually picked some from my garden this January, as there was still some (amazingly!) hanging on, and rooted it in my kitchen where it is now happily growing in a sunny window. Peppermint is stimulating and can perk up the mind and the senses, making this a good herb to use to start your day, get your brain in gear, and forge on to new adventures.
Naturally I have many other carminative loves, but for now, I'll just leave you with those top choices. I would also be remiss in not pointing out Herbalist & Alchemist's Kid's Tummy Relief, an absolutely wonderful glycerite formula that tastes delicious and can really help out a kid's tummy in a pinch. Okay, I keep some in strategic places for myself too, but grown-ups deserve tasty too, right? Another must? Ginger extract (alcohol): I always always always keep a bottle of this in my office, my car, and my home, as it is essentially herbal first aid for myriad complaints.
Feel free to share some of your carminative loves and natural digestive aids!
I have long wanted to include some 'practical' instruction in my blog for the all important preparations that all herbalists and family healers use on a regular basis. This post will be devoted to a simple alcohol extract of a botanical, called a "tincture". The extracting can actually be done with cider vinegar or glycerin, alternatively, though alcohol does work best. It is important to note that some herbs are better taken as infusions or decoctions, particularly if the vitamin content is what one is after (i.e. nettles). It is also important to note that some herbs are absolutely best taken as a *fresh* herb tincture rather than a *dried* herb tincture. This post is for making tinctures from *fresh* herbs. Some examples of herbs that should be tinctured fresh are turmeric rhizome, ginger rhizome, St. John's wort, Milky oat tops, and skullcap. Other herbs I prefer to tincture fresh are motherwort and tulsi.
Organize the necessary container for tincturing. It should be big enough to hold all the herb you would like to tincture. There should not be a lot of excess room in the jar, however.
Put the herbs in a glass jar. I have a gallon sized glass jar here and I'm using fresh oat tops in the milky stage, shipped to me from Pacific Botanicals organic farm in Oregon.
After the herbs are in the jar, pour 95% (190 proof) grain alcohol over the fresh herbs. The percentage of alcohol you use is probably the most important part of tincturing aside from the quality of the herbs used. The percentage of alcohol for fresh herbs shouldn't dip below 50% or the tincture will probably spoil. Because fresh herbs contain a lot of water already, you can assume that just by using fresh herb, you'll be diluting the % of alcohol in the preparation. So, if you use (40%) 80 proof vodka, for instance, you may end up with a tincture that is only 20% alcohol, and that tincture would certainly spoil. Many herbalists use 100 proof (50%) vodka and have success, even with fresh herbs. I prefer to use a higher proof for fresh. Using 100 proof (50%) vodka for *dried* herbs is certainly okay, though more complicated formulas are used by professional herbalists. Keep in mind that some herbs require glycerin at about 10%, including milk thistle seed.
So, you pour the alcohol over the herbs and fill the jar to the top. Leave about 1/2 – 1 inch between the alcohol and the rim of the jar. Try to make sure all of the herbs are under the liquid.
Use a chopstick or spoon to press the herb down and stir in order to release any air bubbles that may be trapped in the jar.
Cap the jar. I often like to put a piece of wax paper between the rim and lid so that the lid doesn't 'stick' to the jar. It's not that this is really a problem, because you can run it under hot water, but it just makes it easier.
Label the jar with the herb, date, and percentage of alcohol. Store in a cool/dark place and allow to do its tincturing magic for 4 – 6 weeks. You can really leave it for longer if you don't get to it in that time frame. I have left herbs in 180 proof alcohol for a *year* and it doesn't go bad because of the high alcohol content. Sometimes I do up to 3 gallons at a time, so I don't always decant everything right away!
When you decant, strain the herbs out and compost them after squeezing the alcohol out of them. You can wring out the herbs with a thin, clean dishcloth or cheesecloth. There are also professional herb presses that are available for just this purpose. The herbs will often become quite dessicated, actually, so sometimes it is incredibly easy to extract as much alcohol as you are going to!
Be sure to label your decanted tinctures with the Date and the Herb, as well as the alcohol used. Keep in mind that the % of alcohol is no longer 95%!!! Though it's not easy to exactly determine, it's probably closer to 50%, depending on the herb used.
Gladstar, Rosemary, Herbal Healing for Women, 1993.
Weed, Susun, Healing Wise, 1989.
Hoffman, David, Medical Herbalism, 2003.
Tilgner, Sharol, Herbal Medicine, 1999.
Good luck with your first tincture. Feel free to comment below if you have questions!
My tinctures can be found on my Etsy site.
I currently study herbal medicine under the tutelage of Michael and Leslie Tierra and their East West School of Planetary Herbology. My focus in much of my work in herbal medicine has been maternal and child health, which you may note from many of my posts. One of the things I love about the world of herbal medicine is that the masters — our masters in this current time — are always intersecting in one way or another. The most respected herbalists of the United States are usually connected to the American Herbalists Guild (AHG), the closest thing to a regulating body that we have. It's not easy to get AHG after your name, either!
I was looking through Naturally Healthy Babies and Children, a great resource by Dr. Aviva Jill Romm, mostly in thoughts of preparing for a course I have been dreaming about since last spring — and nodded to in a earlier post — and I came across this wonderful formula for a "Calm Child Formula". Aviva Romm writes about it. Michael Tierra came up with it. And probably hundreds of children have been happily subjected to its calming effects. How wonderful to have a formula sanctioned by our modern masters and certainly born of a long herbal tradition of empirical evidence and experience.
The formula is a nervine, which means it has a calming effect on the nervous system, and digestive calmer, helping to bring a sense of tranquility to a child, even during times of sickness. It can be used as a tonic for active children or even during long car trips. Tierra's company, Planetary Herbs, sells it in their formulas, or you can prepare it at home as a water-infusion or a syrup. (Ref: Romm 2003) The recipe below is for a syrup. An alternative way to make a syrup would be to use all the same herbs and to prepare it as I describe in this post for the Herb Companion last year.
To Prepare: Combine all ingredients in a dark amber jar.
To Use: Dosage is 1/2 to 1 tsp as needed. Shake well before using.
I'm a lucky gal – in my 'real job', I am about to take on a new research assistant, and lo and behold, she's a top class bartender by night! We got to discussing the special world of mixology and she mentioned a local bar known for their use of herbal tinctures and infusions in fine vodkas and other drinkable liquors. What a great idea! I did make a wee visit to said establishment and had to chuckle when I saw a mention of an herbal 'liniment' on their drink list (a liniment is used topically for various conditions, rather than internally as a medicinal extract). That said, my local mixologists are not the only herbal cocktails gaining attention. Savvy bartenders nationwide are experimenting in the herb garden for new, unusual, and often delightful new cocktails.
Happily, we don't have to depend on fancy bars for fun herbally-infused beverages. We can all have herbal mixology fun in our own kitchens. Much like making a simple herbal vinegar, herbally-infused alcohol is a simple process.
Step 1: Choose your beverage and the desired herbs. Vodka is a good choice because it has clean, smooth finish that allows the herb to shine through. Gin provides an interesting dimension, and brandy, the choice of many herbalists, is an often-used vehicle for medicinal herbs. Aromatic, flavorful herbs are the best to begin your experiments: ginger root, dill, basil, cardamom, lavender, rosemary, bay leaf, and elderberries would all be fun choices. Use only one herb per infusion so that you don't muddle the flavor and so you are able to experiment with each new flavor independently.
Step 2: Wash your herbs and pat dry to remove excess water. Roughly chop the herbs and place in clean, glass container. Pour alcohol over herbs and allow to steep in a cool, dark place for 1-4 weeks. Strain the herbs out and replace with a fresh sprig for a nice visual effect, especially if giving as a gift. A container with a rubber, sealed top is a great choice for storing your new herbal extract.
Step 3: Experiment away! Try adding the froth of whipped egg white, a hint of berry or ginger juice for an extra splash of flavor and color, or a touch of citrus for a lovely fresh finish. There are plenty of drink recipes out there in culinary land to get your started. Just be sure that in whatever herbal coctail you concoct, you allow the qualities of your chosen herbs to shine through and make themselves (and all their loveliness) known!
I decided to post my fresh organic herbal extracts/tinctures of both Scullcap (sculletaria lateralist) and St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum) on my etsy site. These are such great quality extracts made with fresh, organic herbs from Pacfic Botanicals in Oregon. I have a nice fat disclaimer there because I have to. It's a shame, really, but the main thing is that I want to make these kinds of quality, home-crafted tinctures available to my customers.


It's no surprise that this local favorite continues to expand to new locations. The pizzas at Harvest are just that good. Pulling from the restaurant's "local" inspiration, we aimed at making their newest (and largest) location a physical extension of the brand. Starting with a historic building, we highlighted the space with a cozy vibe, using beautiful wood finishes and raw materials throughout. The Amish Oak Floors added in the extra special touch of local craftsmanship, paying homage to the time and attention that this restaurant puts into their food and customer experience.
Ready to expand your brand? Let's chat!


text:
package org.apache.zookeeper.server.quorum;

import org.apache.zookeeper.server.Request;
import org.apache.zookeeper.server.RequestProcessor;
import org.apache.zookeeper.server.SyncRequestProcessor;
import org.apache.zookeeper.server.quorum.Leader.XidRolloverException;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

/**
 * This RequestProcessor simply forwards requests to an AckRequestProcessor and
 * SyncRequestProcessor.
 */
public class ProposalRequestProcessor implements RequestProcessor {
    private static final Logger LOG =
        LoggerFactory.getLogger(ProposalRequestProcessor.class);

    LeaderZooKeeperServer zks;

    RequestProcessor nextProcessor;

    SyncRequestProcessor syncProcessor;

    public ProposalRequestProcessor(LeaderZooKeeperServer zks,
            RequestProcessor nextProcessor) {
        this.zks = zks;
        this.nextProcessor = nextProcessor;
        AckRequestProcessor ackProcessor = new AckRequestProcessor(zks.getLeader());
        syncProcessor = new SyncRequestProcessor(zks, ackProcessor);
    }

    /**
     * initialize this processor
     */
    public void initialize() {
        syncProcessor.start();
    }

    public void processRequest(Request request) throws RequestProcessorException {
        // LOG.warn("Ack>>> cxid = " + request.cxid + " type = " +
        // request.type + " id = " + request.sessionId);
        // request.addRQRec(">prop");

        /* In the following IF-THEN-ELSE block, we process syncs on the leader.
         * If the sync is coming from a follower, then the follower
         * handler adds it to syncHandler. Otherwise, if it is a client of
         * the leader that issued the sync command, then syncHandler won't
         * contain the handler. In this case, we add it to syncHandler, and
         * call processRequest on the next processor.
         */

        if(request instanceof LearnerSyncRequest){
            zks.getLeader().processSync((LearnerSyncRequest)request);
        } else {
                nextProcessor.processRequest(request);
            if (request.hdr != null) {
                // We need to sync and get consensus on any transactions
                try {
                    zks.getLeader().propose(request);
                } catch (XidRolloverException e) {
                    throw new RequestProcessorException(e.getMessage(), e);
                }
                syncProcessor.processRequest(request);
            }
        }
    }

    public void shutdown() {
        LOG.info("Shutting down");
        nextProcessor.shutdown();
        syncProcessor.shutdown();
    }

}


Oil on 4.5 x5" panel.
I love suspense and what can be captured in an instant. In the case of a single portrait painting, there is no back ground information to draw from, no story, no reference, just an expression that coveys an emotion that sparks the imagination to interpret what is happening. There is quite a bit of information in facial gestures and the subtlest can sometimes have the most intense meaning.
There are50 muscles in the face, they can combine to make 3000 different expressions, many involuntary.


Displays traffic information for Boston area. Updates every 60 seconds, with no configuration. Uses data from Traffic.com.
Boston Traffic widget displays, right on your desktop, a map with teh latest traffic situation from this area.
Now you can view and monitor the traffic right from in front of your computer.
You cannot download any crack or serial number for Boston Traffic on this page. Every software that you are able to download on our site is legal. There is no crack, serial number, hack or activation key for Boston Traffic present here. Our collection also doesn't contain any keygens, because keygen programs are being used in illegal ways which we do not support. All software that you can find here is freely downloadable and legal.
Boston Traffic installation package is prepared to be downloaded from our fast download servers. It is checked for possible viruses and is proven to be 100% clean and safe. Various leading antiviruses have been used to test Boston Traffic, if it contains any viruses. No infections have been found and downloading Boston Traffic is completelly problem free because of that reason. Our experts on malware detection tested Boston Traffic with various spyware and malware detection programs, including fyxm.net custom malware and spyware detection, and absolutelly no malware or spyware was found in Boston Traffic.
All software that you can find on our servers, including Boston Traffic, is either freeware, shareware or open-source, some of the software packages are demo, trial or patch versions and if possible (public domain licence), we also host official full versions of software.
Because we want to be one of the fastest download sites on the web, we host all the software including Boston Traffic on our servers. You cannot find here any torrents or download links that would lead you to dangerous sites.


text:
City itineraries
Meet Tiqets
Discover London on the cheap
By PeterAugust 9, 2017 City insights, Travel tips, United Kingdom
Every year, over 35 million tourists flock to London, and Britain's capital is internationally recognized as the birthplace of culture, questionable food, and colonialism. But while the city boasts countless attractions and amusements, it is notoriously expensive – with its recent re-ranking as the third most expensive city in the world offering scarce comfort for the prospective sightseer.
But fret not – those still feeling the squeeze can still enjoy the best the city has to offer, thanks to the Tiqets' frugal city guide. So tighten those purse-strings, cancel your overdraft and read up on the Tiqets top tips for visiting London… on a budget.
This top-notch museum and cultural hotspot is free for everyone!
The majority of museums in London are completely free! Any visitor would do well to capitalize on this opportunity and inhale as much culture as humanly possible.
What better place to start than the iconic Natural History Museum? Boasting over 8 million specimens spanning botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology (more than enough -ology's for one day), you'll walk out more intelligent than when you came in, if only via osmosis. And for the less academically-inclined, there are plenty of giant dinosaur skeletons, universally accepted as 'pretty cool things to look at'.
The Tower of London
Don't lose your head over the tower's crowds (excuse the bad pun)
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in London, do as the tourists do. Yes it's a cliché, but you ought to get your required dose of sightseeing out of the way as efficiently, and cheaply, as possible. The Tower of London ticks all the right boxes: big old castle ✔ people in funny costumes ✔ looks impressive on Instagram ✔ long history of politically-motivated murder ✔
Exploring every ancient nook and cranny is a day out in itself, but the determined visitor can blast through the highlights in a couple of hours. Don't miss the 'White Tower' – the bit you'll probably recognise – as built by William the Conqueror. It now houses all manner of royal paraphernalia (check out Henry VIII's suit of sparkly armor… clearly designed in his more slender years), and played host to a grand total of 22 grisly beheadings. Time it right and you can view the Crown Jewels with minimal queuing – and enjoy the comforting thought that all it takes to establish a royal dynasty is a few billion pounds' worth of precious gems.
Works of art inside another work of art – it's all very meta
Tired of old stuff? The Tate Modern gallery is the perfect antidote, stuffed full of art so new some of it doesn't even exist yet (Tracy Emin's next project?). Located in the hulking (decommissioned) Bankside Power Station, the museum is a veritable work of art in itself, with sleek metal gangways snaking around the brutalist post-war architecture.
The colossal Turbine Hall regularly hosts large-scale installations and performance pieces, while the labyrinthine gallery spaces chart the entire history of 'modern' art, from the Pre-Raphaelites to the YBAs. While some works will naturally test the patience and elicit cries of "I could have done that", it's hard to argue with the delicious price of free. The regular exhibitions located in the ominous 'tanks' are invariably reasonably-priced, and the sprawling gift shop is the perfect place to pick up an oh-so-tasteful memento of your visit.
From Shakespearean tragedies to time-travelling cars, the BFI has almost every film imaginable
A stone's throw (if you have particularly strong arms) along the trendy Southbank district is the British Film Institute, London's one stop shop for all things cinema. Featuring a specially curated program of art-house, independent and classic films, the BFI also hosts regular festivals and special events.
For the enthusiast and layman alike, the adjoining médiathèque is a veritable treasure-trove of celluloid joy – visitors are able to select any title in the digital archive and enjoy a private viewing in the fully-equipped booths. All for free, naturally.
Much better than taking the stairs down!
A night's drinking in London is bound to cost you an arm and a leg – literally, if you stumble into Hackney. If you don't fancy shelling out seven quid for a pint, but still want to see the city in a blur (and possibly make yourself very sick in the process), the Orbit tower and slide is a very viable alternative. Built to commemorate the 2012 Olympic Games, the spiraling tower is the UK's tallest sculpture (114.5 meters – a cool 22 meters taller than the Statue of Liberty, fact-fans) and offers stupendously panoramic views of the city.
But that's all by the by. What anyone in their right mind should be more interested in is the world's largest tunnel slide – the quickest, and funnest, way to make your exit. Once you've had your fill of the scenery, simply hurl yourself into the appropriate orifice and enjoy 12 stomach-churning 'orbits' of the tower, before plummeting 50 meters back to terra firma. You'll walk out dazed, confused, and eager to go again – and thanks to Tiqets, you can do so at the swipe of a thumb!
Hop-on Hop-off Bus + River Cruise
Whether it's on land or water, choose the hassle-free way to travel around London
Yes, we know it seems counter-intuitive for a budget travel guide to recommend paying for a tour bus – but hear us out! London has some of the highest public transport prices in the known universe, and for less than the price of a local travel pass you can enjoy unlimited use of the dedicated sightseeing buses, covering over 80 stops across the capital. No matter what your inclination or destination, the always-running buses represent undeniable value for money and the audio guides (available in 12 languages) offer a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as providing all manner of trivia to bore your friends with.
More aquatically-oriented? Your pass also grants you access to the hop-on tour boats, allowing you to cruise the River Thames to your heart's content. There's no need to queue or fight your way to an Oyster top-up machine – with the Tiqets app, you'll be up and running (or sailing!) in no time.
You can see even more of London with all that money you've saved!
Start planning your trip with Tiqets.com or read our London walking guide to navigate the city like a pro
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Tiqets and affiliates
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Girl-powered tech at Tiqets
What to eat in Kyoto
Meet Tiqets: product and partners
The best things to see in Tokyo, according to Tiqets
The Japanese Tea Ceremony: where to go and what to expect
Enryaku-ji: War, Peace, and Beauty
The best thing to eat near every major museum in Amsterdam
Peter is a writer who escaped the UK for sunnier climes. Somehow he ended up in the Netherlands.
Latest posts by Peter (see all)
Amsterdam Light Festival 2018 - November 1, 2018
Getting to know Business Development - March 23, 2018
Sustainable Ticketing - January 19, 2018
© 2019 Tiqets Blog.


text:
Q: What's the proper way to minimize to tray a C# WinForms app? What is the proper way to minimize a WinForms app to the system tray?
Note: minimize to system tray; on the right side of the taskbar by the clock. I'm not asking about minimizing to taskbar, which is what happens when you hit the "minus" button on the window.
I've seen hackish solutions like, "minimize, set ShowInTaskbar = false, then show your NotifyIcon."
Solutions like that are hackish because the app doesn't appear to minimize to the tray like other apps, the code has to detect when to set ShowInTaskbar = true, among other issues.
What's the proper way to do this?

A: this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized

That is the built in way to do it and it looks fine to me most of the time. The only time is has some weirdness to it is if you call it on startup which has some weirdness sometimes which is why most people will also set the ShowInTaskbar = false and hide the form too.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.form.windowstate.aspx

A: It will helps:
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
    public static bool Close = false;
    Icon[] images;
    int offset = 0;

    public Form1()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        notifyIcon1.BalloonTipText = "My application still working...";
        notifyIcon1.BalloonTipTitle = "My Sample Application";
        notifyIcon1.BalloonTipIcon = ToolTipIcon.Info;
    }

    private void Form1_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (FormWindowState.Minimized == WindowState)
        {
            this.Hide();
            notifyIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(500);
            //WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
        }
    }

    private void notifyIcon1_MouseDoubleClick(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        this.Show();
        notifyIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(1000);
        WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
    }

    private void maximizeToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        this.Show();
        WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
    }

    private void closeToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Close = true;
        this.Close();
    }

    // Handle Closing of the Form.
    protected override void OnClosing(CancelEventArgs e)
    {
        if (Close)
        {
            e.Cancel = false;
        }
        else
        {
            WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
            e.Cancel = true;
        }
    }

    private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Load the basic set of eight icons.
        images = new Icon[5];
        images[0] = new Icon("C:\\icon1.ico");
        images[1] = new Icon("C:\\icon2.ico");
        images[2] = new Icon("C:\\icon3.ico");
        images[3] = new Icon("C:\\icon4.ico");
        images[4] = new Icon("C:\\icon5.ico");
    }

    private void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Change the icon.
        // This event handler fires once every second (1000 ms).
        if (offset < 5)
        {
            notifyIcon1.Icon = images[offset];
            offset++;
        }
        else
        {
            offset = 0;
        }
    }
}

A: This code is tested and supports many options.
More here: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/TheNotifyIconExample

A: Update: Looks like I posted too soon.
I was also using the below hack for a tool of mine. Waiting for the right solution for this..........
You can use Windows.Forms.NotifyIcon for this. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.notifyicon.aspx
Add NotifyIcon to the form, set some properties and you are done.
        this.ShowIcon = false;//for the main form
        this.ShowInTaskbar = false;//for the main form
        this.notifyIcon1.Visible = true;//for notify icon
        this.notifyIcon1.Icon = ((System.Drawing.Icon)(resources.GetObject("notifyIcon1.Icon")));//set an icon for notifyicon

    private void Form1_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        this.Hide();
    }

A: There is actually no managed way to do that form of animation to the tray in native winforms, however you can P/Invoke shell32.dll to do it:
Some good info here (In the comments not the post):
http://blogs.msdn.com/jfoscoding/archive/2005/10/20/483300.aspx
And here it is in C++:
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/shell/minimizetotray.aspx
You can use that to figure out what stuff to Pinvoke for your C# version.

A: Similar as above...
I have a resize event handler that is triggered whenever the window gets resized (Maximized, minimized, etc.)...
    public form1()
    {
       Initialize Component();

       this.Resize += new EventHanlder(form1_Resize);
    }

    private void form1_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
       if (this.WindowState == FormWindowState.Minimized && minimizeToTrayToolStripMenuItem.Checked == true)
       {
             NotificationIcon1.Visible = true;
             NotificationIcon1.BalloonTipText = "Tool Tip Text"
             NotificationIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(2);  //show balloon tip for 2 seconds
             NotificationIcon1.Text = "Balloon Text that shows when minimized to tray for 2 seconds";
             this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
             this.ShowInTaskbar = false;
       }
    }

This allows the user to select whether or not they want to minimize to tray via a menubar.  They can go to Windows -> and click on Minimize to Tray.  If this is checked,
and the window is being resized to Minimized, then it will minimize to the tray.  Works flawlessly for me.

A: I have programmed a quick solution for you guys, this might not be the most efficient way (I'm not sure), but it definitely works !
The below solution successfully minimizes your Winforms application to the system Tray, and by using the notify Icon you create a small icon in the system tray with the aforementioned menu items. than we use the in-built libraries to fetch the Window (GUI in this case), and using the appropriate methods with Booleans we then minimize the window to the tray.
private void TransformWindow()
        {
            ContextMenu Menu = new ContextMenu();

            Menu.MenuItems.Add(RestoreMenu);
            Menu.MenuItems.Add(HideMenu);
            Menu.MenuItems.Add(new MenuItem("Exit", new EventHandler(CleanExit)));

            notifyIcon = new NotifyIcon()
            {
                Icon = Properties.Resources.Microsft_Icon,
                Text = "Folder Watcher",
                Visible = true,
                ContextMenu = Menu
            };
            processHandle = Process.GetCurrentProcess().MainWindowHandle;
            ResizeWindow(false);

        }
        #region Getting Libraries
        [DllImport("user32.dll")]
        public static extern IntPtr GetShellWindow();
        [DllImport("user32.dll")]
        public static extern IntPtr GetDesktopWindow();
        public const Int32 SwMINIMIZE = 0;
        public const Int32 SwMaximize = 9;

        [DllImport("Kernel32.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall, SetLastError = true)]
        public static extern IntPtr GetConsoleWindow();

        [DllImport("User32.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall, SetLastError = true)]
        [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
        public static extern bool ShowWindow([In] IntPtr hWnd, [In] Int32 nCmdShow);
        public static void MinimizeConsoleWindow()
        {
            IntPtr hWndConsole = processHandle;
            ShowWindow(hWndConsole, SwMINIMIZE);

        }
        public static void MaximizeConsoleWindow()
        {
            IntPtr hWndConsole = processHandle;
            ShowWindow(hWndConsole, SwMaximize);

        }
        [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
        public static extern IntPtr SetParent(IntPtr hWndChild, IntPtr hWndNewParent);
        public static void ResizeWindow(bool show)
        {
            RestoreMenu.Enabled = !show;
            HideMenu.Enabled = show;
            SetParent(processHandle, WinDesktop);

            if (show)
                MaximizeConsoleWindow();
            else
                MinimizeConsoleWindow();

        }
        public static void MinimizeClick(object sender, EventArgs e) => ResizeWindow(false);
        public static void MaximizeClick(object sender, EventArgs e) => ResizeWindow(true);
        public static IntPtr processHandle;
        public static IntPtr WinShell;
        public static IntPtr WinDesktop;
        public static NotifyIcon notifyIcon;
        public static MenuItem HideMenu = new MenuItem("Hide", new EventHandler(MinimizeClick));
        public static MenuItem RestoreMenu = new MenuItem("Restore", new EventHandler(MaximizeClick));
        public void CleanExit(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            notifyIcon.Visible = false;
            this.Close();
        }

A: In the constructor of the Form:
this.Resize += new EventHandler(MainForm_Minimize);

Then use this Event Handler method:
    private void MainForm_Minimize(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if(this.WindowState == FormWindowState.Minimized)
            Hide();
    }

A: If you are having problems getting this to work, check that you have
this.Resize += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Resize);

in the fom1.designer.cs

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Traditionally closed to immigrants, the world's fastest-aging society may open up to overcome labor shortages and support its economy.
When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe devised a plan to create two new visa categories, he wanted to appease Japanese companies that are gripped by labor shortages and desperate to hire more foreign staff. But Abe's contentious plan has profound implications for Japan and has ignited a debate it has avoided for decades: Should the world's fastest-aging country, and one of its most ethnically homogeneous, accept immigrants to stabilize its population and economy?
At the heart of the controversy are two elements of Abe's plan that have been taboo in Japan. First, it will create a path — however long and difficult — for guest workers to become permanent residents. Second, it will allow some guest workers to bring their families.
On the defensive in Parliament last week, Abe insisted he was not adopting a "so-called immigration policy." He said the hurdles to permanent residence in Japan were high and he was not trying to lower them.
Up to now we have only accepted highly skilled foreign labor.
The population of foreign workers in Japan has soared in recent years — up 18 percent in 2017 alone, to 1.28 million — but the majority are students or "trainees" whose visas make it impossible to stay long term. Abe's proposed reform would issue full work visas in areas with labor shortages, such as construction, with the possibility of permanent residence for those who pass a tough Japanese-language exam.
"Up to now we have only accepted highly skilled foreign labor and we're transforming that to create a new residence status for basic laborers as well," says Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita.
Opinion polls suggest that 54 percent of the public support Abe's plan, while 34 percent oppose it. The young are especially positive, reflecting a slow shift in attitudes, as booming numbers of tourists and guest workers mean foreigners are increasingly commonplace across Japan.
Ngo Van Tung, a 25-year-old graduate in structural engineering from Vietnam, is the type of worker Abe wants to attract. A listed Japanese contractor went to Vietnam to interview Tung and arranged a 5-year visa under the existing scheme for highly skilled workers. Tung has a permanent contract and the same pay as a native graduate, and is currently supervising a construction site in Tokyo.
On the whole, Tung finds life in Japan good. He plays soccer on the weekends and has been able to travel around the country for work. "The environment and transport in Vietnam are still basic, so I was really impressed when I saw Japan," he says. The country's long-hours culture has been a shock. "People here are so dedicated and work so hard," he adds, with a mixture of admiration and resignation.
Tung married in Vietnam this summer and hopes his wife will be able to join him in Japan, which could become easier under Abe's reforms. He is uncertain about the future — perhaps his company will open an office in Vietnam, perhaps he will stay in Japan for a decade or more — but he does not see himself becoming Japanese.
Another group swelling the foreign population of Japan is students, who can legally work for up to 28 hours a week. Krizzialyn Judrana, a college graduate from the Philippines, is on an unusual scholarship run by a newspaper distributor. On top of her wages, the company pays for her accommodation and tuition at a Japanese-language school. In return, Judrana delivers newspapers from 12:30 am until 4 am.
The scholarship scheme runs for two years, but Judrana is enjoying her time in Japan, and is interested in staying. "If the opportunity comes, I want to grab it and study hard and work hard," she says.
The two fastest-growing nationalities in Japan are Vietnamese and Nepalis. Bahadur, a 43-year-old cook from a village near Kathmandu, is the kind of person who would find it easier to come to Japan under Abe's reforms. At present, he has a rare skilled-worker visa, which is available because he has more than 10 years' experience in cooking a particular national cuisine.
Even if Abe's plans pass through Parliament next spring, Japan is determined to learn from what it regards as the errors of Europe and the United States, by making sure any permanent resident is both a productive worker and a fluent Japanese speaker. But the debate Abe has ignited, and the shift in attitudes it has revealed, suggest a long-closed country may finally be willing to open up.


Basic beauty is not challenging to occur by with a couple of excellent suggestions. The subsequent write-up has the elegance suggestions that you need to have. Putting your best self ahead is crucial, so continue looking through to discover how to do that.
Use a roller on your lashes. A great deal of individuals never think about how a lot far better eyelashes appear after curling them. Curling your eyelashes sales opportunities to much more expressive and amazing eyes. You can even obtain a heated eyelash curler. Heated eyelash curlers say that they generate curls that very last for a longer time.
As much as eyes go, hues like apricot and copper make blues and greys shine. Try using mascara that is purple, dark brown, pink, or maroon if you want to carry out blue eyes. These shades assist your blue eyes stand out.
Preserve moisturizer in your purse. This is crucial during wintertime months because pores and skin can crack or split. If you maintain your pores and skin moisturized you will continue to be away from dry pores and skin and any cracks.
If you use a blow dryer to design your hair, use a styling solution that safeguards your hair from the heat. These kinds of products help hair dry quicker and guard against split finishes. They are typically offered at pharmacies or section retailers. It prevents moisture from escaping and smells fantastic to boot!
Though scorching showers feel wonderful, they will not do your skin any favors. Scorching water dries out your pores and skin, since it enables the normal oils created by your skin to escape. You finish up washing them away. As an alternative, use lukewarm h2o if you desire to have softer skin. Heat water is also less costly than sizzling!
This article should've presented you lots of data that will aid you best your personal attractiveness program. These guidelines had been set with each other to support newcomers discover a way to commence getting more beautiful each day of their lives.


As it is Easter, our team will be offering children the chance to hunt for Easter eggs. Adults are welcome to help of course, but no cheating!
And of course the silent trolleybuses will be gliding around the site, giving rides, the free Isle of Axholme bus tour will be departing each day and our attractions will be open as usual.


We all have things that frustrate us. Greatly, sometimes. Occasionally just for a moment perhaps – a flash of anger at someone pushing past you to cross the road first at a busy intersection, or the irritation of feeling ignored when you're ready to order in a restaurant. Little things; unimportant things (maybe).
I guess it's human nature to get fed up with the actions of others, although I'm sure something could be said about how even your smallest frustration simply reflects what's going on with YOU rather than the other person. And is therefore your issue, and not theirs. And if it really is now and then that things seem to be working against you then perhaps it's not worth caring about.
You are robbing yourself. Yes YOU are robbing yourself of YOUR ability to live a fulfilled and purpose-full life. And painful though it may be to accept that the very vast majority of your problems are in fact YOUR problems – created and manifested; perhaps even unknowingly desired by nobody else – accept it you must nonetheless. Well, only if you want to get hold of that life of your dreams you're always just missing out on grabbing. Only if you want to start loving the life you live.
The person you glare at because of how rudely they shove past you? They don't even notice. And if they do, they don't care. Who are YOU, after all?
The service person who doesn't serve you in the manner you think acceptable? Whether or not they enjoy their job or are even good at it is really none of your concern. Only YOUR response is.
Your staff member who just doesn't care about doing things exactly right? Got it in one – they don't care as much as you. And nor should they! How can anyone care as much as you about YOUR stuff.
The boss you resent for not recognising your true talent? They have their own issues. Your happiness is not their concern.
The partner who just won't stop doing that annoying thing that they KNOW gets to you? You're not perfect either sweetie. You can bet your bottom dollar you're getting to them at times as well. If they let things get to them that is.
The world that just won't let you get ahead. Well surely I don't have to tell you how ridiculous it is to blame the world for your problems?
But here's the thing. If you think it's ridiculous to blame the world for your problems (and I hope that you do), how is it any less ridiculous to blame another person? A company?
If you think about it, isn't it perhaps a little more ridiculous to allow anybody aside from you to have even a hint of power over your life? Your future? Your destiny? It is, isn't it? Ridiculous, that is.
I started this post saying that maybe the little things that irritate you don't matter. But I take it back. You see, I'm a big believer in little actions determining big outcomes. And that little habit you have of turning your nose up at other people's silliness, or poor standards, or yes even plain downright rudeness? It's a habit of letting yourself be governed by other people. You think it's just for a moment? You think it's not such a big deal?
How many moments have there been?
And how quickly are you getting on track with loving the life you live in between? Does your habit of constantly reacting to things allow you to see the good in the world, and all the possibilities in store for you, or does it cause you to be slower, more resigned, more resentful? If somebody else were to predict what sort of person you'll be in your retirement years, would they say happy, carefree, surrounded by love and success?
And you – what do you predict? That the world is against you, or that it's yours for the taking?
It's a choice, isn't it? Be sure to make it a deliberate one.
Woman Incredible Is Getting Lean And Curvy!


Back in the studio on Monday, feeling rough from the weekend though.
Aftermath of a fever that reached 40 on Saturday, but I still feel like we nailed the vocals. This new (not so new) one will be released in March.
Also the mix of the London recordings are getting close to being ready. Eight of the ten tracks finished. Robyn is doing a stunning job on them. Today I recorded some extra backing vocals for 'Mean What You Don't' here in my bedroom in Osaka, so not purely a London session. Next solo gig, next weekend, Sunday 2nd February, Kyoto Mojo.


text:
11283 – WOOLWORK TAPESTRY PANEL ENTITLED BOBOLI I BY ARCHIE BRENNAN (B. 1931)
11283 WOOLWORK TAPESTRY PANEL ENTITLED BOBOLI I BY ARCHIE BRENNAN (B. 1931) FOR EDINBURGH WEAVERS Dated 1963. Measurements: Height: 26″ (66 cm) Width: 59″ (150 cm).
Of wool and lurex thread. Depicting an abstract aerial plan of the Boboli gardens, Florence, Italy.
Marks:
Exhibition label to the reverse:
The Scottish Arts Council
Archie Brennan Tapestry
3 Boboli I 1963
24 X 60 Tapestry
Mr. Frank Laycock
Exhibited:
Edinburgh, Scottish Arts Council
This interesting wool tapestry depicts a rather abstract aerial plan of the Boboli Gardens of Florence, Italy and was woven in 1963 by Scottish artist Archie Brennan (b. 1931).
Archie Brennan was born in Roslin, Scotland, near Edinburgh. He began drawing and painting as a young man, and at the age of 15 enrolled in drawing courses at the local art school. It was here that he was introduced to the Dovecot tapestry studio, whose apprentices were also attending the classes. Dovecot had been established in 1912 by the Marquess of Bute and in 1946 was incorporated officially as Edinburgh Tapestry Company. Two years later Brennan joined the apprentices at Dovecot, beginning his career in the tapestry arts. His apprenticeship lasted until 1954, followed by a period of travel and study in France. His postgraduate studies were carried out at the Edinburgh College of Art between 1958 and 1962, after which Brennan established the Graduate and Post Graduate Department of Tapestry and Fibre Arts at the college. His work at Dovecot continued as he assumed the position of director in 1963. Brennan spent time teaching, consulting and working on his own tapestry in Australia and Papua New Guinea in the 1970s and Hawaii in the 1980s. Since 1993 he has been established in New York where he continues to teach and focus on his own weaving projects.
The Boboli Gardens represent some of the first formal 16th century Italian gardens, laid out on a hill beside the Palazzo Pitti, seat of the Medici family of Grand Dukes in Florence. The Palazzo was purchased in 1549 by Cosimo I de´ Medici and his wife Eleonora di Toledo and expanded under the direction of the art historian Giorgio Vasari. The original landscape architect employed for the gardens was Niccolò Tribolo. He died the following year however, in 1550, and was replaced by Bartolommeo Ammananti; additional projects were carried out by Vasari, Giulio Parigi, and Bernardo Buontalenti.
The park has a central axis surrounded by avenues, terraces and hedges, and is adorned throughout with 16th-18th century sculpture, fountains, amphitheatre, garden temples, and an impressive grotto. An 18th century description of the Boboli Gardens, with accompanying illustrations of its statuary, was published in Il reale giardino di Boboli by Francsco Maria Soldini and Gaetano Vascellini (1789). The book also includes a plan of the park (figure 1), its shape closely related to the modern version represented in the present tapestry.
Comments Off on 11283 – WOOLWORK TAPESTRY PANEL ENTITLED BOBOLI I BY ARCHIE BRENNAN (B. 1931)


text:
Paris St. Germain's Edinson Cavani shoots past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during their match on Tuesday in Paris. PSG won the Champions League first-leg match 2-1. | REUTERS
PSG tops Chelsea in first leg
Online: Feb 17, 2016
PARIS - Struggling striker Edinson Cavani came off the bench to score the winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 2-1 in a pulsating first leg in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Cavani, who has lost his place in the side in recent weeks, latched onto a superb pass over Chelsea's stretched defense from winger Angel Di Maria and slotted through the legs of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from a narrow angle in the 78th minute.
"I'm happy for Eddy. I've said it often, because people doubt his scoring abilities, but he's always shown he can score goals," PSG coach Laurent Blanc said. "He was going through a very difficult period and I hope that scoring this goal gives him his confidence back."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic put PSG ahead with a powerful free-kick in the 39th minute, only for Chelsea to level on the stroke of halftime with a rare goal from midfielder John Obi Mikel.
Courtois made a string of saves to keep Chelsea in contention heading into the second leg, and Spanish winger Pedro almost spoiled the home celebrations in injury time with a rasping drive into the side netting.
"This is a very strong PSG, so I think the performance of our players was very good," Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink said. "But we could have been more lethal in the four or five counters that we made."
PSG is unbeaten in domestic competition since March and in all competitions since a 1-0 reverse away to Real Madrid in the group stage on Nov. 3 — a run of 23 games.
Still, Blanc's side could regret a host of missed chances and Chelsea will fancy its chances at Stamford Bridge in three weeks' time.
"It's up to us to go and score at Stamford Bridge, we will get chances and we must take them," Blanc said.
Chelsea knocked out PSG in the quarterfinals two years ago and PSG won when they met at the same stage last season — with both ties settled on away goals.
PSG's preparations for the match were rocked by a scandal involving right back Serge Aurier, who was suspended by the club for insulting Blanc and some teammates in an expletive-filled online video.
But Blanc's side came out with plenty of energy, with midfielder Marco Verratti forcing a save from Courtois and Brazilian winger Lucas shooting wide.
Chelsea's makeshift defense — missing injured center-halves John Terry and Kurt Zouma — was often caught in two minds, whether to sit back or push up on the opposition.
Thankfully for the visitors, left back Cesar Azpilicueta cut out Di Maria's defense-splitting pass to Lucas as he was breaking into the area.
But the visitors almost took a shock lead in the 23rd only for PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to brilliantly push Diego Costa's header onto the crossbar following left back Abdul Baba Rahman's drifting cross.
PSG attacked next, but Ibrahimovic — having done well to peel off his marker — delivered a poor downward header that startled Courtois only because it was so weak.
Di Maria wasted another opportunity, but the breakthrough came after Lucas was fouled by Mikel some 25 meters out, and Ibrahimovic's powerful free-kick clipped Mikel's leg and wrong-footed Courtois.
Ibrahimovic's intense joy at scoring was understandable, too, given that he was harshly sent off during the first half in the second leg last season.
But PSG's defense, so rarely tested in the French league, paid the price for poor marking when Costa rose brilliantly above Ibrahimovic to flick on a corner, the ball fell to Mikel and he blasted past Trapp.
"I think the big regret tonight is conceding this goal right on halftime," Blanc said. "I was quite angry about that. We gave the ball away four or five times before their goal."
While Ibrahimovic scores for fun, it was Mikel's seventh goal in 361 career club appearances.
Chelsea's gleeful support chanted "You're not singing anymore" and from the restart, Chelsea could have scored again when Willian played in Costa. But he opened his foot too much, allowing Trapp to guess the angle of his shot.
Courtois was much busier, stopping efforts from Di Maria and Ibrahimovic and unlocking his giant frame to superbly palm away Di Maria's curling shot.
But Cavani pounced to hand Hiddink his first defeat since replacing Jose Mourinho in mid-December.
"Of course a defeat is never a good or nice feeling, but scoring away is always good," Hiddink said. "We are still in the race."
Jonas lifts Benfica
Lisbon AP
Jonas scored in added time to give Benfica a dramatic 1-0 win over 10-man Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League on Tuesday, heading home a free kick awarded after Domenico Criscito was shown a red card for the visitors.
Brazilian striker Jonas, Benfica's and the Portuguese league's top scorer, netted for the 26th time this season with a glancing header from a free kick in 91st minute.
That was awarded after Criscito picked up his second yellow card of the game for a foul on Andre Almeida.
Neither team really shone in the first leg, last 16 game at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon, though the win spared Benfica what looked likely to be a goalless draw and a tough time in Russia.
Zenit, despite not playing an official game since December due to its domestic league's winter layoff, produced a confident performance to keep Benfica at bay for 90 minutes.
Zenit's Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas rued what he saw as a missed chance to return to Russia with a blank scoresheet. "We'll need to create more chances than today," he said. "We held on well . . . We weren't as good in the second half."
"It was a fair result," Benfica coach Rui Vitoria said. "We wanted a bigger win, but we didn't concede a goal and that's important."
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Chelsea, Champions League, Zenit St. Petersburg, Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint-German, PSG, Befica