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Alex / October 31, 2019
Snow Peak 'St James's'
Innovative Japanese outdoor lifestyle brand Snow Peak expands into the European market with the launch of its flagship London store. A new three-story 4,300 square foot space in London's revitalised St James's Market showcases Snow Peak's high-quality camping equipment, gear, and clothing. VP Lisa Yamai would meet with leading outdoor and lifestyle publications before welcoming over 150 guests with a traditional Kagami-biraki ceremony.
Alex / January 18, 2019
NEW BALANCE 'THE RUNAWAY'
New Balance, the official sponsor of the Virgin Money London Marathon, has opened a pub 'The Runaway'. The pub opens 100 days before the Virgin Money London Marathon and will be a hub of activity for New Balance with running clubs on Tuesday and Thursdays, and a partnership with Strava on Sundays where runners can exchange their completed challenge for pints.
Follow: NewBalanceUK for further announcements.
NEW BALANCE '120 DAYS'
New Balance aims to celebrate the race before the race by motivating and celebrating runners throughout their 120 days of training. Following five runners on their journey to the marathon, the campaign will focus on the highs and lows of training and provide advice, motivation and inspiration by showing the gritty reality of training. 120 Days celebrates the sheer determination and commitment made by each and every runner ahead of the big day.
#EVERYBODYSRACE
Paul Ward for Stink Films / VMLY&R on behalf of New Balance UK
Alex / November 28, 2018
OHMME 'BREAKFAST & YOGA'
Hosted by founder Louis and teacher Adam, our all-male class, many new to yoga, were taken through a gentle sequence of asanas to start the day in the right way.
OHMME creates eco-conscious, high quality, men's yoga and casual wear engineered for movement. Louis created OHMME to encourage the practice of yoga and to challenge preconceived ideas of masculinity.
STANCE 'NEAL ST'
STANCE OPENS FIRST BRICKS-AND-MORTAR STORE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IN COVENT GARDEN, LONDON
Located on Neal Street, London the retail space was designed by an in-house team to feel like an extension of the brand's unique Southern California headquarters where art, innovation and creativity have inspired the brand throughout its 8 year history. The Covent Garden space will feature artwork by a select group of brand ambassadors, – known as Punks & Poets – including murals by Mark Oblow. The space spans two floors, with the retail environment housed on the main floor, and a basement level that is being transformed into a gallery and event space due to open early next year.
Images courtesy of STANCE Europe.
stanceeu.com | @stanceeurope #uncovertheuncommon
GARMIN 'FENIX 5 PLUS'
PROMOTIONAL FILM FOR THE FENIX 5 PLUS AND INREACH MINI FEATURING AMBASSADOR ANT MIDDLETON FOR GLOBAL SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELEVISION ADVERTISING. CREATIVE CONCEPT, FILM CREW HIRE, LOCATION SCOUTING AND PRODUCTION SERVICES. ALL IMAGERY BY ROLLING ROGUES.
https://beardedrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Garmin-2nd-edit-1080p.mp4
Alex / September 10, 2018
SPEEDO 'SWIM DEM CREW'
The Speedo x Swim Dem Crew partnership is a celebration of both communities; their 90th and 5th birthdays respectively. Swim Dem Crew embody the same values as Speedo when it comes to social swimming, diversity and safety in the water for all.
The partnership sees Swim Dem Crew joining Lewis Pugh on 'The Long Swim', teaching at free community swims at Tinside Lido in Plymouth, celebrating its 5th birthday and warming up for carnival at Shoreditch House and collaborating at a Swim Dem Crew community swim.
Swim Dem Crew join Lewis Pugh and Speedo UK at Tinside Lido
Photographer: Ollie Trenchard
https://beardedrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Swim-Dem-x-Shoreditch-House-x-Speedo-Instagram.mp4
Swim Dem Crew celebrate their 5th birthday party at Shoreditch House powered by Speedo UK
Videographers: Blackdog Films
Swim Dem Crew x Speedo UK goggles clinic at Aquatic Centre
Photographer: Seb Barros
Alex / August 31, 2018
SPEEDO 'SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE'
The final leg of Speedo's partnership with Lewis Pugh and Surfers Against Sewage in Dover
Lewis's challenge, supported by Speedo, started in Land's End at the beginning of July and saw him complete a total distance of 560km to highlight the need to protect oceans and British coastlines.
Speedo hosted its final beach clean in conjunction with marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage to emphasise the dangers of materials like plastic waste entering oceans.
Speedo's collaboration with Surfer's has seen:
5 beaches cleaned along the Southern coastline of the UK
319 volunteers mobilised to clear beaches and shorelines
405kg of marine plastic pollution removed from UK beaches
Photography by Air Fusion Media.
Alex / June 30, 2018
NEW BALANCE '247'
Available June 30th, New Balance launched the 247 on a world tour inspired by young culture. In the UK, the tour visited the city of Liverpool for an immersive experience. Guests were treated to a traditional ferry trip across the Mersey, stop at Lost Art skate shop, visit to home of Liverpool FC which included a terrace talk by Mundial magazine followed by boardroom dining experience, and finally a special night of music at local supporter's pub The Solly featuring exciting talent Tom Misch.
For more information about the new 247 and to connect, follow New Balance: @newbalanceuk; @nb_lifestyle; #lifein247; www.newbalance.co.uk
Alex / April 15, 2018
In 2018, to celebrate the legendary MADE 990, New Balance released 1,500 pairs of the limited edition MADE 990v4 "1982," which retailed at the original $100, available at pop-up locations in select cities across the globe on Saturday, 14 April. To mark the launch of the 990v4 in the UK, sneaker fans were invited to a New Balance and END. celebration on Ebor Street, London to enjoy a 'one day only' 990 exhibition curated by New Balance Gallery.
#990 #LEGENDS
Imagery courtesy of The Drop Date (paid media)
Alex / March 19, 2018
Last week New Balance teamed up with renowned British photographer and filmmaker Ewen Spencer to create an original photography exhibition in celebration of the brand's iconic 574 silhouette – Ewen's portraits on the night featured up and coming UK music artists, Conducta, Jesse James Salomon and Flohio. DJ sets from Mike Skinner and Star.One
Photography by: @sophographylondon
#NBGreyDay #NewBalance #NBLifestyle #574
Alex / February 26, 2018
STANCE 'FEEL 360'
https://beardedrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Stance-Feel360-teaser-trailer.mp4
Alex / July 12, 2017
INOV-8 'GET A GRIP'
Skiddaw is a mountain in the Lake District. It stands at almost a kilometre high, way over 3000ft, looming over the sleepy town of Keswick with Derwent Water at its foot. It is the first summit of a Bob Graham Round when undertaken in anti-clockwise direction. A Bob Graham is made up of 42 fell peaks, this being the first. In partnership with inov-8, we came up with the idea of climbing Skiddaw with a team of enthusiastic trail runners that had been invited from all around the world to experience a traditional fell race.
https://beardedrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Inov-8-Team-Get-A-Grip-Weekend-Short-Edit.mp4
Fell running is hard work for hard men and women. We spent the weekend with inov-8 in Staveley and Keswick, learning about the history of fell running from the team and regaled by stories from fell running legend Kenny Stuart. Kenny holds the record for the Skiddaw Fell Race. In 1984, Kenny managed to get up and down Skiddaw in record time, covering nearly 10 miles of trail, loose rock, scree and summit in a little over an hour (1:02). My personal goal for the weekend was to try to master the basics, navigate my way up and down the mountain and to not come last.
We were fortunate enough to have the help of several inov-8 ambassadors over the weekend. These were hardened runners from Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire; legs of steel, fearless in the face of downhill and uphill struggle. Ben Mounsey and Mary Wilkinson were with us for the weekend and were joined by local phenomenon Ben Abdelnoor to teach us how to run up and down a fell without burning out or taking a tumble. Thanks to their guidance and reassurance, our seven globe-trotters felt ready for whatever the mountain (and the weather) had to throw at us.
Race day upon us, it was time to gear up. inov-8 very kindly kitted us out with a choice of shoe – the newly incarnated TRAILROC (available in August), or the traditional fell running shoe of choice the X-TALON – and of course with all the gear we would need on the day including some awesome light-weight apparel. Disconcertingly there was also a mandatory kit list – emergency food, full waterproof gear, compass, map… Would we really need all that stash for an hour or so run? At the summit of Skiddaw it would become apparent as to why all this outdoor paraphernalia is a must.
A jovial and warm reception from the local Lakeland folk welcomed us at the start of the race in Fitz Park. They gave us a few pointers and knowing nods, before a 'ready, steady, go' set off a bolting group of men in short shorts, off the front through the woods to the foot of the ascent of Jenkin Hill. It was at this point I realised what I'd gotten myself into with the start of the steep zig-zag paths and then round the back of Little Man. Straight up. I hiked most of it, feebly transitioning to a momentary shuffle when encountering a spectator or a fellow runner to avoid the embarrassment of not being able to move my feet at any sort of cadence without coughing up a lung. But before I knew it I'd blindly, agonisingly reached the summit plateau, a rough, rocky, cold, unwelcoming place, shrouded in cloud and threateningly exposed. Ahhh, it dawned, this is why all the kit is necessary! And this is why the Keswick local I was following left the path about a mile before me into the cloud to skirt the mountain along the scree, thereby sheltering himself from the wind before rounding the cairn from a different angle. Clever fell runner…
What wasn't so clever was my descent back down to more temperate climes. Descent is perhaps too technical a term, more like a blind panic with the sole aim of keeping my shoulders above my knees and not plunging to a rocky demise. Somehow I made it. Somehow we all made it. A couple of the magnificent seven took a tumble, but then apparently this is not uncommon. A couple of hardy local club runners had done the same, and were even sporting a splash of claret, although not enough to stop them washing down cups of tea and kendal mint cake at the end of the day!
I can't thank inov-8 enough for their hospitality over the weekend. You can see from the video above (and the gallery below by James Carnegie) how much we all enjoyed the weekend and how much our guests from around the world threw themselves into it. I personally can't wait for my next fell. Maybe if I bag a few more peaks by way of reconnaissance, that Bob Graham mightn't be a pipe-dream? Meet you at Moot Hall?
Alex / June 9, 2017
STANCE 'EUROPEAN STREET ART TOUR'
Having breathed life into a category that had been ignored, taken for granted, looked over, and dismissed, Stance sought a way to show how their socks perform brilliantly whilst looking great. Combining running with street art perfectly demonstrates the position Stance takes at the intersection of creativity and performance.
The Stance European Steet Art Tour visited London, Copenhagen, Paris, Milan, Amsterdam and Hamburg bringing together street artists, running crews and musicians.
www.stance.com
www.youtube.com/stancesocks
www.instagram.com/stanceeurope
Alex / March 6, 2017
Stance 'Capture Trails'
Stance went to the trails to create some content for their Performance Run range. We partnered up with Runners Need and took runners to the beautiful trails of the Devil's Punchbowl, a natural wooded amphitheatre and fantastic backdrop. We invited pro-sports photographer James Carnegie who hosted a fabulous workshop with advanced tips and tricks.
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS ->


listing things that you appreciate also does wonders. Make a list on paper or electronically of anything and everything that you appreciate. You can focus on things that you appreciate about the situation you are in or list things you appreciate in general. Appreciation focuses your thinking on the good stuff.
PS: If needed, 10 Bonus Points for every "appreciation" about yourself! Whoooooohoooo!
Good one, Mike! How often we forget how good we have it, mired as we tend to get in our (trivial, really) troubles! I've just met the beast of worry face on in going through the exercise of projecting our financial situation, but he disappeared in a flash when I sat back and started to think about where we are, compared to 95% of others in this city, let alone the starving masses of Africa and India, teetering for their whole lives on the edge of real disaster!
Yes, Jay. And even the little things can help immensely. The color of a room, the smell of your favorite breakfast, the clothes you are wearing, any of the possessions you already have. Relationships with people help, too. The way your sweetheart laughs, the wonderfulness of kids when you lock eyes with them or when they are asleep. All of these things can be the good stuff.


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The Electron Pencil
"The blog has made Glab into a hip town crier, commenting on everything from local politics and cultural happenings to national and international events, all rendered in a colorful, intelligent, working-class vernacular that owes some of its style to Glab's Chicago-hometown heroes Studs Terkel and Mike Royko." — David Brent Johnson in Bloom Magazine
The Pencil
Category Archives: Pope Francis
African Elephants, Ernie Pyle, Extinction, Homophobia, Indiana State Legislature, Indianapolis Star, Owen V. Johnson, Peter Shankman, Pope Francis, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, RFRA, Selfies, Ted Cruz
Do They Follow Or Lead?
The Indy Star tells us this morning the "religious freedom" bill that passed the Indiana House yesterday is "controversial."
Um, let me correct the equanimous editor who concocted that headline. The bill passed 63-31, which, in political horserace terms, is a goddamned landslide. You see, it's obvious the entire nation is four-square against this gay marriage stuff and our esteemed statehouse representatives are merely reflecting that will of the people.
I mean, am I right? It couldn't be that our state legislators are woefully out of touch with the zeitgeist of the 21st Century, could it?
Here in Indiana?
Send Him To Hawaii
As of nine o'clock this AM, Owen V. Johnson has raised only $70 of the $3000 he's aiming for in his gofundme effort to get to Honolulu. He's hoping to get there so he can participate in a ceremony noting the 70th anniversary of the death of Indiana's own Ernie Pyle, the nation's most famous and beloved combat correspondent during World War II.
Johnson is a retired Indiana University prof. of journalism and is known as the nation's foremost expert on Pyle. He's been invited to give the commemoration address at the dedication of a new gravesite for the legendary Hoosier. The only things standing between him and the April ceremony are 4200 or so miles, airfare, hotel accommodations, cab fare once there, and maybe enough scratch for a few decent meals.
Owen Johnson
Johnson has set up the crowd funding page to cover his expenses. One of his biggest cheerleaders is City Council member Steve Volan who calls Pyle "one of the greatest Hoosiers who ever lived."
Pyle, born near Dana, Indiana, in 1900, served in the US Navy Reserve during World War I and attended IU after peace broke out. He studied journalism here and edited the IDS. After graduation, Pyle went to work for the Washington Daily News where he eventually became something of a travel correspondent. His editor there described his writings as having "a Mark Twain quality." His travel columns eventually were syndicated nationally.
Pyle became a war correspondent in 1942 and, unlike other journalists covering the action, he shunned hanging around the generals and commanders, preferring instead to hunker down in the mud with the grunt soldiers. His focus on the little guys endeared him to the nation's newspaper readers. In fact, he even suffered what used to be known popularly as "battle fatigue" and was officially termed "war neurosis." (It's now called PTSD.) For instance, he wrote of visiting the French town of Falaise immediately after a vicious battle there: "Everything is dead. The men, the machines, the animals — and you alone are left alive." Historian Rick Atkinson writes of Pyle's mindset after Paris was retaken in The Guns at Last Light, the third volume of his Liberation Trilogy about the Western European campaign:
Among the Allied casualties was Ernie Pyle. "If I ever was brave, I ain't any more," he wrote a friend. "I'm so indifferent to everything I don't even give a damn that I'm in Paris." The war had become "a flat, black depression without highlights, a revulsion of the mind and an exhaustion of the spirit." In a final column from Europe, he told his readers, "I have had all I can take for a while. I've been 29 months overseas since this war started; have written about seven hundred thousand words about it…. The hurt has finally become too great."
Pyle recharged his batteries in the US and then went back to covering the war in the Pacific. On the atoll island of Iejima, he was riding with a regiment commander in a Jeep when the vehicle came under fire from a distance machine gun nest. Pyle and the lieutenant colonel jumped into a ditch until the firing stopped. The two peeked over the rim of the ditch and Pyle, smiling, asked the colonel, "Are you alright?" At that moment, he caught a machine gun bullet in the left temple. He was killed instantly. The date was April 18th, 1945.
Pyle was buried first at the Army cemetery on Okinawa and then transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu. He was one of the very few civilians awarded the military's Purple Heart.
If you figure it's worth it to kick a few dollars into Johnson's kitty for the trip, do so. Go here.
Make It A Fair Fight
Al Jazeera America reported yesterday that the magnificent African elephant is nearly extinct. The cause? Poachers are killing the creatures for their tusks.
As of now, the elephants are just a few decades from disappearing in the wild. The world has lost some 80,000 members of the species to poachers in the last eight years. Man, I wish elephants could fire guns, just so they could have a chance against the bastards.
Boggling The Imagination
The foreign-born Ted Cruz utilizes a secret weapon in his stump speech, according to a BBC online magazine post. He used the word "imagine" some 38 times during his candidacy announcement yesterday at Liberty University in Virginia.
Political reporter Anthony Zurcher writes that Cruz's speaking style is a "cross between Atticus Finch and Tony Robbins."
Imagine This Man As President
Zurcher cites political strategist Frank Luntz re: "imagine":
'Imagine' is still the most powerful word in the English language because it is inspiring, motivating and has a unique definition for each person. When you want to inspire, imagine is the language vehicle.
In other words, "imagine" conjures up whatever the hell the listener wants to believe. Which pretty much encapsulates the strategy of too many of today's pols.
Me? I see Cruz as a lot like Robbins and not so much at all like Atticus.
Groupie Nuns
Sounds like a punk band name, no?
A gaggle of cloistered nuns almost knocked Pope Frankie over during his visit to a cathedral in Naples this past weekend. They charged him in an effort to touch, presumably, the hem of his garment.
On the other hand, one cardinal also in attendance shouted as the nuns surrounded the Pontiff, "They are going to eat him! Sisters! Sisters!"
Can the Catholic church get any psycho-sexually weirder?
Selfie Nonsense
I thought you'd get a kick out of this:
In the real world that I inhabit, this poor dope would either be sucked out of the cockpit and tumbled to his certain doom or the force of the near 600-mph wind drag would sever him at mid-thorax like a deli slicer cutting through a fresh Genoa salami. That is if he could even get that cockpit window open, which he couldn't because it's a pressurized cabin.
The kicker is there are enough people in this mad, mad world who believe this kind of bushwa to constitute, say, an entire political party.
Our World, Take It Or Leave It
From New York University prof and social media marketing guru Peter Shankman:
Credulity, Deepak Chopra, Elizabeth Gilbert, Elizabeth Warren, Kari Revolva, Malcolm Muggeridge, Oprah Winfrey, Paula (PJ) Chambers, Pope Francis, The Life You Want Weekend, Wealth & Privilege
The Rich: How They Get That Way
Kids, you have to read this smart — and smart-assed — work of art by a performance artist named Revolva (h/t to B-town's hoop queen Paula Chambers for pointing it out.) Revolva has made tsunami-high waves on the interwebs for busting the heretofore beloved Oprah Winfrey's chops.
Revolva & Friend
See, the world's most caring, powerful, brilliant, spiritual, all-knowing woman was throwing a great big narcissists ball in San Jose, CA this past weekend, charging up to a grand a ducat, and had asked Revolva to perform for free at it.
The SJ event was part of what the Oprah Outfit calls The Life You Want Weekend. It featured scads of self-help snake-oil peddlers, phony-baloney mystics, and shrewd entrepreneurs telling huge arenas of goggle-eyed woman how they control everything that happens to themselves and how they can attract good things by thinking sweet thoughts. The audience was cooed at and cosseted by the likes of bullshit artist Deepak Chopra and literary self-exalter Elizabeth Gilbert. For this, I repeat, many of the attendees shelled out a thou a ticket.
Kari Revolva writes in an open letter to Oprah (all sic):
The life I WANT does not involve mega tours netting unfathomable amounts of real, tangible money, while local artists are coached to accept all or most of their payment in the least stable form of currency: exposure. If the "trailblazing" I do today is being an upstream voice, then I'll at least make a bold statement about the life I DO want:
I want a life in which people are not asked to work for free — by people who can totally afford to pay.
Kari Revolva is an Oakland, California-based comedian/actor/dancer/writer/hoop artist who apparently does circus-ey things with the Hula Hoop and throws in some fire while she's at it. She got a call from one of Oprah's Harpo Studios producers asking her to work an outside stage at the last stop on the Big O Life You Want tour. She was shocked when she was told there'd be no pay. Not only that, she'd have to pay her own way from one end of San Francisco Bay to the other. Oh, and whatever else she had planned for that particular day that might have made her a dollar or two would be out of the question as she raced to donate her services to Oprah's money-printing machine.
Revolva's Math
The Life You Want Weekend last month was skewered in a New York Times style section piece written by Jennifer Conlin.
Revolva continues:
In one day, your arena tour (capacity around 18,000, each ticket $99 to $999) is raking in more money than most people will make in a year. In ten years. In their entire lives. And yet, your side stage, featuring local acts, is paying in that old tap-dancing, phantom promise of "exposure." As I was choking on my own tongue (stroke!), your producer also mentioned there was the added bonus of a ticket to the event. Unfortunately, her call coming just four days before your San Jose stop, I didn't have the whole weekend free. I also texted my landlord, and it turns out he does not accept rent payment in Oprah Winfrey tickets. Gah!
I've long gagged over the genuflecting America did before Oprah, whose daily TV love fest (she retired from her show in 2011) regularly featured junk science, quack medicine, self-help bushwa, and the likes of fraudster Mehmet Oz. Today her magazine (which, by her own order, displays her sacred mug on every cover) features a column written by Herself entitled "What I Know for Sure," which sounds just a tad presumptuous, no?
The sold-out arenas at which O put on her Weekends prove she's still a huge draw. As Malcolm Muggeridge once observed:
One of the peculiar sins of the 20th Century which we've developed to a very high level is the sin of credulity. It has been said that when human beings stop believing in God they believe in nothing. The truth is much worse: they believe in anything.
Now this might sound macabre, ghoulish, and even tinfoil-hat-ish but the question just occurred to me: Who's going to get shot at first, Elizabeth Warren or Pope Francis?
Warren & Bergoglio
[E. Warren photo by Tim Pierce; for more visit Tim's flickr page.]
I also include in the realm of possibilities food poisoning, trumped-up sex scandal, or — gulp! — plane crash.
Go ahead, laugh at me. I hope I'm wrong as wrong can be. I hope to hell I'm making an ass out of myself.
This mad, mad, mad, mad world lets troublemakers rock the boat — but only to a point. I'm guessing Warren and the Pope long ago went way past that point.
Abortion, Food Stamps, Homophobia, John Lennon, Jorge Bergoglio, Michael Moore, Pope Francis, Roman Catholic Church, SNAP Programs, Tea Party
Air. Hot.
Let 'em Eat Cake
One in seven Americans puts food on the table with the help of Food Stamps.
That's 14 goddamned percent of our brothers and sisters in this holy land.
Without Food Stamps, many millions of our brothers and sisters would go hungry or suffer insufficient nourishment.
The Republican House leadership, meanwhile, doesn't give a holy shit about its American brothers and sisters. In fact, the Tea Party-led party doesn't even consider all Americans to be related to them. Not when so many Americans are brown or black or equipped with ladyparts or, ugh, poor.
As you well know if you're a loyal reader, I call America a holy land only in the spirit of smart-assedness.
No Poors Allowed
We are not holy.
Girls, Ugh!
Speaking of holy, Pope Frankie has made a name for himself as a progressive. Well, relatively so, in comparison to his immediate predecessors and the boys club that constitutes the leadership councils of the Holy Mother Church.
Occupy The Vatican
He has, for instance, spoken eloquently about the poor and the growing inequality of wealth across the globe, and against war and our "culture of waste." Cool, so far.
Not long ago, he speculated that atheists who lead good lives might even gain entrance to heaven.
In July, il Papa shrugged and said, "Hey man, who am I to judge? in regard to folks who dig sex with members of, well, their own sex.
Cool again, eh?
But wait, there's more. A wide-ranging interview with Pope Francis reveals that the successor to St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ, the rock upon which the Roman Catholic Church stands, and the most powerful man in the world who wears a tiara pronounced that his outfit has become obsessed of late. "We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage, and the use of contraceptive methods…," he said. "It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time."
He also added, "I have never been a right winger."
It's as though good old Jorge Bergoglio is lobbying to become the Michael Moore of the sacred set.
The Pope is teeing a lot of people off, natch. Anti-abortionists in this holy land at this very moment are searching for evidence that Bergoglio is a socialist, a commie and, for that matter, not even born into the Catholic religion. I misplaced the link but I'm pretty sure someone, somewhere, has accused him of producing a phony baptismal record.
As for the gay thing, well, scads of grown men who have taken vows never to have sex with women and who wear skirts are tut-tutting and wagging their fingers at the Pope. He admits, "I have been reprimanded."
Nevertheless, he still holds the crozier. Hell, you'd think the Church is a mere rubber-stamp vote away from ordaining women as priests.
Whoa. Not so fast.
Either because he is against the idea or he can read in the tea leaves that his cabinet and the rank and file among the priesthood might rise as one against him were he to come out for the ordination of women, Pope Francis said in the interview that there's no chance women will become mid-level managers within the Catholic corporation. Unsaid, of course, is the understanding that they'll never, ever, ever reach the boardroom. "The door," he said, "is closed."
Now we know: The worst sin a Catholic can commit is to possess a vagina.
Annie Corrigan, Fast Food Workers Strike, John Kerry, Labor Movement, Labor Unions, Major League Baseball Players Association, McDonald's, MLBPA, Pope Francis, The Dick Cavett Show, Vietnam Veterans Against The War, WFIU
Your Daily Hot Air
Hey kids, just a few quick hits today because I'm in a hurry.
Union Now!
How cool is it that fast food workers in selected cities are going out on a series of one-day strikes this week?
The Big Mike answer and Official Pencil Policy Statement? Very cool.
NYC McDonald's Workers On Strike Yesterday
Ever since Saint Ronald Reagan institutionalized this holy land's policy of crushing labor unions by decertifying PATCO back in 1981, the labor movement has slid inexorably nearer to irrelevance. Dig: by general acclamation, the single most powerful workers group in the United States is the Major League Baseball Players Association. That is, a group of workers whose entry-level annual base pay is for the 2013 season is $490,000. That comes out to cool $30,625 per two-week pay period for the newest, rawest, and, perhaps, least productive worker in the business. Try to find a currency exchange that'll cash that check.
But the MLBPA has consistently beaten the major league baseball owners at the bargaining table for the last 40 years. Baseball is the only major pro sports operation that doesn't have a hard salary cap and big league ballplayers are entitled to the most liberal free agency system in all sports. Oh, and all contracts are guaranteed, meaning if a player is cut by a team, the team still owes him all the money due through the end on his contract. Pretty sweet, eh?
Of course, most things are pretty sweet for the 1% in this great nation.
Then there's the poor slob who's pouring your cup of McDonald's coffee, maybe even as we speak. He earns minimum wage. Which, as any kindergartner can calculate, is not enough to support a family of one, much less two, three, or more.
The big cheeses at Mickey Ds, Burger King, Wendy's, and all those other salt-and-fat emporia are wringing their hands and dabbing at their eyes with their Kleenexes [boxes of which they purchased at drug-and-convenience stores that also pay their "valued associates" that same princely minimum wage], trying to convey to us through their subs that their businesses will crumble if they have to pay out a penny more in wages.
I for one would be more than happy to pay a dollar extra per Big Mac just so's the single mom flipping the horsemeat over a hot griddle can buy her kid[s] some shoes.
And if you wouldn't, let me be the first to inform you that you are a jerk.
The Pipes, The Pipes Are Calling
This needs to be said and I'll be the first: Annie Corrigan of WFIU carries the best set of pipes in all of Indiana broadcasting.
The Voice Of Bloomington
She is the consummate professional and her joyous, dulcet lilt wakes me in the morning like the call of the cardinal.
My only fear is she'll soon follow the scent of real b-casting money to a larger market, a reward of which she's more than deserving. Oh, Annie girl…!
Pope Frankie made a big splash yesterday by holding an impromptu press conference on the airplane as his entourage high-tailed it out of Brazil.
Among other things, the new Vatican princeps said he wasn't about to judge anyone for being a homosexual and that women ought to play a larger role within the Church.
Now, before we all start throwing huzzahs around, let's remember it is still the policy of the of the Roman Catholic executive committee that homosexual acts are sins and women shall never be priests.
Here's my Latin response to the putative groundbreaking pronouncements by the Pontiff: Facta, non verba.*
[* In English, Actions, not words.]
America Grows Up
Back to coolness. How cool is it that John Kerry is the 68th Secretary of State of the United States of America?
Kerry, The Antiwar Protester
Honestly! Kerry was one of the faces of the anti-war movement back when this nation was debasing itself and committing crimes against humanity in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in the 1960s and '70s. In April, 1971, Kerry testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the atrocities and general wrongheadedness of our excellent adventure in Southeast Asia. Later, he and other vets marched to the US Capitol and threw their service decorations at the place. At the time, Kerry said, "I'm not doing this for any violent reasons, but for peace and justice, and to try and make this country wake up once and for all."
President Nixon and his gang of gasbags would have thrown a party had Kerry, then one of the leaders of Vietnam Veterans against the War, been run over by a bus. It's a shocker that one of the rat-fuckers didn't get that bright idea and try to recruit a down-on-his-luck bus driver to carry out the contract.
And now, Kerry is in charge of US foreign policy. We've still got a lot to be ashamed of and apologetic for in America, but we've come a long way, baby.
[BTW: Speaking of cool once again, imagine that a national talk show would have a civilized, rational, intellectual debate between representatives of opposing sides of a hot-button issue. The Dick Cavett Show was analogous to, say, today's Conan or Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. I don't want to slip into that old Things-were-better-in-my-day routine but, jeez, at least some of TV acknowledged that the average American had an organ in her or his skull.]
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The Fix Analysis
These gruesome new Khashoggi revelations reinforce the ugly bargain Trump has struck with Saudi Arabia
By Aaron Blake
Senior political reporter, writing for The Fix
The Trump administration has made a calculated decision not to retaliate very much against Saudi Arabia for the assassination of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Citing the importance of its alliance with the Saudis and the economic benefit of selling arms to them, President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have also declined to judge Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman harshly — even though the CIA concluded he ordered the killing.
A new report lays out in gruesome detail just what they are looking past.
The report from a United Nations special rapporteur, Agnes Callamard, details what happened before Khashoggi's murder. It notes that every expert consulted says it is "inconceivable" the crown prince wasn't at least aware of the operation.
Here are a few key passages that drive home the nature of the bargain the Trump administration has struck:
Khashoggi's false sense of security
A previous visit to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 28 apparently left Khashoggi with a mistaken sense that he could return safely:
He spent around 45 minutes inside and was treated very well. Ms. Hatice [Cengiz, his fiancee] recalled that Mr. Khashoggi "left the consulate very happy. He felt relieved and did not hesitate going there again." Consular officials he spoke to told him that he would need to return on 2 October 2018 to obtain the marriage document.
The plot was launched almost immediately
Key parts are bolded:
Later that same day, at 19:08, Mr. Mohammed Alotaibi, Saudi Arabia's Consul General in Istanbul, spoke to an individual (AA). It is not clear that all of this conversation was captured on the tape made available to the Special Rapporteur. However, AA was to be heard saying that the "head of state security called me and they have an assignment. They are asking for anyone from your delegation for a special issue. They are asking for someone who is in your protocol. He said that they need a person from your protocol for a special and a top secret mission. He can even get permission if required."
At 20:04, Consul General Alotaibi then spoke to AMA, a member of the Consular staff. AMA asked "Is there anything?" Mr. Alotaibi replied "Yes, there is an urgent training in Riyadh. They called me from Riyadh. They told me they asked for an official who worked on protocol. But the issue is top secret. Nobody should know at all. Even none of your friends will be informed."
'Joints will be separated'
Just minutes before Khashoggi would arrive on Oct. 2, two Saudi agents — including a forensic doctor from the Saudi Ministry of Interior — discussed how they would dismember him:
At 13:02, inside the Consulate, Mr. [Maher Abdulaziz] Mutreb and Dr. [Salah Mohammed] Tubaigy had a conversation just minutes before Mr. Khashoggi entered. Mr. Mutreb asked whether it will "be possible to put the trunk in a bag?" Dr. Tubaigy replied "No. Too heavy." He expressed hope that it would "be easy. Joints will be separated. It is not a problem. The body is heavy. First time I cut on the ground. If we take plastic bags and cut it into pieces, it will be finished. We will wrap each of them." "Leather bags." There was a reference to cutting skin. Dr. [sic] Tubaigny also expressed concerns: "My direct manager is not aware of what I am doing. There is nobody to protect me." At the end of the conversation, Mr. Mutreb asked whether "the sacrificial animal" has arrived. At 13:13, a voice said "he has arrived." In these recordings heard by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Khashoggi's name was not mentioned.
'We will anesthetize you'
Once Khashoggi was in the consulate, an altercation quickly ensued, and Khashoggi apparently soon referenced "kidnapping" and then being given drugs. A Saudi person responds, "We will anesthetize you":
At 13:22, Mr. Mutreb asked whether Mr. Khashoggi had phones. Mr. Khashoggi replied "Two phones." "Which brands?" "Apple phones." "Send a message to your son." "Which son? What should I say to my son?" Silence. "You will type a message – let's rehearse; show us." "What should I say? See you soon? I can't say kidnapping." "Cut it short." "Take off your jacket." "How could this happen in an embassy?" "I will not write anything." "Cut it short." "I will not write anything." "Type it, Mr. Jamal. Hurry up. Help us so that we can help you because at the end we will take you back to Saudi Arabia and if you don't help us you know what will happen at the end; let this issue find a good end." At 13:33, Mr. Khashoggi said "there is a towel here. Are you going to give me drugs?" "We will anesthetize you."
'The sound of a saw'?
After a struggle, one man says, "Did he sleep?" — which the report and Turkish intelligence link to the possible injection of a sedative. Shortly after, the report references the sound of a saw — perhaps the bone saw the Saudis were reported to have brought with them:
Sounds of movement and heavy panting could be heard in the remainder of the recordings. The sound of plastic sheets (wrapping) could also be heard. Turkish Intelligence concluded that these came after Mr. Khashoggi's death while the Saudi officials were dismembering his body. The Turkish Intelligence assessment identified the sound of a saw at 13:39. The Special Rapporteur and her delegation could not make out the sources of the sounds they heard.
An apparent ridding of evidence, while wearing what looked like Khashoggi's clothes
At 15:53, CCTV cameras recorded Mr. [Mustafa Mohammed] Almadani accompanied by Mr. [Saif Saad] Alqahtani exit from the Consulate's back door. Mr. Almadani wore what appeared to be Mr. Khashoggi clothes. Mr. Alqahtani had a white plastic bag with him. The two got into a taxi and traveled to the Sultanahmet District. At 16:13, they entered the Blue Mosque where Mr. Almadani changed clothes. At 16:29 they got into a taxi that took them to the Levent Metro Station. Somewhere near the metro station they threw away the plastic bag into a garbage bin. They returned to the Movenpick Hotel at 18:09.
The cleanup — complete with burning things
According to Turkish Intelligence, on 3 October, Consulate staff was prevented to go to the second floor of the Consulate. Around 11:00, the inner part of the Consulate was cleaned. Between 16:00 and 21:00, CCTV cameras recorded a fire in a barrel in the backyard of the Consulate. The Consul General did not leave the residence the whole day.
The next day, more burning:
At 09:35 on October 4, the Turkish authorities detected smoke coming from the backyard of the Consulate. At 16:05, Saudi consular staff were observed burning papers in a barrel in the backyard of the Consulate.
And then journalists were told the consulate's cameras hadn't recorded:
During the visit, the journalists learned that although the building was equipped with cameras, they failed to record anything the day Mr. Khashoggi disappeared. The Consul General added that "the idea of kidnapping a Saudi citizen by a diplomatic mission is something that should not be put forward in the media." He also said "the consulate was equipped with cameras but they did not record footage."
The crown prince 'condoned' such actions
The report emphasizes that its role is not to declare whether Mohammed is guilty of anything, but rather whether there is "credible evidence warranting further investigation." It says there is and that the crown prince has condoned such actions previously:
Academic research on Saudi Arabia tends to suggest that the level of control exerted by the Crown Prince over the management of the country's political, security and economic affairs is extremely high. The Crown Prince is less subject to the constraints that historically distributed power amongst the Royal Family and the Court.
The operation against Mr. Khashoggi has to be understood in relation to this organized and coordinated crack-down, one that included repeated unlawful acts of torture and physical harm. At a bare minimum, Crown Prince condoned this behavior and allowed the repetition and escalation of these crimes. He took no action to prevent or punish those responsible. The Crown Prince willingly took the risk that other crimes, such as the killing of Mr. Khashoggi, would be committed, whether or not he directly ordered the specific crime.
'Every expert' said the crown prince had to be aware of the mission
Evidence points to the 15-person mission to execute Mr. Khashoggi requiring significant government coordination, resources and finances. While the Saudi government claims that these resources were put in place by Ahmed Asiri, every expert consulted finds it inconceivable that an operation of this scale could be implemented without the Crown Prince being aware, at a minimum, that some sort of mission of a criminal nature, directed at Mr. Khashoggi, was being launched.
It also emphasizes that the Saudis' "destruction of evidence could not have taken place without the Crown Prince's awareness." The report says such destruction of evidence was "in violation of the State obligations under international law."
Trump has declined to blame the crown prince. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump said in a bizarre statement. The statement came even after The Post reported the CIA had said the crown prince ordered the killing.
'Win where we won': As Trump's campaign boasts of going on offense, its efforts appear squarely aimed at defending his 2016 map
A divided House votes for resolution condemning Trump's racist remarks
Ocasio-Cortez downplays tensions between Pelosi and 'the Squad'
Analysis The Daily 202: John Paul Stevens, dead at 99, leaves a legacy of checking presidential power. Will it endure?
Opinion Trump's tweets are a distraction for something else he doesn't want us to see


text:
Here Are All of the Exciting Details We Have About the Lizzie McGuire Reboot So Far
What Is the Lizzie McGuire Reboot About?
5 September 2019 by Corinne Sullivan
Everyone's favourite butterfly clip aficionado is returning to TV for the first time in over 15 years, and this is exactly what dreams are made of. As part of all the awesome programming coming to Disney+, Lizzie McGuire is hitting the small screen in a new reboot, with Hilary Duff reprising her role as the titular teen (who's now, of course, all grown up). As excited as we are to have the incredibly quotable series back in our lives, we also have an overwhelming number of questions. Did Lizzie and Gordo ever get together? Is Ethan Craft still hot? Does Lizzie still have an animated alter ego who wears orange platform sandals, jean capris, and a pink tank top? We need answers, people!
Filming hasn't started for the series yet and it's still in development, but we do know that the show will pick up with Lizzie on the cusp of 30. "The conversations have gone on for a couple of years and the timing just didn't seem right and now Lizzie is turning 30," Duff explained to People, later adding, "I think it's the right time to set back in and have her go along with you in your 30s and all the fun times, and all of the big monumental moments, and all of the challenges that you're faced with." As much as we loved Lizzie at 13, we have a feeling that we're going to love her even more when she's 30, flirty, and thriving.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie Soundtrack Will Always Be What Dreams Are Made Of
And though we always imagined Lizzie pursuing a career in fashion, the reality is pretty close: in the new series, Lizzie is living in Brooklyn, NY, and working as an apprentice to an interior designer. Duff even told Good Morning America exactly what viewers can expect from the first episode. As well as having her dream job, Lizzie will also have a pretty dreamy man in her life — though unfortunately, it doesn't sound as though that man is Gordo. "She has a gorgeous fiancé who is this chef at this cool Soho restaurant," she said. "She has a cute little apartment in Brooklyn and everything is going her way and she's celebrating her 30th birthday with all of her friends."
But if you believe she has a picture-perfect plan, then she's got you fooled, 'cause she only does the best she can. During her GMA appearance, Duff went on to reveal that Lizzie "gets some pretty big news at the end of the episode," but whether that news will affect her love life or her professional life (or both!) is unclear. The actress also told Entertainment Weekly and PeopleTV that Lizzie will only be an apprentice "at the start of the show" and that she "probably isn't going to stay [in New York City] for very long." But there will be some consistency in Lizzie's life: Duff confirmed to Variety that her sassy cartoon sidekick will also be returning and that, most importantly, animated Lizzie will have the same iconic outfit.
We don't know yet whether any other original cast members will be reprising their roles, but we do think Lizzie McGuire fans won't be disappointed. While Duff didn't reveal any specifics about the cast on GMA, she did imply that we might see some familiar faces. "There's a lot of surprises in store," she said, "and I think everyone's dreams are going to be fulfilled by going on the journey of the show." Hurry up and get here, 2020!
Image Source: Everett Collection
Disney PlusLizzie McGuireHilary DuffTV
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Missing the Chaos of Westworld? Season 3 Will Officially Premiere in March


text:
package pl.kalisz.kamil.preffer.store;

import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.Set;

/**
 * Utils for managing {@link ContextKey}
 */
public class ContextKeyUtils
{
    /**
     * @param keysToFilter list of keys to filter
     * @param context to filter keys
     * @return filtered subset of keys
     */
    public static Set<ContextKey> filterByContext(Collection<String> keysToFilter, String context)
    {
        Set<ContextKey> contextKeys = new HashSet<>();

        for(String potentialContextKey : keysToFilter)
        {
            try
            {
                ContextKey contextKey = ContextKey.fromContextKeyString(potentialContextKey);
                if(contextKey.getContext().equals(context))
                {
                    contextKeys.add(contextKey);
                }
            }
            catch (IllegalArgumentException e)
            {
                // we do nothing it's normal that not all keys are ContextKeys
            }
        }

        return contextKeys;
    }

    /**
     * @param contextKeys collection of ContextKey to extract raw keys
     * @return set of raw keys extracted from ContextKeys
     */
    public static Set<String> getRawKeys(Collection<ContextKey> contextKeys)
    {
        Set<String> rawKeys  = new HashSet<>();
        for(ContextKey contextKey : contextKeys)
        {
            rawKeys.add(contextKey.getRawKey());
        }
        return rawKeys;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Meet Deborah Han, a Concept Artist for Cookie Jam Blast. Deborah designs the stunningly colorful maps that players navigate as they progress through the game. Below, Deborah explains the creative process behind creating each map and even reveals her favorite location.
It was a no brainer for me. Before I began, it was obvious that Jam City was an up and coming mobile gaming studio that was expanding rapidly with games like Cookie Jam and Panda Pop receiving great recognition. The game genre and art style were well suited to what I knew I could offer. These reasons made Jam City a very attractive company.
I create map concepts for Cookie Jam Blast and am the first base person in the map production pipeline. Besides the actual drawing and coloring of these maps, my work includes contributing ideas for map themes, gathering information on it, and finding reference images that are conducive for creating an amazingly rich dessert map.
Describe Cookie Jam Blast's map creation process from conception to delivery.
The first thing we do is select a theme for the map (country, fairy tale, era, etc.) and flesh out a 2D concept illustration that gets sent over to our 3D team for it to be sculpted and rendered to a complete finish before it's submitted for in game use.
Deborah's favorite location is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Stage 46, levels 881 – 900.
What do you think keeps players returning to Cookie Jam Blast?
It's just a really fun game that's easy to pick up and play. It's thoughtfully perfected, has solid game play mechanics, highly polished art, and adorable characters. Each discipline of our game is at optimal level and converge quite successfully. This keeps our players entertained and satisfied.
Where do you draw inspiration for the art you put into Cookie Jam Blast?
I draw inspiration from anywhere and everywhere, though I get a lot of it from my "Art of Wreck it Ralph" book, visual development art on Pinterest, and Mickey's Toontown theme land at Disneyland, which I use for brilliant and dynamic shape language.
I get to create worlds that shape the aesthetics and artistic vision of a product that reaches millions of people on a daily basis.
What makes Jam City stand out as a trailblazer in the gaming industry?
Jam City has a massive amount of collective talent and experience at every level of our development team and the standard of quality is never compromised. Jam City also promotes a healthy work-life balance and I think that effort goes a long way. When you know you're cared for, you want to do your best even more and that, in turn, produces great results.
Stress kills creativity. I work on maps everyday. It's absolutely crucial that I pace myself so that I don't get tired of what I do or get stuck too long in any part of the creation process. This means I have to master a work flow that keeps the process smooth, fluid, and fun!
Sustainability is critical in being your best and delivering your best work possible. To successfully avoid burnouts, do the obvious things that keep you fresh, healthy, and inspired.


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Find the right agent, right here! Cucompare – Northern Ireland's estate agent comparison site.
Compare estate agents fees and services then choose the agent that's right for you.
3 Simple Steps to compare estate agents fees and start saving money. The smart way to choose your agent!
Its Easy & it's FREE.
Simply enter a few details about your property – select "Get Quote" – we fly the nest and bring back quotes from lots of local agent's. Instantly!
Anonymously review your quotes from local estate agents and compare their fees and services. You will continue to receive quotes from agents for up to 72 hours. Relax!
With a single click, connect with the agents you like, and pass on the ones you don't. Your selected agents will contact you, arrange a free valuation and confirm their quoted fees and services.
At Cucompare, we compare estate agents fees, allowing you to quickly find the right agent. At the right price. All with just a couple of clicks. No more phone calls!!
Why wait days before you know what an agent is going to charge you? You'll have your first quotes in minutes, right here!!
Good estate agents can be worth their weight in gold, whether it's the new kid on the block or the established practice. And with so many agents on the high-street and now online, have you got the time to speak to them all? How do you choose?
At Cucompare we provide a time saving and easy to use platform so you can compare local estate agents fees. Instantly! We compare their services and allow them to demonstrate why they are right for you. You can even request your valuation right now! Like our little "cucou" bird logo, we fly the nest then bring the agents to you! …Easy!
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I actually couldn't believe how simple and easy to use this was, Hassel free, no phone calls – click of a button and cucompare will do the rest – SIMPLE! I even got a mortgage quote too!
below to add your property and have the best local agents contact you when you are ready. Oh yes, and it's Free!
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It can be difficult to figure out how to approach older games. On one hand, you have to respect the era in which they were created. Sometimes, however, a game can be bad even for that era. The opposite of course is also true, a really good game can transcend the period it was made in, and have a timeless quality. Max Payne is one of the latter — and then some. The first game came out well over seventeen years ago and was ported to consoles the following year. Even just playing briefly, it is mind-blowing how well the game holds up nearly two decades later, and for that matter is just a well-designed noir story to boot. Max Payne is nothing if not masterful.
Max Payne follows the story of — of course — Max Payne; a cop who ends up becoming an undercover DEA agent in order to find the source of the Valkyr epidemic, which killed his wife and baby. The game is best described as a shot glass of noir tropes. A hard boiled and cynical detective who's alone in the world, first-person narration, a femme fatale, and tangling with criminal conspiracies. The cutscenes are also told in comic book panel style. While that's not necessarily an original choice (Metal Gear Solid and Infamous are among the other games that have done the same), but it makes for an interesting one in an already stylish game. The game also peppers its already noir-tastic world with Norse mythology references; which, honestly, only make the game more appealing when you get to draw lines between the game's events and the Norse stories on which they're based. All told, the game's world is a very unique one in an industry that's happy to recycle over and over again.
The game's combat system holds up surprisingly well too. While the game predates cover shooters like Gears of War, Max Payne still gives you an even playing field. The combat mechanics of this one owe more to John Woo films than anything else. The shooting is very much about style, and the Bullet Time mechanic allows you to slow down time in order to see where bullets will hit you, better aim at enemies, and best of all: dive face first towards them in bombastic glory. You're also given a pretty healthy arsenal of weapons and multiple ways to use them. Thankfully, dual-wielding (which also appears) isn't difficult to use either. There's plenty of room given for you to use your loadout as you please, the rule Max Payne adheres to the most is fun first.
It's also worth noting that Max Payne is a very brisk game. You go through multiple setpieces very quickly, as well as advance through the story at a healthy pace at well. While it's easy to worry about game length these days, a stretched out shooter can make for a boring game experience. In that respect, I really do appreciate that Max Payne has an eye for keeping the show going, while still allowing the player to bask in the world its created.
So at this point it just has to be said: yes, Max Payne is absolutely worth playing. While the only drawback is that on the PC, it needs mods to play on a modern computer (cue the PC master race). Otherwise, it's a one-of-a-kind experience. You're not going to find many games that merge hard-boiled noir with Norse mythology after all.


text:
Letter: West Kelowna tax increase doesn't make sense
The budget was prepared based on a three per cent property tax increase.
The 2019 West Kelowna budget's capital, operational, and supplemental full-time employee requests produced financial approvals to be taken to taxpayers at a public open house Feb. 20 at the West Kelowna Lions Hall.
The budget was prepared based on a three per cent property tax increase. Almost all recommended capital items, operational budget requests and supplemental full-time requests for 19 additional employees were approved, along with an additional $7.3 million for reserves. The majority of that amount ($7 million) is going towards a future city hall building.
So our taxes are paying for a building we do not even have the benefit of using. This is because the council refuses to build a city hall on currently owned city land (11 acres at Bartley Road and Stevens Road) and instead want to purchase more land in what it calls the downtown core, Westbank Centre. But the budget, with a three per cent increase, had funds remaining to be spent or allocated of around $100,000.
So what did council do after they learned all of the requests for operations, capital, new full-time employees and utilities would be totally covered by a three per cent tax increase with about $100,000 left over? They talked about increasing the tax to 3.88 per cent or even 4.88 per cent.
READ MORE: Chance for residents to talk with West Kelowna Council about budget
Coun. Stephen Johnston (who in the end still voted for the increase) asked the Mayor Gordon Milsom where he came up with that tax increase figure. The mayor stated the following: "I just want to get away from the three per cent and I like eights."
Council voted to raise the increase to 3.88 per cent with no real rationale except it may want to spend it on something and it's only a few dollars more for taxpayers.
This city council is hoping you are not paying attention. It is planning on blaming the additional .88 per cent increase on the new (provincial) medical (tax), but those costs were already included in the proposed three per cent increase.
Good luck West Kelowna. The new council is spending much more of your money than you realize.
Everything the city spends is from taxpayers' pockets. Did you get a 3.88 per cent increase in your wage or pension?
Robert McLeod
West Kelowna
Letter: Pickles and ice cream? Delicacies popular with pregnant women
Letter: Money buys untrustworthy politicians


A complex and wellbalanced sim thats troubled by a severe lack of long-term objectives and dearth of character.
I'm losing more than $10,000 a minute. My citizens hate me because I've had to sell all the Ferris wheels. They leave in droves and I spiral further and further into debt. In city-building sim Cities XL 2011, it's easy to lose, but you can never really win. You have to work hard to turn a profit and keep everyone happy.
You build your cities by sketching out districts (housing, shopping and industrial) onto a sizeable map. Citizens are divided into four classes: Unskilled Workers, Skilled Workers, Executives and Elites. While they all have the same basic needs, they also require good access to specific places of work. Offices will need a mix of Skilled Workers and Executives, while heavy industry demands a lot of Unskilled proles to keep the factory fires burning.
As citizens flock to your paradise, more ambitious projects such as super-hotels and huge landmarks become available. These require a lot of workers on all tiers to run, and plenty of cash to support, but will keep the population happy.
Maintaining your citizens' happiness also means providing public services such as schools, hospitals and leisure centres. A clever series of visual overlays shows a hot and cold view of your map, flagging up any areas that are sorely in need of some attention. The key to avoiding a horrible financial crash is to expand slowly and keep an eye on the often overly fragile economy.
Cities XL had a multiplayer element that let players link their cities online for a subscription fee. This has been dropped for Cities XL 2011, but there's a similar singleplayer feature. Every city you build takes its place on a spinning globe map. These cities can be linked so that they're able to trade resources with each other. This allows your richer cities to aid your failing ones, adding a good incentive to start new towns.
It's a pretty game, too. You can hover far above your town and zoom all the way down to street level, but the roads themselves are static and lacking in character. Poor, crimeridden areas don't become rundown. Prosperous business areas don't grow or thrive. I'm told I need fire stations but I've never seen a fire. The only indications of success and failure are the dollar and population figures at the top of the screen, and the occasional pop-up alert.
That's the trouble with Cities XL 2011. It's efficient and handsome, and satisfying to a point, but is ultimately soulless. Victory means creating a massive city in which nothing is really happening. It can be an absorbing challenge to get to that stage, and the ability to link your cities adds some longevity, but I could never shake the feeling that I wasn't so much building a new place as completing a mathematical exercise. Nevertheless, it's a solid enough sim for those eager to fill a SimCity-shaped hole.


text:
package com.sdl.odata.edm.model;

import com.sdl.odata.api.edm.model.Facets;
import com.sdl.odata.api.edm.model.PrimitiveType;
import com.sdl.odata.api.edm.model.Property;
import org.junit.Test;

import java.lang.reflect.Field;
import java.util.List;

import static org.hamcrest.CoreMatchers.is;
import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;
import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.verifyNoMoreInteractions;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;

/**
 * Unit tests for {@link PropertyImpl}.
 *
 */
public class PropertyImplTest {

    private String testStringField;
    private List<Integer> testIntegerListField;
    private long[] testLongArrayField;

    @Test
    public void testSetTypeNameNonCollection() throws NoSuchFieldException {
        Field field = PropertyImplTest.class.getDeclaredField("testStringField");

        Property property = new PropertyImpl.Builder()
                .setName("propname")
                .setTypeName(PrimitiveType.STRING.getFullyQualifiedName())
                .setIsNullable(false)
                .setJavaField(field)
                .setDefaultValue("x")
                .setMaxLength(Facets.MAX_LENGTH_MAX)
                .setPrecision(5L)
                .setScale(10L)
                .setSRID(1234L)
                .setIsUnicode(false)
                .build();

        assertThat(property.getName(), is("propname"));
        assertThat(property.getTypeName(), is(PrimitiveType.STRING.getFullyQualifiedName()));
        assertNull("Element type name should be null for non-collection", property.getElementTypeName());
        assertFalse(property.isCollection());
        assertFalse(property.isNullable());
        assertThat(property.getJavaField().getName(), is(field.getName()));
        assertThat(property.getDefaultValue(), is("x"));
        assertThat(property.getMaxLength(), is(Facets.MAX_LENGTH_MAX));
        assertThat(property.getPrecision(), is(5L));
        assertThat(property.getScale(), is(10L));
        assertThat(property.getSRID(), is(1234L));
        assertFalse(property.isUnicode());
    }

    @Test
    public void testSetTypeNameCollection() throws NoSuchFieldException {
        Field field = PropertyImplTest.class.getDeclaredField("testIntegerListField");

        String typeName = "Collection(" + PrimitiveType.INT32.getFullyQualifiedName() + ")";

        Property property = new PropertyImpl.Builder()
                .setName("propname")
                .setTypeName(typeName)
                .setJavaField(field)
                .build();

        assertThat(property.getName(), is("propname"));
        assertThat(property.getTypeName(), is(typeName));
        assertThat(property.getElementTypeName(), is(PrimitiveType.INT32.getFullyQualifiedName()));
        assertTrue(property.isCollection());
        assertThat(property.getJavaField().getName(), is(field.getName()));
    }

    @Test
    public void testSetTypeNameFromJavaField() throws NoSuchFieldException {
        Field field = PropertyImplTest.class.getDeclaredField("testStringField");

        TypeNameResolver typeNameResolver = mock(TypeNameResolver.class);
        when(typeNameResolver.resolveTypeName(String.class)).thenReturn(PrimitiveType.STRING.getFullyQualifiedName());

        Property property = new PropertyImpl.Builder()
                .setName("propname")
                .setTypeFromJavaField(field, typeNameResolver)
                .setJavaField(field)
                .build();

        // TypeNameResolver must have been called with the expected argument
        verify(typeNameResolver).resolveTypeName(String.class);
        verifyNoMoreInteractions(typeNameResolver);

        assertThat(property.getTypeName(), is(PrimitiveType.STRING.getFullyQualifiedName()));
        assertNull("Element type name should be null for non-collection", property.getElementTypeName());
        assertFalse(property.isCollection());
        assertThat(property.getJavaField().getName(), is(field.getName()));
    }

    @Test
    public void testSetTypeNameFromJavaFieldWithArray() throws NoSuchFieldException {
        Field field = PropertyImplTest.class.getDeclaredField("testLongArrayField");

        TypeNameResolver typeNameResolver = mock(TypeNameResolver.class);
        when(typeNameResolver.resolveTypeName(long.class)).thenReturn(PrimitiveType.INT64.getFullyQualifiedName());

        Property property = new PropertyImpl.Builder()
                .setName("propname")
                .setTypeFromJavaField(field, typeNameResolver)
                .setJavaField(field)
                .build();

        // TypeNameResolver must have been called with the expected argument
        verify(typeNameResolver).resolveTypeName(long.class);
        verifyNoMoreInteractions(typeNameResolver);

        assertThat(property.getTypeName(), is("Collection(" + PrimitiveType.INT64.getFullyQualifiedName() + ")"));
        assertThat(property.getElementTypeName(), is(PrimitiveType.INT64.getFullyQualifiedName()));
        assertTrue(property.isCollection());
        assertThat(property.getJavaField().getName(), is(field.getName()));
    }

    @Test
    public void testSetTypeNameFromJavaFieldWithCollection() throws NoSuchFieldException {
        Field field = PropertyImplTest.class.getDeclaredField("testIntegerListField");

        TypeNameResolver typeNameResolver = mock(TypeNameResolver.class);
        when(typeNameResolver.resolveTypeName(Integer.class)).thenReturn(PrimitiveType.INT32.getFullyQualifiedName());

        Property property = new PropertyImpl.Builder()
                .setName("propname")
                .setTypeFromJavaField(field, typeNameResolver)
                .setJavaField(field)
                .build();

        // TypeNameResolver must have been called with the expected argument
        verify(typeNameResolver).resolveTypeName(Integer.class);
        verifyNoMoreInteractions(typeNameResolver);

        assertThat(property.getTypeName(), is("Collection(" + PrimitiveType.INT32.getFullyQualifiedName() + ")"));
        assertThat(property.getElementTypeName(), is(PrimitiveType.INT32.getFullyQualifiedName()));
        assertTrue(property.isCollection());
        assertThat(property.getJavaField().getName(), is(field.getName()));
    }

    @Test
    public void testDefaults() throws NoSuchFieldException {
        Field field = PropertyImplTest.class.getDeclaredField("testStringField");

        Property property = new PropertyImpl.Builder()
                .setName("propname")
                .setTypeName(PrimitiveType.STRING.getFullyQualifiedName())
                .setJavaField(field)
                .build();

        assertThat(property.getName(), is("propname"));
        assertThat(property.getTypeName(), is(PrimitiveType.STRING.getFullyQualifiedName()));
        assertNull("Element type name should be null for non-collection", property.getElementTypeName());
        assertFalse(property.isCollection());
        assertTrue("isNullable should be true by default", property.isNullable());
        assertThat(property.getJavaField().getName(), is(field.getName()));
        assertNull(property.getDefaultValue());
        assertThat(property.getMaxLength(), is(Facets.MAX_LENGTH_UNSPECIFIED));
        assertThat(property.getPrecision(), is(Facets.PRECISION_UNSPECIFIED));
        assertThat(property.getScale(), is(Facets.SCALE_UNSPECIFIED));
        assertThat(property.getSRID(), is(Facets.SRID_UNSPECIFIED));
        assertTrue("isUnicode should be true by default", property.isUnicode());
    }
}


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On October 17th, cannabis is set to be struck from the big bad ledger of illegal narcotics in Canada after 95 long years of prohibition. But don't light that joint just yet! With change comes a variety of rules and regulations that are sure to confuse, and perhaps frustrate, many users around the country. As you may know, some legislation will be governed at the federal level, while other rules will be left to the provinces (and even individual municipalities) to decide. While not every piece of information is readily available to the public yet, we'd like to take you through what we do know about the different laws, depending on where you find yourself in the Great White North.
De façon générale, « stoner » peut être considéré comme un terme péjoratif, souvent attribué aux hommes, qui inspire la paresse et l'irresponsabilité. Par conséquent, il y a toute une population de consommateurs de cannabis qui se voient aliénés par des stéréotypes nés de l'époque de « Reefer Madness. » Il existe pourtant plein de gens complètement fonctionnels, productifs et respectables qui aiment le cannabis… même le Premier Ministre du Canada avoue de s'être allumé un joint à l'occasion!
I'm so thrilled to be featured among my fellow female #cannapreneurs in Canadian Living's latest article on why we use cannabis. I always emphasize the importance of spreading as much knowledge as possible as legalization nears, not only to promote safe consumption, but to quash stereotypes. It's truly my hope that more Canadians see that everyone has a personal and unique relationship with cannabis. It's not necessarily always about getting stoned; for some, it's an integral part of their self-care routine, while for others, an effective medical treatment.
Ca y'est, le grand moment est arrivé : ton initiation au merveilleux monde du cannabis. Que cette décision soit prise dans un but récréatif ou médicinal, voici quelques conseils pour assurer ton bien-être lorsque tu partiras à la dérive.
With summer at its peak, there's nothing better than getting baked while baking in the sun. I personally love toking outside, whether it's in my little garden, one of Montreal's lush parks or poolside (with a massive deli sandwich, jalapeño chips and an Arnold Palmer). Most importantly, I always have my favourite accessories from the Allume collection on hand to enhance my sunshine sesh and protect my skin.
It's becoming increasingly clear to both the scientific community and the public at large that the therapeutic potential of cannabis goes well beyond its reputation as an illicit street drug. But what does the everyday user really know about the active chemical compounds that produce that distinct mellow feeling?
It's finally happening. On October 17, recreational cannabis use will be legal for adults throughout the great white north, kicking off a billion-dollar industry already backed by a long-established client base—and subjected to more than its share of red tape and regulations. From crop production to commercialization, building a solid foundation for legalization depends heavily on the expertise of specialists in a diverse array of fields. Post-secondary institutions across the country are addressing this growing need with an increasing number of classes and programs created to train the first generation of Canadian weed workers.
The moment I discovered Broccoli, a fresh new magazine created by women for women who enjoy pot, I was hooked. It's always been challenging to find approachable female-focused content you can relate to; words and images that showcase the diversity of the international cannabis community through an artistic, cultural and stylistic lens. Broccoli does just that (and with distinctive flare, no less). We recently caught up with editor-in-chief Anja Charbonneau, formerly of Kinfolk, to learn more about her vision, women in weed and her first time smoking up.
Allume creator Camille Chacra was recently featured in a wonderful piece on The Coveteur showcasing women in the cannabis industry! Learn more about her philosophy and Allume's mission to provide lady tokers with discreet essentials that speak to their style and individual needs. Read the full article by Hannah Baxter here.


We provided design and documentation to the upgrade of the 1928 pavilion. Amenities were carefully upgraded to retain the heritage aspects of the existing space while providing a kitchen that complies with current food health requirements. ESD initiatives included low VOC MDF substrate board, low VOC paints, durable and low maintenance finishes for longevity and reduced use of chemical cleaners.


text:
Institute for East European Studies
Study Interest
70 years of OEI
Burkhard Breig, FU Berlin: Rechtskultur – Rechtsdenken in Russland, 1917 – 2017
Jan 17, 2017 | 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Grundlagenvorlesung im Wintersemester 2016/17
Continuation of the joint lecture series "Revolution - Transformation - Globalization Russia 1917-2017" organised by the Institute for East Europe Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin (OEI) and the Center for Eastern European and International Studies (ZOiS)
Since 2015 Burkhard Breig is Professor for Eastern European and Russian Law at the Institute for East European Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin. His main areas of research are Russian private law and constitutional law.
The twentieth century in Russia's history and the effects of the Russian Revolution of 1917 in this period are the subject of a public series of lectures in winter semester 2016/2017 at Freie Universität. Scientists from Germany and abroad first dedicate their contributions to the revolution itself and the events that precede it. In the latter part of the series they will examine the aspects of Soviet modernization and its consequences until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s and the return of authoritarianism in the 21st century. The series of lectures is jointly organized by the Institute for Eastern European Studies of the Freie Universität Berlin (OEI) and the Center for Eastern European and International Studies (ZOIS).
The public lecture by Professor Breig will be held in German. All events of the series are public, admission is free.
For an overview of the series see the programme.
Katharina Bluhm, Dean of the Institute of East European Studies, Garystr. 55, Room 216, 14195 Berlin, Phone: +49 30 838 52039, e-mail: katharina.bluhm@fu-berlin.de
Department of Political and Social Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Room 21A, Ihnestraße 21, 14195 Berlin
Henry Hale, George Washington University
Programme: Revolution - Transformation - Globalisierung
Osteuropa OEI ZOiS CEU Alexei Miller Katharina Bluhm Gwendolyn Sasse
Master Program East European Studies (MA)
Projects (in German)
Media Library (in German)
Online Assistant (in German)
Information about Using Social Media


Alison MillingtonSimon Cundey, managing director of Henry Poole & Co.
The tailors dressed the real Churchill throughout his life.
Henry Poole & Co., one of the oldest tailors on London's Savile Row, was given just seven weeks to create the suits worn by Gary Oldman in this year's Oscar-nominated film "Darkest Hour," in which Oldman plays former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
"Normally we're looking at around 12 weeks to do any kind, of suit, so this was a challenge," Poole's managing director, Simon Cundey, told Business Insider.
But if anyone could do it, it's a company that knows Churchill's style inside and out. The tailor, established in 1806, dressed the former PM himself from the age of 35.
"His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was here as a customer and he had suits made," Cundey said. While Randolph died at a young age, Winston came to Poole in 1905, according to Cundey, and he ordered his first uniform in 1906 – the Trinity Uniform.
Cundey's great-grandfather Howard Cundey initially looked after Churchill, while his grandfather Sam Cundey saw him through his later years.
"We saw him evolve into what was a great Prime Minister, [but] we took him as a young junior with his slim build at the time," Cundey said.
The most iconic Churchill look from Poole by far was his Chalk Stripe flannel, which he's wearing in his famous 1936 Tommy gun photo, shown below.
Cundey even had the image on his teacup when we met.
Despite his appeal, working with Churchill was far from easy.
He said the company's chief accountant "instead of being diplomatic with his ways of asking for payment… thought it would be upper hand and [get] a quicker response to send [the bill] to Downing Street on the day that he was made Prime Minister.
The company received a letter saying "Thank you for your services," but luckily they later made up.
They were approached by Oscar-winning costumer designer Jacqueline Durran – known for "Beauty and the Beast" and "Anna Karenina" – and thought "this must be someone of high calibre," Cundey said.
However, with Oldman based in Los Angeles, putting the suits together was almost as difficult as working with Churchill himself.
"The prosthetic body suit [he wore under his clothes] was being made for him in Hollywood, so a Japanese gentleman was measuring him out there for the costume," Cundey said. "We had to go out there to measure him with the [prosthetic] suit on, and then go back and measure him for the first fitting when he was coming over to do his first rehearsals.
"We did it, came back, got the pattern ready, got the cloth ready," he said.
Luckily, it was all worth it – and the film's six Oscar nominations include one for Best Achievement in Costume Design for Durran.
The company, known for dressing Her Majesty the Queen in her ceremonial cloaks, also dressed Ben Mendelsohn, who played King George VI (the Queen's father), shown in the image below.
And it wasn't just Poole the film got on board – according to Cundey, they went to all of the tailors that worked with Churchill.
"There's a great little Churchill walk you can now do, of all the houses he frequented here in Mayfair and St. James's," he said.
"Sadly, poor old Gary didn't get a chance to have the suit at the end of the day, because they didn't really fit him," he joked. Due to the prosthetic body suit, the cuts were far too big for him.


text:
: Tetra Images / Alamy Stock
Things To DoDestinationsParks, Forests & Wildlife AreasHow to Explore the Malheur National Forest
How to Explore the Malheur National Forest
The immense Eastern Oregon forest contains a wide range of natural wonders.
Matt Wastradowski, Author
At 1.7 million acres, the sprawling Malheur National Forest in Southeastern Oregon spans three counties, blankets the Blue Mountains, and contains a pair of federally designated wilderness areas and Wild and Scenic Rivers within its borders. It's also home to the largest living organism on earth: a largely underground fungal mass more than 2 miles wide, dubbed the Humongous Fungus. (If you're hoping for viral video stardom, know that the fungus is mostly hidden from view and its mushrooms pop up for only a short time. The most visible sign is fallen fir trees — the fungus infects and kills them.)
Don't let the malheur (French for "misfortune") of French fur trappers who lost a cache of furs dissuade you from exploring the forest's unique attractions, dipping your toes in its crystal-clear lakes, or spending the night in a tent, cabin or fire lookout far off the beaten path. Here's how to enjoy the remarkable Malheur National Forest all year long.
John Day Valley (Photo courtesy of USFS)
Hike, Volunteer and Camp in the Forest
The 26-acre Cedar Grove Botanical Area – about 35 miles southwest of John Day – is the nation's only stand of Alaska yellow cedar east of the Cascade Range. Experts believe that cooler, wetter weather thousands of years ago made it possible for the species to survive and adapt to Eastern Oregon's warm, dry climate today. The 1-mile Cedar Grove National Recreation Trail affords excellent views of the rare trees.
You're already far from the crowds when you visit the Malheur. For even more solitude, spend a night or two at the quiet Delintment Lake Campground. The campground sits on the lakeshore in a forest of old-growth ponderosa pine, with 29 tent and RV sites (first come, first served), access to trails, a fishing pier, and a boat launch for nonmotorized craft.
In recent years, the Malheur National Forest has partnered with the Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project to research 1800s-era mining outposts and lumber camps that were populated largely by Chinese and Japanese immigrants.
Fishing at Little Strawberry Lake (Photo by Robbie McClaran)
Year-round outdoor opportunities abound throughout the forest. Here's how to make the most of each season.
Summer: Nearly 250 miles of trails wind through the forest, and there may be no more idyllic trek than the 6.6-mile (round-trip) Strawberry Lakes Trail. The trail gains about 1,200 feet as it ascends through a forest of fir and ponderosa pine, affords sweeping views of the Strawberry Mountains, passes the quiet Strawberry Lake, showcases views of the 50-foot Strawberry Falls, and hits its turnaround point at Little Strawberry Lake.
Autumn: Autumn is typically the forest's busiest season (popular for elk hunting), and many campgrounds fill to capacity on weekends. In late October and early November, the needles of western larch trees turn a vibrant shade of yellow throughout the forest. Be sure to wear blaze orange if you plan to be in the woods during hunting season.
Winter: County roads and state highways are plowed in winter, but forest service roads are not — creating many miles of bucolic cross-country and snowshoe trails, as well as hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails that remain only lightly used all winter long. Central Oregon Rentals in Bend rents snowmobiles with trailers.
Spring: Camping options abound with more than 30 campgrounds, a third of which are free of charge. Other overnight options include cabin rentals and the Fall Mountain Lookout. (Book early for the lookout, up to six months in advance.) And all those forest service roads, finally free of snow, offer excellent terrain for gravel cycling.
Strawberry Lake (Photo by Troy McMullin / Alamy Stock)
Come Prepared
Before visiting (and after committing to Take Care Out There), you'll want to keep a few tips in mind for a safe, enjoyable outing.
Plan ahead: Cell service is spotty in much of the Malheur, so consult paper maps (not just a mobile app) and check in with a nearby ranger district office before heading off into the Malheur backcountry.
Prepare for tough trails: With so much ground to cover, U.S. Forest Service staff can only do so much to clear debris and maintain trails, especially in spring and early summer. Be sure to check trail conditions with the appropriate ranger district office before deciding on a hike.
Matt Wastradowski
Matt Wastradowski is a travel and outdoors writer living in Portland, Oregon. He's written about the outdoors, craft beer, history, and more for the likes of Outside, the REI Co-op Journal, Willamette Week, 1859, and Northwest Travel & Life.
More Trip Ideas
Oregon's Strange Things
There are some sights in Oregon that are true scientific oddities — forces of nature that wonder with enough intrigue for their own TV series. One of those is the "Humongous Fungus" in Eastern Oregon,... More
Jen Anderson
Oregon Tribal Spotlight: Burns Paiute Tribe of Southeast Oregon
Nestled in Southeast Oregon's beautiful Logan Valley — about 45 miles southeast of John Day, in the Malheur National Forest — are the descendants of the Wadatika Band of the Northern Paiutes. Ancestors of these... More
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Experience the National Wildlife Refuges of Oregon
Today 18 national wildlife refuges occupy every corner of Oregon, offering safe habitat for hundreds of species of birds as well as fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Best of all: Visitors can hike, watch... More


text:
grrlscientist
The Tourist Lane
By grrlscientist on June 9, 2010.
tags: The Tourist Lane, NYC, New York City, prank, humor, funny, comedy, satire, Improv Everywhere, streaming video
As a NYCer, I screamed with laughter when I saw this video, so of course, I HAD to share it with you. The comedy group, Improv Everywhere, pranked NYC when they created separate walking lanes for tourists and New Yorkers on a Fifth Avenue sidewalk. Department of Transportation "employees" were on hand to enforce the new rules and ask pedestrians for their feedback on the initiative.
Even though this NYCer lives in Germany now, I still walk fast -- whilst Germans stroll along as if they've got all the time in the world, and they stand in front of doorways and entrances to the train, blocking everyone's passage .. GAH!! Makes me want to scream. Unfortunately, my German is too bad to politely ask them to move already so some of us can get past them and go about our business.
Idea: Jeff Greenspan.
This is one of over 100 different "missions" that Improv Everywhere has executed since 2001 in New York City. Others include the Frozen Grand Central, the Food Court Musical, and the famous No Pants Subway Ride, to name a few. Visit their website to see tons of photos and video of all of our work, including behind the scenes information on how this video was made.
cultural observation
NYC life
Improv Everywhere
We NYers are a special breed. No one else understand our dismay at slow strolling people. I was secretly hoping that the tourist lane was real. Ha!
By Raymond Ho (not verified) on 10 Jun 2010 #permalink
Originally from Montana, land of slow walkers with nowhere to be in a hurry, I have lived in London for a couple of years. I now go back to visit Montana and I cannot STAND how slow people walk!
Maybe I should move to NYC - at least then I'd be able to walk at a pace that doesn't make me feel like a damn traffic obstacle!
By Cullen Tillotson (not verified) on 10 Jun 2010 #permalink
Sorry, but I would be a tourist everywhere. I am all about slow food, slow living, slow walking. Now when I have toddlers then I am even slower! Other than terrorists or fires there is no reason to rush. It will be there when you get there with just a different number.
By Tabor (not verified) on 10 Jun 2010 #permalink
"No don't be afraid I don't have a gun today."
By WILL (not verified) on 10 Jun 2010 #permalink
A spanish friend has just informed me that this has been done before - in Barcelona.
Still, it's hilarious.
By dhogaza (not verified) on 10 Jun 2010 #permalink
"Unfortunately, my German is too bad to politely ask them to move already."
You would ask politely? Why? They're in the way of an AMERICAN! And a NYCer to boot! You'd think they'd know their place.
By Looseleaf (not verified) on 11 Jun 2010 #permalink
Big News: This Blog Has Migrated to a New Home
As one of the initial recruits to Scienceblogs, my years and effort invested into Scienceblogs have been worthwhile. Since I relocated my original blog, Living the Scientific Life, to Scienceblogs in early January 2006, it received more than 6 million visits and nearly 30,000 comments, it helped…
ScienceBlogs = ZombieBlogs
Unless you've been living under a rock, or you are the CEO of Seed Media Group (SMG), you are well aware that Bora Zivkovic left ScienceBlogs 24 hours ago. Shockingly, despite this important loss, Adam Bly, CEO of SMG, has not communicated with any of us who remain at ScienceBlogs about this loss…
Mystery Bird: Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens
tags: Magnificent Frigatebird, Man O'War, Fregata magnificens, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Magnificent Frigatebird, sometimes known as the Man O'War, Fregata magnificens, photographed at Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary, Brazoria County, Texas. [I will identify this bird…
Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) #35 is Published!
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power) -- Sir Francis Bacon. The most recent edition of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) -- "Scientia Pro Publica 35" -- was just published at the buttcrack of dawn today by John at Kind of Curious. To share yours,…
The Secret Powers of Time
tags: The Secret Powers of Time, time, hedonism, future orientation, education, personality type, popular psychology, society, culture, lucifer effect, teenage pregnancy, Philip Zimbardo, Royal Society of Art, RSA, streaming video In this video animation, Professor Philip Zimbardo conveys how our…