text:
Sirius Black, surnommé Patmol (Padfoot en anglais) ou encore Sniffle, est un personnage de la saga Harry Potter, écrite par J. K. Rowling.

Il est principalement connu pour être le parrain de Harry Potter. Avec James Potter, Remus Lupin et Peter Pettigrow, il a formé durant sa scolarité à Poudlard le groupe des Maraudeurs. En opposition à sa famille, Sirius réprouve très tôt la suprématie des « sang-pur » et l'usage de la magie noire.

Black se retrouve à tort condamné pour le meurtre de douze Moldus, de Peter Pettigrow, et pour avoir trahi Lily et James Potter en 1981. Il devient plus tard le premier évadé connu de la prison d'Azkaban. Son évasion et son histoire constituent l'intrigue principale du troisième roman, Harry Potter et le Prisonnier d'Azkaban, dans lequel son personnage fait sa première apparition - il est néanmoins cité dans le premier chapitre du premier livre par Hagrid, à qui il avait prêté sa moto volante pour amener Harry au 4, Privet Drive, à la suite de l'assassinat des parents de Harry.

Sirius Black est interprété au cinéma par Gary Oldman (adulte), James Walter (à ) et Rohan Gotobed (enfant).

Histoire

Avant Harry Potter

Jeunesse

Sirius Black naît le  1959 ou 1960 d'Orion et de Walburga Black. Il est l'aîné de deux fils, son frère cadet se nommant Regulus. Jusqu'à ce qu'il intègre Poudlard, il grandit dans la « noble et très ancienne maison des Black », au 12, square Grimmaurd, à Londres.

Très vite, Sirius ne partage pas les opinions de sa famille, une vieille lignée de sorciers de sang-pur qui, sans être des mangemorts, se montrent globalement en accord avec les idées de Voldemort. Le frère de Sirius, Regulus, se trouvait favorisé par ses parents du fait qu'il partageait leurs idées. À Poudlard, Sirius est le seul de la famille à appartenir à la maison Gryffondor, tous les autres membres ayant appartenu à la maison Serpentard.

Sirius est le meilleur ami de James Potter. Avec Remus Lupin et Peter Pettigrow, les quatre amis forment le groupe des Maraudeurs lors de leur scolarité à Poudlard. En parallèle, Sirius, James et Peter apprennent à devenir des Animagi en cinquième année, sans se déclarer, pour tenir compagnie sans risque à Remus se transformant à chaque pleine Lune en Loup-garou. Dès lors, Sirius a la capacité de prendre l'apparence d'un grand chien noir (James d'un cerf et Peter d'un rat). Ils se choisissent des surnoms en lien avec leur métamorphose : « Patmol » pour Sirius, « Cornedrue » pour James, « Lunard » pour Remus et « Queudver » pour Peter. Les quatre amis profitent de leurs escapades nocturnes pour établir une carte complète de l'école — la carte du maraudeur — grâce à la cape d'invisibilité de James. Ils ensorcellent le vieux parchemin avec un sortilège d'Homonculus, permettant à son utilisateur de suivre les déplacements de chaque personne présente dans le château. Sirius et James, qui se disent eux-mêmes « spécialistes en assistance aux maniganceurs de mauvais coups » sont très populaires auprès des autres élèves, comme auprès des adultes (ils font beaucoup rire Madame Rosmerta, la serveuse des Trois Balais) et ils sont aussi très brillants dans leurs études. Ils se montrent parfois assez hautains et arrogants, surtout avec le très sérieux et fouineur Severus Rogue, également élève à Poudlard dans leur année d'étude, qu'ils affublent du sobriquet "Servilus" et qu'ils harcèlent, au grand agacement de Lily Evans. En effet, Rogue, persuadé que James et Sirius cachent des choses, rôde sans arrêt autour d'eux dans l'espoir d'obtenir une preuve de leurs manigances et de les faire renvoyer de l'école. Les Maraudeurs ajoutent sur leur carte un enchantement visant à insulter Rogue et à l'empêcher de l'utiliser.

À , Sirius s'enfuit de la maison familiale qu'il déteste pour aller vivre chez les parents de James durant un an, puis habiter sa propre maison qu'il peut acquérir grâce à une grande quantité de gallions légués par son oncle Alphard. Sa mère Walburga ne lui pardonne pas cet abandon et le renie de la famille.

La même année, lorsque Rogue le provoque, Sirius a l'idée de lui donner une leçon en l'incitant à se rendre dans la cabane hurlante lors d'une des transformations de Lupin. James arrive juste à temps pour sauver Rogue. Sirius entretient une haine viscérale vis-à-vis de Rogue, qu'il conservera à l'âge adulte.

La carte est confisquée aux Maraudeurs en 1977 ou 1978 par Argus Rusard, durant leur dernière année à Poudlard. Sirius, James et Remus abandonnent l'idée de la retrouver, se concentrant davantage sur les événements qui ont lieu à l'extérieur de Poudlard, alors que Voldemort commence à faire parler de lui et à affirmer son pouvoir meurtrier. L'existence de la carte fut oubliée durant de longues années, jusqu'à ce que Fred et George la récupèrent, parviennent à s'en servir et l'offrent à Harry en 1993.

Les Maraudeurs et Lily Evans passent leurs ASPIC avec succès et quittent Poudlard en . James épouse Lily en 1979 et Sirius, à , est leur témoin. L'année suivante naît Harry, dont il devient le parrain.

Gardien du secret des Potter

La guerre contre Voldemort s'entame véritablement. Les Maraudeurs et Lily appartiennent dorénavant à l'Ordre du Phénix. La famille Potter est en danger car Voldemort découvre une prophétie selon laquelle leur fils, Harry, pourrait menacer son pouvoir. Ils se confinent chez eux à Godric's Hollow grâce au sortilège de Fidelitas et font de Sirius Black leur gardien du secret. Par conséquent, il est le seul à connaître leur emplacement. Durant l'année, alors que James s'ennuie à Godric's Hollow, Sirius reçoit une lettre de Lily lui disant que Harry apprécie beaucoup le balai-jouet qu'il lui a offert pour son premier anniversaire. Sirius, qui trouve l'idée d'être le gardien du secret trop évidente pour Voldemort, convainc James et Lily de choisir Peter à sa place. De son côté, Dumbledore a déjà quelques soupçons et pense qu'un proche des Potter informe régulièrement Voldemort de leurs déplacements. Peter, ayant effectivement rejoint par crainte les rangs de Voldemort, dévoile à ce dernier la cachette de James et Lily, ce qui provoque leur perte.

Sirius, en passant chez Peter pour vérifier qu'il est en sécurité, se rend compte que sa cachette est vide et comprend ce qui se trame. Il s'envole alors pour Godric's Hollow sur sa moto volante et découvre les cadavres de James et de Lily, près du bébé qui a miraculeusement survécu à l'attaque. Profondément anéanti, Sirius souhaite néanmoins emmener son filleul avec lui, mais Hagrid, suivant les instructions de Dumbledore, l'emporte sur la moto de Sirius. Celui-ci part alors à la poursuite de Peter, décidé à lui faire rendre des comptes. Il le coince dans une rue pleine de témoins moldus. Peter crie que Sirius a trahi James et Lily. Il provoque une explosion (tuant une douzaine de Moldus présents), se coupe un doigt qu'il laisse sur place, puis disparaît par les égouts, sous sa forme de rat. Sirius craque devant un tel machiavelisme et se met à rire, profondément choqué (ce que Cornelius Fudge, alors directeur du département des accidents et catastrophes magiques présent sur les lieux, interpréta comme une preuve de sa cruauté). Il est arrêté sans résistance, puis enfermé à la prison d'Azkaban par Barty Croupton Sr. sans procès au préalable, pour avoir trahi le secret de James et Lily et pour le meurtre des Moldus et de Peter Pettigrow.

Dans Harry Potter

Évasion d'Azkaban

Son habilité à se transformer en chien aide Sirius à demeurer sain d'esprit durant son incarcération et à échapper à la méfiance des Détraqueurs. Durant l'été 1993, Sirius demande à Cornelius Fudge son exemplaire du journal La Gazette du Sorcier lors de sa visite d'inspection, puis tombe sur un article mentionnant le voyage des Weasley en Égypte. Il reconnaît sur la photographie Peter Pettigrow sous sa forme de rat. Il apprend également que le garçon propriétaire du rat entamera sa troisième année à Poudlard, tout comme son filleul. Motivé par la pensée de revoir Harry et d'être le seul à connaître le danger qui le menace, Sirius se transforme en chien et parvient, aminci par des années de malnutrition, à passer à travers les grilles successives de la prison. Il rejoint ensuite la côte la plus proche à la nage. Avant de se rendre à Poudlard, il fait un détour par le Surrey au mois d'août pour apercevoir Harry à Privet Drive sous sa forme de chien. En parallèle, Remus Lupin, son ami d'enfance, se fait engager à Poudlard en tant que professeur de défense contre les forces du mal devenant ainsi par la même occasion, confident et professeur préféré de Harry.

Sirius se réfugie une majeure partie de l'année dans la forêt interdite de Poudlard et assiste discrètement aux matchs de Quidditch de Harry. Il s'introduit également à deux reprises dans le château pour tenter de mettre la main sur Peter. La première fois, le jour de Halloween, il déchire le tableau de la Grosse Dame qui refuse de le laisser entrer dans la salle commune de Gryffondor sans mot de passe. La seconde fois, il parvient à obtenir le mot de passe de la salle commune grâce au chat d'Hermione, qui récupère pour lui la liste de codes posée sur la table de chevet de Neville Londubat. Sirius entre dans le dortoir et lacère les rideaux du lit de Ron avec un couteau, sans parvenir à mettre la main sur le rat. Lupin se voit soupçonné ouvertement par Severus Rogue d'avoir aidé son ancien ami à entrer dans l'école, alors que Lupin, de son côté, croit encore à la culpabilité de Sirius et au fait qu'il puisse représenter un danger pour Harry.

Lorsque le balai de Harry est réduit en miettes à la suite d'un match de Quidditch, Sirius lui offre de manière anonyme un nouveau balai plus prestigieux encore : un Éclair de Feu.

À la fin de l'année scolaire, Sirius parvient à attraper Ron — tenant Croûtard — et à attirer par conséquent Harry et Hermione à l'écart du château jusqu'à la Cabane hurlante. Il leur explique ce qu'il s'est réellement passé douze ans plus tôt. Remus Lupin, guidé par la carte du Maraudeur qu'il a confisqué à Harry peu de temps avant, vient les retrouver et étreint Sirius sous leurs yeux incrédules. En effet, Lupin, qui a pu voir le nom de Peter Pettigrow sur la carte, comprend alors la supercherie. Harry, croyant toujours Sirius responsable de la mort de ses parents, refuse de croire que le rat de Ron est la forme animagus de Peter Pettigrow, malgré les tentatives de Lupin pour le convaincre. Le groupe est interrompu par l'arrivée de Severus Rogue, guidé par la carte du Maraudeur que Lupin, dans la précipitation, a laissé lisible sur son bureau. Harry, Hermione et Ron neutralisent Rogue d'une même voix par un sortilège. Sirius et Remus rendent alors sa forme humaine à Peter et Harry admet la vérité.

Harry empêche Sirius et Lupin de tuer Pettigrow et décide de le livrer aux Détraqueurs. Sur le chemin les menant au château, Sirius propose à Harry de venir habiter chez lui et Harry est très enthousiaste à la perspective de quitter enfin les Dursley. Cependant, Remus n'ayant pas pris sa potion Tue-Loup, se transforme en loup-garou la même nuit. Sirius ordonne à Harry et Hermione de fuir et tente, sous sa forme de chien, d'éloigner Remus du groupe. Dans la confusion, Pettigrow parvient une nouvelle fois à se transformer en rat et à s'enfuir. Sirius perd donc toute chance de réhabilitation.

Sirius, Harry et Hermione sont attaqués par des Détraqueurs et perdent connaissance. Severus Rogue les ramène au château et fait enfermer Sirius en attendant qu'il soit jugé. Grâce au Retourneur de temps d'Hermione, Sirius est sauvé et prend la fuite sur le dos de l'hippogriffe Buck, que son filleul et Hermione sont également parvenus à libérer.

Reformation de l'Ordre

L'année suivante, alors qu'il est toujours recherché par le ministère de la Magie, Sirius se cache dans une région tropicale, loin des Détraqueurs. Il correspond régulièrement avec Dumbledore et avec son filleul, et conseille ce dernier dans ses décisions. Lorsque Sirius apprend que la cicatrice de Harry est douloureuse, il décide de se rapprocher de Poudlard. Il se cache donc avec Buck dans une caverne près de Pré-au-Lard et échange régulièrement des informations avec Harry par lettres ou par le réseau de cheminées au sujet d'Igor Karkaroff ou de la disparition suspecte de Bertha Jorkins, employée du ministère de la Magie, que Sirius pense capturée par Voldemort afin d'obtenir des informations sur le déroulement du tournoi des Trois Sorciers à Poudlard.

Après la renaissance de Voldemort, Sirius, avec l'autorisation de Dumbledore, est présent auprès de Harry à l'infirmerie de Poudlard et veille sur lui sous sa forme de chien. Il quitte ensuite Harry pour aller chez Remus Lupin et contacter les anciens membres de l'Ordre du Phénix selon le vœu de Dumbledore, pour reformer l'organisation.

Sirius met à disposition de l'Ordre sa maison familiale du 12 Square Grimmaurd pour qu'elle en devienne le quartier général. Sirius doit rester cloîtré dans cette maison qu'il déteste, sa tête étant mise à prix et les Mangemorts connaissant son aspect animal grâce à Peter. Il garde contact avec Harry le plus souvent possible au moyen de lettres ou d'apparitions nocturnes dans la cheminée de la salle commune de Gryffondor, mais il manquera de se faire capturer par Dolores Ombrage, nouveau professeur de défense contre les forces du mal, qui surveille tous les feux de Poudlard. Sirius, qui refuse de laisser Harry dans l'ignorance des plans de Voldemort, le met dans la confidence des décisions de l'Ordre, et soutient l'initiative d'Hermione avec la création de l'armée de Dumbledore. Molly Weasley lui reproche de voir à travers Harry l'image qu'il a conservé de James, au lieu de le considérer comme son filleul, âgé seulement de .

Mort au ministère de la Magie

Voldemort envoie à Harry une fausse vision selon laquelle Sirius est son prisonnier au Ministère de la Magie. Il s'agit d'une ruse pour prendre possession de la prophétie, Voldemort ayant besoin de Harry pour l'obtenir. Le , grâce à Severus Rogue qui donne l'alerte à la suite du départ de Harry pour le ministère, les membres de l'Ordre du Phénix, dont Sirius, viennent le plus vite possible au secours de Harry et de ses amis à Londres. À l'écart de la bataille qui s'ensuit dans la Salle de la Mort du département des mystères, Sirius affronte sa cousine Bellatrix Lestrange près d'une mystérieuse arche devant laquelle est tendu un voile. Bellatrix met rapidement fin au combat en lui jetant un sort, lequel le précipite à travers l'arche sans espoir de retour. Dans la version cinématographique, Sirius est abattu par un Avada Kedavra lancé par Bellatrix et son âme est aspirée ensuite à travers le voile.

Apparition post-mortem

À la fin de l'histoire, alors que Harry se dirige vers une mort qu'il croit certaine et incontournable, il utilise la Pierre de Résurrection pour faire réapparaître un court instant ses parents, Remus (qui meurt lors de la bataille de Poudlard) et Sirius. Ils lui apparaissent sous formes plus réalistes que celles de fantômes et l'encouragent avant son sacrifice. Ils ont tous les quatre une apparence heureuse et sereine.

Harry donne le second prénom « Sirius » à son premier fils, James Sirius Potter.

Caractéristiques
Sirius Black est grand, mince, avec des yeux gris voilés et insondables. Sa voix est rauque et son rire semblable à un aboiement. Ses cheveux sont bruns, tantôt coupés court, tantôt longs. À sa première apparition dans l'histoire, alors qu'il vient de s'évader d'Azkaban, Sirius est décrit portant une masse de cheveux sales et emmêlés qui lui tombent sur les épaules et ses dents sont jaunes. Ses orbites sont sombres et profondes et sa peau cireuse si tirée sur les os de son visage qu'il fait penser à une tête de mort. Jeune, Sirius est décrit comme rieur et très séduisant.

Lorsqu'il est de nouveau en bonne santé, il a un beau visage à l'apparence aristocratique et hautaine des Black et arbore une sorte d'élégance désinvolte. Son sourire le fait paraître dix ans plus jeune.

Selon les dires d'Albus Dumbledore, Sirius est un homme courageux, intelligent et énergique, mais pouvant se montrer négligent ou indifférent. Lorsqu'il est contraint de demeurer caché au 12 square Grimmaurd pendant que d'autres membres de l'Ordre du Phénix courent des risques, il devient particulièrement nerveux et irritable. Gary Oldman, qui interprète son personnage dans les films Harry Potter, ainsi que le réalisateur du troisième film Alfonso Cuarón, comparent le groupe des Maraudeurs aux membres des Beatles :

Dans le cinquième film, le personnage marque une forme d'opposition au manichéisme, en expliquant au héros que le monde . Il va plus loin en lui précisant qu'il se trouve : .

Sirius devient un Animagus non déclaré (énorme chien noir) dès sa cinquième année à Poudlard. Le fait que son animagus soit un chien n'est pas anodin, Sirius étant également le nom de l'étoile principale de la constellation du Grand Chien. Il n'a jamais exercé de métier, ayant été emprisonné à Azkaban rapidement après sa sortie de l'école, puis demeuré caché à la suite de son évasion. Contrairement à ses amis Remus Lupin et Lily Potter, Sirius était réputé pour être un « fauteur de troubles », qui n'a jamais eu l'occasion d'être préfet.

Famille

Au 12 Square Grimmaurd, on trouve une grande tapisserie retraçant la généalogie des Black figurant sur les murs de la maison familiale, de laquelle ont été supprimés ceux considérés comme « traîtres » à leurs idéaux, dont Nymphadora Tonks la Sang-Mêlé et Andromeda qui a épousé Ted Tonks, un né-moldu. De plus, par rancune envers Sirius de son esprit tolérant et du fait qu'il ait fui sa famille à l'âge de , Walburga Black a également effacé son fils de l'arbre généalogique.

Dans la saga, une partie de la généalogie des Black est décrite dans le  de Harry Potter et l'Ordre du Phénix, justement intitulé La noble et très ancienne maison des Black.

L'arbre complet des Black ci-dessous a été rédigé à la main par J. K. Rowling, et révélé par le  puis par l'encyclopédie en ligne  au moment de sa vente aux enchères le  ; pour l'anecdote, l'acheteur n'était autre que l'acteur Daniel Radcliffe.

Néanmoins, les branches Weasley et Potter n'apparaissaient pas dans cet arbre exclusivement consacré aux Black, mais les informations les concernant proviennent d'une part de l'épilogue de Harry Potter et les Reliques de la Mort, épilogue intitulé Dix-neuf ans plus tard, et d'autre part du site officiel de  reprenant des informations qu'elle a distillées au fil de ses interviews.

L'auteur révèle de plus, dans le chapitre La noble et très ancienne maison des Black, que toutes les familles au sang-pur sont parentes et notamment que Sirius Black est un cousin de Molly Weasley-Prewett. Sans plus de précision, et malgré la présence d'un Ignatus Prewett dans l'arbre, on ne peut pas relier de façon précise celle-ci aux Black. De même, bien que deux membres de la famille Black aient épousé l'une un Londubat et l'autre un Potter, le lien de parenté avec respectivement Neville Londubat et Harry Potter, s'il existe, est inconnu. On sait cependant que les Malefoy et les Black sont parents par le mariage de Narcissa et Lucius.

Adaptation

Le personnage de Sirius Black est interprété dans les , ,  et  films par l'acteur britannique Gary Oldman. Dans les scènes des souvenirs de Severus Rogue, le personnage adolescent est joué par James Walter (Harry Potter et l'Ordre du Phénix).
 Harry Potter et le Prisonnier d'Azkaban (Alfonso Cuarón, 2004) avec Gary Oldman.
 Harry Potter et la Coupe de feu (Mike Newell, 2005) avec Gary Oldman.
 Harry Potter et l'Ordre du Phénix (David Yates, 2007) avec Gary Oldman et James Walter ().
 Harry Potter et les Reliques de la Mort, partie 2 (David Yates, 2011) avec Gary Oldman et Rohan Gotobed (enfant).

Notes et références

Annexes

Bibliographie

Romans

Guide

Autre

Articles connexes
 J. K. Rowling
 Harry Potter (série littéraire)
 Liste des personnages de l'univers magique de J. K. Rowling | Personnages principaux de Harry Potter | Ordre du Phénix | Maraudeurs

Liens externes

 Sirius Black sur l'Encyclopédie Harry Potter
  Sirius Black sur le The Harry Potter Lexicon

Personnage de fiction britannique
Allié de Harry Potter
Prisonnier de fiction
Magicien ou sorcier de fiction
Personnage de fiction créé en 1999

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


When it comes to private cloud computing these days, there's a lot of bluster in the air. In fact, it seems like every time you turn around there is yet another vendor announcing yet another turnkey computing solution specifically designed for private cloud computing requirements.
The four biggest purveyors of these types of cloud computing platforms, all of which tout some form of convergence in the data center, are IBM, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard and Dell. HP is the one most likely to tout a complete end-to-end solution for building private clouds, while IBM and Dell, with the exception of networking gear, do not need much help from other vendors to build their own turnkey platforms. The next most complete solution from a single vendor comes from Cisco, which only needs help from storage vendors such as EMC or NetApp to complete its solution.
That leaves a lot of room for posturing, but you can't help wonder how much any given turnkey platform is going to appeal to customers. Like all turnkey solutions, there are definite advantages in terms of quickly deploying the product because, at least in theory, the components are all better integrated. But many IT organizations feel that having independent layers of server, storage and networking services offers them advantages over the long term because they are not held hostage by any one vendor.
For the last year, converged architectures from vendors such as HP and Cisco have dominated much of the discussion. In fact, both EMC and NetApp have gone out of their way to be seen as major Cisco partners in convergence as part of their efforts to undermine IBM, HP and Dell in the storage space. Depending on the day of the week, either NetApp is Cisco's most important storage partner, or EMC is given the company's role in the Vblock data center platform.
But now word comes of a renewed alliance between EMC and Brocade, a maker of switches that competes directly with Cisco in the data center. Unlike Cisco, however, Brocade's long-term strategy is to provide the network fabric that integrates data center components from multiple server and storage vendors. But if EMC is such a strong ally of Cisco, why do they need to partner with Brocade?
According to Bob Braham, vice president of product marketing for Brocade, the answer to that question lies in the fact that when it comes to making sales in the field, EMC does not want to limit its opportunities to being a storage satellite of Cisco. If EMC wants to find a way to work with Dell, HP or IBM in the field, it is going to need do that in a way that doesn't require EMC to bring Cisco into the deal. After all, it's hard enough to sell EMC storage in a Dell, IBM, or HP server account without having to fight over the network hardware. Brocade is an acceptable neutral party that allows IT organizations to combine whatever servers with whatever storage they desire.
It's pretty clear that a vendor such as EMC at this juncture wants to hedge its bets about the future of the data center. There's still a lot of debate over how data center convergence is going to play out. But no matter what individuals within EMC would prefer to happen, they are not going to let those opinions get in the way of a storage sale just because a customer doesn't want to adhere to the same party line about the future of private cloud computing.


text:
Home » Celebrities » Bruno Mars hilariously trolls artists complaining about Grammy nominations
Bruno Mars hilariously trolls artists complaining about Grammy nominations
Bruno Mars has shared a hilarious post mocking the backlash to the 2021 Grammy nominations after several stars took to social media to complain.
The Uptown Funk star, 35, took to Instagram to share a funny message to those who were upset about missing out on a nomination or an award.
Posting a photo of himself smiling and pointing at the camera, Bruno joked: 'If you don't release music, you can't lose any Grammys. #ThinkAboutIt'.
Fans were quick to flood the comments asking him when new music might be on the way, though the singer remained tight-lipped on any updates.
It comes after The Weeknd dubbed the Grammys 'corrupt' after he wasn't nominated, despite having one of the biggest songs of the year, Blinding Lights.
He tweeted: 'The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.'
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIBmzN-no5s/
Nicki Minaj had also hit out at the awards, after she wasn't given the Best New Artist gong in 2012 over Bon Iver, and despite being nominated many times over the years, is still to win one.
She tweeted: 'Never forget the Grammys didn't give me my best new artist award when I had 7 songs simultaneously charting on billboard & bigger first week than any female rapper in the last decade- went on to inspire a generation. They gave it to the white man Bon Iver. #PinkFriday'.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CH-84aNnnLK/
Justin Bieber also hit out at his album Changes being up for a Grammy in the pop category rather than R&B.
While he said he was grateful to be up for an award, he added: 'It is not being acknowledged as an R&B album which is very strange to me.
'I grew up admiring R&B music and wished to make a project that would embody that sound', he said on Instagram.
'For this not to be put into that category feels weird considering from the chords to the melodies to the vocal style all the way down to the hip hop drums that were chosen it is undeniably, unmistakably an R&B album!'
The Grammy Awards 2021 take place on January 31.
« 'Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults' Trailer: HBO Max Docuseries Examines the Infamous UFO Cult
Did Tori and Jordan from The Challenge break up? Rumors continue as Tori replies to fan comments »
Dancing On Ice's Rufus Hound SLAMS Government over free meals scandal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A by-product of today's internet age, Toronto's Abel Tesfaye took Canada by storm with three mixed tapes that he had released to the internet, garnering fans and acclaim without the benefit of a "commercial release". Trilogy gathers those three albums and tacks on a few additional tracks for good measure. So is the hype warranted? It certainly is on some levels. Tesfaye's voice is smooth, recalling Frank Ocean while the musical accompaniment, primarily rooted in R&B, includes flourishes of electronica and trip hop.


text:
BEST NEW SONGS: SEAWAVES - YOU LIVE IN THE STARS
by Calvin Paradise
Despite their reputation as a dry, dour, and reserved people, the Brtish are actually quite emotional. The very best music coming from that pale island is always packed to the gills with emotional resonance, whether it's The Beatles, Adele, Oasis, or Jungle.
Manchester duo SEAWAVES carry on this great tradition. Si Van Brussel (who is somehow a real person and not a Bond Villain) and Daniel Benjamin united in 2012 over a "mutual appreciation of the emotional perceptions obtained within dreams and reflecting those same feelings in both audio and visual form."
Which is to say, they wanted to make some highly affective, dreamlike music. Their latest single, "You Live in the Stars," is the perfect synthesis of this aim and shows off the pair remarkable talents.
SEAWAVES - YOU LIVE IN THE STARS
SEAWAVES creates songs that are cinematic in scope and in nature. "You Live in the Stars" is no exception, as this track feels absolutely massive. Things start with some atmospheric organ synths and strings before percussions that recall a battle drum kick in to propel the track forward.
As the vocals explode on the chorus, so does the synth, which eventually overtakes everything in a grandiose and cathartic manner. "You Live in the Stars" recalls M83, The Doves, and at least a half a dozen other songs you forgot you loved.
Which is to say, it's really, really good.
SEAWAVES have signed with stateside companies Luna Music Group and North Star Media. They are currently recording their next LP titled The Soundtrack. As of writing, it has no release date and whether "You Live in the Stars" is related to it is equally unknown.
The song still slaps regardless.
Calvin Paradise is not any one thing. The half-hearted vagabond and forgetful luddite currently resides in Los Angeles and how he spends his time is none of your damned business.


Rio de Janeiro is proof that a nation can hide its problems with a smile.
Millions watched and appreciated the Olympic opening ceremony in Rio as Brazil, the country of samba, created an amazing and unique presentation, even with a limited budget. This overshadowed the political chaos of a country of more than 200 millionpeople with problems of corruption and poverty.
As a Brazilian, I watched TV expecting a brilliant presentation. I knew my country would amaze the world and make me proud of my heritage. And yet, I was curious about what they would reveal about the present situation at home.
The opening ceremony was directed by Fernando Meirelles, co-director of "City of God," a 2002 movie about drug dealers controlling the city of Rio de Janeiro. Under Meirelles the opening ceremony was divided into two themes; one telling the history of Brazil and the other a warning to the world about the dangers of climate change.
The ceremony was presented with a lot of energy, beautiful people, tons of colors, music and the roar of the public. We experienced Brazilian culture through its iconic idols, including supermodel Gisele Bündchen in the last walk of her professional career, and the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim.
Brazil showed the world how to celebrate the biggest sporting event on the planet, but what many people didn't know was that Brazil has been dealing with health, violence and government crises.
On Aug. 5 the Brazilian newspaper Carta Capital reported that since 2009 when Brazil was chosen as the host of the Olympics Games 2016, about 70,000 families were pushed out of their neighborhoods to make space for the Olympic facilities. Brazil spent more than 6 billion Brazilian reais (about 2 billion USD) to build the Olympic Village (according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo as of August 2016).
Brazil might not be at the top of the list when it comes to Olympic medals, but it is leading the world in the number of homicides. According to the Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico, nearly to 60,000 homicides occurred in 2014.
In the last nine months, the country has been under a lot of tension. Millions of people took to the streets to call for Brazil's president to be impeached. An investigation by the federal police into money laundering and corruption at the state oil company Petrobrás extended to most all levels of government,including the presidency.
Operation Car Wash revealed that more than 10 billion Brazilian reais were stolen through the schemes. The investigation resulted in the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff amid allegations of extortion and corruption.
As if that wasn't enough, according to the latest information released by Brazil's Ministry of Health, more than 174 million people had fever caused by the Zika virus. One person died this year as a result.
Brazil did a great job recreating its Carnaval to the world. The games were spectacular, exciting and worth watching. The question that remains is, what will be Brazil's future now that the games are over?


2B: Mil 4, L. Cain (12), J. Aguilar (9), T. Shaw (15), M. Piña (7). Phi 1, S. Kingery (13).
3B: Phi 1, N. Williams (1).
HR: Mil 3, C. Yelich (8), R. Braun 2 (8). Phi 1, C. Santana (10).
HR Detail: Mil, C. Yelich (Inning: 8 , 2 Out, 0 on) off V. Arano, Mil, R. Braun (Inning: 1 , 2 Out, 2 on) off V. Velasquez, Mil, R. Braun (Inning: 4 , 2 Out, 1 on) off M. Leiter Jr.. Phi, C. Santana (Inning: 7 , 0 Out, 0 on) off J. Chacín.
Scoring Position: Mil - 7 for 10.Phi - 1 for 5.
SF: Mil 0, Phi 2, C. Santana (1), A. Knapp (1).
Wild Pitches: Mil 1, J. Chacín. Phi 1, V. Velasquez.
Hit by Pitch: Phi, J. Crawford by J. Chacín.


text:
Right-wing politics
(Redirected from Rightwing)
Pyramid of Capitalist System, anonymous American cartoon (1911)
"Under the influence of the migration crisis, some of the European right have suddenly shifted positions from anti-Semitic, misogynist and homophobic to philo-semitic, feminist and gay-friendly; on the other side of the political spectrum, some of the European left have evolved from rabid atheism and anti-clericalism to a sympathetic position towards theism."--Sholem Stein
This page Right-wing politics is part of the politics series.
Illustration:Liberty Leading the People (1831, detail) by Eugène Delacroix.
Right-wing politics hold that certain social orders and hierarchies are inevitable, natural, normal or desirable, typically supporting this position on the basis of natural law, economics or tradition. Hierarchy and inequality may be viewed as natural results of traditional social differences or the competition in market economies. The term right-wing can generally refer to "the conservative or reactionary section of a political party or system".
The political terms "Left" and "Right" were first used during the French Revolution (1789–1799) and referred to seating arrangements in the French parliament: those who sat to the right of the chair of the parliamentary president were broadly supportive of the institutions of the monarchist Old Regime. The original Right in France was formed as a reaction against the "Left" and comprised those politicians supporting hierarchy, tradition and clericalism. The use of the expression la droite ("the right") became prominent in France after the restoration of the monarchy in 1815, when it was applied to the Ultra-royalists. The people of English-speaking countries did not apply the terms "right" and "left" to their own politics until the 20th century.
Although the right-wing originated with traditional conservatives, monarchists and reactionaries, the term extreme right-wing has also been applied to movements including fascists, Nazis and racial supremacists. From the 1830s to the 1880s, there was a shift in the Western world of social class structure and the economy, moving away from nobility and aristocracy towards capitalism. This general economic shift toward capitalism affected centre-right movements such as the British Conservative Party, which responded by becoming supportive of capitalism. In the United States, the Right includes both economic and social conservatives. In Europe, economic conservatives are usually considered liberal and the Right includes nationalists, nativist opposition to immigration, religious conservatives and historically a significant presence of right-wing movements with anti-capitalist sentiments including conservatives and fascists who opposed what they saw as the selfishness and excessive materialism inherent in contemporary capitalism.
Far-right politics, also referred to as the extreme right or right-wing extremism, are politics further on the right of the left–right political spectrum than the standard political right, particularly in terms of extremist nationalism,
Historically used to describe the experiences of fascism and Nazism, today far-right politics includes neo-fascism, neo-Nazism, the Third Position, the alt-right, white supremacism, white nationalism and other ideologies or organizations that feature aspects of ultranationalist, chauvinist, xenophobic, theocratic, racist, homophobic, transphobic, anti-communist, or reactionary views.
Far-right politics can lead to oppression, violence, forced assimilation, ethnic cleansing and even genocide against groups of people based on their supposed inferiority, or their perceived threat to the native ethnic group, nation, state, national religion, dominant culture, or ultraconservative traditional social institutions.
Counter-revolutionary
Dark Enlightenment
Left–right politics
List of right-wing political parties
Reactionary modernism
Right-wing authoritarianism
Right-wing populism
Right-wing socialism
Structural functionalism
Vast right-wing conspiracy
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Right-wing politics" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on original research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
Retrieved from "http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Right-wing_politics"
This page was last modified 11:19, 10 November 2020.


text:
How India Licked the Black Lips
March 16, 2009 ChrisUncategorized
Though their not the first American rock band to cause a raucous in foreign countries, this January story about Atlanta garage-rockers Black Lips cancelled tour got me thinking about how foreign countries respond to and govern the live music experience.
I first got to know the Black Lips when I reviewed their 2007 live album from Tijuana Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo. The energy from that recording made me wonder what their show might be like.
Listening to the album also got me wondering if what type of impact a band like the Black Lips would have on in a foreign country that might not embrace their crazy free-for-all live show.
So when this story about their Indian tour disaster broke in late January I took a closer look at how live music is governed in strict foreign countries like India and how local authorities, and fans under their rules, respond to a live show by the Black Lips. I wanted to see if there were other reasons that caused the disaster.
This SPIN interview gives a first-hand perspective of what happened and how the band had to high-tail it out of the country in order to avoid arrest for "exposing themselves" and "promoting homosexuality;" Outrageous antics that have gotten them in trouble before in other countries.
And had the band done a bit of cultural research on several of their India tour spots before the tour, might they have learned that several cities in India have been faced with a recent "clamp downs" on live music?
But was it all the fault of the Black Lips?
With the live music experience being oppressed in these Indian cities, maybe it was a case of fans in certain cities releasing and rebelling against the forced live music oppression.
At a few points, the SPIN interview mentions that it wasn't until the band was "a little better received" in Chennai, where they played the Campus Rock Idol showcase at Sir Mutha Venkata Subbarao Concert Hall," that they began to get themselves in trouble with the Indian law.
I've seen bands do some pretty asinine things on stage just because they don't know what to do with their emotional anxieties or they're afraid that the crowd wasn't digging their music.
So maybe it was a combination of India's oppressive "clamp down" on live music actually and the Black Lips lack of foreign audience awareness that contributed to the Black Lips display of "illegal behavior"?
Since I still haven't had the chance to see them live, I won't officially say that's the case with the Black Lips. But according to the videos and new reports, there seems to be a correlation between the crowd response and the Black Lips needing the fan response. Together the two might have been the spark that lit the fuse.
Figuring out what made the Black Lips do what they did will take some time to figure out as the their U.S. tour roles on and the India Tour documentary gets released. And whatever those reasons might be, this story by itself brings up some very interesting cultural, psychological and sociological questions for us to consider.
Cultural Guides for Bands?
Do bands and tour managers—who don't want to lose money if a tour is cancelled–invest in cultural guides to brief them on the moral and cultural climate?
Foreign Fan Mind Control?
Do foreign audiences have more control over the emotional response of bands like the Black Lips who might not understand the differences between the response of a U.S. audience and a foreign audience? And when a band is not getting the response they expected, do fans realize how much power they have on a performance?
This story received a fair amount of press. And when I watched watching the Vice records YouTube videos, I started to wonder if this whole thing was a crafty publicity stunt or just a case of an organic and intriguing live music cultural case study.
Keeping an eye on other live music culture clashes, in future posts I'll take a look at the 2008 documentary film Heavy Metal in Baghad to see how Iraqi metal band Accrassicuda dealt with their own cultural oppression.
But for now let's talk:
Hey fans:
Tell me if you've see the Black Lips live and what your experience was like.
Do you live in a culture where your live music experience is or was oppressed?
Hey artists:
Have you toured a foreign country and learned about the cultural differences the hard way? Or did you take time to educate yourself?
Warning: Viewer discretion is advised for Black Lips in India YouTube video.
Black Lips in India
Black Lips reflect post-India Tour:
Black LipsIndia TourtouringVice Records
U2 Live: How to Dismantle "Horizon's" Bomb
Lady Sovereign's Got Me Thinking 'Bout Fan Behavior
such a brilliant story, the guys are being a bit rock n roll as of late ha!
just bought the new album and its so sickk, gotta see them on their tour now.
yeah, the new album is on my list. and I didn't have the chance to catch their Chicago show. But by all means, let me know how it goes when you see them live.
Pingback: Live Preview: Pitchfork Music Festival 2009 « Live Fix()
Pingback: Best (and Worst) Concert Moments of 2009()


a wilderland of emotion on a page with margins.
Emotion has rhythm and often seeks rhyme, maybe because it has no reason whatsoever. It seems to like expression more than analysis or dissection.
Beauty trumps anger or tragedy because it seduces with its lovely form, shaping stories that nearly kill you to live but in the lyrical poem there isn't any permanence anyway. It's a transport into a state of being like a lyrical dance.
Moss has no roots; it seats and spreads its spores… for more.


text:
En algunas culturas se consume la sangre como alimento, a menudo en combinación con carne. Puede hacerse en morcillas, como espesante para salsas, en salazón para épocas de escasez o en una sopa de sangre.

Consideraciones culturales

Los masái de Tanzania consumen la sangre del ganado directamente del cuello del animal vivo (dejando luego curar la herida) o mezclada con leche.

Algunas culturas consideran que la sangre es un alimento tabú. Por ejemplo, los judíos y musulmanes prohíben el consume de sangre en sus leyes religiosas. En la Biblia, la sangre fue prohibida por el Concilio de Jerusalén () y sigue estándolo entre los ortodoxos griegos.

Formas de consumo

En morcilla

La morcilla es aquella salchicha hecha cocinando sangre de un animal con un relleno hasta que espesa lo suficiente como para coagular cuando se enfría. Lo más frecuente es usar sangre de cerdo o vaca. Entre los rellenos más habituales se cuentan la carne, la grasa, el sebo, el pan, la cebada o la avena. Algunas variedades son el drisheen (Irlanda), la moronga, el black pudding, la blutwurst, la zungenwurst, el kishka (o kaszanka), el biroldo, la mustamakkara, el verivorst, el sundae y muchos tipos de boudin.

En sopa o como espesante

Son sopas y estofados de sangre, que incluyen este ingrediente como parte del caldo, el haejangguk, la mykyrokka y la sopa de vísceras de cerdo. En la antigua Lacedemonia era común el caldo negro, una sopa hecha de carne y sangre de cerdo.

En el norte de Alemania se usa tradicionalmente la sangre de cerdo mezclada con vinagre, sobras, especias y azúcar para elaborar schwarzsauer, que se toma caliente o se enlata. En Suecia, la sopa de sangre llamada svartsoppa se toma tradicionalmente en ciertas fiestas. La cocina polaca cuenta con la czernina, una sopa de sangre que se consume en ciertas regiones.

El Nam Tok tailandés es una sopa picante enriquecida con sangre de vaca o cerdo cruda. Suele usarse a menudo para enriquecer los platos normales de fideos. En China, Tailandia y Vietnam, la sangre coagulada de pollo, pato, ganso o cerdo se usa en sopas, como es el caso del plato típico tailandés Tom Lued Moo (sopa de sangre de cerdo). En Filipinas se elabora un plato popular estofado conocido como dinuguan con sangre de cerdo condimentada con guindilla, que tradicionalmente se toma con pasteles de arroz.

El yaguarlocro ecuatoriano es una sopa de patata hecha con sangre de borrego.

La sangre también se usa como espesante en salsas, por ejemplo en el coq au vin o en el pato prensado, y en budines, tales como el tiết canh. También proporciona sabor o color a la carne, como en la cabidela. En Portugal y Brasil se prepara un plato tradicional llamado cabidela cociendo pollo o conejo en su propia sangre, a veces diluida con vinagre.

Fresca y coagulada
La sangre también puede freírse o tomarse fresca, justo después de que el animal se sacrifique. En España se toma encebollada o con tomate. En la gastronomía de Sevilla se elabora la fritanga de sangre. También suele servirse la sangre de cerdo con patatas en forma de tapa. La sangre de algunos animales, como el pollo, se suele preparar con diferentes platos de arroz.

En Hungría, cuando un cerdo se sacrifica por la mañana, la sangre se fríe con cebolla y se sirve para desayunar.

En Chile, se le conoce como ñachi, plato típico mapuche consistente en sangre fresca de cordero o de cerdo, que se condimenta como cilantro, merkén o algún otro aliño picante y sal. Se revuelve y agrega jugo de limón; cuando se coagula, se corta la sangre en cubos y se sirve acompañada de pan. En Perú se come la sangre de pollo cortada en cubos pequeños y friéndola con ají y cebollita china, denominándose este plato sangrecita.

En China, el tofu de sangre () se hace frecuentemente con la del cerdo o el pato, si bien también puede usarse la de pollo o vaca. La sangre se deja coagular, se corta luego en trozos rectangulares y se cocina. Este plato es conocido también en Java como saren, preparándose con sangre de pollo o cerdo. El tofu de sangre también se encuentra en la receta malaya curry mee así como en el maoxuewang de Sichuan. En el Tíbet la sangre coagulada de yak es un alimento tradicional.

En pastel

Los pasteles de sangre se hallan en Escandinavia y el Báltico. Son ejemplos el blodplättar sueco, el veriohukainen finlandés y el veripannkoogid estonio.

En el Reino Unido y otros países de la Commonwealth, el black pudding ('pudin negro') o blood pudding ('pudin de sangre') se hace con sangre y un relleno de cereales, a menudo avena, y especias. La receta también es popular en Finlandia (mustamakkara) y algunos países bálticos, como Polonia (kaszanka), Letonia (asinsdesa) y Estonia, así como en Alemania (blutwurst), Austria (blunzen), Hungría (véres hurka), España (morcilla, butifarra), México (moronga), Eslovenia (krvavica), Perú (relleno), Puerto Rico (morcilla) y Francia (boudin).

Otros usos
En Laos, y a veces en Tailandia (especialmente en el noreste), se prepara una versión cruda de laap, o ensalada de carne, con carne cruda condimentada con especias y cubierta con sangre. En la región occidental de Santander (Colombia) se prepara un plato llamado pepitoria consistente en arroz cocido en sangre de cabra.  Los mexicanos de ciertas regiones preparan los estómagos de cabra rellenos con sangre de cerdo y verduras.

Referencias

Casquería
Sangre


text:
KC Joyner's NFL Week 11 Picks
KC Joyner, The Football Scientist, makes his NFL Week 11 Picks
Here are my Week 11 picks with confidence level selections. The picks with a confidence level of 1-5 will be available for all NFL Pickwatch readers.
The picks with a 6+ confidence level, a group of selections that have netted a 120-45-1 record over the past two seasons (including a 37-17-1 mark this year), will be available exclusively to Pickwatch Pro subscribers.
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills
KC's pick: Buffalo | Confidence level: 1
These are two of the hottest teams in the NFL, as the Bills have won six of their last eight and the Colts have tallied wins in five of their last seven. Both clubs are doing it via powerful offenses and opportunistic defenses, as Indianapolis has scored 25+ points in six of its last seven and posted 2+ takeaways in all but three games this year, while Buffalo has scored 31+ points on six occasions and has racked up 3+ takeaways in five contests. This may be the closest game on the Week 11 board and could be turned by a single big play on either side, so the home field tiebreaker will be put this pick into the Buffalo column.
Washington Football Team at Carolina Panthers
KC's pick: Carolina | Confidence level: 4
Washington is coming off one of the biggest upsets of the 2021 season, as they held Tampa Bay to only 19 points and 273 yards of offense. Carolina nearly matched that feat with a huge road upset win over a banged-up Arizona squad. Of these two performances, the Panthers defensive dominance is easier to buy into, as Carolina has racked up 3+ sacks on five occasions and held six foes to under 20 points, including their last three. By contrast, the Football Team is just now getting its defensive house in order and has had a lot of coverage issues this season. The Panthers also get the emotional boost that comes from Cam Newton returning home to face his old coach, so Carolina is the preferred option here.
Baltimore Ravens at Chicago Bears
KC's pick: Baltimore | Confidence level: 3
It's hard to believe how poorly the Ravens defense has played of late. Since Week 5, Baltimore has allowed 513 yards to the Colts, gave up 520 yards and 41 points to the Bengals, let the Vikings rack up 31 points, and just allowed the mediocre Dolphins offense to post 350 yards. That could be an issue against a Chicago club that found its groove against the Steelers in Week 9, posting a season high 414 offensive yards and 27 points. The Bears ground game has been in gear for a while, with 136+ rushing yards in six straight contests, but unfortunately their rush defense has been as bad as the offense has been good, as they have allowed 145+ yards on the ground in three of the past four. The Ravens will want to get their rushing attack back in gear after leaning on the pass too much in the loss to the Dolphins, so they get this pick, but by a smaller than expected margin.
Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns
KC's pick: Cleveland | Confidence level: 1
Dan Campbell has wanted his team to play a physical, kneecap-biting brand of football all year and that mindset showed up big time when Campbell involved himself in the offensive play calling against Pittsburgh. Detroit ran for a season high 229 yards and wore the Steelers defense out with a persistent smashmouth approach. That could go quite far against a Cleveland club that just allowed 184 rushing yards to New England in last week's blowout loss to the Patriots. The Browns are also in a bad way on offense, as they have scored 17 or fewer points in five of the past seven games. This also has the makings of a trap game for Cleveland, as the Browns face Baltimore in Week 12 and then have a bye in Week 13. It will not be the least bit shocking if Detroit pulls off the upset in this contest, but the talent advantage is still very far in Cleveland's favor, so the Browns are the selection.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Rodgers understandably draws most of the attention for the Packers, but don't overlook just how dominant the Green Bay defense has been this year. They just gave Russell Wilson the first shutout of his NFL career and have allowed 14 or fewer points in four of the past five games. Minnesota's defense did step up its game last week against the Chargers, but the Vikings allowed 919 offensive yards and 59 first downs in the two weeks prior to that. The most concerning part of that was the 247 rushing yards Minnesota allowed against Baltimore, a factor that Green Bay will test with their road grading rusher A.J. Dillon. That factors should be enough to land this pick in the Packers column.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
KC's pick: Miami | Confidence level: 4
The Jets defense has been beyond abysmal this season. New York has allowed 175 points over the past four games, but the numbers actually get even worse than that upon closer examination. The Jets have allowed 430+ offensive yards in five of the past six games, 26+ first downs in five of the past six, and 399 rushing yards over the past two weeks. Take away the two meaningless turnovers their defense generated last week after New York was down 38-3 and the Jets have taken the ball away only five times all year. The Jets are also putting Joe Flacco under center. Miami is a flawed club in many ways, but their issues are nowhere near as myriad as New York's, so the Dolphins are the option here.
Cincinnati Bengals at Las Vegas Raiders
Marty Schottenheimer said years ago that the key to beating the Silver and Black was to keep playing for four quarters, as the Raiders wouldn't keep the effort level going for 60 minutes. That certainly seemed to be the case last week against the Chiefs, as the Raiders defense started to look disinterested in the game after Kansas City got out to a lead. That's not a good sign at any time, but it could be a big issue against a talented Bengals offense. Las Vegas could also be looking ahead to its Thanksgiving Day clash at Dallas, so the Bengals are the pick in this one.
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs
KC's pick: Kansas City | Confidence level: 1
This has all the hallmarks of a shootout contest. Dallas is coming off a 43-3 destruction of Atlanta that was probably the Cowboys best game of the year. Kansas City could say the same about its 41-14 road win over divisional rival Las Vegas, as the Chiefs offense looked to be back to its big play ways. Both teams have defenses that make and give up big plays, so that element cancels itself out. The Cowboys may have a bit more weaponry in their passing game, but the Chiefs defense is playing at its best level of the season of late, so those also nullify each other. Add it up and this is a coin toss game, so the Chiefs get this one via home field tiebreaker.
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks
KC's pick: Arizona | Confidence level: 4
This pick assumes that Kyler Murray will be back under center for the Cardinals, but also assumes that DeAndre Hopkins may end up missing this contest. Murray is certainly important to Arizona's offense, but the Kliff Kingsbury system is actually a lot more run-heavy than generally though, as the Cardinals have tallied 144+ rushing yards in four of the past seven games. Seattle's offensive woes weren't just a one-game anomaly due to Russell Wilson being rusty, as that platoon had dating back to before Wilson was hurt. The Seahawks defense is playing much better of late after struggling mightily early on this season, but it won't be enough to vault this club ahead of Arizona, so take the Cardinals in this contest.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers
KC's pick: Los Angeles | Confidence level: 3
Going to a tie with a feisty Lions team that has taken multiple teams to the limit this year wasn't the worst part of last week's game for Pittsburgh. The real issue is that the Steelers just aren't playing their brand of football. Ben Roethlisberger's lack of vertical passing has made the Black and Gold operate a dink and dunk offense and the defense was doing far too much grabbing and not enough tackling against the Lions. Both teams are dealing with COVID-19 issues right now, but the Steelers are in a much worse way injury-wise and must travel to the west coast for this one, so the Chargers are the selection.
KC's 6+ confidence level picks, a group of selections that have gone 120-45-1 over the past two seasons (including a 37-17-1 mark this year), are available exclusively to Pickwatch Pro subscribers.


Hi, you looked like you had a really great time. Absolutely brilliant,I have walked that section myself on several occasions. It's a shame it was so muddy, but that's our summer this year.
If you are going to do another section of the Monarch's Way would you let me know and I will include a photograph on the website with your permission.
Shame it was so wet. Very nice to be allowed to drop mud from the scooters all over the Cathedral floor. Hot food in the Cathedral cafe was very welcome.


text:
SWIFT Appoints Broadridge as a Business Partner in Europe to Deliver Enhanced Customer Service Levels and Domain Expertise
posted February 13 2013
Download PDF Copy Link Copied!
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Feb. 13, 2013 – Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR) today announced that it has been appointed by global banking co-operative, SWIFT, as a Business Partner for Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Liechtenstein. Through the agreement, Broadridge will take responsibility for first-line support and related services in these countries across a range of SWIFT solutions including Alliance Lite2 and other value-added services. The agreement will enable over 500 existing financial institution and corporate members to benefit from Broadridge's proven, high-quality service levels, business domain knowledge and experience, as well as its own leading solutions for SWIFT-based operations.
SWIFT has recently upgraded its partner framework to better address the priorities of its user community, and make it easier for firms to choose the most suitable applications, services and service providers for their businesses. "The category of SWIFT Business Partner is reserved for providers that can best serve as a strategically aligned extension of SWIFT. Business Partners are selected for their depth of local market expertise and relationships with the community," said Alain Raes, Chief Executive EMEA and Asia Pacific, SWIFT. "Broadridge's industry leadership, scale and client-centric values exemplify the best-in-class qualities that we seek in our partners, and will help to accelerate value through the delivery of quality solutions and services."
Broadridge will augment its support of SWIFT's solutions and services through the continued promotion and delivery of its own, globally established solutions for the SWIFT community. These include Broadridge's Global SWIFT Service Bureau which, like SWIFT's Alliance Lite2, provides access to SWIFT for financial services firms and corporate treasury groups worldwide. Broadridge also offers its SWIFT Transaction Manager, a web-based workflow and management control function which enables users to monitor the full lifecycle of their messages and create, release and re-route messages in a controlled STP environment that minimizes exposure to processing errors and delays.
"SWIFT plays a prominent and strategic role in our growth plans, validated by the strong growth dynamics in our SWIFT solutions," said Andreas Guenther, Executive Director Global SWIFT Relationship, Broadridge. "We're delighted that our brand values and reputation for service excellence have further raised our profile with SWIFT, and we are committed to delivering value both to the SWIFT user community and to those seeking to join it to take advantage of standardized, secure and cost-effective global messaging."
To contact media relations, please email us at mediarelations@broadridge.com.


BOSTON—The Boston Chapter of Professional Women in Construction announced its emergence into the AEC industry association landscape in Massachusetts. Formed through the collective effort of seasoned AEC professionals, the newest PWC chapter has a mission to connect, promote and advance women in the AEC industry, and actively engages women and men from AEC and affiliated firms.
Associate Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
Currently well into planning for the 2019 -2020 season, PWC Boston is actively seeking members, as well as individuals to join one of the chapter's five committees. For more information, please visit: http://www.pwcusa.org/chapters/boston/.
PWC Boston is the newest chapter of Professional Women in Construction (PWC), a national nonprofit organization founded in 1980 that seeks to support, advance, and connect women and promote diversity within the architecture, engineering, construction, (AEC) and related industries. PWC's members represent a broad spectrum of the industry that serves real estate owners, developers, facilities and property managers and public agencies. They include general construction and specialty contractors, architectural and engineering firms, environmental services, and suppliers. Because our core client industries have many needs, PWC also draws representatives from the services sector: law and accounting firms, insurance/surety and bonding companies, banks and financial services, graphic designers, printers, computer consultants, travel agencies, marketing specialists and more. Membership is open to professional women and men, private companies and public agencies in construction and allied industries.


text:
40 Degreez Centre (Farnham)
The 40 Degreez Centre provides a venue for all young people in the Farnham area (currently around 5000 in the age range 10 to 25 years old) to meet in a safe and informal environment, supporting a variety of leisure, social and advisory activities.
FAB Club
Description for FAB Club
Hangout Club
Description for Hangout Club
Our Space Club
Description for Our Space Club
Trustee for 40 Degreez Youth Group
Description for Trustee for 40 Degreez Youth Group
Chair of Trustees with 40 Degreez -Posted 11.07.2019
Description for Chair of Trustees with 40 Degreez -Posted 11.07.2019
Catalyst (Guildford)
Catalyst is a non-profit organisation working with people who are dealing with issues stemming from drug and alcohol misuse and mental health.
Guildford-based for over 30 years, we work throughout Surrey and its borders in partnership with a wide variety of statutory and non-statutory organisations and bodies to provide support.
Kindness Integrity, Commitment
Reception/Admin Support Volunteer - posted 20.04.2021
Description for Reception/Admin Support Volunteer - posted 20.04.2021
Guildford Action
To enhance the lives of all those we come into contact with.
Volunteer Charity Trustee Role- Treasurer
Description for Volunteer Charity Trustee Role- Treasurer
Kent, Surrey & Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company
We are here to reduce reoffending and help keep safe the communities in which we operate.
Volunteer Mentor - Through the Gate
Description for Volunteer Mentor - Through the Gate
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre - RASASC Guildford
Our mission is to relieve the distress of people who have suffered rape and/or sexual abuse or assault, and to educate the public.
Rape and Sexual Abuse Helpline Volunteers
Description for Rape and Sexual Abuse Helpline Volunteers
Volunteer Counsellors needed
Description for Volunteer Counsellors needed
Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care Helpline
Surrey Drug & Alcohol Care is a registered charity which has been set up as a result of a need in the county of Surrey for a confidential Freephone help line for substance misusers and those with mild to moderate mental health problems, their families, friends and colleagues, aiming to make a difference to their lives. Trained volunteers respond to the distress caused by substance misuse or mental health on a high quality help line that is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, emphasising empowerment and self-help.
To provide information about county and countrywide resources and support to persons and organisations helping people experiencing the effects of substance misuse.
To promote mental health well being county-wide.
To promote, liaise and exchange information with relevant agencies both within the Surrey area and outside.
To raise public awareness of the continuing impact of substance misuse.
To advance the education of the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol amongst those young students in full time education in Surrey and professional groups.
Website: www.sdac-helpline.co.uk
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/610138639182651/
Telephone Helpline Volunteer
Description for Telephone Helpline Volunteer
The Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion (the Legion) is the UK's leading Armed Forces charity, providing practical, emotional and financial support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present, and their families. Our mission is to provide welfare, comradeship, representation and Remembrance for the Armed Forces Community.
Caseworker Volunteer
Description for Caseworker Volunteer
The Welcome Project
Our aim and mission
Unlocking potential and supporting people to overcome life challenges.
One in 4 of us experience mental health problems every year. We believe that nobody should face mental health problems on their own, experience stigma or discrimination. We all have the right to be well both mentally and physically.
We provide services and support that focuses on people's needs to regain their power and strength, lead a well-balanced life, maintain and increase their feeling of well-being. We accept referrals from GPs, CMHRSs and other charities, service providers. And people can self-refer as well.
We all feel less than fine at some time in our lives and often we can feel lonely, stressed, bored or at our wits end. We are not medics, not trying to sell you anything and not on a mission to convert you, we are just genuinely interested in making your world a better place.
Sew & Natter Group Volunteer
Description for Sew & Natter Group Volunteer
Retail Assistant - A Novel Idea Charity Bookshop in Godalming
Description for Retail Assistant - A Novel Idea Charity Bookshop in Godalming


Best Of Riverside Campground Amp Cabins Big Sur Ca – From the thousands of images online with regards to riverside campground amp cabins big sur ca, we picks the best choices along with greatest resolution simply for you all, and this pictures is usually one of images libraries within our very best images gallery about Best Of Riverside Campground Amp Cabins Big Sur Ca. I'm hoping you'll like it.
This specific graphic (Riverside Campground Amp Cabins Big Sur Ca Élégant Big Sur is Supposed to Be Amazing This Was My Favorite Campground) previously mentioned is usually branded having: riverside campground and cabins,riverside campground big sur,riverside campground whistler, all for you.
Published simply by zeeblah with 2017-11-19 01:42:43. To view just about all images in Best Of Riverside Campground Amp Cabins Big Sur Ca pictures gallery remember to comply with this link.


text:
<!DOCTYPE html>

	<meta charset="UTF-8">
	<title></title>
	<link rel="stylesheet"
	      href="bower_components/angular-material/angular-material.min.css">

<md-toolbar layout="row">

		<md-button>Back</md-button>

			Toolbar test

</md-toolbar>

	<ui-container style="background-color: lightcoral"
	              layout-padding>

Scale the window

	</ui-container>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Lynn Sheppard lives between the UK and Morocco with her Moroccan husband and their son. She has been living in Essaouira, Morocco since 2012, supporting local non-profits and writing.
Apart from writing her own Moroccan guidebook, as well as writing about Morocco for several travel publishers, she also maintains a blog. A keen foodie, Lynn hopes to write a Moroccan cookbook, but for now, she's busy completing a Masters in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh University.
Read more about Morocco in the Expat Arrivals Morocco country guide or read more expat experiences in Morocco.
as a teenager and have spent a large proportion of my life living abroad.
A: I divide my time between two festival cities: Edinburgh (UK) and Essaouira (Morocco).
Q: When did you move to Morocco?
A: I moved to Essaouira in 2012 after a career in government and international diplomacy. I lived there full-time for more than two years. At the moment, I spend about a third of the year there.
Q: Did you move to Morocco alone or with a spouse or family?
A: I moved to Essaouira to join my future husband. He was born and raised in Morocco and we married there in 2014.
Q: Why did you move to Essaouira and what do you do?
A: I moved with the intention of building a new life and starting my own business in a place with a different pace of life, sunnier weather and new opportunities. I originally planned to buy an 18th-century townhouse in the Essaouira medina (the walled historical old city) and transform it into a guest house. After months of trailing after estate agents and working on business plans, I was convinced that my idea would not be viable. So, I up-skilled in social media marketing, expanded my blog and developed my personal brand. This won me freelancing contracts as a writer, marketing consultant and project manager for local and international travel companies as well as for non-profit organisations.
Q: What do you enjoy most about Essaouira? How would you rate the quality of life in Morocco compared to the UK?
A: Daily sunshine and friendly, hospitable people improve one's quality of life a lot!
Q: Are there any negatives to your life in Morocco? What do you miss most about the UK?
A: Getting things done in Morocco, on a personal, business or administrative level, can be challenging. As we always know the customs and systems of our home country, having local friends to lend a hand is essential. Essaouira is a small town and when I first moved here, I missed the cultural life in Edinburgh, my hometown. This has since improved and I can always enjoy the bright lights of big city Marrakesh, which is just a two and a half hours drive away.
Q: What are the biggest adjustments you had to make when settling into expat life in Morocco? Did you experience any particular elements of culture shock?
A: The pace of life in Morocco is very different – you quickly realise that life in Western Europe is lived in a hurry. Working for an NGO in Morocco was very challenging, as I had to make local contacts quickly and find ways to work with them when their own objectives didn't necessarily match my own. Knowing the local languages is very important. You can get by in French, but it is not native to Morocco and comes with a lot of historical baggage. A little Darija (Moroccan Arabic) goes a long way and the basics are not difficult to pick up.
Q: What's the cost of living in Morocco compared to the UK? Is anything cheaper or more expensive in particular?
A: If you live simply, then life in Morocco is a lot cheaper than in Western Europe or the US. However, if you crave products or experiences from the West, then they are expensive. For example, fruit and vegetables, which are grown locally, are fresh and cheap. Imported European products such as breakfast cereals or baby products, such as diapers, are more expensive than they are back home.
Q: How would you rate the public transport in Essaouira? What are the different options? Do you need to own a car to live in Morocco?
A: Essaouira is not big. You can take a small taxi anywhere for little cost and local buses to and from the outlying towns and villages are very cheap. There is a network of reliable, air-conditioned buses connecting Essaouira to bigger cities like Marrakesh, Casablanca or Agadir and beyond. From Marrakesh (three hours away by bus), you can connect to the national rail network. Shared 'grand taxis' also connect Essaouira to other towns and cities and they carry 6 or more people to the same destination. Shared taxis are affordable and, since the introduction of a government-financed upgrade programme, they are much more comfortable than they used to be. Like anywhere, car ownership is a personal choice. I have never felt the need to buy one and it is easy to rent a car for a day or to ask a friend with a car for help on the odd occasion that a car is necessary.
Q: How would you rate the healthcare in Essaouira? Have you had any particularly good or bad experiences with regards to doctors and hospitals?
A: Fortunately, I have never had to use the local healthcare system. Pharmacies are generally good and there is a lot of medication available over the counter which is only available on prescription in the UK. There are many general and specialist doctors, most of which are French-speaking. The public hospital in Essaouira gets mixed reviews and is currently undergoing a large expansion programme. There is a modern private clinic with a limited range of expertise, including obstetrics and gastroenterology. Private hospitals in larger cities such as Marrakesh or Casablanca are on a par with those in Europe or the US. Someone with a pre-existing medical condition considering moving to Morocco should carefully research their healthcare options.
Q: What are the biggest safety issues facing expats living in Essaouira or Morocco in particular? Are there any areas that expats should avoid?
A: Essaouira is a quieter, more laidback city than many others in Morocco. The greatest risk comes from pickpockets – the disparity between rich and poor can be extreme. I encourage foreign visitors to take the same precautions that they would in other cities they are unfamiliar with. Keep your purse or pockets in check, don't reveal any ostentatious displays of wealth, such as expensive phones or cameras, and don't walk alone at night or in unlit alleyways.
Q: How do you rate the standard of housing in Essaouira? What different options are available for expats?
A: Depending on what expats are looking for, accommodation ranges from beautifully renovated 18th-century townhouses and modern apartments to country houses and villas in the surrounding rural areas. Many people have moved here and built their own homes on land outside the of the city.
Q: How tolerant are the locals of foreigners? Is there any obvious discrimination against particular religions, women, or identities?
A: Locals are very welcoming. They are typically very friendly and a large proportion of the economy is dependent on tourism. Morocco is a majority Muslim country with a significant Jewish heritage. There is also a significant non-Muslim population, the majority of whom are French, as well as people of many nationalities all over the country.
Gender relations here are very different from those in our home countries. Women may experience unwanted attention, especially in the street. This does not necessarily take the form of harassment (although it can do) – sometimes people are just being friendly, or they are behaving in a way which they consider to be acceptable in their own culture. It is important to be aware of the difference in gender relations here. For foreign women, it is worth considering ways of dealing with unwanted attention in a non-confrontational manner.
Q: Was it easy meeting people and making friends in Morocco?
A: I have been lucky to be absorbed into my husband's circle of family and friends. At first, it was difficult to make friends with people who shared I shared a common cultural background with. Just because two people find themselves to be expats in the same place does not mean that they necessarily have more than that in common. My closest friends here have been Moroccan, Australian, British, American, Belgian and French.
Q: Have you made friends with local Moroccans or do you mix mainly with other expats? What advice would you give to new expats looking to make friends? Are there any social or expat groups that you can recommend?
A: It's easy to get to know Moroccans – they are very friendly and happy to help, but their idea of relaxing or having leisure time may be very different from yours, especially when considering their different work and family commitments and religious or cultural expectations. Moroccans and foreigners (especially women) often socialise differently. For example, Moroccan women often spend more time at home with family than out in restaurants or at public events.
A friend and I set up a Facebook group (Essaouira Expats and Friends) to help expats and their Moroccan friends meet and support each other. It now has almost 1,500 members and we regularly get feedback on how it has helped people to meet each other and navigate life here. Essaouira is a place where you have to make your own fun, so, with friends, we organise a weekly beach walk. We also occasionally make excursions to local beaches or hotels/restaurants with pools if someone has a car.
Q: Did your children settle in easily to life in Morocco? What were the biggest challenges for your children during the move to Morocco?
A: We now regularly bring our son back to Morocco. He was born in Scotland and attends kindergarten there but he is half Moroccan. The language barrier is an issue, but he is learning fast. He loves the different environment in Morocco and seeing his dad's family. There aren't a lot of activities for kids here of the type or standard we are used to in the UK, but we manage to make our own fun.
Q: What are the schools in Morocco like?
A: Schools here teach in Arabic and/or French. There are plenty of schools for all ages – both in the public and private sectors. Although there are no English language schools in Essaouira, some English schools can be found in the bigger Moroccan cities.
Q: Is there any other advice that you would like to offer to new expats arriving in Morocco?
A: Living in Morocco is very different from being on holiday there. If you plan to move to Morocco, rent a place for a few months and see if you like it. Diving in and buying a property can be a very expensive mistake, especially as it is easier to part with your hard-earned cash than to earn it back through a property sale. Once here, try to get out of the expat bubble. Personally, my motivation for living abroad is to get to know people and their culture better, not to import my own. Your expat experience will be all the richer if you try to get to know local people, their culture and their language. It won't always be easy, and you will sometimes need to have your wits about you, but it will be a worthwhile endeavour!


text:
One Foot Down homepage Horizontal - White One Foot Down a Notre Dame Fighting Irish community
Follow One Foot Down online:
Follow One Foot Down on Twitter
Follow One Foot Down on Facebook
One Foot Down main menu
2021 Notre Dame Roster, Schedule, Stats
YouTube: Every ND Football Game
Notre Dame Football Recruiting
Basketball & Irish Athletics
Game Previews & Reviews
The OFD Film Room
OFD Podcast
OFD Opinions: Rating the Win over LSU
The win over LSU was big, but just how big?
By Eric Murtaugh@OneFootDown Jan 2, 2015, 8:00am EST
Share All sharing options for: OFD Opinions: Rating the Win over LSU
THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:
Where does Tuesday's victory over LSU rank among the best wins for Notre Dame since 2010?
manorman10:
In the spirit of dodging the question, I think it's hard to say now - "best" wins are usually judged after time has passed and we weave it into a story instead of looking just at the game- if this win was a springboard into a big 2015, we finish strong in recruiting, and was the beginning of All-American Malik Zaire? Then it was huge! If things go the opposite way? Then it was only a low level bowl win over a big time program we caught at a weak moment.
So in the spirit of trying to look at just the games themselves, not what comes after (and using my own subjective criteria) I'd put this win behind 2012 Stanford and Oklahoma, and also behind 2014 Michigan. Not only was it a big win over an SEC power, it also was huge for the offense to have success against a very good defense, even with the complications of QB shuffling. But Stanford and Oklahoma were far better all-around performances against better opponents, and murdering Michigan to close out that series was the most satisfying win of the BK era.
JoeSchu:
Perhaps it is because I was only able to see the 4th quarter live and haven't watched tape of the whole thing yet, but this doesn't even rate for me. I'm of the "everything is less important than every 2012 win" mindset because those all led to the NCG, which is the goal. In particular, at Oklahoma stands out in that dream season. If you love turning points, then Utah in 2010 has turning point value over all proceeding ones. Haven't we already turned? From a historical significance point-of-view, crushing Michigan in the final chapter of the current series was absolutely critical and one of the more cathartic wins we've ever experienced. It was only as the season played out that the accomplishment was diminished by Michigan's incompetence. I was asking this "greatest BK win" question right after that Michigan game. This one didn't even raise the question in my mind.
I'm really looking forward to reading what others have to say on this topic. I'm incredibly biased against bowls, so the cynic in me reads the headline as "Five Loss Irish Team Wins Exhibition Versus Team That Went .500 In Their Own League." Obviously the QB drama, the late-season collapse, and the fact that opponent had spanked us in our previous bowl match-up's (and oh fine, their conference affiliation) all lend emotional weight to this victory. I was incredibly fired up when Brindza split the uprights, but this is still an Irish team that fell well short of their goals and has a lot of work to do to get back in conversations about wins that set up playoff appearances.
Jamie:
To me, the Oklahoma game in 2012 is Brian Kelly's best win and it's not even close. That game just meant so much for that season and for the perception of the Irish nationally.
This game is probably his second best win though. I don't know of too many Notre Dame fans who felt very confident going in and most felt the Irish were going to get blown out, which would have added to the myth that Notre Dame can't compete with teams in the SEC. It's huge for Brian Kelly in that it helps restore confidence that he can get his team up for big games. It's also huge in recruiting because a bad loss could have really hurt the finish for the 2015 class and hinder the Irish from establishing interest from players in the southeast.
He came up with the perfect game plan and got the best out of both of his quarterbacks against the SEC's best defense. I don't think I'll stop being impressed with what he and the team accomplished.
PunterBro:
Like Jamie, I believe that the 2012 victory over Oklahoma was BK's best win to date. That game solidified for the country that ND was a powerhouse that season and was not a bad football team.
However, I think the LSU bowl victory was BK's best coached game of his 5 year tenure thus far. This was not ND manhandling a mediocre opponent (like Wake Forest, or Rice, or Western Michigan, etc.). LSU was heavily favored and absolutely nobody gave ND a chance in this game, especially considering the losses late in the season.
ND was going up against one of the best defenses it had faced since 2012 Alabama. The gameplan was very general, not very complex, and utilized ND's strengths. It showed a recognition that the defense was the weak spot on the team and the best way to combat that was to keep the offense on the field as long as possible. We had 0 turnovers and very few drops. We rushed for almost 300 yards. This was exactly the type of game that the team needed going into next season. It was a statement game, one that ND has not had in quite some time.
To me, the best win by Kelly was 2012 USC, simply because there was so much on the line at the time. The Irish were a week removed from a weekend that saw essentially every chip fall in the Irish's way. Notre Dame, #3 at the time, started off the weekend with a 38-0 demolishing of Wake Forest . Then, Baylor obliterated #2 Kansas State and #1 Oregon was shocked by a Stanford team that the Irish had already beaten.
So going into the USC game, the Irish had a lot to lose in this contest but came up big on offense and had a huge goal line stop to seal the victory. In fact, I value this game higher than Stanford even because of all the "controversy" around the end of the Stanford game, the goal line stand by the Irish against USC validated Notre Dame in the eyes of the non-believers. I might be one of the select few that puts little stock in the Stanford win. All that was to me was the Lord's redo of 2005 USC with a better ending.
2012 Oklahoma, as PunterBro stated, let everyone know who we were and that we were as good as our ranking. If anything, the USC and Oklahoma games are more 1a and 1b as opposed to 1 and 2, but I rank USC as the best Kelly win because we got to the National Championship game because of it.
So with my #1 being 2012 USC and my #2 being 2012 Oklahoma, where do I put this LSU game? I put it at #3, barely ahead of this year's Michigan game. There is no dancing around the Music City Bowl win. This was a victory on national television over an SEC opponent that was supposed to win the game running away.
The Music City Bowl win is distinctly different than any other Brian Kelly victory. The 2010 Utah game was cathartic. The 2012 season was validating. The 2014 Michigan game made us lose our pants. But the win over LSU is pure momentum. Sure, LSU wasn't in the top echelon of the SEC this season, but they represent something bigger than themselves. They represent a conference regarded as the best in college football. They were supposed to blow us out. They had this great running back! And this vaunted defense! And we were starting our backup QB! And our defense was atrocious! We couldn't beat Northwestern!
Instead, the Irish showed the country that they can go toe-to-toe with the best football conference in the country and come out on top. As I said, this win is pure momentum. Because as it's the end of the year, it gives the program something to puff their chests out about after too many off-seasons full of bad news. It helps with recruiting and helps with the national image that we are trying to project. It will also help our preseason ranking for 2015 too.
In addition, this is easily Kelly's best bowl victory. It is probably the Irish's best bowl victory in terms of opponents in a long while as well. You'd probably have to go back to the 1994 Cotton Bowl to get a comparable opponent in terms of record and talent.
ndroyalsfan:
I'd put the win over LSU yesterday behind all of the big wins from the 2012 season like Michigan, Stanford, Oklahoma, Southern Cal, (and potentially BYU), as well as the game this year against Michigan. In addition to being a part of an undefeated regular season where the stakes were raised every week, three of the 2012 games were the site of College Gameday, and two were the prime time ABC Saturdaynight game. Whether or not you watch Gameday each week, the exposure that comes from being featured on the show can be huge for recruiting and the perception of the program. Winning such games helped to dispel the annoying debate about ND's "relevancy" on the national stage. While not as big nationally, the Michigan game was the last game in the series between two historic programs. I don't think I've ever felt better at Notre Dame stadium than I did watching the pick-six* that ended the game.
There are obviously a lot of positives to take from the game yesterday. It was ND's first win against an SEC opponent in a long time, and the coaches found out that they definitely have something in Malik Zaire. LSU was supposed to destroy the Irish in the trenches, yet the Irish OL dominated LSU up front. After the terrible November, ending the season on a high note was a great feeling for everyone associated with ND.
That being said, I think game was much more important to those of us with ties to Notre Dame than it was nationally. While winning the game was huge for the fanbase, players, and coaches, I don't think the national perception of the game would have been all that different had Brindza missed the last second kick, and we'd lost in OT. ND proved for four quarters that they were more physical than LSU, and it dispelled the myth that the Irish don't belong on the same field as an SEC team.
Furthermore, with the game happening right before the big New Years bowls and the start of the Playoff, the rest of the country's attention was definitely focused elsewhere. I do think getting blown out would have been a huge blow to the program and given ND haters even more ammunition, and a blowout loss definitely felt like a real possibility going into the game. By battling hard for four quarters and not giving LSU all they could handle, the Irish did more than enough to positively affect the national perception. Of course, winning the game made it feel way better.
ndistops:
The game was much bigger for us than it was for outside observers. We needed to see that (a) Kelly hadn't lost the team, (b) Kelly could win a game, especially over an athletically as good or better foe, by going outside his usual comfort zone, and (c) Malik Zaire could play football. We saw all three in a huge way.
I'd rank it behind all the big 2012 games, this year's Michigan, and 2010 Utah, but it was an important game for the team and for the fan base, and could become more important if we see that kind of emotionally-charged play from the team next fall.
alstein:
Some of this certainly depends on performance next year, but I'm gonna go ahead and hype this one up. In terms of the perception and "arrival" of this program, I think it's hard to top the Oklahoma game in 2012. But I am putting this victory right behind that one. Sure, there were some nice ones against USC and Michigan, which is always nice for rivalry's sake, but those do not really amount to a whole lot in the larger national landscape, especially given those programs' recent struggles. The 2010 win over Utah was nice as well because it was a bit of a turnaround game for the program under new leadership, but it didn't really buy anything for the program. And everything about those 2012 games turned south once the calendar turned to 2013, so it's very obvious that despite the great, great, great accomplishment of obtaining a BCS NCG berth, most of those games on their own did little to show "greatness" or another level to this program, and the perception of this program (perhaps rightly) has gone right down the tubes ever since.
So yes, I am going to put this win over a perennial SEC power at #2 for Kelly. The way the offensive line punished the most ELITE of southeastern defensive linemen. The surgical offensive game plan that used all of the roster's best athletes perfectly and neutralized a program that puts defensive backs in the NFL like it's nothing. The big defensive stops when the team needed it, despite a stable of very powerful running backs looking to run through a depleted front seven.
It was even LSU, too. Not upstart Ole Miss or MSU, not bottom of the division Texas A&M or Arkansas; no, it was perennial contender, always relevant, recruiting juggernaut Louisiana State University. Beat that team in a bowl game and get off to a hot start leaving all the potential controversy (QB and otherwise) behind, and this program has a much different feel to it. Most of the players on the roster return confident, motivated, together, and really ready to explode on the national scene.
Obviously, this takes some things going right next season to be true, but this is the second biggest win of Brian Kelly's Notre Dame tenure.
Jim:
Not much to add here that hasn't already been said, but after thinking about it for a few days I tend to agree with Adam--the win over LSU is #2 behind Oklahoma in 2012. The OU win won't be eclipsed until BK wins a title, but this victory was so important from a perception standpoint. By out muscling an SEC team, future opponents as well as recruits were put on notice. The Irish became a sexier option for recruits and can no longer be dismissed as a "weak cold-weather school".
Larz:
First I want to list what I think are the top wins from each year in Brian Kelly's tenure. I limited myself to only one win per year which was hard! Here they are:
2010 - Utah
2011 - Michigan State
2012 - USC
2014 - LSU
I would have to put 2012 USC as the best win of the Brian Kelly era. Winning the final game of the season, on the road, against a big rival, to go undefeated, and have a chance to play for a National Championship. Pretty tough to top that victory. Also, that was the first college football game I ever attended, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Next would be the 2010 Utah game. The Declan Sullivan tragedy, a horrible loss to Tulsa and a team that would be starting Tommy Rees as a freshman playing a ranked Utah team. This one had blowout written all over it. Yet the Irish found a way, and with a single win, seemed to change the trajectory of the entire program.
Now comes the LSU game. This was another back against the wall, no one expects Notre Dame to win scenario. What I liked most about this win was the way the Irish did it. They pounded the ball on a very good SEC defense. Everyone knew the game plan. Run the ball. And boy did the Irish run it. Finally, we didn't have to listen to Brian Kelly explain after the game that the Irish couldn't run because the box was loaded. Instead we imposed our will. I'm not even sure if we saw a single empty set on third and short!
We'll see, maybe the win over LSU won't look as important a few years down the road. However, if Notre Dame starts a successful run over the next few years, this win will almost certainly be considered the catalyst.
Eric:
Such a great topic because there's perfectly logical arguments for both sides here. My first thought is that bowl games in general just aren't all that important outside of the top 4 or 5 big ones. I also don't believe all that much in momentum in the sense that this will carry over into next fall. For example, the Irish lost their last two games in 2011 before going undefeated in the regular season.
In fact, I'd probably argue the team would go into 2015 a little more hungry and desperate had they lost this one. At Notre Dame, I think it's a really big challenge to make sure the players are out to prove something and not too happy about their accomplishments. I'm not saying if the Irish go on to have a big 2015 that it won't increase the importance of this win but that's more perception than momentum in my opinion.
Everyone has already mentioned the wins that are in the mix and I'd throw the 2011 Michigan State game in there too. I'm not sure if this LSU win breaks into the top five since 2010 but it might with a little more time to look back. I'll say this, though when was the last time Notre Dame beat a better 8-5 team?
More From One Foot Down
Notre Dame Hockey: Irish Burn Badgers 3-1 for Sweep in South Bend
Notre Dame Hockey Tops Wisconsin 5-3
Notre Dame Men's Basketball: Irish Stave Off Comeback, Defeat Louisville 76 to 62
Notre Dame Basketball Quick Preview: Irish VS Louisville Cardinals
Four Notre Dame players invited to the NFL Draft Combine
Three Notre Dame players make PFF's 101 best from 2022
Five old Notre Dame Football photos for a Friday — Random running backs Big numbers
Notre Dame Linebacker GA James Laurinaitis leaves for Ohio State Okay
Three Notre Dame players make PFF's 101 best from 2022 So hot right now
Notre Dame Hockey: Irish Burn Badgers 3-1 for Sweep in South Bend Power play all day
Notre Dame Men's Basketball: Irish Stave Off Comeback, Defeat Louisville 76 to 62 ND led by as much as 30 early in the second half, and that cushion helped them survive a scoring drought and pick up ACC win #2 of the season