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The French, and Being Odd
Henry F. Tonn
F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were sitting in a Parisian café one day in the 1920's when Fitzgerald said, "You know, Ernest, the French are different than you and me," to which Hemingway replied, "Yeah. They're French."
This scenario didn't really happen, but it could have. I have simply tweaked a well-known story between the two. But the French are, indeed, a curious race—an observation even the French are known to make. And I wish to illustrate my point with the following story:
In the fall of 2000, my wife and I entered the last leg of a two-week driving tour of France. Coming in from the north, we circumvented Paris and drove to Versailles, where we checked into a small hotel, then spent the afternoon and evening walking the vast grounds of the great chateau there. The Palace of Versailles itself is glittery and impressive, but it is the grounds that transport one magically to another era. One can almost see Marie-Antoinette entertaining guests along the water at the Petit Trianon, carefree, insolated, unaware of her imminent fate.
We decided to conclude our trip by visiting Paris and, specifically, the Louvre. My intention was to drive our rental car there since the route was fairly straightforward, but when I mentioned this plan to the hotel clerk, he advised against it.
"Too much traffic," he said, shaking his dark head somberly. He was a swarthy man, resembling a Marseille dockworker to me, with the obligatory moustache, muscular arms, and tattoos. "It is better to take the train," he continued. "Take the city bus down the street and it will carry you directly to the train station. There will be no problems."
"No problems?" I repeated.
"Yes," he assured me, nodding. "There will be no problems."
"That's exactly what they told Napoleon just before he invaded Russia," I said.
He looked at me blankly.
I am not a French illiterate, but certainly skitter dangerously along the precipice. I studied la belle langue for two years in high school and two years in college but, lacking the opportunity to practice in the United States where a plethora of French émigrés do not exist, I continue to speak it poorly. I can say bonjour and au revoir and order from a menu, but anything more complicated generally leads to trouble. In this case, the clerk had given us explicit instructions in English: pass the first train station and, when we see the second, exit the bus. Nothing could be simpler; however, my wife and I repeated these instructions several times to each other as we watched the streets fly by. When I spied the first train station, I announced, "Okay, that's the first one."
"Get off here," came a voice. Looking over, I discovered it emanated from the little old lady seated directly opposite us. She was wrinkled and white-haired, weighing less than a hundred pounds, and wore narrow, thin, granny glasses. Her hands were busy knitting what appeared to be a colorful scarf. I had not noticed her paying any attention whatsoever to us during the short ride across town and had no idea that she could speak English.
"Get off here?" I repeated.
"Get off here," she said, nodding firmly.
And so we arrived at our first decision. Do we follow the swarthy-ex-Marseille-dockworker-hotel-clerk's directions or the little-old-scarf-knitting-grandlady sitting opposite us?
There was little time to consider, so we went with grandma. "Merci, madame," I sang out as we made our exit, all the while wondering if my wife and I had just fallen prey to a perverted joke by a French grandlady who, for some reason, harbored a profound grudge against Americans. I envisioned her returning to her flat and saying to the neighbor, "Guess what I did today?" and the two of them abandoning themselves to derisive laughter while sharing a bottle of the local vin rouge.
But the lady's directions proved correct, and we found ourselves at the station where trains ran regularly to the Louvre. However, now I encountered my second hurdle: the ticket clerk could not understand what I wanted. You would think a ticket to the Louvre was simple enough, but apparently, not so.
"Je ne comprend pas," the ticket clerk, a corpulent man with dandruff, kept saying. "I don't understand."
My frustration mounted. I threw up my hands and looked around, searching for some way to make myself understood. Fortunately, a scraggly-looking college student with a backpack wandered up and ascertained the problem immediately. He asked us what we wanted, translated our needs to the clerk, and the tickets were finally issued.
I boarded the train with the hotel clerk's assurances of "no problems" ringing in my ears.
The Louvre is a marvelous place to visit and I don't want to disparage it. However, sometimes I think the French take their famous institutions for granted, along with the millions of tourists that visit their country. On this trip, my wife and I found the Louvre had the most execrable toilets ever witnessed. They were filthy even by French standards. Why the officials would allow such a travesty to occur in one of the most famous museums in the world mystifies me. Would you find this in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? The British Museum? The Prado? I relate this incident simply as an example of French contradictions. They can produce the finest cuisine in the civilized world while having some of the filthiest toilets.
The sun set as we wandered along the Seine, and eventually we dined on a couple of delicious croque-madames at an outdoor café in the shadow of Notre Dame. Darkness fell and the city lit up—Paris at its best. Around ten o'clock, we decided to make our way home and returned to the same place we exited the train near the Louvre so as to reduce potential error. My wife and I managed to grab the last two empty seats in the car when we entered and, soon, it was filled with a number of young people who chattered animatedly back and forth as we sped along. I could pick out a phrase now and then, but, in general, had no idea what they were saying. All went well, and we were savoring the last hours of a wonderful vacation, when the train pulled into a station halfway to Versailles and stopped and did not leave.
We just sat there.
A murmur went up from the crowd and everyone started milling around, obviously questioning what was going on.
Finally, a conductor of some sort came walking through the cars giving instructions, and the students began filing out of the train.
"Why are we getting off?" I asked a thin young man who had been reading Jean-Paul Sartre's La Nausée, guessing he might speak English.
"The train is closing," he said.
"What do you mean the train is closing?"
"It is closing," he repeated, shrugging his shoulders. "We have to get off."
Well, of course, this made no sense at all, but my wife and I reluctantly departed and joined the throng of passengers who had gathered on the station platform.
"Now what?" I asked the same young man who was reading his book again.
"There will be a bus," he informed me, looking up momentarily.
"A bus?" I repeated.
"Yes. It will take us the rest of the way."
"What happened to the train?" I asked.
He shrugged indifferently. "It is difficult to say," he said.
Fifteen minutes later, a bus materialized and everyone began boarding. It seemed impossible to me that such a large number of people could fit into this single vehicle, but they did. My wife and I were the last ones to climb in, and the doors barely closed behind us. "Packed like sardines" is a cliché, but I now found myself more physically intimate with the French population than ever before.
The bus wound its way through narrow streets, and the French youth resumed their lively chatter as though nothing unusual was happening. Fifteen minutes passed and all was going well until the bus entered a dark, narrow street lined with peculiar-looking iron posts. It was a two-way street, which allowed sufficient room for two small cars to pass each other, but not for a bus and car. We went down a hill and up the other side and, here, we met a Volkswagen just entering the street. It stopped, forcing the bus to stop, and both drivers sat quietly looking at each other. I waited for the driver of the Volkswagen to back up the hill and out of the way, but he did not. Instead, he blinked his lights.
In France, blinking your lights means the other party should move. But there was nowhere for the bus to go, so the bus driver blinked his lights back. A blinking contest then ensued with each party blinking furiously at the other. Finally, the bus driver pushed his head outside the window and, with much gesticulation, told the Volkswagen driver that he, the bus driver, could not back up, and that it was incumbent upon he, the Volkswagen driver, to move out of the way. The Volkswagen driver disagreed and the stalemate continued.
Our driver, a young, lanky male with disheveled, dark hair, threw up his hands at this point and indicated to the crowd, which pressed around him, that he did not know what else to do. Suddenly, a large youth next to us emitted a loud expletive and shoved his way angrily through the closed bus doors. He approached the Volkswagen like a bear in full attack mode and slammed his fist on top of the man's car. The man reciprocated by shaking his fist and hollering something that could not be heard. The youth gestured with sweeping movements that the man should back his car out of the way. The man responded by giving the youth the finger.
Now things got serious. Young men poured out of the bus and attacked the Volkswagen in full force. Two of them opened the driver's door and tried to drag him out of the car. The man—who appeared to be round, bald, and elderly—held on to the steering wheel for dear life, nearly losing his pants in the process. Next, a half dozen youths started rocking the car violently until I was certain it would turn over. Still, the driver would not budge. Everyone still remaining in the bus looked on quietly. An attractive French girl with short blonde hair, reminding me of the rock star Debra Harry, gave my wife and me a running account of the event in English.
"The old man there is very stubborn, isn't he?" she said. "I think maybe he is going to get hurt if he does not leave the premises."
I was too stunned to reply.
Suddenly, the old man bellowed out something in French. The youths stopped rocking his car and one of them ran to the front of the bus and threw himself against it, hands spread out as though imitating Jesus nailed to the cross. "Jamais!" he said. "Jamais!"
"The old man is threatening to take the bus number and report it to the authorities," the girl said.
"Really?" I said. "But it's his fault."
"Yes, well, perhaps. But the driver could lose his job anyway."
At this point, the driver bolted out of the bus and collected all of his passengers and ushered them back into the bus. For a very short time, the old man continued to sit in his Volkswagen, then he slowly backed the car up the street and quietly drove away. The driver put the bus into gear and proceeded on his way.
As we drove along, the bus driver, visibly upset, chatted with several of the youths. The girl translated. "He is afraid of losing his job if he is reported. We will all give him our identification and at least he will have support. But it is difficult to know how this will turn out."
I just shook my head in amazement.
My wife and I finally arrived at our hotel at midnight. A different attendant now manned the desk. He was short, balding, and sported a pencil-thin moustache. He looked more Spanish than French. He greeted us cordially and asked in passable English if we had had a pleasant journey.
"Well, it's been interesting," I said. "As a matter of fact, I'd like to ask you a question."
"I would be most happy to answer it if I am able," he said, genuflecting politely.
I proceeded to relate the entire story of our recent experience. As I got to the part where the bus and Volkswagen drivers began blinking their lights at each other, two Frenchmen wandered into the lobby from a bar down the hallway and began listening with interest. When I described the youths trying to drag the old man out of his Volkswagen, they began to laugh, and several other bar patrons entered the room. Soon, everyone in the bar had drifted into the lobby, including the bartender, and was listening with rapt attention. When I demonstrated how the old man in the Volkswagen would shake his fist at everyone, half of them broke into laughter, while the other half waited for a translation, then laughed also. This created a continuous background of laughing and translations of my story. The listeners began slapping each other on the back and giving high fives.
Finally, the story ended. The audience waited expectantly. A pause ensued. "I just have one question," I said, breaking the silence. "Could you explain to me what was going on there?"
The diminutive desk clerk cocked his head and smoothed his small moustache briefly, then cleared his voice. "Well, it is very simple," he said. "French people are crazy."
No translation needed here. All the Frenchmen fell to the floor in helpless laughter.
Henry F. Tonn is a psychologist who has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in such print journals as the Gettysburg Review, Connecticut Review, and Fifth Wednesday Journal, and such online journals as the Summerset Review, Front Porch Journal, Eclectica, and Lowestoft Chronicle. He is the editor of the war veterans anthology, Remembrances of Wars Past, featuring fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning writers throughout America and various foreign countries. Visit his website at henrytonn.com to view more of his work
March 2013 – Issue 13
"The Marmot Trip" David Hagerty
"Gertrude's Grave" Michael C. Keith
"The Loose Screw" Peter McMillan
"Flight" Rob McClure Smith
"Catch of the Day" Tara Deal
"Detour to Bliss" Sheila Meltzer
"Harvest" Jay Parini
"French Lesson" Jackie Strawbridge
"Silk Road Dreams" Kevin Brolley
"Forty-Five Minutes to God" John Dennehy
"The French, and Being Odd" Henry F. Tonn
"A Conversation with Michael C. Keith" Lowestoft Chronicle
"Spurs, Stetsons and Stagecoaches: James Reasoner on Writing Westerns" Lowestoft Chronicle


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Q: libssh.so.4 error undefined symbol: EVP_PKEY_get_base_id I have just upgraded Kubuntu 21.10 to 22.04. I get an error thrown by libssh.so.4: undefined symbol: EVP_PKEY_get_base_id, version OPENSSL_3.0.0. This affects Plasma (5.24.4) and several of the related components, Megasync etc. I am running an amd64 system.
openssl 3.0.2 is installed
libssh.so.4.8.7 is installed
I had thought it was related to libssl1.1 but I uninstalled this with no change.
Can anyone suggest where I can start to try and fix this?

A: problem solved. I had legacy libcrypt.so file in /usr/local/lib as well as a legacy libssl.so file.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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NewsGuitar Talk
Guitar Talk: Todd Albright's Raucous 12-String Fingerstyle Blues
Bill Evans November 5, 2018
From the December 2018 issue of Acoustic Guitar | BY GREG OLWELL
Many musicians can cop the notes played by blues and ragtime greats, but few contemporary guitarists are as successful at conveying the unscripted energy and driving feel of this music as Todd Albright. As he shows on his 2017 album, Detroit Twelve String Blues & Rags, his deft fingerpicked 12-string guitar parts and forceful vocals display a depth of experience that go far deeper than a mere rehash of prime pieces of blues repertoire.
True to the guitarist's Midwestern roots, his album's straightforward title leaves little mystery about what's inside: a collection of rags and blues played on 12-string guitars. When asked if the title has any connection to Blind Willie McTell's classic 1949 recording Atlanta Twelve String, Albright, who recently moved from Detroit to Chicago, breaks into laughter and answers, "It's a complete and total rip-off, yes. It is a blatant attempt to align myself with the great Blind Willie McTell."
Albright relies on long-scale 12-string guitars like the Regals and Stellas used by many of his main inspirations in the 1920s and '30s. These ladder-braced guitars were meant to be tuned low and played with heavy gauge strings. Playing in a variety of baritone tunings is not only a nearly lost art, it's a direct way for Albright to keep the music of Lead Belly, McTell, Lydia Mendoza, and Barbecue Bob, not just alive, but vital.
With no one around to tell the Toledo, Ohio, native that Lead Belly tuned down (usually to B), Albright discovered it all on his own, quite by accident, in the days before widespread internet. "I was listening to a Paul Geremia record while changing the strings on my guitar and learned that he was playing 'Skin Game Blues' tuned to Ab. It was a eureka moment." Since then, Albright has always owned and played a 12-string, favoring it to the point where, he says, "I sold the only 6-string I had in 2013."
Albright with a Fraulini Geremia, which is modeled on a Tonk Bros. 12-string.
What do your baritone 12-strings bring to the music that you can't get with a more conventional 12-string?
To go back into the history a little bit, these things came from Mexico, and the Acosta family in Texas built 12-strings for Lydia Mendoza and Lonnie Johnson. They were baritone instruments with a long scale and were meant to be tuned down—they weren't intended to be tuned to concert pitch with light-gauge strings.
Those old 12-strings were also ladder-braced, which makes a huge difference. There are folks that say that X-bracing is structurally better, but it doesn't need a stress test; it's a guitar, it'll be fine. My guitars also use a bridge and a tailpiece, not a glued-on bridge, and with the low-tuned strings, there's not as much stress on the top.
Later, people began playing 12-strings with light-gauge strings tuned up to concert pitch and the idea of a baritone 12-string guitar faded. Many of those guitars tuned to concert pitch had pin bridges and they would fail—the bridges would pull up.
What is it about ladder-bracing that works for the sound you want?
It's a less-refined sound. It's not as clean. You get a rowdy and raucous sound out of a ladder-braced guitar. An X-braced guitar has a lot of midrange, but a ladder-braced guitar has more ass on it. The tone is nastier; it's not a polite-sounding instrument.
That nasty sound is critical to me. As a fingerstyle player, I can get so much out of them. The Reverend Gary Davis played a Gibson J-200, which is X-braced, and it worked great for him, but the earlier guys were using ladder-braced Oscar Schmidt Stellas, Lyon & Healys, Regals, Tonk Brothers—it was the style of building them.
Tell me about your two guitars.
The older of my two guitars has a double-scroll headstock, which is an appointment that was common on Italian mandolins. It's a little bit smaller in the upper bout than the auditorium-style Stella that Lead Belly played, but otherwise it's about the same size. It has a spruce top and a walnut back. When Todd Cambio of Fraulini Guitars sent it to me, he said that the Acosta family told him that while they used mahogany for most of their instruments, they used walnut for the really nice guitars. I keep that one in open tuning.
There's a picture of Blind Willie McTell from the 1920s where he's holding a Tonk Brothers 12-string. My newer Fraulini is a copy of that guitar. Paul Geremia got a hold of one, probably in the '80s, and that's the only one that has ever shown up. He played it for years and eventually sold it to Cambio, who is now making copies. The original is likely a Regal from the early-'20s. It's birch with a spruce top, a poplar neck, and pearwood bridge. Mine has a maple bridge and fingerboard that was dyed black with India ink. The top on mine is paper-thin and the braces are super thin and as a result, it's really trashy-sounding and unrefined—and that is exactly what I'm looking for. The other one has a thicker top and heavier bracing; it's a heavier-built guitar. It's more refined, which makes it really good for playing slide.
What are your tunings?
My standard tuning is down to A (A D G C E A). One guitar stays in Vestapol (open-D, but down a fifth to G D G B D G), while the Tonk Brothers guitar goes through a bunch of songs in standard, then dropped-D, then D6, then all the way to Spanish (open G, down a fifth, G C G C E G), so I'm just detuning strings as I go through the set. I used to have only one 12-string and it was murder getting through a 90-minute set. Because I use five tunings in a night, you can wear out an audience with all of the retuning.
Fingerstyle on a 12-string guitar must be rough on your fingernails.
I spend a lot of time at the nail salon! I ask for acrylic nails on my thumb, index, and middle fingers. I tried natural nails, but I play vigorously and I'm lucky if I can make it through one set. The acrylic nails don't wear out at all. It affects the tone a little bit, but it's like the difference between using a thin or thick pick.
I used to use fingerpicks, but it felt like a dexterity issue. I don't know where my fingers are if they're covered in plastic or metal; I feel more integrated into playing if the skin of my right hand is touching the strings. The whole thing comes down to your right hand. Anyone can hold down chords, but whatever you're saying musically is coming out of your right hand. It is your personality.
Your playing has a strong drive and rhythm, even on slower pieces. How do you do it?
You can build rhythm and feel by learning to balance aggressive picking with dampening. Really play that guitar, but don't play it to where it sounds bad. Play it and keep the fat part of the back of your hand laying on the strings to mute it. Play with vigor. The trick with the 12-string is not to make noise; it's about having the control to selectively play notes without making noise—it's completely different from the 6-string guitar.
You prefer glass slides.
I've used all of the different kinds of slides—brass, old sockets, pocketknives—over the years, but the thickness of the glass plays a huge part of it. A thin glass gives you a thinner tone, which some people like, but a thicker glass slide give you a thicker tone and I think it works well with the 12-string. When I played 6-string, I preferred brass slides on my Oscar Schmidt Stella.
My slides are made by a guy in Oxnard, California named Roger Gohl. He doesn't have a website or anything, he's just a guy who makes these out of old wine bottles and sells them under the name Sly Devil Slides.
I also do a lot of dampening with my left hand when I play slide. It'll be really noisy if you don't drag your fingers behind the slide, unless that's what you're going for. If you're doing Kokomo Arnold type songs, you don't want to dampen the strings, but if you want a sound with a little more finesse in it, like Blind Willie McTell, you need to selectively dampen the strings as you go.
Your setup sounds like you're making it more difficult for yourself.
You have to play the guitar or the guitar will play you. I hate dainty playing.
I play with a high action because the higher the action, the louder the guitar. It's a comfort thing for me, too, because the action doesn't need to be that sweet. My string tension is pretty low because I tune so low and if you don't have a lot of tension and a low action, it's just going to buzz.
You are fairly small stature and play large instruments, do you have any advice for smaller players?
I find it harder to play smaller guitars, it hurts my back to hunch over a parlor guitar. With a bigger guitar, I can sit up straighter.
Here's a misconception: Lead Belly was not huge, he was a smaller man—about 5′ 6″ or 5′ 7″. The reason I play the larger guitars is the sound. Todd Cambio builds two sizes of 12-strings—a smaller concert size like what Barbecue Bob played and the larger auditorium size. There is not a huge size difference, but there is a huge sound difference. The larger bodied 12-string has a 27″-scale vs. a 26-1/2″ on the smaller guitar, which means you can tune even lower, which means you can use bigger strings, which means you get more sound. It's more rumble for your buck.
As far as not crippling myself, I don't find it harder to play large guitars. I hear about people having injuries from playing the same thing, my advice is to keep your pinky off of the guitar's body and let your hand be free. Your hand doesn't have freedom when you're doing that and you're losing rhythmic freedom. If you're playing Bach or James Taylor, that's fine, but it's not necessary if you're playing something with more rhythm.
Albright's Essential Albums
Lead Belly's Last Session "I want to start one of those Change.org petitions and have Lou Gehrig's Disease changed to Huddie Ledbetter's Disease."
Atlanta Twelve String, Blind Willie McTell "The last time Willie McTell stepped foot inside a recording studio was for Atlantic in 1949. I love this record so much I named my own record after it."
I Really Don't Mind Livin', Paul Geremia "This album shows you exactly how to write songs within the tradition. Lyrically, Paul is right now, instrumentally he's a hundred years ago."
Harlem Street Singer, Rev. Gary Davis "If you're going to buy a Rev. Davis record, this is the one to get."
Live At The Ash Grove, Steve Mann "I've had conversations with everyone from Paul Geremia to Jorma Kaukonen, about Steve Mann, and the word genius never fails to come up."
String Thing
To get down to the low tunings that Albright uses, he relies on a custom set John Pearse strings. Gauges for the pairs, or courses, are as follows:
C-based Tuning
First course .013, .013
Second course .017, .017
Third course .013, .026
Fourth course .017, .038
Fifth course .022, .048
Sixth course .026, .066
A-based Tuning
This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
Want to learn more about 12-strings? Click here.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Suitable for beginners or for students wanting to develop and/or revisit their drawing skills in botanical illustration. Foundation class in the transition to watercolours.
For students new to watercolours or those who have some painting experience and would like to learn new painting techniques. Also suitable for students who have completed Drawing I and II.


The New York Skyline is a thing of beauty, and has been for many years. People from all over the world come to New York to marvel at its impressive and awesome structure, from the buildings to the bridges. As the greatest city in the world, New York was built to amaze and bedazzle. No landmark does that better than the Brooklyn Bridge.


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Have your say: Vote now for best zoom lens of 2021
Scattoselvaggio > Uncategorized > Have your say: Vote now for best zoom lens of 2021
Best zoom lens of 2020
2021 was a bad year for lots of things, but a very good year for new lenses. Within that category, some of the highest-performing optics of the year were zooms. Plenty of great new gear was released this year, and while we've reviewed a lot of it, we can't get our hands on everything. And that's where you come in.
Our editorial team has had its say already, in our annual DPReview Awards, but which of this year's new zoom lenses was your favorite? This your chance to let us know. And if you think we missed something, please leave a comment.
Voting in three categories (cameras, prime and zoom lenses) runs through December 19th, and once the vote has closed we'll run a fourth and final poll drawn from the winners of the first three to determine your choice for overall product of the year. Look out for that one early in the new year.
Back when Canon came out with the RF mount, many of the lenses it immediately released were on the, well, high-end of the price and performance spectrum. While we expect this years' lenses to still offer solid performance, they're perhaps a bit more attainable and should attract a ton of users looking to dabble in wildlife or landscape shooting.
Up first is the RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM. Coming in as a sort of affordable companion to the RF 100-500 F4.5-7.1L, this 100-400mm model looks to serve as a spiritual sibling to the affordable 600mm and 800mm F11 primes. Adding to the 100-400mm's versatility is an impressive 0.41x reproduction ratio, the ability to use Canon's 1.4x and 2.0x RF teleconverters, and built-in optical stabilization, which will be great for users of the non-stabilized EOS R and RP cameras.
On the opposite end of the focal length spectrum is the RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM. Stepping in as the more affordable option to Canon's 15-35mm F2.8L, the 14-35mm is nonetheless very capable optically. With its fast Nano USM focus motor, maximum magnification of 0.38x, and excellent yet compact build, we expect it to find its way into many an RF user's camera bag.
Are either of these your top picks for zoom lens of the year? Then let it be known, and cast that vote.
Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM
Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM
Fujifilm released a pair of zoom lenses in 2021: A tele-zoom for the its APS-C format X lineup, and a 'kit' zoom for its GF medium format cameras. The compact GF 35-70mm F4.5-5.6 WR is a great companion for Fujifilm's DSLR-sized GFX 100S and 50S II, offering a useful focal length range in a genuinely small and lightweight package.
The XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR on the other hand is a more traditional lens, which offers X-mount shooters a high quality 105-450mm equivalent telephoto option for wildlife and sports shooting. Did either of these lenses take your fancy this year? Cast your vote and let us know.
Fujifilm GF 35-70mm F4.5-5.6 WR
Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR
This is a tricky one, since of the three zoom lenses that Nikon released in 2021, we've only used one, and none of them is currently available widely in stores. We have shot a fair amount on the Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S on the new Z9 though, and we're impressed by its performance and handling. If the forthcoming Z 24-120mm F4 S and Z DX 18-140mm F3.5-6.3 VR are even half as useful, we'll be happy. Fortunately, this is a poll, not a scientific test. So what do you think? Do any of Nikon's latest zoom lenses earn your vote?
Nikon Nikkor Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S
Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 18-140mm F3.5-6.3 VR
OM Digital Solutions
2021 was the year that the Olympus camera division became 'OM Digital Solutions' under new ownership and inevitably, the newly reformulated company spent much of the last 12 months consolidating. The first lens under the new 'OM System' branding was released very recently, but before that came the M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 Pro, still sold under the old 'Olympus' brand (are you confused yet?)
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 Pro is a really nice lens for Micro Four Thirds, offering a focal length range equivalent to 16-50mm, and the solid build quality and excellent weather-sealing that we've come to expect from optics in the 'Pro' line. Was it one of your favorite zoom lenses of the year? Let us know.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 Pro
Panasonic came out with two zoom lenses this year, one for Micro Four Thirds and one for full-frame L-mount. The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm F1.7 ASPH has become a fast favorite at DPReview for both video and stills, providing an equivalent focal length range of 50-100mm with a usefully fast maximum aperture and great sharpness. The S 70-300 F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS meanwhile gives full-frame L-mount shooters a versatile telezoom option for wildlife and casual sports shooting. Did either of these lenses catch your attention this year? Let us know!
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm F1.7 ASPH
Panasonic Lumix S 70-300 F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS
Ricoh / Pentax
The HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW is a high-quality standard zoom lens for Ricoh's Pentax-branded APS-C bodies. Built to a high standard, and sealed against dust and moisture, the 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW is a great companion to the K-3 III. Have you shot with it? Is it one of your favorite lenses of the year? Cast your vote and have your say.
HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW
Sigma had a strong year, releasing three really nice lenses – two for full-frame, and one for APS-C, but all 'DN' (digital neo) denoting that they were designed from scratch for mirrorless cameras, with native support for Sony E and L mounts. For full-frame, the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | S is set to become a firm favorite of wildlife photographers, and the 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | C is an attractive and nicely balanced standard zoom for every day use. The Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN C meanwhile is that rarest of things – an affordable, but practical and high-quality third-party standard zoom for APS-C.
What did you make of them? Let us know.
Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | S
Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN C
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | C
Sony only released one zoom lens this year but it was a good one – the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II updates the original 70-200mm f2.8 GM in just about every important way, offering better image quality, better ergonomics and improved build quality and sealing. As one of the most versatile lenses in the so-called 'holy trinity' of standard pro F2.8 zooms, this was an important lens for Sony to get right. So did they succeed? Cast your vote and let us know what you think.
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
Tamron is on a tear the past couple of years, and 2021 was no exception, with five zoom lenses being released for Sony E-mount mirrorless shooters. These range from versatile zooms for APS-C to high-performing specialist optics for full-frame. The 35-150mm F2-2.8 Di III VXD is a particularly good example of the latter type of lens – a fast zoom covering an uncommon but useful focal length, designed specifically for portraiture and event shooting. Meanwhile the 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 has become one of our favorite fast standard zooms for everyday shooting.
Is one of these lenses glued to your camera? Cast your vote and let us know.
Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2
Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 Di III VXD
Have your say: Best zoom lens of 2021
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Final Fantasy XV Director Leaving Square Enix - WebGamer.NET | The Website for Gamer.
3 out of the 4 planned future DLC have also been cancelled. Final Fantasy XV director, Hajime Tabata, has resigned from Luminous Productions and the Square Enix Group as of October 31, 2018.


text:
Q: Example of tensor algebra I am trying to make sense of the tensor algebra product, as given as an example in Dummit and Foote. Let $R=\mathbb{Z}$ and let $M=\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}$ and consider $M$ as an $R$-module. Since $M\otimes_R M=0$, we have that $\mathcal{T}(M)=\mathbb{Z}\oplus(\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z})$.
The authors claim that the multiplication is given by $(r,\overline{p})(s,\overline{q})=(rs,\overline{rq+sp})$, but I do not see why this is true. If we consider these elements as sums, by distributing we should have $(r+\overline{p})(s+\overline{q})=rs+r\overline{q}+\overline{p}s+\overline{pq}=(rs+\overline{rq+sp+pq})$.
My question is what happens to the $\overline{pq}$ in the multiplication given by the book? Since multiplying two fractions doesn't necessarily give an integer, I'm not sure why $pq$ would be in $\mathbb{Z}$ and so would vanish in the quotient. What am I missing?

A: If I understand you aright, $\overline{pq}$ should be an element of $M\otimes_R M$, which, as you point out, is zero.

A: As pointed out in a comment above, the tensor algebra is graded:
$$T(M)=T_0M\oplus T_1M\oplus T_2M\oplus\cdots$$
with $T_nM=M\otimes_RM\otimes_R\cdots\otimes_RM$ ($n$ copies of $M$). The multiplication goes
$$T_nM\otimes_RT_mM\longrightarrow T_{n+m}M$$
and is given by concatenation, and distribution over the direct sum. In your case, when you write
$$(r,\bar{p})\in T(M)$$
you mean the element $r+\bar{p}$ with $r\in R=T_0M$ and $\bar{p}\in M=T_1M$. Notice that then
$$r\cdot s = r\otimes_Rs=rs\in\mathbb{Z}\otimes_\mathbb{Z}\mathbb{Z}\cong\mathbb{Z}$$
and
$$r\cdot\bar{q} = r\otimes_\mathbb{Z}\bar{q}=\overline{rq}\in\mathbb{Z}\otimes_\mathbb{Z}\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}\cong\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z},$$
similarly for $\bar{p}\cdot s$, and
$$\bar{p}\cdot\bar{q}=0$$
as it lives in $T_2M=0$.


text:
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Working together for a strong and sovereign Europe: Foreign Minister Maas travels to Romania
Foreigen Minister Maas in Bucharest, © Florian Gaertner/photothek.net
27.08.2018 - Article
The agenda for the Foreign Minister's first official visit featured the expansion of bilateral relations with the EU and NATO partner as well as European issues.
On 27 August, Foreign Minister Maas took the opportunity to visit EU and NATO partner Romania for the first time since assuming office after being invited to speak at the Ambassadors Conference hosted by the Romanian Foreign Ministry. Afterwards he met Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu for political talks.
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Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his Romanian counterpart Teodor Meleşcanu© Florian Gaertner/photothek.net
First EU Council Presidency for Romania in 2019
The hashtag #EuropeUnited was the motto for the entire visit. Romania, one of the two youngest EU members, will assume the EU Council Presidency for the first time in the first half of 2019. The departure of the United Kingdom from the EU will in all likelihood fall during this period of upheaval, as will the elections for the European Parliament. Furthermore, issues such as the amendment of the common European asylum law will continue to occupy the European community.
Against this backdrop, Maas, in his speech to the diplomatic corps and in political talks, called for a strong and sovereign Europe with shared values. Romania can count on Germany's support for the preparation and implementation of the Council Presidency.
Speaking in Bucharest, Foreign Minister Maas said:
We face the same challenges in Berlin and Bucharest. We can no longer take anything for granted in foreign policy. We Europeans therefore need to assume more responsibility and work harder to promote our interests than we have done in the past: for a rules-based international order, a safe and stable neighbourhood and fair globalisation.
Close economic relations and exchange
Foreign Minister Maas meets Romanian President Iohannis.© Florian Gaertner/photothek.net
Bilateral as well as European relations were on the agenda of the trip. Romania enjoys close economic relations with Germany. Germany is the Eastern European country's number one trading partner, and German enterprises are among the largest private employers in Romania. Close historical ties exist, not least through the presence of the German minority in Romania, to which President Iohannis belongs. Another focus of the visit was how to intensify bilateral relations beyond the sphere of the economy.
With regard to the domestic situation in Romania, Maas called for the continuation of the reform process, determined steps to tackle corruption and peaceful dialogue between the various political groups in society. Germany needs Romania as a stable, reliable partner committed to our common European values.
Romania in the run up to its first EU Council Presidency
Overview "Romania"
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NEWS FOREIGN POLICY
PM, Putin meeting in Sochi
[InTime News]
December 8, 2021 08.12.2021 • 14:24
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was on Wednesday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi.
In his comments ahead of the meeting at the Black Sea resort, Mitsotakis noted "there is room for improving relations between Greece and Russia in the [areas of] economy, bilateral trade and tourism."
The Greek premier underscored Russia's key role in regional developments, also as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. He said the two sides would have an opportunity to exchange views on regional security issues.
The Russian president stressed the special ties between the two countries, drawing attention to the fact that the Russia-Greece History Year coincided with Greek celebrations of the 200 years since the start of the War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire. Putin noted Russia's contribution to the Greek struggle.
Putin also expressed his satisfaction for the growth of bilateral economic and trade relations, adding that trade volume had seen a significant increase in 2021, reaching pre-pandemic levels.
Erdogan attacks Cyprus over exploration license
Erdogan says does not recognize European rulings on Kavala, Demirtas
Dendias welcomes Australian counterpart
Justice minister tweaks, tables contentious bill
No boost in Qatari funds to Turkey, amid economic turmoil
'Tsitsipas' twists tongues to land on mispronounced words list


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Plan Topics/Elements
The Consultant
Grabill
Huntertown
Leo-Cedarville
A. Overview
The scope of work has five major phases:
Phase 1: Project Set-Up
Phase 2: Visioning (concurrent with Phase 3)
Phase 3: Existing Conditions and Trends
Phase 4: Drafting the Plan Policies
Phase 5: Adoption
Note: Allen County/City of Fort Wayne project staff are referred to "County/City staff" or "staff" throughout the Scope of Work, while ACP–Visioning & Planning, Ltd. and the team subconsultants will be referred to as the "consultant(s)."
B. Assumptions
The approach is based upon the following assumptions:
County/City Staff Support:
County/City staff will actively participate in the project, including research and writing for specifically defined topics for the existing conditions phase. The staff will also provide to the consultants all existing data, plans and reports, GIS mapping, and will assist in the reproduction and distribution of materials including mailings, meeting set-up, and other logistical and administrative functions.
The staff will coordinate meeting logistics with the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the public and review draft documents for initial comment. Consultant and County/City staff will conduct bi-weekly project management meetings (via conference call) to address project management issues. During especially intense periods, these meetings may take place weekly. Consultant will produce monthly status reports prior to monthly meetings that will be attached to meeting agendas and monthly invoices. The staff will provide minutes of Comprehensive Plan Committee meetings.
Administrative Committee:
The staff will work closely with an Administrative Committee throughout the duration of the project. This four-person committee, selected from the members of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, will provide project management support for the comprehensive plan process. The major administrative tasks of this committee are to: monitor the consultant's contract, provide guidance for addressing political issues, and recommend members for other supporting committees. The committee will meet as needed and the consultant will meet with them as requested by the staff.
Comprehensive Plan Committee:
This 16 member advisory committee will provide project leadership and guide the planning process. This group is intended to be a working group, with assistance provided by County/City staffs. The major tasks of the committee are to: analyze, prioritize and balance community issues. The Committee will react to concepts and draft documents from the consultant, develop alternative themes, select and refine preferred themes, act as a sounding board for the consultant and propose balance positions to resolve conflicting points of view. It is anticipated that the Committee will meet once a month over an 18-month period. Adoption of the plan will follow the process. The consultant will make a maximum of eleven trips.
Vision Work Group:
This large, diverse group would be made up of individuals representing Allen County/Fort Wayne's population. It could also include student participation. This group would meet three times during the visioning element of the plan, including the Goal Writing Workshops. This group will include the Comprehensive Plan Committee. Staff along with the Comprehensive Plan Committee will determine additional members.
Plan Element Work Groups:
These work groups would be more informal and would be structured and guided by the consultant but facilitated by County/City planning staffs. These groups would provide important input into the plan. Groups would represent varying community interests. These could include builders/developers, environmentalists, social service agencies, transportation planners, etc. Some of these meetings could provide information to the consultant team through teleconferencing or meeting summations provided by staff.
Roundtables:
Two stakeholder groups will be convened at critical times in the process. There is a series of two roundtables. The first roundtable would include an introduction to the planning process and gather input. The second meeting would focus on the initial direction of the comprehensive plan.
Elected Officials: These meetings would include all elected officials in Fort Wayne, Allen County, New Haven, Leo-Cedarville, Huntertown, Woodburn, Grabill, and Monroeville.
Community Representatives: Similar to the Elected Officials Roundtables, community representatives would include other agencies that would have important input into the plan. Staff along with the Comprehensive Plan Committee will determine the list of community officials included with these meetings. Representatives could include Citilink, school district administrations, airport administration, Chamber of Commerce, The Alliance, etc.
Adopting Bodies:
Staff would update the Plan Commissions on a monthly basis, but on at least three occasions joint Commission meetings would be held with the consultant. These meetings would follow roughly the same format as the Elected Officials and Community Officials Roundtables but with more direction provided from the consultant with the ultimate goal of plan adoption. It is anticipated the final official state law required public hearing would be held in a joint Plan Commission session with the potential of a joint recommendation to the legislative bodies involved with plan adoption. Non-quorum meetings will be held with City Council members and the Board of Commissioners at three intervals throughout the process. Staff will conduct the meetings with the consultant attending one round of the meetings.
Community Meetings:
These meetings would be facilitated by the consultant on the north, central, and south areas of Allen County/Fort Wayne. A series of three meetings would be held to discuss an introduction to the plan and process, input, and findings of the plan. It is anticipated the consultant will direct and attend all nine meetings. Meetings would also be held in Huntertown, Grabill, Woodburn, and Monroeville. The consultant would lead one meeting in each of these four incorporated areas during the visioning phase. County/City staff would meet in each of these four towns initially for an introduction to the plan and process and to present draft recommendations findings.
Process Duration:
The consultant is assuming a 18-month planning process plus two months for adoption. This will provide adequate time to complete all tasks, engage the public, and write and deliver a final plan.
To the greatest extent possible, the data gathered for this project will be based on existing information, reports, etc. There are a number of recent and ongoing initiatives that are relevant to the comprehensive planning process. These efforts will be integrated into the comprehensive plan.
Statutory Requirements:
The Comprehensive Plan will exceed the minimum Indiana State Statute requirements that include: a statement of objectives for future development; statement(s) of policy for land use development; and statements of policy for the development of public ways, public places, public lands, public structures and public utilities.
Reproduction:
The County/City staff will be responsible for reproducing and distributing all materials to the Comprehensive Plan Committee, except as otherwise noted below. The consultant will provide originals (hard copies and/or electronic files).
C. Phase 1: Project Set-Up
The first phase of the project includes several administrative tasks.
Task 1.1 Contracting: The consultant and the County/City staff will finalize the Approach by preparing a Scope of Services, finalizing the fee and expenses, and executing the contract.
Task 1.2 Organization of Committees: The consultant and County/City staff will review the role of the various committees participating in the Joint Comprehensive Plan. The makeup of the committees is crucial to establishing a legitimate and open planning process, as well as gathering important information and insight
Task 1.3 Planning Area Tour: The County/City staff will lead a tour to orient the consultant to the County/City and its planning environment. The tour will be followed by a review, with the staff, of various sub-plans and their place in the larger planning effort.
Task 1.4 Comprehensive Plan Committee Meeting 1: The County/City staff and the consultant will facilitate a project kick-off workshop with the Comprehensive Plan Committee. This workshop will include a review of the scope and schedule; role and responsibilities of the committees, County/City staff and consultant; and a planning issues exercise to understand the various perspectives of individual committee members. The staff will also organize a bus tour of the planning area for the Comprehensive Plan Committee. This could take place following the Project Kick-off meeting. More than one tour opportunity may be needed.
Deliverables: Phase 1 deliverables include contract, Comprehensive Plan Committee and orientation materials, and summary of the issues exercise.
Staff Support: Staff will prepare Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting notification, mail materials prepared by consultant, provide existing reports/plans to the consultant, prepare project notebooks for the Committee, and conduct planning area tour for the consultant and Comprehensive Plan Committee.
Timeframe: Month 1 to 3
D. Phase 2: Visioning
The second phase focuses on the early public involvement efforts and provides the foundation for the Comprehensive Plan recommendations. This phase concludes with the Goal Writing Workshop. Further public participation events are shown in subsequent phases.
Task 2.1 Comprehensive Plan Committee Meeting: The County/City's Comprehensive Plan Committee is organized for undertaking the plan and represents the first step in the visioning process. The consultant will provide an orientation on visioning and engage the Committee in a work session about key aspects of the public involvement program.
Task 2.2 Vision Work Group, Workshop 1: The consultant will facilitate an initial workshop with the Vision Work Group. This meeting will include: orientation on the planning process, brainstorming for the future of the community, and preparation for the first round of community meetings.
Task 2.3 Preparation of Publicity Material: The consultant will provide guidance on the preparation of publicity materials to support the planning process. The County/City staff will be responsible for reproduction of these materials. A special Staff Publicity Committee will be established to support this task.
Task 2.4 Distribution of Publicity Materials: The Staff Publicity Committee will manage the distribution of publicity materials through networks identified by the Comprehensive Plan Committee and Vision Work Group (i.e. neighborhood distribution, elementary schools, churches, public buildings, local newspapers, cable television and radio, etc.).
Task 2.5 Community Meetings: The consultant will conduct seven idea gathering meetings: one each in the north, central, and south areas of Allen County/Fort Wayne, and one each in Huntertown, Grabill, Woodburn, and Monroeville. These meetings will take place over the course of two consecutive weeks. These meetings should be located at convenient public places with a general assembly space and breakout rooms, such as a high school, vocational school, college, or middle school. The consultant will provide training manuals for key aspects of the community meetings, including registration and small group facilitation. The consultant will design meeting activities in collaboration with County/City staff and the Comprehensive Plan Committee. The meetings will have two key parts: general assembly and small group work. The meetings open with a welcome from the Comprehensive Plan Committee, a review of the night's agenda, and an overview of the planning process. Working in small groups, participants will be engaged in one or several exercises by a volunteer facilitator trained by the consultant. In at least one exercise, participants are asked to generate ideas about the future of the community in a brainstorming exercise. These ideas are recorded and are placed into a database and used as input to the goal-writing workshop. The consultant has developed several visual and /or environmental design exercises that can be facilitated. The consultant will train volunteer facilitators for these meetings.
Task 2.6 Goal Writing Workshop: The Goal Writing Workshop occurs with the Vision Work Group. In the workshop, the consultant provides the ideas generated in the community meetings (categorized by plan element from the database), themes that summarize the overriding issues in the ideas, and a draft goal statement for each element as a starting point.
Task 2.7 Comprehensive Plan Committee Meeting 3: The consultant will facilitate a meeting with the meeting to discuss the draft goals produced at the Goal Writing Workshop. The group will discuss preparation for meetings with the Adopting Bodies and Joint Plan Commission, and the two roundtables. This meeting will also include presentation on key findings of the existing conditions analysis.
Task 2.8 Adopting Bodies Meeting 1: The consultant will lead a meeting of the Adopting Bodies that will focus on the status of the project, draft goals, and key findings.
Task 2.9 Elected Officials and Community Representatives Roundtable: The consultant will lead a roundtable meeting that will focus on the background, approach and status of the project; as well as a discussion of draft goals, key findings.
Task 2.10 Joint Plan Commission Meeting 1: The consultant will lead a roundtable meeting that will focus on the background, approach and status of the project; as well as a discussion of draft goals, key findings.
Task 2.11 Joint Planning/ED/RD: At the conclusion of this phase the staffs and consultant will conduct a status work session
Deliverables: Phase 2 deliverables include materials for Comprehensive Plan Committee workshop, goal writing workshop, roundtable meeting, Adopting Officials meeting, and Joint Plan Commission Meeting. For the Community Meetings, facilitation manuals will be provided, meeting handouts will be prepared and input from the meetings will be entered in to a database. A community meeting report will be prepared that summarizes all input. The consultant will serve as the key facilitator for community meetings in this phase.
Staff Support: Staff will prepare all meeting notifications, mail materials prepared by the consultant. Staff will assist with public meetings
E. Phase 3: Existing Conditions and Trends
The third phase of the project establishes a baseline of information on existing conditions, including identification of key issues, problems and long-range goals. The staff will work with Plan Element Work Groups to gathering all relevant data. The consultants responsibility will be to analyze the data and document the findings. This phase occurs simultaneously with Phase 2, and its results will merge with Phase 2 results in Phase 4.
Task 3.1 Existing Plans and Reports: The County/City staff will provide the consultant with a complete set of all existing plans, reports, aerials, and data that pertain to the Plan. The consultant will review these documents as background to undertaking this phase of the project.
Task 3.2 Base Mapping: The County/City staff will provide the consultant with digital base maps in ArcView, which will be used by the team to prepare major plan maps. A land use inventory by staff has been completed.
Task 3.3 Data Gathering: The County/City staff will inventory existing condition information. The staff and consultant will agree on data gathering needs, presentation structure and schedule. The staff will work with Plan Element Work Groups to gathering and present existing conditions data to the consultant. Some elements will require involvement of the selected consultant team members, e.g. fiscal, economic and urban design/community appearance.
Task 3.4 Data Analysis: The consultant will inventory and assess a host of existing conditions and trends as the baseline piece of the planning process.
Regional Trends: The consultant will prepare an analysis of metropolitan and County growth trends that impact the City and County. These include population and development forecasts, development trends, and major infrastructure projects. This will serve as a basis for the economic analysis.
Land Capability Analysis: The consultant will review the overall land composition of the planning area and address constraints for development, environmentally sensitive areas, and agricultural resources.
Existing Land Use and Development: The consultant will analyze existing land use for the planning area using the recent land use inventories and aerial photographs. (The inventory will be mapped, and quantified, and planning issues identified by staff). Development trends will also be analyzed (annexations and building permit activity) for patterns and planning issues. This includes identification of the four distinct areas of urban, suburban, rural, city and town.
Urban Design: The consultant will work with the staff to inventory and identity major components of the community's built character, including architecture of commercial development, especially along the County/City's major road corridors. This inventory will include historic structures and districts, landmarks, and cultural facilities. The consultant will review and analyze County/City's development regulations that impact appearance and character of the built environment.
Transportation: The consultant will review data, existing plans and studies from the Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council (NIRCC) Long Range Transportation Plan and three-year Transportation Improvement Program. Existing traffic counts (City, NIRCC) traffic forecasts, selected arterials and significant corridors (street and right-of-way widths, bridges, etc.), and existing and proposed bikeways will also be reviewed.
The analysis will focus on area specific (urban, suburban, rural, small town) land use transportation policies. Issues of connectivity will also be identified, along with recent solutions to mitigating noise along the areas major corridors. Fixed rail line and high-speed rail, air transportation issues, pedestrian an bike routes, transit issues and transportation sensitive development will be evaluated.
Public and Private Utilities
Public and Private Utilities: The County/City staff will provide information on existing conditions and utility planning efforts including both public and private (including septic) facilities. (NOTE: The focus is on public works (and not industrial discharges) as defined as "any system which serves several customers including municipal, subdivisions and mobile home parks facilities." The consultant will rely on information provided by the staff and local health department regarding inadequate individual septic system areas for evaluation of private residential systems.)
Historical and Cultural Facilities: The consultant will analyze historical and cultural facilities. This inventory will be prepared by the staff and include historic structures and districts, landmarks and other cultural facilities throughout the community and within the downtown.
Public Safety: The staff will identify existing and proposed public safety facilities, including police and fire facilities. The consultant will analyze this data.
Schools: The staff will identify the location and extent of existing and proposed educational facilities. The consultant will analyze this data.
Parks and Recreation: The staff will inventory existing parks and recreation programs and facilities. This inventory will include a review of resource uses/conflicts, resource problems of particular concern and significant resources requiring preservation efforts. The consultant will analyze this data.
Housing/Neighborhoods
Housing: The consultant will prepare a summary of housing conditions and trends based on existing data from the 2000 and 1990 U.S. Census and other available sources and incorporate the results of the City's Comprehensive Housing Strategy (CHIS). Opportunities for suburban and urban infill will be identified, including existing grayfield and brownfield sites as potential redevelopment areas.
Economic Development Assessment: The consultant will review existing available analyses concerning the economic base of the City, County and surrounding region. As appropriate, the consultant shall validate or challenge the findings of these existing analyses, and confirm and/or identify current business and economic conditions and future trends that could impact the plan. It is the intent with this assessment to build upon all relevant earlier economic development plans, strategies and studies (e.g., cluster industry analysis) that can inform the comprehensive planning process. Key local and external factors driving City and County economic changes will be identified and/or summarized from existing reports – to include the restructuring of the area's major established industries, new global business realities impacting the City and County's industry competitiveness, broader regional competition for economic development opportunities, the role of tourism and the communities three rivers, downtown revitalization, entrepreneurship, innovation and technology in stimulating local economic growth, and other key factors and trends.
Using existing studies, the economic development assessment will identify and analyze growth trends by major business and industry sector, employment and labor market dynamics, commercial and industrial real estate market trends, building and construction activities, and personal income trends. Assets and resources in support of economic development, including available business sites, infrastructure and technology availability will be analyzed. The recommendations of the previous economic development plans, strategies and studies will be assessed to ensure that resources and approaches are in alignment.
Working with staff, recommendations for future action will be documented – to include proposals for appropriate changes to the existing economic development system serving the community. The consultant will also work to ensure that land use, infrastructure and other appropriate recommendations complement and support a vibrant economy.
Fiscal Analysis (Optional): See separate attachment.
Natural Resources: The consultant will utilize City and County natural resource data in order to assess important and unique natural resources, including clean air and water initiatives, wetlands, flood plains, prime agricultural land, and natural areas. The impacts of septic and private discharge systems on the areas natural resources will also be identified. The importance of the City's three rivers and their tributaries will also be examined.
Task 3.5 Findings: The findings of the previous tasks will be summarized in a series of memoranda. The findings will identify relevant planning issues, a summary of the findings, and policy implications for the Plan. The findings will be reviewed by the Work Groups.
Task 3.6 Comprehensive Plan Committee Workshops: The consultant will facilitate up to four workshops with the Committee to review the findings of this phase and to consider the implications on the next steps of the process. These meetings will take place on a two to three week cycle.
Task 3.7 Adopting Bodies Meeting: The staff will provide a project update and presentation of the exiting conditions and trend findings.
Task 3.8 Joint Planning/ED/RD Staffs Meeting: At the conclusion of this phase the staff and consultant will conduct a status work session
Deliverables: Phase 3 deliverables include reports for topics outlined above and other materials for Comprehensive Plan Committee workshops.
Staff Support: Staff will prepare Comprehensive Plan committee meeting notification and mail materials prepared by the consultant.
Timeframe: Month 1 to 10
F. Phase 4: Drafting the Plan Policies
The fourth phase merges the policy foundation of Phase 2 and the baseline analysis of Phase 3 to create options for the future of land use and development. Public participation continues in this phase and consensus will be reached regarding a preferred scenario that serves as the basis for drafting the plan. The draft plan will be prepared by the end of this phase.
Task 4.1 Preliminary Scenario: The consultant will develop a preliminary scenario based upon the goals, selected visual and/or environmental exercises, and the technical findings of the existing conditions phase. This is a single proposed land use and development concept with minor variations. It depicts conceptual land use and development, major open space features, and major infrastructure facilities. An assessment of how the four distinct areas of urban, suburban, rural, city and town relate to the preliminary scenario will also be developed. Contemporary planning concepts including New Urbanism, Neo-traditional development, and Smart Growth will also be considered. The scenario is presented in a conceptual map form, with a narrative and it is quantified relative to population, development capacity, and fiscal benefit (optional).
Task 4.2 Comprehensive Plan Committee Meeting 7: The consultant and staff will present the preliminary scenario to the Committee. Plans will be finalized for the Community Choices Workshop.
Task 4.3 Community Choices Workshops: These workshops are comprised of several key steps: Community Summit, Stakeholder Meetings, revisions to the preliminary scenario, and Comprehensive Plan Committee workshop. The Community Choices Workshop occurs over a three-day period at a central location in the community that is open to the public. The consultant leads the workshop with support by staff and participation of the Committee.
Community Summits: The Summit format will be repeated three times in a two-day period of time. The Summits will be conducted in the first two days with two evening meetings and one day meeting. A Summit will be held in the north, central and south areas of the Allen County/Fort Wayne community. At this meeting the goals are presented, a summary of the existing conditions and trends affecting the community is presented, and the preliminary scenario is presented. Questions are then posed by the participants and answered by the Comprehensive Plan Committee, staff, and consultant.
Work Group Meetings: On the third day, the consultant presents the preliminary scenario to key stakeholder groups via the Plan Element Work Groups. These could be developers/builders, businesses, neighborhood associations, major landowners, special interest groups and major corporations.
Comprehensive Plan Committee Meeting: On the evening of the third day the revised preliminary scenario is presented to the Comprehensive Plan Committee for review, comment, and initial approval. This decision about the land use and development preferences will establish the direction for the Plan.
Task 4.4 Elected Officials Roundtables, 2: The land use concept will be shared through the roundtable structure to gain insight and acceptance. This is a critical check to coordinate the effort and ensure the land use direction of the Plan has the support of the community's leadership. The consultant will lead this meeting.
Task 4.5 Community Representatives Roundtable: The land use concept will be shared through the roundtable structure to gain insight and acceptance. This is a critical check to coordinate the effort and ensure the land use direction of the Plan has the support of the community's leadership. The consultant will lead this meeting.
Task 4.6 Adopting Bodies Meeting: The staff will provide an update to the Adopting Bodies on the progress of the plan and especially the land use concept.
Task 4.7: Drafting the Plan: The consultant will prepare the first draft of the plan in this task. The draft will be reviewed by the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the draft will be presented for public comment at a Community Meeting.
The following plan elements are anticipated:
Public and Private Facilities
Housing/Neighborhood
Communities: An individual element (a single chapter) will be created for the communities of Grabill, Huntertown, Monroeville, and Woodburn.
Implementation: Recommendations will be made with respect to amending the Development Control Ordinance and various development incentives and inducements will be identified as part of the economic development policies and strategies. The implementation plan will identify responsibilities and time frames for carrying out strategies that can easily be incorporated into a capital improvement plan.
Task 4.8 Comprehensive Plan Committee Workshops: Chapters will be forwarded in clusters to the staff for review. The staff may choose to have the Plan Element Work Groups review draft material. Once the staff approves drafts, they will be forwarded to the Committee for review. The consultant will facilitate up to three workshops with the Committee to review the draft plan. Comments and agreed upon changes will be made by consultant in the document.
Task 4.9 Community Meeting: This is an evening event in a single location. A short presentation by consultant will summarize the key recommendations of the plan. The consultant will prepare a display summarizing the plan for presentation to the public at an open house. The Comprehensive Plan Committee, staff, and consultant are present to answer questions on a one-on-one basis. If appropriate, a questionnaire can be distributed to participants asking key questions about the draft plan. The staff will prepare and summarize results from the community meeting.
Task 4.10 Joint Plan Commission Meeting: The draft plan and results of the Community Meeting will be presented at a Joint Plan Commission meeting by the consultant, staff and Committee.
Task 4.11 Comprehensive Plan Committee Approval: Following review of the feedback and questionnaires from the Community Meeting and the Joint Plan Commission, the Comprehensive Plan Committee will consider any changes to the draft plan. This revised document will become the final recommended document, which will be used in the adoption process.
Deliverables: Phase 4 deliverables include preliminary scenario report, all materials for the Community Choices event, all materials for the Roundtable 3, and drafts of plan elements.
Staff Support: Staff will support the Community Meeting, Comprehensive Plan Committee Workshops, and Roundtables. Staff will prepare Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting notification and mail materials prepared by ACP.
Timeframe: Month 10 to 17
G. Phase 5: Adoption
The final phase of the project includes formal adoption of the plan and its reproduction and delivery.
Task 5.1 Adopting Bodies Meeting: Comprehensive Plan Committee, County/City Staff and consultant will present the final draft plan to the Adopting Bodies.
Task 5.2 Planning Commission Action: The staff will circulate the final draft to their respective Planning Commissions. A Joint Plan Commission Meeting will be held with the potential of a joint recommendation to the legislative bodies involved with plan adoption. The Comprehensive Plan Committee, County/City staff and the consultant will present a summary of the Plan.
Task 5.3 County and City Adoption: The staff will be completely responsible for this task. The staff will circulate the Planning Commission's recommendation to their respective elected bodies. It is assumed that the County and City will each hold one public hearing for the adoption process. The Comprehensive Plan Committee and County/City staff present a summary of the Plan and manage the adoption process Staff will make final edits and prepare document for production.
Deliverables: Following adoption of the Plan, staff will prepare the final document.
Staff Support: Staff will support the meeting of the Adopting Bodies and Joint Plan Commission Meeting Staff will prepare edits following Planning Commission review and any modifications that result from the adoption process.
Timeframe: Month 18 plus (to deliver document to Planning Commissions)
Copyright © 2005 - 2022 City of Fort Wayne. All Rights Reserved.


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Chef Enrique Olvera redefines Mexican food
Scarlett Lindeman, CNN • Updated 2nd March 2018
(CNN) — There's little doubt that Enrique Olvera is the world's best-known chef from Mexico.
His restaurant, Pujol, has consistently landed on San Pellegrino's list of the world's "50 Best Restaurants." Guests sometimes fly into Mexico City just to snag a midday lunch at Pujol.
He also owns three Eno loncherias branded cafes, an upscale restaurant, Moxi, in San Miguel Allende, and Manta, which overlooks a secluded beach in Los Cabos.
Olvera has become an ambassador of sorts for Mexican gastronomy, shining a light on a great world cuisine that for too long was obscured by frozen margaritas and guacamole.
The 1,000-day mole dish
For a man occupying such a powerful position, Olvera has remained remarkably humble.
He sports a sly smirk in interviews and is considerate and thoughtful: just a regular dude who happens to bridge the gap between aged culinary knowledge and modern gastronomic experimentation.
"I want Mexican food to keep moving," he tells CNN. "I understand that we have beautiful traditions. I feel very proud of those traditions, but I want to keep on building new traditions for the next generations."
His "mole madre" dish, one of his most famed, does just that. The dish is essentially sauce on a plate.
A bull's-eye is formed by two sauces. First, a pool of mole that has been simmering for months and at its center, a spoonful of freshly made mole.
The sauce is eaten with hot tortillas, swiped up until there's nothing left on the plate. It's a triumph of flavor, with layers of chilies, herbs, spices, fruits, nuts and seeds that unroll like an ancient map.
The current iteration features a "mother" mole that's been going for more than 1,000 days. The dish is typical of the kind of cooking Olvera has become legendary for -- ostensibly simple but profoundly complex, he's able to preserve tradition by tweaking and advancing it.
What inspires London chef? Mexican street food
The extremely challenging dish: Tacos
Tacos: The result of centuries of perfection.
One of the cornerstones of Pujol is a pantry of native ingredients like heirloom varieties of corn, wild greens, obscure chilies, and insects -- staples that people have relied on for centuries but receive little fanfare.
With this arsenal, the strong, indigenous roots of Mexican cuisine play out in new ways at Pujol. But referencing the past can be tricky.
"It's extremely challenging to try to work with tradition because dishes that are traditional are so well made," suggests Olvera, "That's why they become traditional, right?"
So putting a taco course on his tasting menu was especially loaded. In Mexico, tortillas are the bread of the nation and tacos the main dish.
Olvera: "I want Mexican food to keep moving."
"Tacos are so natural to us that I don't even think we think about them," Olvera explains. "If you have rice in a market, they will give you a tortilla and you'll make yourself a taco. If you are at home and you have a nopal salad, you put it into a tortilla and make yourself a taco.
"You can even make tacos out of things that are not Mexican. The way we eat is in tacos."
Eating tacos is a daily rite for most Mexico City residents: an experience as much about the atmosphere, the street corner, the strangers eating next to you, as it is about the actual product.
"Most of the time you actually get better tacos in the streets than in the restaurants. That's why we put so much attention because we know it's really hard to get a taco in a restaurant that can compete with a taco from the street."
Olvera's tacos are tacos in the sense that they feature a tortilla with a filling on a plate, but that's where the similarities to street food end.
At Pujol there are tacos with suckling lamb in a fragrant avocado leaf adobo and tacos with braised pork on a smoked tortilla with coriander, red jalapeño and chickpea puree.
Meet more chefs featured in CNN's culinary journeys here
The rise of Mexico City
Mexico City hosts a young, vibrant dining scene with a growing middle class.
In 2014, Olvera opened his first venture in the United States: Cosme, a Mexican restaurant in New York City. The venue, which was booked for months upon opening, serves a duck carnitas for two, flanked with made-in-house corn tortillas that can be fashioned into tacos at the table.
The recent rise of Mexico City as a cosmopolitan node on par with New York City or Tokyo has been swift.
Declining crime, a vibrant art scene and tiptop nightlife have all helped. And, to an extent, Pujol has too.
The city hosts a young, pulsing dining scene with Japanese izakayas, craft cocktails and American BBQ restaurants all frequented by a growing middle class. Nevertheless, the majority of the country is fueled by stews, corn tortillas and Coca Cola.
Few Mexico City residents can afford to eat at Pujol or even know what it is, but that doesn't stop Olvera from feeling a burden of responsibility about his food.
World's 23 best cities for street food
Olvera's own meeting place
Olvera says running a restaurant is an excuse to invite friends over and see them again.
"I think we can have a huge impact not only in agriculture but in the way that people eat and therefore in the health of people, in the way our cities grow, in the way that our culture is carried." He says, "It has an influence in almost every part of society."
Beyond the conceptualizing and innovation, Olvera is happy just to serve someone a good dinner. Gathering people at the table over a fantastic meal is something he remembers fondly from growing up.
"Having friends around always makes me happy. When I was younger too I invited friends over to my house and there was always somebody there, it's just fun to hang around with people that you like" while sharing a meal, he says.
The restaurant, he adds, "is only an excuse to invite them over and get to see them again."
Ultimately, his goal is contentment. Not his, but everyone who comes to eat at his restaurants.
"We are trying to make people happy. That's why we cook every day, it's our main intention."
Restaurant Pujol,Tennyson 133, Polanco, Mexico City.
A year of the world'sBest BeachesThere's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all
Go to the best beaches


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Galaxy Note 9 Android 10 update breaks cover in the UK
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 users in the UK can finally let out a sigh of relief as the Android 10 software update is now LIVE. Eager tech users have been waiting for months for the firmware update to hit the shores of the UK and this morning it finally did. The Android 10 software version […]
Galaxy Note 9 update hits UK - with Camera Night Mode
Starting from last week, the latest software/firmware update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has been available from Samsung's servers. Amongst many improvements and security fixes that this software has, the main item our readers have been waiting for is Camera Night Mode. Another useful addition to the camera is the ability to scan QR […]
Samsung Note 9 Update comes to the UK, Europe, and Asia
The Galaxy Note 9 has got a couple more features with the April 2019 security patch. This is update firmware version is N960FXXU2CSDE and began its rollout in Germany. Now, its the turn of the rest of the world to get some 'update goodness'. The Note 9 update rollout has reached the shores of the […]
Samsung Galaxy Watch gets FCC certification - Supports LTE service from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint
Yesterday, we Informed you that the Samsung Galaxy Watch would in fact run Tizen 4.0, opposed to Google's Wear OS. This news received mixed reactions from the Pro Tizen and Wear OS camps. Tizen is a solid OS that is stable, great battery life (for most users), delivers on key features, and supports a clean […]
Galaxy Watch will run Tizen 4.0
In May, Samsung trademarked the "Galaxy Watch" and "Galaxy Fit" monikers at the USPTO, suggesting its plan to bring its wearables under the Galaxy branding. Now two months later, SamMobile confirms that Samsung's next smartwatch, the successor to the Gear S3, will indeed be called the Galaxy Watch, and not Gear S4. Furthermore, they add that the upcoming Galaxy Watch will run Tizen 4.0 […]
Galaxy Watch to release on August 24, alongside the Galaxy Note 9
Samsung has already confirmed that it'll unveil its upcoming flagship, Galaxy Note 9, on August 9 at an "Unpacked event" in New York. But what the company hasn't thrown any hint on is when it's going to launch its all-new Galaxy Watch. Some reports claim it'll be launched at IFA 2018 in Berlin in early September. However, latest […]
Samsung to launch the Gear S4 / Galaxy Watch at IFA 2018
There's been plenty of speculations as to when the Samsung will launch its upcoming smartwatch. Some believe it'll be launched alongside the Galaxy Note 9 in August 9. However, new reports coming from South Korea suggests Samsung is preparing to do so at IFA 2018, scheduled to take place between August 31-September 5 in Berlin. Samsung […]
Samsung Gear S4 may run Wear OS, and measure blood pressure
Next in the pipeline for Samsung is the Galaxy Note 9, scheduled for 9 August in New York. However, it's not the Note 9 that's creating more buzz right now, but the company's upcoming smartwatch, the Gear S4. Rumors about the Gear S4 has been doing the rounds for quite some time, and they don't seem to fade […]
Samsung to Launch Bixby 2.0 with the Galaxy Note 9
Back in March 2017, Samsung launched its digital personal assistant, Bixby, alongside the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+. The South Korean tech giant launched the Bixby with much hope but unfortunately, the AI assistant hasn't really gained any traction thus far. The smart and voice assistant industry is growing fast, with Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa leading the […]


Popular Music is everywhere. Before iTunes and electronic MP3s there were cassettes and Albums or LP Long Playing vinyl. Or does your pop music go back to 78 rpm instead of 33 rpm or 45 rpm singles? Gramophone too – maybe not that popular.


While every effort is made to inform parents/guardians of a sudden unscheduled need to close schools, there is no way to assure that every parent will receive information in a timely manner to respond in their student's best interest. A heavier than predicted snowfall in winter or severe rainstorm in spring or fall may result in an early dismissal from school. School personnel make every effort to avoid sending students home outside the normal schedule.
Please make sure to download the new Manton App so that you can receive our automated call out for school closings/emergencies and other important messages.The school website will also contain this information.