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Ruth Gua, 69
Ruth Gua, 69, of Seattle, Wash., formerly of Bemidji, died on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at her home. She was born on Dec. 29, 1937, to Frank and Martha (Sand) Jackson, in Bemidji. She was the youngest of a family of 16 children. She grew up in Be...
By Pioneer staff reports
Ruth Gua, 69, of Seattle, Wash., formerly of Bemidji, died on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at her home.
She was born on Dec. 29, 1937, to Frank and Martha (Sand) Jackson, in Bemidji. She was the youngest of a family of 16 children. She grew up in Bemidji and attended Carr Lake School and graduated from Bemidji High School in 1954. She moved to Seattle in the fall of 1955 and began working at Boeing and returned to work at Boeing after her four children were adults. She married Don Gua in June 1957. He died in December 1999.
She had a buoyant, vibrant personality and enjoyed traveling and had maintained friends from grade school days.
She is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Neal) Schmidt; sons, Todd (Ophelia) Gua of Issaquah, Wash., Brad (Cindy) Gua of Renton, Wash., and Troy (fiancé Cathryn) Gua of Seattle; three grandchildren; brother, Jim Jackson of Woodbury, Minn.; sisters, Doris Sandberg of Kearney, Neb., Helen Hall of Bemidji, Jeanette Bliss of Calabasas, Calif., and Florence Humann of Edmonds, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Warren, Harris, Harold, Ted, Roy, Floyd, Melvin, Mark and Edwin; and sister, Marian.
Beavers Hockey
MEN'S HOCKEY: Lleyton Roed wins 2nd straight CCHA Rookie of the Week, 4th of season


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My Jewish Standard "Dear Rabbi Zahavy" Column for September 2015 - Going In and Going Out of Our Community
Note to my readers about the new name for my column.
Because of the "furor" over my bikini advice last month, my column has been renamed by the editor of the Jewish Standard. A prominent rabbi from Englewood had complained to her that the former column title, "Dear Rabbi" insinuates that all rabbis agree with my advice. Accordingly my editor offered to rename the column "Dear Rabbi Zahavy" to remove all ambiguity. The important rabbi from Englewood was not pleased with this proposed solution. LOL.
Here is my September column.
Dear Rabbi Zahavy,
My 20-year-old son, whom we brought up Orthodox, has decided to move to the Upper West Side and lead a secular life. My spouse and I, though disappointed, respect his decision. But my friends insist on offering me consolation for my loss, because my child has gone "Off the Derech." I feel hurt when that label is used to describe my child. And I do not feel any sense of loss. What should I say to my friends?
Pained in Passaic
Dear Pained,
To be clear to my readers, "Off the Derech" means "Off the Path." In recent years it's been used to describe those who leave the fold of Orthodoxy. It's likely that of all the words in this label it's the innocent little word "the" that is most hurtful to you. The implication and intent of OTD classification clearly is that there is one and only one acceptable path through life. In the Torah True town there is one street on which to travel. When you leave that street you are off the road. And without proper direction you are lost.
This categorization of your son may be hurtful to you for two reasons. First, no doubt there's a value judgment built into that OTD label. One lifestyle is kosher. All others are not only treif, they are path-less. And you don't want your child to be branded in that way. He has chosen another path.
Second, though you may not realize it, you are hurt by the realization that your community has created a metaphoric label based on a factually incorrect model of the world. Obviously, our open, modern, pluralistic society abounds with a myriad of paths, streets, highways, and byways through life. Most of them are productive, not destructive. To say that only one is valid and viable and worthy is a blunt denial of reality. It hurts you to realize that your community bases its thinking on that kind of skewed worldview. It hurts you to realize that your community believes and says there are only two ways, the way of Torah and the way of those who "sit idle."
This worldview is expressed most clearly in one of the prayers recited at a siyyum, the celebration of the completion of the study of a book of the Talmud:
"We are thankful before you God, our God and God of our ancestors, that you have made our portion from among those who sit in the house of study and you have not made our portion from among those who sit idle. For we wake early and they wake early. We wake early for words of Torah and they wake early for idle words. We strive and they strive. We strive and receive reward and they strive and do not receive reward. We race and they race. We race toward the afterworld and they race toward destruction, as it says: 'And you God will bring them down to destruction, men of blood and deceit will not live out half their lives, and I will trust You.'"
Right there in our liturgy is a rigidly provocative dualistic narrative depiction of the world.
Those who offer you consolation imagine that everyone must lament when a child leaves the community. In their view, the child has gone over from a pure Torah-observant life to a crude existence without direction, one that is permeated with sex and violence as portrayed by Hollywood, TV, popular music, and other expressions of modern culture.
They also expect you to grieve because they anticipate that children who leave may no longer share with their families the joys of the holidays, Shabbat, and family-based rituals and life cycle events that are cherished and make life meaningful on many levels. Your friends exhibit a genuine concern for you and your child, and may also worry lest their own children will follow suit and opt to leave the one true path.
But a comprehensive talmudic review of the world must conclude that there are many varied, wonderful, creative, and constructive valid paths through Jewish life and life in general. There are many different organized paths within Judaism: charedi, chasidic, modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. Some styles may seem more secular, but all are suffused with meaningful elements of faith and observances.
Beyond those official streams, alternative paths offer a Jewish life through affiliation and identification with the Jewish community in other ways — through charity work, JCCs, classes, travel, activism, and political support for various causes. These too are vibrant Jewish paths.
So if you wish, you can tell your friends something like this. Though your son has decided to leave their path, he has found another. It will be his own road, he is on that derech, and it is well-paved. He is not lost. You have prepared him well to contribute to the betterment of humankind, and you are confident that his road will take him in a fine and proper direction.
I come from a classical Reform Jewish background. My sister has become a baal teshuva and now keeps strictly kosher. She won't eat in my house anymore. How can I deal with this?
Boycotted in Bergenfield
Dear Boycotted,
First of all, you need to understand the nature of your sister's choice.
The Orthodox idea of the baal teshuva is based on the belief that all Jews remain members of the tribe, no matter what lifestyle they live. At any moment a Jew leading a secular lifestyle can have an awakening and decide to repent — do teshuva — and return to the Torah-true way of life.
At one time, social scientists used the term reversion for such a decision. That label and the baal teshuva label both imply that a person has chosen to return to a previous state, practice, or belief.
These are of course metaphoric fictional ways of describing becoming Orthodox as a return. In most cases that's not what's going on. The person making the choice was Jewish previously, but never was Orthodox.
The choice to become frum is in fact a bold new choice of life direction, a break with a past path and a selection of a new one. That is the fact, and that is likely how you see it. And it makes you uncomfortable that your sister won't eat with you now.
She sees it differently. She has awakened and returned. You unfortunately have not, at least not yet.
She has left what she might describe as the emptiness of a secular life, and now lives in the fullness and meaning of a busy Orthodox existence. Her life is now governed by a myriad of detailed practices that may baffle you, including all of the complex laws of a kosher kitchen.
Understand this. Your sister may once have spent her Saturdays in a perfectly proper manner of leisure. Perhaps she went shopping or maybe she had her nails done on Cedar Lane, then listened to NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," then went in the summer to swim and sit out by the pool.
But now that she has chosen another path, her Saturday is Shabbos. She goes to shul, then to Kiddush, then to the Shabbos meal, and perhaps to a nap or to a class in Chumash study (Bible). And there is no shopping, no nails, no radio, no pool.
She has opted to leave behind her previous routines for a more rigorous and structured cycle of life, governed by religious norms and prohibitions. She found her earlier life lacking and her new life more meaningful and ultimately more consequential.
And with her new way, she has decided that she now may eat only food that is kosher, prepared in utensils that are kosher, and served on dishes that are kosher. If you want her to join you in your home for dinner, you must respect and accommodate her wishes. Ask her how you can do this for her on an ad hoc basis, so that she will feel comfortable eating in your home.
It might mean you have to buy her prepared kosher food and serve it on disposable plates. There are degrees of kashrut, and you need to know her level of expectation.
Perhaps ask her to invite you over to her home so that you can see firsthand what she does to create her kosher cuisine.
If you cannot reach a negotiated mode of having her join you for dinner in your home or hers, and you do want to dine with her, then try taking her out to a nice kosher restaurant. There are many fine convenient local options for kosher dining in Teaneck and the surrounding towns.
As your question and the previous one illustrate, our community is dynamic and diverse. We need to better understand and embrace the movements in and out, and respect all of the options that are out there for living satisfying Jewish lives.
The Dear Rabbi column offers timely advice based on timeless Talmudic wisdom. It aspires to be equally respectful and meaningful to all varieties and denominations of Judaism. You can find it here on the first Friday of the month. Please mail your questions to the Jewish Standard or email DearRabbi@jewishmediagroup.com.
Tzvee Zahavy earned his Ph.D. from Brown University and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University where he studied for two years with Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and for four years with Rav J.B. Soloveitchik. He is the author many books, including these Kindle Edition e-books available at Amazon.com: "The Book of Jewish Prayers in English," "Rashi: The Greatest Exegete," "God's Favorite Prayers" and "Dear Rabbi" — which includes his past columns from the Jewish Standard and other essays.
Read more: Dear Rabbi Zahavy @ The Jewish Standard
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Central City Productions wrapped up the taping of the 34th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Friday, March 29 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
The evening's big winner was Jonathan McReynolds. The Chicago native and eOne Music recording artist's first live project, titled Make Room, swept the awards taking home eight Stellar Awards including AT&T Artist of the Year, State Farm Song of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year, Producer of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year and Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year.
Other multiple winners included Jekalyn Carr, who picked up three awards including Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year for her release One Nation Under God. The Walls Group grabbed two awards as Duo/Chorus Group of the Year and Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year for their release The Other Side. Their weekend was also punctuated by the announcement of their new label home, My Block Inc, headed by Grammy Award winning producer Warryn Campbell. Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson served as the other multiple winner. The New York native and quartet aficionado snagged the awards for Traditional Duo/Chorus of the Year and Quartet of the Year for his release Keep Pushin.
Gospel legend Delores Washington Green of The Caravans received the Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award. Grammy Award winning gospel icon Yolanda Adams and Stellar Awards Founder, Chairman & CEO Don Jackson inducted James Robinson Jr. (Malaco Gospel), Jackie Patillo (Gospel Music Association) and Phil Thornton (RCA Inspiration) into the Stellar Honors Hall of Fame.
This year's line-up of performances included an energetic medley of landmark hits from Grammy Award winner Hezekiah Walker. Kirk Franklin stirred the audience with the presentation of his latest single "Love Theory", while worship leaders Phil Thompson, Kelontae Gavin and Maranda Curtis made their Stellar Awards performance debut with a powerful medley. Other performers included Brian Courtney Wilson, Koryn Hawthorne, Todd Dulaney, Charles Jenkins, Jekalyn Carr and emerging new artists Jabari Johnson, Will McMillian and more.
The evening was punctuated by an emotional performance from Kelly Price, Erica Campbell and Regina Belle honoring the undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Brenda Corbett, Jordan Franklin and Kecalf Franklin, representing the Family of the late-legend, were presented with the inaugural Aretha Franklin ICON Award in honor of her profound impact on the Gospel music genre and unforgettable contributions.
The 34th Annual Stellar Awards, hosted by Kirk Franklin, will premiere on BET Network on Easter Sunday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT. The show will continue to air around the country in broadcast syndication from April 27 through May 26 (check local listings). For more information visit us at www.thestellarawards.com.
Check out the full listing of winners below.
This entry was posted in News, Press and tagged Jonathan McReynolds, Stellar Awards. Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.


Discover the top 10 low to moderately priced home improvements that will increase the value of a home, allowing you to create a budget and calculate potential returns on investment (ROI). Simply enter your ZIP code and start answering the questions about your home condition. There are only three short pages.
Is your carpet ready to sell?
Carpet should be clean and stain-free; absolutely no odors, i.e. pets, tobacco, mildew. No rips or faded areas.
Is your flooring ready to sell?
You should replace or repair any damaged linoleum, tiles or wood. Keep the floors clean, scratch free and sparkling.
Are your interior walls ready to sell?
Interior walls, trim, and doorways should be free from dings, scratches, or holes. Paint should be fresh with no visible faded or discolored areas. Colors should be neutral.
Are your exterior walls ready to sell?
Exterior walls, trim, and doorways should be free of gouges, scratches or holes. Paint, siding, garage and front doors should not be weathered, faded or show discolored areas.
Staging a home with fresh flowers, dinner place settings, or attractive rental furniture helps a buyer visualize a pleasant life in a new home.
On HomeGain you can check home prices, view real estate, search homes for sale and find local Realtors.
Search Real Estate, check Home Prices, and find Homes For Sale on HomeGain.


..as many of you know, I just retired from teaching this year. These boys attend my school! I know the families involved and I am heart-sick!!!
Please pray that they are found safe.
dear gina, i just read about this in the news. OMG i cannot even imagine the things the families are going through, with their sons being missing. i pray that God will cause the young children to be found safe.
Still no news!!! The 3 boys haven't been found and dad refuses to talk!!! Our little town is still praying and keeping vigils but we are all wondering why this dad is doing this!! unbelievable!


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Tyson Foods settles antibiotics class action
Posted on January 13, 2010 by Brian Frasier
Tyson Foods settled a class action suit involving its claims on labels and in advertising that its chickens are not fed antibiotics. [The Daily Record/Baltimore]
Meat processing giant Tyson Foods Inc. has settled a consumer class action brought over its controversial chicken "Raised Without Antibiotics" advertising campaign.
Under the agreement filed Tuesday night in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, individual consumers will receive as much as $50 each. The cost to Tyson is $5 million, with $600,000 set aside to cover administrative costs.
"Therefore, approximately $4.4 million will be made available for distribution to class members — without the class having to incur the considerable delay and risk of seeking relief through continued litigation and trial, as well as any subsequent appeals," the plaintiffs' attorneys, led by James P. Ulwick of Kramon & Graham P.A. in Baltimore, wrote in their motion for preliminary approval of the settlement.
The $4.4 million includes up to $20,000 in incentive awards to the four named plaintiffs and four more class members who were deposed in the case last year. Attorneys for the class also are expected to share a payment of up to $3 million, which is separate from the class members' recovery.
Best part of the story is Tyson's explanation:
"Our Raised Without Antibiotics chicken initiative, which we started in 2007, was suspended in 2008 due to labeling challenges," the spokesman, Gary Mickelson, said in an e-mailed statement this morning. "While we believe our company acted appropriately, we also believe it makes sense for us to resolve this legal matter and move on."
Labelling challenges? What does that mean?
Tyson's chickens are given feed laced with ionophores, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies as antibiotics. Ionophores fight a widespread intestinal disease in poultry but, according to Tyson, do not affect human resistance to antibiotics.
That's like blaming your driver when you hit a slice into the woods.
[HT: The Daily Record]
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged antibiotics, chicken, Class actions, Tyson Foods by Brian Frasier. Bookmark the permalink.
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IMA alum Dylan Gauthier's artist talk
IMA alum Dylan Gauthier will discuss his exhibition, Artist talk: highwatermarks, at the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Pennsylvania. His art project is an immersive video and audio installation that presents a panorama on the course of Brandywine River and its surrounding communities. Gauthier will share insights about his research and documentation of the river and his work with Brandywine Conservancy staff throughout the course of his residency, and reflect on the role and power of art to shift societal perceptions of ecological issues.
Fall 2013 iArt Show
On Friday, December 20th, from 5:00-7:00pm the Integrated Media Arts MFA and the Film and Media students will be hosting an evening of collaborative and individual works and installations which investigate space, sound and movement at the Hunter College Black Box Gallery. They will present their semester's work at iArt 2013, Engage Now, Interactive Media Explorations. Come, touch, play, experience the works and meet the artists behind them.
WHERE: The Blackbox Gallery (Room 543), Hunter College North Bldg
Come and Experience Time, Space and History Through Interactive Media
http://i-art.us/
Graduate students at Hunter College will exhibit their interactive art installations in this Fall's i-Art show, which is sure to engage your senses in the exploration of time, history and social issues. The i-Art show is a public exhibition of interactive installations exploring various technologies and equipment to detect different elements such as video, sound, and text to create real-time interactivity. Debuting on December 19th, visitors of the exhibit will experience a variety of projects that will stretch the imagination. Immerse yourself in a virtual tour of Little Syria in the Lower Manhattan during the 1920's, or an interactive documentation of the history of calypso music, or enter an intimate space through a typewriter. These are just a few of the innovative and unique installations that are featured in this Fall's show.


— Music lessons for children ages 3-93, rooted in the belief that anyone can learn.
Arron Powell Music is a Suzuki violin studio that serves the greater Memphis area, with locations in East Memphis and Olive Branch, MS.
Music is a language that everyone can learn.
Musical literacy is an essential part of literacy as a whole, and we believe everyone should have the opportunity to speak, read, and enjoy the language of music. The investment you make in music lessons provides life-long enjoyment and new ways to create and express yourself. Whether you're ready to get your child started with music or are interested to learn as an adult, violin lessons are a great place to begin!
Arron Powell is an experienced teacher who is deeply rooted in Memphis.
If you're a parent looking into music lessons for your child (or yourself!), the options can seem overwhelming. We get it, and are here to help. Arron Powell is a Memphis native who has helped many families begin their musical journey with violin. He has taught violin lessons for 19 years, is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, through which he has registered teacher training in Books 1-5, Every Child Can, and Suzuki Principles in Action.
Unlike larger programs where teachers come and go, Arron has built his life around creating and teaching music in the Memphis area. With a smaller studio, there is space and time to explore your child's interests and adapt to their individual pace and learning style. Siblings and families are always welcome, and group classes and recitals give students the opportunity to connect with their musical peers.
Yes, your child is probably ready for lessons, and no, you're not too old to start, either.
"How young can my child start violin lessons?" Children are typically able to begin violin lessons between ages 3-5, depending on the child's development and maturity level. Violin lessons are a great way to introduce your child to discipline and responsibility in a structured learning environment that moves at their pace. Arron is experienced with children of all ages and helps to keep them engaged through games and small, success-oriented steps.
If you're an adult who is interested and wondering, "Is it too late? Do I have time?" the answer is it's NEVER too late and there's always a little time to learn something that's just for you! Arron can work around your busy schedule and help you set realistic goals so that you can enjoy learning the language of music for yourself.
Build a solid foundation with Suzuki violin lessons.
The Suzuki Method was developed by Shinichi Suzuki and is based on his tried-and-true principle that anyone can learn to play music. You don't have to be a "natural" or "musically inclined" to learn this new skill! Suzuki approaches music in the same way that one learns to speak their native language — first comes hearing, then speaking, then reading. Small, success-oriented steps are the hallmark of Suzuki lessons and the method is review-based and cumulative.
The violin is a perfect first instrument that comes in a wide range of sizes, giving even the smallest of musicians the opportunity to learn. The violin is portable enough to be taken anywhere and grows with your child.
Available slots are limited—request more information today to begin on the path of learning the language of music!
It happens to every child at some point. What do you do when violin lessons aren't fun anymore?


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Harlem on a high note: The grand Harlem Opera House
November 20, 2013 January 14, 2015 Bowery Boys 2284 Views 1 Comment Apollo Theater, Edwin Booth, Harlem, Music History, opera, Oscar Hammerstein
A ton of people on-stage at the Harlem Opera House in 1907. During this period, it was owned by vaudeville impresario Keith Proctor and called Proctor's Harlem Opera House. Pictures courtesy the Museum of the City of New York
The Hotel Theresa, subject of this week's podcast, had a rather unusual neighbor in its early years.
Harlem is known for a rich musical heritage in a variety of genres, but did you know it also had very old ties to world of opera, from as far back as the 19th century?
Oscar Hammerstein was a wealthy New York cigar maker who decided to dip his toe into real estate ventures, and in a most surprising neighborhood. Thanks to the construction of the elevated railroads in the 1880s, the once-distant Harlem was now linked to the heart of the city, and thousands began moving there, particularly European Jewish immigrants.
Hammerstein built dozens of rowhouses for prospective residents, but his real vision was the Harlem Opera House (at right), constructed in 1889 and located at 207 West 125th Street, on the other side of the street from the Hotel Winthrop (later the Hotel Theresa).
For a time, it really did just showcase operatic productions, of both the severe and light varieties. According to author Jonathan Gill, "Hammerstein had a broad vision of what uptown theatergoers wanted, and he produced both popular and genteel drama and opera in English translation, an experiment that proved attractive to audiences who were willing to pay up to $2.50 a ticket."
Famous stars were drawn here from the stages of Herald Square. For instance, Edwin Booth performed Shakespeare here in 1889, a few years before his death. Lillian Russell, a favorite of the New York press, performed the show 'An American Beauty' here in March 1897.
The Opera House helped create a miniature theater district here along 125th Street. Hammerstein himself built the Columbus Theatre the following year, bringing more popular fare — namely, vaudeville. Soon the street would become one of New York's great centers of burlesque entertainment. Many years later, Hurtig & Seamon's New Burlesque Theater would open a couple doors down from the opera house, later changing its name to the Apollo Theatre.
Hammerstein, however, could not make the Harlem Opera House a financial success, and he was soon lured downtown to build his most renown theaters (and places that would later inspire his grandson Oscar Hammerstein II.) The Harlem Opera House was sold and transformed into a more traditional vaudeville house. By the 1930s, to compete with the thriving amateur nights over at the Apollo, the Harlem Opera House had its own amateur nights. Its most notable discovery is one of the greatest names in music — Ella Fitzgerald.
Below: Another view of the Opera House, here as Proctor's Opera House, courtesy NYHS. The balconies to the left belong to the Winthrop Hotel — compare this picture to the Winthrop photo here — to be replaced in a few years by the Theresa.
The Opera House was torn down in 1959. Surprisingly, it appears there was the possibility of a new opera house in Harlem being built in the late 1960s, under the guidance of Gian Carlo Menotti, but that never panned out. However, the operatic tradition lives on today with the Harlem Opera Theater, founded in 2001.
Below: You can still find the Harlem Opera House in Harlem — on the walls of the 125th subway station, in mosaic form!
← The Hotel Theresa: An historic treasure of Harlem
History in the Making 11/21: Everybody Take A Cab Edition →


Srixon irons have been modified to move even more efficiently through the turf, reducing impact resistance and tightening shot dispersion for maximum consistency and control. With different models, shafts and flexes, Srixon offers irons that will fit your swing and deliver maximum distance with pin point control.
Shop Srixon irons with confidence at GHQ1.com and enjoy the game.


The Tampa metro area is a star among Florida communities when it comes to a handful of economic measures.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater was a clear standout in population growth, life science employment, tourism spending and apartment completions, according to a new report from Wells Fargo Securities.
Overall, Florida's economy has battled back from the depths of its deepest downturn since the Great Depression and resumed its position as one of the nation's fastest-growing economies, Mark Vitner, senior economist, wrote the Florida economic outlook for May.
Florida's growth model now is "building up and playing off of the state's unique competitive advantages" and taking advantage of inherent strengths in financial services, health care, logistics and aerospace, he wrote.
Life science is a notable bright spot. Florida's life sciences industry employs 63,000 workers across the state. The Tampa metro area has the second-highest number of life science workers, more than 10,000.
Tourism spending, as measured by sales tax receipts, rose 8.8 percent in 2015, with the bulk of the increase coming from Orlando, Miami and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.
The housing market statewide has slowly and steadily improved since the it went bust in 2006-2007, but home sales have slowed in recent months, the report said. Apartment construction, however, has been "robust," across Florida's major markets. The report said there were 426 apartment units completed in the Tampa metro in Q1 2016.
Construction of apartments and condominiums will remain close to its recent pace for the rest of the year, Vitner said, but starts of new high-end condominiums will likely pull back a bit, as buyers from Russia and Latin America put off purchases due to economic uncertainties in those economies as well as the stronger value of the dollar relative to their currencies.
The complete report is here.
A cost of living report released Monday indicates the Tampa metro area has a lower cost of living than cities like Denver, Phoenix, Dallas and Atlanta, and has the lowest in Florida.
For the second consecutive year, a Cost of Living Index report from the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. found that the Tampa area has the lowest cost of living in the state, scoring 91.6 on the 2015 index, compared to a national average of 100.
"What this score means is that Tampa metro's housing, groceries, gas, clothing and health care costs are all lower than the national average," said Randy Smith, director of research for the Tampa Hillsborough EDC, in a statement.
The Tampa metro has been occupying the first and second spot for affordability in Florida since 2011, the statement said. The EDC looks at consumer goods price variations on things like food, apartment rent, appliance repair and recreational activities like bowling.
However, exclusive data developed by American City Business Journals in 2015 showed thatTampa Bay — and other Florida cities — are in the bottom 25 percent of metropolitan areas nationwide for purchasing power.
One of the reasons for that was that it costs more to live here.
Jo-Lynn Brown is Digital and Social Engagement Manager for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment LLC have formed Strategic Property Partners to lead a billion-dollar, mixed-use development on the land Vinik owns between the Channel district and the central business district. The port's vision is not connected to those plans, but port and city officials say it would be complementary — and that the buzz created by those plans would bolster the port's plans.
"As we continue developing our master plan, we look forward to continued discussions with port leadership to see where the projects might meld together into the best possible solution for Tampa's downtown waterfront," a Lightning spokesman wrote in an email Thursday.
SPP has a ground lease with the port for Channelside Bay Plaza.
The port's vision will keep those conversations going, Conn said, combined with other ambitious developments that are in the works: Related Group's plans to demolish The Tampa Tribune and build a residential building in its place and Feldman Equities CEO Larry Feldman's proposal to build a 52-story tower on the downtown riverfront.
"It continues to say good things about our downtown that we are even talking about projects of that size and scope," Conn said.
At this point, Anderson said, the port is planning to work with private developers on a ground lease basis. He said the port may be open to selling some parcels but will "never" sell anything on the waterfront.
The ground lease structure may make it difficult to lure in developers, Conn said, because it can complicate the financing. To secure a loan for a new development on leased land, a lender typically requires the land owner — in this case, the port — to subordinate its position in the deal. If the developer were to default, the lender's claims in a foreclosure lawsuit would take priority over the land owner's.
The vision unveiled Thursday is a very ambitious one that includes two "landmark towers," each up to 75 stories tall. Anderson said the port's research shows the market is ready.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn sees the birth of "a livable, walkable, pedestrian-oriented neighborhood" in North Hyde Park.
TAMPA — The legend of Kennedy Boulevard being the great dividing line between Cool Tampa and the rest of the city may be fading.
The latest evidence? A residential boom appears imminent in North Hyde Park, a neighborhood of former warehouses and light industry just north of Kennedy that has been targeted for several new apartment, town home and mixed-use projects.
The Cardinal Point project would have 23 town homes along North B and Fig streets and light retail facing Rome between those two streets. It joins a series of proposed and recently completed projects in the same strip.
Southport Financial Services has filed paperwork for a 90-unit apartment complex at 707 N. Rome Ave.
Construction continues on Lennar at West End Townhomes, with 39 units ultimately for sale along Oregon Avenue and Lemon Street.
Phase II of the recently completed NoHo Flats apartment complex between Gray and Fig streets will get underway this summer, with the 274-unit Havana Square apartments rising across Rome Avenue from NoHo Flats.
Those complexes join Vintage Lofts at West End, a seven-story complex with 528 units at Rome and Cypress Street that was built before the recession.
Though downtown Tampa, with the University of South Florida medical school relocation and developer Jeff Vinik's megapresence, has received the lion's share of attention in redevelopment circles, the city has been looking west.
It has established a West Tampa Community Redevelopment Area that includes North Hyde Park, a designation that earmarks future tax revenue from increased property values to improvements within the area. It has a West River Redevelopment Plan intended to diversify and economically integrate that area, and the city has allocated $8 million with an expected total pledge of $30 million for a dramatic revision of Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
Anthony Everett, director for central Florida for Pollack Shores Real Estate Group, said Kennedy Boulevard no longer is the symbolic barrier it once was. The original Hyde Park and south-of-Howard Avenue, or "SoHo," neighborhoods remain among the city's elite addresses, but skyrocketing home and land costs are pushing development north, he said.
Another key development driver in the North Hyde Park area is Tampa General Hospital, which is in the final planning stages for a satellite facility on the site of the former Ferman auto dealership in the 1300 block of Kennedy. That four-story facility, including an urgent care center, clinical diagnostics lab with full imaging services, ambulatory surgery capability, a pharmacy, procedure rooms and two floors of physician offices, is expected to be home to several hundred medical personnel, said Michael Gorsage, TGH's senior vice president for strategic services and business development.
Meanwhile, the Bryan Glazer Family Jewish Community Center is emerging from the old Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory on the neighborhood's western border. It will include a preschool, recreational amenities, health and wellness services and art space.
The city may have acknowledged the potential of North Hyde Park, but neighborhood groups say the area needs more than just words in a master plan.
Ben Buckley, head of the North Hyde Park Civic Association, said city codes adopted in automobile-centric post-World War II Tampa are an impediment to creating a live-work-play environment.
He and Rob Dubsky, past president of the New Hyde Park Alliance business group, point out the lack of sidewalks and streetlights and severe flooding issues along Cass Street, which has been identified as a key segment of the city's "Green Spine" car-bike-pedestrian route from the Glazer Family JCC to Cuscaden Park.
Buckley and Dubsky are pushing for a city planner to assume a role similar to that of Jeff Speck, a renowned urban planner hired by Vinik to marshal the Tampa Bay Lightning owner's plan to develop the downtown core.
Dubsky said he was thwarted from opening a North Hyde Park retail shop because of antiquated parking requirements. His target customer base would have been pedestrians in the bustling Rome Avenue residential stretch.
He remains sold on the area and holds three properties within North Hyde Park.
"I knew that the area would change. Well, lo and behold, it has," Dubsky said. "You've got millions being pumped into that Julian B. Lane park, you've got Tampa General Hospital coming around this summer on the old Ferman lot, the University of Tampa on the southeast side just blowing up, and on the west side, the Jewish Community Center coming.
TAMPA — In December, Jeff Vinik unveiled his $1 billion vision to transform 40 acres of downtown property into a vibrant waterfront district. He asked the public to help shape it.
Now it's time to ask the experts.
Vinik has hired two men considered among the best in the business: "new urbanists" Jeff Speck and David Dixon are city planners at the forefront of the movement to build walkable urban spaces for people to live and work in.
Speck's hiring leaked out last week and Dixon's was announced on Tuesday, when the mission for both also was made public. They will create the guidelines that builders will use to fulfill Vinik's "vision plan" of creating a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly space to unite the district and connect it to the water.
In short, they will design the ground floor of Vinik's urban redevelopment project.
Dixon and Speck will lead a team of architectural designers, residential and retail planners, and transportation and traffic engineers who will answer those questions.
"We need to give the architects that will be (designing) the individual buildings in the project a firm understanding of what their urban obligations are," Speck said.
But there's more to it than that. Most urban construction takes place in designated sites. Architects don't have to worry about also designing the surrounding areas.
What Vinik wants the two urban planners to do is something entirely different: create a new neighborhood and business district from scratch.
Dixon, 67, will lead the master plan team. He's also the senior principal and urban design group leader for the urban design arm of Stantec, an international engineering firm. Dixon was named to Residential Architect magazine's hall of fame in 2012.
Speck, 51, will serve as consulting design leader. He has his own Washington D.C. firm, Speck & Associates LLC. He's also a vocal proponent of new urbanism — creating neighborhoods that are hospitable to pedestrians and offer a variety of employment and living options — as well as a vociferous critic of suburban sprawl and auto-dependency.
Vinik brought Speck on board after reading his book, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time. Vinik liked the book so much he bought copies for his entire staff.
Vinik called Speck over the winter holidays and asked him to come see his project. Speck was vacationing with his parents in Sarasota's Siesta Key and tried to beg off. But he'd already heard of Vinik's project, and couldn't say no to the former hedge fund star.
Speck signed up, and so did Dixon. The two know each other through their work as proponents of new urbanism. But this is their first project together.
They have four months to come up with a plan.
Vinik owns the leases to the Amalie Arena and Channelside Bay Plaza and he owns the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina outright. But he also owns about 25 acres of barren, blighted lots connecting those properties.
All of his holdings are within walking distance of the Tampa Convention Center, the Florida Aquarium, the Tampa Bay History Center, the Channel District neighborhood and a public waterfront park, Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park.
Dixon said Vinik's project has the most promise of any current urban redevelopment effort he's seen.
"Nobody has 40 acres," he said.
Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Contact Jamal Thalji at thalji@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3404. Follow @jthalji.
Please join us for the Florida Executive Realty Divots for the Deaf 2015 Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Hillsborough and Pinellas Countys' Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community!
When: May 18, 2015 Lunch & fun starts at 11:30am, tee off is at 1:00pm.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE FUN, SIGN UP, AND HELP THOSE WITH HEARING LOSS!
CLICK HERE to download a PDF that delineates the sponsorship costs and benefits and more information about the day's events.
Did you know? The Tampa Bay area is the third largest in the USA with over 400,000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals? One of our agent's wife, Cindy, had profound hearing loss in her 30′s and became totally deaf. She decided to have Cochlear Implant surgery and it has helped her hear again. The struggle to be in a hearing world is challenging. We take many things for granted when it comes to hearing, but the reality is that movie theaters, museums, amusement parks, grocery stores, public agencies, and other businesses rarely have accommodations such as closed captioning for those with hearing loss. As our population grows older and suffers from hearing loss (like Cindy and those that have been living with this disability for their entire life or recently) we need to make changes.
Help us support these wonderful organizations. I encourage you to go to each of their websites to see what wonderful things they are doing.
TAMPA — Construction project manager Carl Giovenco carefully walks atop a freshly laid concrete pad that forms the top, 23rd floor of the SkyHouse tower as welders and steelworkers form a frenzy of buzzing and pounding all around — seemingly immune to the knee-wobbling heights.
Looking into what will be an immense swimming pool on this rooftop deck, Giovenco muses aloud, "This actually will end up being the highest swimming pool in all of Tampa Bay. Not a bad view when you're swimming." Below — well below — are The Florida Aquarium, Amalie Arena and much of downtown Tampa, and off in the distance are sights such as Raymond James Stadium, Davis Islands and Tampa Bay.
"SkyHouse" is not just a brand name. Rather than rent the top floors to just one resident, the whole SkyHouse tower is named for an immense penthouse apartment at the top that any of the tower's residents may use, essentially as an extension of their living rooms and as a sky-high version of the courtyard clubhouses in mere four- or five-story apartment complexes.
Soon, residents of this Channel District tower at 112 N. 12th St. will be able to splash in the pool while sipping a cocktail, lounge about watching gigantic flat-screen TVs or cool off in a living room with pool table, arcade and gigantic TV. There's even an artificial turf "lawn" where residents can lounge on Adirondack chairs with a beverage.
Today, top executives of the development team will hold a "topping out" ceremony, a traditional milestone in a tower's construction when workers reach the highest point of a planned structure. As is traditional in the construction community, they will attach a pine tree atop for good luck, and probably a giant American flag and flag of Batson-Cook, the construction company in charge, and one for Novare Group, the overall developer behind similar SkyHouse towers across the country.
SkyHouse will have plenty of competition in Tampa because of a series of towers sprouting up downtown, putting each tower in a head-to-head competition for high-earning millennial renters who have come to expect over-the-top luxuries: posh yoga studios, cocktail lounges, wine lockers and blistering-fast Internet speeds.
♦The Residences at the Riverwalk may boast the highest height, at 36-stories, with 380 units planned adjacent to the Straz Center along the Hillsborough River. After dismissal of lawsuits seeking to block the project, the tower is well into the planning phase, and Tampa expects to begin rerouting some streets to straighten out the now-twisted routes around the Straz and make way for a promenade of shops and restaurants.
♦That tower is backed by Greg Minder of Intown Group and Phillip Smith of Framework Group, who also are planning for a new tower on Harbour Island called — for now — the Harbour Island Apartments. That 21-story tower at the northeast corner of Knights Run Avenue and Harbour Post Drive could see completion in 2016. It will have 235 units, including several two-story units near the base. Compared with other residential towers in the area that focus on studio and one-bedroom apartments, this site is characterized by developers as more of a luxury living complex with hotel-like services.
♦Nearby, South Florida-based Related Group plans to build a 21-story, 340-unit tower at 402 Knights Run Ave. with a parking garage across the street.
♦The Martin at Meridian in the Channel District will be a 24-story tower with 316 units. That project has been proposed in several forms during the peaks and valleys of the housing market and is a frequent target of speculation for a downtown grocery store.
♦Atlanta-based Carter & Associates plans a yet-unnamed tower that will take up an entire block in the core of downtown, bordered by Florida Avenue, Cass Street, Franklin Street and Tyler Street. That project could include 375 units in an L-shaped 23-story tower. If all goes according to plan, that tower could break ground in the beginning of 2015.
♦Sugar producer Florida Crystals Corp. this summer bought a Channel District property for $3.8 million and plans to build 270 luxury apartments on the former Amazon Hose & Rubber Co. site at 222 N. 12th St.
♦Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik plans to put a hotel-resident combination tower at Florida Avenue and Old Water Street. Though largely a hotel, that property may include 50 luxury residences. If built like other hotel-apartment projects nationwide by Ritz-Carlton and Hyatt, the property would offer residents the concierge and gourmet room service of a five-star hotel.
♦Though not technically a tower, the new Crescent Bayshore apartment complex at Bayshore Boulevard and Beach Place significantly ramped up the luxury level of apartments near downtown when it formally opened this year with a two-story fitness center, a yoga studio overlooking the bay, a business lounge and a Resident Club Room with wine bottle lockers.
Tampa towers have competition from new condos and apartments across the bay as well.
♦The 18-story Bliss condo project, planned to overlook Beach Drive from Fourth Avenue in St. Petersburg, will feature floor-to-ceiling windows in all bedrooms to take in views of Tampa Bay, with private elevator foyers and car lifts to whisk residents to their parking spaces on the first few floors.
♦The Salvador, a 13-story tower at Second Street South and Dalí Boulevard in St. Petersburg, will offer a concierge staff five days a week, a third-floor deck with a spa and heated saltwater pool, and gas cooktops in all 74 condo homes.
♦Just outside downtown St. Petersburg, the Water Club at Snell Isle gives residents direct access to the water, with boat slips and plenty of space to entertain guests at a waterside cabana, resort swimming pool and whirlpool spa.
♦Many of the rental apartment complexes going up in the city also offer amenities like the 3,000-square-foot fitness center at Beacon 430, at 430 3rd Ave. S., that will be open 24 hours a day with in-house exercise classes.
As for who will live in all these new towers, developers of each project are targeting a similar set of demographics: millennials primarily, but also suburbanites who are moving downtown for entertainment options and empty-nesters who no longer wish to keep up with the maintenance of a full-size house and yard.
The tower boom isn't likely to slow down anytime soon, said Sean Williams, a commercial real estate broker with CBRE who specializes in apartment properties. To compete, their amenities likely will grow more posh. He's seeing towers go up with full-time concierge services, multiple lounges and cafes, business conference rooms for work-at-home entrepreneurs, virtual golf simulators and even small bowling alleys.
The particularly high level of rents the Crescent project drew only helped give investors more confidence in financing new towers.
Staff writer Joshua Boatwright contributed to this report.
New Outlet Mall in Wesley Chapel!
Retail behemoth Simon Property Group has confirmed that construction on Tampa Premium Outlets is under way and said that the property is slated to open in October 2015.
Indianapolis-based Simon said in its third-quarter earnings report Wednesday that construction began on the 441,000-square-foot project in the third quarter. Simon paid $14.6 million for the site in early October, according to Pasco County property records. Pasco planning officials approved Simon's construction plans shortly before the sale closed.
The mall will be located at the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel. Click here to see Simon's leasing flyer.
A Simon spokesman declined comment on the outlet mall beyond the information in the release. It's not clear if the previously announced anchor, Saks Off Fifth, is still committed to the deal, though it's unlikely Simon would close on the land without a deal with an anchor tenant in place.
The Tampa Premium Outlets are part of $2.2 billion pipeline of Simon developments, the company said, a number of which are outlet malls, located throughout the country. More retailers are embracing their outlet concepts, putting outlet stores closer to their mainline locations.
Check Out Luxury Portfolio Magazine!


Here are some suggestions for a media themed Valentine's Day gift!
There aren't many albums where I like every song, but Florence and the Machine's Lungs is one.
This is a great book for a Valentine's gift not just because it has cute short stories from real life NY Times food writer Amanda Hesser but it has recipes from Amanda that you can try out yourself!
Some of the Mr Latte recipes are ridiculously easy but incredibly good. My fave: dark chocolate on baguette rounds w/ sea salt.
I haven't tried that one! I must now!


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Keyword Search of lswa
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The Institute for the Humanities selected Shelley Manis as one of its Summer Fellows
See a brief Q&A with Shelley Manis about this opportunity, gifting her the time to focus on writing her first book and to support seven other lecturers and tenure-track faculty colleagues from a range of disciplines in this eight-week summer program.
We congratulate LHSP instructor Shelley Manis on being named one of the Summer Fellows. Shelley has been one of LHSP's instructors for six years. Recent LHSP students may have had a class with Shelley, as she taught LHSP 125.006 "Our TV, Our Selves" in Fall 2018 and LHSP 230.001 Hamilsations: How a Concept Album-Turned Mega-Musical Challenges Everything We Thought We Knew about U.S. History" in Winter 2019.
You can learn more about the Institute for the Humanities and its Summer Fellows program specifically here, as this program is in its second year.
Questions and Answers with Instructor Shelley Manis:
Q: What will you be working on this summer?
A: I'll be working on my first book, weaves together writing studies and performance, bringing theatrical theories and techniques into the writing classroom to enrich invention, development of argument, and collaboration/peer review--an approach not yet fully articulated in the rich literature in either writing/rhetorical studies or theater/performance studies. I want to model treating a writing classroom like a blackbox rehearsal and performance space. Why not move beyond figuring ourselves as performing when we teach, and beyond thinking of writing as metaphorical performance, and into training student writers to invent, draft, revise, and collaborate in an embodied way? My book will build on existing research in writing and performance by arguing for teaching writing AS performance.
Q: What are you most excited about in regard to the chance to be part of this intellectual community? ("Both cohorts will take up residence at the institute during their respective fellowship periods, forming an intellectual community while pursuing original research and participating in regular, cross-disciplinary fellows' seminars.")
A: I'm super-excited to be in a community of writers whose only responsibility in that space is to work on our writing. I'm equally excited to hear about the work my colleagues are doing on a daily basis and read work in progress throughout the summer. I tell my students all the time that reading a peer's work is one of the best ways to gain insight into your own, and it's true! Also, because we're all coming from disparate disciplines, I'm looking forward to the kinds of idiosyncratic bits of inspiration that tend to spark in environments where everyone is trained to research and write and think differently.
Q: How has this book project already or how do you think your time as a Summer Fellow will impact your instructing of courses, like your LHSP ones? :)
A: My work at Sweetland is already driven by ongoing research in rhetoric and writing as well as in performance and dramaturgical practice. I believe integrating performance techniques into writing classrooms can help writers embody processes that facilitate "sticky" learning and skills transfer. One way this affected my teaching most recently is in a new project I designed for my Hamilton course. The project was a series of roundtables in which each student, for one class session, assumed the role of one of the authors whose work we'd read for that day and participated in a roundtable with the other "authors," moderated by me. It was a little clunky this time around because it was the first time on its feet, but I could see students find their own authority by creating personas/character studies in order to embody the authority and positions of scholars we'd read for the course. Shout out to my students, who were 100% game to try this, even those who have zero desire to act! I'll be using this summer, in part, to revise that assignment and develop more.
Lloyd Scholars for Writing and the Arts
record.umich.edu/articles/institute-humanities-names-fellows-summer-and-2019-20
100 S. Observatory Street
lswa@umich.edu


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World Business News
A round up of the latest news for those doing business internationally
Asia Pacific round-up
Zone(s): Asia Pacific Region ¦ Sector(s): Trade, Economy, Law
[20 June 2014, Public Finance International] This article provides a round-up of public finance news stories from Asia Pacific you might have missed this week.
China's audit office reveals crucial role in anti-graft crackdown: As Xi Jinping's anti-graft crackdown enters its second year, media attention has recently turned to one of the campaign's powerful – but silent – allies: the audit office. While it is common knowledge that audits have given important leads for anti-corruption officials, the National Audit Office has mostly worked behind the scenes, as it keeps its inner workings confidential. (South China Morning Post)
BOJ becomes top holder of Japan government bonds: The Bank of Japan has become the biggest holder of the country's sovereign debt for the first time, showing how the central bank's aggressive monetary easing has transformed the debt market. (Wall Street Journal)
Indonesian government minister targeted in graft inquiry: Indonesia's powerful anti-corruption agency has named the religious affairs minister a suspect in a graft case involving state funds allocated for the hajj pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims. (The Guardian)
10% relief in salaries and pensions in Punjab Budget: The Punjab government on Friday announced a 10% increase in salaries of public servants and pensions of retired employees in the budget for fiscal year 2014-15 while the monthly minimum wages of labourers has been increased to 12,000. (Pakistan Tribune)
Families of shipwrecked immigrants sue Australia: Relatives of dozens of asylum seekers who were killed in a shipwreck off Christmas Island in 2010 have launched a legal case against Australia. (BBC)
China's SAFE is biggest public sector holder of equities: Central banks worldwide have become major players in global equity markets, with a recent report showing that China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) is the largest public sector holder of equities, according to Shanghai's China Business News. (Want China Times)
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Search VA Arrest Records Free for 5 Days!
The Virginia State Police Department is the official agency in charge of criminal arrest records. This role is organized under its Bureau of Administrative and Support Services (BASS). The direct office within BASS responsible for this service is the Criminal Justice Information Services Division. It operates the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) which functions as the central database for all arrest records of the state. The records maintained at the CCRE are categorized into 2 groups – Criminal Justice and Non-Criminal Justice. Records in the former group are available to criminal justice entities on the state and national level while those in the latter group are for conducting arrest record searches by non-criminal justice entities and/or individuals for employment purposes. Authorized non-criminal justice agencies can conduct criminal record checks from remote computers through an online system called the Non- Criminal Justice Interface (NCJI).
Only approved organizations are allowed by NCJI to conduct name-based searches of third parties. The required charge per name is $15. For employers requesting fingerprint-based searches, a cost of $13 per search is required. A signed and notarized criminal record name search form along with the $15 fee must be submitted by the requesting party. To obtain another person's arrest account, the subject's signature is required on the form as well.
Virginia Criminal History Search contact info.
Safeguards and regulation to obtaining such sensitive information through public channels are undeniably necessary. In effect, that would entail quite some degree of effort and time on the part of those seeking them. The practical alternative to that is to turn to private information brokers. Many good commercial arrest records providers are readily found online nowadays.


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BehaviorSMART™
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5 Travel Behaviours we expect to see in 2023
Last year was one of highs and lows for the tourism industry. Full of optimism for the post-pandemic travel boom, but plagued by wide-scale disruption and uncertainty as the sector scrabbled to adjust after a two-year hiatus. But while there are still plenty of lessons to learn and service improvements to make, the great travel comeback gave us plenty to look forward to in 2023. Because if last year taught us anything, it's that people value their freedom to travel and enjoy leisure experiences. We expect the energy and enthusiasm for enriching travel adventures to continue this year, but despite their desire to get away, many are going to have to take extra financial, emotional and practical considerations into account when planning and booking their trips and leisure getaways.
Our Chief Behavior Officer, Milena Nikolova, offers an expert outlook on what the industry can expect from travellers in 2023 and reveals the five most influential travel behaviours we'll be watching this year.
1) Seeking smart-leisure breaks
People will seek smart ways to enjoy the benefits of travel and leisure, without adding to mounting financial pressures caused by the cost of living.
We expect that uncertainty and the rising cost of living will sober many who indulged last year in post-COVID-19 revenge travel. In 2023, we expect that travellers will become comparably more conservative when it comes to leisure spending. But there is a nuance that makes this downturn different – the recent pandemic offered us all a renewed appreciation of the benefits of travel, solidifying the importance we assign to leisure experiences and their contribution to our overall health and wellbeing. Border closures and restrictions gave us a chance to learn that these joys of leisure time might be found much closer and without flying to dream destinations. We expect that despite the squeeze on their finances many will retain their strong appetite for leisure experiences but will seek to satisfy it through smart-leisure breaks—taking shorter escapes to places that are closer to home but that still offer relaxation and rejuvenation, exploration and fun.
We saw this behaviour take hold last year, with the rise of micro-vacations; one or two-night stays in hotels, cottages and resorts just a short journey from home. These low-effort escapes promise a truly relaxing slow-down without the stress of potential cancellations, delays and long journeys. A recent survey of 5'000 Europeans found that 28.5% were planning a domestic holiday in the next 6 months, while 35.5% were planning on holidaying in a neighbouring European country so our expectation for 2023 is that smart-leisure escapes will increasingly fulfil travel desires without unwanted costs and hassle.
2) Relocating to reduce costs and maximise enjoyment
Digital nomads with flexible situations and working arrangements will discover the benefits of relocating to budget-friendly, sun-drenched destinations to save money and maximise travel opportunities.
The cost-of-living crisis shows little sign of waning in 2023, especially in colder parts of Europe, where energy bills are soaring and grocery shopping is costly, impacting people's quality of life across the continent. We expect that this will power another visible travel behaviour pattern. The spread of the digital nomad culture, combined with the growing acceptance of the work-from-anywhere culture for professions that do not require permanent physical presence at the office is likely to fuel smart escapes from higher bills. Young professionals without the commitments of families or location-specific responsibilities are becoming increasingly savvy to the benefits of relocating to spend a few months on a Greek island or a small town along the Portuguese coast. Temporary escapes to warmer parts of Europe or elsewhere around the world would allow them to combine lower cost of living with all the joys of an extended getaway — new gourmet experiences, a change of scenery, immersion in local culture, a milder climate and no tourist crowds!
We expect that this emerging travel pattern will create new market opportunities for sunnier destinations and businesses that are based there, especially if they move fast to meet the demands of this audience. From offering co-working or other flexible work setups to packaging cost-effective accommodation, food service and tour offerings for extended stays, businesses who tap into the specific needs of digital nomads will benefit from their spending power.
Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash
3) Expecting sustainability-as-norm
Travellers have good intentions when it comes to having a positive impact on the places they visit, but they find it hard to take on the responsibility for that and will increasingly expect travel companies to take the lead in making sustainability effortless.
Climate and sustainability are increasingly top of mind for our societies and all of us as individuals. But with so much pressure to reduce the footprint of everyday living, many will seek to escape sustainability anxiety during holidays. This will lead to growing frustration that suppliers of hospitality and leisure services don't take environmental considerations and responsibilities seriously and do not make responsible consumption effortless for their clients. Companies and service providers who are smart about this growing demand for change will begin realigning their operations to make responsible consumption easier. Designing out plastics where possible, relying on local suppliers where possible, pointing to healthier options where possible; all efforts to introduce smart changes in the design of holiday and leisure experiences will be appreciated by travellers who are increasingly sustainability-conscious, but desire some peace of mind.
As recently discussed in our blog, travel tech has an especially big role to play here. With the digitalisation of so many hospitality and leisure services – from ordering food to planning our holidays – technology players have the power to scale responsible consumption without extra cost or hardship. If travel tech companies prioritise effortless sustainability they can become catalysts of the faster (and much needed) transition to sustainability as a norm. We foresee that those who lead in this will gain more consumer appeciation while those who wait will fall victim to the growing pressure from a frustrated clientele.
4) Attracted by creative circularity
People are interested in smart creative solutions embracing circular principles without the need for dramatic transformations.
Growing sustainability awareness leads us to understand that endless growth isn't compatible with healthy human populations and a healthy planet. There are many systems in our societies that are inefficient and unsustainable by design. Their transformation or replacement will take time but there is growing understanding that even in the existing realities much can be improved by smart changes in our behaviour. In some societies, we are already seeing consumer patterns shift away from outright consumerism in favour of smart ways to align everyday living with the principles of circularity. From pre-loved fashion to micro-mobility rental platforms, globally, 72% of people are looking to adopt circular practices and contribute to efficient use of existing resources. This year, people will continue to embrace smart solutions that enable them to be active, to travel and experience the joys of leisure and optimise their footprint while doing so.
Destinations and travel businesses will benefit from finding creative ways to align with circular principles within existing infrastructure. What does this mean? For one, access to and availability of on-demand services must remain a priority; from rental bikes, scooters and other forms of transport, these services help tourists who already participate in these schemes and services at home feel like they are enjoying destinations in a low-impact way like the locals. Smart menu designs that minimise food waste are another example of how circularity can be embraced in ways that can even help cut costs. Similarly, hotels can source second-hand furniture as a means of reducing their impact and promoting the avoidance of unnecessary extraction of raw materials. Such smart circularity tactics will be appreciated by a conscious travel audience while offering companies opportunities for co-creation with local communities and cultures.
Photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash
5) Choosing to take it back-to-basics
After a tumultuous few years, people are seeking to reconnect with themselves, other people and Mother Nature, by shedding the baggage of modern life and taking it back-to-basics.
Awareness of the importance of wellbeing will grow as people deal with the post-pandemic realities, the pressures of climate anxiety and the sobering reality that peace is not a given even in the 21st century. The need to rebalance their lives will drive further demand for experiences that present the opportunity to reconnect with nature, and benefit from its power to rejuvenate them as people and to restore harmony with their inner selves, and each other. Short leisure escapes and longer holiday trips will increasingly be seen as opportunities for many to take it back-to-basics; 55% of travellers surveyed said they want to take an off-grid holiday in 2023 and 58% said they wanted to learn survival skills like lighting fires without matches and sourcing drinking water.
This interest in simple living and outdoor activities in nature offers many destinations the opportunity to attract travellers with their natural landscapes and wilderness, while tourism businesses can further develop nature or adventure-based experiences that tap into the growing desire to explore, learn, connect and reflect away from the daily grind in harmony with Mother Nature.
Got some thoughts on our travel behaviours for 2023, or want to speak to Milena to learn more about how understanding human behaviour can support your plans for the year? Get in touch.
January 10, 2023 /0 Comments/by Milena Nikolova
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CIPR's CAPSIG partners with Marketing in Construction Summit 2020
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CAPSIG members will be able to benefit from an exclusive discount of over £100 to attend next year's Marketing in Construction Summit.
A spin-off from UK Construction Week, the event will bring together PR and marketing specialists from across the sector to learn about the latest trends in built environment communications and network with their peers.
The one-day conference will take place at CentrEd at ExCeL London on 12th February 2020.
Speakers are starting to be announced, including a slot for CAPSIG Chair, Dan Gerrella. He will be presenting the CIPR's "Crisis Management for Terrorist Related Events" guidance, which he co-authored alongside fellow CIPR members Sarah Pinch and Claire Spencer.
It's great to be able to partner with an event targeted specifically at communicators in the property and construction sector.
It's an opportunity to get together and discuss some of the major issues facing the industry and how communicators can play a role in solving them.
I'm looking forward to presenting the CIPR's terror guidance as it is something that is extremely important to those working in the built environment, as physical assets and public spaces are often the target.
Owners and managers of spaces where large numbers of the public gather are at risk, including shopping malls, stadia and venues, hospitals, schools and universities, and cultural buildings. The same is true of infrastructure providers, such as communications, energy and transport hubs.
Anyone working within communications for these types of organisations will benefit from finding out more about the guidance at the event, including how to prepare, manage and recover from the crisis.
Dan Gerrella, Chair of CAPSIG
CIPR members interested in attending the event are entitled to an exclusive discount. Use code CIPR149 to book tickets for £149 +VAT (full price ticket is £275).
Click here to book.
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is by far the biggest member organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).
Jon Gerlis
Public Relations and Policy Manager
jong@cipr.co.uk


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Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Each advisory committee listed below is continued until September 30, 2005.
(a) Committee for the Preservation of the White House; Executive Order 11145, as amended (Department of the Interior).
(b) National Infrastructure Advisory Council; Section 3 of Executive Order 13231, as amended (Department of Homeland Security).
(c) Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health; Executive Order 12196, as amended (Department of Labor).
(d) President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Executive Order 13256 (Department of Education).
(e) President's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities; Executive Order 13270 (Department of Education).
(f) President's Commission on White House Fellowships; Executive Order 11183, as amended (Office of Personnel Management).
(g) President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities; Executive Order 12367, as amended (National Endowment for the Arts).
(h) President's Committee on the International Labor Organization; Executive Order 12216, as amended (Department of Labor).
(i) President's Committee on the National Medal of Science; Executive Order 11287, as amended (National Science Foundation).
(j) President's Council on Bioethics; Executive Order 13237 (Department of Health and Human Services).
(k) President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; Executive Order 13265 (Department of Health and Human Services).
(l) President's Export Council; Executive Order 12131, as amended (Department of Commerce).
(m) President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee; Executive Order 12382, as amended (Department of Homeland Security).
(n) Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee; Executive Order 12905 (Office of the United States Trade Representative).
Sec. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Executive Order, the functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act that are applicable to the committees listed in section 1 of this order shall be performed by the head of the department or agency designated after each committee, in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the Administrator of General Services.
Sec. 3. The following Executive Orders, or sections thereof, which established committees that have terminated or whose work is completed, are revoked:
(a) Sections 5 through 7 of Executive Order 13111, as amended by Executive Order 13188 and Section 3(a) of Executive Order 13218, pertaining to the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Expanding Training Opportunities;
(b) Executive Order 12975, as amended by Executive Orders 13018, 13046, and 13137, establishing the National Bioethics Advisory Commission;
(c) Executive Order 13227, as amended by Executive Order 13255, establishing the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education;
(d) Executive Order 13278, establishing the President's Commission on the United States Postal Service;
(e) Executive Order 13210, establishing the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security;
(f) Sections 5 through 8 of Executive Order 13177, pertaining to the establishment of the President's Council on the Use of Offsets in Commercial Trade;
(g) Executive Order 13263, establishing the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health;
(h) Executive Order 13214, establishing the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans; and
(i) Executive Order 13147, as amended by Executive Order 13167, establishing the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy.
Sec. 4. Executive Order 13225 is superseded.
Sec. 5. Section 1-102(a) of Executive Order 12131, as amended, is further amended to read as follows:
"(a) The heads of the following executive agencies or their representatives:
(1) Department of State.
(2) Department of the Treasury.
(3) Department of Agriculture.
(4) Department of Commerce.
(5) Department of Labor.
(6) Department of Energy.
(7) Department of Homeland Security.
(8) Office of the United States Trade Representative.
(9) Export-Import Bank of the United States.
(10) Small Business Administration."
Sec. 6. This order shall be effective September 30, 2003.
THE WHITE HOUSE,


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Skills Transfer
Augmented reality: The disappointment is real
At full strength, and in their original form, some of today's newest technologies are mind-blowing examples of how fast the future is coming.
Concepts like virtual reality, artificial intelligence and robotics all point to an exciting view forward, where technologies that only recently seemed like science fiction can start having a meaningful and (hopefully) positive impact on our individual lives, and society as a whole.
The problem is, achieving the "full" version of these technologies is proving to be more challenging than we were first led to believe. In retrospect, this development shouldn't be terribly surprising, as many of these technological concepts are extremely complex. As a result, the process necessary to create them is bound to be arduous. And yet, for those of us who have gotten caught up in the excitement of these future tech visions, the disappointment is real.
Arguably, the latest and most extreme example of the dilution of these technologies has to do with augmented reality (AR). In its "purest" form, AR was going to (and eventually will) deliver an intelligent overlay on the physical world. The technology enables you to see computer-generated digital imagery superimposed on a real-world view. Best of all, it does so in a futuristic manner that greatly enhances, or augments, our view of the world.
Microsoft's impressive HoloLens smart glasses and the AR experience it provides, for example, offers one of the most convincing way of feeling like you've been transported 10 years into the future.
The problem is that the acceptable bar for what can, or should, be considered augmented reality is dropping quickly. Lately, it seems almost anything that puts silly images over pictures or video is now being (unrightfully) elevated to the status of augmented reality. Because of that, I'm concerned that the real value or impact of the technology is going to fade, leading to a level of disappointment that could set the market back for some time.
Inside Mark Zuckerberg's vision for your Facebook augmented reality
Augmented reality: what you need to know
At last week's Facebook F8 developer conference, for example, the company talked a great deal about augmented and virtual reality, describing a number of futuristic concepts that it's working on. When it came down to the demos of what you can actually do now, however, it was essentially Facebook's version of the popular Snapchat filters that let you put silly masks and other visual effects on photos and videos of people's faces.
Now, don't get me wrong, this is fun stuff. Plus, it really does require what is arguably an extremely basic form of augmented reality: it has to recognize the location, size and shape of a real-world object (your face), and then overlay digital graphics that correspond with particular spots on that object, even as you move. But honestly, for most people other than selfie-obsessed teenagers and 20-somethings, it doesn't offer much lasting value.
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Oscar Tavares: A tragedy strikes baseball
Oscar Tavares was one of baseball's bright young stars. Unfortunately, he was killed in a car crash this past Sunday, Oct. 26. Tavares, a native of the Dominican Republic, was driving with his girlfriend in his hometown of Puerto Plana when his car careened off the road and slammed into a tree.
It was just a few short weeks ago that Tavares, a rookie playing in his first postseason, hit a decisive homerun for the St. Louis Cardinals' only win in the NLCS. Prior to this season, Tavares was ranked as the number two prospect in all of baseball.
The extremely unexpected loss has been mourned all across the sport – words of condolence and shock have come from every level of the game. In my opinion, the most moving were the words of Cardinals manger Mike Matheny, who had the following to say:
"In my opinion, the word 'love' is the most misused and misunderstood word in the English language. It is not popular for men to use this word, and even less popular for athletes. But, there is not a more accurate word for how a group of men share a deep and genuine concern for each other. We loved Oscar, and he loved us. That is what a team does, that is what a family does."
Bernstein is a member of the class of 2018.
How to balance college and mental health
By Nadia Pentolino on Jan 29, 2023
I won't lie — it's hard to balance college and emotional well-being. But it's not impossible to find balance.
it's wet
Puddle-palooza!
By Alice Guzi on Jan 29, 2023
I cannot tell you how many times I've been sneak-attacked by a puddle on my treks across campus. A puddle.
David Jin strives for perfection with "Moments I Missed"
By Alyssa Koh on Jan 29, 2023
It's not often that you hear someone cite Kim Kardashian as their biggest inspiration for going to law school.


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Teresa Agüesca fue una grabadora calcográfica nacida en Huesca en 1654, hija del grabador Juan Jerónimo Agüesca que falleció cuando Teresa apenas había cumplido un año.

Biografía
Formada con su tío Lorenzo Agüesca, presbítero y grabador, con solo nueve años firmó como inventora y grabadora una estampa de San Antonio de Padua con el Niño Jesús.

Se conocen también diversos escudos de armas grabados en hueco por Teresa Agüesca, firmados pero no fechados, entre ellos los de Cristóbal Crespí de Valldaura, del que un ejemplar se encuentra en el Museo de Huesca, el del obispo de la diócesis oscense Fernando Sada y Azcona, el de Adrián Sada y Azcona, del Consejo de su Majestad en la Real Hacienda, y el de Allue, general de la Orden de la Merced, además de un escudo de armas de la propia ciudad de Huesca.

Referencias

Bibliografía

 Cantero Paños, Mª Paz, «Escudos de armas grabados por los Agüesca», en Homenaje a don Antonio Durán Gudiol, Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses, Huesca, 1995, p. 149 y ss.
 Carrete Parrondo, Juan, Diccionario de grabadores y litógrafos que trabajaron en España. Siglos XIV a XIX, agosto 2009, consultado, noviembre de 2012.

Grabadores de España del siglo XVII
Nacidos en Huesca

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Ajooba (1991)
Posted on December 25, 2011 by masalaaddict
Ajooba is always near the top of my list of favourite So Bad It's Good films. Before we get started, I must share with you the very enticing blurb from the back of my DVD (click on it to enlarge the image):
Irresistible!
What better way to start some Christmas entertainment than with a mysterious star in the East?
And some wise men.
And a baby boy.
Surely this outfit just screams 'Christmas Bauble' (or according to Beth, 'Mughal beach ball').
Ajooba is a masala film masquerading as a magical sword and sandal romp. It is replete with a masked hero, a devil worshipping usurper, a good magician and his feisty daughter, sea monsters and so much more, made with enthusiasm rather than skill. While it may not be the story of Christmas, it is a miracle that Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor agreed to grace this film by Shashi Kapoor. I think it shows how much they loved him. Ajooba was quite a venture; expensive and a Russian co-production, so it seems like something Shashi felt strongly about making.
Once upon a time in Baharistan, the Sultan (Shammi Kapoor) and his wife (Ariadna Shengelaya) had everything they could want … except a son. Finally, after some magical intervention to protect the unborn child, an heir was born. Hurrah! The people rejoiced with a fun Laxmikant-Pyarelal number. There's lots of colour and movement including a display of dazzling (ahem) magic, and a dance-off between a kind of skanky snakey dance and some Kathak-ish guys.
Amir Khan (Saeed Jaffrey) is a good magician. I use 'good' in the sense of not using his powers for evil, not as an endorsement of his skills.
The most impressive thing about his elephant trick is that the elephant looks like it is wearing dark glasses (perhaps it knew this film was not a great career move and was in disguise).
The evil Vizier (Amrish Puri) attacks the toy boat of the Sultan and Malika. The royal family is scattered, each believing they are alone in the world. Malika is blind, the Sultan loses his memory, and their baby is presumed drowned.
Rescued by a dolphin, raised by a kindly blacksmith, unaware of his real parentage, Ali (Amitabh Bachchan) undergoes years and years and years of training to become the hero who can free his people. Well, those people who are still left after 30 odd years of brutal oppression. Maybe it was the costume that held him up, especially creating a cunning disguise for both Ajooba and horse.
Why something as silly as a tin mask will be so detailed and finished with little flourishes when so much else is left half-baked is part of the charm. It doesn't save the idea from being daft, but it is fun to look at. There is a serious design flaw. Did you spot it?
With the Vizier in power, life is tough for the simple folk of Baharistan. They still have their picturesque outfits but Amrish Puri and his brother-in-law Shah Rukh (Dalip Tahil) pillage and plunder as the mood seizes them.
With all of his evil deeds to draw on I expected the Vizier to have better material for his catch phrase, but he sticks to 'Shaitan Zindabad!'. It is clear that he is bad and so are all his associates.
The evil shtick gets a little monotonous despite Amrish Puri's eyeballs giving it their all.
When Amir Khan is imprisoned, he sends messages back to his family in Hind by talking to birds. Luckily his daughter Rukhsana (Dimple Kapadia) can communicate with animals so she sets off on a rescue mission, leaving her mother (Sushma Seth) behind. Rukhsana works as a puppeteer in the bazaar and I liked that she had a plan to both support herself and give a cover story as she was searching for her dad.
Baharistan is not the place for a single lady, and it doesn't take long before she needs rescuing. Repeated rescuing. Ajooba becomes somewhat tired of this damsel in distress, but she sees through his flimsy disguise (amazing!) and of course that means true love.
Rishi Kapoor is Hassan, the local Romeo who falls for the Princess Henna (Sonam). That's about as much character development as you get. I liked Rishi and Amitabh together, and they have a fun song as the romantic Hassan tries to get repressed Ali to talk about love.
But I lost interest as Rishi detours into drag and sleazy antics and Sonam does little more than this:
The romances play out as you would expect, and Dimple and Amitabh make the more interesting couple (though that is not saying much). Ali does wrestle a tiger to rescue Rukhsana and Amir Khan from the dungeons so that added a level of commitment.
Of course in a fairytale there are trials and tribulations before good can triumph and that means special effects! If only someone had told Shashi Kapoor. The visual effects are quite poor and while it is part of the cheesy fun, I do wish they had done a little better. Beth did ask why a flying gondola was employed in one scene and I think it is because the maximum passenger load for a flying carpet would have been exceeded.
And there are some odd lapses and inconsistencies. When Ali's sister needs to give him an urgent message, she wends her way through dim corridors and finally a concealed passage which opens into Ali's secret training ground. It's an open field next door that anyone could see. And when Ali and Hassan are chained up with Malika and the blacksmith awaiting Certain Death they are rescued by a sea monster…or are they? Four people in chains, three sets of chains are cut. What about your foster dad Ali????
I recognised so many faces in the background. Memsaab as usual provides a more rigorous acknowledgement of the supporting artists so you should go read her post. But just think – Dara Singh, Sushma Seth, Rajendranath, Narendranath, Tej Sapru, Bob Christo just to name a few! The locations and sets are delightful, and enhance the fantasy and poetic flavour. The art direction is batty at times, but this is a pleasure to watch.
The streets of Baharistan are always full of colourful locals ready for a backflip or bellydance. The fight scenes are OK without being amazing, flying carpets or no. But there is a brilliant episode in a temple with Amitabh swinging from bell to bell to dishoom Bob Christo and rescue Shammi – it is epic and silly and I love it. The final battle gets everyone to Baharistan and there are reunions and expositions all over the place.
I absolutely love that in the climax fight, once people realise Ajooba is Ali is the long lost prince, everything pauses briefly so the onlookers can have a chat amongst themselves about how he is related to everyone and what his title is. Never mind the big glowing sword, or the evil sorcerer – is he your cousin? And is he married?
Ajooba's heart is pure masala gold and I have enormous affection for it. 4 stars for entertainment alone!
This entry was posted in Bollywood and tagged Ajooba, Amitabh Bachchan, Amrish Puri, Ariadna Shengelaya, Bob Christo, Bollywood, Dalip Tahil, Dimple Kapadia, Hindi, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Rishi Kapoor, Saeed Jaffrey, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Sonam. Bookmark the permalink.
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5 thoughts on "Ajooba (1991)"
memsaab says:
Love this movie, love love love. And not even in a SBIG kind of way! Just pure affection 🙂
DITTO! And Temple, you are a mad genius to have made the Christmas connection! Just shows Shashi picked up on some western traditions in all his Kendal-relating years, I guess.
Thank you for you Christmas visit ladies 🙂
Beth – you inspired me to watch this in the first place. I remember having to argue with the DVD shop guy about why I wanted it before he would give me a copy.
Memsaab – I love Ajooba, I really do. But I can't honestly recommend it as a good film without a lot of qualification so … SBIG. Maybe I need a new category. 'So not-quite-right it's awesome'?
MinaiMinai says:
Yay! Happy to see you review this film as I was just browsing (painfully) through it yesterday in preparation for my coproductions post. What I can't figure out is where is the "Russian" half of the production! Are the white chicks in that one screencap Russian? Was there like one timid editor who was from Russia? It seems to me that most of the Indian-Soviet coproductions look indistinguishable from any other masala Hindi film, which is interesting… Anywho I do see that in the song you posted there is some Kathakishy dancing but I can't bring myself to post it! 🙂 I love your elephant comment: "perhaps it knew this film was not a great career move and was in disguise" haha! By the way, the DVD makers must have stolen that back-cover review from IMDB, third-one down: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101283/reviews Clearly they didn't read it before slapping it on there. That's what they get for plagiarizing. 😀 Anyway, amusing review!
Oh I never find it painful to browse through Ajooba 🙂 The Kathak-ish guys appeared as a result of magic so I enjoyed the idea that of all the wonders Amir Khan could have produced, he picked those blokes.
There are several key roles played by Russian actors, and many of the technical crew in the opening titles have Russian names. But it is a Hindi masala fantasy set in an imaginary kingdom, so it is hard to see a clear Russian contribution. Maybe it is no different than Indian films shooting here who pick up a local crew to suppore the key Indian technicians. There are fairy and folk tale references, and lots of things that reminded me of the Ali Baba, Arabian Nights or Thief of Baghdad Hollywood films too. Cheers, Temple
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