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Archive for Crossed
The Hero Sandwich List of Favorite Comics for 2010
I don't think I've ever tried to do a year-end retrospective list — it's always too difficult for me to pick out a list of things I enjoyed the most out of 12 whole months. But what the heck, I'm gonna try it today.
This list is strictly listed in alphabetical order. I can't claim it's a list of the best comics — I haven't read all the comics, after all — but it's the list of the 15 comics that I enjoyed the most.
Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, and Stephen King came together to re-invent the vampire for the rough-and-tumble American West. Outstanding characters, close attention to setting, and rip-snorting horror make this a must-read for anyone who loves non-sparkly bloodsuckers.
The adventures of Stephanie Brown as the newest Batgirl are full of great humor, great action, great dialogue, and great characterizations. This is one of the best superhero comics around.
Grant Morrison's triumphant run of Batman comics had its most epic stretch in these stories of Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne, as well as Alfred, Dr. Hurt, and the Joker. The scale of Morrison's storytelling here was breathtaking.
Possibly the most successful crossover storyarc in years, this grabbed readers' imaginations and didn't let go for months. Even better than its commercial successes were the overall excellence of the plotline. At its height, there was nothing as good as this story about zombies, power rings, and emotions.
I'm not a fan of the new series, but Garth Ennis' original Crossed miniseries was the most harrowing, brutal, relentless, depressing, and terrifying horror comic to hit the stands in a long, long time.
This was, without a single doubt, the best comic series of the entire year. Nothing else came close. Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon deserve to win so many awards for this one. If you missed this series in the original run, you should definitely keep your eyes open in the next few months for the trade paperback.
Detective Comics starring Batwoman
Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III didn't create the character, but they crafted her best stories. While Rucka brilliantly fleshed out her backstory, personality, and supporting cast, Williams took the stories and created some of the year's most beautiful artwork and design.
Hellboy in Mexico
This story of, well, Hellboy in Mexico was my favorite, but I also loved all of the other collaborations between Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and fantasy artist Richard Corben. These two meshed together creatively in ways that very few creators are able to do, and all of us readers were the beneficiaries.
Joe the Barbarian
Grant Morrison's fantasy story is both epic and mundane in scale, which is really quite a trick — Joe is in diabetic shock, and he's hallucinating that his home and toys have turned into a fantasy kingdom. But what if he's not really hallucinating?
Richard Stark's Parker: The Outfit
The second chapter of Darwyn Cooke's adaptation of Donald Westlake's crime fiction is a beautiful tribute to Cooke's retro-cool art sensibilities and the pure fun of good pulp crime novels.
Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Amanda Conner created the best version of Power Girl ever for a year's worth of funny, smart, sexy, exciting superhero stories. These creators loved this character, and you can tell that in every story they published about her. I still hope they'll be able to come back to this title eventually.
Far and away DC's best team book, Gail Simone has hooked us a bunch of people who are extremely likeable and also completely crazy and prone to trying to kill each other from moment to moment. This shouldn't work as well as it does, but that doesn't change the fact that it's colossal fun to read every single month.
Strange Science Fantasy
Scott Morse's retro-pulp series packed a heck of a lot of audacious fun into six short issues. This was a treat visually, emotionally, intellectually — even on a tactile level, what with the heavy, rough paper it was printed on.
Thor and the Warriors Four
The Power Pack go to Asgard. I didn't really expect much of it, to be honest, but readers were treated to godlike quantities of humor, excitement, whimsey, and awesomeness, thanks to writer Alex Zalben and artists Gurihiru, and to Colleen Coover's excellent backup stories.
Tiny Titans
Probably the best all-ages comic out there right now. These comics are smart and funny and cute and just plain fun to read.
Aaaaand that's what I got. There were plenty of other comics that just barely missed the cut, but these were nevertheless the ones that gave me the most joy when I was reading them.
So farewell, 2010. And hello, rapidly onrushing 2011. Hope you're a better year for all of us, and I hope we can all look forward to plenty more great comics to come.
Now y'all be safe and have a good time tonight, but call a cab if you need it — I want to make sure all of y'all are here to read me in 2011.
December 31, 2010 · Filed under American Vampire, Batgirl, Batman, Batwoman, Blackest Night, Crossed, Darwyn Cooke, Daytripper, Grant Morrison, Hellboy, Joe the Barbarian, Parker, Power Girl, Power Pack, Secret Six, Strange Science Fantasy, Thor, Tiny Titans
Zombie Shuffle
iZombie #4
Gwen the gravedigging detective zombie and Ellie the '60s ghost have discovered the killer, Amon, a man who claims to have died and risen from the dead in ancient Egypt. He says he only kills because he has to from time to time, and he only takes those whose deaths would benefit society. Gwen isn't sure whether to believe him, so he takes her on a psychic journey through his life and explains the esoteric origins of various different monsters and supernatural powers. Elsewhere, Horatio and his fellow monster-hunter try to capture Claire the vampire before she can kill Spot's friend Ashok. Spot, meanwhile, has been outed as a wereterrier to another of his friends — and he takes it in stride so they can play video games.
Verdict: Thumbs up. I especially enjoyed Amon's descriptions of the undersoul and the oversoul, and how their presence or absence creates everything from zombies and werewolves to poltergeists and possessions. I've been praising Mike Allred's artwork and Laura Allred's colors, but Chris Roberson's writing is also a ton of fun. This series has been a lot of fun so far — make sure you pick it up.
Crossed: Family Values #3
Adaline has discovered that her family's completely rotten to the core — her survivalist father has raped and impregnated his daughter Kayleen, who's chained up in the barn because she's become one of the psychotically murderous Crossed. And dad has decided he's God's prophet so he can do whatever he wants, which includes beating Adaline down and locking her up. Her mother has gone at least as crazy as her dad, and she's willing to excuse anything he does — you don't go against God's prophet, right? And a horde of the Crossed have just discovered the family compound, which sets Dad off even more. He declares Adaline to be of the Devil, beats her, rapes her, and prepares to expose her to Crossed blood, which would turn her into a monster, too. This is finally too much for Mom, so she locks herself in a cell with her husband, pours a jar of the Crossed blood on herself and kills Dad. Adaline makes it through the compound, now mostly overrun by the Crossed, kills her sister Kayleen (who'd just cut herself open so she could eat her unborn baby), and escapes with the few survivors of the compound. Oh, hey, did I just spoil the entire issue for you? Yes, I do believe I did!
Verdict: Thumbs down. I can deal with a lot of death, depravity, nudity, gore, and perversion — but only when there's a good story to go along with it. And while the story here has actually managed to go farther on the gore/depravity/nudity/perversion scale than Garth Ennis ever dreamed in the first "Crossed" series, it's also gotten nowhere near Ennis' storytelling prowess. While I still recommend the first "Crossed" series for any adult fan of bleeding-edge horror, I can't recommend this series for anyone, and I'm dropping it as of now.
Today's Cool Links:
Here's an impossibly awesome Eisner-award-winning comic by Mike Mignola and his seven-year-old daughter.
I don't normally think much of cosplay weddings, but this one seemed cuter than normal.
You're actually hearing foolish people talking now about repealing the 14th Amendment. Aside from being nothing more than a dim political stunt (the Republicans couldn't even pass a flag-burning amendment when they had the presidency and both houses of Congress — so this is just some red meat to throw to the Know-Nothings), this is about a heck of a lot more than "anchor babies." The 14th was passed because some states were passing laws keeping blacks from their rights as full citizens, and it prevents any government from arbitrarily taking away your citizenship. That's what political dimwits are talking about when they say they want to repeal it — they're talking about getting rid of a lot of the stuff that really keeps you free.
August 5, 2010 · Filed under Crossed, iZombie
Heralds #3
This weekly series continues with Johnny Storm apparently living in a suburban home in the desert with the spirit of Frankie Raye, former fire-slinging herald of Galactus. It's an illusion, obviously, giving them both the opportunity to throw hot irons around, kick over burning barbecue grills, and set swimming pools on fire. Meanwhile, the rest of the Fantastic Four have found Johnny locked up inside a forcescreen chamber while he lets off a lot of fire and heat. And Hellcat, Monica Rambeau, She-Hulk, Valkyrie, and Emma Frost have brought mysterious injured waitress Frances to the Baxter Building to take advantage of Reed Richards' high-tech healing equipment. After the heroines argue about whether or not Frances is dangerous, Reed figures out how to release Frankie Raye from Johnny's body, and she makes a beeline for Frances. And that's when Agent Brand shows up with a black hole gun…
Verdict: Thumbs up. Nice writing, good dialogue, weird science, interesting mysteries. My biggest complaint is that Tonci Zonjic's excellent artwork is only on the first eight pages, then the rest is all by James Harren, who does not come off well in the comparison.
There we go, people — that's the worst cover you're going to see all year. That is not the way you do a wraparound cover — all the other "Crossed" covers have been wraparounds, but they didn't leave the front cover with such an awkward and unbalanced look to it. I don't care how nice the cover looks when you lay it out flat — if it looks stupid when it's closed and on display in your comic shop, you run the risk of potential purchasers passing it by.
As for the story, the Pratt family — a very large, very religious survivalist family — have escaped from the Crossed and established a new, more isolated, more defensible compound. Addy is helping scout the Crossed, to discover their numbers and their movements, while her father expands the compound with new recruits and survivors. They've even captured one of the Crossed, reduced to no more than a torso and a head, to try to learn more about their opponents. Addy has allowed herself to forget, however, that her father is an abusive pedophile with a fondness for his own daughters — and by the time she realizes that he's up to his old tricks, her family is set up to take another severe hit.
Verdict: Man, I don't know. It's written well. It's written shockingly — and that's one of the important things for this story. But I think they've got too much shock and not enough horror. 'Cause I was decently shocked by what was happening, but at no point was I scared.
Here's an unexpectedly cool essay on superheroes and posture.
John Seavey writes on the awesomeness of obscure characters.
June 17, 2010 · Filed under Crossed, Heralds
Blood on the Streets
American Vampire #2
Both of our linked stories in this issue focus on our heroes' transitions from humans to the undead. In 1926, Pearl Jones dies in the hospital after getting attacked by a bunch of Hollywood vamps and wakes up only to learn from Skinner Sweet that she is, like him, a new kind of vampire, an evolutionary step up from the ones who created her. What can she do? Other than survive in the sunlight, Skinner keeps that a secret from Pearl — but he does leave her a gift — the handsome Hollywood actor who lured her to the vampires in the first place. The second story, written by Stephen King, is set in the last years of the Wild West. Notorious outlaw Skinner Sweet has been gunned down by the law — but only after contact with a vampire's blood. Now Skinner's in an uncomfortable spot for a vampire — buried underground, unable to get out — and a few years later, after the vampire businessmen dam up the river, under an extra 60 feet of water. How can even the undead survive a couple decades in those conditions?
Verdict: Thumbs up. Oh mercy, thumbs up. Both of the stories are wonderful horror romps, and as much fun as the first issue was, this second issue makes it clear that this series is gonna be a must-buy. Let's talk art — Rafael Albuquerque adapts his familiar superhero style very well to the world of vampires — our first glimpses of Pearl and Skinner in full bloodsucker glory are just awesome. And the look of the artwork actually changes from the story in the '20s to the one in the Old West, credit to both Albuquerque and colorist Dave McCaig.
B.P.R.D.: King of Fear #4
The King of Fear, a skull-faced, semi-mechanical, black-glowing wannabe-world conqueror, has Abe Sapien, Andrew Devon, and their team of B.P.R.D. operatives trapped underground, surrounded by frogs and proto-humans and giant robots, as the King makes his plans to destroy the world and present it, wrapped up in a bow, to Abe, who he sees as the next stage in the evolution of life. Meanwhile, Liz Sherman has been taken into a vision of the apocalyptic future by the ghost of Memnan Saa. Is there anyone left who can save everyone?
Verdict: I'm gonna have to thumbs this one down — and for a second issue in a row! As I've said before, this series has gone on for so long now that we need a lot more detailed recaps of what's happening and who all the players are — and not just the heroes, but the villains, too. Other than that, the story seems straightforward and credible… or at least as far as I know, since I can't remember who all the villains are…
Here's a new series set in the "Crossed" universe, this time starting at the same time as the initial outbreak of the insanely homicidal super-virus. Our lead character now is Adaline Pratt, eldest daughter of a very large and very wealthy horse-ranching family. It seems like a fairly happy life — except that dad is an authoritarian rageoholic with a fondness for child abuse and molestation. So, ya know, not so much of an idyllic existence and more of a barely-suppressed domestic hell on the verge of exploding. And that's even before the army of virus-driven psycho killers show up and try to kill everyone at the ranch…
Verdict: Ya know, I'm really not sure yet. I like Adaline as a character, but when the leader of the survivors is a moral monster like Joe Pratt, you've got the potential for a really deeply unpleasant story ahead of you. I'll need another issue or two before I'll be able to decide whether or not I want to deal with it.
April 28, 2010 · Filed under American Vampire, B.P.R.D., Crossed
The Old Rugged Crossed
Crossed #9
It's the final issue of this epic pseudo-zombie series by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows. Stan and Cindy bury Cindy's son, Patrick, while Kitrick, Thomas, and Kelly find themselves being stalked by the gang of Crossed who have been after them for the last few hundred miles. And I'm gonna stop describing the story right there — if you've been reading and enjoying this series the way I have, I reckon you deserve to find out the final twists and turns on your own. For some of the characters, it's not a happy ending, and for others, it's at least not a sad ending.
Verdict: Thumbs up. A great ending to one of the more enjoyable and brutal horror series I've read in a while. As I've said repeatedly, this isn't a story for kids — it's an extremely violent, terrifying comic, designed for grownups who can handle blood, guts, cussin', and really awful, unromanticized violence. If you've been reading "Crossed," you sure won't want to miss this last issue. If you haven't been reading it, and you want to give it a shot, keep your eyes open for the collected edition whenever they put it out.
Jonah Hex, the meanest, rottenest bounty hunter in the Wild West, hires a dance hall girl — and not for the usual purposes. He's after the train-robbing Hager brothers and needs her to help him sneak aboard a train in preparation for ambushing the gang. Things go fairly smooth, other than having to kill most of the gang members — until the inevitable double-cross.
Verdict: Thumbs up. Short, simple, clever, and brutal, just like the best Jonah Hex stories.
March 5, 2010 · Filed under Crossed, Jonah Hex
Dogs and Monsters
Beasts of Burden #4
The ghost-hunting dogs and cats of Burden Hill have another mystery on their paws — a local dog has turned up with his face scared white and attached to a leash tied to his master's arm — that's all, just the arm. When he finally gets his wits back, he tells 'em that his owner, the caretaker at a cemetery, was pulled into an open grave, and everything but the arm got chewed up. When they investigate, they find a bunch of monsters made of grave earth and skull heads performing a resurrection ritual. The resurrectee? Some hooch-loving satanist who can understand animal talk and cast a bunch of nasty spells. They manage to bite him back to death, but the grave monsters raise him back up again, this time encasing him in a suit of armor made of their own bodies! Their only chance lies with Dymphna, the witch cat, who most of them don't trust at all…
Verdict: Thumbs up. More great writing from Evan Dorkin and great art from Jill Thompson. When I first heard about this, I really wasn't sure what to make of it — a horror series starring a bunch of ghostbusting housepets? But I'm glad I got to read it, 'cause it's been a ton of fun. This is the last issue of this particular miniseries, but I think we'll be seeing more issues of this in the future.
The Incredible Hercules #139
A bunch of superheroes, including Hercules and Amadeus Cho, are battling a bunch of Greek gods, titans, and monsters to stop Hera's plan to use something called Continuum to destroy the world. For the most part, the Avengers are proving to be easy pickings for the gods, even for the heroes who are ultimately based on godly archetypes. (Zeus and Quicksilver, on the other hand, get along great.) Delphyne Gorgon, the queen of the Amazons, has her heart set on killing Athena, and she may be able to pull it off. And who is Thanatos, the god of death, waiting around for? In our backup story, the Agents of Atlas are attempting an underground raid on Hera's skyscraper and end up tangling with the Cyclops, a chimera, and a bunch of animated skeletons.
Verdict: Thumbs up. Everything's pretty chaotic, but there's some really great characterization going on here, along with a lot of excellent dialogue and intrigue. And, of course, some of Greg Pak's wonderful sound effects, like "TITANOSMAK," "FRIKASEEEEEEE," and "WYPOWT!"
Last issue, the Crossed got hold of Cindy's young son Patrick and turned him into one of them — a psychotic, violence-loving murder addict. In the aftermath of having to kill her only child, she's mostly withdrawn from the group, willing to necessary security but not much else. In the leadership void, Brett starts asserting his inner aggressive scumbag, leading to yet another shocking act of violence. And the question remains — how to get Cindy back to her old self and keep her from losing herself to despair and self-loathing?
Verdict: Thumbs up. The Crossed don't appear in this issue at all, but there is still some significantly disturbing and out-of-the-blue stuff, as well as some more insight about how the world slid into hell after the Crossed infection appeared. As always, good storytelling from Garth Ennis and beautiful art by Jacen Burrows.
Turns out all the suddenly pregnant Amazons are actually the victims of a dire plot by Ares, and everyone else is distracted by Alkyone's attack on Wonder Woman and the other Amazons. While Wonder Woman battles the Cottus, an ancient, many-armed monster that claims to have crafted the clay that was used to create Wondy, the rest of the Amazons, along with Achilles and his followers, do what they can to stop Alkyone and her guards.
Verdict: I'll give it a thumbs up, because there were some very cool moments, including Artemis leading Themyscira's defenders past Alkyone to assist Wondy, the giant shark bringing Wonder Woman her lasso, and Zeus' memories of being tortured by Desaad on Apokolips. But I'm still very, very, very tired of the focus on mythology and gods and suchlike in this comic. How 'bout some superheroics once in a while, ya know?
January 5, 2010 · Filed under Beasts of Burden, Crossed, Hercules, Wonder Woman
Vampires and Demons and Zombies
B.P.R.D.: 1947 #4
Jacob Stegner thinks he's the only member of the team from the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense who's left alive, after everyone else was killed by vampires, but he learns, from a mysterious old cat-controlling lady that's not so — Simon Anders is still alive, but he's in the clutches of Annaliese and Katharina Brezina, vampire sisters who officially died in 1701 after long years of debuchery and murder. Does Anders have any chance of survival against these monsters?
Verdict: Thumbs up. Good action and suspense, excellent dialogue, and fun artwork. And we get appearances by creepy Russian demon girl Varvara and much-less-creepy pancake-loving demon boy Hellboy. A nice little dose of pre-Halloween postwar scariness.
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #7
Hellboy has been given the choice of two crowns to wear — he can become the actual-fer-realz True King of England, the last ancestor of King Arthur, or he can become the King of Demons, the Beast of the Apocalypse. His friend Alice has faith that he's going to become the King of England and the savior of the world, but Hellboy has his doubts. In a dream, he battles his own demonic self and learns that taking either crown will eventually lead to him wearing both — and if he refuses, Nimue, the new Queen of the Witches, will be able to destroy the world on her own. Can Hellboy battle against fate and his own nature? Oh, and we also get a backup story about Sir Henry Hood, Witchfinder of the 1600s, and one of his battles against the Devil.
Verdict: Thumbs up. Lots of apocalyptic awesomeness. Lots of eerie, creepy stuff. Mike Mignola is playing his cards close to the vest, so I really can't tell what he's planning for the future? Is Hellboy going to become the Beast of the Apocalypse? Is the Hellboy-verse coming to an end?
You remember the Crossed, right? They're normal humans who've contracted some sort of disease that turns them into gleefully sadistic, psychotic killers, and the only way to tell them apart from normal people is the bloody red cross-shaped rash that develops over their faces. Our small pack of survivors are on the run from the band of Crossed freaks from a couple issues back, who've managed to track them across a thousand miles of desert. They try to put as much distance between the Crossed as they can, but they get ambushed while forging a river — one of their number gets a minor gunshot wound, they all get a scare — and Patrick, Cindy's young son, gets washed down the river. Luckily, they're able to wipe out some of the Crossed pack and find Patrick — but this issue still has a downer ending.
Verdict: Thumbs up. Brutal. As I've said before, don't read this if you've got kids who can get their hands on it, don't read it if you've got anything against monstrously grim horror, and don't read it if you hate stories that don't have happy endings. But for everyone else, read it, read it, read it. This may be the best pure horror you'll find in a comic book.
October 20, 2009 · Filed under B.P.R.D., Crossed, Hellboy, Horror
Blackest Night #1
We reviewed the prologue yesterday, but DC's big summer crossover officially gets started with this one.
It's semi-official pay-respect-to-your-superheroes day in the DC Universe, giving lots of super-people opportunities to visit the gravesides and memorials of their fallen comrades. Earth's Green Lanterns do a flyover of Coast City, the Kents visit Jonathan Kent's grave, Flash's Rogues hold a wake in their secret graveyard, Hawkman and Hawkgirl reflect on their never-ending cycle of death and reincarnation, and the recently resurrected Barry Allen learns how many of his friends have died in the years he's been gone. But bad doin's are afoot. A bunch of mysterious black rings descend on Earth and into the Green Lanterns' mausoleum on Oa. And holy gee whilikers, the dadgum rings actually raise the dead as horrific zombies! Among the confirmed zombies we get here are a gobsmackingly staggering number of dead Green Lanterns, the Martian Manhunter, and Ralph and Sue Dibny… along with a surprise couple of recent deadlings leftover from "Final Crisis"…
Verdict: Thumbs up. So far, so good. I really hope they can sustain this. But for this issue at least: ZOMBIES!
Our small band of survivors continue their trek north, where they hope they'll have a better chance of survival. They're still running into packs of the deranged and diseased serial killers/zombies called the Crossed, and they have to deal with personality conflicts within their own group. We get some flashbacks back to the earliest, most terrifying days of the Crossed outbreak, the group acquires a new canine buddy, and learns that some monsters don't come with bloody red cross-shaped rashes on their faces.
Verdict: Thumbs up. Outstanding characterization work in this issue, along with a genuinely surprising twist. Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows are really doing great work with this one.
The sequel to the earlier "1946" series focusing on the early days of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense opens with a bunch of captured German SS officers mysteriously getting slaughtered in Nuremberg. Back in New Mexico, Professor Bruttenholm suspects the vengeful vampire, Baron Konig, has committed the murders, and he receives a visit from Varvara, the impossibly creepy, vodka-swilling little girl/demon who appeared in the last series. The BPRD designates four new operatives to travel to France to investigate the killings, which also seem to be tied to a terrifyingly blasphemous opera performed in 1771. But as always seems to be the case in the "BPRD" stories, ominous things are on the way. Can any of the new operatives survive what's coming?
Verdict: Thumbs up. The story by Mike Mignola and Joshua Dysart pops along very well, but the art by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon is just plain awesome.
July 16, 2009 · Filed under B.P.R.D., Blackest Night, Crossed, Zombies!
A Mystery of Violence
B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #5
It's the conclusion of the "Black Goddess" storyarc, as Gilfryd, convinced that Liz Sherman is loyal to him and that the threat of the frogs is over, turns his magic against the agents from the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, including Abe Sapien, Kate Corrigan, and Johann Kraus. He (possibly) kills Johann, but Lobster Johnson is seemingly resurrected. But in the end, his excesses lead Liz (or whatever powers have taken possession of her) to turn against him. But without Gilfryd, is there any hope that humanity can survive?
Verdict: Thumbs up. A good ending. I hope Johann comes back, and I also hope Lobster gets to stick around. And you better jump on board for all the upcoming BPRD mini-series, too — Mike Mignola has already promised that things are going to get rougher for humanity as this series continues.
A cool-down issue — we don't even see the Crossed in this one. We just focus on the small group of survivors trying to make their way to safety in a world that's been taken over by insane homicidal maniacs.
Verdict: Thumbs up. Walks in the woods, peaceful encounters with wild animals, quiet conversations with friends. A nice break from the horror — except it's not a complete break. We still see, in flashbacks and in the present, the psychological effects that the survivors take on. Some commit suicide, some get ill and don't want to continue. The only people who seem immune are Cindy, the super-competent leader of the survivors, and her son, Patrick. I suspect things are going to get a lot worse and more violent for everyone as this series goes through its last four issues…
June 4, 2009 · Filed under B.P.R.D., Crossed
Magic and Murder
Things have been a bit busy, so I've fallen a little behind on some of my reviews, so here are a couple I've had sitting on my desk for a couple of weeks.
Madame Xanadu #9
The story finally moves into the modern world — or at least the early 20th century. Nimue has moved to America, still hoping to get her revenge on the Phantom Stranger. She's also sleeping with John Zatara, future father of the superhero magic-user Zatanna. Nimue prepares a powerful binding spell designed to imprison the Stranger if he ever gets close to her. And in the background of all this, a cop named Jim Corrigan is making his way closer to the event that will turn him into the Spectre.
Verdict: Thumbs up. As I've said before, Amy Reeder Hadley's artwork is just extraordinary. I love the background work with Jim Corrigan, and Zatara's Italian heritage is played very nicely. Worst news about this comic? The next issue is going to be the last.
Crisis follows crisis for the small group of survivors trying to escape the Crossed, the zombiesque sadistic mass murderers who have torn society down to the ground. They lose more allies to the weird Crossed infection, they watch the Crossed as they continue to evolve into smarter and more deadly opponents, and they do everything they can to get away before they're killed or turned.
Verdict: Thumbs up. It's gross, horrific, tense, and deeply unpleasant. I still say some smart film producer is eventually going to turn this into one heck of a horror movie.
April 15, 2009 · Filed under Crossed, Madame Xanadu


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When Rob told me a couple weeks ago that one of his colleague's 2-year old kid's leg broke going down a playground slide with his mom, I thought it was some sad, fluke thing. Then I read this article, which reports that leg breaks and fractures of this kind are pretty common. It basically says it's dangerous going down a slide with your kid because if their shoe or leg gets caught, the adult's weight keeps propelling them forward, making the kid's leg twist even more forcefully. If the kid was alone, his own weight would stop him or atleast slow him down.
I'm so glad I read that! I don't think we'll stop going down the slide with him completely, especially at this age when Greyson can't go on slides on his own, but we'll be hyper-vigilant about limbs being tucked in.


The EUR/USD currency pair is moving according to the forecast, we should expect it to continue falling down. At the H1 chart of the pair the price is forming the descending pattern, one can consider selling Euro aggressively from the current levels with the stop above 1.2310. The closest target of the fall is the area of 1.2060. We recommend to increase the amount of short positions only after the price breaks the level of 1.2180. If the price grows up higher than 1.2320, this scenario will be cancelled.
The GBP/USD currency pair is also moving according to the forecast. At the H4 chart the price is forming the descending pattern with the target in the area of 1.5335. One can consider selling Pound aggressively from the current levels with the stop above 1.5690 and increase the amount of sales only after the price breaks the level of 1.5565.
The USD/CHF currency pair continues moving inside the ascending channel, we should expect it to continue moving upwards. One can consider buying Franc aggressively from the current levels. The final target of the growth is the area of 0.9910. If the price falls down lower than 0.9755, this scenario will be cancelled. We recommend to increase the amount of sales only after the price breaks the level of 0.9850.
Australian Dollar continues moving sideways. The RSI indicator is testing the resistance line, we should expect the pair to rebound from the current levels and start moving downwards. One can consider selling the pair aggressively with the stop above 1.0335 and increase the amount of short positions only after the price breaks the level of 1.0250.
New Zealand Dollar continues moving according to the forecast, the price is falling down slowly. The most possible scenario still implies that the price may form the reversal pattern at the daily chat of the pair. One can either hold short positions, or open new sell orders from the current levels with the stop above 0.8020. We recommend to increase the amount of sales only after the price breaks the level of 0.7860. The final target of the pattern is the area of 0.7615. If the price grows up higher than 0.8080, this scenario will be cancelled.


text:
Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Mary Sayers speech
Fourteenth session
New York, 15–17 June 2021
Roundtable 3: Right to education: challenges with inclusive education and accessibility during the coronavirus disease pandemic
Mary Sayers (she/her) joined Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA), the Australian representative organisation for children and young people aged 0 – 25 years, as Chief Executive Officer in July 2019. Over her career she has worked across policy and research, advocacy and service delivery for children, young people and families. Mary has family experience of disability as a parent, and is a passionate advocate for the rights of children and young people.
My name is Mary Sayers and my pronouns are she/her. A visual description of me is I have short blonde hair, wear glasses and have an Australian accent.
I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land which I am coming to you from Australia. I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and pay my respects to elders past and present and to acknowledge this was and always will be Aboriginal land and sovereignty was never ceded.
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) is the national representative organisation for children and young people with disability aged 0-25 and the majority of our members are families of children with disability or young people with disability. We are predominantly funded by the Australian Government.
Children and young people with disability and their rights are often overlooked or missed in public policy in Australia. In child and youth-specific policies, the distinct needs and strengths of children and young people with disability are generally absent. Similarly, their rights and developmental and social needs are also commonly absent from disability-specific policies.
The COVID situation was a perfect example of this.
We launched a survey of our members in March 2020 just five days after the World Health Organisation declared the pandemic, and over 5 weeks we had around 700 responses.
We published the findings of the report in May 2020, based on the analysis of the data from researchers at the University of NSW Canberra and Melbourne University led by Professor Helen Dickenson. The report was titled More than isolated: the experience of children and young people with disability and their families during the covid-19 pandemic.
In this report it was found:
82% of survey respondents said they lacked information targeted at children and young people with disability and their families and this was consistent throughout the 5 ½ weeks of the survey
This lack of information exacerbated distress and uncertainty
Half of the survey respondents reported a decline in their mental health or the mental health of their child, with this figure increasing over the period of the survey
Uncertainty about education was a dominant theme, including school closures and challenges with learning from home, and that progress gained by children and young people with disability would be lost during this period.
A quote from survey respondents was:
"There has been no good information for people at high risk and families about distancing at home and keeping other kids at home from school. No advice about high risk conditions (or advice was slow and inconsistent)"
The overall finding of this report was information about COVID-19 in Australia was not appropriately targeted to the needs of children and young people with disability and their families, and they were disproportionately impacted.
CYDA annually completes a National Education Survey that covers the extent of 'gatekeeping' by schools where families are discouraged from enrolling their children at their local school, part-time or no attendance at a school, segregation and discrimination in education and restrictive practices.
However, due to the COVID-19 situation from April to June 2020, CYDA launched a second COVID survey particularly focused on the educational experiences during the pandemic. During this period, many states and territories of Australia had moved to remote learning, with schools shut during various lockdowns.
In July 2020, we published a second report Not even remotely fair: Experience of students with disability during COVID-19. This report was again written by researchers at the University of NSW and University of Melbourne and they reported on the results of a second survey and there over 700 responses plus over 1100 text comments. This second report found
72% of students with disability were more socially isolated from their classmates, such as being excluded from working with their peers, or not being included in virtual classrooms
There were significant reductions in the provision of usual supports for students with disability, most notably supervision, social supports and individual support workers : 61% said students with disability had not received adequate educational support during the pandemic
More than half did not have regular contact with the education provider to ensure the learning was accessible
Many families felt that individual education plans weren't operating well before the pandemic, and modifications were not being made to support the shift to remote learning
The overall findings were:
Schools were unable to provide or reduced dramatically support for students in their education during the first COVID-19 lockdown
Despite the well-known inequities they face in their education, there was a lack of assertive and proactive support for students with disability during the first lockdown
The onus and thus 'heavy lifting' for providing inclusive education shifted from school staff to students and their families
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are not working in the way they should
Some quotes from survey respondents were:
"The school was terrible at disability support and inclusion before the pandemic and have remained uncaring and disinterested during it. They are doing the absolute bare minimum to support my child and others with disability, are not teaching at school or online, no aide time has been offered and there is no support".
"Supports received at school pre-COVID-19 relied heavily on my advocacy. Modifications and Access to the remote learning environment were dependent on my capacity to navigate and implement new strategies. In basic terms -left to our own".
Together these two reports showed that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequality for children and young people with disability and there were very few mechanisms for their rights to be upheld during this time.
A Disability Royal Commission has been established by the Australian Government to investigate violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability in Australia. CYDA provided evidence to the Royal Commission in 2020 based on our COVID-19 survey results and our 2019 National Education Survey. We told the Disability Royal Commission:
2% of respondents indicated students with disability were enrolled in segregated education in either dual enrolment with a special school or attending a special school
Another 15.5% of students who attended a 'mainstream' school were separated from their peers, either on a full-time basis in a special unit or withdrawn to the special unit for instruction in combination with attending a 'regular' class
5% of students with disability have been refused enrolment
6% of students with disability do not attend school full-time
7% of students with disability were suspended in the last year and 1.8% were expelled in the last year
2% of students with disability have been excluded from events or activities at school in the last year.
9% of students with disability experienced bullying at school in the last year
9% experienced restraint or seclusion in the last year and 11.1% experienced both restraint and seclusion
Sadly, our National Education Surveys year on year show similar results, and do not improve.
Children and young people with disability and their families have few avenues to have their right to inclusive education to be upheld in Australia. Notwithstanding Australia's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008 and the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) in relation to education, the fundamental human right of children and young people with disability to inclusive education continues to be contested in Australia.
We believe that there is much more to be done by educational authorities in Australia to ameliorate the disadvantage students with disability face in education and the lack of inclusive education as defined in the CPRD General Comment 4 (2016). Full compliance to our international obligations as outlined in the CPRD requires state parties to acknowledge that implementing inclusive education is not compatible with sustaining two systems of education: mainstream and special/segregated education systems. However, we do not believe educational authorities in Australia are actively working towards progressive realisation of this obligation.
As an illustrative example, the Australian Government in its submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Committee) Australia's second and third periodic report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Convention) in 2018 said:
In respect of the Committee's comments urging States Parties to "achieve a transfer of resources from segregated to inclusive environments", Australia's view is that a State Party will meet its obligations under article 24 through an education system that allows for funding of different education modalities so students with disability are able to participate in a range of education options including enrolment in mainstream classes in mainstream schools with additional support, specialist classes or units in mainstream schools and specialist schools. A range of education options ensure that the best interests of the student are a primary consideration".
In conclusion we believe the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on just how poorly children and young people with disability are supported in their education in Australia before and during the pandemic. This spanned all states and territories and all educational settings.
Until the entire educational system in Australia is focused on providing inclusive education in mainstream schools, these disadvantages will continue to occur. Education for students with disability in Australia is still a deeply contested space where educators, professional associations, principal associations, and elected officials rely on the notion of 'parent choice' and that there is a need for segregated education to best support students with disability, despite overwhelming evidence that inclusive education leads to better outcomes for both disabled and non-disabled students[1].
The Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education convened by CYDA and All Means All has provided a roadmap to the Australian Government, state and territory education authorities and the Disability Royal Commission to realise inclusive education over the next 10 years. Titled Driving change: A roadmap for achieving inclusive education in Australia the roadmap outlines six key pillars required to bring about change including:
Ensure inclusive education
Phase out segregated education
Increase educational outcomes
Stop gatekeeping and other discrimination
Eliminate restrictive practices
Prevent suspensions and expulsions
We believe this requires legislative and policy change, parent education and changes in community attitudes, monitoring and accountability, teacher education, school cultures for inclusion and activating and listening to students themselves.
I look forward to the discussion today as there are some important lessons from the COVID-19 situation in Australia that we think can assist in the journey to inclusive education.
[1] see Cologon, K. (2019) Towards inclusive education: A necessary process of transformation. Report written by Dr Kathy Cologon, Macquarie University for Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Shortly after Christmas, I was able to replenish some of my depleted goldwork supplies. I like 2% gold threads, and after making my goldwork and silk Christmas ornament and working on the goldwork embellished crazy quilt square, I found that I was low on 2% gold threads. With plans for a bit of ecclesiastical embroidery this year, I wanted to stock up on some (yeah, yeah – excuses! excuses!!)… Anyway, when placing my order with Tanja Berlin (which is where I buy my 2% gold threads), I purchased a couple "new" metal threads – new to me, anyway. Read on, and I'll tell you about one very attractive gold thread with a really unattractive name!
"Hey, I want to embroider something beautiful. I think I'll use flatworm." !!!
The name is curious. Once I saw the thread, though, I realized it's just a name. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and I suppose a gold thread named "flatworm" can still be … a gold thread.
This is 2 yards of gilt #6 flatworm. Pretty, isn't it? It shines!
If you look at the thread close-up, the thread looks as if it is made just like smooth passing thread – it has a core of thread, around which is wrapped the gold thread. This is gilt, so it's only about 1/2% gold (as opposed to 2%). Unlike smooth passing thread, which is rounded, flatworm is flat, but it has a kind of gradual twist in it – it isn't like broad or whipped plate, either, which is completely flat, without a thread core, and is more like a metal ribbon.
Here, you can see the gilt flatworm (in the background) and #4 smooth passing thread (2% gold – which has a higher content, and a deeper color).
Next to each other, the threads are decidedly different. The #4 passing thread looks tiny. The flatworm looks almost leather-like and supple, as opposed to wire-like look of the smooth passing. The flatwork isn't really supple, though – it's stiffish, too. Perhaps not as stiff as the smooth passing, but pretty stiff, nonetheless.
I haven't worked with flatworm before. From what I've read about it, it's a couched thread, like smooth passing, but I'm curious about the way one would couch it. Can it be couched as a filling, in lines? Do you straighten it as you couch it? If not, how well does it sit on the fabric and actually "fill"? Is it used as a more randomly worked thread? Does it fit in with traditional goldwork techniques, or would you take a more contemporary approach to the way it is used? These are the questions that have come to my mind about this thread. I'll enjoy experimenting with it to discover some of the answers.
Have you ever used flatworm? Or have you seen it on any goldwork pieces? Do you have any ideas about how you would use it if you were going to play with it? I'd like to hear your take on this intriguing thread!
There were a few other new-to-me threads in my recent order – I can't wait to show them all to you! I'd rather be showing them to you in some kind of goldwork piece that could employ all of them, but my brain hasn't yet concocted a reasonable plan for one! When it does, I'll let you know!
If you haven't signed up for my January give-away, please take the opportunity to do so before tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 5:00 am CST. I'll pick a winner first thing tomorrow morning! If you want to sign up, visit the original post, where you'll find the directions for signing up towards the end of the post. Thanks for participating in it!
If you want to make sure you don't miss anything on Needle 'n Thread, you might take the opportunity to sign up for my e-mail newsletter. Just enter your e-mail in the box provided in the right hand column, and the newsletter will be delivered to your inbox daily. You'll need to verify your subscription, so keep an eye out for the verification e-mail. I don't use e-mail addresses for anything else except the e-mail newsletter, I assure you! Keep in mind that the daily newsletter you receive features the article from the previous day.
If you have a feedreader, you can sign up for my RSS feed if you prefer. You'll get the latest news from Needle 'n Thread on the day that it's posted!
Hope your week's going well so far, and that you have at least a little time to enjoy some stitching!
Flat Worm or simply Oval thread is a thin plate wrapped around a yarn core and flattened slightly. This is used like plate, but is considerably easier to work with.
Mary, can't wait to see what you do with "flatworm". What a yukky name for a glorious thread.
However, your mention of Tanja Berlin inspired me to get her a "shout out". I have ordered several of her kits over the past couple of years. Her instructions are detailed and easy to follow, her kits are impeccable, and she is extremely generous with supplies. There is plenty for screw-ups and then enough leftover for experimentation. She is a real pro — and a great resource for anyone interested in these gentle arts — no matter your level. She is also helpful, but encouraging, in critiquing work.


text:
class EventFactory final
{
private:
	EventFactory() = default;

	EventFactory(EventFactory const&) = delete;

	EventFactory& operator=(const EventFactory&) = delete;

	static EventFactory& getInstance()
	{
		static EventFactory instance;
		return instance;
	}

	std::map<std::string, std::shared_ptr<Event>(*)(const std::shared_ptr<Context>&, const SVal*)> _creators;

public:
	static bool reg(
		const std::string& name,
		std::shared_ptr<Event>(* creator)(const std::shared_ptr<Context>&, const SVal*)
	) noexcept;
	static std::shared_ptr<Event> create(
		const std::string& name,
		const std::shared_ptr<Context>& context,
		const SVal* input
	);
};


In each nation, art and culture summarise the entire range of human experience that needs to be preserved and passed down from generation to generation. Baltic International Bank is proud to have the possibility to support several valuable art projects.
Baltic International Bank has become the patron of the Latvian National Art Museum (the 'LNAM') for the period of development until 2018. As a result of cooperation between the LNAM and the Bank, a mobile application of the LNMA, being one of the most advanced museum applications, was developed.
This free mobile application will enable each visitor of the museum to see the exhibition and architecture of the unique building paying attention to details and nuances that hide exciting stories and new levels of cognition.
This mobile application can be downloaded on the websites "GooglePlay" and "AppStore".
In 2016, under the Bank's support, guest performance of the world's most famous male ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov was held in Latvia with a one-man show Letter to a Man. Being a joint work of Baryshnikov and Wilson, this one-man show is based on the diary of the great dancer Vaslav Nijinsky. Unfortunately, modern spectators are deprived of the possibility to see how Nijinsky was dancing since his performances were not documented. Nevertheless, Baryshnikov and Nijinsky were recognised as the foremost male ballet dancers of the 20th century, whereas the one-man show Letter to a Man has become a peculiar one-on-one meeting of the two artists.
In autumn 2013, under the Bank's support, a personal exhibition of the famous Latvian artist Ilmārs Blumbergs I Will Not Die was opened as well as the eponymously-named book about the artist's life and creative work was presented.
Following the book and exhibition, this project was continued and, under the Bank's support, a film about Ilmārs Blumbergs I WILL NOT DIE was made and its presentation was held in 2014. DVDs with the film were given as a gift to 100 Latvian music and art schools.
In honour of the foremost Latvian artist and its 20th anniversary, Baltic International Bank also issued a silver commemorative medal showing the figure of a Bowing Servant created by Ilmārs Blumbergs. The figure of the Bowing Servant was created while the artist was working on a set of works under the title Signs in 1993 which is also the year of foundation of Baltic International Bank.
In 2010, at the Bank's initiative, a unique work of art made of silver 21st Century Renaissance was created the author of which is the legendary Latvian silversmith Oļegs Auzers. The 21st Century Renaissance bowl made of sterling silver is 120 cm high, 75 cm long, 65 cm wide, and weighs 35.37 kg. The bowl was made using the ancient silversmith techniques and the great master had turned in into the artwork having no analogues. During the Night of Museums in 2010, each Latvia's inhabitant had the chance to see this unique artwork made of silver with their own eyes at the Museum of Riga's History and Navigation.


text:
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text:
Trump snubbed by Pentagon • CrazyGurl
CrazyGurl January 15, 2021
News, Politico
Trump snubbed by Pentagon
Trump snubbed by Pentagon??? Oh hell yeah – The Pentagon, in a break with recent tradition, will not host an Armed Forces Farewell tribute to President Donald Trump.
It's a well deserved shame, but not a surprise. Trump will leave office in disgrace – just like Richard Nixon, one week after the House voted a second time for his impeachment, two weeks after his supporters (terrorists basically) staged a deadly siege in the Capitol Building, six months after he dragged his Joint Chiefs chairman into a political firestorm, and after four years of nonstop assaults on truth. One of those disgraces is how he is ghosting the U.S. troops that he commanded. No wonder Trump is being snubbed by Pentagon
Just this Wednesday, the White House announced that this weekend Vice President Mike Pence ?will deliver remarks to sailors on the Trump Administration's historic foreign policy achievements at Naval Air Station Lemoore,? and then to the 10th Mountain Division, in Fort Drum, New York. Two senior defense officials confirmed to Crazy Gurl on Thursday that no military farewell is being planned for the commander in chief.
Perhaps it's for the best. Trump has used the military as a political prop since his first days in office, from signing MAGA hats for troops to giving partisan-fueled speeches in the heart of the Pentagon. American's soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have been forced to stand at attention for Trump's rants long enough. Besides, presidential visits are an honor and a headache for any military base that hosts them. The last time Trump appeared before troops was the Dec. 12 Army-Navy game at West Point. Before that, there was a brief Oct. 29 private visit with Army special operators at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as he passed through on the presidential campaign trail. Simply put, the military is ready to be rid of Trump.
But we have experienced the fawning exuberance in the eyes of young service members thrilled to see real live presidents of the United States who visit them. That was never the case when Trump visits. There are ways Trump could have shown his respect to the millions of service members who put their lives on the line for their country (suckers & losers according to Trump). If only he could allow any moment to not be about himself. But the we couldn't enjoy Trump being snubbed by Pentagon.
How have previous presidents used their final appearances as commander in chief? The first Armed Forces Farewell hosted by the Joint Chiefs chairman and defense secretary occurred in 1989. Ronald Reagan turned the ceremony at Camp Springs, Maryland, into a celebration of the younger men and women in uniform he faced ? while also touting his administration's successes. Basking in the post-Cold War peace, Reagan noted that America had at last shed its post-Vietnam feelings about the military. ?The luster has been restored to the reputation of our fighting forces after a time during which it was shamefully fashionable to deride or even condemn service such as yours. Those days will never come again.?
Related News: Trump's insurrection attempt planned for weeks
Four years later, Reagan's successor received his Armed Forces Farewell at Fort Myer, Virginia, overlooking the Arlington cemetery. With Gulf War leaders Gen. Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, George H.W. Bush urged the incoming kid from Arkansas not to cut defense spending.
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Bill Clinton used his 2001 farewell to thank the troops for the ways ?we are closer than ever before to building a Europe that is peaceful, undivided, and democratic after the 1990s.? Flanked by Defense Secretary Bill Cohen, a Republican; and Gen. Henry Shelton, Clinton said, ?Thanks to you, arm-in-arm with our NATO allies, ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia was ended, refugees have returned to their homes, and freedom has a chance to flower.?
And in 2009, President George W. Bush celebrated his intensely controversial Afghanistan and Iraq wars. ?Because of your actions,? Bush told the assembled troops, 'more than 50 million Afghans and Iraqis have seen the chains of despotism broken and are living in the liberty that the Creator intended. The new wave of freedom in the Middle East has made America more secure at home, because it is undermining the culture of tyranny that fosters radicalism.? He added, ?You'll be able to tell them the story of the first decade in the 21st century, their early days of a generational struggle against terror and extremism.?
The Nixon of our Day, Donny '1 term & 2 impeachments' Trump
What has Trump said about our beloved military?
In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled (he cancelled crying about non-existent rain) visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, Trump said, ?Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers.? In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as 'suckers? for getting killed.
Trump tweeted a controversial Memorial Day message … to himself. "Happy Memorial Day!" Trump tweeted. "Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18 years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!"
Regarding war hero John McCain's funeral Trump told aides, ?We?re not going to support that loser's funeral.? He also questioned why the flags were flying at half-mast, saying ?What the fuck are we doing that for? Guy was a fucking loser.? This aligns with past comments from Trump in 2015 about McCain, when he said, ?He's not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured.?
While standing at the grave of Robert Kelly (son of John Kelly, the then secretary of homeland security), who was killed in 2010 in Afghanistan, Trump turned to the others and said, ?I don't get it. What was in it for them?? A friend of Kelly said to The Atlantic, ?Trump can't imagine anyone else's pain. That's why he would say this to the father of a fallen marine on Memorial Day in the cemetery where he's buried.?
The Washington Post wrote that some sources verified that Trump has referred to Vietnam veterans as ?losers.? Given that in the past, he has said that avoiding sexually transmitted diseases as his ?personal Vietnam,? it's hard to tell what his priorities are, other than selfish.
n 2016, the parents of Captain Humayun Khan, who died in a car bombing in 2004, spoke at the DNC convention. Trump reacted, saying, ?If you look at his wife, she was standing there, she had nothing to say, she probably ? maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say, you tell me.?
So, for the first time since Reagan took office, the Pentagon is skipping the whole thing.Donald Trump is not getting a military farewell ceremony.
As the news reports, Vice President Mike Pence is off deliver weekend remarks to a group of sailors at a Naval Air Station, then he will drop by Fort Drum to extol all the achievements of the last four years to a group of soldiers.
It's not clear if this no-ceremony is not being held by the Pentagon's request or whether Trump has put the military on his hate list for failing to fly in and fight on the side of his supportive terrorist during the little attempted insurrection. We can guess that the fact Trump being snubbed by Pentagon will be a relief to troops, for sure!
In past years the ceremony has been held ahead of the date on which Trump's beloved ?very special? people stormed the Capitol, so it may just be that Trump was too caught up in coup planning to get around to this event. Or maybe the military just "had it up to here" with Trump's bullshit.
Whatever the reason, troops may be relieved of having to stand to attention one last time for Trump.
BYE FELICIA!!!
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Capitol Rioters Planned for Weeks Reliving Kobe Bryant's Tragic Last Flight
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News, News & Events
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text:
Alain Casanova (ur. 18 września 1961 w Clermont-Ferrand) - francuski piłkarz występujący na pozycji bramkarza. Trener klubu RC Lens

Podczas kariery piłkarskiej grał w INF Vichy, Le Havre AC, Olympique Marsylia i Toulouse FC.

30 maja 2008 roku został trenerem Toulouse FC i tym samym zastąpił Élie Baupa. Pracował w nim do 2015 roku.

Francuscy piłkarze
Francuscy trenerzy piłkarscy
Piłkarze Le Havre AC
Piłkarze Toulouse FC
Piłkarze Olympique Marsylia
Trenerzy piłkarzy Toulouse FC
Trenerzy piłkarzy RC Lens
Trenerzy piłkarzy FC Lausanne-Sport
Urodzeni w 1961
Ludzie urodzeni w Clermont-Ferrand

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
1 User Security
2 Physical, Network and Storage Security
4 Employee Policies
5 R Server
6 What We Do If There is a Security Breach
Q Online Training requires users to have a unique user name and password that must be entered when a user first logs on. The user may opt to have his identity remembered by ticking a box during logon.
Passwords are stored using one-way encryption.
"Cookies" are used to store information about users inside each user's web browser. The cookies do not include either the username or password of the user.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology protects user information and uploaded data. This uses both server authentication and data encryption, ensuring that user data is safe, secure, and available only to authorized persons.
Passwords and credit card information are always sent over secure 128-bit encrypted SSL connections.
Our procedures for managing payments and account information are PCI-DSS compliant.
Credit card information is not processed, stored or transmitted on our servers. It is handled directly by third-party payment processors who are PCI-DSS compliant.
Physical, Network and Storage Security
Your Customer Page runs in data centers managed and operated by Microsoft. These geographically dispersed data centers comply with key industry standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001:2013, for security and reliability. More information is available from Microsoft.
Code is written in C#, running on Windows Server and Microsoft SQL Azure.
The latest patches are automatically applied to all our operating system and application files.
Employee Policies
All new employees are made aware of our security policies and their relevant responsibilities.
All employees leaving the company have their access rights immediately revoked in our systems.
R Server
See Security and R.
What We Do If There is a Security Breach
Attempt to notify affected users electronically within a timely manner.
Review our policies and procedures to mitigate the risk and limit the effect of a similar breach in future.
Last Modified: 8 May 2020
Retrieved from 'https://wiki.q-researchsoftware.com/index.php?title=Security_Statement&oldid=45640'
Dashboards (Online Reporting)
Q Technical Reference > Setting Up Data > Manipulating Data Files
Q Technical Reference > Sharing Data And Results > Dashboards (Online Reporting)


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Home Technology Gaming
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment Announces Chief Legal Officer – PR Newswire
Raymond Lin to oversee and direct all legal and compliance affairs and operations across domestic and international Mohegan properties
, /PRNewswire/ — Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE), world renowned entertainment and gaming brand today announced the appointment of Raymond Lin as Chief Legal Officer to develop Mohegan's legal and compliance strategy. Lin brings a wide range of valuable experience to this role and will be integral in planning and implementing the broad legal aspects of creating a strong business that holds itself to a higher standard of accountability for financial discipline, disclosure, legal compliance, planning and strategic direction.
Raymond Lin to oversee and direct all legal and compliance affairs and operations across domestic and international Mohegan properties.
"We are pleased to welcome Ray Lin to our executive leadership team to ensure maximum protection of our legal rights and obligations across all of our properties," said Ray Pineault, President and Chief Executive Officer of MGE. "With more than 25 years of experience in the legal field representing both gaming and non-gaming transactions, Ray's leadership and expertise will contribute to MGE's continued growth and success."
In his new role, Lin will report directly to Pineault and will be responsible for advising executive management on legal matters regarding a wide range of commercial transactions, regulatory issues, international and domestic policy-making decisions, and formulating business, operational and legal strategies. He will also lead the legal, compliance and risk management teams to ensure that all current, future and strategic matters support the best interest of all of MGE and the Mohegan Tribe.
Prior to becoming Chief Legal Officer, Lin served as a Partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP. In that role, he served as co-head of the private equity practice group, representing clients in the industry including lenders, developers, owners and operators of gaming properties. Earlier in his career, Lin worked at Davis, Polk & Wardwell and served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Collins J. Seitz of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
To learn more about Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, please visit: www.mohegangaming.com.
About Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) is a master developer and operator of premier global integrated entertainment resorts, including Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, Inspire in Incheon, South Korea and Niagara Casinos in Niagara, Canada. MGE is owner, developer, and/or manager of integrated entertainment resorts throughout the United States, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, Pennsylvania, as well as Northern Asia and Niagara Falls, Canada, and Las Vegas, Nevada. MGE is owner and operator of Connecticut Sun, a professional basketball team in the WNBA. For more information on MGE and our properties, visit www.mohegangaming.com.
Media Contact: Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment PR; [email protected]
SOURCE Mohegan Sun


Following their mission to "deliver quality healthcare services with a measurable return on investment," MCC has been engaging with healthcare organizations on a broad spectrum of projects. "Through our network of associated consultants, we bring over 100 years of experience in technical support to meet the needs of healthcare enterprises nationally," states Rivera.
Among MCC's many satisfied customers is an east coast Primary Care Association representing nine community health centers. They partnered with MCC to analyze the risk and reward when considering a business offering. Through an analysis model, MCC questioned the actuarial soundness of the model, and realized the potential for downside risk as health centers were obligated to provide services beyond their scope. As a result, negotiations ceased, and the contract was not signed. "We helped avert a potentially catastrophic situation that could have left patients without care and health centers with bad debt," adds Rivera.
As future endeavors, MCC will continue building on relationships with managed care organizations and provider entities by offering them consistently high quality support. Analytics brings a new dimension to enhancing quality in healthcare through the application of machine learning algorithms. MCC's next line of innovation is centered on harnessing this particular technology complemented by its deep understanding of the industry. Additionally, the firm is working toward applying analytics to population health management. "We aim to expand the universe of data we analyze including that which addresses what happens to the patient between doctor visits. These are often referred to as "social determinants." Hence, it is critical, for example to identify the many independent variables that influence a patient's adherence to their drug regimen." MCC is also currently building a financial model to measure and boost ROI for healthcare organizations engaging in population health management.


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Anne Veesaar (1985-1989 Pabut, 1992-2007 Elling; born on 4 July 1957 in Valga) is an Estonian actress.

In 1980 she graduated from Tallinn State Conservatory's performing arts department. From 1980 until 1989, she worked at the Rakvere Theatre, and from 1989 until 2004, at the Vanalinnastuudio in Tallinn. From 2002 until 2004, she was the head of Vanalinnastuudio. Later, she has been a freelance actress. Besides stage roles she has also participated on films and television series.

Filmography

 1976: Minu naine sai vanaemaks (television feature film; role: Helga)
 1981: Keskpäev (television feature film)
 1993 Kapsapea (animated film; role: Roosi)
 1993: Väekargajad (Feature film; role: Hädi)
 1993–present Õnne 13 (television series; role: Mare Peterson)
 1997: Kapsapea 2 ehk Tagasi Euroopasse (animated film; role: Roosi)
 2000: Saamueli Internet (animated film; role: Saamuel's wife)
 2008: Tuulepealne maa (television miniseries)

References

Living people
1957 births
Estonian stage actresses
Estonian television actresses
Estonian film actresses
Estonian voice actresses
20th-century Estonian actresses
21st-century Estonian actresses
Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni
People from Valga, Estonia


text:
Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night
"This whole album is in questions," Jack Antonoff tells Apple Music about the meaning behind Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night, his third album as Bleachers. "I kept going back to these really dark stories that somehow spin you around and you're in this character, and you don't know why this hope exists. I was trying to access that part of myself." The much-in-demand singer-songwriter and producer—whose credits in the past year alone include work with Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and St. Vincent—is awash in joy and optimism as he lets things fall into place on these 10 tracks, trading the synth-pop glitz of his previous albums for sweeping, sax-tinged anthems and intimate acoustic confessionals. Antonoff wrote the songs in bits and pieces over the course of four years, though it wasn't until early 2020 that he began to record the album—mostly live in a studio with his touring bandmates. "I'm always writing, and then at some point, an album will form or it won't—and when it starts to form, that's when I chase it," he says. "It's a window into how I hear music. I don't craft records to be instant. I don't craft records to be growers. I just craft what I hear and feel in myself." Here, he tells us the story behind every song on the album.
"91" "The song, much like a poem, which Zadie Smith helped me write, functions where every lyric is tied to every verse but from a different angle. In the first verse, there's this child version that can't understand what's happening. And you only recognize that you're here, but you're not, through the anxiety of your mother. In the second verse, it's a little bit more about anger. You're recognizing this part of yourself that you don't like through someone else, which is a pretty intense way of understanding it. If you have a feeling that's pretty harsh about someone else, there's a good chance it's really about you. And then, in the third verse, you finally get this unearned hope, and this lightness of actually having all the magic of being alive."
"Chinatown" (feat. Bruce Springsteen) "A lot of the music that I love to play sits in that place where it's doing two things: There's a literal and emotional thing that's coming from the same concept. It is going from New York over the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey. Literally and sonically, the song does that. The music sounds a little bit New York-y in the beginning, and then it gets more innate and hopeful and becomes more New Jersey and more suburban. It feels like going home."
"How Dare You Want More" "'How Dare You Want More' is this feeling I was seeing with friends and family. Everyone's going through this big struggle to have more, to ask for more, and to be in control of their life. I saw it was producing so much shame in other people, and therefore, really just myself. Why is it so hard? And I'm not talking about more square footage. I'm not talking about more money. I'm talking about more of who you are so you can not have that strange feeling that keeps you up at night or makes you feel all fucked up in the morning, or makes you not grab at the things you want. It's a question that, if you keep asking yourself over and over and over again, can start to sound silly. And that's a good thing, because it is silly. It was a hallmark of the album, trying to move past this shame."
"Big Life" "It's a sibling track to 'Secret Life.' It's, in the most real and non-cynical way, falling so in love where you want to have a big life. You want to have all the experiences, and you want to take them with you on all these crazy journeys. And 'Secret Life' was the opposite, when you want to close every door. It's a pretty romantic concept to me. But the song is all about posing these wants. In a funny, funny way, I think it's the most vulnerable song on the album, even though it might not come off as it because the music is so confident."
"Secret Life" (feat. Lana Del Rey) "I do this thing a few times in the album where you have a feeling and you look at it from two polar-opposite positions. 'Big Life' is this 'let me go out there, let me get burned, and let the world knock me over because I'm trying to find love,' right? I want a secret life where you and I can get bored out of our minds. It's not a chase. It's not running out there to prove something. It's a very optimistic song, which is basically when the chemicals wear off and you're really in it with someone. At first, maybe I thought it would be a duet with Lana where it could be conversational, but then I realized that if I just put some reverb on her voice and have her kind of crest over the second verse and the chorus, she's more like a dream of this person I'm talking to."
"Stop Making This Hurt" "This one is a sibling song to 'How Dare You Want More.' 'Stop Making This Hurt' is just sort of a more petulant, pissed-off version. There's all this joy and hope about the next phase of your life. But then there's all this frustration about 'I can't get through this doorway. Whatever I'm carrying does not let me through.' I was able to access this rage by talking about other people: my dad, my friends and their kids, the world, and a whole new generation of people that are inheriting so much crap. But at the end of the day, I'm right in that struggle with all of them."
"Don't Go Dark" "I'd never written a song like this. It's not 'I love you.' It's not 'I hate you.' It's 'you've got to get off my back. You've got to let me go.' I can't be me for new people who I'm trying to love if I'm holding your darkness. I can hold you and I can hold our past and all these things, but it can't happen. That's why the song is so tense. It feels like this plea and this release. I just didn't know what else to do besides write that song. It's probably the angriest song I've ever written."
"45" "There's these pieces of us that, to the world, are gone. They're not gone—the people we love see them. When you meet someone new, or someone has been in your life for a while, they're bringing these pieces that, even if you know this person, you don't know and can learn to love them. It's exonerating. I can walk back into it in one second, even though no one else can see it."
"Strange Behavior" "I wrote the song a long time ago. I wanted to put it on the album because it's the only song I've ever written in the past that feels like it's still in the future for me. And at the time when I wrote it, I made it really loud and bombastic. I think I was a little bit afraid of it. I wanted to reapproach it with the confidence and vulnerability of how I feel now."
"What'd I Do With All This Faith?" "It's in many ways the most important song in the album, because the past two Bleachers albums I've closed with this idea of being ready to move on. It's a literal lyric I've put in the titles. They're these sort of ending pieces. And what I really came to is, that's it. I don't have God. I don't have a sureness about certain things in my personal life that I wish I did. But for some reason I'm spilling over with faith, and I don't even know where to put it. That is the biggest question of the album: What do I do with all this faith?"
Chinatown (feat. Bruce Springsteen)
How Dare You Want More
Secret Life (feat. Lana Del Rey)
Stop Making This Hurt
Don't Go Dark
Strange Behavior
What'd I Do With All This Faith?
July 30, 2021 10 Songs, 33 minutes ℗ 2021 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
How Dare You Want More (Official Video)
Audio Extras
Jack Antonoff on "Stop Making This Hurt"
Video Extras
Jack Antonoff on "How Dare You Want More"
More By Bleachers
Gone Now
Strange Desire
Terrible Thrills, Vol. 2
Live At Electric Lady
Don't Take the Money - Single
Like a River Runs - EP
Made for Spatial Audio
Pure Chill
Apple Music Chill
Making Coffee
Apple Music Indie
Bleachers Essentials
Apple Music Alternative
Ultimate Dinner Party
Apple Music Outdoors


Lord of the Rings Card Game: The Wilds of Rhovanion Exp.
Journey to the dangerous Wilderlands in the seventh deluxe expansion for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, The Wilds of Rhovanion!
This deluxe expansion will be supported by the "Ered Mithrin Cycle" of adventure packs.


[mks_dropcap style="letter" size="65″ bg_color="#ffffff" txt_color="#000000″]I[/mks_dropcap] have found a place – in the middle of the city – where I can feel god. This place is hard to find: it requires a detour through Yeoville via Rocky Street, and a vague gut-certainty that you're making the right turns. You'll pass some black and white Shakespeare painted on walls, until you reach a hill.
If you go there on a Sunday, you'll feel the energy in your cells prickle and vibrate. That's before you get out of the car and hear the chanting; before you see the pockets of white-robed worshippers sitting under trees; before you wonder a little further up the hill, to be greeted by a Jozi vista of skyscraper tower mountains. I'm not a religious person, but I know that The Sublime dwells here. Which, by its very nature, makes it difficult – let's say, impossible – to put into words.
The first time I visited this outdoor place of worship I was astounded by its beauty – both natural and ethereal. It's high on a hill, with easily one of the best views of the Johannesburg skyline. It goes by a number of names: Yeoville Ridge, Highland's Ridge, Highland's Hill, the lesser-known God's Land, and simply The Mountain.
Its setting not only attracts vagrants, would-be muggers and holy men, but thanks to the dystopian/utopian views of Ponte and the Hillbrow Tower, it's also become sacred ground for photographers, filmmakers, and advertising agencies. According to a resident, who lives in the neighbouring art deco Westminster Mansions (which is an entire blog post on its own), everyone from SAA to The Avengers has filmed scenes on the ridge. Notable photographers who have captured this very backdrop include Sydelle Willow Smith [some of her images that form part of a Red Bull advertising campaign were shot from a vantage point on a half-built structure that is now home to vagrants], as well as Mikhael Subotzky's body of work entitled Ponte City, which also features images from this hilltop.
But its beauty lies in more than just the kickass view. There's a mystical undercurrent that you can feel if you stand still for a while: it's seeing a plastic grocery bag transforming into a dervish in a sudden gust of wind; it's feeling the reverb of the strange-yet-familiar chanting enter your being, through your ears, and into your soul; it's watching a robed man being cleansed, the priest pouring water from a Sprite bottle over his head in what seems like slow motion, yet not.
I do discover, however, that an artist and urban geographer by the name of Ismail Farouk made a video piece about the hilltop in 2009, entitled God's Land. Around that time, it appears that signs had been erected stating that it was a 'no prayer zone'. According to Farouk's website, much of the religious activity at the time occurred in contravention of the regulations set out by the City Parks, who managed the space. Farouk states that City Parks often enforced these regulations by "threatening to arrest worshippers for loitering". This is interesting, because there are no signs up now.
After much pestering, I finally manage to track down Maurice Smithers, an ex-struggle activist and long-time Yeoville resident. Various people have told me that he's the guy to speak to. I meet him in a tiny, stuffy fifth-floor office in the middle of Braamfontein. A whiteboard has PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO scrawled on it in scratchy purple marker ink. I want to ask him a million things, but I start with the signs.
"They were probably taken for recycling, or pulled down as an act of defiance. But anything in Yeoville that's metal goes for recycling. Around the World Cup police chased worshippers away and accused them of loitering – probably because that ridge was pegged to be used as a vantage point for the games because it's above Ellis Park. There were TV crews up there at one point," he tells me.
He adds that he doesn't find God's Land mysterious at all – that I'm reading too much into things.
The ZCC church is one of the largest African initiated churches in southern Africa. According to Wikipedia, these are Christian churches independently started in Africa by Africans, and not by missionaries from another continent. The oldest of these is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church which dates from the 4th century. ZCC members can often be seen performing rituals and listening to sermons outdoors, especially on Sundays. They also wear different coloured robes and uniforms and place emphasis on prophecy, purification, and faith healing.
I remember that the Westminster Mansions resident told me that it's not just ZCC worshippers who go there, but many non-South Africans can be found there, too.
"The Yeoville/Bellevue area, according to the last census, is 52% foreign nationals – so it's not surprising that people from all over Africa go to worship there," he says.
I ask him to tell me about some of his experiences on the hilltop.
I tell him that I'm aware that the land is actually private property, and no longer owned by City Parks. I've been told that it's owned by a Mr Moodley, as part of a family trust.
But why has this land been sitting idle and vacant all this time? Is it holy ground? Again, Smithers offers a more pragmatic answer.
"But why don't you just go there and talk to the worshippers?" he adds.
I felt a little intrusive when I was there, as people were talking to God and I didn't really want to interrupt them. But he had a point, so the following week I return to the ridge. I see a group of three women, all covered in white headscarves and robes, sitting on the ground. They're not mid-prayer or song, so I muster up the courage to talk to them.
I get that familiar look from the oldest-looking woman: the universal 'you're so adorable and must be an innocent young girl' look that Turkish grandmas and Japanese octogenarians have given me in the past. Her cataract crone eyes smile at me. They all greet me in return and I kneel down next to them. I ask them where they're from and one of them says, "Zimbabwe." I ask them if they're ZCC and I get a fairly emphatic shaking of all three heads. "No, not ZCC," says one of them, who has now become the main speaker. "We're Apostolic*. That group there is 12 Apostolic." She points to a nearby gathering of 20 people or so, none wearing robes, except for the priest, who happens to be laying his hands on a woman's head, who's convulsing on the grass and making weird noises.
They tell me that they live in Orange Farm, and they travel each Sunday to Yeoville to "relax" and pray. I ask the main speaker why they don't go to a church to pray, why it has to be outside. "Oh! A church is too expensive!" They all laugh and smile and tsk-tsk at my question.
All three suddenly start to kneel and I take that as my cue to bugger off. I thank them and make it look like I have somewhere to go. I wander off to the side, only to be approached by a non-robed man. We shake hands.
I've never met anyone from The Gambia before. I make a mental note to google it when I get home.
"But I live in Switzerland," he adds.
I tell him I don't have any marijuana.
I ask him if he came to pray here.
When I get home, the first thing I do is google 'The Gambia'. Because that's how I roll. Turns out, a couple of weeks' ago, The Gambia's president banned flights from Guinea and nearby West African countries from landing at his country's airport, thanks to an outbreak of ebola. But he's apparently an impulsive kind of guy: he also said in 2008 that all homosexuals should leave his country; if they don't their heads should be cut off.
Some of my questions about God's Land have been resolved, but many remain unanswered. What if Mr Moodley decides to build on it to attract the 'right kind of people'? Where will the worshippers go? Will this lead to Yeoville's spaza shop owners being replaced with ironically-bearded coffee barristas? What was that '12 Apostles' priest doing to that woman? What were her demons? Why does Johnny live in Switzerland? What's the story behind the Westminster Mansions? Why do I look like a lady who smokes ganja? Why all the white robes? What happened to Maurice during the struggle?
Perhaps, sometimes the best answer to a question is another question?
*Some African initiated church denominations call themselves "apostolic churches"; they are similar to Zionist congregations but often place more emphasis on formal theological training (Wikipedia).
Asking questions is ALWAYS a good start. I regret not asking many more while I had the chance!
Love this Ang, one of my regrets about my three years in South Africa (Joburg) is that I never watched/attended/asked questions at one of those outdoor church gatherings. My maid was ZCC and every Easter she would disappear to sing and dance for three days and nights in a row somewhere near Pietermaritzburg, I think. She always loved it but always fretted about the weather, which can be unpredictable at Easter. Great blog post!
Wow! What a fantastic piece of writing.
It's funny — I was there on Saturday and (mainly because of you) tried to get up the courage to talk to a couple of women who weren't praying. I chickened out though and just did what I always do when I go there — take photos of the view.
This is nothing less than incredible, Ang. You have done justice to a very special place in this city, and I can't imagine a better piece about a place so shrouded in Mystery and Magic. Well, well done!


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Christina Hills' is hosting the 'Website Creation Workshop' teleseminar series starts from Tuesday, February 21.
Rich Schefren's "Becoming a Highly-Paid Expert" teleseminar with Brendon Burchard is on replay.
Neil Stafford's 'Why Now is The Ideal Time To Start An Internet Marketing Business' teleseminar is on replay.
Dr. Ellen Britt's 'Online Visibility Made Easy' Telesummit begins on Tuesday, October 25. Key experts of this summit are Denise Wakeman, Bob Jenkins, Marnie Pehrson, Fay McLean, Helen Raptoplous, Sandra Martini, Adela Rubio, Laura West, Janet Slack, Felicia Slattery, Janis Pettit, Jessica Swanson, Karyn Greenstreet, Kathleen Gage, Kristen Eckstein and Dr. Ellen Britt.