Throughout our summer and fall seasons, we host various types of festivals and events, many benefiting local charities. It's our way of giving back to the community that we've been a part of for so many generations.
Click here to register for the 5K by May 4 to guarantee a t-shirt and medal. You can register up until the morning of the event but you'll only be guaranteed a shirt and medal with early registration by May 4th.
The Strawberry Festival benefits New Hope Ministries. $5 from each 5K registration will be donated to New Hope Ministries. Whether or not you're participating in our 5K, be sure to stop by and enjoy the Jazz Me Band (9:30am – 12:30pm), local craft vendors, pick-your-own strawberries, food sampling in the store, PlayLand, and more! Everything opens at 8:30am! Visit the Kitchen for SO many strawberry treats: strawberry shortcake, strawberry sundaes, strawberry milkshakes, strawberry pineapple slushies, and be sure to try our fabulous seasonal Strawberry Salad for lunch. Yummmm!
Don't want to run (or stroll) through our picturesque orchard but still want to help? You can donate a "High Needs Item" and be entered into a raffle to win one of several fun baskets!
Tickets can be bought at the farm during the Festival.
The Blueberry Festival benefits the Ecumenical Food Pantry in Harrisburg. $2 for every adult and senior citizen breakfast ticket and $1 for every child breakfast ticket plus $2 for every play area admission will be donated to the Ecumenical Food Pantry. Come for the all-you-can-eat breakfast (blueberry pancakes, pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, fruit, coffee, and juice) and stay through the day for over 30 arts/crafts booths, pick-your-own berries, free food samples, the Jazz Me Band (9:30am-12:30pm), tractor-pulled wagon rides and more!
Come for the all-you-can-eat breakfast (pancakes with peach glaze or maple syrup, scrambled eggs, ham, fruit, coffee, and juice) and stay through the day for over 30 arts/crafts booths, pick-your-own berries, free food samples, the Jazz Me Band (9:30am-12:30pm), tractor-pulled wagon rides and more!
We thank those who offer so much for our community! Paulus Orchards wants to give back to our firemen, police officers, first responders, and active & retired military by providing free admission to these Hometown Heroes and their families (dependents) during our opening weekend of PlayLand. Must have current ID.
All Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, American Heritage Girls, and Trail Life USA youth in uniform receive free admission. Regular admission applies for additional guests and family members.
We love teachers who give much of their own personal resources for students! If you're a certified teacher teaching in a local school, we invite you and your family (dependents) to Paulus PlayLand for free. Must have current ID. Homeschool families can come this weekend and receive one free admission for each paid admission (for your immediate family only) with valid homeschool teacher card.
Messiah students: Bring your family weekend postcard to the orchard for $5 worth of free pick-your-own apples!
Grandparents are special and are so important in a child's life. Grandparents receive free admission to Paulus PlayLand with the purchase of grandchild's admission. One free admission per paid grandchild.


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Eye For Film >> Movies >> Benedetta (2021) Film Review
Reviewed by: Jennie Kermode
"The interplay of the spiritual and the sensual is vital here." | Photo: Guy Ferrandis/SBS Productions
From Ken Russell's erotic classic The Devils to Guillaume Nicloux's The Nun, Norifumi Suzuki's animé take School Of The Holy Beast and Elizabeth E Shuch's genre-subverting The Book Of Birdie, nuns and lesbianism go together like blockbusters and merchandising in the cinematic imagination. It seems only natural that the subgenre would appeal to Paul Verhoeven, and still more so that he would choose a Renaisance era story, bringing several of his interests together. Benedetta is much more than just an exploitation movie, though – and not just because of the beauty and technical finesse that the Dutch director brings to it. Gerard Soeteman, who contributed to the script, may have left the film (and had his name taken off it) because he felt it was too sexual in its focus, but it is ultimately far more interested in power, society and the sacred.
As Benedetta (Virginie Efira) explains, there are only two ways a woman can have any kind of independence outside the convent in this era: she can be a sex worker or she can be a thief. Otherwise, one way or another, she will be the property of a man, which places her at high risk of sexual exploitation. Benedetta is sharp, even as a child, and we wonder how long she has understood this. She gets a dramatic lesson in it when her family is visiting the convent, when a ragged young woman called Bartolomea (Daphne Patakia) runs into the courtyard, begging for the chance to join the order and escape her abusive father. Shrewd abbess Felicita (Charlotte Rampling in one of the best performances of her career) points out that they were not a charity, and Benedetta beseeches her father to pay Bartolomea's dowry. It's the second time we see her wield power over others by insisting that she knows the will of Jesus. It's a fateful choice, because she and Bartolomea will become lovers.
From the moment you see Benedetta's conveniently shaped wooden statuette of the Virgin Mary, you will know what's on the way, but she takes some time to reconcile with her desires. She is, after all, a bride of Christ, in an era when that was often taken literally. As such, she experience the sort of passionate relationship with Jesus written about in the likes of the Ancrene Wisse, with dreams and waking visions verging from rescue fantasies to explicitly erotic encounters. This seems to have been fairly common in the period, but the other nuns are concerned about what may be a symptom of illness. Only gradually do they come to believe that she may be possessed of real mystical powers. By the time she is exhibiting physical symptoms associated with the miraculous, however, it is difficult for anyone to successfully cast doubt on their veracity.
Is Benedetta mad? Is she some kind of saint? Is she simply a savvy opportunist? These questions are never entirely put to rest, and she points out herself that one such possibility would not preclude others. Early on, she attracts the interest of individuals who see political advantage in supporting her claims. With the Inquisition active during this period she is – intentionally or otherwise – playing a very dangerous game, but Verhoeven constructs his film so as to try and cast light on ways of thinking very different from what we are used to today. If Benedetta sees herself as God's instrument, it may not be a simple thing for her to distinguish between His will and her own. Acts that appear to be selfish in nature may well have positive consequences for others. She is paralleled with Felicita, who may not even believe in God, but who uses the concept of Him to protect and empower the women around her.
Curiously, though the sex scenes between Benedetta and Bartolomea avoid the inadvertent hilarity of Blue Is The Warmest Colour, they once again suggest a male director who doesn't quite understand how women's bodies work. The nuns' naivety and limited repertoire is understandable in the circumstances, their focus on penetration important to the story (albeit ahistorical), but even if all they have are dreams for a reference point, those ten second orgasms are going to disappoint. Given Verhoeven's past, one might have expected him to be a little more astute. Nevertheless, this works adequately at a character level, echoing Benedetta's rather peremptory attitude towards any kind of intimacy. She talks a good line about love but, despite the contrary allegations she will go on to face, seems rather more invested in the abstract and general than in the specific. Bartolomea begins as a seducer but quickly emerges as a vulnerable character whose much more limited understanding of the world makes her the obvious target for those who object to her lover's growing influence.
The whole thing is played out against the background of the Plague, which was ravaging the Italian countryside at the time, and this is where the film becomes really interesting. Benedetta claims that Christ has told her the city of Pescia will be spared, which instantly boosts her status with its desperate people. This, in turn, gives her the power to instruct its guards, introducing a key public health initiative. One might argue that this is a clear example of her faking spiritual insight in order to take an action whose success is based on practical, scholarly knowledge – yet because she is a woman, this is the only way she can get her understanding taken seriously. Is God using her or is she using Him? Their aims seem to aligned. The Church authorities, however, are concerned about the potential cost of a woman being seen to succeed where they have not – and, with that in mind, their aims are rather different.
Many specific incidents here are taken from the life of the real Benedetta Carlini, with Verhoeven making a valiant effort to present her more unusual visions in a way that modern viewers will understand. The interplay of the spiritual and the sensual is vital here, not just where sex is concerned but with regard to bodies generally, whether scourged, scalded, tormented by flame or disease, or washed, anointed, cared for. Patakia is lean and hungry, with a physicality which seems to reflect her animalistic past; she seems perpetually on the brik of rejected the civilised values with which she has been indoctrinated. Efira is slim yet tall and robust. She has a very deliberate stride, looks straight ahead and squares her shoulders, displaying a self assurance not expected of women. in desperate moments, she speaks in a masculine voice taken to be that of Jesus. Yet when she is in the throes of her visions she seems unable to control her body at all, presenting a contradiction which makes her all the more difficult to classify, constrain and control.
Though some will doubtless perceive this film as nothing more than handsomely produced pornography, it addresses issues around gender in ways which remain pertinent today, and serves as a reminder that there have always been women who found ways to work around ingrained social disadvantage. The exquisite lighting directly relates it to early Baroque paintings, and it's worth remembering that it's always in the details of such works that their real meaning is found. Whilst many of the scenes may seem to contain traditional figures in classic poses, it speaks about institutions and ideas in the here and now, and there's a thread of sly humour woven through the mystical, the anguish and the joy.
Reviewed on: 07 Dec 2021
A 17th-century nun in Italy suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions. She is assisted by a companion, and the relationship between the two women develops into a romantic love affair.
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Writer: David Birke and Paul Verhoeven, based on he book by Judoth C Brown
Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Lambert Wilson, Virginie Efira, Daphne Patakia, Olivier Rabourdin
Country: France, Netherlands
SSFF 2021
Karlovy 2021
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'I'm always amazed people are shocked by sex in movies'
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Nanna says she's scrumbling again. She's joined the scrumbles together. She says it's going to be a shawl. She plans to put it in an exhibition.
We wonder who will buy it?
PS At the top of the first picture is a kind of scrumble flower bag Nanna made a while ago.


How to make a digger — Fortsunlight - video & motion graphics production based in Fife, Scotland.
We were lucky enough to visit the JCB headquarters in Staffordshire to see how they build their iconic excavators. This video for BBC Future breaks down the complex process into 21 steps.
Click here to view the original feature at BBC Future.


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Our Response to the Fiscal Year 2021 Omnibus Funding Bill and COVID-19 Supplemental Package
Nothing But Nets is appreciative of the continued broad bipartisan support for programs like the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund). We applaud our congressional leaders, as well as our advocates and partners, who have shone a light on these programs' incredible lifesaving work and the tangible progress they're making to tackle malaria and other leading infectious disease threats.
The FY21 funding package included stable funding for both the PMI (funded at $770 million) and the Global Fund (funded at $1.56 billion), which ensures that critical interventions such as bed nets, diagnostics, and treatment continue to reach communities in need. The Global Fund recently announced that it signed a record number of grants to address HIV/AIDS, TB and, malaria, and to strengthen systems for health. However, the recent appropriations agreement did not provide additional funds for either program for the response to COVID-19, which has the capacity to upend the gains the global community has made against malaria over the last two decades.
Looking forward, we're eager to work with the 117th Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that we have an effective global response to COVID-19 and that we continue making progress towards ending malaria in our lifetime.


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AgaP_AGAP009731 Anopheles gambiae str. PEST
WNT10B Bos taurus
WNT10B Canis lupus familiaris
wnt10b Danio rerio
Wnt10 Drosophila melanogaster
WNT10B Homo sapiens
WNT10B Macaca mulatta
WNT10B Pan troglodytes
Wnt10b Rattus norvegicus
wnt10b Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis
Disease relevance of Wnt10b
High impact information on Wnt10b
Biological context of Wnt10b
Anatomical context of Wnt10b
Associations of Wnt10b with chemical compounds
Regulatory relationships of Wnt10b
Other interactions of Wnt10b
Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Wnt10b
Wnt10b - wingless-type MMTV integration site family...
Synonyms: Protein Wnt-10b, Protein Wnt-12, Wnt-10b, Wnt10, Wnt12
Wang, J. et al., Bui, T.D. et al., Bennett, C.N. et al., Kang, S. et al., Katoh, Y. et al., et al.
Katoh, Katoh, Veltmaat, Van Veelen, Thiery, Bellusci, Lako, Lindsay, Lincoln, Cairns, Armstrong, Hole,
In fresh tissues, all Wnt genes apart from Wnt10b were expressed in normal endometrium and endometrial carcinoma [1].
Transgenic mice with expression of Wnt10b from the FABP4 promoter (FABP4-Wnt10b) have less adipose tissue when maintained on a normal chow diet and are resistant to diet-induced obesity [2].
The gene is the human homologue of mouse Wnt10b, recently shown to be one of the oncogenes cooperating with FGF3 in the development of mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV) induced mouse mammary carcinomas [3].
Transgenic expression of Wnt1 or Wnt10b in the mouse mammary gland leads to lobuloalveolar hyperplasia with a major risk of progression to carcinoma [4].
Here we show that Wnt signaling, likely mediated by Wnt-10b, is a molecular switch that governs adipogenesis [5].
Activation of Wnt signaling by Wnt10b inhibits differentiation of preadipocytes and blocks adipose tissue development; however, the effect of Wnt10b on other mesenchymal lineages has not been defined [6].
To explore the physiological role of Wnt signaling in bone development, we analyzed FABP4-Wnt10b mice, which express the Wnt10b transgene in marrow [6].
Finally, Wnt10b-/- mice have decreased trabecular bone and serum osteocalcin, confirming that Wnt10b is an endogenous regulator of bone formation [6].
In addition, FABP4-Wnt10b mice are protected from the bone loss characteristic of estrogen deficiency [6].
In the zebrafish, Wnt1 and Wnt10b functionally overlap in their control of gene expression in the ventral midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB), but they are not required for the formation of the MHB constriction [7].
Here, we identified and characterized rat Wnt1 and Wnt10b genes by using bioinformatics [8].
Wnt1 and Wnt10b genes at rat chromosome 7q36 were clustered in head-to-head manner with an interval of about 10 kb within AC096835.4 or AC118760.4 genome sequences [8].
GC content of rat Wnt1-Wnt10b IGCR (nucleotide position 14962-15875 of AC096835.4 genome sequence) was 59.4% [8].
Rat Wnt10b gene, consisting of five exons, encoded a 389-aa protein with signal peptide, 24 conserved Cys residues and two Asn-linked glycosylation sites [8].
Wnt10b was localised specifically to the presumptive dental epithelium [9].
Reciprocal expression of Wnt10b with UCP1 and PGC-1alpha in interscapular tissue from cold-challenged or genetically obese mice provides further evidence for regulation of brown adipocyte metabolism by Wnt signaling [10].
These expression patterns suggest that Wnt10a and Wnt10b may function in various tissues of the adult and embryo with notable expression in tissues responsible for the formation and maturation of blood cells, in the pituitary gland (Wnt10a), and in the face, limbs and skin of developing embryos [11].
Wnt10a RNA was most abundant in adult brain with a high concentration in the pituitary gland, and expression of Wnt10b was highest in adult lung and uterus [11].
To date, the formation of the mammary line expressing Wnt10b is the earliest discernible ectodermal event in murine embryonic mammary gland development [12].
Embryos cultured in medium containing WNT3A or the WNT pathway activator lithium chloride (LiCl) display accelerated formation of expanded placodes, and LiCl induces the formation of ectopic placode-like structures that show elevated expression of the placode marker Wnt10b [13].
Of the agents used to induce differentiation, exposure of 3T3-L1 cells to methyl-isobutylxanthine or cAMP is sufficient to suppress expression of Wnt10b mRNA [14].
Wnt10b blocks brown adipose tissue development and expression of UCP1 when expressed from the fatty acid binding protein 4 promoter, even when mice are administered a beta3-agonist [10].
Mimicking Wnt signaling in aged myoblasts through inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase or through overexpression of Wnt10b resulted in inhibition of adipogenic gene expression and sustained or enhanced myogenic differentiation [15].
Wnt-5a and Wnt-10b were expressed in day-11 murine yolk sac, day-14 fetal liver, and fetal liver AA4+ cells [16].
Using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis we identified several candidate Wnt genes whose expression pattern was consistent with a role in generation, maintenance and/or differentiation of early haematopoietic progenitor cells including three genes previously shown to have a role in haematopoiesis (Wnt5a, Wnt2b and Wnt10b) [17].
Wnt10a and full length Wnt10b encode relatively closely related (62% identity) Wnt proteins containing the 24 cysteines characteristic of most Wnt proteins [11].
We show here that a mammary line exists in the mouse embryo at embryonic day (E) 11.25 as a concise line of Wnt10b expression and a broader band of Wnt6 expression in the surface ectoderm, between the subaxillary and suprainguinal region of each flank [12].
Consistent with these in vitro observations, UCP1-Wnt10b transgenic mice, which express Wnt10b in interscapular tissue, lack functional brown adipose tissue [10].
Using a PCR-based approach, we have isolated two novel members of the murine Wnt gene family, Wnt11 and Wnt12 [18].
Wnt10a and Wnt10b expression broadly peaked at approximately 13.5 and 15.5 days of gestation, respectively, and Northern blot analyses of RNAs from dissected embryos revealed that expression of both genes was strongest in the face, limbs and skin and that Wnt10a was also expressed in the liver, the major site of hematopoiesis in the embryo [11].
Expression and hormone regulation of Wnt2, 3, 4, 5a, 7a, 7b and 10b in normal human endometrium and endometrial carcinoma. Bui, T.D., Zhang, L., Rees, M.C., Bicknell, R., Harris, A.L. Br. J. Cancer (1997) [Pubmed]
Wnt10b Inhibits Obesity in ob/ob and Agouti Mice. Wright, W.S., Longo, K.A., Dolinsky, V.W., Gerin, I., Kang, S., Bennett, C.N., Chiang, S.H., Prestwich, T.C., Gress, C., Burant, C.F., Susulic, V.S., Macdougald, O.A. Diabetes (2007) [Pubmed]
A novel human Wnt gene, WNT10B, maps to 12q13 and is expressed in human breast carcinomas. Bui, T.D., Rankin, J., Smith, K., Huguet, E.L., Ruben, S., Strachan, T., Harris, A.L., Lindsay, S. Oncogene (1997) [Pubmed]
Wnt proteins in mammary development and cancer. Brennan, K.R., Brown, A.M. Journal of mammary gland biology and neoplasia. (2004) [Pubmed]
Inhibition of adipogenesis by Wnt signaling. Ross, S.E., Hemati, N., Longo, K.A., Bennett, C.N., Lucas, P.C., Erickson, R.L., MacDougald, O.A. Science (2000) [Pubmed]
Regulation of osteoblastogenesis and bone mass by Wnt10b. Bennett, C.N., Longo, K.A., Wright, W.S., Suva, L.J., Lane, T.F., Hankenson, K.D., MacDougald, O.A. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (2005) [Pubmed]
Combinatorial Wnt control of zebrafish midbrain-hindbrain boundary formation. Buckles, G.R., Thorpe, C.J., Ramel, M.C., Lekven, A.C. Mech. Dev. (2004) [Pubmed]
Identification and characterization of rat Wnt1 and Wnt10b genes in silico. Katoh, Y., Katoh, M. Int. J. Oncol. (2005) [Pubmed]
Expression of Wnt signalling pathway genes during tooth development. Sarkar, L., Sharpe, P.T. Mech. Dev. (1999) [Pubmed]
Effects of Wnt signaling on brown adipocyte differentiation and metabolism mediated by PGC-1alpha. Kang, S., Bajnok, L., Longo, K.A., Petersen, R.K., Hansen, J.B., Kristiansen, K., MacDougald, O.A. Mol. Cell. Biol. (2005) [Pubmed]
Murine Wnt10a and Wnt10b: cloning and expression in developing limbs, face and skin of embryos and in adults. Wang, J., Shackleford, G.M. Oncogene (1996) [Pubmed]
Identification of the mammary line in mouse by Wnt10b expression. Veltmaat, J.M., Van Veelen, W., Thiery, J.P., Bellusci, S. Dev. Dyn. (2004) [Pubmed]
Canonical WNT signaling promotes mammary placode development and is essential for initiation of mammary gland morphogenesis. Chu, E.Y., Hens, J., Andl, T., Kairo, A., Yamaguchi, T.P., Brisken, C., Glick, A., Wysolmerski, J.J., Millar, S.E. Development (2004) [Pubmed]
Regulation of Wnt signaling during adipogenesis. Bennett, C.N., Ross, S.E., Longo, K.A., Bajnok, L., Hemati, N., Johnson, K.W., Harrison, S.D., MacDougald, O.A. J. Biol. Chem. (2002) [Pubmed]
Wnt10b deficiency promotes coexpression of myogenic and adipogenic programs in myoblasts. Vertino, A.M., Taylor-Jones, J.M., Longo, K.A., Bearden, E.D., Lane, T.F., McGehee, R.E., MacDougald, O.A., Peterson, C.A. Mol. Biol. Cell (2005) [Pubmed]
A role for the Wnt gene family in hematopoiesis: expansion of multilineage progenitor cells. Austin, T.W., Solar, G.P., Ziegler, F.C., Liem, L., Matthews, W. Blood (1997) [Pubmed]
Characterisation of Wnt gene expression during the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in vitro: role of Wnt3 in enhancing haematopoietic differentiation. Lako, M., Lindsay, S., Lincoln, J., Cairns, P.M., Armstrong, L., Hole, N. Mech. Dev. (2001) [Pubmed]
Isolation and genetic mapping of two novel members of the murine Wnt gene family, Wnt11 and Wnt12, and the mapping of Wnt5a and Wnt7a. Adamson, M.C., Dennis, C., Delaney, S., Christiansen, J., Monkley, S., Kozak, C.A., Wainwright, B. Genomics (1994) [Pubmed]


text:
Q: How limit the loop to one entry Below my one loop how to limit to one entry.
public ProjectSetup retrieveProjectSetupData(String selectedClientName) {

    Document document = new Document(Constants.CLIENT_NAME, selectedClientName);
    MongoDatabase mongoDatabase = ExternalConnection.getMongoDb();
    MongoCollection collection = mongoDatabase.getCollection(Constants.COLLECTION_NAME);
    FindIterable<Document> data = collection.find(document);
    ProjectSetup clientNameData = new ProjectSetup();
    for (Document item : data) {
      clientNameData.set_ID(item.getString(Constants._ID));
      clientNameData.setClientName(item.getString(Constants.CLIENT_NAME));
      clientNameData.setStartDate(item.getString(Constants.START_DATE));
      clientNameData.setEndDate(item.getString(Constants.END_DATE));
      clientNameData.setModuleScope((List) item.get(Constants.MODULES_SCOPE));
      clientNameData.setReferenceData(item.getString(Constants.REFERENCE_DATA));
      clientNameData.setReferenceDate(item.getString(Constants.REFERENCE_DATE));

    }
    return clientNameData;

  }

A:
How to limit the loop to one entry?

break the loop:
for (Item i: items) {
    // your code here
    break;
}

or return from the loop:
for (Item i: items) {
    // your code here
    return clientNameData;
}

or get the first entry from data:
Object firstEntry = data.first();

or you can simply get rid of the loop.
If there is only one entry, the loop will execute only once and you do not need to do anything.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Formed all the way back in 2004, the band SWMRS is originally from Oakland but has the sun-soaked surf punk sound of your favorite SoCal band. But they might be offended if you said so – they have a song called "I Hate L.A." and their new album, set for release on February 12th is titled Drive North. You may be familiar with their lyrical ode to Miley Cyrus and fans of fashion might even recognize brothers/guitarists/singers Max and Cole Becker as models for Yves Saint Laurent last year. But their biggest claim to fame is arguably their punk rock lineage. Drummer Joey Armstrong is the son of none other than Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, who helped them produce their first studio albums under their original band name Emily's Army.
According to their Facebook page, they classify their genre as "hawiiange" (Hawaiian grunge?) which is decidedly accurate. Their lyrics play upon themes of young romance, adolescent confusion and general teenage antics making for fun and lighthearted songs that incorporate both punk and beach pop influences. But rather than relying on super distorted low-fi guitars and simplistic drum beats, their sound is refreshingly clean and refined and surprising to hear coming from such young dudes.
Even though many of their songs might be about love and the beach, it should be noted that as a band they also deal with some more serious and current subject matter. Perhaps this is what sets SWMRS apart from the rest. The Becker brothers also create Boyzine, defined on their Facebook page as "a zine for boyz (and girlz)… New masculinity not defined by patriarchy." At their show at Chop Suey this month, their encore included a cover of "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure. Max closed the set by proclaiming "boys can cry, girls can cry, non-binary people can cry, everyone can cry!" SWMRS may be just the band to lead today's socially progressive punk youth.
They have already established themselves in the Oakland music scene and are quickly garnering the attention of the rest of the country too. Seeing as they opened for Wavves and Twin Peaks on their September tour last year and are currently headlining their own tour with Melissa Brooks and the Aquadolls (aptly named the "Aquatic Reference Overkill Tour") I have no doubts we will be hearing more about SWMRS in the very near future.
You probably didn't know that you needed noisy, lo-fi garage rock made by an all-girl band from Spain, but here's the thing: you do. Not to fret, though, there's a way to satisfy this need: listen to Hinds.
Hinds delivers a style of rock which seems to be male-dominated in recent years (don't worry, Sleater-Kinney, I'm not forgetting you). In my opinon, it's refreshing to listen to loud, angsty songs about boys for a change. Their newly-released debut album, Leave Me Alone, is already capturing the interest of music bloggers everywhere. The band's also embarked on a European tour, and they'll be here in Seattle on March 27th at the Sunset Tavern.
me would pop up. And someone did! Don't you love it when that happens?
music ties it into the pop scene of today.
of this year and features four songs (and one remix).
part of her list of "New Songs That Will Make Your Life More Awesome".
Thanks for bringing it into the limelight, Taylor.
The song even has an official lyric video and I can assure that it's just as whimsical and adorable as you would hope.
the album are just as great, including "Homie", which rings similar to Tove Lo in both content and rhythm.
covers, exemplified by her mashup of "Ignition" by R. Kelly and "Do You…" by Miguel.
I highly recommend you go follow her.
Best of luck to Phoebe on all of her musical endeavors.
bound to make a let-down album eventually. Unfortunately, Strange Love seems to be that album.
life, but it's definitely an improvement from the obnoxious "Love Again".
would be a great record.
nostalgia and none of the disappointment.
It was a long break. But, that just means I had whole lot of time to listen to some new jams, and let me tell you, I found some good ones, friends.
I think by know, we realize that I'm a fan of British artists. And why shouldn't I be? The accent, their outfits, the incredible depth of the voices that many of these artists carry.
Let's talk about Jack Garratt.
A man that honestly looks like he's be living on the streets as a rabbi with his full face beard, Garratt is a lowkey Londoner performer who's starting to impress people, including myself. With a relatively new EP released in November, and a single released a month later that literally screams to me perfection in a song, I die a little whenever I hear Garratt sing.
I came across his single, "Worry," and couldn't help but smile when I listened to his song. A slow building song, Garratt introduces us to his warm vocals, some drums, and an electric keyboard. You think, "Oh, alright, it's going to be very Ben Howard-esq" (which isn't necessarily a bad thing.) However, he just surprises you, and lets his almost falsetto (synced to some perfect electric guitar sometimes sneaking in) just steal your heart. His synchronism with his drum beats and synth just kind of pull it together for me.
After I listened to "Worry," it was necessary for me to listen to the rest of the EP, and I couldn't but just inwardly praise Garratt for his use of genre in just the 4 songs on his EP. "Remnants," is this hauntingly melancholy track that has whispers of a chill to it. While in "Worry," we had a little bit of a rock vibe, hinting to me for some reason of indie rock band, The Antlers, "Remnants" is just on the completely different spectrum. Garratt's links his really simply piano melodies with just some raw, raw vocals that lead up to this powerful chorus reminiscent of The Neighbourhood. Same thing going on with "I Wouldn't Want You Anyway." Powerful, clean, and somber.
So I'm halfway through this EP, and think I know this guy's sound, but nope.
Take a listen to "Water," and sweet baby Jesus, the amount of soul in this song is just uncanny. We take a turn from indie rock/alternative to sweet soul/R&B and I just dig it. The way Garratt uses his voice in this track truly reminds of water, so he's got that on the mark.
Okay, we're to the end of this, and although this isn't technically on the EP, I have a suspicion this new track just released for sure will be on Garratt's up and coming album, so let's just fall in love together.
This song gives me legitimate chills, and I'm not exaggerating. This song is Marvin Gaye meets old school Robin Thicke meets some James Blake. I'm definitely feelings some hints of jammin' electro funk and soul, and I'm sorry James Blake, but "Retrograde" just doesn't stand a chance here with this new artist. After I listened to this artist, I knew that Jack Garratt was an artist that could basically do any genre if he tried. With such an incredible mix of funk, soul, R&B, electro, and goddamn, even some blues, he knows how to use his vocals and instrumentals to the maximum capacity.
I'm stoked for this guy's full album, and definitely when he comes to the States for a US tour, you guys can guarantee I'm gonna be there front row and center.
Eyooo, Brits, Brits, keep the music comin'.
"The best place to start would be at the beginning," said Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! as she walked out on stage right here at The University of Washington this past Saturday night (the 22nd).
Where and when is the beginning of any of our personal journeys? Is it when we start understanding our own identities? Is it the moment that we first realize we are doing what we love? For Laura Jane Grace, the beginning was when she dropped out of high school and began writing songs. Sure, she may have been writing since she was a lot younger; but at age eighteen, Against Me! was started by Grace. Stemming off of many long years full of anger and angst, her music was based on DIY, anarcho-punk, and protest music movements.
I may not be a long time fan of her music, but listening to Laura play guitar and sing her moving lyrics on Saturday has turned me into a fan of hers for eternity. Starting out the show with one of the first songs she ever wrote, "Walking Is Still Honest," I got a really deep sense of the type of music that Grace writes.
This song has beautiful lyrics, and lets listeners in on how it feels to realize truths in this world. At this point in her life, Laura was experiencing an extreme sense of gender dyspohoria—which motivated her to continue writing songs that were tremendously telling of her emotions, which would later inspire others who felt the same as her.
One of these songs, with completely awesome lyrics, is "Tonight We're Gonna Give it 35%." She even paused in the middle of this song to fill the audience in, saying "and this is the dysphoria part." Along with getting laughs from the audience with her naturally hilarious demeanor, she seemed instantly relatable.
Another song she sang for us, "Pretty Girls," really allowed listeners to develop insight into Laura's thoughts and feelings at the time she wrote this. One line stands out, "Sometimes at night, I pray to wake a different person in a different place." Whether or not we've experienced gender dysphoria, we've all experienced feeling uncomfortable in our skin—again making Laura a relatable role model to all of us.
As the night continued, I felt myself become absorbed in each song and story that Laura shared. The next songs on her set list were "Dead Friend," written for Laura's heartbreak over a friend passing away; "Two Coffins," originally written for her daughter; "FuckMyLife666," which is about coming out publicly in Rolling Stone and dealing with a breakup with her second wife; "Paralytic States," where she shares that at this point in her life she was "never quite the woman that she wanted to be;" and then lastly she sang a cover of a song that she felt very connected to, "Androgynous," originally by Paul Westerberg.
The latest songs that she's written deal with the frustration of feeling pressure to change oneself to fit the mold of what society wants—whether that be a gender role or a major record label's idea of what's perfect to them. But the greatest part about this fantastic evening with Laura Jane Grace is that she made it clear that there isn't simply one mold to fit into.
She left the audience with words of wisdom: she says with a laugh that she's "a high school dropout, transgender, ex junky with a felony record" in the most reassuring way possible. I say "reassuring" because after years of battling all the challenges she's had to, she's coming into herself and on top of this, is inspiring and giving hope to people all around the world dealing with similar struggles to the one's she's endured.
At the end of the show, there was a question and answer session where fans were able to ask her just about anything. I decided to take the backseat and listen to insight she had to share. She had so many beautiful answers to these questions, but one really stuck out to me. When asked about Laura's daughter's knowledge of her being transgender, she said that her daughter is pretty good about understanding; however, what I loved about this was that Laura said she's been trying to teach her daughter to "be true to yourself and to [not be] ashamed" of who you are. I just loved this—because what's a better way to teach something than to practice what you preach?
That is exactly what Laura Jane Grace is doing with her life—as a parent, as a musician, as a transgender woman, and as an inspiration and a muse to all of us.
Ted Lucas got his start as a studio musician and member of various folk/rock bands around the Midwest. A classically trained guitar player, Lucas also studied blues, country, jazz, and contemporary music and drew inspiration from the likes of Ravi Shankar to develop a beautiful sound of his own. In 1974 he released his only album, a self titled effort recorded largely in his attic studio that has come to be known as "The Om Album".
The two sides of the album are quite distinct from each other. Side A consists of a gorgeous medley of six folk songs, while Side B contains three longer, more instrumental jams. In the first six tracks, Lucas develops beautiful and familiar melodies with his perfectly soft guitar playing and warm, open voice. In a way that makes you think Bon Iver must be a fan, Lucas crafts intricate harmonies with himself that settle themselves in your head all day but never wear on you; his music is comfortable.
The lyrics of his songs are simple and direct, smiling out of the songs at you. In the album's opener he sings "It's a plain and sane and simple melody/brings a song to you, brings some joy to me", setting the tone for the album as a whole. The next three tracks, "It's So Easy", "Now That I Know", and "I'll Find A Way" are all intricate and touching in their own way and as you're listening you keep expecting a let down, like how can it stay this good??
Then Lucas comes at you with "Baby Where You Are" and "It's So Nice To Get Stoned", tracks that are irresistibly excellent. Side B showcases Lucas' guitar talent, especially on "Sonny Boy Blues", a seven minute long rail against over drinking, and the closer "Love & Peace Raga". The raga is played in a traditional Indian style; intricately picking it's way along for nearly eight minutes, weaving together melodies, and creating a gorgeous tapestry of sound.
This album is an absolute gem from start to finish, and while it sadly never got the attention it deserved, I get the sense that Ted Lucas was not a man concerned with material gains. So take a few minutes and give it a listen, you won't be disappointed. Yoga Records put out a reissue in 2010 which can be found on iTunes or Amazon.
I'm a simple girl. I like some tunes with a guitar, a piano, and some solid vocals. I'm not too fancy, I don't always appreciate all the extras that go into a record, especially when it takes away from the vocals.
Not with James Vincent McMorrow. It's a whole new ball game.
Let's back up. When I heard James Vincent McMorrow was coming to town this Sunday, I became much, much too excited. An Irish singer-songwriter, McMorrow is one of my favorites. Just releasing his second album Post Tropical last winter in January, McMorrow's sound is indescribable. Compared to his debut album of 2011, Early in the Morning¸ which had a stereotypical folk sound of straight guitar and voice, Post Tropical mixes different sounds to create this unique, cohesive juxtaposition of R&B, soul, folk, and hip hop. It helps that McMorrow's surreal songwriting and ability to play practically every instrument is demonstrated within the album.
Mix that with his beautiful falsetto and you've got yourself a solid deal of music.
I'm excited for this brilliant show at Neptune Theatre, Sunday, November 16th, at 8 p.m. and see how it pans out. Personal favorites?
Pretty stoked for "Cavalier," the opening track on Post Tropical. A beautiful piece of work, it slowly builds from hushed keys and hand claps to soaring sounds of bass, drums, and of course his gorgeous vocals.
Also, hoping to God and crossing my fingers that he pulls out "We Don't Eat," from his 2012 EP, because although it's an oldie, it's a goodie. Opening the track up with a quiet repetition of one piano key and soft drums, it escalades into this track with incredible depth.
I like the way this man builds up his jams, because man, it gives me shivers.
Basic point: Go to this show. You don't need to be a fan of soul or indie or folk to like this man. The mixes on this album are incredibly complex and conversely inspired with different influences that anyone can fall in love with him.
Also, it's not sold out, and it's at one of the best venues in Seattle, so I'd intensely frown at you if you didn't go. And I hate frowning.
Hi I'm Ariana Rivera and I like writing words and music so I asked some people about a way to combine the two and they gave me this job.
So lately, I've been obsessed, and I think you know what I mean. I'm talking about soul-sucking, mind-numbing, "Wow, I can't stop listening" plain obsessed. This entire album and the man who writes it has stolen my heart and although it's only been a couple of weeks, I just can't help but love it.
Born Andrew Hozier-Byrne, 24, Irish born and gifted with a soulful, bluesy as hell voice, this man is relatively new to the industry, with his debut album, Hozier released in Ireland in September, and globally just last month. Studied music in Dublin for a bit and was involved in an Irish vocal choral group, but dropped that…to become who he is, a modern day, Van Morrison and a male Adele.
So let's talk about his album, now that we have an understanding that he's somewhat successful and a little bit beautiful.
Starting off with "Take Me to Church," his first single that went viral on YouTube and topped the charts all around, we get a feel of how Hozier feels about love in his analogous parallel of love to religion: that falling in love essentially resulted in a death of everything. Not the happiest way to start the day, but the song starts off just a pure tone of his voice and some simple piano chords. Once we get going, background vocals come in, and for a second you see a hint of the vocal choral group roots that he has. The lyrics of this song are powerful once you reach the chorus, and we end the song not just with a pianist and smooth sounds of Hozier's voice, but with a powerful guitar and drum combo, thundering through to make a statement.
Hozier switches it up a bit and finally shows a softer bluesy side in "Jackie and Wilson," with an asymmetric rhythm and feel. "From Eden," the 6th track off the album, other than having incredible lyrics that reference a lil bit of Satan ("I slithered in from Eden") has the oddest sound of the entire album in my opinion. Start a song off with some cello and guitar, and just a voice resonating "Babe," and it just is too soulful. It sounds like you're listening to a lullaby when you first start off. The lyrics come in, and the symbiotic relationship that the cello, guitar, and drums play off each other, and although the song loses its lullaby feel, the instrumentals alone still leave you feeling just serene and peaceful.
"Work Song," one of the later tracks, is my favorite of the entire album simply because of the melodic hums that swell beautifully and timed claps that start off the song (This is so weird, but I swear it reminds me of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Don't judge.) He sings this track with almost a careless croon of just walking around mournfully. I dig the style. My favorite lyric off the entire album comes from this song: "When, my, time comes around/ Lay me gently in the cold dark earth/ No grave can hold my body down/ I'll crawl home to her." He's an intense guy, but an intense lover all the same, and this lyric holds it true for me.
We end the album, still soulful, but much more toned down from when we started. "Cherry Wine," the last track of the album, is the live version, and features Hozier picking at his guitar and his voice. Unlike with previous songs in the album, in which he sings it with a completely folky, blues style similar to that of the earlier track "Like Real People Do, " Hozier sings it pure, clean, and naked of any influence. It's the purest song of the album, and the happiest song as, in terms of tone. With sound clips of blue birds in the background and pretty guitar riffs, "Cherry Wine" ends the album on a happier, more serendipitous note than the intense, tormented sound of "Take Me to Church" in the beginning.
If ya like Van Morrison, if you like The Black Keys, and if ya like some bluesy soul, grab a copy.
Overall? Obviously, I'm obsessed for a reason. There's hints of the Gospel/choral influences in almost every track, and I thank it for it. Although his soulful, bluesy riffs are beautiful, they can be a bit intense, and the heavy content of his lyricism is nicely off put by the heart lifting melodic swells. Additional to that, it seems to add to the holy atmosphere he had in his sound and the love/religion obsession he has in his lyrics.
Maybe you won't be obsessed, but I still love him for his soulful vibe. That, and the fact he followed me back on Instagram.


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Calving season well underway in the Upper Midwest
The region's calving season is well underway. Producers should keep a close eye on their cattle and monitor their abortion and stillbirth rate.
The Upper Midwest has enjoyed a dry and mild calving season so far. (Haley Miles / Grand Vale Creative LLC)
The Upper Midwest calving season is well underway. While drought conditions have brought an abundance of problems, some producers have enjoyed calving in the drier weather.
"Drought-like conditions are kind of favorable for calving. Since it is nice and dry and you don't have to deal with all the mud," Whitney Klasna said.
Klasna and her husband are Montana cattle ranchers, with a Hereford-based herd. The pair's calving season has been off to a smooth start, their herd being about one-third of the way through with calving. They have experienced minimal losses, also known as stillbirths or abortions.
"We have had really great luck this calving season. The cows were in good condition coming into calving season, so that has a lot to do with it," Klasna said.
Stillbirth or abortion rates normally fall anywhere from 1% to 2% of cows in a single herd. If a producer is seeing higher than 2%, they should contact their veterinarian.
According to Gerald Stokka, a North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist, an abortion is the discharge of the fetus prior to the end of the normal gestational period. A multitude of abortions happen within the first 45 days of conception. The fetuses may be so small that many go undetected or are not seen.
Brett Webb, director of the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, said abortions are a firsthand response to a problem that negatively affects the customary function of any of the three main parts in pregnancy: the dam, the placenta and the fetus. A multitude of problems can cause abortions to occur such as genetic abnormalities, toxicosis, viruses and much more.
"The best chance of identifying what caused an abortion is prompt submission of fetal and placental tissues and maternal blood or serum to a diagnostic laboratory," Stokka said. "Contact your veterinarian for assistance with diagnostic efforts, sample submission and identifying management strategies to reduce the risk of future abortions."
Related Topics: AGRICULTURELIVESTOCKCATTLE
Emily grew up on a small grains and goat farm in southern Ohio. After graduating from The Ohio State University, she moved to Fargo, North Dakota to pursue a career in ag journalism with Agweek. She enjoys reporting on livestock and local agricultural businesses.
Why are the U.S. and Canada fighting over dairy?
Drought threatens U.S. wheat production despite acreage bump


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All the skincare book will tell that the basis for great skin is a cleans, tone and moisturise. Most people know this and it doesn't have to be the alcohol based skin drying ones that used to exist. There are many on the market that do lots of different things. If you know what your skin needs, your halfway there.
Rodial are a brand I have never tried anything from, but have heard good things about both their skincare and their makeup products. I got this as part of a beauty box and as it's a generous size, decided to give it a go as part of my routine. On a side note, I have updated my skincare routine and will be doing a post in the near future giving you all the deets.
My skin is what I would describe as combination. I have more of an oily t-zone and am dry on the cheeks. I get the occasional breakout and particularly when I change up my routine. This is normal and your skin will take around 6 weeks to get used to new products. Toner is a step that I tended to skip. Like most people, I got bored of having an extra step in my routine and I love that this needs no extra cotton rounds or faffing. You literally spray down each side of your face and voila! Done!
The main ingredient in this is rose water, known to be great for sensitive skin and it's calming benefits on redness. The second ingredient on the list is a surfactant that conditions the skin and thirdly niacinamide. Also known as vitamin B3 is great for ageing skin and offers benefits such as pore refining, fine lines and dullness.
I have used this for around 4 weeks combined with the rest of my skincare. The bottle gives a nice mist and feels cooling yet refreshing on the skin. Since using this, I haven't had half as many dry patches and my skin feels tighter and in better condition.
If your like me (lazy), but still want to have the benefits that a toner gives. Something like this would be a great option. There are a few variations available in the range, meaning you'll be sure to find the tonic to suit your skin.
Rodial skincare is available here if you'd like to take a look. I would highly recommend this product and will definitely repurchase it when this runs out.


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For The First Time, Real Tattoos Make Their Madden Debut
By editor • Aug 24, 2014
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is the only player in the newest edition of the Madden NFL video game franchise to have his signature tattoos faithfully rendered in the game.
Originally published on August 24, 2014 7:13 pm
The NFL season is looming, and with it comes the new version of the Madden NFL video game — a franchise that has sold more than 100 million copies over the last 25 years.
Each year, Madden gets more and more realistic. "The NFL superstars definitely look like their real life counterparts would," says Samit Sarkar, a reporter for the gaming website Polygon.
But Sarkar says tattoos have long been an exception to that realism. And when the new version of Madden is released on Tuesday, the game will include one notable addition: the tattoos of Colin Kaepernick, the young starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
In real life, Kaepernick is covered in tattoos on his chest, back and arms. In the newest Madden, the digital Kaepernick sticks out in a sea of bare arms along the line of scrimmage, because he is the only character in the game displaying his real-life tattoos.
These days, tattoo artists for athletes have started to pay more attention to their rights. And those worries aren't necessarily frivolous, says Tim Bradley, an intellectual property attorney. He says copyright law is actually very friendly to the artist, and that protections kick in once you've shown a "modicum of creativity" in your design and you've put it on a "tangible medium."
"So that could be paper, or film, or what have you," Bradley says. "And you automatically own the copyrights in that."
But with tattoos, the "medium" is the person you tattooed. So while you might own the copyright to your design, the recipient still owns their body, Bradley says.
"So they own the copy of your work," he says, "and so the thorny question comes in ... What happens when additional copies are made?"
A copy, in this case, means a re-creation of the tattoo — like in a video game, for instance. A more famous example was the parody of boxer Mike Tyson's face tattoo in the movie The Hangover Part 2, when Ed Helms' uptight dentist character wakes up to find his own face now has a copy of Tyson's famous and distinctive facial tattoo.
The artist who did the original tattoo sued, since he was never asked for permission for his work to appear on someone else's face. Warner Brothers eventually settled.
Cases like this explain the growing caution on the part of athletes and game developers alike. Last year, the NFL Players Association advised players to preemptively acquire all the rights to their tattoos.
Nes Andrion is the artist who did many of the tattoos for Colin Kaepernick's. He runs a tattoo shop in Reno called Endless Ink, and says business has been booming since Kaepernick started doing his signature bicep kisses on national TV.
Andrion has gotten used to seeing his designs everywhere that Kaepernick and his famous body art appear like newspapers and magazine covers. And those tattoos were on full display in a Yahoo fantasy football commercial featuring Kaepernick shirtless and sitting in a tattoo parlor, surrounded by three tattoo artists (not Andrion) working away with their needles.
With lawsuits over tattoo use looming, it's no surprise that Kaepernick's agent sought out Andrion's permission before that commercial aired.
"I'm supposed to be in that commercial. You know what I mean? It's my work that they're showing," Andrion says.
Andrion says he had mixed feelings about signing the waiver, and that he hasn't received anything in return for signing. But he says working with Kaepernick has been a good thing for him overall.
And once Kaepernick and his agents had the rights to the tattoos on his body, he was free to extend those to the Madden franchise.
So if you're planning to pick up a copy of the newest Madden next week, try this out: Pick the 49ers as your team, send your QB in for a rushing touchdown and watch as Kaepernick gives his signature bicep kiss. You'll see the Nes Andrion tattoo faithfully recreated on his digital arm.
TESS VIGELAND, HOST:
If you've just tuned in, it's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR West. I'm Tess Vigeland. If you're ready for some football, well, the NFL season is just a couple of weekends away and with it the new version of "Madden." Each year, the latest edition of the only official NFL videogame tries to be more and more realistic whether it's the commentary or the gameplay.
(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO GAME, "MADDEN NFL 15")
VIGELAND: Or even the touchdown dances. But the game has never displayed players real-life tattoos until now. NPR's Becky Sullivan explaines.
BECKY SULLIVAN, BYLINE: Samit Sarkar has been playing "Madden" for more than 20 years. Now he's a reporter for the gaming website Polygon. He says the franchise has made realistic visuals a huge priority.
SAMIT SARKAR: NFL superstars definitely look like their real-life counterparts would. I mean, you'd be able to look at their face in game and go, oh, man, that's Eli Manning.
SULLIVAN: But tattoos have long been an exception. Some old versions had generic tattoos Sarkar says, but no player has ever had their real ink appear in the game until now.
COMMENTATOR: And here is quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
SULLIVAN: In real life, Colin Kaepernick, the young starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49er's is covered in tattoos - his chest, his back, his arms. In the newest "Madden," the computerized Kaepernick sticks out like a sore thumb in the sea of bare arms along the line of scrimmage because he is the only character in the game displaying his real-life tattoos.
Tim Bradley is an intellectual property attorney. I asked him why some videogame makers have been so cautious. He explained to me that copyright law is actually very friendly to tattoo artists. All they have to do to get the protection of the law is use a, quote, "modicum of creativity in the design" and put it on a, quote, "tangible medium."
TIM BRADLEY: So that could be paper or film or what have you. And you automatic own the copyrights to that.
SULLIVAN: With tattoos, the medium is the person they've tattooed. But it's tricky. While the artist definitely owns the copyright to their design.
BRADLEY: The recipient certainly owns their body. So they own a copy of your work. And so the thorny question comes in about what happens when the additional copies are made.
SULLIVAN: Meaning a recreation of the tattoo. Like, say a videogame version of it or more famously this bit from the movie, "The Hangover Part II."
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE HANGOVER PART II")
SULLIVAN: The guys have just woken up from their black out night.
ED HELMS: (As Stuart Price) This is a real tattoo.
SULLIVAN: In a nod to Mike Tyson's role in the first "Hangover" movie, Ed Helms's uptight dentist character wakes up to find his own face now has a copy of Tyson's famous and distinctive facial tattoo. But the tattoo artist was never asked for permission for his work to appear on someone else's face. So he sued. And Warner-Brothers settled. No surprise the NFL Players Association started advising players to acquire the rights to their tattoos, especially players like Colin Kaepernick whose real tattoos have become a signature part of his on-field persona.
NES ANDRION: And especially the one that, you know, the one that makes the pictures, you just go for that bicep and kiss that.
SULLIVAN: This is Nes Andrion, he's the artist who made the tattoos on Kaepernick's bicep. He runs a tattoo shop in Reno called Endless Ink. He says business has been booming since Kaepernick started doing all those bicep kisses on national TV. Andrion's gotten used to seeing his designs everywhere that Kaepernick and his famous body art appear. Newspapers, magazine covers. It was no surprise to see the tattoos star in a yahoo fantasy football commercial.
(SOUNDBITE OF COMMERCIAL)
COLIN KAEPERNICK: Oh, hey Colin Kaepernick here.
SULLIVAN: In the commercial, Kaepernick is shirtless sitting in a tattoo parlor surrounded by three tattoo artists working away with their needles. Nes Andrion's work on Kaepernick's chest and arms is on full display.
KAEPERNICK: Wow, this says I'm the fancy QB of the future. Let's write that in somewhere.
SULLIVAN: With lawsuits over tattoo use looming, it's no surprise that Kaepernick's agent got Andrion's permission before that commercial aired.
ANDRION: No, it's good for him is good for you right. I'm like yes and no, but he's not understanding my point of view. You know, like I'm supposed to be in that commercial. You know what I mean? It's my work that they're showing, you know.
SULLIVAN: Nes Andrion told me he had mixed feelings about signing the waiver. And he says he hasn't received any money in return for signing. But he says working with Kaepernick has been a good thing for him overall. And once Kaepernick and his agents had the rights to the tattoos on his body, he was free to extend those to "Madden." So, if you're planning to pick up a copy of the newest "Madden" next week, try this out. Pick the 49ers as your team, send your quarterback in for a rushing touchdown and watch as the computerized Kaepernick gives that signature bicep kiss to the Nes Andrion tattoo faithfully recreated on his digital arm. Becky Sullivan, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Stop the MSG Sphere - Stratford needs social houses, not a sun-blocking events arena!
Stop MSG Sphere London started this petition to London Legacy Development Corporation and
Madison Square Garden Company (MSGC) are proposing a massive arena in Stratford, E20, in a residential area.
Details from MSGLondonConsultation.com (emphasis added by us):
"While the proposals in Stratford are still being developed, the venue has a scalable capacity of more than 18,000 seated, or 21,500 when there is a mixture of seating and standing space.
Featuring an iconic spherical shape, our proposals are for a venue approximately 90 metres high with a diameter of around 120 metres.
The venue will be clad in triangular LED panels which, when active, will display a range of static and moving images including partnership branding, advertising, digital art, and content related to the events within the venue."
This building would block sunlight to several residential blocks, while also increasing footfall to local stations, which are already struggling with overcrowding. The proposed venue is vast - the same diameter as the London Eye, and almost as tall as Big Ben (96m).
The LED cladding would also create light pollution for local residents - many of whom will be overshadowed by the Sphere and potentially kept awake by it's customers and the bright light and advertising displays, beamed onto their homes from directly across the road.
The promotional images from MSGC do not accurately show the close proximity of residential properties - the land is directly across the road from a low to mid-rise social housing estate to the east/north-east, and adjacent to a mid-rise residential development which is still under construction, located to the north of the site.
There are many new developments in the E20 area, and most residents we've spoken to were unaware of the plans, or that a consultation by MSGC had taken place. Once shown the plans, most locals were deeply worried about issues such as the increased traffic (foot and car), noise and potential street crime.
Our borough already struggles to deal with crime, pollution, street cleaning, and providing truly affordable housing. This development takes up 5 acres of Olympics "Legacy" land, managed and sold by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) and has been sold to MSGC for a project that we fear will only make life worse for local residents.
Our existing transport infrastructure, both public transport and road networks, is regularly swamped, with illegal levels of air pollution on our roads, and dangerous overcrowding at Stratford station that has already resulted in tragic loss of life. There is nothing in the proposals to suggest improvements needed to ensure safety for travellers - commuters and event attendees alike.
2% of attendance crowds are proposed to be routed to Maryland station, however this would require thousands of people to use small, residential roads to reach the station. Understandably, residents are concerned about the additional noise and risks this could entail.
Newham's Police service is currently struggling as crime numbers have risen 16% between April 2016 and March 2018. The addition of 18-21,000 event-goers regularly coming in to the area, and then leaving late at night, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, would hugely increase potential for street crime, and anti-social behaviour.
On days when there are also West Ham matches, or other events at the Stadium the area would require additional security and stewards, which might come out of the public purse.
We want a proper, independent consultation and planning process, to give all residents opportunities to engage with the project and raise their objections/concerns. A proposal of this type and size should not have been considered for such a densely populated urban environment. The impacts of this proposal on transport infrastructure and residents' quality of life, both in the immediate and wider local area, far outweigh MSGC's suggested benefits.
We call on the LLDC, Newham Council, Mayor Roksana Fiaz, and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, to work with residents to ensure the Olympic Legacy land is used for the benefit of the local communities - who too frequently have been priced out by new developments, not served by them.
Please share my name and email address with Stop MSG Sphere London, so that I can receive updates on this campaign and others.


text:
NBA: Klay Thompson says shooting woes 'nothing to do with Durant' | Inquirer Sports
sports / Basketball
NBA: Klay Thompson says shooting woes 'nothing to do with Durant'
INQUIRER.net / 05:11 PM November 09, 2016
Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
One-half of the Golden State Warriors' splash brothers duo, Klay Thompson, has been uncharacteristically shooting bricks at the start of NBA season.
Heralded as one of the premier marksmen in the league, the 26-year-old sharpshooter is struggling mightily through the Dubs' first seven games, shooting just over 20 percent from three and 41.2 percent overall.
Pundits, meanwhile, were quick to point out that his recent slump might have something to do with the addition of another sweet-stroking All-Star, Kevin Durant.
"Not at all," the two-time All-Star denied the rumors in an ESPN report. "I struggled last year for the first 20 games, and Kevin wasn't here. So it has nothing to do with Kevin."
The 26-year-old guard's sentiments regarding his poor play is justified, as he has also undergone a similar downturn in the first five games last year. He quickly regained his form and finished the season tied for sixth in three-point percentage.
"So last year I struggled, then I went on a tear, so it's just like any other season," Thompson quipped. "Obviously we have different players, but I'm still getting the shots I always got before he was here, so it's not on Kevin at all."
Despite Thompson's struggles, the Warriors continue to rack up wins and are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 5-2 win-loss record. Khristian Ibarrola
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Red-hot Ateneo takes down FEU, grabs share of 2nd spot
TAGS: 2016-2017 NBA season, Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson
Khristian Ibarrola


As Allran Electric of New York continues to grow, our client base has continued to expand along with our knowledge and expertise of this industry.
Copyright © 2019 Allran Electric of New York LLC. All rights reserved.


text:
Spotify reports 29% rise in MAUs to 207M but misses on Q4 revenues of $1.702B
Posted by Ingrid Lunden | Feb 6, 2019 | BUSINESS / TECHNOLOGY | 0 |
Spotify continues to see growing uptake for its all-you-can-eat streaming music (and increasingly podcast) services, even as it fell short of analyst expectations on sales in its earnings.
In Q4 results reported today alongside the blockbuster news that it was acquiring Gimlet and Anchor to step up its podcast push, the company said that monthly active users have hit 207 million, up nearly percent on a year ago, and that it is for the first time reporting positive operating profit — of €94 million — and net income — of €442 million, making this Spotify's first ever quarter to post positive operating profit, net income, and free cash flow.
But those strong numbers were also dimmed by one of the big downsides of being a public company: failing to meet analyst expectations on its financials.
The company reported revenues of €1,495 million, up 30 percent on the same quarter a year ago. This works out to $1,702 million, falling short of the $1.71 billion analysts collectively were expecting.
On the earnings per share front, however, the company's strong net income helped it well exceed estimates. Spotify noted diluted EPS of $0.36, while analysts had expected a loss per share of $0.22.
Spotify is still a relatively young company, and as it continues to face competition from the likes of Apple, Amazon and Google, it's still showing very strong growth despite not meeting some targets.
With a push into more countries in the Middle Eastern region, Spotify is now active in 78 countries and it said it has plans to add more this year. Across that footprint, listening time is growing, both in its free (ad-supported) and paid tiers, with 15 billion hours of content consumed in the quarter.
While the company continues to build out its free tier with more adtech both across its music and now podcast offerings, its Premium tier is also continuing to grow and still represents the bulk of the company's revenues.
Subscribers now stand at 96 million for its paid services, up 36 percent, with Spotify attributing some of the strong performance to promotions with Google Home — its first-ever hardware bundle — and the holiday season rush. The company has been increasingly diversifying its paid tiers, now offering student and family plans alongside its individual subscriptions.
Revenues from paid subs account for nearly all of Spotify's turnover. In Q4 it was €1,320 million, or 88 percent of the total, and in line with revenue growth overall, were also up 30 percent over last year. Average revenue per user was €4.89, Spotify said.
Ad-Supported revenue, meanwhile, accounted for just €175 million of its total turnover.
The company's B2B sales are similarly being developed in earnest. Spotify for Artists — which helps to measure how tracks are played and other business aspects of an artists' profile on Spotify — is now used by 300,000 creators, the company said.
Now that there is also a supplementary Spotify for Podcasters service, given that Spotify is now amping up its spoken content with the Gimlet and Anchor acquisitions, that may also start to see a bump in usage. Currently Spotify says that 10,000 podcasters are using its analytics tool for audience and other insights, which is a relatively small number. The jury is still out on this and Spotify's other pushing analytics efforts.
PreviousSpotify buys Gimlet and Anchor in podcast push, earmarks $500M for more deals
NextMeditation app Calm hits unicorn status with fresh $88 million funding
Ingrid Lunden


text:
Q: Python Regex: how to parse repeated groups in a string? I want to match a pattern with a string including pure numbers, such as '2324235235980980' with a pattern like as described below:
The pattern is '2-6-8-7-4', in which the pattern starts with 2, transit to 6, either self-loop at 6 or transit to 8, then it could go back and forth between 6 and 8, could self-loop at 8, or could transit to 7. And the same thing for 7. One more thing for 7 is 7-8-6-8-7 could happen. Finally, 7 could reach 4, once it reaches 4, the pattern is done. During the process, if it reaches out to other points, then it has to start with 2 again to be counted.
I use
import re
re.findall(r'(2((6+8+)+)7)', test_string)

the output includes '2666686888668887', but when I add 4, I don't know the syntax to compile this. Has anyone an idea? Thanks a lot!

A: I think this is easier achieved than initially expected:
26[68]+?[687]+?4

2-followed-by-6-followed-by-6|8-followed-by-6|8|7-followed-by-4.

The only not so obvious part is to make the pattern lazy.
Here is an even better pattern:
\b26?([^7]6|8|[^6]7)+?4\b

2-followed-by-(not7)6|8|(not6)7-followed-by-4.

A: I don't know if I understand what you need, but maybe this can work for you:
string = "2666686888668887748926874"
index = [(m.start(0), m.end(0)) for m in re.finditer(r'2(6+8+)+7+\1?4', string)]
print(index)

Prints: [(0, 18), (20, 25)].
Is a list of tuples with the start and end index for every occurrence.


Friendship's Day festivities occur on the main Sunday of August consistently. The convention of devoting a day to pay tribute to companions started in the US in 1935. Step by step the celebration picked up ubiquity and today Friendship Day is commended in the huge number of nations including India.
On this day individuals invest energy with their companions and express love for them. Trade of Friendship Day Gifts like blooms, cards and wrist groups is a famous custom of this event.
In the year 1935, the convention of fellowship day appeared when the US congress chose that ought to be a day committed to commend this wonderful bond. However, it is not precisely realized that what were the reasons that prompted framing this day yet there are sure situations of the day are there that persuade comprehend the reason. It is said that after First World War, the condition was disintegrating step by step and there wasn't any hint of peace. That drove the Government to feel the requirement for more kinship and fellowship among the countries and furthermore the people.
This drove the US Congress to think of a day committed to commending the considerable obligation of companionship. It assigned each first Sunday of August as Friendship day and that way it encouraged individuals to build up the quintessence of fellowship instead of envy. What's more, from that day, National Friendship day was viewed as a yearly occasion.
How Friendship's Day is celebrated?
Throughout the years, this grandiose festival has turned into a most cherished occasion of the youngsters and they commend it with extraordinary eagerness. What's more, continuously it has turned into an exceptionally prominent celebration around the globe.
The achievement of contriving this day can't be committed to the only us rather with the progression of time different nations additionally have begun following the customs of kinship day.
This lovely day was overwhelmingly invited by a few different countries and they began praising fellowship day. The same number of countries began praising this day, soon it turned into a worldwide day.


text:
require 'json'
require 'set'
require 'time'

# The layout backend for the Logging::Logger.
#
# Accepts a message and/or an exception and/or an info
# hash (if multiple are passed, they must be provided in that
# order)
class Chalk::Log::Layout < ::Logging::Layout
  # Formats an event, and makes a heroic effort to tell you if
  # something went wrong. (Logging will otherwise silently swallow any
  # exceptions that get thrown.)
  #
  # @param event provided by the Logging::Logger
  def format(event)
    begin
      begin
        begin
          do_format(event)
        rescue StandardError => e
          # Single fault!
          error!('[Chalk::Log fault: Could not format message] ', e)
        end
      rescue StandardError => e
        # Double fault!
        "[Chalk::Log fault: Double fault while formatting message. This means we couldn't even report the error we got while formatting.] #{e.message}\n"
      end
    rescue StandardError => e
      # Triple fault!
      "[Chalk::Log fault: Triple fault while formatting message. This means we couldn't even report the error we got while reporting the original error.]\n"
    end
  end

  # Formats a hash for logging. This is provided for (rare) use outside of log
  # methods; you can pass a hash directly to log methods and this formatting
  # will automatically be applied.
  #
  # @param hash [Hash] The hash to be formatted
  def format_hash(hash)
    hash.map {|k, v| display(k, v)}.join(' ')
  end

  private

  def do_format(event)
    data = event.data
    time = event.time
    level = event.level

    # Data provided by blocks may not be arrays yet
    data = [data] unless data.kind_of?(Array)
    data = data.dup # Make a private copy that we can mutate
    info = data.pop if data.last.kind_of?(Hash)
    error = data.pop if data.last.kind_of?(Exception)
    message = data.pop if data.last.kind_of?(String)

    if data.length > 0
      raise Chalk::Log::InvalidArguments.new("Invalid leftover arguments: #{data.inspect}")
    end

    pid = Process.pid

    pretty_print(
      time: timestamp_prefix(time),
      level: Chalk::Log::LEVELS[level],
      span: span.to_s,
      message: message,
      error: error,
      info: (info && (contextual_info || {}).merge(info)) || contextual_info,
      pid: pid
      )
  end

  def pretty_print(spec)
    message = build_message(spec[:message], spec[:info], spec[:error])
    message = tag(message, spec[:time], spec[:pid], spec[:span])
    message
  end

  def build_message(message, info, error)
    # Make sure we're not mutating the message that was passed in
    if message
      message = message.dup
    end

    if message && (info || error)
      message << ':'
    end

    if Chalk::Log.message_prefix
      message ||= ''
      message.prepend(Chalk::Log.message_prefix)
    end

    if info
      message << ' ' if message
      message ||= ''
      message << format_hash(info)
    end

    if error
      message << ' ' if message
      message ||= ''
      error!(message, error)
    end

    message ||= ''
    message << "\n"
    message
  end

  def display(key, value)
    begin
      value = json(value)
    rescue StandardError
      value = "#{value.inspect} [JSON-FAILED]"
    end

    # Non-numeric simple strings don't need quotes.
    if value =~ /\A"\w*[A-Za-z]\w*"\z/ &&
        !['"true"', '"false"', '"null"'].include?(value)
      value = value[1...-1]
    end

    "#{key}=#{value}"
  end

  # Displaying backtraces

  def error!(message, error)
    backtrace = error.backtrace || ['[no backtrace]']
    message << display(:error_class, error.class.to_s) << " "
    message << display(:error, error.to_s)
    if configatron.chalk.log.display_backtraces
      message << "\n"
      message << Chalk::Log::Utils.format_backtrace(backtrace)
      message << "\n"
    end
    message
  end

  def json(value)
    # Use an Array (and trim later) because Ruby's JSON generator
    # requires an array or object.
    wrapped = [value]

    # We may alias the raw JSON generation method. We don't care about
    # emiting raw HTML tags heres, so no need to use the safe
    # generation method.
    if JSON.respond_to?(:unsafe_generate)
      dumped = JSON.unsafe_generate(wrapped)
    else
      dumped = JSON.generate(wrapped)
    end

    res = dumped[1...-1] # strip off the brackets we added while array-ifying

    # Bug 6566 in ruby 2.0 (but not 2.1) allows generate() to return an invalid
    # string when given invalid unicode input. Manually check for it.
    unless res.valid_encoding?
      raise ArgumentError.new("invalid byte sequence in UTF-8")
    end

    res
  end

  def contextual_info
    LSpace[:'chalk.log.contextual_info']
  end

  def span
    LSpace[:span] || LSpace[:action_id]
  end

  def tag(message, time, pid, span)
    return message unless configatron.chalk.log.tagging

    metadata = []
    metadata << pid if configatron.chalk.log.pid
    metadata << span if span.length > 0
    prefix = "[#{metadata.join('|')}] " if metadata.length > 0

    if configatron.chalk.log.timestamp
      prefix = "[#{time}] #{prefix}"
    end

    out = ''
    message.split("\n").each do |line|
      out << prefix << line << "\n"
    end

    out
  end

  def timestamp_prefix(now)
    now_fmt = now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
    ms_fmt = sprintf("%06d", now.usec)
    "#{now_fmt}.#{ms_fmt}"
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Discuss all Warhammer classes in full detail right here!
Defense your game? Come on in and tackle the details and strategies that will leave you victorious!
It is time to twist and shout with class. Show us your moves in full detail right here!
Khaine's wrath is fearsome, and so is that of his disciples. Heal your allies by dealing damage with sharp blades--can it get any better? Come inside and see for yourself!
Care to show off your levitating prowess and subliminal mind control? Take over the discussions inside!
Did you leave the appropriate tools at home? No worries, just mutate your arm into any device you need and fret no more! Create your own discussion devices here!
Are there always two voices in your head influencing your every move? Listen to what they have to say this way! No, wait, shouldn't you be doing the talking instead? Make up your mind!
Feeling a little itchy at the finger tips to shed some light on your subject? Hold it in no more! Come, have a blast!


The Hole-in-the-Rock Trail provides unique opportunities for groups to experience some of the challenges faced by Mormon pioneers who accomplished what was deemed as impossible.
Groups are welcome to utilize the facilities at the Bluff Historic Fort. Groups wishing to camp along the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail or visit select sites, such as the Hole-in-the-Rock crevice or San Juan Hill, will require a permit from the BLM. Click on the Trekking Details PDF document below for details.
Although handcarts were not part of the Hole-in-the-Rock journey, it is possible to combine a Hole-in-the-Rock Trail experience with a handcart trek at select sites near Bluff, Utah. Handcarts are available from the Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation in Bluff, Utah. See the Trekking Details document below for more information. Photograph: Kanab Stake - Handcart pull near San Juan Hill, 2010.
To request an information packet, please email is at inquiry@hirf.org or call the Bluff Fort Visitors Center, 435-672-9995. The packet includes copies of the the Past Trekking Experiences and the Trekking Details documents posted below, as well as informational DVD's.
Please contact us for recommendations and assistance in planning and carrying out a Hole-in-the-Rock Trail experience.
Photo: Cedar City Stake trekking to the Hole-in-the-Rock Crevice -2010.


text:
By brucescribe	Economy, Energy, Oil and Gas, Politics
Lessons for New Brunswick from The Lone Star State
In Texas, to quote a phrase, they do things big.
Big sky, big country, big portions, big ambitions all frame the tableau that is The Lone Star State. So does "big energy", but not always in a fashion that seems familiar to New Brunswickers embroiled in their own existential debate about natural resources development.
Yes, Texas is synonymous with the oil industry and is home to the famous (or, depending on one's perspective, infamous) Barnett field, which in one recent year produced 1.11 trillion cubic feet of shale gas. But it is also home to the largest and most successful wind energy industry in the United States.
According to a Wikipedia entry, "wind power in Texas consists of many. . .farms with a total installed nameplate capacity of 12,212 MW from over 40 different projects." In fact the state "produces the most wind power of any" in the U.S.
Just as impressive, perhaps, is the speed at which the energy resource has developed there. In a scant 13 years, the state's annual hours of wind generation by megawatts has skyrocketed from 492,000 to 36 million. How?
Again, the Wiki item is instructive: "The wind boom in Texas was assisted by expansion of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard, use of designated Competitive Renewable Energy Zones, expedited transmission construction, and the necessary Public Utility Commission rule-making. Wind power accounted for 8.3 per cent of the electricity generated in (the state) during 2013."
So, the take-away from all of this is that a happy, productive collaboration between business and government has literally invented a clean, renewable and commercially viable alternative to fossil fuels for electricity generation where none existed at the dawn of the 21st century.
Now, not coincidentally, power rates from wind are among the lowest of any energy source in the state (only those from shale gas are cheaper).
Even better, the billions of dollars the private sector has invested in the industry to become competitive and profitable has spurred economic development in rural areas, where thousands of people are gainfully employed. This has, in turn, attracted innovators and entrepreneurs chasing the main chances implicit in improving existing energy storage (battery) and smart-grid technologies.
All of which raises a question: What does Texas know that New Brunswick doesn't?
For years, we in The Purple Violet Province have known that we are home to enviably strong and steady coastal breezes. Back in 2007, a "wind energy map" of our environs conclusively proved that, with foresight and commitment, the resource was rich enough to support 5,000 megawatts of installed capacity. Currently, we have 500, which isn't bad; but it's still far below our potential.
Last week, Liberal Leader Brian Gallant renewed his party's commitment to installing a moratorium on further shale gas development in the province should he and his crew be lucky enough to form the next government in September. Citing public opprobrium and lingering doubts among various health experts, he wants more studies. Fair enough.
But a moratorium only delays the inevitable day of reckoning. It won't convince those who adamantly oppose shale gas on principled (concern for planetary climate change) or practical (concern for local air, soil and water quality) grounds.
It certainly won't mollify the petroleum industry. It may buy Mr. Gallant a bit more time. Still, at what cost?
The clock is ticking in New Brunswick, where we have become absolute masters at telling private and public-sector authorities to pound sand whenever they have, on rare occasions, mustered the temerity to suggest that true economic development means taking chances. But if we are not prepared to risk what we cherish on shale gas, then what? What will we risk to build a better future for ourselves and our children?
The "aesthetes" of this province display an exasperating tendency to despise fossil fuel and wind power in equal measure. The former, they say, is smelly; the latter is ugly. These people revile change. They wonder why things can't just go along they way they always have. This has produced, in government, a pathetic, if typical, response: ossification. Do nothing. Maybe, it will all work itself out, after all.
It won't.
Texas knows this. Say what you like about that red-necked, killer-executing home of George "Wacko" Bush.
At least, they do things big there.
Tagged Brian Gallant, shale gas, Texas, Wind energy


Sam Palmisano had a great run as CEO of IBM from the start of 2003 to the end of 2011. The tech giant shifted investment into growth markets and dumped commodifying hardware (PCs) in favor of services, open-source software and a clever "smarter planet" marketing blanket for it all. Shares rose 125%. Pre-tax operating margins doubled from 10% to 20%. From 2000 IBM threw off more than $100 billion in free cash flow. His exit was well-timed, too. Business tech spending now is in a stall, and Palmisano's successor Ginni Rometty has had to deal with seven straight quarters of revenue decline.
Palmisano has other concerns now, and he stopped by Forbes' offices last week for an interview and video about his mission in semi-retirement to teach business leaders what he learned at IBM about doing business globally. In 2012 he formed a think tank called the Center for the Global Enterprise and just came out with an e-book called Re-Think: A Path To The Future. The book argues that multinational firms in a rapidly integrating world need to remake themselves into what he calls globally integrated enterprises (like he did with IBM). So-called GIEs are different than mere multinationals in structure and operating approach. Legal could be in Amsterdam, research in China and California, HR and accounting in New York. Talent goes where it's needed. Work flows to where the customers are, not where the headquarters is. Country managers don't get to act like royalty of their own realm. Collaboration is digital and frequent. Palmisano says that IBM saw a total productivity gain of $6 billion from 2006 to 2010 by doing things like globalizing support services and the supply chain (fewer and bigger factories), freeing up local managers to focus on sales and relationships. IBM outgrew growth markets such as China and India at twice the rate of the tech industry.
Yet with Putin annexing Crimea, China's growth slowing, the Middle East in perma-crisis, Washington in political deadlock and European economy in a funk, it feels like the world is pulling apart, not integrating. Palmisano shrugs off these realities as exogenous blips that always occur. The big trend is toward further integration, not less.
The mere fact of being a global enterprise doesn't by itself shield a business from flaws in business model or strategy. Nokia, a globally integrated enterprise with a highly diverse board and efficient supply chain, missed the transition to the smartphone as a platform and lost its independence. "Being a globally integrated enterprise isn't a strategy but it gives you the best operating model to execute. If you're wrong on the direction you'll only get there faster," says Palmisano.


The obligatory tourist attractions includes a visit to Hells gate. You look straight into the open wounds of mother earth. The beautiful almost fluorescing yellow sulphur what's bubbling out the natural pools, stinks like rotten eggs.
White Island is located 50 km off our coast, consisting of a volcano that occasionally let out a smoky burb.
The guide told us that on a cloudy day, he suddenly heard a strange rumbling sound. For a moment he thought anxiously & pleased that "his" volcano came into action. But soon he recognized the intro of Billy Joel's hit … it was just the sound of a helicopter. However a fraction before seeing the helicopter, he saw a car from the sky come down. Hanging on a wire that was neatly put down on the island. It turned out that Mitsubishi was going to record a TV commercial because White Island exactly looked like a moonscape.
By the way; That car was a Pajero!
After two weeks, my father couldn't bear with us any longer 😉 and he has started a private round trip with our Pajero. I have given him a fresh new diary (without a lock!) and instructed him to try to penetrate Fisher's fortress.
Well, well … last Monday morning the gallery was OPEN. And what was even more surprising; there was a red dot on one of my paintings!!! Yay, one is sold!
Arrows findable in the enlarged pictures.
This entry was posted on 26 January 2006, in PERSONAL LIFE POSTS and tagged life in new zealand.
This entry was posted on 15 January 2006, in ART RELATED POSTS, PERSONAL LIFE POSTS and tagged behind the scenes, life in new zealand.
Somebody I told about our useless trip to Auckland, wondered if we couldn't have left the paintings to the neighbour of the gallery? Of course we have walked around looking for something that looked reliable, but Parnell Road exactly looks every shopping street on Sunday afternoon. Deathly quiet with rolled-down shutters and at the very end a doner kebab guy who sits in front of his shop in the sun, attentively cleaning his nails with a fork.
Across the gallery was a classy elderly flat with a central door and 20 shiny brass bells, but suddenly I lost my desire to explain who I was, why I was here and what should be done in a tiny microphone to a complete stranger.
Returned home I sent a acidly email to the secretary where I 'thanked' her for the warning about the closing hours.
Two days later we went again. Without notice them and knowing they were open. The secretary was on vacation, the owner of the gallery was out for surfing and the girl who looked after the shop … well, she was just looking after the shop and has nothing to do with it.
Well … it all does not matter because my clafoutis has become golden brown and the inside was not too sticky. No, that's not Latin for an inflamed body part, but it is the first recipe from my new "Agenda for housewives." Whahaha. In the absence of our 'Dutch oliebollen' I promoted the clafoutis to our New Year cake because of the wonderful name. And it tasted good!!! Gosh!
This entry was posted on 1 January 2006, in ART RELATED POSTS and tagged behind the scenes.