It's hard to find the exact word for it but journalists know the feeling. That ache in the gut when a major story breaks and you just have to "be there." Being there was the trademark of the US war correspondent Marie Colvin. For her it was about bearing witness to war, always for longer than anyone else, preferably before anyone else. Her work earned her respect from colleagues and competitors alike. It also took a tremendous personal toll—and then it took her life.
Seven years after her killing by Syrian military shellfire in besieged Homs, Colvin herself has become the story. There's a feature film based on her life starring Rosamund Pike (A Private War), a documentary through the eyes of her equally brave colleague the photojournalist Paul Conroy (Under the Wire), and a biography entitled In Extremis by her friend and fellow traveller Lindsey Hilsum.
The Marie moment comes as Syria's tragedy, which had dominated foreign news headlines over the past seven years, is slipping from the world's gaze. Meanwhile, journalism continues to confront an existential crisis, and correspondents on the front line are at record risk—53 were killed in the line of duty in 2018.
Colvin died at a time when war reporters were again weighing the balance of risk and reward. The bloody battles that exploded after the peaceful uprisings of the Arab Spring gave many of us pause for thought. The age-old maxim was "no story is worth dying for." Now we added, "but there are stories worth taking risks for." I first heard this updated mantra in January 2012 from the brilliant New York Times journalist Anthony Shadid. A month later, he was dead. A sudden asthma attack ended his life as he was travelling out of Syria.
What drove the journalist hailed as the "bravest of the brave"? At a charity screening for A Private War, Rosamund Pike spoke of the "enormous responsibility" of getting her right. Colvin was hard drinking and often heartbroken; if she wasn't lighting up another cigarette she was dodging gunfire. Pike tells me how in preparing for the role she kept listening to Colvin's gravelly voice. Becoming Colvin meant changing the shape of her body, not to mention her state of mind. And, in striking ways, she has got Colvin—and Colvin has got her. The character still hasn't left her.
Colvin appears herself in Chris Martin's breathtaking documentary Under the Wire. The film takes its title from the book written by British photographer and filmmaker Paul Conroy, who was badly injured in the attack which took Colvin's life. From Iraq to Libya to Syria, Conroy matched Colvin in his commitment to covering war—and in having a laugh and a drink. A former soldier, he had tried giving her tactical advice about when to go in, how far, and for how long. In telling the story of her last days, Conroy rises to poetry, and crumbles in pain. It's chilling to watch. The footage is so raw, the reconstructions so real. There's suspense, too, even though you are all too aware it will end in tragedy. Wael al-Omar, the activist who is their guide and translator, emerges as one of many unsung Syrian heroes.
That same night, Lindsey Hilsum interviewed Colvin for Channel 4 News. In her biography, she writes of how after they were off-air they spoke more like friends than professional colleagues. "Lindsey, this is the worst we've ever seen," Colvin exclaimed. Hilsum's anxious reply is: "I know, but what's your exit strategy?" "That's just it, I don't have one. I'm working on it now," she replies.
Colvin had decided to go straight back to Homs after an earlier attack didn't materialise. Conroy's film makes it painfully clear he felt it wasn't the right decision to return, but he didn't want Colvin going it alone. There's another cruel twist. In sounding the alarm in interviews via satellite telephone, Colvin may have betrayed their location to the Syrian military who her family believe deliberately targeted her.
So was I. Colvin and I lived in adjacent neighbourhoods in Jerusalem during the 1990s when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rarely left the headlines. We covered the same stories but didn't always run in the same social circles. Later we met everywhere from Kabul to Cairo. Our last time together was in the Egyptian capital, at the height of the protests of 2011 which ended President Hosni Mubarak's rule. We shared contacts, as we always did, and she shared painful details of being betrayed by her boyfriend of the time.
Hilsum finds out everything she needs to know, and some things she didn't want to. She had exclusive access to 300 diaries and notebooks, and interviews more than 100 friends, family members and colleagues. The first heart-stopping moment is opening the diary of the 13-year-old girl growing up in a middle-class Catholic family on Long Island, New York. While the diaries reveal typical teenage preoccupations with clothes and boys, there are also the inklings of the rebellious spirit that would mark Colvin all her life. Hilsum hears from Colvin's family about childhood games like "dead man's branch," where the little Colvins would climb out on branches to see who would retreat first—"invariably it was Marie who pushed out the furthest." Even her first sexual experience was daring. Colvin would "shimmy down the tree outside her bedroom window" to spend the night with her first boyfriend Chris, and end up being caught in bed by her furious father.
The moment which made up her mind about journalism was at Yale, on a course taught by Pulitzer Prize winner John Hersey. He sparked her desire to use "the experience of individuals to reveal the human impact of political and military decisions." A press junket to Libya transformed her from "anonymous news agency reporter to the brave woman who had interviewed Muammar 'mad dog' Gaddafi as American warplanes revved their engines on the tarmac." From there it's another step to the Sunday Times and Beirut.
Her reports, unlike those of some dare-devil reporters, did sometimes have real impact. Her eyewitness account from the Palestinian refugee camp Bourj al-Barajneh in southern Beirut in 1987 helped bring an end to the siege.
Time and again Colvin believed that her "being there" would help the people whose story she wanted to tell. But her daring was fuelled by other factors: her own sense of self and her editors' creation of the Marie myth. Being a woman added to her allure. But Colvin, like her inspiration Martha Gellhorn, pushed back against seeing journalism through the lens of gender.
Hilsum, and other female correspondents, have said they hope this Marie moment won't end up unduly glamourising women who report on war. They need not worry. This book is not a herogram to a heroine. Hilsum writes of Colvin's struggle to meet deadlines and her battle to reconcile her desire for independence with her longing to settle down. She was not, to use the cliché, "fearless." (The Pike film begins with Colvin's own voice: "Fear comes later, when it's all over.") Still, Hilsum hopes the book does convey Marie's sense of humour—"parts of my book are funny, because Marie was funny," she tells me.
Colvin's life offers insight into questions journalists ask themselves. Can I balance a stable personal life with such an unpredictable profession? Will war leave me when I leave it? Do we ever make a difference? And there are the questions non-journalists ask of us. Weren't you scared? What was it like? Why do you go to places like that?
At a screening of the documentary at the Frontline Club, Conroy was asked whether that fatal trip to Homs was worth it. He gave the answer most war correspondents would give: "Did it do anything? I hope so. Was it in vain? I don't think it was in vain. Would I rather not lose Marie? Of course. I would do anything to change it. But you've got to believe it's worth it, otherwise you don't do it." When Colvin was killed trying to awaken the world to Syria's plight, the UN put the number of Syrian lives lost in the war at 9,000. Now that toll is estimated at more than half a million.


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Biden's Ultimate Plan To Thwart Religious Freedom
Joe Biden's secularism pervades the federal government. He is rooting out all the rules and regulations that his predecessor established in defense of religious freedom. Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescinded Donald Trump's rule protecting religious foster care and adoption agencies. Biden seeks to cut off federal funding to any such agencies that do not conform to his LGBTQ agenda.
Xavier Becerra, Biden's HHS Secretary, dismissed Trump's rule as "a blanket use of religious exemptions against any person or blank checks to allow discrimination against any persons, importantly including LGBTQ+ persons in taxpayer-funded programs."
According to National Catholic Register, Becerra is also hatching a broad plan to wipe out the religious freedom of health-care providers — a rule that would force them to "comply with abortion and gender-transition agendas." The publication reports that the Biden administration is working with secularist groups to formulate this new rule, which would go far beyond Barack Obama's contraceptive mandate.
In a recent legal filing, HHS acknowledged the existence of a "health-care task force of activist groups coordinated by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights that included Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Center for American Progress, the Human Rights Campaign and others," reports National Catholic Register. "HHS was discussing with these groups how to change the rule for Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex."
This change would crush religious hospitals. They would find themselves under a mandate to perform transgender surgeries and abortions. "There's no place to hide from this," Doug Wilson, CEO of the Catholic Benefits Association, said to National Catholic Register. The rule change, he said, "would effectively remove all religious considerations from issues around life, family, marriage, the very nature of men and women."
HHS is working off a memo put together by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights that treats the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) as a hindrance to be ignored. The memo asserts that "RFRA is not a prophylactic statute that imposes rulemaking requirements on government agencies." National Catholic Register also reports that the memo "takes explicit aim at religious exemptions from government mandates and specifically criticizes the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' 'Ethical and Religious Directives' that govern Catholic health-care providers."
The post Biden's Ultimate Plan To Thwart Religious Freedom appeared first on LewRockwell.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


After six years of absence Eivind Aarset returns to Poland. This time he will present his new project with Sonic Codex Orchestra, which has not been shown in our country. The guitarist talks about the evolution of his music, heavy metal influences and the freedom which comes from electronics.
Why did you make Polish fans wait so long for your arrival? Last time you performed in Poland was in 2005.
Was it that long ago? Amazing! I was ready to perform all that time but, as far as I recall, I wasn't offered the chance to play in Poland. I hope that, after I release my new album, I will move on with a promotional tour around your country.
What has changed in your music during this time?
A lot, really! I think that now my music is freer and in a sense I feel it more physically. It is also much harder. I also work in a team of more people.
Since you mentioned the team – it's going to be your first time in Poland with Sonic Codex Orchestra. What group is it?
Most often Sonic Codex is a band consisting of four musicians. Erland Dahlen and Wetle Holte play the percussion instruments. Audun Erlien performs on bass and synthesizer. Well, there's also me playing the guitar. I am responsible for the electronics, too. However, at Musica Electronica Nova we'll perform in a larger group. The band will include the guitarist Björn Charles Dreyer who plays the pedal steel (an electronic Hawaiian guitar).
You started your career in a heavy-metal band. Was it only an early adventure or something more serious?
Actually, it was in the times before the black metal era. That music was not as hard as today's metal. I must admit that it was an important stage in my musical past.
Do those early musical experiences still have an impact on you?
I think the audience can still hear those influences. Metal is more like an element in my "musical palette." It often makes itself felt and comes to the surface because I've always liked the energy of that music.
You've experimented with many music genres. Is nu-jazz the end of your musical search or are you still looking for something?
Why have you only recently started using a laptop during performances?
Because it's only recently that the computer has become quite fast, so that I could play the guitar directly, without a feeling that I'm losing touch with the sound.
Do you still play Jan Braahten's guitar, manufactured by a luthier?
I've been using it ever since I bought it in 1988. Jan was very unhappy that I got it so cheap… But I am still very glad about it.
Are you often invited to festivals of electronic music?
It was a pretty big surprise but I'm very happy with the invitation. Normally, I play at jazz festivals, and this show can help me, hopefully, attract a new audience who might not listen to jazz.
Why did you start incorporating elements of electronics into your compositions?
I've always used electronics while playing the guitar. My interest in recording and later with sound manipulation was gradually increasing. I like this freedom, which I found on the electronic scene in the 1990s.


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W. L. W. White: Our Boys, How Christmas Eve was enjoyed years ago
[The following is reprinted from the Dec. 25, 1886, edition of the Daily Reporter., McMinnville, Vol. 1, No. 95; price: 2 cents]
By W. L. W. White
Publisher, Daily Reporter
Eighteen years ago Christmas eve, in the city of N——, a group of six young men might have been seen around the vestibule of Grace church. There were services and a Christmas tree afterwards, and the young men were making some plan to pass away the evening. They were all in the early flush of manhood, the eldest being about 20, while the youngest was in the neighborhood of 17 summers. As they talked in earnest conversation, the people began to arrive and they drew back from the door to finish their plans before entering.
"Then it is settled boys," said Harry Slater. "After the entertainment we are all to meet here and for the first time in our lives play Santa Claus and make the poor happy for one day at least."
"Then we can't go to the ball," said Frank Hastings.
"Well, it is hard to give that up," replied Willie Blackwood, "but the tickets are $1.50 each. There are six of us and that would be $9. Just think how many good things we can get for that sum."
Now look here fellers," put in Charley Mason; "You know what we promised the girls and how are you going to get around that? Why! Miss Maud Chamberlain would not speak to me again if I failed to put in appearance for her at the appointed time."
"It is a bad fix," remarked Lawrence Sherman the eldest of all, a quiet young man, "but I uphold Blackwood in what he says. The money wasted on the ball would be but a temporary pleasure, while if put into a basket of good things it would make so many happy, that for my part the sacrifice would be comparatively small."
"Here is my view," said Ernest Inglewood. "Lawrence is the eldest of us all. I say let us count our money and give it to him, reserving but a dollar and a half each, and if afterwards we repent, can put that in, too. We will stay and attend the service and let Lawrence go and get a sleigh; buy all he can; get some masks to disguise our faces, and we will meet him at Mason's Bazaar at 9 o'clock."
"Good!" cried all the boys together, "that is the best plan of all. Let's count out the cash!"
There was a good deal searching of pockets, and as fast as the boys got the money in the hands they put it into Lawrence's hat, retaining only a dollar and a half each.
"Thirty-seven dollars here," said Lawrence, "and nine more in our pockets, making $46 all told. Gracious! We can get the sleigh full."
The boys all laughed at the coming fun as Lawrence put the money in his pocket.
"I'll go now and get everything ready so when you come down we'll start. Shall I speak to your father, Charley, about what we propose to do. He might help us?"
"By all means," answered Charley Mason.
Just then the great organ in the loft began a low, solemn voluntary, and the boys hastily entered and took their placed in the choral.
The organist, a new player recently from New York, proved to be an artist of more than ordinary ability. The rich melody rose and fell in exquisite harmony; now loud and deep, then low and sweet, carrying one's thoughts way beyond the River of Life into that mysterious hence, where angelic voices steal softly o'er the longing soul. During this voluntary the rector of Christ church entered the chancel and knelt at the altar. While the pastor was engaged in offering up his silent prayer, the organist played with soft pedals and the music came floating down from the organ loft as if it were ever so far away; low, sad-like and dreamy. The sweet sounds grew fainter and fainter; only an echo remained. As the minister arose from his kneeling position, the organ opened forth in a grand, triumphant burst of melody. The building seemed fairly to tremble as the great bass pipes sent forth their notes. It seemed as though this huge organ was thundering forth. "Remember the poor, for on this day Christ, the Son of man was born."
The boys stood ready with their parts as the soprano began Handel's beautiful oratorio, the Creation — Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward man. The soprano sang with rare sweetness tonight and when Ernest Inglewood commenced his tenor part in a duo with Miss Royal, way down in his heart a small voice was crying, "remember the poor."
Ernest sang with unusual effect and his pure tenor voice was heard in every part of the church. When the quartet came forth there were many handkerchiefs in demand as from the organ loft came the sweet strains of the Mesiah: "I know that my Redeemer liveth."
The rector, Mr. Paxton, mounted his pulpit and in clear voice said:
It was a prayer that penetrated to the hearts core of more than one poor sinner that sat in that congregation in costly garments. He prayed for the audience; he asked blessings on the poor as well as the rich; but one sentence that struck deep in the hearts of the young men was, as nearly as I can remember, as follows:
"And now, most heavenly Father I beseech you to install in the hearts of those present a kind remembrance of the poor and lonely. Guide them thou great Director, in the holy paths of charity, for sweet charity's sake, for there are countless numbers in our city tonight that look upon the coming of the morrow with dread and fear, for their treasury is empty and poverty stands at the half shut door."
After the sermon the Christmas tree was tendered to the children and our boys left the church and hastened to Mason's Bazaar, where they found Lawrence in a hearty voice. "Hurry up and get in for we have no time to lose."
"Hold on a minute you jolly old Saint," said Ernest Inglewood, "here's my dollar and a half. I find that my conscience will not permit of my keeping it," and he gave the money to Lawrence.
"And here's mine, too," chimed the boys one after another.
"You see," said Ernest by way of explanation, "we had a splendid sermon and the seed fell in good places."
Thanks, thanks, you dear fellows," enthusiastically said Lawrence. "I had to go in debt a little. I bought sixteen turkeys and ran short seven dollars, but now we are all right, so jump in."
Lawrence had provided a lot of bells, and the boys left Mason's Bazaar, a large crowd that had congregated to watch them off, gave a grand cheer when Mr. Mason informed them what the boys had done, and several voices in the crowd could be heard to say: "God bless them, God bless them; hope they'll find my house."
A drive of two miles and they were in the outskirts of the city, and near the manufacturing village of Willamantic. The boys drove slowly into town, first removing the bells so as to make no noise. Passing down the almost deserted streets, the boys got out of the sleigh and taking a turkey in one hand, a basket of candies, nuts, oranges, apples and toys, in the other, they separated according to Lawrence's directions, and went to the abodes of those who had combated with fate, only to be thrust unheadingly aside, crushed and discouraged.
The first house that Ernest Inglewood visited was somewhat apart from the rest. There was a faint light in the window but no curtain, through which Ernest could see a father and mother sitting by the stove to keep warm, while by the chimney place hung four small stockings as empty as the open air. Ernest drew near the window and listened. He heard the father say:
"It's no use mother; I can't get a cent anywhere. I went to Mr. Mean for a little money till the mill started up, but he said he could not spare it. The stores won't trust any of us. I got a chance this afternoon to cut some wood and a man gave me fifty cents and a dozen big red apples. So we can fill those dear little stockings with love and apples, this year, dear wife, and the fifty cents will get us some meat and cread for the morrow, and the poor little ones up stars won't lose their faith in Santa Claus."
Ernest's eyers were running with tears so fast that he said afterward "the he thought he would melt all the snow around where he stood." Approaching the door quietly, he opened it wide and in a gruff voice said:
"Kind folks, Old Santa Claus is out here in the street and he sent me here to wish you a Merry Christmas, so look out." And with a quick motion Ernest hit the father with a turkey, and nearly knocked the mother down with a package of toys, nuts, etc., and then ran away like a reindeer before they could say a word.
Lawrence in the meantime had been making up more parcels and when the boys retuned in high spirits, he bade them be quiet and quickly dispatched them away.
This time the boys went all together. As they came to a house one of them would run up, throw the door open and yell "Merry Christmas," slam the turkey at the table, leave a bundle of toys and go pell mell into the darkness.
What fun they had. When they had delivered about half of their stock they noticed many lights appearing, and fearing that they would be discovered, they would drive up to a house (they had put all the sleigh bells on), making a merry jingle, jingle, knock at the door, and when some one appeared they would throw a package at him, and before the attacked party could pick themselves up, these boys were off and away to the next house. The last house was quite away out on the road home. As they approached this place, Lawrence said:
"Boys, you have had all the fun. It's my turn now." Taking the last basket of packages, he departed.
He was absent but a few minutes when the boys in the sleigh heard music, and then singing. Their curiosity was instantly aroused and driving the horses into an empty shed that stood nearby, they quickly started for the house where the music was in progress. As Charley Mason, who was in advance, was within a few feet of the house he turned, as a flood of melody came pouring forth from the dwelling, and beckoning his companions to him said:
"Well I never! Who do you think that is that's singing? Wll it's just Maud Chamberlain and no one else. But what in the world is she doing here. I'm going to find out."
As Charley started toward the house the door swung open, and the boys could see that there was quite a gathering. Approaching nearer, they heard laughing, and Maud Chamberlain wa saying:
"What in the world possessed these boys to do such a thing, Mr. Mason?"
"Now Miss Maud, you have me cornered. I am of the opinion that Lawrence Sherman and Ernest Inglewood put it into their heads. At any rate it is deserving of much praise, as the boys had saved up their money to enjoy the holidays, and now it's all gone."
"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Mason, who with a party of ladies and gentlemen had entered joyously into a plan to help the boys, and they had gathered a number of children at this house and were having a Christmas tree. "I am proud of all the boys. If we could only catch them; but I am afraid the girls will not be able to get the sleigh without the boys hearing them."
"What in thunder does she mean," said Charley in a stage whisper.
"Looks as though they had sent a party of girls out to capture us. I believe Lawrence knew all about this and has given us away. Let's make a rush for the sleigh before the girls get there, and go a skating home and leave Lawrence," they all cried together.
"All right," whispered Charley. The boys stole quietly back to the shed and as Charley jumped into the sleigh, he fell plump into a pair of soft little arms that flew around his neck and held him a prisoner while a pair of rosy lips let out a peal of laughter.
"Let's go," cried Charley, struggling. "Who are you? Help, boys."
But the boys were in the same fix and could lend no aid.
"Isn't this jolly?" cried Mamie Mason, who had her brother a prisoner. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Only think a party of timid girls capturing five brave young men. Oh, my," and the merry girl laughed and clapped her hands in great glee.
The girls took the boys back to the house, and presented them to the company. They received kind words for their praiseworthy act, and were rewarded by being taken into Mr. Mason's large sleigh with the girls and given a splendid sleigh ride, also an elegant supper at Mr. Mason's residence, which none of them ever forgot.
And this is how six young men many years ago, acted upon the impulse of a generous moment, when the angels in Heaven were singing into their hearts, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward man."


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text:
Five things to know about Qunu, the village Nelson Mandela grew up in
What makes Qunu so breathtakingly brilliant?
Sunrays illuminate Qunu, the village where former South African President Nelson Mandela grew up, on June 27, 2013. South African President Jacob Zuma said on June 27 that the condition of ailing anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela had improved overnight, but he remains critical but stable. (AFP PHOTO/ Carl de Souza / Getty Images)
You can learn a lot about Nelson Mandela by going back to where it all began for the visionary leader. Madiba grew up in the Eastern Cape town of Qunu, and his childhood village set the tone for a most incredible life.
The village – containing no more than 200 people – was home to the most iconic figure in South Africa's long and chequered history.
From the foundations of his modest beginnings, Madiba rose – and eventually, dragged the rest of the country with him – as he aspired to be the inspiration Mzansi needed.
It all started here, on the banks of the Mthatha river. But what do we need to know about Qunu? We've put a quick fact file together to understand more about Mandela's roots.
Five things to know about Qunu
The land is for the Mandelas
Almost all of the local residents are part of the Madiba clan. Several homesteads in the area belong to direct relatives on Nelson Mandela. When he arrived in Qunu as a two-year-old, his father had been deposed as a traditional leader in Mvezo.
However, he still held a lot of sway in Qunu, influencing the decisions of the clans when it came to maintaining law and order in the village.
#Rainbow over #Mandela's final resting place in #Qunu, as sun breaks through pic.twitter.com/Cjl8yBmx0W
— Jerome Starkey (@jeromestarkey) December 12, 2013
Sliding stone: It's all fun and games
What did a young Nelson Mandela do for fun during the 1920s and 30s? He and his friends climbed up to "sliding stone" – a huge boulder on the outskirts of the village with an open face that slides downwards.
Nelson and his chums would climb to the top of it, slide all the way down, then repeat the process. He eventually returned to Qunu after retiring from public office, but his sliding days were long-gone by the time the 21st century rolled around.
#meetSouthAfrica @ShotLeft @easterncape @UbuntuXSA Nelson Mandela Early Childhood Tour, Madiba's sliding stone Qunu pic.twitter.com/XQE1okgwMv
— Imonti Tours (@vezavee) April 30, 2016
How do locals get by?
There is still a traditional way of life here. Decisions are made by clan leaders and life is refreshingly simple. Farming is still the main source of income for the region, but locals have become wise to their surroundings.
Many have embraced the tourism that comes with Qunu's "pilgrimage" status. They are happy to engage visitors with stories of yesteryear. One very popular Madiba tale was how the young Rolihlahla would wear a pair of shoes many sizes too big for him, making his classmates laugh at him for his appearance.
A born entertainer, here.
Guests being thought by the locals at Qunu, Mandela's village, how to greet with respect. pic.twitter.com/eKLi6YL4l2
— Imonti Tours (@vezavee) March 7, 2016
Why did Nelson Mandela settle here?
He has never been shy of eulogising the rolling hills and the placid lifestyle of his hometown. He immediately returned to Qunu after 27 years behind bars, and once his Presidential term finished, he set up his retirement home there.
It really is a case of home being where the heart is. The village became a symbol of what his "old" life was like before the tumultuous struggle for freedom. Mandela was eventually buried here, in the place he never wanted to leave.
Nelson Mandela house in Qunu pic.twitter.com/H6lROCGRJK
— Ayanda Amakhize (@ayandamkhize747) December 16, 2014
There is the Nelson Mandela Museum, which has become the focal point of the humble settlement. The centre itself is home to artefacts that forged the young Mandela in fire, whereas a village walking tour is also on offer.
The walk will allow tourists to see points of interest ranging from the primary school Madiba first began education at, to the thornbush he crashed into when he fell off a donkey. He was kind of a goofball when he was younger, hey?
#meetSouthAfrica @GoToSouthAfrica @shortleft @easterncape @AKILANGA @UbuntuXSA Mandela's first school in Qunu pic.twitter.com/16YFVcBZnA
— Imonti Tours (@vezavee) November 24, 2015
Tags: Eastern CapeNelson MandelaQunu


Make sure your food is good (halal and bought with halal earnings)..
No matter what direction I'm walking towards,left, right, forward, backward, up or down,I'm returning to Allah with every step,every moment.
Never upset in any situation.
The PIN code is : PRAYER!
If life on Earth is temporary.
O Allah, Only You know my weaknesses, Please change them into my strength! Ameen.
Allah does not love the prodigals.
There is a time on Friday afternoon where ones du'a could be answered. We sometimes take these opportunities for granted and you just never know when your du'a will be answered. Do not miss out on this friday to make du'a.
Take a moment and make sincere du'a right now.
May Allah accept it. Ameen!
To gain greater blessings from Allah (swt) make a habit of saying Bismillah before starting anything..


text:
I also write a food column for Business Day's monthly Wanted supplement. You can read those on the first Friday of every month here.
A guest of Mozambique →
This piece appeared on Roads and Kingdoms
The email invitation looks suspiciously like a Nigerian scam.
"It is indeed with much pleasure that I write on behalf of The Hon Mr. Fernando Sumbana, Minister of Tourism in Mozambique... The grand prize (a global first) is winning an Island Paradise!"
The invitation: a three-day press junket on chartered planes to a couple of luxury hotels and a tropical island. Subsequent conversation with excited PR reps hired by Mozambique is peppered with exclamation marks and numerous mentions of "7 star!" luxury.
There's an air of the surreal about the Whole Exercise.
But we journalists, knowing better than to ask too many questions when there's a holiday-that-can-be-passed-off-as-work trip—especially during a Johannesburg highveld winter—swallow our doubts, dutifully slip on our press tags, get on the plane.
There are only two letters— M A —crowning the apricot and tinted blue glass monstrosity that passes for Maputo International Airport.
The airport is a touch of modern-day Beijing amidst the balmy sea air and construction sites of the capital, replete with pinyin characters signalling whether the loos are occupied. The old terminal, with its aged tobacconist, sun-drenched deck and dim wood-panelled charm, is being demolished behind a ceremonial Chinese gold leafed archway for good luck.
We're met by a platoon of strawberry blonde South African PR folk who are relentlessly enthusiastic, even as they wait for immigration officials to figure out the new ID cameras - some of the spoils of a three-fold increase in tourist visa fees.
"Obrigada," I say, as one of our chaperones hands me my passport.
"What? I don't speak that. English, please," he frowns.
Our gear—television cameras, radio kit—is confiscated by customs, who apparently haven't yet received the memo from the Ministry of Tourism about their country's "Win an Island Paradise!" campaign.
We retreat to the seemingly secondhand Chinese travel coach.
The Avenida Acordos de Lusaka is bustling as our bus rumbles past, the asphalt seemingly unscarred from the burning tyres, blood and bullets of the 2010 riots, when Maputo's rapidly urbanising impoverished classes realised they could no longer afford bread, water, electricity. An enterprising paint fairy has red-washed every third wall with the Vodacom logo.
Just beyond the revolutionary corner of Avenidas Mao Tse Tung and Julius Nyerere, the Polana Hotel rests on a slope, gazing patiently out to sea. In the last two years, Maputo's grand dame has had her tired whitewashed walls spruced to a pale butterscotch, embracing the dull-happy-medium of international 5 star mediocrity.
Her gentle yet imposing lines were drawn by Herbert Baker, architect of record on some of Africa's most important and self-important colonial buildings. She holds the nocturnal secrets of Mandela, Carter and Kabila, who have overnighted here, as well as brigades of Allied officers on leave. But in recent years, her body has been given over to the present-day Aga Khan, the 49th Imam of Nizari Ismailis, who happens to also be a hotelier. His "detailed and sensitive renovation" has delivered her to the sanitised monotony of the Serena Hotel chain to which she now belongs.
Several terracotta carp leap out of an enormous fountain. The monochromatic checkerboard lobby tiles have been replaced with a stone-esque ceramic paver reminiscent of a casino interpretation of Tuscany. The lift grilles are gone, making room for countless mirrored panels.
Lunch al fresco: I stare at the smoked salmon sushi on my plate—no doubt a demonstration of the cosmopolitan-ness of Mozambique's capital, and sad misunderstanding about what makes the country special.
We escape onto Maputo's cracked pavements, power-walking in search of real local-colonial delicacies before the back-to-back press events, scheduled with un-Mozambican accuracy. The sunlight outside the air-conditioned hotel is rich, warm, friendly, caressing, and as creamy as the pasteis de nata, with its flaky savoury pastry and a custard centre, that we're looking for.
Back in the hotel: it appears that a very earnest Mr. Sumbana, the Minister of Tourism, is indeed intent on re-branding Mozambique as a "luxury!" destination. "I don't want Mozambique to be known just for its sun and sand," he says to a sweaty press room. "That's why we've decided to help people win a villa on a tropical island."
There's going to be a reality television show, with fifteen lucky SMS competition finalists exploring the beauty of the country in all its forms. One winner will win a villa in the Bazaruto archipelago for 25 years, rent and all.
"What if one of the finalists isn't all that... television friendly?" I ask the visiting guy from the Travel Channel. He laughs nervously.
The Prime Minister comes to dinner, in the Polana's newly refurbished ballroom. We eat tiny, sweet, local oysters and posh chicken zambezi under 22 chandeliers, and stare at the evening-wear of Maputo's mayor, an ensemble seemingly made of fuschia upholstery. In front of the backlit palm trees, widescreen television screens depict scantily-clad blonde women frolicking on beaches and sipping cocktails, while swordfish made out of beads hang surprised over fat lily centrepieces.
Few seem to notice the acoustic guitar player, eyes closed, running his fingers over his strings, creating his own passionate personal blend of Mozambican marrabenta, fused with a dozen other provincial musical influences.
They should notice him. His name is Jose Mucavele, and the last time I heard him play, it was dark, we were on the sidelines of a trainline going nowhere fast, drinking a locally brewed love potion out of a gourd. This time, it's a little less atmospheric.
There isn't enough time in Maputo.
Not enough time to drink tepid gin and tonics during the witching hour at the little roadside shipping containers-turned-barracas in Museo. Nor time to watch the fishermen slop in with their catch at dusk at the barra de pescadores on the little dirt road north of town. Nor time to wander through dusty streets perusing the delapidation of some of the world's finest Pancho Guedes Art Deco masterpieces.
Instead, we retreat to a deserted Club Naval, next to a dimly-lit lap pool on the Indian Ocean, and sit, drinking dark, sweet and malty Laurentina Preta beer on a night with no moon.
It's an unusual Maputo. The town feels moody, full of Wednesday evening ghosts—a gregarious gogo dancer turned in early.
Sitting next to a rickety stage, the reggae night band is on a break. They make their evening comeback with an acoustic version of "Blue Suede Shoes". I have a brief flashback to my father's amateur karaoke competition glory. A friendly Mozambican in bermudas and bling belt buckle insists he wants to help me feel at home. He raises his eyebrows suggestively.
The night is chilly. The air has lost some of its salt on its way up from the harbour.
A trip to the coast: Fluorescent-vested Ignacio has blindingly-white teeth and a Colgate smile. I insist on sitting on top of the luggage, stacked on an open-backed bakkie, en route from Vilanculos airport, so we can chat.
He loves his town, its dusty streets lined with stalls selling sad bananas. The open-air school with its mesh gate and noisy chants at recess. The tidily raked lines in the sand of tended hut compounds, set back from the road.
He doesn't love the Chinese man in the big grey truck, spraying water on the dirt, preparing it for tarmac. "They're not good people," he explains to me, unself-consciously, not overly concerned about my own Asian heritage. "They're here and only good for money." I assume he means they're looking for it, rather than handing it out—but it's unclear, given Beijing's penchant for concessional loans with murky fine print. "We're not friends with them," he adds.
I find it hard to believe that there's anyone Ignacio isn't friends with.
On the boat: Staring into the pristine depths, I'm wracking my brain to come up with a description of the water that doesn't involve a cliched semi-precious stone. I settle on "luminescent". Everyone else on the deck is too gleeful with quasi-holiday cheer to roll their eyes.
It's the exact colour that seven-year-old Samantha Taggart showed me on her art smock in primary school, when we were playing come-up-with-an-obscure-colour-and-run-across-the-sandpit-tag. "This is aquamarine, dummy."
No one else seems to notice the barnacles on our boat captain's face as he stares forward, unperturbed by the patches of rain moving across the strait, soaking the occasional dhow. The humidity strokes our eyelids as we close them to the wind.
The topless drunk in torn indigo shorts is waving at me.
Stumbling, grinning, leering with a patronising smugness, he's strolling down the beach, past luxury villa number 4. He's headed in the direction of the local village, following the damp footprints of local fishermen in the ridges of the receded tide. His torso is sun-darkened, his sneer wide and dizzy.
"It doesn't happen here very often," says Billy, the activities coordinator, with an embarrassed sideways glance, as we stare out at the mainland over a sundowner glass of Amarula. "Mostly, the villagers are very friendly."
At Marlin Lodge: There's wilted bougainvillea in the loo of luxury villa number 4, and cowrie shells on the bed. The shells spell "W-E-L-C-O-M-E", but with no exclamation mark. There's wilted bougainvillea too in the earthenware pot, for feet-washing from the beach, on the deck. And artistically strewn foliage over the kettle and sachets of instant coffee.
I stand in the outdoor shower, steam rising to the stars, and imagine who holidays here when it's not filled with correspondents on a junket. It's the kind of lodge where the tourists don't carry disposable cameras, expect bubbly with breakfast and wear big watches. It's stunning in its beauty. It's bland in its perfection.
We sit obediently in fishing dhows as their masters raise weathered sails. We drink cold 2M lager from the can out of pre-packed cooler boxes. We sail in a small crescent around the bay and watch the lodge staff hang coloured paper lanterns from the water. The sunset causes a press Instagram orgasm.
Supper is served at a long candlelit table in the sand after the requisite local drumming. Everything's locally sourced—the crayfish, the coriander, the cow. Chef Armindo's earthy homemade basil pesto is a welcome refrain at every meal. The food is a triumph: the butternut pumpkin soup just gingery enough to be interesting, the king mackerel fresh and dense and slightly metallic. The wood-grilled prawns firm but creamy, and the local chili from Armindo's veggie patch appropriately explosive.
There are chest-high wood skewers for the marshmallows, to be lit in the bonfire from the security of picnic blankets beckoning from the beach. A sliver of a moon gazes down at the escapism before her, an evening of 80s Club Med classics blaring from a tropical beach bar and journalists asleep in the sand.
35-year-old Jose makes an excellent caipirinha and has an excellent deep, throaty laugh. He's bartended at Marlin Lodge for nigh on 14 years, also lugging wheelbarrows full of concrete periodically when the place needs post-cyclone attention. He lives in the local village on the other side of the marsh, which isn't quite exciting enough to keep him entertained, he says, with a shy smile.
Jose earns about $250 a month, double the wage of most of his colleagues, mainly because he can make a damned good caiparinha. He's quietly proud that he can now speak English, but mostly that he makes more than most of his friends on the mainland, where his wife Helen looks after their two girls.
It was quiet all last year, he says, here at the lodge. But now it's picking up again. And as long as tourists keep coming, he nods, the lodge can keep building schools and ferrying people to the mainland for medical treatment. He's proud that his caipirinhas can help with that.
Read the full piece on Roads & Kingdoms
← Summer epilogue


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By Carolyn McDowall March 25, 2015
Brisbane Baroque, 2015 – Under the Rotunda, City Hall Series
City Hall at Brisbane in Queensland is a handsome building, an architectural icon constructed during the 1920's.
Taking a decade to complete at the cost of nearly a million pounds, it was recognised in Australia at least in construction terms, as being second only to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Most Brisbane people met during my decade in that town (1999 – 2009) revealed they had a great affection for the building and significant memories of events they had attended inside, fiercely advocating its retention as a focus for city life and restoration (2010 – 2013).
Brisbane grew rapidly in the ten years prior to its separation from New South Wales on Saturday September 3, 1859.
This took place at time when its growing maturity created a sense of civic consciousness, a foundation on which an official administration could be founded.
Its first elected Mayor John Petrie (1822 – 1892) was a man of practical experience and common sense animated by the 'spirit of the age'.
He guided a community of free men in a city yet to be made, and by the first 20 years of the 20th century, his council's vision of delivering Brisbane city as a vibrant, dynamic crucible for change had been exceeded many times.
City Hall's 'inter-war' academic classical' style ensures it is an impressive place, one whose piece de resistance would be its copper dome, the largest in Australia spanning 31 metres.
It has earned the name 'the rotunda' as it punctuates the skyline above the renowned 'two acre paddock, a splendid room regularly used for civic events, concerts and city council ceremonies.
Music in this domed auditorium is a special treat and will be an important venue for, and aspect of the first Brisbane Baroque Festival 2015, which will debut in Brisbane Friday April 10 – Saturday April 18, 2015.
The 'mini' opera Dido and Aeneas will be held Monday 13th April at 8pm followed by La Caccia, The Hunting Horn on Tuesday 14th April, Resplendent Brass on Wednesday 15th, Celestial Cantatas with Sara Macliver on Thursday 16th and Bach – Sacred and Secular on Friday 17th.
Artistic Director Leo Schofield AM was excited when he told me …
"I've seen them all and no town hall in all Australia can match the splendour of Brisbane's historic City Hall. It will house no fewer than fourteen performances for our festival, including free recitals on the mighty Willis organ and a further five performances at 5pm daily with an admission price of five dollars. That's about the price of a packet of potato chips with sea salt and balsamic vinegar. Then in the evening there will be five major recitals including a concert performance of Purcell's sublime Dido and Aeneas." Schofield said.
Dido abandoned, The Death of Dido by Andrea Sacchi
The cast of Dido and Aeneas, includes some of Australia's finest emerging young soloists, who will be singing alongside seasoned soprano Sara Macliver as Belinda.
They will be supported by members of Brisbane's Canticum Chamber Choir and the Orchestra of the Antipodes, led by Brisbane Baroque's Music Director, Erin Helyard.
The performance promises to be something right out of the box.
On Tuesday 14th April the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra's natural horn player Daryl Poulsen on his period instrument will play a program of music inspired by 'la caccia', the hunt a popular and energetic activity in Europe in centuries gone by.
You certainly need energy and experience as well as courage and confidence to play the early horn.
The change of pitch was effected entirely by the lips, because the horn was not equipped with valves until the 19th century.
The older instrument has a superb mellow sound, and an experienced and very polished player like Daryl Poulsen can coax it to reveal its 'soft articulations' and other subtleties of tone and colour
On Wednesday 15th it's all about Resplendent Brass.
With a wealth of wonderful material to draw upon performed virtuoso brass players of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra will combine forces with renowned organist Christopher Wrench.
They will present a program of masterpieces including works by Italian composer, gambist, singer and Roman Catholic priest Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), Italian composer, organist and influential musician Giovanni Gabrieli (1554-7 -1612) and the English composer who died entirely too young, the pre-eminent composer of his day Henry Purcell (1659-1695).
What they all have in common is their originality, being giant 'thinkers who produced distinctive sounds and styles that both captivate and charm. They also substantially influenced the development of the 17th century music style.
The Baroque era loved Brass… its music stylistically was renowned for its towering structure and dynamic pictorial style, which reflected a world of changing artistic ideals and the fashions and passions of its age.
It was also a triumphal age and so fanfares on horns preceded royal and special community events.
Must say that I like the idea of Celestial Cantatas.
Soprano sublime Sara Mcliver…
They will be sung by Sydney based soprano Sara Macliver Australia's leading exponent of Baroque music, whose voice is pure, strong and rich and resonate.
It will be sure to linger long in the lofty heights of the rotunda above as it reaches for the stars.
During the Baroque era in Europe the atmosphere of the world changed as melodies enlivened the space they filled as religion was abandoned and secular life embraced.
It helped to break down boundaries and bring forth a mood revealing that light and space are limitless in their association with both spirit and style.
Sara is one of those performers able to reach a pinnacle with the polished, powerful and yet graceful forms that reflected a world of changing artistic ideals.
This five day treat will come to an end with Bach – Sacred and Secular.
The best of Bach is very good indeed, he's a composer everyone who likes music from Rock to Baroque can, and do admire.
JS Bach loved brass…
Providing a contrast from serious to sensational, German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1683-1750), enlivened the spaces where musicians played his music.
He explored the possibilities of monumental forms through virtuosity and ornament, helping to give birth to a new musical language that has infused our imagination and our world now for over three hundred and thirty years.
But wait, I had nearly forgotten there's more… changing night for daytime… there will be a further five performances under the rotunda at 5pm daily with an admission price of five dollars… details to come to hand…
Richard Gowers… youthful virtuoso
On Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th April at 1:00 pm residents will also be treated to a free event. Each day under the dome JS Bach will come into his own when award winning English choral scholar Richard Gowers 18, who belongs to the harmony group The King's Men at Cambridge, will showcase this legendary musician's considerable talents as he takes travellers on an Organ Odyssey.
A former chorister in the great choir of King's College Cambridge, Richard Gowers will present four recitals, a new one each day showcasing the works composed by Bach for the organ.
When Bach played the organ at the 18th century court at Weimar a small town of people in Germany who thought of themselves as 'cultured' said of him
'His feet seemed to fly across the pedals as if they were winged, and mighty sounds filled the church'.
According to close sources Mr Gower is also able to 'play with the finest precision' and is sure accomplish passages on the pedals with his feet, while comfortably fingering the most difficult passages with perfect ease' on the keyboard.
Bevvy of Baroque instruments…
Going out on a Bang with Bach at Brisbane Baroque 2015 sounds to me like a great way to end a wonderful week of musical performances under the 'rotunda' at Brisbane in its city hall.
You will just have to be there.
Brisbane Baroque
UNDER THE ROTUNDA
10th – 17th April, 2015
Artistic Director Leo Schofield AM
Executive Director Jarrod Carland
Brisbane Baroque is presented through partner the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and is supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, Arts Queensland, the Federal Ministry for the Arts, Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Camerata of St John's, the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School and Opera Queensland.
Brisbane Baroque – Embracing Early Music Sacred and Secular
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Brisbane Baroque – Dido and Aeneas, Purcell's Masterpiece
Bach - Sacred and SecularBaroque Music FestivalBaroque Music in BrisbaneBrisbane Baroque 2015Brisbane Canticum Chamber ChoirBrisbane City HallCelestial CantatasChristopher WrenchDaryl PoulsenDido and AeneasErin HelyardGGabrieliHenry PurcellHenry Purcell composerJarrod CarlandLa CacciaLeo Shcofield AMMonteverdiOrchestra of the AntipodesQueensland Symphony OrchestraResplendent BrassSara MacliverThe Hunting HornUnder the Rotunda
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Named to NPR, Las Vegas Weekly, Graphic Novel Reporter, The Casual Optimist, Comic Book Resources, Attentiondeficitdisorderly, Hypergeek, and Robot 6's Best of 2010 lists. Sven, a semi-aimless Scandinavian artist who has ended up in Montpellier, France on a futile romantic pursuit, enjoys nocturnal raids into other people's homes, disguised as a werewolf. The way he figures it, the disguise will give him an extra few moments' advantage vis-à-vis any startled home owner if things get ugly... but he hasn't taken into account the existence of a society of real Montpellier-based werewolves who do not take kindly to this new pretender. So while Sven spends his days playing chess and poker with his friends, sketching his way through his picturesque chosen hometown, and coping with romantic dilemmas -- both his and those of his best friend, the Breakfast-at-Tiffany's-obsessed Audrey, who has girl troubles of her own -- little does he realize that a genuine threat to his life, and for that matter his humanity, is closing in on him. Werewolves of Montpellier is a lycanthropic thriller, a romantic comedy, and an existential drama -- beware the full moon!


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About Beaulieu
BEAULIEU PARK SCHOOL
Shopping & Leisure
Beaulieu Square
Bedrooms BedroomsAny1 Bedroom Apartment2 Bedroom Apartment2 Bedroom House3 Bedroom Apartment3 Bedroom House4 Bedroom House5 Bedroom House6 Bedroom House
Price RangeAny£200,000 - £249,999£250,000 - £299,999£300,000 - £349,999£350,000 - £399,999£400,000 - £449,999£450,000 - £499,999£500,000 - £549,999£550,000 - £599,999£600,000 - £649,999£650,000 - £699,999£700,000 - £749,999£750,000 - £799,999£800,000 - £849,999£850,000 - £899,999£900,000 - £949,999£950,000 - £999,999
BEAULIEU SUPPORTS THE CHELMSFORD SCHOOL SPORT PARTNERSHIP OLYMPIC STYLE GAMES
For the third year running Beaulieu has supported the Chelmsford School Sport Partnership at their annual Olympic style sports event, Superstars. Beaulieu, the brand new neighbourhood development masterminded by Countryside and L&Q is transforming Chelmsford over the next decade, with new homes, schools, sports facilities, shops and community amenities.
Officially launched in 2003 as Superstars, the annual sports event for all Year 4 children across Chelmsford was held at Chelmsford Sports and Athletics Centre on 7, 21 and 28 February, with over 2,000 students taking part from 40 primary schools. The event kicks off with an Opening Ceremony, which includes children's pledges, poems and flags depicting the Olympic values.
Sara Robson, School Games Organiser for the Chelmsford School Sport Partnership, comments: "We are delighted to have the support of Beaulieu to help us continue to deliver our ambitious programme to encourage and enable young people in Chelmsford to lead active, healthy physical lifestyles. The sponsorship programme enables us to further develop activities and events for children throughout the area and helps to fund courses for teachers and coaches."
Sara continues: "We wanted lower key stage two children to come to a competition that encompassed age appropriate fundamental movement skills, where they could compete in a positive environment and be encouraged to develop good sporting attitudes. It's a wonderful opportunity to support so many young leaders to develop their confidence and skills to lead and officiate. To see such large participation numbers and to develop values such as friendship, resilience, determination, courage and respect, is one of the partnerships main aims and we would like to thank the schools and Beaulieu for their continuing support."
"The Superstars competition comprises eight multi skilled events which all children can partake in whatever their level of fitness and ability. Competition was fierce this year but I think it is safe to say everyone had a fabulous time. Thanks to Beaulieu all the children have all been given a lovely new sports bag to take home with them."
Andrew Carrington, Managing Director of Strategic Land at Countryside said: "We are delighted to continue with Beaulieu's sponsorship of the Chelmsford School Sport Partnership. We have been impressed over the past two years with the vital work Sara Robson and her team carry out to help improve the health, wellbeing and sporting opportunities available to children and young adults. Our vision for Beaulieu is to provide an environment and facilities that will enable people of all ages to live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
"The unique partnership represents an exciting opportunity to help improve the sporting opportunities and skill-building activities available for young people in the area."
Jerome Geoghegan, Group Director, Development and Sales, at L&Q says "As Beaulieu takes shape we are able to offer greater opportunities for sports and recreation through the provision of parks complete with trim trails, public open spaces and primary and secondary schools with sports facilities. Available to the whole community including the Chelmsford School Sport Partnership, these exciting new facilities will help improve people's overall health and fitness."
The overall winning school for the 2017 events was Terling C of E Primary School, with Heathcote School coming second and The Bishops' C of E & RC Primary School third. The CSSP is committed to improving sporting opportunities for young people and meeting the new targets for the School Games programme. It offers support to all schools on competitive high quality PE, leadership opportunities, support for students identified as gifted and talented, coaching, INSET and access to funding.
To find out more information about Beaulieu, please visit www.beaulieu.uk.com. For more information on Chelmsford School Sport Partnership contact www.chelmsfordssp.com.
Beaulieu is situated to the North East of the city of Chelmsford, in a highly accessible location between the A130 and the A12 (jct.19).
Chelmsford is within the London commuter belt, approximately 32 miles north east of London and is a popular commuter base benefiting from good road links enabling easy access to the A12, M11 and M25 motorways. Stansted Airport is just 18 miles away by car via the A130/A120, whilst Chelmsford railway station offers regular services to London Liverpool Street in just 35 minutes.
Commuting from Beaulieu could not be easier thanks to a brand new railway station planned for the development plus a new relief road which will connect residents to Junction 19 of the A12.
A network of cycleways run throughout Beaulieu and transport connections are further enhanced by a high quality bus service providing a convenient connection to Chelmsford city centre and beyond.
Beaulieu is a joint development between Countryside and L&Q
©2016 Countryside Properties PLC
Countryside Properties PLC, The Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3AT
E-mail group@cpplc.com
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Countryside Properties pursues a policy of continuous improvement. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information on this website is correct, it is intended as a guide only and the company reserves the right to alter the information as necessary without prior notice. This information does not constitute or form part of a contract for sale. Computer generated images are indicative only and may vary from the illustration.


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Tecoaque es un sitio arqueológico mesoamericano, ubicado en el municipio de Calpulalpan en el occidente del estado mexicano de Tlaxcala. Se cree que el sitio fue creado por la cultura de Tetzcuco.

La zona fue agregada a la lista indicativa del Patrimonio Mundial de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO) el 6 de diciembre de 2004 en la categoría Cultural.

Actualmente, se encuentra protegido bajo la jurisdicción del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) con el código ZA150 catalogado como monumento histórico. Se localiza a 71 kilómetros de la ciudad de Tlaxcala, a 92 kilómetros de la ciudad de Puebla y a 65 kilómetros  de la Ciudad de México.

Toponimia
Tecoaque es un término de la lengua náhuatl lo que se interpreta al idioma español como «Lugar en donde se comieron a los señores o dioses». De acuerdo a fuentes históricas el sitio era llamado «Zultepec» previo a la colonización española, de este modo, en 2001 se planteó cambiar el nombre de la zona arqueológica.

Historia
El sitio fue abierto al público oficialmente el 28 de noviembre de 2012, durante el sexenio del presidente, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa.

El territorio tenía fronteras con la región Acolhua de la cuenca de México de la cual formaba parte. Durante su auge tuvo rutas comerciales con Teotihuacán, Texcoco y Tenochtitlán. La pirámide más importante es la dedicada al dios del viento, Ehécatl.

A la llegada de los españoles, algunos de estos, incluyendo mujeres y un esclavo africano, fueron capturados junto para después ser sacrificados por indígenas acolhuas. En las exploraciones realizadas por el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) fueron hallados esqueletos humanos, con carencias de ciertos huesos, los cuales eran entregados a los guerreros como «huesos trofeo»

También se localizaron restos óseos de hombres, mujeres y niños españoles, negros y mulatos. El número de sacrificios se calcula en 550 personas que integraban una caravana que acompañaba a Hernán Cortés.

Véase también

 Val'Quirico
 Cacaxtla
 Ocotelulco
 Xochitécatl
 Cerrito del Chiquihuite

Referencias

Enlaces externos

 Tecoaque (sitio web oficial).

Yacimientos arqueológicos del estado de Tlaxcala
Yacimientos arqueológicos de Mesoamérica
Turismo en el estado de Tlaxcala
Bienes inscritos en la Lista Indicativa de México

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Napoli: punto esclamativo! Internescional uei! è un disco di Renzo Arbore e l'Orchestra Italiana pubblicato nel 1995.

Tracce

Classifiche

Classifiche settimanali

Note


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Meet a 14-year-old who's coding her future in AI, crypto, telemed, social impact
Nancy Dahlberg October 19, 2021
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At any given time, Pranjali Awasthi may be delving into AI research in a college engineering lab, developing a stealth startup in the telemedicine field, or processing online orders for Indian fashions for her social entrepreneurial venture. Is Pranjali an entrepreneurial engineer or an engineering entrepreneur? That's to be determined: There's still high school to finish.
Pranjali, who is 14, is in the 11th grade at Doral Academy Charter. With her exceptional scientific and technical mind, she has earned myriad STEM awards in Miami and in her native India.
Her family immigrated to the US about four years ago. Both of her parents were seeking doctorate degrees in their respective fields and they believed Pranjali could get a better education in this country. Pranjali wasted no time learning about what Miami had to offer.
Pranjali would visit the engineering center on Florida International University campus with her mother, who was pursuing a doctorate in public policy. "She would introduce me, but there were a lot of people who are ready to just initiate conversations, and they would give me a look into the cool things their labs were doing," she said. "What I really picked up from every single conversation with these researchers was that they were all interested in the application of AI to their fields."
Pranjali's interest in machine learning and AI grew and she received grant funding from the New York Institute of Technology for the AI research she has been conducting in an FIU engineering lab. That project is wrapping up, and she will be entering it into science fair competitions next year, she said. Now Pranjali already has another exciting research opportunity lined up: She is starting a remote internship at the Schwartz Center for Computational Neuroscience under the Institute of Neural Computation at University of California San Diego.
These days, Pranjali is also building a startup in the telemedicine industry, where websites like WebMD are fueling a hypochondriac epidemic, and was awarded $25K by a venture fund. The details are under wraps, she says.
During the summer, Pranjali participated in Miami Hack Week, which attracted hundreds of mostly adult engineers and designers. Pranjali was assigned to a crypto house, and for her part of her group's project, she was able to apply her AI skills. "I also got to meet some really cool people. I actually met a YouTuber who I only knew online, so that was super cool," Pranjali said the Miami Hack Week experience. This past summer, Pranjali was also part of an MIT virtual accelerator for high school students.
Pranjali at Miami Hack Week, where she hacked a crypto project with her group.
Her interest in social entrepreneurship stems from growing up in India, when she would visit her grandfather, a farmer who would also teach the children in his village how to become artisans. Pranjali said the handmade fashions they would make were quite sleek and stylish and she thought they could be sold globally — without middlemen sucking up the profits resulting in pathetic wages for the makers. She recently created Indic Valley, an online marketplace for the artisans' fashions. Pranjali's goal "is to help create a sustainable community of artisans by giving the artisans a platform to have authority and agency over their work."
With some external funding, she assembled an initial group of about 30 artisans her website would feature, structured the company and worked out the shipping process, all of this made more difficult by the pandemic. Indic Valley launched in recent months with a selection of all-natural, handmade wooden bangles, shawls, shoes and sandals made in India's villages.
Pranjali talks with artisans in her homeland of India about her social entrepreneurial marketplace startup Indic Valley.
Where does Pranjali find the time for her many interests? "It's obviously been a lot of work but you have to keep on a schedule and keep motivating yourself," she said. "I do a satisfactory job, I think."
Her advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs and technologists? "Watch, listen, learn and hunt for the most effective solution."
Pranjali said she is inspired by Peter Drucker's words of wisdom: "The best way to predict the future is to create it."
Follow @ndahlberg on Twitter and email her at [email protected]
Nancy Dahlberg
I am a writer and editor with extensive media experience and a passion for journalism and serving the community. Most of my career has been spent with the Miami Herald in business news, and my expertise is writing about tech and entrepreneurs. I love hosting this blog for Refresh Miami and we aim to be the go-to site for South Florida startup and tech news, features and views. Have news? Contact me at [email protected] Thanks for reading!
Latest posts by Nancy Dahlberg (see all)
Milo announces world's first US crypto mortgage - January 18, 2022
Founder mental health therapy works – and there's data to prove it - January 18, 2022
Record-smashing year for Miami area VC: Top deals of Q4, trends and more - January 14, 2022
Categories: Crypto/Blockchain/NFTs, Startup Spotlights, Tech & Startup News
Tagged: #MiamiTech, AI, Doral Academy Charter, Florida International University, hacker fellowship, HFO, Indic Valley, Lucy Guo, Miami Hack Week, Pranjali Awasthi, social entrepreneurship
Milo announces world's first US crypto mortgage January 18, 2022
Founder mental health therapy works – and there's data to prove it January 18, 2022
Why serial entrepreneur Elias Janetis is betting on early-stage tech founders in Palm Beach January 17, 2022
How to break into tech as a non-techie January 16, 2022
Record-smashing year for Miami area VC: Top deals of Q4, trends and more January 14, 2022
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Balacumaraswami L. Reimplantation is Better Than Remodeling for Connective Tissue Disorders: Contrarian View. November 2018. doi:10.25373/ctsnet.7261721.
Lognathen Balacumaraswami of the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, UK, presents a discussion on reimplantation versus remodeling for the treatment of connective tissue disorders. He discusses the principles of reimplantation, long-term outcomes for reimplantation versus remodeling, and the techniques and complications of reimplantation.
View the other side of this debate, where Hans-Joachim Shäfers presents tips and tricks for aortic root remodeling.


A family tradition to surprise your child/children on Christmas Eve filled with treats.
Fill your Christmas Eve Box with Pj's, a favourite DVD, Rudolf food, Santa's magic key and some yummy sweet treats (contents not included).
A premium quality deep red gloss laminated luxury style gift box made with a high quality rigid board. With strong magnetic closures, the lid sounds a pleasing snap when pressed shut. It will be finished off with a 14cm high MDF wooden letter and a painted and decorated personalised tag.
The Christmas box is available with different embellishments, please select from the drop down menu and let me know what wooden letter and name you would like at checkout.
Please allow 10 working days for your item to be posted. All 'Large Letter' items will be sent 1st Class and all small and medium parcels will be sent 2nd Class Signed For.
For items purchased from our online store we offer 1st Class Standard Delivery for mainland UK. We do not deliver outside of the UK. We post items out 5 days a week – Monday to Friday. We aim to deliver within 14 working days following the date your order is placed. For express delivery & recorded delivery a signature will be required upon receipt of the goods. A card will be left if no one is present with instructions on how to pickup/arrange redelivery of your item.
I charge the actual postage & packaging & happy to combine postage. If you would like to purchase more than 1 item please email me so I can work out the postage for you.
For items purchased from our online store we guarantee to refund any item you are not completely happy with when you return it to us in saleable condition within 14 days of receipt. Refunds will be issued via your original method of payment. Non faulty items can be returned at your own expense, only the cost of the item will be refunded, not the postage.
To return your item, contact us using the contact us link via our website and we will allocate you a returns number. Please remember to ask the Post Office for your proof of posting certificate and retain it for your reference. The Post Office will stamp this and supply a tracking reference number starting with the letters PA to prove the item(s) have been returned. Without this we cannot refund any money if we do not receive the returned items.
The refund will be processed once your goods are received. Please note that it may take 2-3 working days for the refunds to show in your account. Each item returned is refunded separately, and will show on your statement as a refund/credit. You will be refunded on to the card that the goods were purchased with. If your card expires before we process your refund please contact us with your order number, postcode and new card details.
In addition to our returns policy, under the Distance Selling Regulations, you (the consumer) have a period of 7 working days within which to cancel your purchase. The consumer is responsible for any costs of returning goods. The consumer is entitled to a full refund, including the cost of delivery (both ways if applicable), for any goods that are returned because of a fault or defect.
Sale items are non refundable. Full descriptions will be given on all sale items.


Everyone broke the silence including Saurik and Electra team. It looks like that Electra team is moving forward with plans for an alternative to Cydia as a third-party extension store called Sileo. Sielo should be the Cydia alternative for Electra jailbreak and it should be released soon.
In a recent tweet from Electra team, they announced that their project "Sileo," and it will be a full-featured, user-friendly GUI in which jailbreakers can search for and download new jailbreak tweaks, themes, and much more.
According to CoolStar, Cydia only works with iOS 11 because of the countless "band-aids, zip ties, and velcro" that were implemented to make it so. Given that it's no longer being maintained by Saurik as actively as it once was, the Electra Team believes that it's time for a fresh start.
The Electra team clearly believes that Sileo is that alternative. Which makes sense considering the Electra jailbreak is really the only jailbreak solution that we have, and are likely to have, for the foreseeable. If Sileo is installed with that jailbreak, and Cydia is entirely removed from the equation, then device owners will have little choice but to accept their new package installation master. Besides, if the video embedded below is anything to go by, then it looks as though not a great deal has actually changed with Sileo offering a familiar-looking experience that most jailbreakers should be able to pick up in no time at all.
Sileo is crafted to work with all 64-bit devices and will work on iOS 11 jailbrokne devices.
CoolStar also mentions that the team is working on Safe Mode and Substitute replacements for iOS 11, and this is exciting news for jailbreakers that are concerned about installing potentially-harmful packages.


Feng, Jia-Jin, Huang, Zhao, Wang, Zhi, and Niu, Qian. Hysteresis from nonlinear dynamics of Majorana modes in topological Josephson junctions. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.98.134515.
Feng, Jia-Jin, Huang, Zhao, Wang, Zhi, & Niu, Qian. Hysteresis from nonlinear dynamics of Majorana modes in topological Josephson junctions. United States. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.98.134515.
Feng, Jia-Jin, Huang, Zhao, Wang, Zhi, and Niu, Qian. Mon . "Hysteresis from nonlinear dynamics of Majorana modes in topological Josephson junctions". United States. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.98.134515.


US researchers have conducted a pathbreaking study where they have revealed that a particular protein that affects healing of wounds on the lower part of the leg and foot, amongst diabetes patients has been identified.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious health challenge faced by Americans and to tackle this mounting health challenge, patient provider communication has to be more effective. Not only healthcare providers have taken on the mantle to educate people but, organizations like Medicare too are contributing.


Summary: Learn the general causes for SD card won't format issue and apply the quick solutions to fix SD card won't format write protected. Just follow the step-by-step instruction mentioned below.
But before formatting the write protected SD card, it is important that you must backup and restore files from it. Because, formatting the card will erase entire data from the SD memory card.
So, simply copy and paste the SD card data on your PC.
However, if you are not able to copy paste and have not kept the backup of your SD card then, you can use Photo Recovery Software to restore files from SD card throwing SD Card Won't Format Write Protected error and from formatted SD card.
Restore digital media files such as photos, videos and audio files from write protected and formatted SD card.
Also recover media files from virus infected, encrypted, locked, unreadable, corrupted SD card.
Retrieve media files from formatted USB drive, pen drive, memory stick, hard drive & external hard drive.
100% risk free. Safe, secure and easy to use.
Once a SD memory card is write protected, it means that you will not be able to use it with full control – you will not be able write data or rename files and folders. Any operation performed on it will get rejected such as you will not be able to delete files on it or format it.
At such situation, your SD card becomes useless. Hence, you have to first remove the write protection from the card only then you can format it.
So, below find out the few troubleshoot and learn how to get rid of SD card write protection.
But before that let us know the causes for SD card won't format issue.
We get several SD card errors, but the solution for all problems is format the card. It says formatting SD card will fix all issues like these. But in such issues, the formatting of SD card fails.
So, what are those reasons that create the problem of SD card won't format?
The already mentioned cause is SD card is write protected and hence Windows PC does not allow to format it.
May be your SD card contain bad sector and got corrupted.
Using the same card on several multiple devices and hence it might got infected with virus.
It is actually little difficult task to erase a write-protected SD card and make it usable again.
Below, I have mentioned few solutions and I hope this will help to remove write-protection from the card and thereafter you can easily format it and use it again.
Is there any kind of small lock switch on one side? Check your SD card exterior and if you see any type of switch that has locked the card, then change the position (unlock position) of the lock switch. This will allow you to unlock the write protection from the SD memory card and thereby you can use it with full control.
After connecting the card to PC with the help of card reader, go to "My Computer" and right click on your removable SD card and select Properties. A new window will get open – in which you can sometime see the option to remove write-protection. Simply change the status of this option and then try again.
Click Start, type Run in the search bar and hit Enter.
Now in the Run box, type regedit and press OK, on confirmation click on Yes.
This will open new window.
If there is no StorageDevicePolicies, then you have to create this folder. To create this folder, right click on the Control and click on New>Key, name this StorageDevicePolicies, right click on the new folder that you have created now named as StorageDevicePolicies and click New> DWORD Value.
Double click on Write Protect and set the Value Data to 0 and click OK.
Now close the Registry Editor and connect the SD memory card into your PC.
Once, you remove the write protection from the card you will be able to use it properly as you were using it earlier. You can now write data, delete files and rename files and folders stored within it.
However, if you want to format the SD card then you can follow the steps mentioned here: How to Format a Memory Card on Windows?
If above method of formatting SD card does not work, then follow below method.
Now in Run box, type cmd and hit OK.
This will open Command Prompt Window, type diskpart to run Diskpart Utility.
Next type list disk, in order to locate the list of drives on the PC.
Next type select disk 1 (where 1 should be the number of your SD card).
Now type clean to run the clean utility. This will erase all data from the card.
Next you have to create a new partition – simply type create partition primary.
After this type active to make the partition active.
Finally, type format fs=ntfs (or format fs=fat32)to format the partition to a desired file system.
Below, find out how to recover files from formatted SD card.
After removing the write protection and SD card format, if you want to restore digital media files such as images, videos and audio files (in case if you do not have backup) then you can use Photo Recovery tool.
This tool is capable enough to retrieve digital media files from write protected or formatted SD card as well as from corrupted, virus infected & locked memory card.
From the above solutions and steps, I hope you were able to remove the write protection from the SD card and easily able to format the SD memory card and get rid of SD card won't format problem. And if you do not kept any backup of your SD card then you can use Photo Recovery software.
[Solved]: SD Card Won't Format Write Protected. 1. Check for Lock Switch. 2. Remove write-protection by checking SD card properties. 3. Use Command Line. 4. Run DISKPART To Format SD Card.


Adults and even children today like to conclude their day by taking a long stroll through their Instagram feed, kicking off with their favorite TV show or having a go at their much loved video game. We are surrounded by more than one screen these days, and while these screens have their benefits, they can prevent us from falling asleep and also affect our quality of sleep.
One of the simplest yet important reasons that technology impacts our sleep is through cognitive stimulation. As your brain is stimulated, the electrical activity revs up and neurons start racing, the exact opposite of what should happen prior to you falling sleep. Another impact screen time has on the body is the physical response to a TV show, a violent cartoon,video games or even an email that can make the body tense, which in turn releases cortisol, a stress hormone. This results in a situation that hardly promotes a goodnight's sleep.
Another reason why you should cut out screen time from your routine is due to the harmful "glow" emitted from electronic devices. The small quantities of light emitting from these devices can travel through the retina and into the part of the brain (known as hypothalamus) that is responsible for controlling different sleep-related activities, and also delay the discharge of sleep inducing hormone known as melatonin. When we wind down for sleep in a distorted manner, which only means we are getting less sleep.
Because most adults spend more than 10 hours in front of the screen (including office work), it is recommended you monitor your time and try to mitigate the risk as much as possible.
If this seems surprising and unattainable to you, here are some helpful steps you can take to somewhat achieve your goal.
-Replace screen time with other better activities. This can include bringing home a pet, engaging in physical exercises or investing in a couple books that will keep you engrossed and less likely to crave spending time around the screens.
-Move screens out of the bedroom. This will help you avoid any kind of backlit screen in the hour just before bedtime.


Before you take any pension withdrawals, read this article. You have been saving for years, and it is your money, so why shouldn't you withdraw money from your pension? We examine 12 crucial considerations to think about before you take pension withdrawals.
A recent report by Citizens Advice estimates that 29% of people who access their pensions under new flexible pension rules do so just to put the money into a bank account. This article explains why this is probably a bad idea.
The rules on flexible pensions now give you much more control over how you access your money. You can now access all of your pension fund at any stage from age 55. Part of your pension fund is tax-free – usually 25% if it is a personal pension. The remainder is taxable as income in the year you take the fund. You can choose to access part or all of your pension fund at any stage, so you can stagger payments to minimise tax.
The newspaper coverage on flexible pensions has been widespread, leading many people to believe that pensions have become as simple as bank accounts. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Taking your money out of your pension can have many unexpected outcomes. These include paying more tax, affecting your future ability to save into schemes, and reducing your future income prospects.
The report from Citizens Advice makes interesting reading.
The research indicates that flexible pensions are popular as the reforms have meant increased control over your savings and income. The second most popular reason was having the ability to enjoy the funds earlier. Interestingly, the third most popular reason was cited as saving tax, which is an issue we deal with below.
How long will the pension money last?
Now that you have access to your pensions it is tempting to access them earlier than you might have done. Think about how long this money needs to last you. How long will you live? How much income will you give up in the future if you take a lump sum earlier rather than later? Think about how much income you will get in retirement from all sources, and this will help to guide you on whether it is sensible to take a pension withdrawal now.
Your health has a major bearing on whether you should take a pension withdrawal. If you are in poor health you may be able to get a better guaranteed annuity rate due to decreased life expectancy. You should also think about whether you plan on passing on your pension fund to your family after your death.
You need to assess a range of other aspects of your personal and financial life before you take a pension withdrawal. Taking money from your pension is an irreversible decision. Think about your plans for work and future income, your spouse and other dependants, plus other considerations such as debts.
If you withdraw money from a pension, you get to take 25% tax-free; the rest of your fund will be subject to income tax.Taking the tax-free cash element could save you tax if you use the money to replace other income for that tax year. You could get some tax-free 'income' from your pension, but remember that income from other sources would still be subject to tax. This would be a sensible use of your pension money, provided you spend the money. Just be aware that once your tax-free cash element is used up, any future withdrawals will be fully taxable.If you take withdrawals from the taxable element, you could end up paying tax at 20%, 40% or 45% depending on how much you withdraw. If you plan on simply taking your pension money and leaving it in a bank account, you could find that you pay significant tax on this withdrawal. At the very least you should not take all your pension fund in one withdrawal – this would be the least tax-efficient way to take your money.If you are not planning to spend the withdrawal from your pension then you would have been better off leaving it in your pension. Pension savings grow tax-free, but you could end up paying tax on the withdrawal when it is taken from your pension, and further tax on the savings growth in the future. If you do not plan on spending your pension income now, leave it in your pension.
Inheritance tax implications of pension withdrawalsMost pension funds can be passed to anyone free of tax if you die before age 75, and are taxed as income if you die after age 75. This is a major way to save inheritance tax. Your pension plans can be passed to future generations without affecting your nil rate band for inheritance tax. If you take your pension income and then do not spend it, this money will become part of your taxable estate for inheritance tax. If you do not need the money, leave it in your pension.
Once you take an income from your pension, you restrict the ability to make future contributions into your pension. In many cases. this will reduce your pension annual allowance for contributions to £10,000 (£4,000 from April 2017). Savings above this figure could attract additional tax. You should only reduce your ability to make future savings if you are sure that you will not want to make further contributions.
If you take a withdrawal from your pension, what will you do with it? If your plan is to simply place it in a bank account, how much interest can you expect? Most bank accounts pay a paltry rate of interest, and this could even be behind inflation. Your bank savings will attract tax, which will further reduce the returns. At least if your pension money is invested you have a better chance of growing the money in the medium to long term. You can even approximate bank account risk within your pension if you want.
Don't forget that you may have other sources of cash other than your pension. It may be appropriate to consider using other assets before your pension. For example, withdrawals from ISAs are tax-free, while pension withdrawals are likely to attract income tax. Other investments may attract capital gains tax if you sell them, so be careful.
Taking money from your pension can have unwanted effects if you take withdrawals at the wrong time. For example, if you take pension withdrawals when your funds have fallen in value, this can severely reduce the length of time your funds may last. In addition, if you continue to take withdrawals after a fall in value to your pension fund, this can also have an effect. You should consider the timing of your pension withdrawals very carefully.
Some older pension plans offer guarantees, either to the fund or to the future income you will get. If you take a pension withdrawal early you may lose these guarantees. In some cases your guarantees could effectively double the value of your underlying pension fund. You may have good reasons for giving up pension guarantees, but taking this action should only be done after careful consideration.
Don't forget that you do have other options for taking pension withdrawals. For example, you can also take a secure income from a traditional pension annuity. These still offer good value and security for many people, especially if you plan on living for a long time.
If you take a taxable pension withdrawal this is likely to be assessed against your lifetime allowance. This is £1.055 million for most people, so you may not need to worry about it. However, if you have a large pension fund you should only take pension withdrawals after first calculating how your lifetime allowance will be affected. Failure to take this step could mean unexpected additional tax, now or at age 75.
My general philosophy on pension withdrawals is that you should only take the money out of a tax-free environment if you plan to spend it. If you have no plans to spend the money, then leave it where it is. The pension funds will grow tax-free, and you can pass it on to your family if you die without paying inheritance tax. Always remember that you can always access your pension money in the future if you do decide you need some income.
Contact us if you want to examine the effects of taking pension withdrawals. We can examine all of the issues above, and show you the full effect of your pension withdrawals on your future income and security.