text:
"We've built a professional team and market that the city can be proud of," says Khalia Collier, owner and general manager of the St. Louis Surge.
Khalia Collier has transformed the St. Louis Surge into both a competitive team and an economic driver.
Story By Allison Babka
Visuals By R.J. Hartbeck
"Kristi, will you join this group over here?"
"Mikala, grab that ball!"
"Can you do a layup for me, Brittany?"
There's a cacophony of voices as players from the St. Louis Surge basketball team are pulled into different photo shoots during the team's media day. In one corner of the court, players pose with basketballs under their arms. In another, a pair jokes as they dribble toward a photographer. Ready to kick off the 2019 season, the women obviously are in high spirits.
Khalia Collier surveys it all, excited for what this season could mean for St. Louis and for the sport. As the Surge's owner and general manager, Collier has watched her team find its footing in a city that tends to focus on baseball and hockey. When she took over the Surge in 2011 — becoming one of the youngest owners in the country at age 23 — many people insisted that she wouldn't be able to entice St. Louisans to watch basketball, let alone watch women play it.
But the Surge frequently draws thousands to the Washington University Field House, scores 94 points per game and goes undefeated in the regular season. With two national championships and multiple regional titles, the team will celebrate its 100th game during the home opener on June 8. It's quite a milestone in St. Louis, a city that hadn't seen professional basketball in decades.
Surge owner and general manager Khalia Collier is adamant about supporting women with meaningful opportunities. "You realize that the pie just gets bigger and you can give out as much as you want."
Coming out on top after being underestimated means everything to Collier and these athletes.
"Everyone anticipated that we would fold. But we've set a foundation, and now it's time to keep building. I knew that instead of everyone always focusing on bleeding red or blue, we could create another color in the mix. Now Surge fans bleed green," Collier says.
"We've built a professional team and market that the city can be proud of, that our community can get behind, and that creates opportunities for the women who are part of our program and for the next generation that wants to see how sports is built from a different perspective."
For 2019, the Surge enters a new league — the Global Women's Basketball Association, a competitive league that aims to develop and propel post-collegiate and post-amateur athletes towards careers in the WNBA. Collier says that this level of paid professionals had been lacking in women's basketball, with talented players often heading overseas for opportunities or wrapping up their careers too soon. But the GWBA, which began in 2016, offers new challenges to the overabundance of talent, enticing athletes to stay in the United States and build supportive networks as the league grows in strategic markets.
Collier says that the Surge's careful, businesslike approach to nurturing a team and its fan base — which is expected to break record attendance in 2019 — has contributed toward the GWBA's new growth.
"We've been on an island by ourselves for too long and we can't grow without a league that's competitive," Collier says. "You're seeing individual markets do what we're doing here in St. Louis, so now we're able to share across markets and speed up the success of other teams. It just elevates everyone at the same time."
"Surge fans bleed green," Khalia Collier says.
A Surge player's talent is important, Collier says, but so is what they do off the court. To boost an athlete's post-career options and to strengthen the St. Louis community, Collier requires athletes to have a bachelor's degree, and many players end up pursuing master's degrees during and after their time on the team. Collier, a St. Louis native, also helps players connect with local corporations and resources that offer additional career choices, and athletes typically dive into meaningful volunteer opportunities.
"You have to be a part of the community. You have to like kids. You have to want to volunteer," Collier insists. "And that is the determining factor of getting them to move here. When you have a good network, you have resources and you have people who have your best interests at heart, you fall in love with the city."
Selling St. Louis is important to Collier's recruitment process. Collier finds plenty of basketball talent throughout the region, but she also recruits many athletes from around the country to play and live in the Gateway City. And after eight seasons under Collier's watch, many of those women have chosen to stay in St. Louis, even when their playing days are over, instead of returning to their home states — remaining in St. Louis to buy homes, find jobs and support community initiatives.
"I wanted to know everything, not just about the game of basketball, but the business of sports in general. I felt like I was built for this," Khalia Collier says.
"That's what makes people stay — providing opportunities and an environment that fosters their success," Collier says. "They're already talented at the game of basketball. Instead of waiting until one stops before the other, here's your career path at the same time."
"It's refreshing to be so intentional about uplifting other women and to provide that kind of network and support. It's a win-win," she continues. "The more successful they are, the more successful we are. You realize that the pie just gets bigger and you can give out as much as you want; the more you give out, the more rewarding it's going to be for me in the long run and the more success stories that they have. They become their own alumni network."
Basketball is in Collier's blood, having grown up playing the sport with her family before taking things to the college level. Enjoying both the camaraderie and the competition, Collier stoked a fire within herself that can't be snuffed. She graduated from Fort Zumwalt South High School with the attention of plenty of college recruiters.
"I think everyone's aspiration as a kid is 'I could possibly play pro one day,' so that was definitely me," Collier recalls. "I remember being in love with Space Jam, being obsessed with Michael Jordan, drinking blue Powerade before my basketball games and thinking that I could one day be in the NBA. I just wanted to play at the professional level."
After studying communications and political science at Columbia College and later at Missouri Baptist University, Collier jumped straight into the corporate world. But basketball was never far from her mind, and she soon became the Surge's team manager. Discovering a new desire to foster a team of her own, Collier purchased the Surge in 2011, kicking off a new era for championship women's basketball in St. Louis.
"I had no idea what I was getting myself into, truly. I just knew that I would give it everything that I had and I could do it better than before and insert my own ideas and creativity," Collier says. "I started researching every team that came through the St. Louis market that had been successful or that folded. I wanted to know everything, not just about the game of basketball, but the business of sports in general. I felt like I was built for this."
Building her team upon strategic business projections for year one, year three, year five and beyond, Collier and the Surge have surpassed all expectations. She attributes some of her success to being a lifelong competitive chess player, an interest stoked by her father and grandfather.
"I was in chess club growing up, so it's paired with me with being an athlete. I think it molded me — it's really creating as many options for yourself and creating the best avenue that makes sense for you," Collier says. "That's how I've really gone about just life in general. I'm trying to be as strategic as possible."
"When you have a good network, you have resources and you have people who have your best interests at heart, you fall in love with the city," Khalia Collier says.
Thinking about the future for the Surge and the GWBA, Collier can see the payoff from all the strategy and hard work. She also notices other visionaries making their mark in St. Louis and providing opportunities that weren't there before.
"I'm seeing a lot of amazing things, but they're in pockets, and that's what has to change," Collier says. "But now all these different entrepreneurs are coming in, and it becomes more reflective of what the rest of our country looks like, to include more people of color, to include more opportunities for entrepreneurs of all walks of life who want the same opportunity."
"That's where I am incredibly optimistic for St. Louis, what keeps me here and what keeps me doing the work that we do — because I genuinely feel every day like we're changing not only St. Louis, but we're changing the world. We're creating transformative change, and it's reflective of our fan base. We show what community looks like, and that's what I feel, myself."
Buy tickets for the Surge's next game.
See the Surge's championship history.
Watch Khalia Collier's TEDx St. Louis talk.
Tags: basketball business culture lifestyle personal development sports St. Louis Surge Washington University women work
Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future


This slightly sweet, slightly tangy, completely delicious Beer Bread is made with only six ingredients and no fancy tools. Baking doesn't get much simpler than this!
Baking doesn't get much easier than this, folks. Measure, pour, stir and bake. Done. But your reward for such little effort is this amazingly delicious Beer Bread. Yes, that's right; bread made from beer. Who knew?
I'm kinda befuddled as to why I've never made this before. Yes, it's super easy to throw together, but I'm totally hooked on the flavor. It's a slightly sweeter bread that retains a bit of tang from the beer. This bread would be ideal in muffin form as a partner for soups and stews. It's also great toasted as the base of an open face sandwich (egg salad, anyone?) and makes a killer grown-up grilled cheese. Or you can eat it like I did: warm from the oven with a generous slathering of salted Kerrygold butter (my favorite!).
Tip: In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I made this loaf using a classic Irish lager, but flavored beers would be excellent, too. All the more reasons to bake bread!
Preheat oven to 375 °. Lightly grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan.
Mix dry ingredients, 2 tablespoons melted butter and beer until just combined. (Lumps are OK.) Pour into pan and drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of bread comes out clean.
Let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Turn out onto cooling rack. Cool completely.
It's funny how simple beer bread is. You think there should be more to it, right?!
Mmmm, I bet it smells gooood at your house right about now. Thanks for the Stumble!
I've tried it with wine before but not with beer yet. Your bread looks so fluffy and yummy.
Give it a go, Tiffany, and let me know what you think!
I love the recipe and usually add 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives.


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require multiple terrorists working together.
an EMT is exposed to a victim who has not yet been decontaminated.
Pulmonary anthrax is the most deadly form.
Which of the following statements regarding anthrax is correct?
antidotes, antibiotics, and vaccines are distributed.
patient's distance from the epicenter of the explosion.
pulmonary edema and circulatory failure.
know the current threat level issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
seep out of the blood vessels and tissues.
Which of the following chemicals is a nerve agent?
salivation, pinpoint pupils, and diarrhea.
Pulmonary hemorrhage and inner ear damage are examples of __________ blast injuries.
Solid organs are relatively protected from shock wave injury but may be injured during the secondary or tertiary blast phase.
Which of the following statements regarding blast injuries is correct?
any agent that acts as a carrier or transporter.
Exposure to _________ would MOST likely result in immediate respiratory distress.
_________ rays easily penetrate through the human body and require several inches of lead or concrete to prevent penetration.
a secondary explosive device may detonate.
VX, a highly persistent nerve agent, can remain in the environment for weeks to months.
Which of the following statements regarding the persistency and volatility of a chemical agent is correct?
any agent used to bring about mass death, casualties, or massive infrastructural damage.
are identical in their development.
terrorist nations do not have the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon via missile or bomb.
Which of the following statements regarding a "dirty bomb" is correct?


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Barbara Stanwyck, född Ruby Katherine Stevens den 16 juli 1907 i Brooklyn i New York, död 20 januari 1990 i Santa Monica i Los Angeles i Kalifornien, var en amerikansk skådespelare och dansare. Stanwyck medverkade i 85 filmer under 38 år och samarbetade med regissörer som Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang och Frank Capra. Hon blev nominerad till en Oscar för bästa kvinnliga huvudroll fyra gånger - för Stella Dallas (1937), Jag stannar över natten (1941), Kvinna utan samvete (1944) och Ursäkta, fel nummer! (1948). För sitt arbete på tv belönades hon med tre Emmy Awards - för The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1961), The Big Valley (1966) och Törnfåglarna (1983), för vilken hon även mottog en Golden Globe.
Stanwyck rankades år 1999 som nummer 11 på AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars lista över filmstjärnor från Hollywoods klassiska era.

Biografi
Barbara Stanwyck blev tidigt föräldralös och uppfostrades av en äldre syster. Hon hoppade av skolan som 13-åring och arbetade med paketinslagning på ett varuhus under sin utbildningstid till dansös. 15 år gammal började hon sin karriär som balettflicka och uppträdde bland annat med Ziegfeld Follies. Hon arbetade sig upp och fick 1927 en mindre roll i stumfilmen Broadway Nights.

Stanwyck var en av Hollywoods tuffaste skådespelare, disciplinerad och hon arbetade hårt. 1944 var hon USA:s högst avlönade kvinna. Stanwyck gjorde många starka kvinnoporträtt och hon nominerades till en Oscar fyra gånger, men lyckades aldrig vinna. Bland de Oscarsnominerade rollerna bör nämnas rollen som hårt kämpande mor i Stella Dallas 1937, samt som mordisk femme fatale i Kvinna utan samvete 1944. 1982 tilldelades hon en hedersoscar för sin samlade karriär.

Stanwyck gifte sig med Frank Fay den 26 augusti 1928, den 30 december 1935 var deras skilsmässa klar. Hon gifte sig med Robert Taylor den 13 maj 1939, men det slutade i skilsmässa den 21 februari 1951.

Hon har en stjärna för insatser inom film på Hollywood Walk of Fame vid adressen 1751 Vine Street.

Filmografi (i urval)

Referenser

Noter

Externa länkar

Amerikanska skådespelare under 1900-talet
'Amerikanska scenskådespelare
Amerikanska TV-skådespelare
Skådespelare från New York
Personer från Brooklyn
Kvinnor
Födda 1907
Avlidna 1990

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Smyler 11 Feb 2019 16:25 pm said..
Refereeing rugby is a doddle in normal circumstances, but the guys at the telegraph don't seem to be able to grasp it.
The correct answer to the first video is clearly a penalty (to the team playing in red and white hoops) and second is obviously a penalty try (to the team playing in red and white hoops).
Asgard 11 Feb 2019 17:47 pm said..
Fact: A penalty try is to be awarded if an act of foul play stops a player from scoring when there was a probability he would have scored if the foul play hadn't been committed.
Using your argument in a different scenario, a player could argue that he "if" he had tackled the player below neck height it would have been a fair tackle.
Not1eyed 11 Feb 2019 18:15 pm said..
JamesK 11 Feb 2019 18:31 pm said..
I'd admit the attacking player's acting doesn't really reflect the competitiveness you'd expect in that situation but I'm confident that if the defender hadn't of slapped the ball out the attacker would have scored.
King Prawn Bhuna 11 Feb 2019 21:55 pm said..
FFS they are acting, creating valid scenarios... Only shedweb can turn a bit of fun into a drama.... You'd think it was a cup final with Gloucester in the last minute the way some respondents are going on.
plod 12 Feb 2019 08:08 am said..
(Not from the videos) Player from Team A knocks on, player from Team B commits penalisable offence in trying to take advantage? Scrum to Team B or penalty to Team A?
Happened twice, I think, in the England France women's game. Decision was penalty to Team A.
Team A knock on, can Team B simply say to the ref: "We'll have the scrum".
Castle Grim Reaper 12 Feb 2019 08:48 am said..
plod wrote: Team A knock on, can Team B simply say to the ref: "We'll have the scrum".
They always used to just knock it on quickly to force the referee to give the original one, it was more noticeable with penalty advantages. Personally I always thought that doing this was a deliberate knock-on so the penalty should go the other way.
Sue D'Nimes 12 Feb 2019 08:59 am said..
France did it at the weekend, they had the advantage and were recycling the ball and the scrum half asked the ref for the scrum.
JamesK 12 Feb 2019 09:20 am said..
King Prawn Bhuna wrote: FFS they are acting, creating valid scenarios... Only shedweb can turn a bit of fun into a drama.... You'd think it was a cup final with Gloucester in the last minute the way some respondents are going on.
I'm sure nobody is making a drama out of this thread. People are just discussing the finer details of an interesting and informative quiz.
JamesK 12 Feb 2019 09:26 am said..
plod wrote: (Not from the videos) Player from Team A knocks on, player from Team B commits penalisable offence in trying to take advantage? Scrum to Team B or penalty to Team A?
I didn't see the women's game but I'm surprised by that decision. Normally refs allow a fairly long amount of advantage for a knock on. I often feel that it's too long.


text:
Getting the casino on your computer
MGM Grand Casino Attracting Major Attention For Motown
Meadows Casino Follows Trend of High Roller Slot Machine Rooms
Massachusetts Ant-Online Gambling Law Will Create Casino Monopoly
Maryland Casino Operators Could Pay 70 Percent in Taxes
Slot Machine Rooms
Casino Operators
Macau To Crack Down On Illegal Workers In Gambling Industry
April 7, 2017 July 28, 2018 Jacob Sommers
The Macau gambling industry has risen to epic proportions over the last few years, but it has not been free of controversy, and now the leaders of Macau have vowed to crack down on illegal workers in the industry.
Local residents have complained that many of the high priced casino resorts that are going up in Macau are doing so with illegal workers, who companies can pay less than minimum wage to, but the leaders are now claiming they will try to eliminate this illegal practice.
The statement came from Chief Executive Edmund Ho, who said that in addition to the crack down on illegal workers, they will also try and bridge the gap in the wealth disparity that exists in Macau.
He proposed tax relief of $137.2 million, and that is to include waiving all business and income taxes. He also plans to help out with the public housing situation by building 19,000 apartments by 2012.
Macau is in the middle of its biggest corruption trial ever as former transportation and public works minister Ao Man-long is standing trial for charges that claim he took tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks from casino developers.
Seminoles Sign Gambling Deal With Florida for Blackjack, Slots
Seminoles Get High Limit Blackjack Tables in Florida The day that many Floridians have waited years for finally came on Wednesday, as Governor Charlie Crist announced a 25 year compact with the Seminole Indians to make Blackjack and Baccarat legal in their seven casinos.
The compact comes on the eve of a federal deadline to get the issue resolved, and it assures the Seminoles of the right to allow blackjack, baccarat, and Vegas style slot machines in their seven casinos around the state.
The compact also gives a bit of exclusivity to the Seminoles as they were promised that the state will bar casinos from competing with the Seminoles in all counties other than Broward and Miami-Dade.
The details of the compact are as follows, the tribe must give the state an immediate payment of $50 million, and also give the state up to 25 percent of annual gaming revenue from card games and slot machines.
At least $100 million is guaranteed to the state for the first three years of the deal, and the state would also receive at least 10 percent of revenue based on a graduating scale. The state would receive 25 percent when the revenue reached $4.5 billion.
If gambling is approved from lawmakers anywhere outside of Broward and Miami-Dade, the tribe would be allowed out of the compact and would no longer have to give the state any revenue money.
While the agreement has been made, legislators believe they must sign off on the deal for it to be binding. House speaker Marco Rubio had this to say, "Any gambling compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe is invalid without legislative ramification. We have asked our attorney to review the details of the compact to examine the legislature's legal options."
Macau Soars To Greater Heights With Third Quarter Gambling Revenues
Manchester Wins Casino Location And Gains Legal Battle
April 16, 2018 Jacob Sommers 0
The MGM Grand in Detroit has raised eyebrows across the country by opening its doors for...
March 10, 2018 Jacob Sommers 0
High limit slot machines are becoming more and more popular. Not only are these machines reserved...
February 2, 2018 Jacob Sommers 0
Gamblers in Massachusetts could find themselves in jail if they decide to do their gambling online...
The MGM Grand in Detroit has raised eyebrows across the country by opening its doors for the first time, and when people walked into the casino-hotel, they could barely believe their eyes. Inside the casino, which is the first Vegas style resort that has been built in a...
January 25, 2018 Jacob Sommers 0
The price of running a casino with slot machines in Maryland could become very pricey, as...
Manukau City Raises The Debate Over Casino Location in Poor Areas
Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi Opens Early
Gulf Coast Casinos See a Rise in July Numbers
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Fall– undoubtedly my favorite time of year– favorite as far as weather, favorite as far as food, and of course, favorite as far as fashion is concerned. One of my friends said it best when she wished for fall to span six months a year, and the other three seasons could fight over the other half!
I've put together two outfits, nearly identical in look, but one that is full of closet splurges and one that is easy on the wallet. I don't actually own any of the items on the splurge list. I'm a first believer that as far as fashion is concerned, you don't need to break the bank. I've put together another set of this same look to save you some dough.
The other thing you don't have to sacrifice when you walk on the cozy side is style. In love with that slouchy sweatshirt you've had since college? Great! Add a pair of bold, gold, geometric earrings to spice it up. Still holding on to that perfect pair of distressed Levi's you picked up at the thrift store three years ago? Awesome! Simply invest in a pair of killer booties– extra credit if you find some with rivets or embellishment.
Below is the same look as above but for less! What are some of your favorite fall fashion finds? I'd love to know what you think, and as always, I'm wishing you a wonderful day!


"Take pride in your work. You are all part of something big and exciting. The potential I see will change histories all over the world," said Bizceed Co. Ltd. CEO Kosei Okubo in his inspiring letter to his staff in Bizceed's global headquarters in the Philippines.
Hoping to share this very same inspiration to budding entrepreneurs, Bizceed once again imparts practical knowledge with the release of its 1st English version of its entrepreneurial magazine Founder's Guide.
A global counterpart of the Japanese business magazine Sogyotecho, Founder's Guide is all about entrepreneurship as a successful means for innovation to help shape the society. The maiden issue features articles in the field of finance, accounting, management, public relations, marketing, sales, IT applications and iconic businessmen all in pursuit to disseminate practical tips for the entrepreneurs among us. The selected content is meant to lead would-be entrepreneurs to a better understanding of the factors required to set up and sustain a business.
This magazine tackles how entrepreneurs can prep before launching their businesses, including basic knowledge on finance and accounting, and practical tips on PR and sales. It also offers advice on online promotion as well as guidance on copyright and trademark. A bonus for readers includes special interviews with startup founders and how they succeeded on their entrepreneurial journey. Entrepreneurship is not just a profession but rather a way of living to adhere should people aspire to be an emblem of success.
Founder's Guide Magazine promotes camaraderie by providing useful information and creating a global platform to encourage opportunities. It aims to touchbase with entrepreneurs (both aspiring and starting), small-business owners and startup founders in the US and in other rising startup venues all around the globe. CEO Kosei Okubo hopes to bridge business cultures and pursue global partnerships through the completion of this project.
Founders' Guide is a business media platform for entrepreneurs and startups. It was birthed with the mission to create an entrepreneurial community without borders. It aims to be a business hub where everyone can collaborate and exchange useful information and practical business insights with the goal of business partnership and camaraderie. Its vision is to become a portal filled with incredible ideas as well as reliable and efficient tips. Its mission is to encourage and motivate individuals to become the best that they can be and pursue a life-changing plan committed to making society better than it was before.


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Showing posts with label Rising Stars in Concert. Show all posts
Review of Lyric Opera Concert: "Rising Stars in Concert"
Photo: Todd Rosenberg
By Catherine Hellmann
The weather outside was frightful (about 5 degrees, ok, so it is finally winter in January in Chicago), but the atmosphere at the Lyric Opera on Sunday afternoon was delightful. The "Rising Stars in Concert" concert is an impressive "Thank you!" to the donors of the Lyric.
The 2019-20 Ensemble of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is a very talented group of performers. Selected from over 400 auditions, the elite group consists of 11 singers and one pianist. According to their website, the program "prepares emerging singers and apprentice coaches for careers in opera by providing unique, comprehensive training." Since 1974, the Ryan Opera Center has been recognized as one of the premier training grounds in the world for emerging talent. Young singers are able to study with powerhouse talents, like Renee Fleming, and perform supporting roles at the Lyric in actual, full-scale productions. What a gift for an aspiring star!
The singers study foreign languages in their apprenticeship so they are able to sing in French, German, and Italian as well as English. The program on Sunday included arias by Berlioz, Gounod, Richard Strauss, Rossini, Donizetti, as well as Victor Herbert and Ralph Vaughan Williams. So, check all four boxes on languages!
There were dramatic pieces, like Lauren Decker (in her awesome red shoes!) singing Verdi in her rich contralto. She gave me goosebumps when she sang the words "Be silent," in her very low, deep voice. Mario Rojas sang a lovely romantic piece from Gounod's Romeo et Juliette in his gorgeous tenor voice. I would have climbed down from my balcony to join him!
Emily Pogorelc was a standout in her princess white gown singing Bellini's aria from Act Two of La sonnambula. Her voice with its stunning trills and arpeggios was the cream in my coffee (which sounds like Cole Porter, but it's Ruth Etting, because I looked it up...thanks, Google!)
There were comical pieces as well. My favorite was a duet by Bass Anthony Reed and Bass-Baitone David Wiegel by Rossini from Il turco in Italia where two men talk about selling a wife. The one gent determines if he can't buy the other guy's wife, he will abduct her! My favorite line was: "When marriage isn't working, the husband becomes a salesman." The men intend to duke it out, so they stretch and prepare physically with one of them falling comically as he attempts the splits. The other hurts his back while warming up, so both end up lame at the conclusion.
After intermission, there was a piano quartet playing Gabriel Faure's Piano Quartet No. 1, Op. 15, Fourth Movement with pianist Madeline Slettedahl. She says in the program: "It's been a privilege to perform frequently with my talented singing colleagues both here in Chicago and abroad, developing both musically and interpersonally in a field that has so much to say about the human experience."
A video played with departing singers being interviewed about their experiences with the Ryan Opera Center. One singer stated that these four years immersed her in everything and allowed her to "be prepared for anything" while growing as an artist and as a person.
Another singer grew up attending the Lyric Opera since high school, so being in the program was like "coming home."
The show ended with Victor Herbert's finale from Naughty Marietta. When the singers burst into: "Ah! Sweet mystery of life, at last I found you!" there were chuckles in the audience, probably recalling Mel Brooks' amusing take on this song in Young Frankenstein. "'For 'tis love, and love alone, the world is seeking!"
The world also needs more glorious music, and the Lyric Opera provided us with this balm on a dreary, frosty day.
Catherine Hellmann has great stories from a year doing singing telegrams, which was not as artistic as the Lyric, but pretty darn enteratining.
Lyric Opera's "Rising Stars in Concert" is a showcase performance starring Ensemble members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center with members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra conducted by Ari Pelto Sunday, January 19, 2020.
20 N. Wacker Drive
Lead Sponsor: Donna Van Eekeren Foundation
Sponsors: Ann M. Drake, Sue and Melvin Gray, Patricia A. Kenney and Gregory J. O'Leary, Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation, Lauter McDougal Charitable Fund, Frank B. Modruson and Lynne C. Shigley, and Dr. Scholl Foundation, with additional support from Dentons LLP and Allan Drebin
Rising Stars in Concert was also broadcast on 98.7WFMT and wfmt.com on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
The radio broadcast of Rising Stars in Concert is generously sponsored by the Donna Van Eekeren Foundation.
Labels: Catherine Hellmann, Chicago, Lyric Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, opera, review, Rising Stars in Concert


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The Black Checked Baby wholesale flannel shirt sports a super cute look that is sure to make your baby look well-groomed in all seasons. The long and detailed sleeves, button down front and two pleated pockets offers a no nonsense look to this piece. The quality of flannel used in this shirt is super soft and extremely efficient in keeping your baby cool and comfortable.


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December 2, 2016 to March 3, 2017
Contest Partner: The Peter and Patricia Gruber Fund.
Trick or Truth: The Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics
Contest Partners: Nanotronics Imaging, The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation, and The John Templeton Foundation
Media Partner: Scientific American
How Should Humanity Steer the Future?
January 9, 2014 - August 31, 2014
Contest Partners: Jaan Tallinn, The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation, The John Templeton Foundation, and Scientific American
It From Bit or Bit From It
March 25 - June 28, 2013
Contest Partners: The Gruber Foundation, J. Templeton Foundation, and Scientific American
Questioning the Foundations
Which of Our Basic Physical Assumptions Are Wrong?
May 24 - August 31, 2012
Contest Partners: The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation, SubMeta, and Scientific American
Is Reality Digital or Analog?
November 2010 - February 2011
Contest Partners: The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation and Scientific American
What's Ultimately Possible in Physics?
May - October 2009
Contest Partners: Astrid and Bruce McWilliams
The Nature of Time
August - December 2008
FQXi ESSAY CONTEST
2015 Trick or Truth: The Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics Winning Essays
Jump to:Sylvia Wenmackers • Matthew Leifer • Marc Séguin • Tommaso Bolognesi • Kevin Knuth • Tim Maudlin • Lee Smolin • Cristinel Stoica • Ken Wharton • Derek Wise • Alexey Burov, Lev Burov • Sophia Magnusdottir • Noson Yanofsky • Nicolas Fillion • David Garfinkle • Christine Dantas • Philip Gibbs • Ian Durham • Anshu Mujumdar, Tejinder Singh • Sara Walker
Children of the Cosmos
Sylvia Wenmackers
Essay Abstract
Our mathematical models may appear unreasonably effective to us, but only if we forget to take into account who we are: we are the children of this Cosmos. We were born here and we know our way around the block, even if we do not always appreciate just how wonderful an achievement that is.
Sylvia Wenmackers is a professor in the philosophy of science at KU Leuven (Belgium). She studied theoretical physics and obtained a Ph.D. in Physics (2008) as well as in Philosophy (2011). In her current project, she explores the foundations of physics, with a special interest in infinitesimals and probabilities.
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Second Prizes
Mathematics is Physics
Matthew Leifer
In this essay, I argue that mathematics is a natural science---just like physics, chemistry, or biology---and that this can explain the alleged "unreasonable" effectiveness of mathematics in the physical sciences. The main challenge for this view is to explain how mathematical theories can become increasingly abstract and develop their own internal structure, whilst still maintaining an appropriate empirical tether that can explain their later use in physics. In order to address this, I offer a theory of mathematical theory-building based on the idea that human knowledge has the structure of a scale-free network and that abstract mathematical theories arise from a repeated process of replacing strong analogies with new hubs in this network. This allows mathematics to be seen as the study of regularities, within regularities, within ..., within regularities of the natural world. Since mathematical theories are derived from the natural world, albeit at a much higher level of abstraction than most other scientific theories, it should come as no surprise that they so often show up in physics.
Matt Leifer is a visiting researcher at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. His research interests include quantum foundations, quantum information, and particularly the intersection of the two. He is hoping to break the world record for the number of FQXi essay contests won by a single individual.
My God, It's Full of Clones: Living in a Mathematical Universe
Marc Séguin
Imagine there's only math: physics is nothing more than mathematics, we are self-aware mathematical substructures, and our physical universe is nothing more than a mathematical structure "seen from the inside". If that's the case, I will argue that it implies the existence of the Maxiverse, the largest imaginable multiverse, where every possible conscious observation is guaranteed to happen. I will attempt to explain why, of all the worlds in the infinite Maxiverse, we happen to live in one that can be understood by physical laws simple enough to be discovered (or, at least, approximated well enough for predictive and technological purposes). I will consider the question of personal identity in the context of a Maxiverse that contains an infinite number of exact clones of myself, and whether I should expect my future subjective experience to be unbounded. I will also consider the question of whether the Maxiverse hypothesis makes predictions that can be put to the test.
Marc Séguin holds two master's degrees from Harvard University: one in Astronomy (under the supervision of David Layzer) and another in History of Science (under the supervision of Gerald Holton). He teaches physics and astrophysics at Collège de Maisonneuve, in Montréal, and is the author of several college-level textbooks in physics and astrophysics.
Third Prizes
Most Creative Presentation
Let's consider two spherical chickens
Tommaso Bolognesi
Confronted with a pythagorean jingle derived from simple ratios, a sequence of 23 moves from knot theory, and the interaction between a billiard-ball and a zero-gravity field, a young detective soon realizes that three crimes could have been avoided if math were not so unreasonably effective in describing our physical world. Why is this so? Asimov's fictional character Prof. Priss confirms to the detective that there is some truth in Tegmark's Mathematical Universe Hypothesis, and reveals him that all mathematical structures entailing self-aware substructures (SAS) are computable and isomorphic. The boss at the investigation agency is not convinced and proposes his own views on the question.
Tommaso Bolognesi (Laurea in Physics, Univ. of Pavia, 1976; M.Sc. in CS, Univ. of Illinois at U-C, 1982), is senior researcher at ISTI, CNR, Pisa. His research areas have included stochastic processes in computer music composition, models of concurrency, process algebra and formal methods for software development, discrete and algorithmic models of spacetime. He has published on various international scientific journals several papers in all three areas. He obtained two 4th prizes at the FQXi Essay Contests of 2011 and 2014.
The Deeper Roles of Mathematics in Physical Laws
Kevin Knuth
Many have wondered how mathematics, which appears to be the result of both human creativity and human discovery, can possibly exhibit the degree of success and seemingly-universal applicability to quantifying the physical world as exemplified by the laws of physics. In this essay, I claim that much of the utility of mathematics arises from our choice of description of the physical world coupled with our desire to quantify it. This will be demonstrated in a practical sense by considering one of the most fundamental concepts of mathematics: additivity. This example will be used to show how many physical laws can be derived as constraint equations enforcing relevant symmetries in a sense that is far more fundamental than commonly appreciated.
Kevin Knuth is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Physics and Informatics at the University at Albany. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal Entropy, and is the co-founder and President of the robotics company Autonomous Exploration Inc. He has 20 years of experience in applying Bayesian and maximum entropy methods to the design of machine learning algorithms for data analysis applied to the physical sciences. His current research interests include the foundations of physics, autonomous robotics, and the search for and characterization of extrasolar planets.
How Mathematics Meets the World
The most obvious explanation for the power of mathematics as the language of physics is that the physical world has the right sort of structure to be represented mathematically. But what this in turn means depends on the mathematical language being used. I first briefly review some of the physical characteristics required in order to unambiguously describe a physical situation using integers, and then take up the much more difficult question of what characteristics are required to describe a situation using geometrical concepts. In the case of geometry, and particularly for the most basic form of geometry— topology—this is not clear. I discuss a new mathematical language for describing geometrical structure called the Theory of Linear Structures. This mathematical language is founded on a different primitive concept than standard topology, on the line rather than the open set. I explain how some other geometrical concepts can be defined in terms of lines, and how in a Relativistic setting time can be understood as the feature of physical reality that generates all geometrical facts. Whereas it is often said that Relativity spatializes time, from the perspective of the Theory of Linear Structures we can see instead that Relativity temporalizes space: all of the geometry flows from temporal structure. The Theory of Linear Structures also provides a mathematical language in which the fact that time is a fundamentally directed structure can be easily represented.
Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU. He received his B.A. in physics and philosophy from Yale and his Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh. His books include Quantum Non-Localtiy and Relativity (Blackwell), The Metaphysics Within Physics (Oxford), Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time (Princeton), and New Foundations for Physical Geometry: The Theory of Linear Structures (Oxford). He has been a Guggenheim Fellow.
A naturalist account of the limited, and hence reasonable, effectiveness of mathematics in physics
My aim in this essay is to propose a conception of mathematics that is fully consonant with naturalism. By that I mean the hypothesis that everything that exists is part of the natural world, which makes up a unitary whole.
Lee Smolin is founding and senior faculty member at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He has contributed to quantum gravity, cosmology, quantum foundations through more than 180 research papers. He is the author of five semi-popular books on philosophical issues which illuminate the current crisis in physics and cosmology: Life of the Cosmos, Three Roads to Quantum Gravity, The Trouble with Physics, Time Reborn and, most recently The Singular Universe and the Reality of Time, written with Roberto Mangabeira Unger, from which this essay has been abstracted.
And the math will set you free
Cristinel Stoica
Can mathematics help us find our way through all the wonders and mysteries of the universe? When physicists describe the laws governing the physical world, mathematics is always involved. Is this due to the fact that the universe is, at least in part, mathematical? Or rather mathematics is merely a tool used by physicists to model phenomena? Is mathematics just a language to tell the story of our universe, a story which could be told with the same or even more effectiveness using another language? Or quite the opposite, the universe is just a mathematical structure?
Theoretical physicist. Research interests: foundations of physics, gauge theory, foundations of quantum mechanics, singularities in general relativity. Interested especially in the geometric aspects of the physical laws. ArXiv: http://arxiv.org/a/stoica_o_1 Blog: http://www.unitaryflow.com/ Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aleEOtsAAAAJ
Mathematics: Intuition's Consistency Check
There is a well-noted overlap between mathematics and physics, and in many cases the relevant mathematics was developed without any thought of the eventual physical application. This essay argues that this is not a coincidental mystery, but naturally follows from 1) a self-consistency requirement for physical models, and 2) physical intuitions that guide us in the wrong directions, slowing the development of physical models more so than the related mathematics. A detailed example (concerning the flow of time in physical theories) demonstrates key parts of this argument.
Ken Wharton is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at San Jose State University. His research is in Quantum Foundations.
How not to factor a miracle.
Derek Wise
Wigner's famous and influential claim that mathematics is "unreasonably effective" in physics is founded on unreasonable assumptions about the nature of mathematics and its independence of physics. Here I argue that what is surprising is not the effectiveness of mathematics but the amenability of physics reductionist strategies. I also argue that while our luck may run out on the effectiveness of reduction, mathematics is still our best hope for surpassing this obstacle. While I agree that human understanding of the natural world in mathematical terms evinces a miracle, I see no way to factor out the human dimension of this miracle.
Derek Wise is a mathematical physicist at the University of Erlangen, and has been working at the interface of mathematics and physics since undergraduate studies. He was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics at UC Davis under the NSF VIGRE program until 2010, and has since been a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Erlangen, where he has held positions both in the Institute for Quantum Gravity and in the Department of Mathematics. He is dedicated to getting mathematicians and physicists to work together, and promoting mutual understanding.
Fourth Prizes
GENESIS OF A PYTHAGOREAN UNIVERSE
Alexey Burov, Lev Burov
Wide range, high precision and simplicity of the fundamental laws of nature rule out the possibility for them to be randomly generated or selected. Therefore purpose is present in their selecton.
Alexey Burov, PhD, is a physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (USA). He has numerous publications in professional journals, and he also is an organizer of Fermi Society of Philosophy and the Russian Chicago Philosophy Forum. Lev Burov is an amateur philosopher and a software developer, focusing on work with start-up firms, currently, Scientific Humanities of San Fransisco, CA.
Beyond Math
Sophia Magnusdottir
In this essay I reflect on the use and usefulness of mathematics from the perspective of a pragmatic physicist. I first classify the different ways we presently think of the relation between our observations and mathematics. Then I explain how we can do physics without using math -- that we are in fact already doing it. In the end the pragmatic reader will know why math is reasonably effective, why we are all models, and how to go beyond math.
Sophia made a bachelors degree in mathematics before losing her way and ending up at the department of philosophy. She lives in Gothenburg with her partner, two sons, and three bunnies, and wishes she had studied physics.
Why Mathematics Works So Well
Noson Yanofsky
A major question in philosophy of science involves the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in physics. Why should mathematics, created or discovered, with nothing empirical in mind be so perfectly suited to describe the laws of the physical universe? We review the well-known fact that the symmetries of the laws of physics are their defining properties. We show that there are similar symmetries of mathematical facts and that these symmetries are the defining properties of mathematics. By examining the symmetries of physics and mathematics, we show that the effectiveness is actually quite reasonable. In essence, we show that the regularities of physics are a subset of the regularities of mathematics.
Noson S. Yanofsky has a PhD in mathematics (category theory). He is a professor of computer science in Brooklyn College. In addition to writing research papers he also co-authored "Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists"(Cambridge University Press, 2008) and "The Outer Limits of Reason: What Science, Mathematics, and Logic Cannot Tell Us" (MIT Press 2013). The second book is a popular science book that has been received very well both critically and popularly. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three children.
Demystifying the Applicability of Mathematics
Nicolas Fillion
Essential tensions remain in our understanding of the reasons underlying the striking success achieved in science by applying mathematics. Wigner and many likeminded scientists and philosophers conclude that this success is a miracle, a ``wonderful gift which we neither deserve nor understand.'' This essay seeks to dissipate that aura of mystery and bring the factors underlying the success of applied mathematics into the fold of scientific rationality.
Nic is an assistant professor of philosophy and member of the center for scientific computing at Simon Fraser University, Canada. His work focuses on philosophy of science, philosophy of mathematics, logic, and numerical analysis.
The Language of Nature
David Garfinkle
Galileo considered mathematics the language of nature. However, Wigner thought the effectiveness of mathematics in physics "miraculous" and noted that much of the mathematics needed for quantum mechanics had been previously developed by mathematicians for purposes having nothing to do with physics. I argue that Galileo's view is correct; but that the examples cited by Wigner in support of his view can be explained using two deep truths, one about mathematics and the other about physics. These truths are: (1) Since the advent of non-Euclidean geometry, new mathematics has been developed by abstracting and generalizing old mathematics. (2) New physical theories have old physical theories as limiting cases.
David Garfinkle is a Professor of Physics at Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan. He has a BA in physics (Summa cum laude) from Princeton University and a PhD in physics from The University of Chicago. His field of research is Einstein's general theory of relativity, especially the study of spacetime singularities. He is the author (along with his brother Richard Garfinkle) of "Three Steps to the Universe" a book for general readers on black holes and dark matter.
The ultimate tactics of self-referential systems
Christine Dantas
Mathematics is usually regarded as a kind of language. The essential behavior of physical phenomena can be expressed by mathematical laws, providing descriptions and predictions. In the present essay I argue that, although mathematics can be seen, in a first approach, as a language, it goes beyond this concept. I conjecture that mathematics presents two extreme features, denoted here by irreducibility and insaturation, representing delimiters for self-referentiality. These features are then related to physical laws by realizing that nature is a self-referential system obeying bounds similar to those respected by mathematics. Self-referential systems can only be autonomous entities by a kind of metabolism that provides and sustains such an autonomy. A rational mind, able of consciousness, is a manifestation of the self-referentiality of the Universe. Hence mathematics is here proposed to go beyond language by actually representing the most fundamental existence condition for self-referentiality. This idea is synthesized in the form of a principle, namely, that mathematics is the ultimate tactics of self-referential systems to mimic themselves. That is, well beyond an effective language to express the physical world, mathematics uncovers a deep manifestation of the autonomous nature of the Universe, wherein the human brain is but an instance.
Christine C. Dantas has an undergraduate degree in Data Processing Technology (PUC-RJ/Brazil, 1991), BS in Astronomy (UFRJ/Brazil, 1993), MSc in Astrophysics (INPE/Brazil, 1996) and PhD in Astrophysics (INPE/Brazil, 2001). She is interested in all areas of science and philosophy. Scientific papers can be downloaded at http://arxiv.org/a/dantas_c_1 .
Special Prizes
Non-academic Prize
A Metaphorical Chart of Our Mathematical Ontology
This is my vision of the relationship between mathematics and physics based on my observations on the nature of physical laws and mathematical structures. I use mainstream ideas from quantum gravity such as string theory, holography, the landscape and loop quantum gravity as a base for my reasoning. In addition I bring together more speculative ideas such as the Mathematical Universe Hypothesis, multiple quantisation, universality, iterated integration maps and complete symmetry. In my view these clues come together into a consistent whole where a structure from higher category theory is the central piece from which all else stems. The future of fundamental physics is going to be much more challenging than the past on both the experimental and theoretical sides and these meta-physical structures need to be understood to guide us towards the more specific physical laws which rule our universe. On a more philosophical level they can provide an explanation for why we exist and why the laws of physics are so steeped in mathematical abstraction.
I hold a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Glasgow. I have also published a number of papers on fundamental physics as an independent researcher. In addition I love problem solving in mathematics and have made modest contributions including progress on a problem in number theory proposed by Diophantus himself and recently a new improved solution to Lebesgue's universal covering problem. The philosophical links between physics and mathematics are something that I have given much thought to over many years.
Entertainment Prize
The Raven and the Writing Desk
Ian Durham
In this essay, I use a dialogue between characters from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to discuss the relationship of mathematics to physical reality. In it, I propose that there are two realities: representational and tangible. Mathematics belongs to the former. We can reconcile the two by taking Eddington's stance that the universe is nothing more than our description of it.
Ian Durham is Professor of Physics at Saint Anselm College where he sometimes ventures — unharmed! — into the Mathematics Department. They even let him serve as Acting Chair of Mathematics once. He holds a PhD in mathematical physics from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland) where he and his wife once danced with Will & Kate. His alter ego, Cyrus Bohm, helped promote FQXi's recent video contest.
Creative Thinking Prize
Cognitive Science and the Connection between Physics and Mathematics
Anshu Mujumdar, Tejinder Singh
The human mind is endowed with innate primordial perceptions such as space, distance, motion, change, flow of time, matter. The field of cognitive science argues that the abstract concepts of mathematics are not Platonic, but are built in the brain from these primordial perceptions, using what are known as conceptual metaphors. Known cognitive mechanisms give rise to the extremely precise and logical language of mathematics. Thus all of the vastness of mathematics, with its beautiful theorems, is human mathematics. It resides in the mind, and is not `out there'. Physics is an experimental science in which results of experiments are described in terms of concrete concepts – these concepts are also built from our primordial perceptions. The goal of theoretical physics is to describe the experimentally observed regularity of the physical world in an unambiguous, precise and logical manner. To do so, the brain resorts to the well-defined abstract concepts which the mind has metaphored from our primordial perceptions. Since both the concrete and the abstract are derived from the primordial, the connection between physics and mathematics is not mysterious, but natural. This connection is established in the human brain, where a small subset of the vast human mathematics is cognitively fitted to describe the regularity of the universe. Theoretical physics should be thought of as a branch of mathematics, whose axioms are motivated by observations of the physical world. We use the example of quantum theory to demonstrate the all too human nature of the physics-mathematics connection: it is at times frail, and imperfect. Our resistance to take this imperfection sufficiently seriously [since no known experiment violates quantum theory] shows the fundamental importance of experiments in physics. This is unlike in mathematics, the goal there being to search for logical and elegant relations amongst abstract concepts which the mind creates.
Anshu Gupta Mujumdar is a freelance researcher and visiting faculty in Mathematics/Physics for IB diploma program at the Fazlani L'Academie Globale, Mumbai. She holds a doctorate from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad (1997) in the field of general relativity. She has held several postdoctoral positions and was a recipient of a post-doctoral fellowship award in Mathematical Physics (in memory of S. Chandrasekhar, 1998) and Peter Gruber post-doctoral fellowship in 2001. Her research interests are in inflationary cosmology, quantum effects in biological systems, and history of Mathematics. Tejinder Singh is Professor of Physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.
Out-of-the-Box Thinking Prize
The Descent of Math
Sara Walker
A perplexing problem in understanding physical reality is why the universe seems comprehensible and correspondingly why there should exist physical systems capable of comprehending it. In this essay I explore the possibility that rather than being an odd coincidence arising due to our strange position as passive (and even more strangely, conscious) observers in the cosmos, these two problems might be intimately related and potentially explainable in terms of fundamental physics – that is, if we are willing to make the concession that information can physically influence the world. My premise begins by distinguishing physically possible states of the world, defined as everything permissible by the laws of physics, from physically accessible states of the world, defined as those that are achievable from a given initial state. For universes where the laws of physics are such that the number of accessible states is less than all that is possible, I argue that the most probable states among all possible states are those that include physical systems which contain information encodings – such as mathematics, language and art – because these are the most highly connected states in the state space of everything that is possible. Such physical systems include life and - of particular interest for the discussion of the place of math in physical reality - humans. Within this framework, the descent of math is a natural outcome of the evolution of the universe, which will tend toward states that are increasingly connected to other possible states of the universe, a process greatly facilitated if some physical systems know the rules of the game. I therefore conclude that our ability to use mathematics to describe, and more importantly manipulate, the natural world may not be an anomaly or trick, but instead a natural part of the structure of reality.
Sara Imari Walker is a theoretical physicist and astrobiologist and Assistant Professor in the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science and the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. She received her PhD in Physics from Dartmouth College and has held postdoctoral appointments in the Center for Chemical Evolution at the Georgia Institute of Technology and as a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow.
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I need you to develop a Facebook Cover for my personal page and my group page. Kings of Capital is a rapidly growing authority in the investor loans, and will quickly be growing a group that helps real estate professionals get paid off of referring loans. So I need a personal cover page photo that drives to people to join our Facebook Group. We also need a Facebook Group Page Photo that makes people want to join the group.
1. Should be designed in a way that causes curiosity and makes somebody want to click on the picture to Join the Group. So using arrows work. We like Gold/Black, Yellow/Black,. If have a better idea we are open to it.
Facebook Group Cover Photo Requirements.


Top 10 Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Thanksgiving freebie.
It's how I'm gonna get between now and February. I can't wait until March for the WBC!
My sports are on right now. Hockey and basketball. Do you watch the Celtics?
Yes, I love the Celtics! I don't watch as much hockey as I used to though.
YES to disney and music! heck put em together and I'm really thankful. I admit it… I listen to frozen radio. Great post!
Thank you! There's no shame in listening to Disney music, it's some of the best!


For the best Thai food in Paso Robles come to Basil Thai! Our extensive menu features award winning Thai cuisine both familiar and unique.
At Basil Thai you will be treated like an honored guest. Our friendly staff will ensure that your visit to Basil Thai Restaurant will not be forgotten.


text:
Owner of new bookstore in Basalt feels time is right to turn the page
Business | June 25, 2017
The Aspen Times
Catherine Maas pursued her dream of opening a bookstore. 'I think of books as part of a well-rounded life,' she said.
Scott Condon/The Aspen Times |
Dream job — helping select the 5,000 titles carried by the new bookstore.
Books at Bookbinders Basalt have been selected with the local audience in mind —such as this book on classic cycling climbs.
Bookbinders Basalt packed its space with books. If they don't have it for you, they will order it.
In addition to books, the new store at Willits Town Center features gifts, puzzles and educational toys.
Catherine Maas is undaunted by the digital age and the Amazon era.
Maas opened Bookbinders Basalt at Willits Town Center earlier this month after assessing if a bricks-and-mortar bookstore can still make it. After talking to Roaring Fork Valley residents and examining national trends, she determined there is a need for a good old-fashioned, independent bookstore.
On the national front, the Borders chain went out of business in 2011, and Barnes & Noble is tightening the ship to keep afloat. That was coupled with dramatic growth in e-books.
But independent bookstores are proving resilient and, in the right circumstances, new stores are opening as part of a "second wave" after tough times for the industry, Maas said.
Even Amazon is planning brick-and-mortar stores.
"There's a trend," she said. "It's not just me."
Maas sees digital and print coexisting. Just as many people have continued going to movies at theaters despite vast improvements in home entertainment systems, she believes people will continue shopping at bookstores despite digital access and e-readers.
Bookstores provide a place for book lovers to interact, educate themselves on what's available and walk away with a purchase rather than click their computer.
"Really, it's become entertainment," Maas said of the shopping experience.
She looks to Denver for inspiration. "I'm a big fan of Tattered Cover in Denver," she said. Explore Booksellers in Aspen also has secured its future.
Bookbinders Basalt opened at 760 E. Valley Road in the heart of Willits Town Center. The new store is located in the neighborhood of longtime retailers that help drive traffic. Midland Clothing is next door. Bristlecone Mountain Sports and Basalt Bike and Ski are across the street. Whole Foods is the area anchor.
Maas bought a 1,200-square-foot space that hadn't been previously occupied, so she was able to start from scratch on the interior. She worked with Land + Shelter Architecture in Carbondale to create an interior space dominated by reclaimed wood, elegant lighting fixtures and the industrial feel that's so popular. They created a mezzanine where an "art wall" features a special category of books.
The fun part of the start-up was selecting the inventory. They have over 5,000 titles plus magazines, gifts, educational toys and puzzles.
Maas said she was aiming for items that cannot be found elsewhere and are offered at a reasonable price.
A generous amount of space is dedicated to books for children and young adults. There is a reading cabin to draw in young readers with seats nearby for parents. There will be a story time at 11 a.m. each Friday.
There are books by well-known authors such as Clive Cussler and Danielle Steel but also lesser-known writers.
Adventure, mountaineering, outdoors and Western-themed books have a prominent place.
There is a small section of Spanish-language fiction and nonfiction books.
Books by authors appearing at the Aspen Summer Words program have a special display. Maas, the mother of an Aspen High School student, is carrying the books that are required summer reading for the school's experiential education program.
Bookbinders also will beef up its local writers' section with time.
Maas doesn't intend to run a store that relies on customers stumbling across it. Activities are planned to ingrain it with the community. A new book club will meet from 6-7 p.m. July 20. First up on the reading list is "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles. The intent is to meet monthly. The gathering is open to all.
Poetry readings and book signings also are events on the horizon.
The bookstore has a counter in the front window with a handful of stools. Customers are welcome to bring coffee or other drinks from outside businesses and settle in. The store's hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Maas said her longtime friend Lisa Krass moved to the Roaring Fork Valley to help her run the bookstore. Heather Scobell is the buyer and senior staffer. A high school intern also is on staff to provide invaluable input on the tastes of young readers.
Maas said the staff will always welcome input from customers and will order any books they cannot find on the shelves.
"I think of books as part of a well-rounded life," Maas said.
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During this course you will become familiar with the background and procedures used in forensic archaeology. You will learn specific techniques to be used in the search, excavation and recovery of skeletonized human remains and associated evidence. The techniques employed to document the evidence found at the crime scene will be examined in detail.
Exercises involving the search and recovery of surface skeletons will provide you with "hands-on" experience as you employ the excavation techniques taught in class to locate and unearth mock graves.
"This course is very 'hands-on.' I love the physical training it encompasses." - T.N.
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"By far the best class I have taken. Learned a ton and enjoyed the very detailed practical exercise." - C.L.
"Instruction was given at a level that was understandable and easy to follow. The course covered a wide range of situations and provided all the tools necessary to take provided skills into the field." - E.M.
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As we hit the heights of summer, greens and sweet summer berries are at their peak, with a glut of ingredients to choose from when it comes to planning al fresco dinner parties.
Between the bounty of greens, fruits, vegetables, fish and seafood that comes our way in the height of summer, July might just be the most plentiful month of the year. Even better, the gorgeous weather means we can all eat outside in the sunshine, just like our European friends!
Naturally this opens up lots of possibilities, the most exciting of those being the elusive British barbecue. Although barbecue season often trends towards grilled meat, don't forget that you can barbecue in many different ways – whether that's slow-cooking, smoking or roasting food in the embers of your fire. Check out some handy barbecue tips, as well as a whole bunch of recipes to give you some inspiration.
The time has finally arrived to enjoy British-grown strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and more, rather than those flown in from overseas. The difference is immediately noticeable – summer fruits without the air miles are a world away from what we eat during the rest of the year. Try and find time to visit a pick-your-own fruit farm if you can – it's a cheap and fun way to stock up on delicious summer fruits in the sunshine, and you can freeze anything left over.
Favourites like peas, broad beans, lettuce and French beans are joined by yet more summer greens. Courgettes are well into season now and delicious on a barbecue or in a variety of other dishes, from salads to fritters. Samphire starts its short season in July too, so keep an eye out in supermarkets and greengrocers – it'll be gone by next month.
We've pulled together a small collection of our favourite recipes for this month, that keep things light, fresh and summery. Take a look!
Nathan Outlaw is a man known for his exemplary fish and seafood cooking, but as anyone who has read his books or been to any of his restaurants will know, he's an incredibly accomplished dessert chef too. His gooseberry custard tart is a celebration of the humble summer fruit, combining roasted gooseberries, a gooseberry and ginger sorbet and a simple bruléed custard tart for a beautiful end to any meal.
Hake makes a fantastic alternative to cod – it's mild, flaky and less damaging to your bank account. Simon Rogan's picture perfect dish pairs it with another seasonal summer favourite – golden beetroot – which he boils, dices and mixes with a potato salad-esque mayonnaise dressing. The hake goes into a hot pan to crisp up the skin, and then sits on top of the salad with a garnish of fresh watercress.
Adam Byatt has the right idea with his bream recipe – get the barbecue out and get it on the coals. Adam stuffs the belly cavity with lemongrass, fennel and star anise and wraps the fish in banana leaf and tin foil to steam it, but you can just as easily put it straight over the coals for more smoke and char. As a garnish, he blanches some samphire and dresses simply with olive oil and chilli, before serving with a charred slice of lemon.
Lemon sole is prized for its delicate white flesh in the UK, and July is the first month you'll be able to get it in fishmongers, as its breeding season stretches into late June. There are few chefs in the country with the pedigree for fish cookery that Tom Brown has, and fewer still that are as young and talented as the former Nathan Outlaw protege. He grills his lemon sole for two minutes a side, and serves with some very clever accompaniments – a crispy oyster, smoked leeks, tarragon oil and a light oyster mayonnaise.
Shaun Hill keeps things simple with his summery panna cotta, sticking with traditional vanilla to accompany his summer fruit garnish. Shaun boils and infuses his cream and milk before setting his panna cottas, and macerates his berries in Grand Marnier before serving. Remember to pay close attention to the temperature of your cream mixture when adding the gelatine – too hot and it will hamper the gelatine's setting properties. Remember to give your mixture a stir as it cools as well, so the panna cotta sets with all the vanilla seeds through it, stopping them sinking to the bottom.
Pascal Aussignac shows off a deft pastry touch with his stunning strawberry tart, giving the in-season strawberries an almost literal stage to show off their qualities. He starts by making a sweet almond pastry and baking a tart case, before whipping up a crème pâtissière for the base, marinating his strawberries in honey and rosé wine before building his tart. A legitimate summer showstopper to wow your barbecue guests.
Courgettes are available all year round in the UK, but July's locally grown vegetables are courgettes in their true form – firm and full of flavour. Chantelle Nicholson goes all-out to show them off with her dish, not only making delicious courgette and cumin fritters, but also accompanying with a fresh courgette salad. If you don't have blini pans for the fritters, feel free to use metal rings, or just freeform them for something a bit more rustic.


text:
Gintota Fully Under Control: Government Issues Red Notice To Rumour-mongers
The tense situation occurred in Gintota last night has completely been brought under control, with law and order being established in the area, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said.
The Minister, issuing a special statement, extended his gratitude to all parties that acted responsibly to avoid a bloodbath.
The Minister said additional Police battalions, the Police Special Task Force, the Anti-riot Squad and the military were called in last night to bring the situation under control.
"Under the instructions of the President and the Prime Minister, police curfew was imposed on the area until 9 am this morning (18).
I am aware that some political groups are now on a desperate mission to turn this minor brawl into a Sinhala-Muslim clash. I urge the public not to be misled by their false propaganda.
The same elements are now in the process of disseminating false videos and news on social media platform to stir up communal sentiments. I reiterate that stern action will be taken against everyone, irrespective of their positions and political affiliations, attempting to resort to racist propaganda. The same will apply to the rumour-mongers trying to capitalise on this opportunity to achieve petty political gains," the Minister asserted.
PM Ranil Wickremesinghe Expected To Visit Flood-affected Areas
in Top News
Full Speech By President Maithripala Sirisena After Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's Swearing-In
"Don't Allow 'Illegal' Government To Invade Privacy Of Sri Lankan Users;" UNP Writes To Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg


text:
Q: Using ArrayList.size() to create unique Id's An Employee has the attributes name, Id and Password
I have stored a ArrayList of Employees in a Shop class, whenever I create a new Employee I find the size of the list of Employees ArrayList and assign that number as their Id.
It works fine but of course when I start adding or deleting Employees the Employee Id's will start indexing off.
One way I though of fixing this is by sorting the array by Id.
Is their a better way of generating Id based on when they are added to a list?
This is for practice for myself not in anyway for use in the real world
public void addHiredEmployee() {
        Scanner kb = new Scanner(System.in);

        System.out.println("Enter Name: ");
        String nameEmployee = kb.nextLine();

        //Creating the Employee Id
        int employeeID = listEmployee.size();

        System.out.println("Enter password");
        String employeePassword = kb.nextLine();

        Employee employeeHired = new Employee(nameEmployee, employeeID, employeePassword);

        listEmployee.add(employeeHired);

        kb.close();

        listEmployee.toString();
    }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In our previous blog, we have created a testng.xml file with only one test in a suite. But, TestNG allows to define multiple tests in a single suite. This way we can segregate our tests and can create different tests based on our requirement (i.e. smoke tests, sanity tests and integration tests etc…).
Can see the screenshot below for the same.
3.Now will update the testng.xml file with multiple tests in a single suite.
The testng.xml file defines a suite with the name Suite. The suite contains two tests with names FirstTest and SecondTest respectively. These tests are configured to execute separate classes "com.test.testngframework.FirstTest" and "com.test.testngframework.SecondTest".
When the testng.xml file is executed as a suite in TestNG, each class is executed by a separate test section of a suite.
4.Now run the testng.xml file and see the generated output.
This way we can include multiples tests according to our requirement and execute the same. Once the output is generated, we can able to see the results as separate tests to understand and analyse the report.


High quality steel chain + lock for Lambretta V-Special (+ and all classic Lambretta models). This lock has a massive 14mm thick oval U-shaped ring made from tempered steel. This is ideal for all Lambretta models, both V-Specials and classic machines.
Length 110cm. Size of the steel for the chain links 9mm. Anti-drill lock mechanism. Soft, anti-scratch outer cover over the actual chain links.


text:
Q: Garbage Collection in Delphi Does Delphi have Garbage Collection?

A: In the usual sense of garbage collection, where the runtime detects unreferenced objects and destroys them or otherwise reclaims unused resources, no, Delphi does not have garbage collection.
If you use native Win32 Delphi, then the closest you have to garbage collection is the various reference-counted types, including strings, interfaces, variants, and dynamic arrays. Those types will get cleaned up automatically when your program determines that they are no longer being used, but it does that by keeping a reference count as those objects enter and leave the current scope. You also have the concept of ownership, which will destroy owned components when the owner is destroyed.
If you use Delphi for .Net, then you implicitly have the garbage collection of the underlying runtime.

A: Simple answer No.
Delphi is not a complete garbage collection language, user-defined types should be manually allocated and deallocated. It only provide automatic collection, for a few built-in types, such as strings, dynamic arrays and interfaces for ease of use.
But you can use interfaces which uses reference counting for garbage collection for some extent.

A: Yes, it does.
Delphi Win32 does not include a garbage collector out of the box so the other answers to this question are technically correct. However, this doesn't imply that it isn't possible or that one doesn't already exist. Thanks to Delphi's replaceable memory manager Barry Kelly implemented a fully functional wrapper for the Boehm garbage collector back in 2004.
It includes sample code demonstrating its use (basically creating unassigned objects and watching the GC chew them up). There are more advanced GCs than the Boehm GC but this clearly demonstrates its possible and it can be used almost transparently. You just add the gc unit to the beginning of your project's uses clause.
And while I've not heard of any projects attempting it there is nothing preventing someone from wrapping or porting a more advanced gc.

A: Delphi-Prism
has Garbage Collection as it is based on .NET
Standard Delphi ( native Win32 )
Does not have Garbage Collection

A: Delphi Win32/64 does not have a garbage collector.
You can however take advantage of Delphi native references counting mechanism to have instances released automatically by using interfaces.
The differences between a garbage collector and a reference counting mechanism is that you will have to deal with circular references, i.e. if A and B instances reference each other, you need to manually break the cycle for A or B to be released.

A: Yes! Look at this class
unit uGC;

interface

uses
  System.Generics.Collections, Rtti, System.Classes;

type
  TGarbageCollector = class(TComponent)
  public
    const
      DEFAULT_TAG = 'DEFAULT_TAG';
  private
    items: TDictionary<TObject, string>;
  public
    destructor Destroy; override;
    constructor Create(AOwner: TComponent); override;
    function Add<T>(item: T): T; overload;
    function Add<T>(item: T; const tag: string): T; overload;
    procedure Collect(const tag: string);
  end;

var
  GC: TGarbageCollector;

implementation

uses
  System.Types, System.SysUtils;

constructor TGarbageCollector.Create(AOwner: TComponent);
begin
  inherited;
  items := TObjectDictionary<TObject, string>.Create([doOwnsKeys]);
end;

destructor TGarbageCollector.Destroy;
begin
  items.free();
  inherited Destroy;
end;

function TGarbageCollector.Add<T>(item: T): T;
begin
  result := Add(item, DEFAULT_TAG);
end;

function TGarbageCollector.Add<T>(item: T; const tag: string): T;
var
  obj: TObject;
  v: TValue;
begin
  v := TValue.From<T>(item);
  if v.IsObject then
  begin
    items.add(v.AsObject, tag);
    result := item;
  end
  else
    raise Exception.Create('not an Object');
end;

procedure TGarbageCollector.Collect(const tag: string);
var
  key: TObject;
  item: TPair<TObject, string>;
  gcList: TList<TObject>;
begin
  gcList := TList<TObject>.Create();
  try
    for item in items do
    begin
      if (item.Value = tag) then
        gcList.add(item.Key);
    end;

    for key in gcList do
      items.remove(key);
  finally
    gcList.free();
  end;
end;

end.

Create it like this
program GarbageCollector;

uses
  Vcl.Forms,
  uMain in 'uMain.pas' {Main},
  uGC in 'uGC.pas',
  uSomeClass in 'uSomeClass.pas';

{$R *.res}

begin
  Application.Initialize;
  Application.MainFormOnTaskbar := True;
  GC := TGarbageCollector.Create(Application); // <<<
  Application.CreateForm(TMain, Main);
  Application.Run;
end.

Use it like this
  someInstance := GC.Add(TSomeClass.Create(nil), 'TSomeClassTag');
  // do smth with someInstance
  //now destroy
  GC.Collect('TSomeClassTag');
  //
  anotherInstance := GC.Add(TSomeClass.Create(nil), 'TSomeClassTag');
  // do smth with anotherInstance
  // not destroying here - will be destroyed on app destroy...


We're located 3 miles North of Hartford City (about 7 miles East of I69) on County Road 300 North.
When traveling North on State Road 3 out of Hartford City continue for 3 miles, then turn left onto County Road 300 North. Were a half mile on the left.
Copyright © 2019 Stillson Enterprises, Inc.


text:
Our unique Expert Ratings combine scores from 25 of the top UK motoring websites
More Expert Ratings
More new car ratings
The Ford Mustang is a large 2+2 coupé and convertible model that has been famous around the world since the 1960s. The current model is the sixth generation and was launched in the USA in 2014.
The Mustang arrived in the UK in 2015, and the current model is the first model to have been offered from the factory in right-hand drive. After receiving a poor two-star Euro NCAP safety rating, the Mustang was updated in summer 2017 with additional safety kit as standard. It was re-tested and awarded a three-star rating (more information under "safety rating" below).
The Ford Mustang has received a wide range of scores from the UK motoring media, ranging from average to outstanding. It has tended to perform better in enthusiast titles and more poorly in consumer titles. The limited-edition Bullitt model also tends to get the best review scores, while the four-cylinder models tend to be rated lowest.
More Ford news, reviews, features and offers
Body style: 2+2 coupe, convertible
Engines: petrol
Price: From £37,685 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2015
Last updated: Spring 2019
Replacement due: TBA
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media
The Car Expert
Score: 7.2 / 10
"The Mustang remains a car in which the bigger, thirstier V8 is actually the more attractive option, and an affordable way to enjoy such oh-so American eight-cylinder grunt."
Model reviewed: 2.3-litre petrol manual EcoBoost convertible
"The updated Ford Mustang EcoBoost is much improved over its predecessor, primarily because of the new 10-speed auto gearbox and the optional adaptive dampers. It still doesn't get close to delivering the drama or the performance of the V8, but it's closer than it's ever been."
Model reviewed: (range review)
"The Ford Mustang delivers great performance and handling at a decent price."
"Sensibleness be damned. If you think you'd consider a Ford Mustang, it's a car we'd recommend wholeheartedly."
Model reviewed: Bullitt
"The Bullitt has all the usual Ford Mustang star quality and more."
"This particular Mustang cashes in on the now famous Bullitt film – named after the movie's protagonist Lt. Frank Bullitt, played by with Steve McQueen in the lead role."
"There's little argument that the Mustang Bullitt looks the canine's plums – lightly modded visuals, with the security of knowing its factory fresh. It's fun, brash and feels just that bit more special than a regular Mustang in thee process."
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre V8 petrol automatic GT
"Ford's done far more to the Mustang than the styling suggests, but it's still a leftfield choice. The back seats are cramped, the interior plastics are sub-European and the V8's poor 23mpg average is as retro as the styling."
Model reviewed: Coupé range
"The Ford Mustang combines old-fashioned charm with modern performance and is fantastic value."
Model reviewed: Convertible range
"The Ford Mustang Convertible has lots of character, but its handling and interior are weak points."
Carwow
"Few cars are as iconic as the Ford Mustang – its V8 burbling away with the wind in your hair is a real treat. Just don't expect great handling, comfort or rear space."
Model reviewed: Coupe range
"The Ford Mustang is one of the cheapest ways to own a rumbling V8 that's lots of fun. The cheap interior and high running costs are a little less enjoyable, though."
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre V8 petrol manual GT coupé
"Can this car really be that good? The short answer is, too bloody right." (Chris Evans)
"Flawed, fun and fast – Ford Mustang's not a great sports car, but it's a great muscle car."
Honest John
"Whether you opt for the sleek coupe or the soft-top is down to personal preference. We prefer the appearance of the Fastback, but the multi-layer insulated fabric hood of the convertible does a fine job of hiding wind noise."
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre V8 petrol automatic
"After the tyres have spun and the gravel has settled, the Ford Mustang is still true to itself. A stupid great big pony car that moves people to tears and brings them a ridiculous amount of happiness in the way only a car can."
"American take on the four-seat convertible"
"Not exactly a bargain, but plenty of muscle for your money"
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre V8 petrol automatic GT coupé
"Imagine the world ending in a hail of fire and brimstone — the Ford Mustang revving in first gear is the soundtrack. The engine alone justifies the £41,000 price."
Score: 10 / 10
"When you put your foot down, the engine note is a supersize-burger-and-fries experience in a world of diet econoboxes."
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre V8 petrol automatic GT convertible
"It's a better car than the previous model with a turn of speed that defies its size and a superb engine that beats anything its European rivals can deliver, both in terms of horsepower for the money and noise."
Model reviewed: 2.3-litre petrol manual EcoBoost convterible
"Every day, thousands of people take delivery of a new BMW or Audi or what have you, and I don't doubt they're very pleased. But the fact is that for a great deal less money they could have driven away in a Ford Mustang." (Jeremy Clarkson)
"More than just a cynical marketing exercise, the Ford Mustang Bullitt is every bit the modern muscle car it sets out to be, and quite a bit more besides. It's flawed, yes – but it's hard not to be seduced by its character, playfulness and sheer sense of occasion."
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol manual GT coupé
"While it has a very special place in American hearts, the Ford Mustang isn't that suited for European roads or driving conditions. It's naturally aspirated V8 is a phenomenon and sounds great, and if it's dynamically lacking, the Mustang has presence in spades."
"Despite high tech updates, the Ford Mustang is as crude and cool as ever. A muscle car, not a sports car, and all the better for it."
Model reviewed: 2.3-litre petrol manual EcoBoost
"There are blacked out grilles and splitters and a light smattering of High Performance badges to ensure onlookers know it's no ordinary four-cylinder 'Stang passing by."
"The Ford Mustang is a laugh to drive and looks great, but there are much more polished and precise-feeling rivals."
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall rating: 3 stars
Date tested: July 2017
ADULT OCCUPANT
CHILD OCCUPANT
VULNERABLE ROAD USERS
SAFETY ASSIST
Read full Euro NCAP review
Note on safety
In its original form when launched in 2015, the Ford Mustang scored only a two-star rating from Euro NCAP. The facelifted model from July 2017 featured additional safety equipment as standard and was rated at three stars when re-tested. The car's principal weakness is child passenger protection in the rear seats, while the other tests produced much more competitive scores.
Independent emissions and efficiency ratings from Green NCAP
The Ford Mustang has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP. Check back soon.
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Ford Mustang has received
UK Car of the Year Awards – Best coupe
If you're looking at the Ford Mustang, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi S5 | BMW 4 Series | Chevrolet Camaro | Dodge Challenger | Jaguar F-Type | Lexus RC | Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupé, convertible | Nissan 370Z | Toyota Supra
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This page last updated: 8 June 2020


I'm not good with change. Well, I like change… I like to grow and learn and that sort of thing, and I certainly HATE to be bored… but change is really hard. Even good change is hard. Big changes are quite difficult to wrap my mind around and small changes? Well… small changes are going to be the death of me, I think.
I'm not even slightly kidding… I am convinced I need to be on medication to cope with change of any magnitude. The tiniest change in my coveted daily routine throws me into a tailspin and my recovery skills are lacking, to put it mildly. It's bad and it's embarrassing.
Right now, I am in a spin of spins and cannot see a way back to solid ground. These past weeks have been filled with so many changes, of all varieties! As soon as I think I've processed one and really come to terms with it, another change hits me in the face and suddenly, ALL of the changes I've already dealt with come completely undone in my mind. So much so, that at this very moment, I'm unsure of EVERYTHING again. I have become just a breathing ball of unprocessed and confusing change. It's pretty fun. <–not.
This doesn't make me a pleasant human to be around, I'm sure. I'm forever in my head just thinking, thinking, thinking and getting absolutely nowhere – except maybe deeper into my hole. I'm weepy and a little irritable and so needy and tentative and self-conscious – I know it is a lot for my Sir to take. I try to hold it in, but that is pretty futile these days because that isn't 'allowed' any longer. No matter how hard I am to be around, I can guarantee that it is much more difficult to actually live in this head of mine. Almost unbearable at times. You'll just have to trust me on that.
I am drowning in swarms of words and feelings circling in my noggin. My world has been completely turned upside down, which I had decided was a good thing, (uncertainty is knocking)…but even good change fucks me up (remember my first paragraph in this crazy, nonsensical post)!
With all my might, I am trying to get my head back on straight. My Sir is helping…making sure to keep close tabs and giving me tasks, even when I am in a whole other world at work…but I am afraid I'm falling faster than he can catch me. One step forward, two steps back – my days feel like I'm running on a treadmill, just not getting anywhere I want to go.
I LIVE for the nighttime, when kids are in bed and I can snuggle up to Sir. He plays with my hair, rubs my hands and lets me cry or laugh, or just fuss a little. And then he takes me to bed and spanks and fucks my head quiet – for just a little while I can stop thinking. If not for that, I don't think I'd even be able to function.
For a while, it rests solely with Sir to lift me up and put me back together, like old times. My girlfriend is out of commission and I wouldn't dare bother her with my trivial nonsense, but I do miss her like crazy. I miss her face, I miss her words, I miss her shoulder to cry on, I miss the silly, constant contact with her. And I'm a little mad at myself that I've become so attached and so dependent on her, but love is love, and done is done.
*I am dealing with an ungodly amount of change, and it's damn near killing me.
*My Sir is awesome, but probably fed up (though he hasn't made me feel as such).
*I am far too dependent on those I love.
*I miss my girlfriend so hard, which compounds every other issue.
Other than that, life is good. I'm a lucky girl and I really do know it. Sometimes, I just need to vent…a shygirl explosion is never good (well, except for the pants kind!).
I think I'll try to get comfortable with this thing called flux.
Happy Thursday…night will be here soon!