text:
Lenny Zakatek's soulful singing is a special part of the Alan Parsons Project
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 9, 1983
By Steve Newton
"One day I got this call around ten at night, saying 'Come on down and sing this track. If you make it, fine–if you don't there's a little change in it for you.'
"So I went over, went straight in and he said, 'We've got to do it tonight because they've got to mix it by the end of the week.'
"I didn't know much about the Alan Parsons Project, because I hadn't actually heard Tales of Mystery then. But in some ways that was good, because I just went in there and had a blow. And I think that reflects the performance. It was about four takes–they just took bits and pieces of the best–and 'I Wouldn't Want to be LIke You' was born."
The speaker is Lenny Zakatek, singer of such classy Alan Parsons Project tunes as "Damned If I Do", "Games People Play", "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned", and the aforementioned "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You". He's sung on every Project record from 1977's breakthrough I Robot right on up to the most recent Eye in the Sky, lending his vocals to two tracks per album.
"I've done ten songs now," says Lenny, "so I've got an album full of songs myself."
The Alan Parsons Project, in case you aren't aware, is a studio project developed by sound engineering wizard Alan Parsons–famous for his work on the Beatles' Abbey Road and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon LPs–and executive producer Eric Woolfson. Parsons and Woolfson co-write all of the Project material, and Woolfson sings on some of it–most notably tunes like "Time" from The Turn of a Friendly Card and "Eye in the Sky" from the album of the same name.
Zakatek first became involved with the Project while singing in a 13-piece band called Gonzalez, which had a disco hit in England at the time. Woolfson had recommended him to a lot of people in the music biz, and Zakatek–basically a live performer–jumped at the chance of proving himself in the studio The project's habit of recruiting individual singers for particular songs proved a fine vehicle for Lenny, who has just finished laying down vocal tracks for their next album, which is currently being mixed and is expected to be out by the end of March. He sings on two cuts, Colin Blunstone ("Old and Wise" from Eye in the Sky) sings on one, and Woolfson does the honours on there.
"He's edging me on this one," laugh Zakatek. "I think we're going to have to slap him down."
The Alan Parsons Project has cut down its roster of singers over the years, so Lenny doesn't really have to worry about getting edged out of vocal assignments. There were eleven singers on the Project's first album, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, and only six on their last. The next one will feature four vocalists.
"In the early stages they were using a lot more vocalists," concedes Zakatek, "but now as far as the public goes, they expect to hear a certain kind of voice on a certain kind of track. The melodic, rock-oriented sort of live performances tend to be me, and Eric tends to sing the smoother songs. We keep telling him he gets all the hits [laughs], but as he co-writes them, I guess he's got to keep the best ones for himself [laughs again].
Parsons worked with Zakatek on his self-titled solo album, an ill-fated release that came out in the U.S. but didn't surface anywhere else.
"I got signed at a bad time," recalls Lenny, "because I was signed to A&M and they had the Police and Joe Jackson just breaking–and my album was mainly aimed at an AOR American audience.
"And I sweated tears over that one. I mean, I spent six, seven months putting it together and had some really nice players–friends of mine. Jon Giblin, who is with Brand X and Phil Collins, Max Middleton on keyboards [Jeff Beck], and two guys from the Project, Ian Bairnson on guitar and Stuart Elliot on drums."
Zakatek hasn't given up on solo ventures, though. He has plans to do another album in the new year. And when he isn't singing for the Alan Parsons Project, he keeps busy producing and advising bands in Britain. Two groups he's involved with at the moment are Playthings, who have "a new English sound" and Seventh Heaven–"West Indians guys that are excellent singers."
When asked which of the Alan Parsons Project albums is his personal favourite, Lenny is thoughtfully silent. Then after careful consideration he responds.
"I guess I Robot, because it had a kind of rawness to it. It was also the first one I did, so it has special memory for me. As far as my track on that particular album, I was listening to it just this week off the greatest hits album and I find that it still stands up. It's been so well received that I don't think it will ever date. Not to mention the vocal performance of course [laughs].
And how does he feel about the other Project records?
"After the first couple of albums, everybody went through knocking Eve for a while. Some people were saying there was a lack of direction. But I think with Turn of a Friendly Card and certainly Eye in the Sky we were back on the ball again.
"I mean Pyramid, certainly as a concept album, was closest to the early Project stuff. I didn't do the best song on Pyramid, but as far as an album, it was rock solid. It did very well in the States and Canada and Germany."
Although some people have knocked Eve, it did contain a hit single on which Zakatek really performed.
"I did enjoy 'Damned If I Do' a lot," admits Lenny, "because it was with full orchestra, and the feeling of having all those strings and horns behind you is a one-of situation. I think the London Philharmonic was used on that one. It was tremendous."
And while Zakatek says he'd "love the Project to go on the road"–and their millions of fans worldwide would probably agree–the prospect of taking a complete orchestra on tour to recreate the symphonic Parsons sound is not viable.
"It wouldn't be fair to have everything synthesized and programmed," says Lenny, "so the idea was that we would take everybody on the road with us. And you're talking about probably 120 people. We'd have to hire the whole Hilton Hotel!"
To hear the audio of my 1983 interview with Lenny Zakatek subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 275 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Marc Storace of Krokus, 1983
Chris Whitley, 1991
Buddy Cage of New Riders of the Purple Sage, 2006
Bill Elm of Friends of Dean Martinez, 1995
Simon Townshend, 1983
John Bush of Anthrax, 1993
Aldo Nova, 1983
Steven Adler from Guns N' Roses, 2011
Mick Ronson, 1989
Tom Morello, 2011
Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers, 1993
Colin Hay of Men at Work, 1983
Mark Kelly of Marillion, 1986
Luther Allison, 1995
Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats, 2007
J. Geils from the J. Geils Band, 2006
Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, 1997
Jason Newsted of Newsted (and Metallica), 2013
Marshall Crenshaw, 2013
Dan Hartman, 1984
Sean Costello, 2006
Roger Hodgson from Supertramp, 1998
Tommy Stinson from the Replacements, 1993
Brian Blush of the Refreshments, 1997
Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, 2003
Craig Northey of Strippers Union, 2021
Melissa Etheridge, 1990
Joe Jackson, 2003
Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, 2001
David Ellefson of Megadeth, 1992
David Lee Roth, 2003
Grant Walmsley of the Screaming Jets, 1991
John Popper of Blues Traveler, 1991
Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, 2012
Joe Perry of Aerosmith, 1993
Ellen McIlwaine, 2001
Derek Trucks of Tedeschi Trucks, 2012
J.D. Fortune of INXS, 2006
Fernando von Arb of Krokus, 1984
Gary Holt of Exodus, 1985
Dizzy Reed of Guns N' Roses, 1992
Scott Ian of Anthrax, 2012
Gary Lee Conner of Screaming Trees, 1992
Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran, 1985
David "Honeyboy" Edwards, 2003
Rudolf Schenker of Scorpions, 1992
Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, 2001
Jeff Keith of Tesla, 1988
Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton of Arc Angels, 1992
Marc Bonilla, 1992
Mike Smith of Sandbox (and Trailer Park Boys), 1996
Dewey Bunnell of America, 1983
Robert Randolph of the Family Band, 2003
Keith Strickland of the B-52s, 2008
David Johansen of the New York Dolls, 2005
Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon, 2003
Todd Kerns, 2016
Bill Payne of Little Feat, 2002
Robbin Crosby of Ratt, 1989
Tommy Shannon of SRV & Double Trouble, 1998
Alejandro Escovedo, 1997
Billy Duffy of the Cult, 1989
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joe Satriani, 1990
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
Alex Van Halen, 1995
Eric Johnson, 2001
Stu Hamm, 1991
Gene Simmons of Kiss, 1992
Ace Frehley from Kiss, 2008
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
John Mayall of the Bluesbreakers, 1988
Tony Iommi of Heaven and Hell, 2007
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1996
Geoff Tate of Queensryche, 1991
James Hetfield of Metallica, 1986
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1990
Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, 1988
Andy McCoy and Sam Yaffa of Hanoi Rocks, 1984
Steve Morse, 1991
Slash of Guns N' Roses, 1994
Brian May from Queen, 1993
Jake E. Lee of Badlands, 1992
Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1997
John Fogerty, 1997
Rick Derringer, 1999
Robin Trower, 1990
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, 1994
Geddy Lee of Rush, 2002
Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult, 1997
Michael Schenker, 1992
Vince Neil of Motley Crue, 1991
Vinnie Paul of Pantera, 1992
Joan Jett, 1992
Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, 1988
Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, 1989
Rob Halford of Judas Priest, 1984
Bill Henderson of Chilliwack, 1999
Paul Rodgers, 1997
R.L. Burnside, 1999
Guthrie Govan of the Aristocrats, 2015
Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, 1985
Carlos Santana, 2011
Walter Trout, 2003
Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot, 1983
Tommy Aldridge, 2001
Donald "Duck" Dunn, 1985
Mark Farner of Grand Funk, 1991
Chris Robinson of Black Crowes, 1990
Jennifer Batten, 2002
Mike Fraser, 2014
Leo Kottke, 2002
Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, 2002
David Gogo, 1991
Booker T. Jones, 2016
Link Wray, 1997
James Reyne from Australian Crawl, 1988
Mike Rutherford of Genesis, 1983
Country Dick Montana of the Beat Farmers, 1990
Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers, 2016
Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1986
Lindsay Mitchell of Prism, 1988
Buddy Miles, 2001
Eddie Money, 1988
Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, 1983
Gaye Delorme, 1990
Graham Bonnet of Alcatrazz, 1984
Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, 2016
Doc Neeson of Angel City, 1985
Rik Emmett of Triumph, 1985
Sonny Landreth, 2016
Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders, 2016
Jeff Beck, 2001
Albert King, 1990
Johnny Ramone of the Ramones, 1992
Peter Frampton, 1987
Otis Rush, 1997
Leslie West of Mountain, 2002
Steve Howe of Yes, 2017
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, 1983
Uli Jon Roth, 2016
Poison Ivy of the Cramps, 1990
Greg Lake of ELP, 1992
Robert Plant, 1993
Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC, 1983
Warren Zevon, 1992
Tal Wilkenfeld, 2016
Steve Clark of Def Leppard, 1988
Gary Moore, 1984
Ronnie Montrose, 1994
Danny Gatton, 1993
Alex Lifeson of Rush, 1992
Ann Wilson of Heart, 1985
Chris Cornell, 2008
Long John Baldry, 1985
Kim Mitchell, 1984
Warren Haynes of Allman Brothers, 1994
Derek Trucks, 1998
Susan Tedeschi, 1998
B.B. King, 1984
Albert Collins, 1985
Ronnie James Dio, 1985
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, 1984
Dick Dale, 2000
Greg Allman, 1998
Dickey Betts, 2001
…with hundreds more to come
Posted on November 16, 2021 by the newtPosted in across the pondTagged 1983 interview with Lenny Zakatek, Damned If You Do, Games People Play, I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You, Lenny Zakatek of the Alan Parsons Project.
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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally pulls its heads out of its ass long enough to nominate Warren Zevon


Looking for a last minute gift idea for a dog or dog owner? Want to make something really special as a gift for your canine companion? These homemade candy cane dog treats will make any pup smile. They also make for a very thoughtful and inexpensive present.
Giving the gift of homemade dog treats shows that you care. Instead of purchasing a generic gift, such as a new toy or a cute Christmas dog sweater, you're making something all on your own. You're creating something from scratch – taking your time and energy to make a gift that you know the recipient will appreciate.
If you are planning to give these (or any) treats to a dog that is not yours, be sure that you check with the owner to make sure the pooch doesn't have any food allergies. If you want the gift to be a surprise, simply attach a note with the list of ingredients to the treats so the owner can check for themselves.
Light dough – Mix 4 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of cornmeal in a medium bowl. Stir until they are completely combined. Add 1 beaten egg, the peanut butter and 1.5 cups of water. Combine until it forms a stiff dough.
Dark dough – Mix 4 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of cornmeal in a medium bowl. Stir until they are completely combined. Add 1 beaten egg, the molasses, the oil and 1.5 cups of water. Combine until it forms a dough. This dough will be a bit stickier because of the molasses.
As you'll see in my video, it is now time to form the candy canes. Take a small piece of each dough and roll them out into two long strips.
This is your chance to customize these candy cane dog treats to be perfect for the pooch you'll be giving them to. If the dog is small, make small, skinny strips to form a small candy cane. If you're giving them to an extra large dog, make the strips wider for a bigger treat.
You can see how I twist the two strips together to form a candy cane in my video guide above. Just start at the top and twist them together. Form the curve of the candy cane and then twist the strips together to form the shaft of the candy cane.
Bake these treats on a well greased cookie sheet in your 350° for about 18-22 minutes. If you're making very small treats, it won't take as long. If you're making large, thick treats, they may take a little longer to cook.
Store the leftovers in an airtight container or zippered storage bag for up to two weeks. If you're giving these treats as a gift, make sure you tell the dog owner that these treats do not have preservatives, so they won't last nearly as long as commercial dog treats.


Oh please! Another great environmental scheme only to leave a huge carbon footprint like most of BIG's futile attempts to "harness", conserve, sustain and nurture, a gimmick as always, an empty gesture which ends up costing the environment more that it is worth. Sections are awful, nothing new there.
Reminds me of Gardens by the Bay in Singapore: Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Nice! Can't wait to see this coming to fruition.
Earlier in the week, we brought you news that Heatherwick Studio and BIG are collaborating on the design of Google's new Mountain View campus.
And now, Google has just published a video in which the two architecture stars discuss their plans for the upcoming Googleplex, and give a sneak peek at renderings for and models of what looks to be a stunning biosphere-filled utopia for the Silicon Valley giant.
With both the public and employees using the campus, Heatherwick hopes that it will help Google to keep their feet on the ground.
Among the hum-drum office buildings of Silicon Valley, the new Google campus is certain to make a striking presence on the skyline.
Google's video makes exceptionally clear that in hiring Ingels and Heatherwick, the search giant hopes to create a campus the likes of which haven't been seen before in Silicon Valley.
As David Radcliffe of Google explains: "Tech hasn't really found its own language for building; we've just found old buildings and moved into them and we've made do the best we could."
office buildings contained within large dome-shaped greenhouses and abundant plant life present both inside and out.
The campus will be open to the public so as the local community can enjoy the open green spaces.
The development will also include wildlife habitats and will restore waterways that feed water to the Bay.
Ingels emphasizes that the campus "can't be a fortress that shuts away neighbors, that shuts away nature, it really has to be a neighborhood within Mountain View."
Additionally, the new Googleplex will create an escape from the "parking lot" environment familiar to much of Silicon Valley.
Roads will be designed for bikes and for pedestrians, with an urban environment that promotes a lively, stimulating energy.
More details are still to come, and indeed more work is still to be done but Ingels is certainly correct when he says "[b]etween these three minds, these three companies working together, I'm dead certain we've come up with something that I don't think anyone of us would had we been working in isolation."
Earlier in the week, we brought you news that Heatherwick Studio and BIG are collaborating on the design of Google's new Mountain View campus. And now, Google has just published a video in which the two architecture stars discuss their plans for the upcoming Googleplex, and give a sneak peek at renderings for and models of what looks to be a stunning biosphere-filled utopia for the Silicon Valley giant.


text:
Thunder fall to the Hornets - Photo Gallery
Oklahoma City's Victor Oladipo (5) and Jerami Grant (9) walk off the court following the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) shoots during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Victor Oladipo (5) and Semaj Christon (6) defend against Charlotte's Marvin Williams (2) during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Victor Oladipo (5) goes up for a dunk in front of Charlotte's Nicolas Batum (5) during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Charlotte's Jeremy Lamb (3) shoots a 3-point basket during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) calls for a play during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Taj Gibson (22) shoots as Charlotte's Marvin Williams (2) and Cody Zeller (40) defend during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Victor Oladipo (5) goes to the basket as Charlotte's Cody Zeller (40) defends during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a lay up next to Charlotte's Cody Zeller (40) during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) argues for a foul call during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Jerami Grant (9) and Andre Roberson (21) defend against Charlotte's Miles Plumlee (18) during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) laughs during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) is introduced before the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a basket as Charlotte's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) defends during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) walks off the court in the fourth quarter during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Enes Kanter (11) shoots as Charlotte's Frank Kaminsky (44) defends during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) stands next to the goal during a time out during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) goes for a lay up during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) bows his head before the National Anthem during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) lines up during a free throw during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a lay up during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) grabs a defensive rebound during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Semaj Christon (6) shoots over Charlotte's Brian Roberts (22) during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) makes a defensive rebound during the NBA basketball between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 2, 2017Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package org.mvcspec.ozark.ext.freemarker;

import freemarker.template.Configuration;
import freemarker.template.Template;
import freemarker.template.TemplateException;
import org.mvcspec.ozark.engine.ViewEngineBase;
import org.mvcspec.ozark.engine.ViewEngineConfig;

import javax.annotation.Priority;
import javax.enterprise.context.ApplicationScoped;
import javax.inject.Inject;
import javax.mvc.engine.ViewEngine;
import javax.mvc.engine.ViewEngineContext;
import javax.mvc.engine.ViewEngineException;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.Writer;
import java.nio.charset.Charset;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;

/**
 * Class FreemarkerViewEngine.
 *
 * @author Santiago Pericas-Geertsen
 */
@ApplicationScoped
@Priority(ViewEngine.PRIORITY_FRAMEWORK)
public class FreemarkerViewEngine extends ViewEngineBase {

    @Inject
    @ViewEngineConfig
    private Configuration configuration;

    @Override
    public boolean supports(String view) {
        return view.endsWith(".ftl");
    }

    @Override
    public void processView(ViewEngineContext context) throws ViewEngineException {

        Charset charset = resolveCharsetAndSetContentType(context);

        try (Writer writer = new OutputStreamWriter(context.getOutputStream(), charset)) {

            Template template = configuration.getTemplate(resolveView(context));

            Map<String, Object> model = new HashMap<>(context.getModels().asMap());
            model.put("request", context.getRequest(HttpServletRequest.class));

            template.process(model, writer);

        } catch (TemplateException | IOException e) {
            throw new ViewEngineException(e);
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I loathe mispellings and bad grammar. Many scientific papers have excellent scientific results and interpretations to report but if someone puts a preposition at the end of a sentence, my estimation of them lowers just a tiny fraction. I know I am also guilty of it but I try to minimise the problem.
People have their own foibles about grammar, sentence structure and spelling. Many people can't distinguish between they're, their and there. Your and you're is another pair destined for sufferance…and right there is another problem – the plural. Is it correct to say "Your and you're is another pair" or should it be "Your and you're are another pair"? I was taught that it would be the former; it would be a singular because there is only one pair, even if the pair refers, by definition, to two things.
The ones that trip me are 'data' and 'number' and they crop up a lot in science. Data is a plural so it would be, "there are more data available" rather than "there is more data available".
'Number' is a tricky one because of the flow of the sentence. Is it correct to say, "there are a number of pairs of alleles" or "there is a number of pairs of alleles"? There's more than one allele, which is therefore a plural, but number is a singular.
How about, "there are a number of variations" or "there is a number of variations"?
Usually, I re-word the sentence. What do you think? Is grammar taught routinely as part of scientific training? If not, should it be?


Even if you have never stepped foot onto a court before, you may end up with tennis elbow pain. Occurring along the muscle that allows extension of the wrist, it is a painful condition that can linger for weeks or months.
Previously, tennis elbow primarily showed up in athletes. Due to the increased interest in physical fitness, tennis elbow is being found in everyday exercisers, as well as people who perform work-related repetitive motion.
Tennis elbow presents several symptoms. Pain will occur on the outside of the elbow an inch or so down from the bony part.
There may also be pain when the individual tries to extend the hand and fingers against resistance. Extreme weakness in the wrist is another symptom.
I have been diagnosed with tennis elbow. Now what?
Tennis elbow is often difficult to diagnose, which can delay treatment. A correct diagnosis of tennis elbow is the first step towards being able to treat the condition and rehab the afflicted area. From there, a variety of treatments for tennis elbow are available.
Passive remedies like rest, ice, and arm braces are critical components to healing tennis elbow. Take measures to reduce the movements that aggravate the pain, and use ice at regular intervals to help minimize pain and inflammation.
An arm brace supports and stabilizes the area to promote healing. These remedies assist greatly in treating the condition, especially in the beginning.
Active remedies consist of stretching and strengthening exercises, and are vital aspects of improving the condition. Individuals suffering from tennis elbow should begin an exercise regimen as soon as the pain allows.
Following a doctor's recommendation for a rehabilitative program exercises may be the place for you, once the pain has reduced. The goal is to build strength.
An individual dealing with tennis elbow may utilize a variety of medicinal remedies to manage pain and inflammation. Over-the-counter pain relievers and steroid injections are commonly used to treat the condition. Following doctor's orders when taking medications is strongly recommended.
Untraditional remedies also provide vast improvements in tennis elbow, and these treatments have gained favor in the last few years due to their effectiveness. Regimens of massage therapy and acupuncture work on small areas contributing to the condition, and make significant strides in pain reduction and promote the body's restorative healing process.
Another remedy that offers strong benefits to treating tennis elbow is chiropractic care. A chiropractor assesses the condition, then lays out a plan to promote healing.
Treatment often includes working to align the bones and treating the surrounding joints so they function at maximum capacity, and can "take up the slack" of the injured area while it heals. Chiropractic care serves the dual purpose of treating the condition directly, and healing the areas around the injury so that the body continues to strengthen and renew.
In a very small number of cases, the only remedy for tennis elbow is surgery. This is considered as the last straw, once all other forms of treatment have been exhausted.
The best way to treat tennis elbow is to avoid it in the first place. Be sure to stretch before exercising, consistently perform strengthening exercises, employ correct techniques and proper equipment during physical activity, and don't overexert your arms (this goes for your entire body, by the way) during physical activity.
If you are diagnosed with tennis elbow, it's essential to understand the variety of treatment options available. The best course is often a blend of more than one remedy. Chiropractic care should be part of your healing process, as it helps decrease pain, reduce healing time, and offers a non-medicinal approach to treating the body as a whole.
Is it time for you to make your appointment?
Disclaimer: This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.


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Anna Ruth Fry, usually known as Ruth Fry (4 September 1878 – 26 April 1962), was a British Quaker writer, pacifist and peace activist.

Life
Ruth was born in Highgate, London, into a Quaker family - her father was Sir Edward Fry, a judge and lawyer who became known worldwide for his skilled work as a negotiator at the Hague Tribunal in 1907 - and she was educated at home.  She then worked as a peace activist and a writer, serving as treasurer of the Boer Home Industries Commission during the Boer War, as general secretary of the Friends War Victims Relief Committee (a committee organised by British Quakers to provide help for refugees and victims of the First World War) from 1914 to 1924, as first chairman of the Russian Famine Relief Fund in 1921, as the secretary for the National Council for the Prevention of War in 1926-27, and as the treasurer of the London branch of the War Resisters' International in 1936-1937. She died on 26 April 1962, aged 83.

Literary works
In the First World War she toured the war zones as a traveling commissioner, writing about the relief efforts in her book A Quaker Adventure (1926).  She was appointed to the editorial board of the Fellowship of Reconciliation's journal Reconciliation in 1935. She published a number of pamphlets and leaflets on pacifism and nonviolence in action.

In fiction
She appears as a character in Tony Harrison's 2008 play Fram, played in its premiere at the National Theatre by Clare Lawrence.

Further reading
The Times, Saturday, Apr 28, 1962; pg. 12; Issue 55377; col B: OBITUARY-Miss Ruth Fry Relief Work With The Quakers.

External links
Papers of Ruth Fry in the Swarthmore College Peace Collection

1878 births
1962 deaths
British anti–World War I activists
English Christian pacifists
English Quakers
English women non-fiction writers
Ruth
Non-interventionism
Nonviolence advocates
People from Highgate

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It is National Volunteer Week and the American Red Cross is taking this time to recognize the thousands of volunteers who commit countless hours to serve their communities. As Sound the Alarm kicks off, beginning April 28th and lasting until May 13th, thousands of volunteers nationwide will gear up to protect their local communities from home fires. Among the thousands of volunteers will be Larry Singer, participating in his fifth year of assisting with the Home Fire Campaign.
Larry has been a Red Cross volunteer in the Ohio Buckeye Region for over four years now and has been instrumental in the planning and logistics of the Sound the Alarm portion of the Home Fire Campaign. Larry, along with other local volunteers and fire departments, has been able to install free smoke alarms, provide smoke alarm batteries, offer home fire safety education, and help families to create escape plans in cities around Ohio. Linden, Plain City, Delaware, and Clinton Township have been the specific areas in which Larry has been able to make most of an impact in the past four years.
Since the Home Fire Campaign was launched in 2014, the Red Cross and partners have been able to install over one million smoke alarms and the number of documented saved lives is now up to 416. Just in the Ohio Buckeye Region alone volunteers have made nearly 15,000 home visits.
"I believe the campaign has made communities safer by reducing fire deaths and preventing fires from starting through education" said Larry.
Every day seven people die in a home fire. This is why the Home Fire Campaign's three goals are to reduce home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent, increase the number of home fire responses by ten percent, and to improve assistance provided to home fire survivors. You can help the Red Cross to achieve these goals and Sound the Alarm in your own local community by volunteering, making a donation, or participating in a local fundraiser. In Ohio, you can volunteer to install smoke alarms in one of six cities, including: Newark, Westerville, Bascom, Toledo, Morgan County, or McCutchenville on May 5th.
You can also join the movement by taking steps to protect your own family from home fires. Come up with and practice a fire escape plan that takes two minutes or less and make sure to check home smoke alarms at least once a month.
Together we can Sound the Alarm about fire safety and help to save lives. Sign up to volunteer and to learn about other opportunities in your community on the Red Cross Ohio Buckeye Region Website.
Next: Next post: Sound the Alarm With Becky Perkins!


Some of you don't know this, but some of you clearly do. I will call those that do, oh, shall we say, "parents?" Yes, I will call them "parents." One cannot force a 3.45 year old to eat quickly. This is an issue when you have to pick him up from pre-school, get him fed, and get him to his afternoon childcare and you need to be back at work because of some crazy deadlines you did necessarily agree to. Little Man will eat his orange rice at his own pace thank you very much. If that pace happens to coincide with the ending of a Blue's Clues episode, that is mere happenstance. It is not some master scheme devised by a not yet 4 year old Machiavelli to keep you from getting back to work and completing your insane tasks. No sir-ee Bob. Not a scheme at all. Definitely not schemish. Low value on the schemometer. Utterly lacking in schemoscity. Could not be studied by a schemologisty. Well, might be studiable by a schemologist if the schemologist is doing a case study on something anti-schemic. .
Again, some of you don't know this other truism, but some of you clearly do. Probably the same set of folks. Anyways… sometimes it is easier to cave in than stand up. "Choosing one's battles" is a label for it, but more than anything it feels like caving. Yes, Wifey, I caved! You weren't there! You don't know!!! It was a warzone man! People were leaving left and right of us! We were just sitting in the car... I thought orange rice would assuage the beast in the seat, but it didn't! It couldn't. The beast beat me. Beat me, I say! BEAT MEEEEEEEE. To make a long story short, Little Man got a Sprite from McDonald's on the way home. It was the only way… THE ONLY WAY!


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Great Reads in Photography: January 10, 2021
Every Sunday, we bring together a collection of easy reading articles from analytical to how-to to photo-features in no particular order that did not make our regular daily coverage. Enjoy!
Photojournalist Saul Loeb Captured Some of the Most Indelible Images of the Capital Attack – Rolling Stone
Saul Loeb, staff photographer for newswire service Agence France-Presse (AFP), based in Washington, DC, covering the White House, politics, and "anything behind a podium" had gone to take pictures of the joint session of Congress. "I had no idea what was coming our way," Loeb, who has been working in Washington for 13 years, tells the Guardian.
A post shared by Saul Loeb (@saulloeb)
An announcement warned of a security situation inside the US Capitol building, urging to shelter in place. The last place a photojournalist wants to be is stuck inside a room when all the action is happening outside.
So, Loeb grabbed his camera and started photographing protesters who had face paint and body paint on and wore costumes. One even had a Viking hat on. That's when he saw people going into the offices of Nancy Pelosi. "Normally, this is a very secure part of the building; she's the speaker of the House, second in line from the presidency – nobody can just wander in. But there was no staff, no police. It was just a free-for-all," Loeb tells Poppy Noor of The Guardian.
You're always worried people won't want to be photographed, and you don't want anyone to become violent towards you. But they either didn't notice or didn't care Loeb was there. No one tried to hide their face, and no one tried to discourage him from taking photos.
Andrew Harnik, (in the video above) Associated Press photographer, has been working in DC for 18 years. "We were told to get down on our hands and knees and keep our heads covered," he said. Yet through all that, including watching Congress members put on their emergency gas masks, Harnik was capturing images.
More photos from The Guardian, The Verge, San Francisco Chronicle, and Daily Mail.
5 News Photographers on What It Was Like to Document the Storming of the US Capitol
3 Ways to Light and Photograph Glittery Portraits – Rangefinder
© Daryna Barykina
The most challenging element Daryna Barykina, a Florida beauty and fashion photographer (she also holds an MBA!), has faced has been shooting products that contain reflective particles. Whether it be a shimmery eyeshadow, a blinding highlighter, or glitter, she knows she'll need to build the entire concept and technical elements around the metallic glow or iridescence of what she is photographing.
Shooting such a product can be quite intimidating because your regular lighting setups may not work well with it.
Here are some techniques Barykina has practiced over time. Not only do they help get the job done for the client, but they are also just fun to play with.
Focus on the Shimmer by Underexposing with Soft Light
Light Up the Twinkles with Multiple Hard Sources
Trace Glitter Trails and Fragments by Adding Long Exposure
Check out the full details at the article link above.
10 Cameras That Blew us Away in 2020 – Digital Camera World
Most photographers would like to forget 2020 as business was just one cancellation after another. However, camera manufacturers have still been able to launch some great new models, even if you cannot go out and shoot with them right away.
From stunning new mirrorless cameras, through to the weird, wacky, or simply technically incredible, here are our top 10 cameras that blew us away in 2020…
5 Quick Tips for New Drone Flyers
Photographers who are venturing out into drone photography have a lot to learn.
Billy Kyle, has drone and other tech videos, on his YouTube channel, but mainly drones.
Kyle uses the DJI Mini 2 as an example, but the techniques apply to other drones as well.
The 5 basic tips are: Monitor your Return to Home settings, Tools for regaining aircraft orientation, Power limiting, Tweak your gimbal and yaw settings, and Propeller changing. If you are a newbie with drones, these 9 minutes you spend here will save you many headaches later.
The Top Astronomical Events of 2021 for Astrophotography — Fstoppers
Whether you are looking to get into astrophotography or take your skills to the next level, 2021 has lots of great astronomical events happening worldwide. Planning in advance and being in the right place at the right time is the first step to getting amazing shots.
Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan
With tools like PhotoPills or Dark Site Finder, you can plan a lot from your couch at home. Some events are only viewable in particular locations, while others can be seen from anywhere. So, it is essential to know when and where the best times to photograph them are.
Click the link above to see a calendar of various astronomical events, mostly ones that can be seen with basic equipment, to help you start. The year starts a little slow but picks up in the fall and moves into December.
If you are interested in hands-on learning about astrophotography, Boston based outdoor lifestyle and astrophotographer Michael DeStefano will teach a workshop at Palm Springs Photo Festival this April, taking photographers out to the Joshua Tree area.
Does Photo Show 2 Women Saving Electoral Votes During Capitol Siege? – Snopes
This photo is miscaptioned, although the photo is real.
Senate Aids transporting electoral votes while the Senate was attacked by Domestic Terrorists from r/pics
After rioters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, a viral photograph showed two women who appeared to "rescue" boxes containing Electoral College votes by transporting them to safety.
Sen. Jeff Merkley's post claimed, "If our capable floor staff hadn't grabbed them, they would have been burned by the mob."
Electoral college ballots rescued from the Senate floor. If our capable floor staff hadn't grabbed them, they would have been burned by the mob. pic.twitter.com/2JCauUIlvg
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) January 6, 2021
Getty Images published a similar picture.
Snopes confirmed with the photographer that both photographs were taken before the riots happened.
To get the full details check this Snopes link.
Elliott Erwitt: A Lifetime's Work – Rangefinder
Elliot Erwitt, the 92-year-old photographer, has captured every president since Harry Truman. Over the last 70 years, Erwitt has shot iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe, including her famous subway grate pose, the finger-pointing Nixon-Khrushchev Kitchen Debate in Moscow, segregated water fountains, a grieving Jacqueline Kennedy, and hundreds of humorous dog images.
Eliot Ervit, Pariz, Jun 14, 1989, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
When asked how he has managed to produce such a well-received body of personal work when on assignment for clients, he explains, "I have always brought two cameras; one for the client and one for me …."
Ask him how he's had the time for personal work with so many demanding assignments over the years, and he quips, "I use a fast shutter speed."
A post shared by Elliott Erwitt (@elliotterwitt)
How Richard Nixon 'Stole' Elliot Erwitt's Photo and Twisted It Into a Campaign Slogan
A Conversation with Photographer Elliott Erwitt
Notable: Why does Elliott Erwitt love photographing dogs?
"They don't ask for prints."
Quiz: Which 3-time past president of Magnum in 1948 exchanged janitorial work for film classes at the New School for Social Research in New York City?
Elliott Erwitt.
Why I Like This Photo – Nico Goodden
© Nico Goodden
This photo of a Londoner walking under the rain one winter night has always been one of my favorites and, generally speaking, one that gets love from people who enjoy my work. Many of them relate to it as they know London either from living there or visiting as a tourist. Since I'm UK based, rain is a big part of my life.
Photographs reveal a lot about the photographer as a person. Every decision we make reflects a particular mood or moment in our lives, just like the photo does. I took on photography because I enjoy being alone. I need time for my own. It's also very meditative, and you forget all your worries.
This "theme" is omnipresent throughout my street photography. Often, I attempt to convey a feeling of solitude but one which feels familiar, not necessarily sad. Solitude needn't mean loneliness or sadness.
I often search for balance in my street photography. I never get my ruler out or display the rule of thirds grid in my viewfinder but find myself applying it to my photographs
, even if only subconsciously. In this particular example, the person is at a third from the right side of the image. To balance this, the telephone pole is located perfectly at a third from the left. Reflections help further the symmetry in the shot.
You may be wondering why the odd choice of color? It's simple, that night, I saw the shot, and my Olympus camera was set on a creative effect typical of Olympus MFT cameras. It was a choice to either change settings back to normal (and probably miss the shot) or just take the shot that presented itself. So, I went for the full purple look. In retrospect, I think it works perfectly well and doesn't offend me particularly much… Purists may disagree, and that's fine too.
The camera used at the time was an Olympus OM-D E-M5 II. Lens was the Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 II POWER OIS. Lens. It was shot at f/2.8, 1/125 exposure (to avoid motion blur), and 100mm as my subject was a bit far.
That night I was heading home after a long shoot with a rock band. I was tired and far from hunting my next shot. I just wanted to wear dry clothes and be home. That's the magic with photography, always have a camera as you just never know when the next photo opportunity will present itself.
I mentioned the rule of thirds. Here's how I feel about rules. Learn photography rules, learn to apply them, learn their advantages AND limitations. Finally, learn to bend them, break them, and explore beyond them.
Rules are prison cell walls for the creative mind, so beware of them, don't let them take-over your photography.
Nico Goodden, who trained to be a chef from a young age in France, is passionate about creativity in photography. For over a decade, he has been a professional London photographer, writer/content creator, and photography tutor who likes to help others improve their own photography. The London photography he produces is regularly featured by Time Out, The Guardian, Evening Standard, The Huffington Post, Creative Review, Fstoppers, PetaPixel, Digital Rev, and many more.
Quote of the Week (or a Previous Week):
It is said that even if it is a Pentax, it should be mirrorless. We also have that technology, but we would abandon the enjoyment of an SLR camera that looks directly into the subject through the finder. I cannot do it. — Shinobu Takahashi, President, and CEO of Ricoh Imaging
Ed. Note: This quote is the result of a translation from Japanese to English.
To see an archive of past issues of Great Reads in Photography, click here.
We welcome comments as well as suggestions. As we cannot possibly cover each and every source, if you see something interesting in your reading or local newspaper anywhere in the world, kindly forward the link to us here. ALL messages will be personally acknowledged.
About the author: Phil Mistry is a photographer and teacher based in Atlanta, GA. He started one of the first digital camera classes in New York City at The International Center of Photography in the 90s. He was the director and teacher for Sony/Popular Photography magazine's Digital Days Workshops. You can reach him via email here.
Image credits: All photographs as credited and used with permission from the photographers or agencies.
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Manel Kape targets matchups with 'crazy' Kai Kara-France and Alexandre Pantoja
Manel Kape has mapped out his road to gold, and there are two names he thinks will help him get there.
It's been a busy 2021 for Kape (17-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who after dropping his first two UFC bouts, ended the year with a bang. The former Rizin FF bantamweight champion is coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts of Ode Osbourne and Zhalgas Zhumagulov and is now ready to make his title run.
Two names come to mind for Kape's next opponent, the first being Kai Kara-France (23-9 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who's coming off a knockout win over former 135-pound UFC champ Cody Garbrandt. Kara-France called for a title shot after his marquee win, but Kape doesn't think he's earned it and would love to test his power against "Don't Blink."
"He doesn't deserve the fight; he's crazy in his mind for what he's saying," Kape told MMA Junkie. "Cody is a good name. One hundred percent he's a good name. He was a former champion, but in bantamweight. Right now, flyweight is totally different."
He continued, "Kai Kara is crazy in the head to think he's going to fight for the title. It'll be a good fight if he accepts the fight against me because I believe I have the most knockout power in flyweight. I have more knockouts then many lightweights, heavyweights and bantamweights so we can match to see who has the most power."
The other name Kape is targeting is No. 3-ranked UFC flyweight Alexandre Pantoja (24-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who handed him a loss in his promotional debut. Pantoja defeated Kape via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 184 in February, and Kape would love to get that one back. But according to Kape, he almost had his next fight booked until it fell apart.
"The fights that excite me right now are Kai Kara or Pantoja," Kape said. "I don't believe that he's going to accept, but Kai Kara or Pantoja. I was supposed to fight in February with Tim Elliott, but he refused. First he accepted, then he refused the fight. I was supposed to fight in February."
To see the full interview with Kape, check out the video below.
Manel Kape def. Ode Osbourne at UFC 265: Best photos
Original article: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/12/manel-kape-targets-matchups-with-crazy-kai-kara-france-and-alexandre-pantoja
Tags: featured, UFC, News, Breaking, Videos, Alexandre Pantoja, Manel Kape, Kai Kara-France, video
WePlay Esports: Setting records in 2021
Invicta FC 45 to live stream Jan. 12 on MMA Junkie's YouTube channel


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New Mako system
Do I need hip surgery?
During & after surgery
Jeremy Latham
More sex and hip replacements!
Latham Hip Surgery at King Edward VII's Hospital, London
November news!
COVID information and advice
Rogue stem cell clinics
Talking about sex isn't easy for many doctors and their patients. Hip arthritis makes sex painful for men and women, and there's lots of evidence that sexual problems make people very unhappy. Many patients who have had a hip replacement are concerned that having sex will damage their new hip, or cause it to dislocate, and they are often embarrassed about talking to their surgeons about it.
A few years ago, we decided to study the effects of hip arthritis and hip replacements on sexual function so that we could provide patients with evidence based advice on what to expect after surgery. The results have been amazing!
Together with my colleague Simon Tilley and gynaecologist Ash Monga, we developed an outcome measure to allow us to compare sexual function before and after surgery. Our study population was sexually active women under the age of 65. Simon was in Sydney doing a Fellowship in joint replacement surgery, and he did a pilot study there. He found that 37% of women would have had a hip replacement solely to make sex less painful. Patients reported significant improvements both in their ability to have sex in their preferred positions and their levels of satisfaction within their relationships. Nearly all of the patients wished that they could have had more information about how their condition and treatment would affect sexual function.
As a specialist hip surgeon, I use different materials and devices to tailor the surgery to the patient's anatomy, pathology and expectations. For example, in my younger female patients I tend to use ceramic bearings, whereas in men I will use a hip resurfacing. The results of our work will be used to see if this type of bespoke approach to hip replacements surgery will improve outcomes for patients in all aspects of their lives.
We are recruiting patients for the UK study both at the Spire Southampton Hospital and Southampton General Hospital. We are also working on developing the study to include patients with knee problems, and to look at how patients' partners are affected by their conditions and treatment. We will publish a handbook for patients and healthcare professionals which will provide up to date evidence-based advice for all concerned.
The potential to apply this approach to other health problems such as cancer, heart disease, obesity and plastic surgery is limitless. Our pioneering work has attracted a great deal of interest around the world, and has lead to the development of an exciting collaboration with experts in the management of sexual dysfunction. A new clinical service at the Spire Southampton Hospital using a psychotherapeutic approach will be offered to patients in the very near future.
If you would like to discuss any aspects of this work, please get in touch.
Tags: arthritis, hip replacement, hip surgery, hips, sex and hip surgery, Southampton
If you would like to discuss your hip treatment options with Jeremy Latham please get in touch…
For appointments & Enquiries
Hip Surgeon
Types of treatments available at Latham Hip Surgery
Total Hip Replacement or THR is one of the most successful hip operations in orthopaedic surgery. Tens of thousands of hip replacements are performed each year…
Hip Resurfacing
Hip resurfacing was developed to treat painful arthritis in younger and active patients. It's now an established technique, and the results are usually excellent in carefully selected patients…
Hip replacement surgery can be life changing for those dealing with pain on a daily basis. Unfortunately, even a replacement hip can wear out…
Total Hip Replacement or THR is one of the most successful hip operations in orthopaedic surgery. Thousands of hip replacements are performed each year…
Hip resurfacing was developed to treat painful arthritis in younger and active patients. It's a relatively new technique, but the results are usually excellent…
Find out more about which hip treatment would be best for your condition
© Latham Hip Surgery
Jeremy Latham - Helping hip pain since 1998.
A specialist in hip surgery, hip operations, hip replacement and hip resurfacing.
Design and Built by: Create


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Last weekend was packed with options and exciting ways to spend time and money supporting small local businesses. A friend and I planned our Saturday carefully: lunch at the festival, then down to the Brady district for the Indie Emporium, followed by drinks/dessert somewhere nearby if time permitted before 4pm, when we both needed to be at work.
We rolled up to the festival around 12:30, found a parking spot and almost skipped with excitement toward the trucks. The first thing I noticed was the glaring absence of the Lone Wolf bahn mi truck. Funny – I'd just read an article in Wednesday's Tulsa World, singing the praises of Phillip Phillips' new truck and promising that his delicious Vietnamese sandwiches would be available for all to enjoy at the Food Truck Festival. Ah, well – plans change after press releases are made, I suppose.
A quick survey of the remaining options led us to Angie's Street Eats, a truck operated by Angie Johnson, chef/owner of Eats2U Catering. The menu looked promising enough to entice us to stand in line for upwards of 45 minutes just to order. They were understaffed, that much was clear – there was a gentleman taking orders and just Johnson inside cooking. But the line was moving steadily forward and so we stayed the course. Our order was taken, payment rendered and it was off to the sidelines to wait.
After about 20 minutes, it became clear that there was a problem – the gentleman out front stopped taking orders and instead turned to fussing around with the arrangement of disposable cutlery and napkins on a table. He got himself some water, went in and out of the truck several times, ostensibly to converse with Johnson, and generally just avoided contact with the ever-increasingly discontent throngs of customers.
Let me pause here to be clear – I do not have a problem with busy food trucks (or restaurants, for that matter) taking a long time to fulfill orders. What I do have a problem with is a basic lack of preparation, planning and communication. More on that in a minute.
Order fulfillment had ground almost to a halt at this point and we continued to wait. One after another, customers approached the order taker and inquired about their food. Informed that the wait would continue, many asked for their money back and left, hungry and disgruntled. My friend and I decided to hang on a while longer. Our wait was approaching the 45 minute mark.
At about 60 minutes, we saw the person ahead of us in line receive food. Excited that (finally!) it was almost our turn, we moved to the front. At this point, the order taker turned to me and asked if I was Aubrae. I answered that I was, to which he replied, "Your order was next, but we ran out of taco product. As soon as he gets back from the store we can make your food." I was incredulous. We ordered four items, only one of which was tacos. Had it not occurred to them to make the non-taco items in the meantime? To let us know what the holdup was? Or, better, to inform us of the shortage and give us the option to change the order? I asked if they could make the other three menu items and refund our money for the tacos. He did so and at 2:40, a full 2 hours and 10 minutes after arriving at the festival and 1 hour and 25 minutes after placing it, we received our order of: split pea hummus with veggies, black bean sliders and sweet potato fries. Good food? Sure. Worth the wait. Absolutely not.
1. If your menu items take an excessive amount of à la minute preparation, they are not well suited to a food truck. I'd suggest things that can predominantly be made/prepped ahead of time and merely assembled on site, or that can be cooked on site in large-ish batches prior to the actual order.
2. If you're going to a show-and-sell, or any situation where the number of customers is unknown, as is the case with a festival in its inaugural year, it is wise to overstaff as a precautionary measure. Extra staff can always be sent home early, but not produced at a moment's notice when you find yourself in the weeds.
3. If you run into a situation in which you are running low on product or know that orders will take much, much longer than is reasonable to produce, let. your. customers. know. Communication is key.
4. If you advertise that you're going to be somewhere, especially in print media, which cannot be corrected as quickly/easily as a FB or Twitter feed, you'd better show up.
5. And, most important, do not commit to an event if you're not ready or able to perform at top capacity – the people you piss off through poor service & execution will most certainly spread the word, far wider and more forcefully than any person whom you please.
We left the festival around 3 pm, decided it best to bail on the Indie Emporium, as after the drive we'd be left with only about 30 min to peruse, and hit the bar to wash the bitter taste of disappointment from our mouths before reporting to work. Here's to next year… maybe.
I have always loved restaurants.
As a kid, I would beg to go out to eat almost every night. It was something about the spectacle of it all that got me hooked – the sequence of service unfolding like a plot, four meals hitting the table simultaneously, the servers moving lithely among tables packed with chattering guests. The food was almost an afterthought.
My first job was as a waitress in a small Mexican restaurant at age 16. I'd been bitten by the bug and I've never looked back. Fast forward more years than I'd like to admit and I am a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and have made a career out of working in restaurants around the country. The food's much more important to me now, but the spectacle still has the power to captivate me.


text:
Lenny Henry joins cast of Amazon's The Lord Of The Rings
Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, © PA Media
By Alex Green, PA Entertainment Reporter
Sir Lenny Henry has joined the cast of Amazon's big budget TV adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings.
The veteran comedian and actor, 62, features among a 20-strong list of cast members added to the project.
Production on the fantasy epic, which was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, is currently under way in New Zealand after resuming in autumn.
Ozark and Westworld actor Peter Mullan will also star in the new project (Danny Lawson/PA)
Sir Lenny, who co-founded Comic Relief and released his memoir Who Am I Again? in October 2019, joins previously announced names including Welsh stars Owain Arthur and Morfydd Clark and Iranian-British actress Nazanin Boniadi.
It is not clear what his role will be.
Seven of the new ensemble hail from New Zealand while the others originate from locations including Australia, Sri Lanka, the UK and US.
Ozark and Westworld star Peter Mullan and Lloyd Owen from You, Me And The Apocalypse on Sky both feature.
Peter Tait, who played multiple minor roles in Peter Jackson's third and final The Lord Of The Rings film The Return Of The King, has also been cast.
Peter Jackson's films are set after the events of the upcoming series (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Benjamin Walker from Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Cynthia Addai-Robinson, whose credits include Arrow and Power, also feature on the list.
Other names include Maxim Baldry, Ian Blackburn, Kip Chapman, Anthony Crum, Maxine Cunliffe, Trystan Gravelle, Thusitha Jayasundera, Fabian McCallum, Simon Merrells, Geoff Morrell, Augustus Prew, Alex Tarrant, Leon Wadham and Sara Zwangobani.
Showrunners and executive producers JD Payne and Patrick McKay said: "The world that JRR Tolkien created is epic, diverse, and filled with heart.
"These extraordinarily talented performers, hailing from across the globe, represent the culmination of a multi-year search to find brilliant and unique artists to bring that world to life anew.
"The international cast of Amazon's The Lord Of The Rings series is more than just an ensemble. It is a family.
"We are thrilled to welcome each of them to Middle-earth."
The Impossible filmmaker JA Bayona is directing the first two episodes and serving as executive producer.
The series will be set in the Second Age and explore the events before Jackson's film trilogy, which are based on JRR Tolkien's books.
The Second Age covers a time period of 3,441 years and according to Tolkien's books it was during this time that the Ring Of Power was created.
The era finishes with the defeat of Sauron, placing the events of Amazon's series well before the events of Jackson's films.
The Lord of the Rings,
Showbiz,
Henry,
Amazon Prime TV
Rachel Riley wins libel case against blogger over 'harassment campaign' article
Nigella Lawson names Bitter Orange Tart recipe of the day as Trump leaves office
James Corden celebrates One Day More of Trump with Les Miserables performance
Jake Gyllenhaal calls Donnie Darko 'a film that changed my life'
Van Morrison launches legal challenge against live music ban
Love Island's Amber Gill defends Yewande Biala after bullying claims
Eva Longoria says David Beckham is a 'great cook'


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Physician Dispensing in Florida – Can Money Buy Bad Policy?
One of the most powerful firms in the physician dispensing business is sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to elected officials in Florida. [sub req] The donations, to individual politicians and their affiliated organizations, come as the Florida Senate is considering a bill that would limit reimbursement of physician-dispensed drugs to the cost of the underlying (non-repackaged) drug.
This morning Mike Whitely of WorkCompCentral reported Automated Healthcare Solutions "gave more than $32,500 to Florida state lawmakers and more than $500,000 to committees associated with conservative causes and candidates in 2011…", most of it in the last three months of 2011.
The timing is fortuitous, as Senate bill 668 was moving thru the legislative process last quarter, and is the subject of intense debate. Suffice it to say that passage of SB 688 would greatly reduce the income of companies in the physician dispensing/drug repackaging sector.
The physician dispensing bill made it out of one Senate Committee last week, albeit with a poorly-written and ill-advised amendment.
It's unknown if the flood of cash from AHCS will affect the votes of key Senators, or cause beneficiaries to use parliamentary procedures to block the bill. The forces allied in support of the bill include the Chamber of Commerce, most of the workers comp insurers, and many employers.
And, in an interview with Whitely, a spokesperson for AHCA said the company is not focusing on the issue, saying their donations are "not a means of affecting public policy".
Really. That's what she said. Evidently AHCA's half-million bucks – donated to key legislators with power over SB 688 – is not related to physician dispensing.
That being the case, I'm sure Florida's elected legislators will do the right thing, pass the bill, and thereby reduce Florida employers' work comp premiums by tens of millions of dollars.
Yet another opportunity to watch the ugly, money-driven process that is politics at its worst.