WINCHESTER — Just win baby.
The Umpqua Riverhawks own a pair of close victories to open the Northwest Athletic Conference Southern Region men's basketball season, and hold a share of first place in the standings.
Umpqua's latest triumph, an 80-77 decision over Linn-Benton of Albany Wednesday night at home, took the full 40 minutes to lock up.
The Riverhawks (9-6, 2-0 South) weren't able to celebrate until Linn-Benton's Taylor Jensen missed a running 3-point attempt from the top of the key at the buzzer. That came after Umpqua guard Brock Gilbert missed two free throws with 3.1 seconds left, blowing an opportunity to clinch the win.
The Riverhawks outshot and outrebounded the Roadrunners (8-6, 2-1), finishing .567 (34-for-60) from the field and grabbing nine more boards. Umpqua held a 44-30 advantage in points in the paint.
But there was a huge difference at the free-throw line, where Linn-Benton got 32 attempts compared to just nine for UCC. The Roadrunners failed to cash in at the charity stripe, though, missing 14 times. LBCC shot .476 (10-for-21) in the second half.
Klekas, who had 13 points in the first half, hit three of Umpqua's eight 3-pointers. Shaw added five rebounds and four assists in a solid all-around performance, while John Morrill-Keeler contributed 10 points before fouling out with 6:11 remaining.
But Leeworthy was proud of his club for holding off the Roadrunners in Umpqua's league home opener.
"Linn-Benton is a very quality team, one of the most physical teams in the region," he said. "They've got length and size at every position, and they're deep and play a lot of guys. We responded to it pretty well.
The Riverhawks got some key contributions from their bench, with five players combining for 26 points.
Gilbert had eight points, including two 3s. Oakland High product Cameron Benzel chipped in seven points, five rebounds and two blocked shots in 22 minutes, and Tucker Peterson had seven points and two blocks in 19 minutes.
"Multiple guys stepped up," Leeworthy said.
Nicholas Wolff led the Roadrunners with 20 points and six rebounds. Jensen scored 18 points and made five steals, while Davis and Everett Brandt each had 15 points.
Linn-Benton was missing its leading scorer, sophomore Bailey Evers, who's sidelined with a broken wrist.
Next up for Umpqua is third-ranked Clackamas (12-2, 2-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday at home. The Cougars, who didn't play Wednesday, are averaging 105 points through two league contests.
LINN-BENTON (77) — Nicholas Wolff 9-15 2-2 20, Jensen 6-10 4-5 18, Davis 5-7 5-8 15, Harvey 2-6 0-0 4, Ismay 0-4 0-1 0, Morton 0-2 1-2 1, Cullison 1-3 0-0 2, Chahal 0-1 2-2 2, Wilmes 0-2 0-2 0, Brandt 4-5 4-10 15, Kurahara 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-57 18-32 77.
UMPQUA (80) — Eric Klekas 8-14 3-3 22, Shaw 8-15 0-1 18, Martin 0-2 0-0 0, Mortensen 2-6 0-0 4, Morrill-Keeler 5-9 0-0 10, Gilbert 3-5 0-2 8, Campbell 0-0 0-0 0, Sutton 1-1 0-0 2, Benzel 3-4 0-1 7, Peterson 3-3 1-2 7, Marz 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 34-60 4-9 80.
Halftime — UCC 38-36. 3-Point Goals — LBCC 5-16 (Brandt 3-3, Jensen 2-4, Davis 0-2, Wolff 0-4, Ismay 0-1, Cullison 0-1, Chahal 0-1), UCC 8-19 (Klekas 3-7, Shaw 2-4, Martin 0-2, Morrill-Keeler 0-1, Gilbert 2-3, Benzel 1-2). Total Fouls — LBCC 16, UCC 22. Fouled Out — Morrill-Keeler. Rebounds — LBCC 23 (Wolff 6), UCC 32 (Mortensen 6). Assists — LBCC 8 (Jensen 3), UCC 12 (Shaw 4). Turnovers — LBCC 13, UCC 14.


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People's Cathedral Blog
The People's Cathedral history revealed is a year-long interpretation project by Kate Pitt, Intepretation Officer. The Intepretation Officer's blog can be followed at peoplescathedral.wordpress.com. Recent subjects include: Nine Lessons, Advent Candles and Christmas trees Bumper t… Read More
Added Tuesday 22nd December 2015
Charities in connection with Guildford Cathedral The Commission proposes to make a Scheme (a legal document) for these charities. The Scheme will alter the objects of the charities and enable the disposal of part of the land belonging to them. A copy of the Scheme can be seen at apps.charitycommi… Read More
Added Friday 23rd October 2015
Work starts to weatherproof Cathedral
Following the announcement in March of the award of £500,000 towards the external repairs of Guildford Cathedral, work has now officially commenced. A grant was awarded as part of the Government's World War One Centenary Cathedrals' Repair Fund to reroof and repair the tower … Read More
Added Thursday 10th September 2015
Sponsor a Pipe initiative launched
Guildford Cathedral launches Sponsor a Pipe initiative Thanks to the generosity of so many donors, Guildford Cathedral Appeal has less than £500,000 of its £7m target left to raise. Today the Appeal has launched the next opportunity to be part of the People's Cathedral: &… Read More
Added Friday 1st May 2015
Financial Boost for Weather Battered Cathedral
Guildford Cathedral is thrilled to announce its success in the final round of the Government's First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund which supports vital repairs to some of England's most important historic buildings. A grant of £500,000 has been awarded to reroof and repai… Read More
Added Thursday 26th March 2015
Cathedral Appeal launches its final push
Guildford Cathedral Appeal, which is raising £7m for urgent repairs and development, has reached more than 90% of its target, with a final £500,000 needed. Last night, 150 valued supporters gathered at the Appeal Benefactor Reception to celebrate this success, including the recent awa… Read More
Added Friday 20th February 2015
Heritage Lottery Success
£4.6m Heritage Lottery Fund Success for the People's Cathedral Guildford Cathedral is thrilled to announce the success of its second stage funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), securing an award of £4.6m to contribute to the long term future of this iconic … Read More
Added Tuesday 3rd February 2015

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


CamsFormer is a new DSLR tethering, high-speed trigger, time-lapse, lightning trigger multi-tool. It is currently seeking funds on Kickstarter.
A small, trendy flash trigger for compact DSLR & mirrorless cameras hopes to raise $25k via crowd-funding.
Redsnap is an "infinitely expandable camera trigger" being launched on Kickstarter.
US-based firm RadioPopper is about to release a basic 4-channel wireless flash trigger.


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Raptors lose Landry Fields for three weeks following wrist surgery
By Kurt HelinJan 22, 2014, 12:29 PM EST
The Raptors signing of Landry Fields was another swing-and-a-miss by the previous regime. The Raptors are paying him $6.5 million this season and next, while the jack-of-all-trades player has fallen out of the rotation, with Terrence Ross starting and just returned from injury veteran John Salmons taking up the bench minutes.
Which is why this news isn't really that devastating to the team.
Fields will be out for three weeks after he "underwent a minor surgical procedure yesterday to address the ulnar nerve release on his right wrist," the team announced Wednesday.
Injuries have been part Fields' problem in Toronto — remember he had elbow surgery to help deal with pain from that same nerve.
Announcement: Pro Basketball Talk's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-day $95,000 Fantasy Basketball league for Wednesday night's games. It's $25 to join and first prize is $10,000. Starts at 7pm ET on Wednesday. Here's the FanDuel link.
Fields has played a total of nine minutes in the Raptors last five games combined, and he is 0-of-2 from the field in that stretch. On the season he has averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 assists a game in the 23 games he's gotten into, averaging just less than 12 minutes a night in those contests.
He can start basketball activities again in three weeks but there will not be much of a rush for him to return to the lineup as long as everyone else stays healthy.


We picked up Richard and Chloe at his home in NE Portland and our first stop was for coffee. Posies Bakery is just a couple of minutes from Richard's home. It's light, rustic and charming vibe was the perfect place to photograph. They are both fun and down to earth kind of people, easy to get along with and even easier to like. We had a fun time getting to know them. Here are some of our favorite images from the shoot.


2014 was a great year for Songs of Eretz. Last year, at this time, I made a New Year's resolution to read and present a new poem every day. There were a few days missed, but I'm going to call that promise kept.
Most of the poets published in the Review have had other work published in other prestigious journals. Many have also had poetry collections published. And many more are up-and-coming poets whose voices are just beginning to be heard.
The Review is going strong and here to stay with the work of many poets currently in the queue. The Review also recently featured its first Poet of the Week, Carolyn Martin, who rapidly achieved "popular post" status from the exposure and promotion.
2015 will herald our first Songs of Eretz Poetry Award Contest winner. The contest has been extended through January 15, so it is not too late to try to claim that title. My goal is to make the contest an annual event, perhaps with guest judges, and hopefully for ever increasing amounts of prize money.
There were some sad moments this past year, such as our failed Kickstarter campaign, but we weathered them and emerged stronger. As the year closes, I want to thank each and every one of you for your encouragement and support.
Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present "Books I've Been Meaning To Read" by F. J. Bergmann. Mrs. Bergmann's work appeared previously in the Review where a brief bio may be found: http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2014/06/poetry-review-special-feature-cosmic.html.
books that could show me the way.
on a trip, a book is like a sailing ship.
skewed, littering the continental shelf.
a book that will explain everything.
remedy all the deficiencies of fortune.
Poet's Notes: I worked in a used-book store (not to be confused with a used bookstore) for nearly a decade and spent far too much of my paycheck in the store itself. This was written at a time when the accumulation had gotten particularly out of hand. We have discovered that constructing a paperback-sized shelf at ceiling height all the way around the living room has freed up three bookcases--for more books, of course.
Editor's Note: Now here is a sentiment we bookish folk can certainly appreciate--and nicely expressed, too!
Many Friends of Eretz have requested an extension to the Songs of Eretz Poetry Award Contest deadline, citing the busy holiday season. Your voices have been heard. The deadline to enter (or re-enter!) the Songs of Eretz Poetry Award Contest has been extended through midnight CST on January 15, 2015. See http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/p/songs-of-eretz.html for details.
Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present "Have You Ever Kissed a Firefly?" by Sierra July. Ms. July is a University of Florida graduate, writer, and poet. Her fiction has appeared in Acidic Fiction and Saturday Night Reader, among other places, and is forthcoming in Belladonna Publishing's anthology Strange Little Girls. Her poetry has been featured in both Songs of Eretz venues and The Society of Classical Poets. To follow her progress, check out her website: talestotellinpassing.blogspot.com.
Have You Ever Kissed a Firefly?
And dreamed you could take wing?
Has begun to nibble, then gnaw, then saw?
By having instead kissed you.
Poet's Notes: This was written with the thought of how love is said to make you warm and give you a glow. One of my favorite bugs is the firefly, and I always wanted to incorporate them into my work somehow. One day I realized this was the perfect way.
Editor's Note: What an original, lovely conceit for a love poem! Bioluminescent!
Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present "4 AM" by Jeremy Jusek. Mr. Jusek's work has been published previous in the Review here: http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-songsof-eretz-poetry-review-poem-of.html where a brief bio may be found.
in tune with my knees.
Poet's Notes: Now that I live in Parma, a major suburb of Cleveland, I'm away from trees and surrounded by neighbors. I feel deprived of some fundamental things. Privacy. Calm weekends. Stars. There are many things I love about Cleveland, but I still feel the need to periodically capture the serenity that I miss so dearly. This is one of those attempts.
Editor's Note: I like the Japanese short form feel here as well as the crisp images and the metaphor about the heartbeat.
"Science Fiction Poetry Spokesperson" Diane Severson Mori included the November 2014 issue of Songs of Eretz Poetry E-zine in her "Speculative Poetry Round Up" in Amazing Stories http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2014/12/speculative-poetry-round-december-2014/.
Amazing Stories was the world's first science fiction magazine and may be found in its new "social magazine for fans" form here: http://amazingstoriesmag.com. The stated goal of this current iteration is to bring back the magazine in a form similar to what it once was. Support this cause (it is free to do so) by going here: http://amazingstoriesmag.com/registration/.
Has Entered Its Final Week!
Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present "The Boatman" by Christopher Hivner. Mr. Hivner's work has appeared previously in the Review where a brief biography may be found: http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2014/12/poem-of-day-i-wrote-this-one-for-no.html.
as he traced the shadows.
Poet's Notes: I've always loved the silhouette of Parliament among the swirl of color in Monet's Houses of Parliament, Sunset (one of the series is pictured). But the longer I stared at the painting I couldn't help but wonder about the man in the boat. Who was he? Why was he on the water? The boat is small so it seemed like a fisherman's boat or at least one belonging to a workingman of some kind. With the sun going down I saw him trying to get home to his family, passing by the impressive buildings with equal amounts of wonder and disdain.
Editor's Note: This is a good ekphrastic poem. I am willing to wager that most observers of the paintings do not give much thought to the boatman, so it is interesting that Mr. Hivner chose to tell a story from the boatman's perspective.
The Songs of Eretz Poetry Review Poem of the Day for December 21, 2014 is "out of orbit" by John Reinhart. Mr. Reinhart's work has appeared frequently in the Review. He also has been published in the November 2014 issue of Songs of Eretz Poetry E-zine where a brief bio may be found http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/p/e-zine_3.html.
Poet's Notes: Rocks are great metaphors--until someone throws one through your window. And what say does the rock have in any of this? Careening some unmarked course, biding its time with more universal concerns, or orbiting patiently until the window opens, biding its time until it's time. The miracle of meaning is layered on the miracle of language, which is layered on the miracle of sound, which sounds great when the surfaces are stone, collecting their own stories for another time.
Editor's Note: I like what Mr. Reinhart has done here with the juxtaposition of rocks in space, the rock of earth, and the trees. Reinhart's thoughtful use of alliteration greatly enhances the aural quality of the poem.
Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present "Isaac: Chapters One to Wondering" by Carolyn Martin, Poet of the Week. A brief biography of the poet may be found here: http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-songs-of-eretz-poet-of-week-for.html.
to understand the voice his father hears.
more gifts than hearts can hold.
and speaks again the laughter of my name.
"To worship," was his ploy – that strong old man.
to pay my father's Lord his chosen due.
Naiveté is a blessing on such days.
the sighing in his old man's chosen face.
and heard a voice call for the sacrifice.
"Heaven has its humor," so they say.
to see the joke in flames that I survived.
"A test," is all my father ever says.
Inside our tent my mother laughs my name.
They hold the stars and sands as their rewards.
and the presents of my parents' laughing Lord.
Poet's Notes: As a young nun and new poet in the early 70s, I tasked myself with rewriting biblical stories from a woman's point of view. The story of Sarah and Abraham was my first successful attempt. I loved the scene where Sarah laughs in her tent when she overhears three messengers tell Abraham that he and she are going to have a child. And, I was tickled by the fact that their son Isaac was given a name that in Hebrew sounds like laughter.
This led me to "Isaac: Chapters One to Wondering." To prove his faithfulness to God, Abraham is commanded to take his only son up a mountainside and sacrifice him. While Abraham is lauded for his obedience in following these instructions, I wondered how Isaac felt about God and his father. This poem written in his voice is no laughing matter.
After reading "Isaac" at a local temple a few years ago, a man well versed in Hebrew Scriptures informed me that, after that mountain trek, Isaac never spoke to his father again.
Editor's Note: This is an interesting take on the old story from the POV of Isaac. Martin's plays on the Hebrew meaning of Isaac's name--mocking, joyous, ironic, bitter--are well done. "Isaac: Chapters One to Wondering" was first published in Sisters Today, 1975.
Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present "Salieri, after a performance of Mozart's The Magic Flute at Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden, October, 1791" by Carolyn Martin, Poet of the Week. A brief biography of the poet may be found here: http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-songs-of-eretz-poet-of-week-for.html.
Poet's Notes: A poetry workshop assignment to watch the movie Amadeus inspired this poem. The teacher asked us to focus on the scene where Salieri sits in a balcony half-hidden by red drapes as he watches Mozart's fiery performance. I must admit I played the famous coloratura's aria from The Magic Flute over and over while writing this.
Editor's Note: I enjoyed this treatment of the subject and was definitely reminded of when I saw the film Amadeus long ago. I strongly suggest that readers go here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ODfuMMyss to cue up the coloratura's aria and listen to it while reading the poem. The poem was originally published in Carolyn Martin, Finding Compass (Portland, OR: Queen of Wands Press, 2011).
"Late" by Dr. Gordon Appears in "Mirror Dance"
Think of Songs of Eretz for "Giving Tuesday"


It's been a rough couple of months. Living in Seattle was a total thrill for the first month and a half. I was busy and excited and making plans and meeting people and feeling hopeful about this next phase of life. I felt pangs of homesickness, sure, but we had a few visitors lined up when we first got here, so there were little bits of home to look forward to for a while.
Then I got pregnant. And nauseous. In case you've never heard (because I don't recall anyone ever telling me), the term "morning sickness" is sort of the most evil misnomer ever invented. I pictured having to puke occasionally in the morning, but then feeling better (like you normally do after you puke) for the rest of the day. I was legitimately constantly nauseous 24/7 for the better part of 3 months and it was rough. I don't meant to complain, because I am thrilled to be fortunate enough to get pregnant and stay pregnant without any secondary interventions. But the physical toll the first trimester took on my body really messed with my mind. I had some dark days.
I found myself longing for the comforts of home - the things and people and places I've always known. When some of your favorite foods are simply not available (anyone know where to find good green chile or a good bagel sandwich in Seattle?), some of your best people are only available via some sort of device, and your mom and dad's couch is 100% available but 1300 miles away, it's hard to feel like everything's going to be okay. It was hard to feel hopeful about much of anything, least of all my ability to tackle the transition to motherhood well. Sweet Dann endured the hardest days with more grace and patience and gentleness and kindness than I'll ever deserve.
Luckily I'm learning not to be too shy about owning up to my anxiety and mental health needs, and with the help of some high quality albeit very new friends, I've found a therapist who is helping me navigate this transition to an almost entirely different life. In case I've never said it to your face, I believe time and money spent on good counseling is the best investment I've ever made. And I own Apple stock.
During a stretch of some of the hardest days, Dann and a couple of other people suggested that I take a trip back to Denver on my own and stay for a whole week. Since I don't have a job or any other real commitments here, I agreed it was probably a good idea.
I ended up with nine days in Denver and it was so good. I got to stay with my parents and each of my sisters for a few nights. I got to eat all the food I've been craving but haven't been able to find here in Seattle. I got to spend good, quality time with so many friends I've been missing, and you know what? They all figuratively fed me yogurt with a spoon and reminded me who I am.
On my last morning in Denver, I had breakfast at Snooze with my sis Kate and two of my besties, APK and Kimbo. While we were talking about ways for me to enjoy my time here in Seattle a bit more (until this baby comes, anyway - trust me I'm aware that everything's going to change again come April), Kate straight-up said: "You have to leave your apartment for more than 30 minutes every day. And not when you and Dann have plans together. Like, you have to get out and do something on your own." And that was our Samantha/Carrie moment. The moment she said "You have to" and I knew that I'd known it all along but needed someone outside of myself to look me sternly in the face and say it with love.
And then, in true servant-hearted fashion, APK said she was going to create a Seattle Bucket List for me. She knows (as do you, most likely) that I thrive when I have structure and clearly defined goals to tackle. She knows that there is a lot to do and see and experience here in Seattle, and she doesn't want me to miss out. Her idea quickly evolved into an editable google doc shared with a few other friends as well, and I'm here today to share some of the craziness they came up with in order to help hold myself accountable. I'm really excited to get started on it (though I'll probably wait to do the Space Needle/Macklemore stunt until I'm more obviously pregnant because OMG what a story to tell this babe when he or she is older).
- Kiss Dann in the rain.
- Take the clipper to Victoria and to Vancouver! Get your Canada on girl!!
C.S. Lewis wrote in The Four Loves: "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival." I was so deeply thankful to be reminded of this by my friends when I was in Denver, and I'm thankful today for their list of "You have to"s here in Seattle. Time to get to work!


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Home/Blogs/Observations of an Expat: Sport and Politics
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Observations of an Expat: Sport and Politics
Since the start of modern international sport, competitions between national teams have been a tool to score political points.
Illustration Courtesy: Time Educational Supplement
The sport had been the source to showcase achievements; make statements; isolate enemies and win public approval from home audiences.
By Tom Arms
For those World Cup fans insisting that politics has no place in sport or that sport and politics should be kept separate—forget it. You are backing an unwinnable horse.
The fact is that in the public imagination physical prowess on the playing field or in the stadium is equated with national success. And projecting the image of national success is an important part of politics.
Almost since the start of modern international sport, competitions between national teams have been a tool to score political points; showcase achievements; make statements; isolate enemies and win public approval from home audiences.
During the 1934 World Cup in Italy. Benito Mussolini saw the tournament as the perfect opportunity to promote muscular fascism.
The downward spiral probably started with the 1934 World Cup in Italy. Benito Mussolini saw the tournament as the perfect opportunity to promote muscular fascism. But to do that he needed the Italian team to win. So the game schedule was organized to suit the Italian side and referees were personally chosen by the Italian Duce. Italy won.
Encouraged by the success of his fellow dictator, Adolf Hitler set out to mirror his success at the 1936 Munich Olympics. These were meant to showcase the superiority of the Aryan race as well as Nazi Germany. He was, of course, thwarted by the Black American athlete Jesse Owens.
Conflict between states has led to violence in the stadium. The 1956 Olympics were held only a few weeks before the Soviet invasion of Hungary and were dominated by the "blood in the water" water polo semi-finals between the Soviet Union and Hungary. There were numerous clashes between the two sides which culminated in top Hungarian scorer Ervin Zadov being struck in the head by the Soviet player Valentin Propokov.
Zadov staggered from the pool with blood pouring from the side of his face. A riot involving players, officials and spectators was only narrowly averted when the Russian team was escorted away from the pool. Hungary won the re-match.
Throughout the Cold War the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States regularly affected the sporting calendar. In 1980, the US organized a boycott of the Moscow Olympics in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and in 1984 the Soviets and their Warsaw Pact allies boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics in protest against the boycott of the Moscow Olympics.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics were seen as marking the return of China to the world stage. The Russian federation was the inheritor state for the Soviet Union and in 2014 it hosted the Sochi Winter Olympics to mark its return after decades of political and economic turmoil following the collapse of the Soviet state.
The Sochi Olympics are remembered for two things: the staggering record-breaking price tag of $51 billion and the revelation that Russia was guilty of a state-sponsored doping regime. The discovery of Russia's doping activities has led to Russian teams being banned from subsequent Olympic Games.
Apartheid was a major issue at both World Cup and the Olympics and led to South Africa being banned from both events between 1964 and 1992. Sporting contacts with South Africa in other sports was also a major issue. The decision of New Zealand's All Black rugby team to tour South Africa led to a boycott of the 1976 Olympics by African countries.
International sport has also been used to make positive political statements.
International sport has also been used to make positive political statements. The 1948 London Sometimes there were overt positive political elements associated sport. The London Olympics were a celebration of a return to normality after World War Two. And the Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics in South Korea were marked by a joint North-South Korean team in the opening ceremony and in the ice hockey tournament. Unfortunately, tensions quickly returned to the Korean Peninsula after the games.
Many like to hark back to the good old days of classical Greece when the Olympics meant a truce throughout the Peloponnesian Peninsula. But even then politics infected sports. The quadrennial gathering in the shadow of Mount Olympus was used to forge and announce alliances and athletes became symbols of a city state's greatness just as they are national symbols today.
Conspicuous by their silence in their opening World Cup match was the Iranian football team. They stood with sealed lips as their national anthem was played. At the same time, and throughout the match, protesters dotted around the stadium held up signs demanding freedom for Iranian women. It was their opportunity to draw attention to the estimated 14,000 people who have been arrested since mid-September by the Iranian authorities. They are part of a wave of rebellion which seems to grow bigger every day. The spark that lit this rebellion was the death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amin. She had been arrested by the morality police for not wearing her headscarf properly. Since then thousands upon thousands of men and women have taken to the streets across Iran, demonstrating, burning headscarves and even attacking police stations. Very few films have been made of the riots. The authorities have banned foreign news organizations. The Iranian team and the protesters' in the stands were using the presence of the world's media in Doha to publicize the plight of Iranians because they could not do so in their own country. Free speech in Iran was a problem under the Shah and it has become worse since the 1979 revolution. The organization Prison Atlas reckons that there were 4.890 Iranian political prisoners before the demonstrations began. The country is second only to China in the number of death penalties carried out—425 so far this year, according to Amnesty International. Volker Turk, the brand new head of the UNHCR said this week that Iran is in a "full-fledged human rights crisis." He called on the ruling mullahs to end the unnecessary use of force. Khadijeh Karimi, Iran's Deputy Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, responded: "Western countries lack the moral credibility to preach to others on human rights."
When Ukrainians wander into the forests this winter it will not be to collect Christmas trees, or holly, ivy or mistletoe. It will be to gather desperately needed firewood to stay warm and perhaps snow and ice to melt for drinking water. The World Health Organization reckons that 10 million Ukrainians—roughly a quarter of the population—will be without electricity and water this winter because of Russian shelling of power and pumping stations. The areas most affected by the Russian attacks are Kyiv, the port city of Odessa, the western city of Vinnytsia and Sumy in the northwest. On Thursday, the residents of Kyiv awoke to an unwelcome blanket of snow. The white stuff falls on Kyiv an average of 31 days every year and the snowfalls range from an inch to a foot. The mean winter time temperature is -1 degree centigrade. London is nine degrees.
An Iron Curtain, to paraphrase, Winston Churchill, is descending across key borders of Europe. But there is a key difference between the ironmongery of 1945 and its 21st century equivalent. The former was to keep people trapped behind it. The contemporary version is designed to keep people out. It started in Hungary in 2015 when Viktor Orban constructed a fence to keep out Syrian refugees. Then, this time last year, Russian ally Belarus decided to weaponise illegal immigrants and flew tens of thousands of them from Syria and Turkey to border crossings with Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. All three countries erected fences on their border with Belarus. The longest was the Polish-Belarussian border cost $350 million. The Lithuanian fence cost $178 million. Now a new fence is going up, but this one is designed mainly to keep out Russian soldiers. It is along the 200 kilometer border between Poland and the heavily militarized Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. A quarter of Kaliningrad's 1 million residents are military personnel. The enclave provides Russia with its only ice-free Baltic port as well as a forward military base. There is a problem for the Russians, however, the only land access to Kaliningrad is through the NATO countries of Poland and Lithuania via what is known as the Suwalki Gap. Surrounded Kaliningrad therefore is both a problem and an opportunity for both Russia and Nato.
I was wrong. A few weeks ago I wrote a blog describing Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro as an unlikely hero because he appeared to implicitly concede defeat in the recent presidential elections. He was expected to take a Trump-like position and claim that victory was stolen from him. He has now done just that. But there is another hero emerging from Brazil, the head of the Electoral Board, Alexandre de Moraes. He has rejected Bolsonaro's claims and fined his Liberal Party $4.3 million for "bad faith litigation." He went on to condemn Bolsonaro and his party for "incentivizing anti-democratic protest movements and creating tumults." Bolsonaro's claims centre on the use of electronic voting machines which he says can produce false results. He wants 250,000 machine votes nullified. One problem with Bolsonaro's claim is that the machines were in use for 22 years before he was elected president. He didn't complain about them in 2018.
It would seem that Donald Trump's problems just continue to pile-up. This week the Supreme Court ordered that the Internal Revenue Service send his tax returns to Congress; Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate Trump's involvement in the Capitol Hill riots and possession of top secret documents and the Trump Organization went on trial in Manhattan on tax fraud charges. Finally, top it all off, Wall Street donors are starting to dump him. Billionaire Republican hedge fund manager Ken Griffin was among those who announced this week that he was switching his millions to Florida governor Ron de Santis. Trump, he said, was "a three-time loser." This may not be as big a blow as one might think. It may seem counter-intuitive, but Wall Street as a whole is not a Trump fan. In 2018 its denizens donated only $18 million to his campaign compared to $74 million for Biden. Generally speaking, they are wary of Trump's talk of a trade war with China; curbs on cheap immigrant labor and repatriating American businesses to be run by more expensive American labor. But Trump is not dependent on Wall Street to fund his war chest. He has already raised $100 million for the primary races. Mind you, he will need a lot more if he wins the nomination. The total bill for the 2020 presidential election race (for both parties combined) was $7 billion.
Tom Arms is the foreign editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and the author of "America Made in Britain."
#Politics China Russia sindhcourier Sports
The colonial burden of Pakistan's judiciary
Music, Passion, and Powerful Women
The women and girls sold as brides in Kashmir
Sinking Himalayan town leaves thousands of homes at risk
Vietnam's Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom
The other Cleopatra


Is It Really a Sea Animal?
This introduction to some surprising creatures features leveled text and color photographs.
RI.1.10. With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1.


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13 Eerie
Director:Lowell Dean
Lead Cast: Katharine Isabelle, Michael Shanks, Brendan Fehr, Brendan Fletcher, Nick Moran
Synopsis:Six ambitious forensic undergrads are pitted against one another on a scientific expedition to a remote island, vying to win an esteemed trainee position with the FBI. Unbeknownst to everyone, the site was formally used as an illegal biological testing grounds for life-term criminals who were left for dead. Behind the mission is Professor Tomkins, who together with FBI agent Veneziano have devised a series of experiments to test the would-be agents to their limits. Three mutilated cadavers taken from the medical labs have been planted around the island in a reconstructive test which the undergrads will be assigned tasks in order to discover what may have caused the fatal injuries.Even before the undergrads have started their experiments, the zombie criminal convicts are systematically hunting them down and what started as a fight for an esteemed career in the FBI is now a fight for their very lives.
Writer: Christian Piers Betley
Love, Rosie


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Education & Programs Tag
12 May PIFS Artists Shine Again!
Published on May 12, 2021 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
The Putnam Indian Field School held its annual Art Expo last weekend. Children and their families were able to visit the school at assigned times in class "pods," in order to minimize the possibility of spreading germs. Each class had spent weeks exploring a topic of interest, and working on related in-depth projects. Along the way, teachers noted the children's ideas and guided them through the process, supported and encouraged by the school's studio art...
02 Sep Broadway Bound
Published on September 2, 2020 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
Do you have a budding Broadway star on your hands? Is your child happiest when they are belting out the latest hits on the radio? Have you always wanted to sing but were too nervous to try? Take voice lessons from an accomplished Broadway actress and singer Offering FaceTime and Zoom voice lessons for kids and adults (ages 9 and up) Learn proper vocal technique, acting a song, and improvisation in a creative and nurturing environment ...
19 Feb Dealing With Threats To Children In The Home
Published on February 19, 2020 in Education & Programs, Guest Contributors by PartywithMoms
Written & Contributed by - Lenore Broach From The UK Photo Credit - Pixabay A Party with Moms article "It's Summer! Do You Know Where Your Children Are?" discussed how playing outside has evolved, with parents now keen to account for their offspring's every moment of the day. In our parent's day, children could be out from dawn until dusk and not be at risk, but that's not acceptable in the modern world. Similarly, attitudes have changed around the home....
28 Jan Putnam Indian Field School – Children Hone Their Skills at a New Play Area
Published on January 28, 2020 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
In late October, the Putnam Indian Field announced plans to replace the outworn Smokey's Bounders play structures with new and challenging designs, made from natural materials. Working with Environment Design, the firm that created the Stamford Museum's Nature Playground, and inspired by the late Headmaster Fred Wierdsma's original plan, the school is now happy to say that Phase 1 of the project has been completed. The children are enjoying the new zip line, the log balance...
27 Mar Putnam Indian Field School Summer Camp 2019
Published on March 27, 2019 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
A nursery school like no other, PIFS offers the perfect summer experience for a young child. All facilities and grounds are specifically designed for 2 – 5 year olds, with classrooms and play yards full of wonderful, age appropriate activities. PIFS staff know how to introduce a young child to the first school experience, and to make a successful transition from home to school. They combine comfort and assurance with interesting and exciting activities that any...
20 Nov The Tradition Continues…
Published on November 20, 2018 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
Article By Marianne Riess Photo By Marianne Riess Thanksgiving lunch at Putnam Indian Field School has always been special. Alba and Susanna carried on the tradition started by Nolda Joseph, serving delicious turkey, stuffing and gravy as well as potatoes, acorn squash, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce. Yummy desserts, too. Thanks Alba and Susanna for all the hard work and thanks Nolda for the inspiration. A special lunch for a special school. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! www.pifs.net Phone – 203 –...
24 Oct The Pumpkin Patch Is Back!
Published on October 24, 2018 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
It's an annual tradition now. In the middle of October, the trucks roll in delivering the pumpkins and hay bales that transform the Putnam Indian Field School play yard into a wonderful outdoor classroom with so much to learn and do! The hay bales make a wonderful maze for climbing on, running through or jumping off. The children can't believe their good fortune, or get enough time in the outdoors. The air is crisp and cool,...
17 Oct Looking For Full Day Care For Your Very Little One?
Little Friends Child Care & Early Education 25 Valley Drive, Greenwich, CT 06831 Little Friends in Greenwich offers full day care and early education year-round for infants as young as 6 weeks! The popular childcare center also offers year-round full day classes for Toddler/Twos, 3, 4, and 5 year-olds. Little Friends is open Monday - Friday from 6:30 AM until 6:30 PM. They are the perfect choice for working parents. They only close 11 days a year -...
01 Oct New Workshop Series – Females Finding Finance by Catamount Wealth Mgt. & Zaniac
Published on October 1, 2018 in Education & Programs, Mom of the Week, Mom Of The Week News by PartywithMoms
Brought to you by 3 Moms of the Week! Camilla Gazal, Flavia Naslausky of Zaniac and Laurie Stefanowicz of Catamount Wealth Management. 100% of the workshop fees will be donated to Girls with Impact. Register via email - greenwich@zaniaclearning.com ...
25 Sep Calling All Moms – Ovarian Cancer Lecture Sept. 26th At The YWCA In Greenwich
Published on September 25, 2018 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
Research shows that young moms in their 30s and 40s are most at risk. It is important to educate yourself to prevent and/or survive this awful and very serious disease. Admission is free. Click here to register via email Mom of the Week, Kaile Zagger has joined forces with T.E.A.L. to bring ovarian cancer awareness to Connecticut. The Town of Greenwich will proclaim September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in honor of Kaile's mother, Marilyn Trahan Josephs, who succumbed to the disease...
09 Aug Science Project – Water Splashes
Published on August 9, 2018 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
Guest Contributor - Tricia Edgar Have you ever noticed the way a dropped stone makes a fun pattern in a pond or lake? What's the science behind these splashy occurrences? Find out with this watery project! Problem - Does water ripple in different ways depending on the shape of the droppedobject? Materials - Square, rectangular, circular, and triangular pieces of wood Scale Bathtub Camera Towel Notebook Pencil Procedure - Get ready to splash! First, make four different splashing tools out of...
14 Jun The Putnam Indian Field School 40th Reunion Party Was A Blast
Published on June 14, 2018 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
What was originally predicted to be a wet Saturday turned warm and sunny just in time for the Putnam Indian Field School's 40th Anniversary celebration. Head of School, Susan Donaghy and Former Head Marianne Riess welcomed the over 300 people who showed up to connect with old friends and share memories. Parents and former children (now adults) were there from the first classes in 1978 and on. Past and present teachers were happy to reminisce...
19 May Campus Kids – The Weekday Sleep-Away Camp!
Sleep-away camp Monday through Friday and home with the family on weekends. Transportation included. Boys and Girls, ages 7-15, from NY, NJ and CT June 25 – August 10 Enroll for 2 weeks up to 7 weeks Located on the beautiful, rural 525-acre campus of Blair Academy, in Blairstown, NJ, one hour west of the GWB and 12 miles from the Delaware Water Gap. Campers choose their own activities every day. Athletic activities include swimming, gymnastics, archery, fencing, ultimate Frisbee, skateboarding, golf,...
19 Apr A Walk Down Memory Lane at Putnam Indian Field School
Published on April 19, 2018 in Education & Programs, Parties & Events by PartywithMoms
2018 is Putnam Indian Field School's 40th year, and to celebrate, the school is throwing a party for former parents and alumni on June 9th, from 4 - 7 PM on the school grounds. It has the potential to be a very big bash with so many parents and their grown up children invited. Refreshments will be provided by the Boxcar Cantina truck serving its New Mexican food and delicious margaritas, and by Aux Delices serving...
09 Apr Putnam Indian Field School Summer Camp!
Published on April 9, 2018 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
It is so important that the first school experience be a happy and positive one, enabling a child to build self-confidence and independence. PIFS knows how to help children transition successfully from home to school. Staffed by caring teachers from the PIFS staff and other area nursery schools, the PIFS Summer Camp features sand and water play, art, imaginative play, music and nature experiences and lots of outdoor time with other young children. The PIFS...
21 Nov Putnam Indian Field School Thanksgiving Lunch
Nolda and Alba have done it again! Each year, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the school's chefs plan a wonderful and healthy lunch for the children and teachers that is above and beyond any concept of school food. Each year, the recipes change as new vegetables, different stuffings, and side dishes are tried out. [caption id="attachment_8941" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Chris carves more turkey as the first lunch group enjoys their meal.[/caption] Today's lunch was no exception, as the...
23 Oct Putnam Indian Field School's Pumpkin Patch is Back!
For two weeks every October, children at PIFS have a glorious outdoor classroom, known as the Pumpkin Patch. The skies are blue, the air is warm enough to not require coats, the leaves are turning bright colors, and their play yard is transformed by the presence of a hay bale maze, hay jumps, a teepee made of cornstalks and over 100 bright orange pumpkins of all sizes. The children love moving the pumpkins all over...
04 Oct Curtain Call's Saturday Classes for Kids
Published on October 4, 2017 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
Budding Actor's Workshop (ages 5-7) Instructor - Tony Republicano Saturdays - 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9 A variety pack of acting tools and techniques for beginners just breaking into 'the biz' and experienced students looking to sharpen their skills: improv, scene-study, auditioning, TV and film acting and more! $250 for all eight-weeks Let's Put On a Show (ages 8-10) Instructor - Shannon-Courtney Denihan Saturdays - 10:00 to 11:30 AM 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2,...
02 Oct At 40, Putnam Indian Field School is Forever Young and Better Than Ever
Where does the time go? Many long-time Greenwich residents can remember when their 30 and even 40 year old children started school at PIFS. This September is the school's 40th year of existence, and there are always new developments. The school gets greener and greener. The gardens planted by the children in the spring are full of many different kinds of tomatoes, cukes, lettuces, peppers, beans, and potatoes, as well as pumpkins and melons. These organically...
21 Sep Social Media and Children – By Sharon H. Press, Ph.D.
Published on September 21, 2017 in Guest Contributors by PartywithMoms
When your child enters the middle school years, you enter a new stage of parenting with new challenges. You need to think about social media and how to make sure your children are safe as they become users and consumers of social media platforms. Being concerned about social media and how it is impacting your child makes you a good parent. However, it is hard to know how to teach your child the proper and...
28 Aug Going Back to School Advice from Dr. Sharon Press
Published on August 28, 2017 in Guest Contributors by PartywithMoms
The start of school can be stressful for children, mothers, and fathers. There are concerns about new teachers and new schools. Children worry about challenging academic schedules, and concerns about peer relationships and social pressures. As a parent, there are things you can do to make the transition to school easier for you and your children. -Notice your own anxiety level and manage it. Maintain a positive attitude about summer ending and school starting. Make a...
10 Aug Introducing Dr. Sharon H. Press, Child and Adolescent Psychologist
In addition to a successful practice in Princeton, NJ, Dr. Sharon Press has opened a new office in Westport, CT providing diagnosis and psychotherapy for children, adolescents and adults. The services she offers include: Individual Therapy Family therapy for children and adolescents Psychological and educational testing for children, adolescents and adults Consultation with lawyers, regarding children's needs in the divorcing process and the development of parenting plans for divorcing families Marriage counseling Parents who have worked...
17 Jul Calling All Budding Actors & Actresses
Published on July 17, 2017 in Education & Programs by PartywithMoms
SUMMERSTOCK JUNIOR FOR AGES 6-11 (two, separate, two-week sessions): Session One: July 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31 and August 1, 2, 3, 4, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM with a showcase performance on August 4, 2017 at 3:00 PM Session Two: August 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM with a showcase performance on August 18, 2017 at 3:00 PM Summerstock Junior provides a strong foundation in acting...
14 Jul Your Child Will Learn to Swim at the Purchase College Aquatic Program
Swimming is a life skill, one that is highly valued by parents. Most of them would love to have their children develop into strong swimmers. Good swimming skills not only make a child safer, but will also breed confidence. At the Purchase College Aquatic Program, your children will have fun while developing into little "fish." This summer the program offers two-week intensive sessions at all skill levels. At Level 1, a child will learn to put...
29 Jun Why Choose Unisex Clothing?
Written Exclusively for partywithmoms.com by our Guest Contributor, JenB's Home With childrenswear steadily growing over the course of the last decade, it has finally become ripe for innovation and fresh ideas. Over the past five years, Business of Fashion reported that the industry has grown by over 10%, and the current figures have exceeded predicted market growth. This means that the opportunity—and pressure—for brands to adapt to different demands from parents everywhere is huge, and this is...
19 Jun Let Your Child Act Out This Summer!
CURTAIN CALL'S SUMMERSTOCK CREATIVE THEATRE FOR AGES 11-16 (in cooperation with The City of Stamford) June 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and July 5, 6, 7, 2017 from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (No classes July 3 and 4, 2017) Tap into your creative instincts and build confidence, trust and teamwork thru Improvisation while also exploring techniques in classic and contemporary performance thru Shakespeare and Modern Scene Acting! The session culminates in a showcase performance July 7, 2017 at...
24 Apr Every Child Is An Artist
Published on April 24, 2017 in Education & Programs, Giving Back by PartywithMoms
Every year, parents and staff are amazed at the art the children of Putnam Indian Field School create for their Art Show. This past weekend was no exception, as the school was transformed into a very colorful art and science museum. The children work very hard on their creations. Some are individual expressions; others are the result of longtime group projects. An example of a long-term project was one Pre K's "cleaning and security robot." It...


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Highlander Partners Announces the Acquisition of DZYNE Technologies, a Leading Designer and Developer of Advanced Unmanned Aircraft Systems
January 5, 2023 – Dallas, TX – Highlander Partners, L.P. ("Highlander"), a leading private investment firm, today announced the acquisition of DZYNE Technologies ("DZYNE"). DZYNE is a high-growth technology firm focused on designing and manufacturing a variety of cutting-edge Unmanned Aircraft Systems ("UAS") for the U.S. Department of Defense ("DoD") and various other domestic and international government agencies.
Since its inception in 2012, through considerable investment and advanced research and development, DZYNE has pushed technology boundaries and brought significant innovation to the UAS industry. DZYNE has focused on developing UAS platforms and a portfolio of complementary technologies that provide its systems with autonomous capabilities and allow for rapid manufacturing. Specializing in advanced intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance ("ISR") capabilities but with technologies capable of providing a broad range of solutions, DZYNE has grown into a leader in long-endurance, highly technical UAS solutions which are in use worldwide. DZYNE supports its UAS platforms with proprietary artificial intelligence technologies that provide its aircraft with advanced full-motion video and video processing, autonomous navigation, and targeting and tracking capabilities.
The global threat environment is quickly changing how the U.S. and its allies execute military operations. Recent global events have shifted the focus to near-peer threats, which require advanced UAS capabilities geared toward contested and denied airspace operations. These threats are driving demand for unmanned drones that are able to operate for extended periods, perform multiple missions, and be expendable when needed. The DoD has established a goal that over half of its aircraft fleet will be unmanned by 2030 and much of this growth will be delivered by modular, long-endurance unmanned aircraft.
In 2022, High Point Aerotechnologies ("High Point") was formed as a division of Highlander to assist in civilian and military defense investments specifically related to the rapidly evolving UAS/Counter-UAS ("C-UAS") sectors. Highlander has quickly made significant progress with this initiative. DZYNE represents Highlander's second related acquisition and establishes its UAS platform, complementing the C-UAS platform announced in late 2022. The assembled High Point team now consists of a variety of established leaders with backgrounds in defense, government, and technology, each of whom will assist DZYNE on tactical opportunities, government relations, regulatory and legislative matters, emerging technologies and growth initiatives.
The existing management shareholders will maintain a significant ownership stake in DZYNE going forward and continue to lead the company. Dr. Thomas Strat, CEO of DZYNE, commented, "The DZYNE team is thrilled to join forces with Highlander to continue the growth of our company and our flagship UAS platforms. We believe that Highlander and the focused High Point team bring the necessary government and military relationships, industry experience, manufacturing and operational expertise, and long-term strategic approach to support us in driving DZYNE to the next level."
Matt McCue, Co-Founder and President of DZYNE commented, "We have spent a decade developing some of the leading UAS platforms in the world with cutting-edge technological capabilities. Given the current global political situation, the need for advanced UAS capabilities is more pressing than ever. We believe DZYNE's solutions provide the DoD and its allies with the relevant capabilities needed to protect lives moving forward. Highlander and its High Point division share our vision and we look forward to partnering with them to continue to rapidly grow DZYNE and our worldwide impact."
"We have been keenly focused on developing a leading presence in both the UAS and Counter-UAS markets," commented Ben Slater, Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Highlander. "DZYNE, with its highly innovative programs and exquisite technology, is a unique and disruptive force in the emergent UAS industry. Highlander is well-equipped to support its many high-growth initiatives and capture a very significant market opportunity. DZYNE's outstanding capabilities are a result of its greatest asset, its people, and we are thrilled to partner with the entire DZYNE team."
Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander, added, "At its core, DZYNE is a pioneering R&D and technology company. The DZYNE team's work over the last decade to develop some of the leading UAS platforms in the market has been remarkable. Its groundbreaking technologies are frontrunning development in this ever-changing landscape. We have been incredibly impressed with what this world-class team has built, and we look forward to working together to take the business to new heights."
Houlihan Lokey acted as financial advisor and SheppardMullin served as legal counsel to DZYNE. Highlander was represented by Baker McKenzie as legal counsel. Regions Bank provided financing for the transaction.
About DZYNE Technologies
DZYNE is a high-growth, leading technology developer and manufacturer of Group I-V UAS platforms. The Company's platforms provide advanced intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities and the Company specializes in the rapid design, development, and deployment of advanced manned and unmanned systems. DZYNE integrates artificial intelligence into its operational aircraft with state-of-art payloads and end effects through concept creation, rapid prototypes, and finished products and can provide its aircraft with advanced full motion video and video processing, autonomous navigation, and targeting and tracking capabilities. For more information, visit www.dzynetech.com.
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with approximately $3 billion of assets under management. The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience. Highlander Partners uses a buy and build investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow both organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.


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Articles Deals Guides London West End Musicals Plays Tips & Tricks
6 of the best West End shows to see in large groups
Taking large groups to a show can be daunting for anyone. Whether it's school groups or just a bunch of friends, it's difficult finding a show that everybody will like. Take the fear out of a large West End booking with our list of group-friendly shows, guaranteed to please even the toughest critic! as well as the best ways to book giving you discounts of up to 50%! If you're looking to make a large group booking but don't know where to start, our guide has tips to make sure that booking tickets is as easy as possible.
West End shows perfect for groups
You can't go wrong with The Lion King. Set in the magnificent Serengeti plains, Disney's multi award-winning musical will redefine your expectations of theatre. The beloved film has been transformed into a spectacular theatrical experience bursting with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting puppetry that will make you feel as if you're wandering through the Pride Lands. Watch this moving story of Simba, son of King Mufasa, as he grows from wide-eyed cub to King of the Pride Lands, albeit not without an epic power struggle along the way from his uncle Scar. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre since 1999, don't miss your chance to be a part of West End history with your friends and family at The Lion King.
The Lion King tickets are available now.
Take our quiz all about the musical to see if you'd be able to survive in the Serengeti!
The Play That Goes Wrong
For a comedy that is on point, take groups to see The Play That Goes Wrong. This hilarious play begins before the curtain has even been raised, as the audience witness the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society preparing to stage their annual production – which this year happens to be a 1920s murder mystery show. As you'd expect from the title, everything that could possibly go wrong does! As props start to disappear, actors go missing and the set begins to fall down around the cast, mayhem ensues, but the amateur thespians struggle on against all the odds, battling through to make it to their final curtain call. This play has proved to be a massive hit, reducing audiences to tears of joy time and time again. Don't miss out on this evening of hilarious mishaps!
The Play That Goes Wrong tickets are available now.
With Mischief Theatre extending their presence throughout the West End, read our complete guide to their shows in Theatreland.
Nothing compares to seeing the show's mesmerising visual effects, magnificent costumes and spectacular set design or hearing the powerful hits "Defying Gravity" and "The Wizard and I" performed live. It tells the powerful story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women defying other people's expectations. The show is guaranteed to leave you spellbound as the audience is transported to a stunningly re-imagined world of Oz! It creates a great atmosphere and, with brilliant music alongside an engaging story, everyone in all types of groups will leave the theatre humming the tunes.
Wicked tickets are available now.
This ultimate feel-good show will have you all up on your feet dancing through the aisles of the Novello Theatre to the sound of the 1970s. Featuring the hit songs of Swedish pop sensation ABBA, such as 'Super Trouper' and 'Dancing Queen,' this exhilarating smash-hit musical has been seen by over 60 million people around the world, and played in over 40 countries since premiering in London 19 years ago. Set on a Greek island, follow Sophie's quest to discover the father she's never known, as she brings her mother face to face with three men from her past. Irresistibly funny, and a night none of you will ever forget – have the time of your life at Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia tickets are available now.
Based on the hugely successful 2003 movie. It tells the story of Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star, who in a moment of madness, poses as a substitute teacher in order to earn a few extra bucks. With no interest in academia, he transforms his pupils into a mind-blowing rock band. The show is irresistibly funny whilst having moments of genuine sincerity, packing an emotional punch alongside rollicking guitar riffs. This is combined with the talent of 13 children who form the West End's first kids rock band, all playing their instruments live on stage – they really can rock! Whether you're taking school kids or you're going on an adult adventure to the West End and want to relive your childhood, everyone will be strumming their air guitar when they leave School of Rock.
School of Rock tickets are available now.
Adapted from Gaston Leroux's classic novel of mystery and suspense, The Phantom of the Opera features some of Andrew Lloyd Webber's best known music including 'All I Ask Of You' and 'The Music of The Night.' It tells the unconventional love story of the distorted and deformed Phantom, who lurks in the shadows deep beneath the Paris Opera House. Phantom holds sway over the opera house with his demands becoming more extreme under his obsession for his beautiful protégée, Christine Daaé, the new star of the opera. Will Christine be able to resist her 'Angel of music'? Combining spectacular scenery and jaw-dropping special effects with some of the most mesmerising music in theatrical history, The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre continues to captivate audiences of all ages.
The Phantom of the Opera tickets are available now.
If you've found the show for you with our list and want to make a booking for groups of people, you can fill out this form and we'll aim to respond within 48 hours! If you want to book straight away, call us at +44 (0)20 7400 1255 and you'll be put through to our customer services representatives who will be able to help with any query.
FamilyFriendsGuideMusicalsPlaysTheatreTips and TricksWest End


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Sha Stimuli To Release First Book "The Toilette Papers"
December 1, 2011 | 9:55 AM
Sha Stimuli has announced the release of his first book, The Toilette Papers: The #1 Number 2 Book.
The book is described as "a compilation of several of his blogging escapades as well as new and original thought, that has been developed specifically for those toilet trips in which one may need to relax and contemplate life."
"Some of us find inner peace and solitude when we're actually on the commode releasing solids," said Sha in a press release. "It is at these times that the purging of waste should be accompanied by the relief of tension. Whether it's a short stay or a long visit, good reading material assists the process."
Toilette will be released as a limited holiday edition, with only 100 copies being produced. The limited run will be available on ShaStimuli.com from December 10-20, or until copies are sold out, while electronic copies and further print copies will be available on Amazon.com, iBook and other retail outlets on January 1, 2012.
RELATED: Sha Stimuli Talks About "The MILF Song" & Upcoming Mixtape