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Return Engagement
Josh Chapin
jchapin@richmond.gannett.com
Brian Maurer used the word "ecstatic" to describe how it felt a year ago when it came to playing on the Web.com Tour.
The Richmond High School graduate is excited to be back on the tour this summer. But, he's also something else.
Maurer will tee off today in the opening round of the tour's Price Cutter Charity Championship. It marks the second consecutive year Maurer has played in that tournament, and the second consecutive week he's participated in a Web.com Tour event.
Maurer gets more and more comfortable with his surroundings each time he's out. This is the third tour event he's played in since earning access by tying for 88th place this past December during the final stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament.
"Coming from the mini-tours, you have no crowds, and you're playing against guys just like you," Maurer said. "(Here) you have grandstands. You have scoreboards. You have fans. You have officials and volunteers. There are always people watching. For me, that took a lot to get used to.
"I know I'm a pretty good player, a really good player. As weeks go by, I'm more comfortable with the player I am."
Maurer mastered the Rivercut Golf Course on Monday, earning medalist honors in a Price Cutter qualifier in Springfield, Missouri.
He's staying in Springfield this week, switching to Highland Springs Country Club. Maurer eagled hole No. 8 there last year, and the familiar surroundings should be a benefit to the former Ball State standout.
They were definitely a confidence builder.
"He told me before he left on Sunday that he's getting in (to the Price Cutter)," said friend and caddie J.C. Price.
"He hits it just as well as anybody that's on the tour. It's one good week or two good weeks that just changes your whole life."
Maurer has been steadfast in his pursuit of professional golf.
He helped Richmond High School win a state golf title in 2003, then went on to star for the Cardinals at Ball State.
Maurer played in the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic in 2011. Days later, he went on to win the Indiana Open.
But, 2013 was his breakthrough year when it came to the Web.com Tour. He qualified for his first Web.com event — the Price Cutter — then battled through Q School, advancing to the final stage for the first time in La Quinta, California.
"He keeps going and keeps going," said Ron Murphy, who coached Maurer and the Red Devils to the 2003 state championship. "He's got to get a break, because he's just as good as anybody else. It's hard to do in two tournaments.
"It's hard. It's very hard. But my hat is off to him. He's good."
Maurer played in his first 2014 Web.com event in July at the Nova Scotia Open.
He and Price then traveled to Nevada to play in a qualifier for the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship.
As he was preparing for that, Maurer was notified that a spot had opened for him in the Web.com's Stonebrae Classic.
So, Maurer and Price eventually went to an airport in Reno, rented a car and off they went to Hayward, California.
"I love doing it," Price said. "He's 27 and trying to do something he loves. It's my way I can help him. My wife (Julie) and I are just behind him in all this."
Both Maurer and Price, who owns Square Donuts in Richmond, attended Ball State.
The two have known each for a while, but recently started playing golf together at Forest Hills.
"We golf pretty much every day when I'm home," Maurer said.
Price praises Maurer for his attitude. Price also noted his young daughter, Jayla, has started calling Maurer, "Uncle Brian."
"She's known him for two months," Price said.
"He's a great representative for Richmond. We need to have representatives like him. If we can help him get out there and get the name out, and follow in the footsteps of Bo Van Pelt (Richmond graduate and PGA Tour star), we're all for it."
Maurer tees off on No. 1 at 8:45 a.m. today in a grouping with Steve Friesen and Sam Saunders.
Limiting putts will be important. Maurer did not have any three putts during Monday's qualifier, finishing with a 64.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity," Maurer said. "That's all I can ask for, in golf and in life. I want an opportunity. I have that now, and now it's on me to make the right decisions and go about my business."
Sports editor Josh Chapin: (765) 973-4463, jchapin@pal-item.com or twitter.com/JoshChapinPI


UNTH To Dispose 450 Corpses Abandoned In The Hospital since 2010 .
The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital UNTH is calling on those who have relations among the dead to come and collect the bodies free of charge as the hospital has decided to dispose about 450 corpses abandoned in the hospital since 2010 .
Chief Medical Director , Dr. Christopher Amah , said that most of the corpses were dumped by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command , while a few of them were those that died in the hospital but because of some unknown reasons , their relations did not ask for the bodies .
Amah called on those who have relations among the dead persons to come and collect the bodies free of charge .
He said : " These corpses have been in the hospital since 2010, occupying the space .
"Most of them are suspected robbers that Police shot dead and later dumped in the hospital .
"We have published the notice in the media , after which we have commenced the process of disposing the bodies through mass burial.
"We went to court and got the permit . One of the conditions was that we must advertise the intention so that affected persons could come and claim their relation 's body.


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"Be the change that you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi
Swachh Bharat Mission is a National campaign by the Government of India, covering 4041 statutory towns, to clean the streets, roads and infrastructure of the country.
This campaign was officially launched on 2 October 2014 at Rajghat, New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself cleaned the road. It is India's biggest ever cleanliness drive and 3 million government employees and school and college students of India participated in this event.
The mission was started by Prime Minister Modi, who nominated nine famous personalities for the campaign, and they took up the challenge and nominated nine more people and so on (like the branching of a tree). It has been carried forward since then with people from all walks of life joining it.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Bingeclock, how long does it take to watch every episode of Gun?
How long does it take to watch every episode of Gun?
Sign in to add this to your watch list Sign in to add this to your seen list Cut out all those commercials! Cut out the commercials plus the opening and the closing credits! Plan it! When will you finish Gun if you watch it this many hours per day?


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Q: Python: Memory error with large Matrix Multiplication I am using Python with Numpy.
I have the following line:
H = X*np.linalg.inv(X.T*X)*X.T

Where X is a 220000 by 1 numpy.matrix() object.
I am using Python 64 bit, and getting a Memory error when I attempt to do the above calculation.
Is there a more efficient way to write that line to enable a matrix of this size to be used - or am I doing something else wrong?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Home News PRH launches Penguin Flipper book recommendation tool
PRH launches Penguin Flipper book recommendation tool
Published October 25, 2016 by Katherine Cowdrey
Penguin Random House UK is launching Flipper, an online book recommendation engine, as part of a Christmas campaign to help customers choose the right Christmas present...
Penguin Random House UK is launching Flipper, an online book recommendation engine, as part of a Christmas campaign to help customers choose the right Christmas present for loved ones.
Penguin Flipper allows visitors to use filters - such as the age and personality of their loved ones, or the genre or setting of book - to help them whittle down PRH's range of adult, young adult and children's books to the right choices.
The tool went live today (25th October) at penguinflipper.co.uk. Designed to be "a simple and fun" way to help shoppers, it also has the benefit of helping PRH to ensure its authors reach wide and targeted audiences and in generating further data that the publisher an use in the future.
PRH said Flipper was a response to the demand it saw for personal book recommendations through its weekly #AskPenguin Twitter feature; readers have so far requested almost 2,000 personal recommendations online from the publisher since #AskPenguin launched in August.
Fully mobile optimised, its launch is being accompanied by a digital ad campaign starting in November, which will include supporting video content, in a bid to gain cut-through during the notoriously busy time of year. It will also be complemented by physical pop-ups during December at a small number of shopping centres across the country to give shoppers the opportunity to "flip" in person to discover authors and books.
PRH plans to further expand its functionality with continued testing with consumers to make it even "more comprehensive", and may revamp it for campaigns beyond Christmas. It was originally developed from idea to prototype over the course of five days with insight from consumer testing, part of what PRH is calling a "sprint-based approach to digital innovation".
Albert Hogan, director of group marketing and audiences, who was headhunted by PRH from Universal Pictures earlier this year, is leading the Flipper project. He said it was his hope to get the company "obsessed with audience mind-set". "Ultimately, if we're not useful and helping them, we're never going to progress in terms of how we really connect with consumers in a meaningful way," he said.
Having already weathered the disruptive process of digital transformation in the music industry, starting out at Disney's record label and moving on to EMI Records during the advent of the iPod, Hogan also said it was encouraging to see publishing embracing digital "as an opportunity as opposed to a disruptor".
While conceding music and film industries were "a little bit further along the digital maturity curve", he emphasised he saw "a real shared purpose" across the industry, as well as at PRH, to better understand how it can evolve the business in that space.
Of PRH's approach to consumer brand campaigns, he said: "It's about using the awareness and trust of the Penguin brand as a way in for readers to access a wide variety of content and brilliant authors, through really, really well curated and run consumer channels. Whether that's social or web or email, we want to make sure that wherever you have a touch point with Penguin it's a great experience."
"The days of talking to customers and readers and telling them what they're reading, that's gone," he added. "It's more about surfacing ideas and trends and responding to those."
Another example where PRH has used consumer insight to birth a campaign was Penguin Pride, launched in June to celebrate the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) author community, derived as a response to insight that younger readers wanted to talk about issues that were important to them.
"Coming from the film indusry where budgets are substantially larger than in publishing, there was often a tendency to spend you way out of a specific issue or problem," Hogan said. "What I love about publishing is that people are really creative and inventive about ways of reaching consumers, it's not just a massive advertising campaign. Marketing and publicity, they're so aligned; there's a proper end-to-end view of a campaign."
Penguin Flipper
All PRH e-books available for loan
PRH launches consumer website
PRH launches Tim Peake and Penguin Podcast skills for smart speakers
PRH to launch Penguin-branded consumer site
PRH UK extends e-book trial to schools


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Home Forums > General Distance Learning Discussions >
Validation Process in the UK
Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by telefax, May 9, 2010.
Taking a degree from a university-validated school rather than a university is...
A good option
A poor option
telefax New Member
I was always impressed by the system in the UK where large universities 'validated' the programs of smaller non-chartered schools and issued their degrees. As long as the arrangement wasn't abused, it seemed a win-win: small schools could continue focusing on what they did well instead of having to risk losing focus by expanding and broadening to try to meet requirements for a royal charter, and large universities could include unique 'added value' programs in their lineup. The cases I was familiar with were partnerships between chartered universities and established theological schools that were recognised for their rigor and their faculty, like St. Johns College/University of Nottingham and Trinity College Bristol/ University of Bristol. In these cases, the faculty with expertise and 'cachet' that research students would want to study under are actually at the validated schools, not the validating university.
Now I am not so sure.
1.	The University of Wales validation of numerous improperly screened schools revealed how the system could be manipulated to produce a cash cow for the university. The "BBC/Dragon's Eye" expose of this led directly to the breakup of the University of Wales system, with the largest universities departing. Threads here and here.
2.	Some UK universities are validating corporate vendors rather than existing schools. There's a recent thread on the validation of Laureate Online Education by the University of Liverpool.
3.	The now-victorious conservative party in the UK had stated their intent if elected to pull university status from the upgraded former polytechnics - some of which engage in the validation process of other schools. One wonders what will happen to students at validated schools if their university loses its university status.
I am curious how other people see it. Since the poll feature is a bit reductionist, comments on your reasoning are appreciated.
telefax, May 9, 2010
Woho New Member
best-researched/referenced-message-ever! that's how all papers should be written!
(i guess it's a forum bug and highly unfunny when you read it, but still...)
Woho, May 9, 2010
Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member
I can't vote because I know nothing about the system you are referring to (other than that it exists). However, I think your poll options are too few. They only allow those with polar opinions to make a satisfactory response... a suggestion might be to have a range, like:
1. A very good option.
2. A good option.
3. An acceptable option.
4. A poor option.
5. A very poor option.
Plus maybe something like:
6. I don't care.
7. I'm not sure.
Just so that the people who want to vote but don't really have an opinion can have something to choose that won't mess up the results.
Maniac Craniac, May 9, 2010
Ian Anderson Active Member
Maniac Craniac said: ↑
This would have been my vote without further research because I'm not sure what you mean by "non-chartered schools."
When I attended college in the UK a long time ago it was common practice for colleges to have independent instructors but to set the exams of U of London or those of a consortium of universities.
Ian Anderson, May 9, 2010
Ian Anderson said: ↑
I'm not sure what you mean by "non-chartered schools."
Good question. I'm not talking about a situation like that at the University of London, where a federal university issues the degrees for it's member colleges like Birkbeck or Heythrop. I'm referring to a university which holds a royal charter allowing it to issue degrees, and doing that on behalf of schools or corporate vendors which are not actually part of the university, and do not hold their own royal charter allowing them to issue their own degrees. Does that help?
telefax, May 10, 2010
BillDayson New Member
Excellent thread topic. I didn't vote in your poll since I think that validated programs can be great choices in some cases and less than great choices in others, depending on the details.
telefax said: ↑
An example that I like is Christie's Education:
http://www.christieseducation.com/london_gradprogrammes.html
They offer four different masters degrees in Arts of Europe, in Art, Style and Design, in Modern and Contemporary Art, and in Arts of China. All of these are validated by the University of Glasgow, which reportedly is strong in Art History (best in the UK in the RAE, so they say). My point here is that it's easy to see what Christies brings to the table. They are at the center of the whole world's art trade and have hundreds of works, oftentimes masterworks, passing through their hands all the time.
Interestingly, Christies in New York offers a masters degree in Modern Art, Conoisseurship and the History of the Art Market that in this case isn't validated by a university, but offered by Christie's itself and accredited by the NYRegents.
The NYRegents seem to emphasize programs like this, offered by institutions that aren't primarily universities or degree-grantors in their own right, but that nevertheless have big-time reputations in their fields of scholarship and expertise. There's the American Museum of Natural History's in-house PhD in Comparative Biology and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's PhD in Molecular Biology. If these were located in the UK, they would doubtless be validated by a university. NYRegents seems to let these specialized non-university degree-providers get by with less administrative top-end than the regional accreditors would expect to see. Fewer committees, administrators, procedures and bureaucratic expense. I wonder if London's British Museum or the Natural History Museum offer any in-house degree programs. If they do, then they are doubtless validated by one of the prestige universities.
I think that validation works very well when universities reach upwards to grasp onto another institution that's especially prominent in some field. It works well when the reach is lateral, when a school extends its umbrella over an equally prestigious outside museum, laboratory, medical facility or other specialized institution. But in these kind of cases, the institution that's being validated is bringing strengths of its own into the alliance. Students will want to inform their prospective employers that they studied at the validated institution and the employers are apt to be impressed. The reasons for the validation arrangement are clearly justifiable in academic terms.
1. The University of Wales validation of numerous improperly screened schools revealed how the system could be manipulated to produce a cash cow for the university. The "BBC/Dragon's Eye" expose of this led directly to the breakup of the University of Wales system, with the largest universities departing. Threads here and here.
2. Some UK universities are validating corporate vendors rather than existing schools. There's a recent thread on the validation of Laureate Online Education by the University of Liverpool.
That's where I start to like validation a lot less. Unfortunately, British universities (like universities here in the US) are facing budget cuts. There's lots of pressure going out from Westminster for universities to become more entrepeneurial and to generate more of their budget themselves. And inevitably, some of the universities seem to be taking new looks at their validation units and evaluating them as potential profit-centers.
Suppose that they can find independent non-degree-granting education providers that are willing to assume most of the cost of developing and running new programs, leaving the university with a modest oversight function. In return the external provider gets the opportunity to offer degree programs with a well-known university's desirable and highly marketable name affixed to them. And the university ends up raking in a nice fee for every student enolled. It can be pretty lucrative, I imagine. There could be billions of pounds in it for ambitious universities if it can be scaled up.
The University of Wales has already validated about 120 providers in dozens of countries all around the world to award its degrees and seems well on the way to becoming the UK's answer to the University of Phoenix. The University of Liverpool's validation unit has been pretty aggressive too. This isn't the first time that Degreeinfo has encountered its tracks. In fact, the same individual who thought up the glossy Liverpool accreditation stickers that America's unaccredited Trinity College and Seminary was at one time selling to its graduates went on to become the chairman of the UK's Council of Validating Universities, lauded for his innovative thinking on monetizing university validation units. There are many old threads about that.
I want to emphasize that I don't think that there's anything remotely millish about Liverpool hiring Laureate to teach their DL business programs. (Assuming that's what's happening here, which isn't entirely clear.) As long as the QAA keeps a sharp eye on what's happening, it's definitely equivalent to American RA. It might even turn out to be a very cool thing, if Laureate brings valuable strengths of its own to the alliance.
I'm just reacting to some of the posts here on Degreeinfo. The University of Liverpool's name is being paraded around like a flag. Rankings! Nobel prizes! The whole idea that Walden could ever be compared with Liverpool is simply laughable. Never mind that Walden's corporate parent is apparently the company that's been hired to offer Liverpool's programs. Sadly, we don't know what Laureate's precise function is in what ostensibly are Liverpool degree programs, so it's hard to say for sure what that means.
To conclude, I don't think that validation works very well when universities reach downwards, when a reasonably prestigious university starts awarding its degrees to graduates of separate education providers that would be less prestigious and impressive if they were standing on their own and judged by their own merits. In those cases, it can start to resemble a classic bait-and-switch.
BillDayson, May 10, 2010
Thanks, Bill. Good discussion and some interesting examples I hadn't heard of.
There seem to me to be some similarities between the concepts of validation and distance learning. Both have interesting potential that would inevitably be misused once people realized their profit-making potential. I can recall when my knowledge of the world of distance learning was primarily the University of London, University of South Africa, and CSU, Dominguez Hills. In recent years, the field seems to have been swamped by empire-building schools with predatory recruiting, financial aid abuses, and low academic standards. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see the same trend emerging with validation.
BillDayson said: ↑
As long as the QAA keeps a sharp eye on what's happening
Yes, that's the big question. I hope they can do it.


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Home Celebrity
Dove Cameron and Thomas Doherty Have Broken Up After 3 Years Together
Dove Cameron and Thomas Doherty have called it quits after three years together. On Friday, Dove confirmed their split on her Instagram and Twitter, revealing that the two had parted ways in October. "The decision was incredibly difficult, but we still have love for each other, and will remain friends. Thank you for allowing us our privacy in this time," she wrote. Thomas has yet to comment on the breakup.
Dove and Thomas first connected on the set of Descendants 2 back in late 2016, and it didn't take long for a romantic relationship to blossom. The actress and singer officially confirmed their relationship in February 2017, and the two went on to share many red carpet appearances and glimpses of their romance on social media. The reason for the split has not been disclosed.
hi all. In October, @thomasadoherty and I decided to part ways. The decision was incredibly difficult, but we still have love for each other, and will remain friends. Thank you for allowing us our privacy in this time.- Dove Cameron (@DoveCameron) December 12, 2020
Michelle Obama Shares a Message of Hope and Relief on Inauguration Day: "Today Is the Day"
Olivia Rodrigo and Cardi B's Twitter Exchange Has Me Wanting a "Drivers License" Remix
I'm a professional writer and a part time Blogger
Chrissy Teigen's Goodbye to Trump Is a Whole Mood: "Our Great National F*ckup Is Over"
Musicians Call on Biden Administration to Form Racial Inequality Commission in Powerful Video
U.S. Space Force is getting an immersive space sim training tool built in part by the VFX studio behind 'The Mandalorian'
BlackBerry's brand switches hands again, set to return as a 5G Android handset
Lady Gaga's Gold Brooch Was Glistening With Optimism at the Presidential Inauguration
Valens 'clears the deck,' liquidating most cannabis oil inventory
We bring you the best News, Lifestyle,
© 2020 The Sooper Mag


Most of you probably don't know that I'm working on a biography of Flannery O'Connor to be released in 2012. This will be part of Thomas Nelson's Christian Encounters series of short biographies. (My 2010 Saint Patrick book is from the first round of the same series). Flannery O'Connor, like me, was a Middle Georgian. She's always been one of my favorite writers. But she's more than a favorite writer; she is one of the twin poles of my writerly world, the other being John Milton.
I was in tenth or eleventh grade the first time I read Milton's Paradise Lost. As they say in the romantic comedies, Milton had me from hello. His language soars so high, plunges so deep. Whole worlds opened up as I immersed myself in that strange music.
Milton's language was foreign enough to stretch me, and his allusions were just obscure enough to make me long for the erudition required to enjoy Milton fully. My academic path was set: I wanted to know enough to understand Milton.
Readers of fantasy fiction talk about fantasy taking them to other worlds. That's exactly what Paradise Lost did for me. I can't say I mean that literally, exactly, but I do mean it more than metaphorically. I don't quite know how to articulate this, but something about the foreignness of Milton's language propelled me, for better or worse, beyond Middle Georgia's gravitational pull.
My academic career was a journey away from home. Being a scholar is mostly a matter of talking smart—which is to say, talking less and less like I talked normally. As it turned out, I was a skilled enough linguist to pick up this second language quite easily. And as a specialist in Milton, I burned with an Anglophilia that was tinged with a disdain for American arts and letters. Twain was nice. Faulkner was brilliant. Can you imagine, I thought, what they could have been if only they spoke the Mother Tongue?
But if Milton took me to another world, Flannery O'Connor brought me home again (this was years after my academic career was over and I was again free to read what I wanted to read and like what I wanted to like). It was Flannery O'Connor who made me see the artistic power that inheres in my native tongue. I don't just mean American English, or even Southern English, but Middle Georgia English.
There are turns of phrase in O'Connor's stories (and even more in her letters) that I've heard all my life but never expected to see on a printed page. I'm not talking about local color. I'm talking about a writer giving voice to the deepest of truth in speech that is beautiful and soul-stirring, but not elevated. It's earthy speech, O'Connor's native tongue. And the fact that I share her native tongue has made a huge difference for me as a writer. It has given me tremendous confidence to know that my lived experience—the language, the people, the social dynamics, the landscapes—is the stuff of great art. I don't make any particular claims for Middle Georgia. My native tongue is no better than anybody else's. But to see what Flannery O'Connor did with it was a gift and a legacy.


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THE CUBE PUT ON HIATUS BY ITV WITH NO PLANS FOR NEW SERIES
Award-winning gameshow The Cube will not return for a new series this year, TV Zone understands.
A spokesperson for the producers confirmed to TV Zone: "There are no immediate plans for The Cube to return this year, however, as with previous series, its doors are not closed."
The Cube, hosted by Phillip Schofield, sees contestants attempt seemingly simple tasks within the high-pressure confines of the iconic, and often punishing Perspex box.
The contestants (and since 2020, duos) face a combination of games as they demonstrate skill and determination by braving The Cube, in the hope of winning a major cash prize.
Each has nine lives to complete seven games, each worth an increasing amount of money, as they move closer to the £250,000 jackpot.
The Cube first aired between 2009-2015 before being revived in Autumn 2020 for a primetime special series 'The Million Pound Cube'. The series returned to its £250,000 format for a series which aired over Saturday nights last Autumn.
In the US, The Cube has been renewed for a second season on TBS. The US version of the show is hosted by NBA Champion and Olympic Gold medalist Dwayne Wade.
As with the UK series, each pair has nine lives to complete seven games that are worth an increasing amount of money as they inch closer to taking home the $250,000 jackpot.
Whilst there are no plans for a new TV series, there is a chance for you to enter The Cube. Urban Playground, partnership with Objective Media Group, has brought The Cube to Manchester. The venue offers teams of four to play some of the iconic games from the TV series. The experience is open now.
Do you have what it takes to beat the mighty Cube? Tickets to play THE CUBE Live range from £30 up to £45. Tickets should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment. For booking information, click here.
The experience doesn't stop there. The Bar has you covered with everything from delicious cocktails to all your favourite liqueurs. It's the perfect place to sit back, catch up and watch people take on THE CUBE Live.
Series 11 of The Cube is available to watch on ITV Hub.
Game & Quiz shows
IN WITH A SHOUT: JOEL DOMMETT CONFIRMED TO HOST NEW ITV GAMESHOW
IN WITH A SHOUT: ITV COMMISSION FULL SERIES OF NEW GAMESHOW FOLLOWING PILOT
CHEAT: DANNY DYER & ELLIE TAYLOR TO HOST NEW NETFLIX QUIZ


text:
US Treasury extends Chevron Venezuela oil-sanctions waiver to January 22
Oil | Crude Oil
One year later, US sanctions on Venezuela's PDVSA have had wide market impact
21 Oct 2019 | 21:03 UTC
Author Brian Scheid
Editor Keiron Greenhalgh
Topic The Trump Administration, US Sanctions on Venezuela's PDVSA
Analysts speculated Trump may have allowed waiver to expire
Russian, Chinese companies may have been brought in if waiver expired
Venezuelan output falls to 600,000 b/d in September, expected to decline further
Brian Scheid
Keiron Greenhalgh
The Trump Administration, US Sanctions on Venezuela's PDVSA
Washington — The US Department of the Treasury on Monday extended a waiver allowing Chevron and four US oil services companies to continue to operate in Venezuela outside of US sanctions.
The waiver, which was extended until January 22, was set to expire on October 25 and some analysts had speculated the Trump administration may have allowed it to expire in order to ramp up pressure on the Maduro regime, under the assumption that Chevron's departure from Venezuela could lead to further declines in oil output.
But other analysts suggested that such a production decline would be short-lived, arguing Russian or Chinese operators would quickly take over Chevron's assets in Venezuela and keep output steady.
The waiver extended Monday is a general license originally issued by the Department of the Treasury on January 28 as the administration unveiled its most punitive sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector. The waiver allowed Chevron, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes and Weatherford International to continue certain work with PDVSA, Venezuela's state-owned oil company, while those sanctions were in place.
Chevron, a presence in Venezuela for roughly a century, has a 30% interest in Petropiar, a joint venture with PDVSA in Venezuela's Orinoco Belt, and holds a 39.2% interest in Petroboscan, a joint venture with PDVSA in western Venezuela. These joint ventures produced about 120,000 b/d in September, according to David Voght, managing director of IPD Latin America, an energy consultancy.
Of the 25 drilling rigs currently operating in Venezuela, 20 are supplied by PDVSA and the remaining five by US companies for Chevron's joint ventures, Voght said.
Chevron stood to lose an estimated $2.5 billion if the waiver expired, forcing the company to leave Venezuela, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
OUTPUT DECLINE
Venezuela's crude output shrank to 600,000 b/d in September, according to the latest S&P Global Platts OPEC survey, even less than the 650,000 b/d it pumped in January 2003, amid a PDVSA strike.
Earlier this year, S&P Global Platts Analytics forecast Venezuelan oil output would fall to 375,000 b/d by the end of next year, in its low-case scenario, under which President Nicolas Maduro retained power, the US imposed secondary sanctions similar to its Iran oil sanctions and creditors accelerated their pursuit of PDVSA assets.
Voght said he expects Venezuelan oil output may fall to 325,000 b/d by the end of the year due to PDVSA budget cuts, ongoing power outages, a lack of human resources and theft continuing to reduce output.
On Thursday, Treasury extended a sanctions waiver allowing a Finnish oil refining and marketing company to continue its joint venture with PDVSA for six months.
The waiver for Nynas, the joint venture between PDVSA's PDV Europa unit and Finland's Neste, was also set to expire on October 25.
-- Brian Scheid, brian.scheid@spglobal.com
-- Edited by Keiron Greenhalgh, newsdesk@spglobal.com


text:
package mezzo.mobtalkerscript.console.util.mts;

import net.mobtalker.mobtalkerscript.v3.value.MtsString;

/**
 * MtsApiConstants
 *
 * @author mezzodrinker
 * @since
 */
public interface MtsApiConstants {
    public static final String    ENTITYKEY_PREFIX_TYPE = "type:";
    public static final String    ENTITYKEY_PLAYER      = "player";

    public static final MtsString KEY_ITEM_NAME         = MtsString.of("name");
    public static final MtsString KEY_ITEM_COUNT        = MtsString.of("count");
    public static final MtsString KEY_ITEM_META         = MtsString.of("meta");

    public static final MtsString KEY_EFFECT_NAME       = MtsString.of("name");
    public static final MtsString KEY_EFFECT_DURATION   = MtsString.of("duration");
    public static final MtsString KEY_EFFECT_AMPLIFIER  = MtsString.of("amplifier");
}


text:
Mo'Nique's 3 teenage sons are the spitting image of their mom in family photo
By Edduin Carvajal
Actress Monique Hicks, best known as Mo'Nique, took to Instagram to share a photo of herself next to her three youngest children proving how similar they are.
In the black and white photo, the actress was wearing a shirt and a headband while posing next to her three "babies" in the woods. All of them looked very happy to be together as their faces showed nothing but love.
One of the most striking aspects of the picture was how similar they all looked like as they have the same eyes, nose, and smile. In the caption, the actress wrote: "My babies are becoming such amazing young men."
As soon as she uploaded that photo, her fans and followers took to the comment section to share their thoughts.
One of them was Instagram user @lisha_shewon, who pointed out that the boys were handsome and that they loved how Mo'Nique keep them out of the spotlight so they could live a "normal" life.
MO'NIQUE'S ACTIVITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Even though the actress has kept her fans and followers busy on Instagram and YouTube posting several videos addressing her weight-loss journey, her children are rarely portrayed there, which is why people got so surprised when Mo'Nique uploaded that photo.
HER ROMANTIC LIFE
The 50-years-old actress and comedian has been married twice. She welcomed son Shalon Jackson with her first husband, Mark Jackson, in 1990 and they also adopted son Mark Jackson Kr.
Later, she gave birth to twins Jonathan and David in 2003 with her husband of 12 years, Sidney Hicks. The photo shared by the actress portrayed Mark Jr. and the twins, as her relationship to Shalon is not as good as she would like.
ESTRANGED RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE OF HER SONS
As Celebritist previously reported, Mo'Nique revealed that she and her eldest child have a "very strained relationship" because, when he was younger, the actress was "chasing."
HER WEIGHT LOSS
In the past months, Mo'Nique has been making headlines for how much pounds she has lost. She revealed in June that, for the first time in her adult life, she was weighing under 200 lbs.
Charlize Theron Dumped 'Love' of Her Life Sean Penn by Ghosting Him Even Though Her Kid Called Him 'Daddy'
Working out is one of the major things she has been doing to get as slim as she is at the moment, and she has been getting her children's help for that.
One of the videos she has shared on Instagram portrayed her and Jonathan, one of her sons, dancing in front of the camera while urging people to go to her YouTube channel to check the entire routine.
The recording proved that Jonathan has very good dancing skills, just as his mother.
'M*A*S*H's Sally Kellerman Lost Husband & Daughter in 3 Months & Still 'Put on a Brave Front' Amid Grief
Doug Davidson Wed 'Y&R' Co-star 38 Years Ago & They Have 2 Kids - Meet the Actor's Family
Alison Sweeney Was 'Dying' for 2nd Pregnancy to Be over after 'Crushing' Body-Shaming from Directors & Fans
Inside Annaleigh Ashford's Marriage — She Wasn't 'The One' Woman for Her Husband at First
Inside Al Pacino's Love Story with Beverly D'Angelo: They Have Twins
Michelle Pfeiffer & David E Kelley Have Been Married for 29 Years — They Share Two Children
'Roseanne's' Sara Gilbert Shares 3 Children with 2 Different Women — Meet Her Kids
Ryan Michelle Bathe Who Is a Doting Mom-Of-2 Felt 'Defective' after Welcoming Her 1st Son
Eve Was Told She Would Never Have Kids - Now She Is a Proud Mom of a Biracial Baby
'General Hospital's' Genie Francis Rejected Co-star Husband's Date Proposal Yet Had 'A Big Crush' on Him
AJ Cook's Children Played Her Kids in 'Criminal Minds' – Meet Her Lookalike Sons & Husband of 21 Years
Alicia Keys Rejected Swizz Beatz at 15 - His 1st Wife Accused Her of Being a Homewrecker Years Later
Erin Murphy AKA Tabitha from 'Bewitched' Is Now a Mom of 6 — Inside Her Life 50 Years after the Show


"Triage Tool for Child Behavioral Dysfunctions" by Jacquelyn Pennings, Judith M. McFarlane et al.
Objective: To design and test a rapid assessment tool for predicting dysfunctional behavior of children who live in homes where their mother reports recent physical or sexual partner abuse.
Methods: A cohort analysis was completed. 300 abused mothers accessing services for partner abuse were interviewed to determine risk factors for dysfunctional behavior of their children. Mothers were asked if they had taken their child to a health care provider within the last four months as well as questions about their functioning and the behaviors of the child during the same four months.
Results: Among the 300 children living in a violent home, 81% had seen a health care provider within the preceding four months. Model testing revealed among the children classified as having the highest risk for dysfunctional behavior (predicted probability of clinical behaviors > 75%), between 82-100% of these children presented with clinical level behaviors when their mother sought services for the abuse.
Conclusions: The Rapid Assessment Triage tools offer an evidence-based, high predictability method for rapid assessment and triage of children who are most likely to have dysfunctional behaviors when their abused mothers seek services. Since 81% of the children had seen a healthcare provider within the preceding 4 months of their mother seeking services, the triage tools offer healthcare providers an opportunity to assess the risk of dysfunctional behavior of children with a mother who screens positive for abuse. To maximize child health, mothers require assessment for partner violence and assessment for dysfunctional behavior of their children.
Domestic violence is common and children exposed to the violence can experience growth, developmental, and behavioral dysfunctions which can be long lasting and may permanently compromise health and well-being.
An evidence-based, simple to use, high predictability triage tool was derived to predict which children exposed to domestic violence are in greatest need of immediate referral and services to minimize dysfunctional behavior problems and health consequences of exposure to violence.
Dr. McFarlane conducts research on the health effects of violence against women and children and the effectiveness of interventions to prevent further violence. Her research has been funded by the National Center for Injury Prevention, Agency for Health Research & Quality, The National Institute of Justice, and the National Institutes of Health. Her research findings have been presented to congressional committees, cited on CNN, and used globally to set standards of care for abused women and children. In 2011 Dr. McFarlane was funded with $2.6 million dollars by the Houston Endowment to complete a 7-year study on 300 abused women and 300 children who use shelters and justice services for the first time. The safety, work, health, and functioning of the women and their children will be described to offer evidence for global policy and practice standards for the care of abused women and their children. As of 2014, Dr. McFarlane has retained 95% of this high-risk sample of abused women and their children.
Dr. Jacquelyn Pennings is a statistical analyst with expertise in modeling of large data sets to establish predictor models.
Dr. Rene Paulson is a statistical analyst who works with teams of researchers to derive research studies driven by best research methods and uses optimum statistical procedures to measure the impact of interventions.
Dr. Nina Fredland is a child and adolescent specialists who has worked in the violence prevention field for over 30 years.
Dr. Brenda Binder is a pediatric nurse practitioner and adolescent specialist who has worked in the child abuse and violence intervention field for many years.
Dr. Anne Koci is a woman's health specialists with over 25 years of experience in violence against women and the associated development of tools to measure the marginalization of abused women and health impact.
Dr. Nora Montalvo is a maternal child health specialists who works on the Texas Mexico border in shelters and violence intervention programs for abused immigrant women and their children.
The 300 women who participated in this study are acknowledged and greatly appreciated.
Pennings, Jacquelyn; McFarlane, Judith M.; Paulson, Rene; Fredland, Nina; Binder, Brenda; Koci, Anne; and Montalvo, Nora (2015) "Predicting Behavioral Dysfunctions of Youth Living in Violent Homes: A Rapid Assessment Triage Tool," Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk: Vol. 6 : Iss. 1 , Article 11.


After Michael Jacob's passing in 2014, the FNPI (Gabriel García Márquez New Journalism Foundation) and the Cartagena Hay Festival—which have enjoyed a decade-long partnership—decided to jointly organise the Michael Jacobs Travel Writing Grant as an homage to the British writer. This year, the grant enjoys the support of the Michael Jacobs Foundation.
A panel of judges composed by Sabrina Duque, grant holder in 2018, Daniel Samper Pizano and Jon Lee Anderson, professors at FNPI, selected the candidature of Picco amongst 136 applications coming from 24 countries.
Picco has been awarded the grant thanks to his journalistic project called Un pequeño país aparte, a book on a journey to the Falkland Islands, the object of an ongoing sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom, which caused armed conflict in 1982.
For Ernesto Picco, it seems impossible to talk about the Falkland Islands without talking about the war in 1982. However, the armed conflict with Argentina and the disputed sovereignty hides a local story in the islands which is unknown and exciting. Picco's book aims at that story: How is life on the islands nowadays? Who are the main political and social reference points today? Who are their historical figures? Which are their internal conflicts? How were they before the war? What happened after that? The project tries to answer these questions, combining travel stories and documentary research, based on interviews and tours made on the islands and meticulous work on local files, both Argentinian and British.
He is a professor and full-time researcher at Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero (UNSE) since the year 2010. He had previously worked for eight years as a radio broadcaster and journalist for El Liberal newspaper, in Santiago del Estero, on very local issues: domestic policy at the Parliament and Government House, some police cases, and some other bit about rural inland areas. He occasionally worked as a special envoy in other countries. He went to Cuba to cover the news on the régime and the journalist trade in the island, to the Dominican Republic to write about an environmental summit, and to Uruguay on the trail of an international corruption case involving several governors, his city's local governor being one of them. Also, he wrote about the Falkland Islands a couple of times from afar.
He has a Ph.D. in Social Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, after publishing a thesis on the relationship among the media, the State and the Catholic Church.
He currently works as a freelance reporter and has published a number of articles in national magazines such as Revista Crisis, Revista Anfibia, Tucumán Zeta, and Subida de Línea. In 2014 he won the Crónicas Interiores Award, organized by the Regional Union Luz y Fuerza and Revista Anfibia, for a story about two murders committed by the provincial police. In 2015 he was shortlisted for the Nuevas Plumas Award, organized by the University of Guadalajara and Escuela de Periodismo Portátil, for his story about the death of forty prisoners in a riot at a male prison in Santiago del Estero. The same year, he was nominated coordinator at UNSE Radio, where he works on issues related to scientific dissemination and local and national news. The university publishing house will soon publish his work Aquí pasa todo esto, a compilation of thirteen articles about Santiago del Estero. He has been looking for stories that keep him traveling and visiting other places ever since.
This grant's purpose is to provide an incentive for travel journalism. The fourth edition awarded 7,500 American dollars to a travel book or article project that takes Spanish Latin America or Spain for its subject, to be published in Spanish or English.
In selecting the winner, the jury considered the narrative quality and the journalistic depth of the projects. For Michael Jacobs, travel journalism went beyond the mere anecdote, and this grant therefore seeks work capable of awakening the five senses and opening the mind of the reader.
From its first edition, this scholarship has made visible new journalistic references in the field of travel writing: Álex Ayala Ugarte, from Spain, winner in 2015 with his book Rigor Mortis: La normalidad es la muerte; Federico Bianchini, from Argentina, winner in 2016 with the book Antártida: 25 días encerrado en el hielo; Diego Cobo, from Spain, winner in 2017, with the series Huellas negras: el rastro de la esclavitud. In 2018, the winner has been Sabrina Duque, from Ecuador, with the project Nicaragua: pueblos, lava y ceniza.
For more information about the scholarship details, click here.
Michael Jacobs was born in Italy in 1952, spent his youth in England, and later travelled to different parts of the world, investigating and writing about Spain and Latin America. He became a notable Hispanist and a passionate devotee of Spanish culture.


text:
Subject: How Today's Best Small-Cap Stocks Can Double Your Gains
URL: http://mney.co/1d13hJV
four + four = Required Please enter the correct value.
best small cap stocks
How Today's Best Small-Cap Stocks Can Double Your Gains
By Money Morning Staff Reports, Money Morning - March 25, 2015
The best small-cap stocks can double or triple investors' gains over the broader market. The Russell 2000 is up 20% in the last five months, while the Dow has gained 9.6%.
Despite the huge gains small-cap stocks can deliver, many investors steer clear of them because of their volatility.
But investing in small-cap stocks doesn't have to be scary. You can add this growth to your portfolio if you just start with the basics.
Here's how...
How to Identify the Best Small-Cap Stocks
One of the Best Small-Cap "Sparks" You Can Find
Penny Stocks This Week
Small-Cap Stocks to Buy as the Little Guys Crush the Big Boys
The Opportunity in "Stealth Small Cap Stocks" is Staggering
By Sid Riggs, Chief Research Analyst, Money Morning - March 2, 2015
Since the October 2014 lows, the Russell 2000 (the broadest measure of the small-cap sector) has gained 18.09%.
To put it mildly, small-caps have absolutely been crushing the broader market over the last four-and-a-half months. Too bad the mainstream financial media would rather spook investors with the 'what-ifs" of what is going wrong domestically and abroad.
Speaking of media coverage...
Remember back in September 2014 when the Internet and every major financial network was stumbling all over themselves to spell the end for small-caps because the Russell 2000 had just experienced the dreaded "Death Cross," a technical condition that occurs when the 50-day simple moving average crosses below the 200-day simple moving average?
I wrote an article at that time dissecting the truth behind the small-cap Death Cross.
And the verdict?
A whole bunch of hooey!
Investors who "short" the Russell 2000 during a Death Cross condition experience a dismal 25% winning percentage and an average return of a 0.97% loss.
Bottom line, the Death Cross is statistical a waste of time. It makes for good headlines - and a good way to lose money...
By Sid Riggs, Chief Research Analyst, Money Morning - June 15, 2014
From the Editor: We've been showing you Sid's research because his Small-Cap Rocket strategy gives you a brand-new way to make money. You've seen the charts. But now let's look at another one of the "sparks" Sid likes to see before he recommends a stock. This one is powerful, and typically way off Wall Street's radar...
We all know that - in the end - earnings drive share prices. And most people understand the impact that beating earnings estimates can have on a company's stock. Just look at the way the financial media will dissect the information and report the highlights - sometimes to the point of redundancy. But there's another earnings event - one far off the media's radar - that is much more powerful. That's why I want to show you how to find them today.
These "sparks," as you'll see, actually allow you to get in ahead of the Big Boys.
By Diane Alter, Contributing Writer, Money Morning - February 25, 2014
As the broad-based S&P 500 Index toyed with a new record, a number of penny stocks this week are also hitting record highs.
Several equities that began the year as penny stocks, defined as shares that trade for under $5 each, no longer fit into that category.
Find out which penny stocks this week are hitting record highs...
By Don Miller, Contributing Writer, Money Morning - September 19, 2013
When it comes to stocks, it's easy to equate size with quality.
But over the past year, smaller has been better, which means you need to be looking for small-cap stocks to buy.
In fact, the market's practically screaming that you should be putting some chips to work in the small-cap arena.
By Michael A. Robinson, Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI - June 8, 2013
Most folks believe that the only way to pull down the really big profits in tech is to find an undiscovered small-cap stock and ride the high-risk pick for all its worth.
But I'm going to let you in on a secret of mine: Big-cap stocks - if you catch them at just the right point - can deliver even bigger returns than their small-cap counterparts ... and often with less risk.
I sometimes jokingly refer to these lucrative tech plays as "stealth small caps."


text:
import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
import { AssessmentComplaintAlertComponent } from 'app/assessment/assessment-complaint-alert/assessment-complaint-alert.component';
import { ArtemisTestModule } from '../../test.module';
import { Complaint, ComplaintType } from 'app/entities/complaint.model';
import { TranslatePipeMock } from '../../helpers/mocks/service/mock-translate.service';

describe('AssessmentComplaintAlertComponent', () => {
    let component: AssessmentComplaintAlertComponent;
    let fixture: ComponentFixture<AssessmentComplaintAlertComponent>;

    beforeEach(() => {
        TestBed.configureTestingModule({
            imports: [ArtemisTestModule],
            declarations: [AssessmentComplaintAlertComponent, TranslatePipeMock],
        })
            .compileComponents()
            .then(() => {
                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(AssessmentComplaintAlertComponent);
                component = fixture.componentInstance;
                fixture.detectChanges();
            });
    });

    it('should create', () => {
        expect(component).toBeTruthy();
    });

    it('should not show anything without a complaint', () => {
        expect(fixture.debugElement.children).toEqual([]);

        const alertNode = fixture.debugElement.children[0];
        expect(alertNode).toBeFalsy();
    });

    function setComplaintOfType(type: ComplaintType): void {
        const complaint = new Complaint();
        complaint.complaintType = type;
        component.complaint = complaint;
        fixture.detectChanges();
    }

    it('should show complaint alert text for complaint', () => {
        setComplaintOfType(ComplaintType.COMPLAINT);

        const alertNode = fixture.debugElement.children[0];
        expect(alertNode).toBeTruthy();
        expect(alertNode.nativeElement.textContent).toContain('artemisApp.complaint.hint');
    });

    it('should show complaint alert text for more feedback request', () => {
        setComplaintOfType(ComplaintType.MORE_FEEDBACK);

        const alertNode = fixture.debugElement.children[0];
        expect(alertNode).toBeTruthy();
        expect(alertNode.nativeElement.textContent).toContain('artemisApp.moreFeedback.hint');
    });
});


Although mild-mannered outside of the ring, The Cold Bloods are a different beast entirely after the match starts. Naturally resilient to damage, these walking lizards make fine RUMBLESLAM wrestlers, and great additions to a Forest Soul team.
Gekko Brawlers and Gekko Grapplers may not hit very hard, but with their Skitter ability they dart around the ring, always managing to be in the right place at the right time.
Saurian Brawlers and Saurian Grapplers lack the speed of their smaller kin, but make up for that with sheer aggression. With Sharpened Claws brawling is their forte, leaving opponents not just battered, but bleeding too.
A Krux is one of the most formidable wrestlers to step foot in the ring. Strong and tough, these creatures are hard to deal with, even before taking into account their debilitating Roar! Abilities.
This box contains one of each: Gekko Brawler, Gekko Grappler, Saurian Brawler, Saurian Grappler, and Krux. All miniatures are supplied unpainted and unassembled with a unique character profile card and base.


text:
The Whale (2022)
Before I can go any further, I need to tell you a bit of my own family history. I grew up with an amazing, loving father. He discovered he had a brain aneurysm in his temporal lobe, behind his eye when I was twelve and my brother eight years old. My father was only forty-four years old when he had his first stroke. One of many that would have him in and out of the hospital for years. The brain aneurysm, however, wasn't all to blame. My father had been a lifelong smoker, forced to quit his four pack a day habit when he fell ill. He was also overweight. He was always kind of a husky kid, so early on, nobody really thought anything of it, I think. He was a pretty agile guy when it came to wrangling his two kids. Sometimes, I think, though, that one of the adults in my life had to see something like this coming. He nearly died. He was in a coma for a while. He ended up having to go to a rehabilitation center to learn how to walk again, and hold a fork, and hold a cup, and brush his teeth. He had to learn how to function again.
All the while, his marriage to my mother was falling apart. Turns out she didn't handle near-death and illnesses of loved ones very well. She had an affair with a man that she worked with, while my father was in the hospital and while I was home, making sure to feed my younger brother after school. Needless to say, once my father was "better" and my parents split, my brother and I chose to stay with our father. And our mother didn't put up a fight, although she probably told her friends at the time that she did.
So, my brother and I were raised full time by our dad. And he was the best dad there was, I swear. By no means was he perfect, but he tried his absolute best.
At one point, early on, he was on track with his weight loss. He had to lose weight for the sake of his knees, for the sake of his feet, for the sake of his lungs, for the sake of his heart. At his heaviest, he was just over 400 pounds, standing 6 foot 2 inches. He was on the right track for a while. My brother and I were constantly trying to motivate him. We would go to visit our grandmother, his mom, all together, and he would walk around her block while we all swam in the pool in the summer. He was eating well; healthy, confident, happy.
But, somewhere along the way he got sick again. Had another stroke, had a lung collapse, had his life pulled out from underneath him again.
My mother didn't help at the time. I think she really messed him up, mentally, when she tried to get back together with him at one point when I was in college. The truth of the matter was that she was in terrible debt, and had no money. She always had this weird notion that my father got more money from disability than he really did. I told her to her face that he deserves better than her. I told her that he was too good for her and that was that. (Needless to say, my relationship with her has been nonexistent for years now. Although she still reaches out to my brother, all the while never acknowledging what happened).
After a long battle with his health, my father passed away in September of 2020 from a heart attack that was a result of congestive heart failure.
The Whale, a film by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream; Black Swan), is the story of a man named Charlie, a reclusive 600-pound English teacher, and his attempt to reconnect with the daughter he left eight years prior, when she was eight years old. Thankfully, there is enough difference between my real life and this story that I can separate the two. However, there are little things in this film, little moments that I couldn't separate. Because they turned out to be universal in a weird way. Those were the moments I would cry while watching the film. Ellie moving the walker out of the way, asking him to walk without it, the grab arm Charlie would use, being careful to not light anything around him due to the oxygen tank and hose, the refusal to go to the hospital when he needed it most. Those moments hit me the hardest. But, there was enough difference that I could pull myself out of my own head while watching the film and for that, I am thankful.
I want to address the fact that Brendan Fraser is dressed in a fat suit and how it comes off on film. Prior to seeing the film, I read articles from people, talking about how the portrayal "mocks, stigmatizes and dehumanizes" fat people. I went in scared and expecting to see these things on film, crystal clear, but I did not see them. I saw an angry daughter who ultimately did not want to see her father die because of his own overwhelming guilt over his partner's death. A death that was a result of extreme religious guilt and a love of another man. I saw the care and frustration in Liz at Charlie's refusal to go to the hospital. I saw the anger reflected in every single person's eyes. I never once felt any kind of mocking. I only felt a deep love in how this story was portrayed. And, as far as how the title relates to the film, not once did I get the feeling that it was in direct reference to Charlie and his size (as I imagine so many people think it is). Instead, it's a reference for Charlie's search for truth in the world, much like what the whale symbolizes in the story of Moby Dick, a story that heavily influences this one in the form of "the most honest essay he's every read", an essay written by his daughter when she was in eighth grade.
Written by Samuel D. Hunter, and based on his stage play of the same name, The Whale incorporates themes of religion and religious guilt, family and acceptance, sexuality, eating disorders, remorse, the list goes on. So much thought went into this film, both from a writing standpoint and a full filmmaking standpoint. Having Charlie live on the second floor, so not only does he feel trapped in his body but he is physically trapped in his apartment, as well. The wheelchair he receives keeps him just outside his shared bedroom with Alan. It keeps him just outside what his life once was. And there's things like that sprinkled throughout the entire film.
With Charlie's binge eating disorder, I didn't feel the film mocked the way he was eating. I experienced heartbreak and empathy with the character in those moments. Knowing he's doing this because it's what's within his control. Also, the irony that Charlie is struggling with a binge eating disorder that caused his weight to become unmanageable and the fact that his partner died of starvation due to religious guilt of being in a relationship with a member of the same sex is not lost on me.
I was hopeful that the film would end on a bittersweet note and I am happy to report that it does. I won't say exactly how. I'll save that for you to experience yourself. Everybody was a strong player in the film, however the two that were exceptional were Sadie Sink as Charlie's estranged troubled daughter Ellie, Hong Chau as Liz, one of Charlie's only friends, who happens to be a nurse as well as the sister of his deceased partner. And then there's Brendan Fraser who played Charlie with such heart and understanding and positivity and sympathy. "I need to know that I've done one thing right in my life" Talk about a comeback.
Kristen Marie December 18, 2022 December 19, 2022 Black Swan, Blog, Blogger, Brendan Fraser, Cinephile, Critic, Criticism, Darren Aronofsky, Discussion, Drama, Family, Film, Film Blog, Film Blogger, Film Buff, Film Critic, Film Criticism, Film Lover, Film Review, Film Reviews, Film Website, Filmmaker, Filmmaking, Films, Gay, Hong Chau, LGBTQ, Movie, Movie Blog, Movie Blogger, Movie Buff, Movie Critic, Movie Criticism, Movie Lover, Movie Review, Movie Reviews, Movie Website, Movies, Obese, Obesity, Personal, Personal experience, Psychological, Religion, Religious guilt, Requiem for a dream, Review, Reviews, Sadie Sink, Samuel D Hunter, The Whale, Trauma, Ty Simpkins
One thought on "The Whale (2022)"
Anisau says:
Great review! Thank you!
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Chin, Jason Chin, Jason. Fry, Jason Isbell, Jason Kelly, Jason. Matthews, Jason Miller, Jason Rekulak, Jason. Reynolds, Jason Waldron, Jason.
Summary: New Zealand-based singer Lorde has already made history by being the first female solo artist to top Billboard's Alternative Songs chart since 1996. The song that helped accomplish that feat, Royals, is included on her debut album.
How does a jet plane work?
Summary: Learn about the history of jet flight and the astonishing technology that makes it possible. Detailed cutaways simplify the information while fascinating facts are peppered throughout the narrative through fact boxes and sidebars.
Summary: Sunny, the Defenders' best runner, only runs for his father, who blames Sunny for his mother's death, but with his coach's help Sunny finds a way to combine track and field with his true passion, dancing.
Summary: Illustrations peel back high-tech layers to reveal the cockpits, engines, hyperdrives, and construction secrets of twelve vehicles from the Star Wars feature film, "Star Wars, Episode VIII, The Last Jedi."
Contents: If it takes a lifetime -- 24 frames -- Flagship -- How to forget -- Children of children -- The life you chose -- Something more than free -- Speed trap town -- Hudson commodore -- Palmetto rose -- To a band that I loved.
Contents: Stormtrooper transport -- Poe's X-wing -- Command shuttle -- Finalizer -- Rey's speeder -- TIE fighter -- Sf TIE fighter -- Quadjumper -- Millennium Falcon -- Han's freighter -- Resistance transport -- Snow speeder -- Size comparison.


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Sleeping Beauty Helps Identify Genes Involved in a Fatty Liver-associated liver cancer
With an estimated twenty-thousand protein-coding genes in the human genome, pinpointing a specific gene or pathway responsible for a particular disease can be like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. This has certainly been the case for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with studies identifying more than ten thousand mutations in the cancer genomes of HCC patients, making it extremely difficult to develop targeted therapies.
In addition to being the second most lethal form of cancer worldwide, increasing numbers of people are diagnosed with HCC each year. A major emerging risk factor for this type of liver cancer, particularly in Western countries, is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by excess fat storage in the liver. Linked to a high-fat diet and type 2 diabetes, damage caused to the liver by NAFLD is likened to that seen in cases of serious alcohol abuse.
Given the lack of treatment options and poor prognosis for HCC patients, research teams led by Osaka University set out to identify genes driving the development of NAFLD-HCC. "We used a new technology to comprehensively search for oncogenes in individual animals by large-scale screening of genes and signal transduction pathways that contribute to the development of liver cancer associated with fatty liver disease" explains Tetsuo Takehara, co-author of a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
This new technology involves small, mobile DNA sequences—charmingly named Sleeping Beauty transposons—that were randomly integrated into the genome in two separate mouse models of NAFLD. Transposon insertion disrupts genes normally involved in tumor suppression or activates nearby oncogenes, allowing researchers to identify potential HCC-causing genes by accelerated or excessive liver tumor development in affected mice.
"Amongst hundreds of candidate genes, we discovered that Sav1, a component of the Hippo pathway, was the most frequently mutated gene in both Sleeping Beauty screens" says leading author Takahiro Kodama. Interestingly, Sav1 and the Hippo pathway are involved in the regulation of organ size. If this pathway is disrupted, liver progenitor cells replicate uncontrollably, leading to tumor formation.
The researchers noted significant liver damage and accumulation of proteins involved in tumor formation in NAFLD mice with a deletion of the Sav1 gene, suggesting they had found their "needle". "Although we knew that deletion of Sav1 leads to liver enlargement and the development of liver tumors, these new findings provide a key link between dysregulation of the Hippo pathway and the development of HCC in NAFLD" says Kodama. "Knowing this, we can potentially develop new liver cancer treatments targeting the Hippo pathway."
Fig.1: Genome-wide cancer gene discovery by Sleeping Beauty transposon mutagenesis
(credit: Osaka University)
Fig.2: Sav1 gene plays an important protective role in development and progression of fatty liver-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.
The article, "Molecular profiling of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma using SB transposon mutagenesis", was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1808968115.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University


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368. From a Bar Owner to $100M+ ARR, How an Outsider Navigated Silicon Valley, Raising through Peaks and Troughs of Hype Cycles, and How to Select $B startups at the Incorporation Stage (Oz Alon & Nadav Eylath)
Back Market raises $335M for its refurbished device marketplace, now valued at $3.2B
May 18, 2021 by Romain Dillet
This post is by Romain Dillet from Fundings & Exits – TechCrunch
French startup Back Market — a marketplace for refurbished electronics goods — has raised a $335 million Series D funding round led by General Atlantic. Today's funding round values the startup — which says it now has 5 million customers globally — at $3.2 billion, the company said. It will be using the funding to expand into new markets.
At a time when mobile phone makers are seeing declines in sales due to slower renewal cycles, and incrementally fewer features added into newer models, Back Market provides another alternative to people who don't want to pay full price for a device that might still be in good condition and new to the user, if not altogether new itself.
Consumers can buy refurbished smartphones at different price points, with the stock ranging from old models through to recently released devices. Prices vary depending on the model and the condition of the device. Other stock includes laptops, tablets, headphones, gaming consoles, and other gadgets and consumer electronics.
The company is also part of what you might more generally call the circular economy, where people are recycling items back into the sales market to extend their life.
Used good sales are of course nothing new, but in more recent years the vast availability of new and cheap goods has taken consumers out of the habit of thinking of used as having much attraction or value — witness sites focused on used goods like eBay now quite dominated by new items. However, the concept (Read more...)
BukuKas gets $50M from investors including DoorDash's Gokul Rajaram and TransferWise founder Taavet Hinrikus
To stay the same
Ranking Countries By Digital Quality of Life in 2022
12 Years of the World's Top 10 Most Innovative Countries


The return of Blanca!!! This will be a night to remember !!!!!! You do not want to miss this show!!
See you Saturday November 5th at 8pm! We're super excited!
We are so excited for this night!!! People are calling it EPIC!!! A night to remember you don't want to miss! See you there!!!
~BLANCA~Anything is possible is finally out!!!!! Check it out!!!!!
The long awaited ~BLANCA~ Anything is possible CD is finally here!! Support independent music, click and download now with iTunes !!!! Support us, Rate us Share us!!!!!!!
After a small break from the stage to continue recording the long awaited CD, "BLANCA" We are on the road again for some dates in DENVER !!! JULY 5TH AND 6TH, we will be joining the talented SALVADOR SANTANA AND HIS WONDERFUL BAND ONECE AGAIN!
Aggie Theater in Fort Collins and Cervantes' Masterpiece ballroom in Denver see you soon!!!
El Chicano and BLANCA friday April 20th At The Avalon!!
I was invited to sing a song with El Chicano, representing the band called BLANCA. It will be my pleasure and an honor to share the stage with these legends. San Jose California, we are coming to you!! Hope to see you there! Check out http://ats.blancasmusic.net/?section=calendar for more details!!
BLANCA at Radio Aztlan music festival 2012 in Riverside California!!!
RADIO AZTLAN MUSIC FESTIVAL IN RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA!!! APRIL 14TH UC RIVERSIDE!!! HERE WE COME!!!
SALVADOR SANTANA AND BLANCA IN SANTA ROSA, MODESTO, AND SACRAMENTO!!!
The small mini tour we had playing Don Quixotes in Santa Cruz, Slims in San Francisco and Silos in Napa was awesome!!! We are so excited to have been able to share the stage with a wonderful group of Artists, such as Salvador Santana and the beautiful and talented Alex Nester. We couldn't feel more blessed!!
Thursday March 8th, 9th, and 10th is another weekend of fun, full of great original music, great positive vibes and teamwork!!
If you're in the are, feel free to come by and enjoy the shows! As always we feel happy and inspired to share our music with you!!
Santa Rosa's very own "Last day saloon"
Modesto very own "Fat cat"
In BLANCA news....!!!!!! Small mini tour!!
We hope to see you at one of these shows!!
MALO, LAVA, BLANCA at The Great American Music Hall!!


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Kellyanne Conway: Americans Are Fed Up With the Clinton Double Standard
@KatiePavlich
Posted: Dec 04, 2017 1:00 PM
Shortly before boarding Marine One this morning ahead of a brief trip to Utah, President Trump told reporters he "feels bad" for former White House National Security Advisor General Mike Flynn and argued his life was destroyed for lying to the FBI while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suffered no consequences for doing the same.
"I feel badly for General Flynn. I feel very badly. He's led a very strong life, and I feel very badly," he said to a gaggle of reporters. "I will say this: Hillary Clinton lied many times to the FBI and nothing happened to her. Flynn lied and they destroyed his life. I think it's a shame."
"Hillary Clinton, on the Fourth of July weekend, went to the FBI, not under oath -- it was the most incredible thing anyone has ever seen. She lied many times. Nothing happened to her. Flynn lied, and it's like they ruined his life. It's very unfair," he continued.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway echoed that sentiment during an interview with Fox and Friends, arguing Americans are tired of the double standard between the Clintons and everybody else.
"It's very frustrating to many law abiding Americans who look up and always see a double standard, always see a special exception for Hillary Clinton," she said. "It's very disturbing."
The comments from Trump and Conway come after news broke over the weekend an FBI agent working on the Special Counsel investigation was removed after he sent pro-Hillary and anti-Trump text messages to his girlfriend. That same agent worked on the FBI's criminal investigation of Clinton for her use of a personal email server to host and send classified information. Clinton of course was given a pass, despite FBI Director James Comey saying she had been extremely careless.
Katie Pavlich's Latest Books, Assault and Flattery: The Truth About the Left and Their War on Women and Fast and Furious: Barack Obama's Bloodiest Scandal and the Shameless Cover-Up are available on Amazon
CNN Reporter Asks McConnell If It'd Be Racist to Tell His Wife to Go Back. Here's His Response.


Located in Central Europe, the Czech Republic is known for its blend of traditional, gothic and modern architecture. It is also home to 12 of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Czech Republic covers an area of 78,866 square kilometres and is home to 10.6 million people.
The country has a fascinating history, and it was the only place in Central Europe to remain a democracy between World War I and World War II. In 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved and created 2 countries, one of which we now know as the Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic is a well developed country, with a rich economy founded on an export-oriented social market. It is also a member of the EU, and bordered by 4 well known European countries. This make it a perfect location for international students to gain their education, with access to industry based job opportunities.
Whilst the official language is Czech, thousands of courses are taught in English throughout higher education institutions. There is a mixture of public and private universities, as well as 2 state institutions. Across these institutions, there are more than 43,000 international students.
The Czech Republic has a high quality education system, specialising in Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. It is home to the oldest university in Central Europe, The Charles University in Prague, founded in 1348. Ranked in the top 20 countries in the world for its education system, the Czech Republic is the ideal destination for international students wanting to study abroad!
Although it is in the EU, the Czech Republic uses the Czech Koruna (CZK) as its currency.
International students wanting to study in English will have to pay a tuition fee. This applies whether they go to a public, state or private university. These fees can vary between being free, and costing up to $22,350 per year.
Most large universities have their own dormitories. These will cost around $150 per month, depending on the choice of university. For information regarding individual accommodation costs, please refer to your university of choice – links can be found at the bottom of the page. If you would prefer to live in private accommodation, costs will be higher. For example, a private room in a flat can cost around $250 per month, and a private flat can cost around $450 per month.
You can eat out at a restaurant from 130 CZK/$5.90, and lunch in a student canteen will cost around 50 CZK/$2.30. The cost of entertainment is also reasonable. For example an average cinema ticket costs between 100-200 CZK/$4-$9, and average fitness centre admission starts from 100 CZK/$4.50.
There is an International Student Identity Card available for all students. Having this card allows you to get discounts for transport, restaurants and many other exciting things. You should obtain this card from your home country, or you can find more information and apply on their website.
If you are from a country outside of the EU and are not coming from the countries listed below, you may need to purchase comprehensive health insurance. This applies if you are staying in the Czech Republic for longer than 90 days. It is important that this is acquired, as proof of your health insurance policy will be required when you apply for your visa. There are certain insurance companies that are certified to provide insurance policies for international students, and you should be sure that your insurance covers all appropriate requirements. There is often a discount for students aged 17-26.
Working during your studies is a great way to pay for education and enjoy your free time. However, students from outside of the EU should be aware that if they are in the Czech Republic on a student visa, paid work cannot be your primary occupation. If you are studying a programme accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, you will not need an employment permit. If you are on any other programmes, you are required to obtain an employment permit and a resident permit, or an Employee Card or Blue Card.
Students coming from an EU country or Switzerland do not need an employment permit, Employee Card or Blue Card in order to gain employment. This also applies to students from outside of the EU who are in the Czech Republic on a student exchange programme such as Erasmus.
Students from an EU country or Switzerland do not have to obtain a student visa to study in the Czech Republic. They do however have a reporting duty if their stay is going to be longer than 30 days. If this is the case, they are to report to the nearest Foreign Police Department. This does not always apply to students staying in student dormitories, but you should check with your university of choice.
Students from countries outside of the EU need to obtain a student visa to be able to study and live in the Czech Republic. There are several different types of visas, and all are appropriate for different situations. You should get a short-term visa if your stay is going to be less than 90 days, and a long term visa if your stay is going to be longer than 90 days. If your studies are going to keep you in the Czech Republic for longer than one year, you should apply for a long-term residence permit for study purposes.
Some of the above documents need to be translated into Czech language by a translator with an official rubber stamp.
In order to study a degree programme in English, you need to have a high level of English language skills. Most universities in the Czech Republic will require proof that your language skills are up to a certain standard. This will allow you to succeed and make the most out of your degree programme.
If your English skills do not meet the required standard, it is common for universities to offer programmes that can help to improve your standards. These will be listed on the university website, and will range in price depending on the institution of choice.
Home to around 1.3 million people, Prague is the largest city in the Czech Republic and its capital city. It has a rich history, which is displayed in its varying architectural styles. The historic centre of Prague is even a UNESCO World Heritage site!
It is a popular tourist destination, ranked as the fifth most visited European city. This large influx of tourists means that the city has been well developed and has an extensive public transportation system. This will make it easily accessible for international students wanting to explore.
Located in Prague is the oldest university in Central Europe, Charles University in Prague. It also boasts 9 public universities and 36 private universities. Many of these universities provide programmes taught in English. These institutions are well suited to students looking for programmes in business, finance and economics, science and technology, arts and plenty of other disciplines.
The second largest city in the Czech Republic, Brno is the justice centre of the country. It is also home to 13 higher education institutions, and around 89,000 students.
Brno is now an important university city, and hosts many research and development institutes. There are also plenty of employment opportunities post studying, with lots of companies focused on engineering, software development and development basing themselves in Brno.
There are universities that focus on technical and technology disciplines, and an academy of music and performing arts. Mendel University, home to 10,000 students, is named after the founder of genetics Gregor Mendel.
Second only to Prague, Ostrava is the largest urban area in the Czech Republic. It has a long industry-based history, with its status as a coal mining and metallurgical centre. Despite this industrial background, the city is now a modern and cultural city, with theatres, galleries and other cultural facilities. In 2014, Ostrava was a European City of Sport and has held many major sporting events since way back in 1986! There are a wealth of opportunities for international students to immerse themselves into the sporting culture, as well as enjoying the music and arts events and facilities Ostrava has to offer.
The city has 2 public universities, offering English taught full programmes in a variety of disciplines. They also offer opportunities for exchange students to spend a year studying in the Czech Republic.
Browse universities in the Czech Republic using the map. You can also select a university from the list below to view more information about the institution, its location and the courses offered.
Do students really benefit from studying abroad?


The price for silver has dropped 16% in the last year, troubled by trade war tensions and strengthening U.S. dollar. Additionally, the potential of the Fed rate hike has combatted the white metal. A growing economy gives the Federal Reserve reason to raise rates. It is a well-known fact that higher U.S. rates dent the appeal of silver as it does not offer interest. Consequently, an interest rate hike, which is likely at the FOMC meeting on Sep 25-26, is likely to drag down silver further.
So it may be a bit too early to write-off silver and silver-mining stocks. Despite the troubling price trends, silver's basic image looks relatively strong. Silver may end up bouncing back and following are the factors that can be instrumental in its turnaround.
Silver's unmatched fundamentals act as the base for many industrial products. Industrial demand primarily accounted for 60% of global silver consumption in 2017. The U.S. economy is expanding at its fastest pace in years and growing industrial activity will provide the much-needed boost for silver demand.
In addition, the demand for jewelry creation is expected to jump. Silver demand from the jewelry sector stakes claim to roughly one-fifth of total silver demand. For many fashion-conscious consumers, silver is more desirable than gold because of its color neutrality, which provides more versatility. Moreover, silver serves as a safe haven asset in times of uncertainty.
China will continue to be a major driver in the global silver market for years to come, fueled by continued industrial demand and silver mining activity. China is by far the largest consumer of silver globally, accounting for around 18% of global fabrication demand. In fact, China's robust demand for the metal makes it a major destination for imported silver products fabricated in the United States, Japan, and other countries.
The demand for silver continues to climb, especially with more uses in technology as the world creates more electric cars and robotics. The continual revolution in green technologies, helped by the strong growth of new energy vehicles and investment in solar photovoltaic energy, will be a major boon. To curb pollution, governments globally are providing financial incentives and imposing regulations that favor the development of electric and hybrid vehicles. Additionally, rising investment in solar energy applications will boost silver demand in the years to come.
Global silver mine production suffered a dip of 4.1% to 852.1 million ounces in 2017 – its second consecutive annual decline. There has also been a downward trend in silver scrap supply since 2011. The prospects of a dwindling supply loom large on the industry. This is due to the absence of a development of new projects, declining ore grades, and depleting reserves. A potential silver deficit will provide a strong ground for silver prices.
Bullion has slipped 8.2% this year as a stronger dollar and expanding global economy diminished demand for the metal as a haven. Miners have fared even worse, with the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Gold and Silver Index (XAU) of 30 companies down about 23% in 2018. But what about gold mining stocks?
Gold mining stocks fell to the cheapest relative to the metal since 2016 this month. The industry is so out of favor that Vanguard Group has said it will change the name of its precious-metals fund and reduce the portion of its holdings within the sector. While recent steadying in gold prices sparks hope the worst is over, companies presenting at a conference starting Sunday in Colorado could have a hard time persuading investors.
"You see a lot of stock prices below the 2015 lows — some are going back to 2008 lows," Stephen Land, San Mateo, California-based portfolio manager at the Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund (FKRCX), said in an interview. "A number of these valuations are factoring in a gold price lower than $1,200. If gold prices hold or move higher, they would have overshot on the downside." What could this mean for gold mining stocks?
Vanguard has stated that it's making changes to its Vanguard Precious Metals and Mining Fund (VGPMX) as part of an effort to "improve the consistency of its long-term performance." The fund, which had invested at least 80% of its assets in the sector, will trim that to at least 25%. It will be called the Global Capital Cycles Fund and also invest in infrastructure assets such as telecommunications and utilities.
At the Denver Gold Forum, investors will be looking to major presenters including Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX) and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (AU) to convey why gold is still relevant in an environment where the broader equity markets continue to make new highs and bond yields are climbing.


Wolf, D. P. (1999) Why the arts matter in education or just what do children learn when they create an opera. In E. Fiske (Ed.), Champions of change: The impact of the arts on learning (pp. 91-98). Washington, DC: The Arts Education Partnership and The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
This study examines how the Creating Original Opera (COO) program affected student collaboration. In the program, elementary students form a company to write and produce an opera. Researchers used qualitative methods to compare the cooperation of students in the program while engaged in group work related to opera (opera setting) to when students were doing other group work not related to opera (alternative setting). Findings indicate that students in the opera setting participate in more meaningful ways in group interactions than students in the alternative settings. When the researcher compared student collaboration across three time periods, student collaboration increased with time.
Findings suggested that students in the opera setting participated in more meaningful ways in group interactions than students in the alternative settings. When the researcher compared student collaboration across three time periods, student collaboration increased with time.
The study describes the effects of the opera program on student collaboration and why the effects occurred. Findings indicate that students may benefit from collaboration on an arts-related project. Educators may wish to use the arts as a way to build collaboration and cooperation skills among students.
To investigate what is learned in an opera company, researchers focused on four classrooms where the COO program was fully implemented. Evaluators assessed the level of student collaboration while engaged in group work related to opera as well as engaged in group work not related to opera. Evaluators used qualitative data sources such as classroom observations, teacher and student interviews, student ethnographies, activity logs, and student work.
The researcher did not provide a description of the students or the school(s) involved in the study. The lack of description brings into question the possible generaliziblity of the results. The author also did not provide many reasons to link collaboration to other student outcomes.
Does involvement in other art forms also contribute to greater student collaboration? Why/how is student collaboration important to other student outcomes? Would the findings be replicated in a study with an experimental design?


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Home/Accessories/By Category/Bookmarks/Cycladic Figurine Head Gold-plated, Bookmark
Cycladic Figurine Head Gold-plated, Bookmark
CODE: FX 000206
Inspired by the minimal shape of the Head of Cycladic figurine, we designed this unique handmade bookmark. The frohead tilted slightly rearwards leads to the nose, an embossed point in the center of the face which is the only projection. The shape of the head and features show that it probably comes from a Cycladic marble figurine that of the folded hands type,dating between 2800 - 2100 BC.
Gold-plated 24K brass handmade copy
Dimensions: 3 cm x 3,5cm x 1mm
Order now your copy or offer it as a unique gift.
The marble figures usually called "idols" or "figurines are the best-known shapes of the Cycladic Art that flourished during the early Bronze Age in the Aegean. The "Cycladic figurines" evolved in the Cyclades, in the period between 3200 and 2200 BC and continued to be produced until 2000 BC.
The marble figurines vary in sizes and style. The most common are the figures with the folded arms, known as the "canonical" type figurines, which usually represent nude female figures with the arms folded above the abdomen.
The figurines have lyre-shaped heads with wide foreheads, angular shoulders and incisions indicating the arms, the pubic triangle and the joints. They often seem to be lying down and to be in the state of pregnancy.
The nose is the only feature that is strongly indicated at the heads of the "folded-arm" figurines, while other parts, like the ears are often engraved or embossed.
However, pigments were used to denote facial features, such as the eyes and the hair, while it is speculated that some idols might have been decorated with silver jewelry.
The meaning and function of the figurines is most likely connected to the religious beliefs of the prehistoric Aegean civilizations. It is assumed that they are representative of the "Mother goddess", a symbol of fertility and rebirth. They have been variously interpreted as idols of the gods, images of death, children's dolls, and other things.
2800-2100 BC
3 cm x 3,5cm x 1mm
Gold-plated 24K Brass