text:
Luis Abinader sworn in as Dominican leader; Pompeo attends
Dominican Republic's President Luis Abinader, speaks during his swearing-in ceremony while Vice President Raquel PeÒa, left, looks on in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. (Orlando Barria/Pool photo via AP)
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Luis Rodolfo Abinader was sworn in as president of the Dominican Republic on Sunday in a ceremony attended by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Abinader, a 53-year-old businessman who had never held elected office, was elected to a four-year term on July 5, ending a 16-year run in power by a center-left party. He finished second in the 2016 presidential election.
On Friday, the Trump administration only got support from the Dominican Republic when the 15-member U.N. Security Council resoundingly defeated a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran.
"This election resounds as an example to other nations of the power of democracy and what is possible when countries prioritize the wishes of their people," Pompeo tweeted after Abinader's inauguration.
The elections in the Dominican Republic took place as the new coronavirus pandemic was sweeping across the Caribbean nation of some 10.5 million people. Abinader himself had spent weeks before the election in isolation following a positive test for the virus, and the vote itself had been postponed from May due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville says President Trump's impeachment 'makes no sense'
Prosecutors seek death penalty against Birmingham woman charged with killing 5-year-old
How will a $15-per-hour federal minimum wage impact Alabama small businesses?
See where you line up for COVID-19 vaccine when it's available, thanks to NYT tool


Recently a friend told me that I deserve to be happy? Hearing those words took me back to one of the darkest times in my life–a season I touch on in the links on my last post, DMX and the Ballad of the Brokenhearted. Prior to the emotional crash I chronicle in that and other … More Do I Deserve To Be Happy?
2 Comments Do I Deserve To Be Happy?
Daddy, What's the "N Word"?
There a lot of conversations that I don't feel absolutely prepared for as a parent. Some of them are universal and some are exclusive to certain communities such as, "Are we poor?", "Why do they hate us?", "Will we be deported?", etc. Recently, my daughter has asked me twice, what the "N word" is. The … More Daddy, What's the "N Word"?
4 Comments Daddy, What's the "N Word"?
No More of This! No, More of This.
I'm starting to think that advertisers, marketers, politicians, the media, and all of the seemingly maniacal masters of mind manipulation might be a little more innocent than some of us like to imagine? Why? Because I realize that the masses aka "We the People" are a lot more powerful than we are willing to take … More No More of This! No, More of This.
Leave a comment No More of This! No, More of This.


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Education Staff
MBNMS Education & Outreach Staff
Amity Wood
Education and Outreach Coordinator
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
99 Pacific Street, Bldg. 455A
amity.wood@noaa.gov
As the Education and Outreach Coordinator, Amity guides the sanctuary's education team in the implementation of strategic and annual planning for education programs, including overseeing the development, dissemination and evaluation of education and outreach activities, products, signage, and exhibits for visitor centers that promote stewardship and protection of sanctuary resources.
Amity holds over 20 years' experience in the development and delivery of science education and teacher training programs across a wide spectrum of organizations. Prior to working with MBNMS, Amity served for ten years as the Director of Camp SEA Lab, a youth marine science program at Cal State University Monterey Bay. In addition, Amity worked to implement education programs at USC Wrigley Marine Science Center, Catalina Island Marine Institute, and Farallones Marine Sanctuary, building ocean knowledge and stewardship for future generations.
Amity graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, and earned a Master of Arts in Education from University of San Francisco. When not educating the public about ocean conservation, Amity enjoys spending time kayaking, surfing, and SCUBA diving in sanctuary waters.
Carolyn Skinder
Southern Region Program Coordinator
carolyn.skinder@noaa.gov
As Education and Outreach Specialist, Carolyn Skinder staffs the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's southern office and oversees operation of the Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay. The docent-run Coastal Discovery Center serves to educate over 15,000 visitors and school groups annually about the marine environment, the MBNMS, and the CA State Parks.
Ms. Skinder earned a Master of Science in Science Education from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master of Science in Marine Science and Policy from the University of Maine. Her career as an educator encompasses 15 years of teaching, designing, and directing programs in formal and experiential education. Her research background encompasses marine bird and mammal studies, as well as invertebrate community analysis. Prior to joining the Sanctuary in 2005, she worked closely with Maine's fisheries while studying benthic marine invertebrate communities as they related to the development of marine protected areas in the Gulf of Maine.
Lisa Uttal
Education and Outreach Specialist
lisa.uttal@noaa.gov
Lisa develops science-based education programs, interactive exhibits, and film that use her marine research and education background to deliver STEM experiences to a broad audience, with a goal to instill behavior change that results in ocean stewardship. Lisa heads up a Plankton Monitoring Program which is implemented along the sanctuary's coast. She also created the Voices of the Bay Fisheries curriculum as well as a California Salmon traveling exhibit, a Sanctuary Soundscape exhibit and a whaling exhibit. From 2007-2012, Lisa was NOAA's Project Manager along with City of Santa Cruz Economic Development for the design, development and construction of MBNMS Sanctuary Exploration Center (SEC), a LEED Gold facility. From 2012-2015, Lisa was the Center Director setting up facility operations, a new gift store and new programs
Lisa has over 25 years of marine education and research experience in the Monterey Bay. Lisa attended University of Michigan as a scholar athlete in gymnastics and received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Hawaii-Manoa. She holds a Master of Science from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories where she conducted deep-sea research on gelatinous mid-water organisms at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Lisa's ability to be a liaison between scientific research and informal/formal education are one of her strengths and enable her to involve and educate the public in marine and coastal resource issues through science-based stewardship.
Chelsea Prindle
Sanctuary Exploration Center
chelsea.prindle@noaa.gov
As Sanctuary Exploration Center Manager, Ms. Prindle is responsible for overseeing the education programs and overall operation of the Sanctuary Exploration Center. She sets program goals, trains appropriate staff and volunteers and oversees program implementation. Ms. Prindle has over four years coordinating environmental education programs for MBNMS and over 10 years experience in informal youth education. Ms. Prindle graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and earned a Master of Science from California State University, Monterey Bay in Coastal and Watershed Science and Policy.
Ashlyn Adams
Giftstore Manager and Facility Rental Coordinator
ashlyn.adams@noaa.gov
Nicholas Ingram
Program Specialist, Volunteer Coordinator
nicholas.ingram@noaa.gov
As Program Specialist, Nick is responsible for coordinating the volunteer program and daily operations of the Sanctuary Exploration Center. He coordinates field trips with teachers and volunteers and assists in implementing programs on the day of the field trip. Nick has a Bachelors degree in Fisheries Biology from Humboldt State University and over four years experience working in informal education with a wide variety of audiences.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Space station crew marking big space anniversaries
By MARCIA DUNN , AP Aerospace Writer
An undated portrait of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and his award of the Hero of the Soviet Union, at right, part of an exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the first man in space, in Moscow, Russia, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
(AP) -- On the eve of two prominent space anniversaries, the six humans circling the Earth said Monday they will join in the celebrations from the best vantage point of all - orbit.
Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of man's first journey into space and the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle launch.
"We're going to spend the day tomorrow recognizing it in probably the best place you possibly can, that's on orbit and looking at our beautiful Earth," American astronaut Ronald Garan Jr. said in an interview with The Associated Press. He arrived at the International Space Station last week.
The space station's Russian commander, Dmitry Kondratyev, said the human dream of flying to the stars came true with Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's flight on April 12, 1961. Twenty-three days later, American Alan Shepard became the second man in space.
"Fifty years is a short period of time in history, but look at that leap from a small spacecraft to the huge International Space Station," Kondratyev told the AP. "We hope that during the next 50 years, another leap that is not less than has been done, will be done."
As for the shuttle anniversary, Garan said Columbia's launch on April 12, 1981, inspired him to become an astronaut. He yearned to be an astronaut as a young child, but the dream went away until Columbia blasted off on the first shuttle flight.
The very next day, he went to his college advisers and signed up for a heavy load of math and science courses.
"That dream was reawakened in me," Garan said. "For me, that's a pretty strong evidence of the importance of the space program, toward education and inspiring young people to study math and science."
As a two-time passenger aboard Columbia - which was destroyed during re-entry in 2003 - space station resident Catherine Coleman said it's a special day for her as well.
Flying in space is what people are supposed to do, she noted. "We're leaving the planet. We're living outside our Earth's atmosphere," she said.
As part of the shuttle anniversary, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr. will take part in a ceremony at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He'll announce which museums will win the soon-to-be-retired shuttles for display.
Discovery will go to the Smithsonian Institution. But Endeavour and Atlantis are up for grabs, as is Enterprise, the shuttle prototype on exhibit at the Smithsonian that will be replaced by Discovery.
Twenty-one museums and science and visitor centers are in hot competition.
The space station crew declined to pick a favorite.
"I grew up all over the country," Coleman told the AP, "and so I actually have ties, I think, to every one of the cities that are targeted. ... I'm trying to be impartial."
Only two shuttle missions remain, both to the space station. Endeavour is due to blast off April 29, and Atlantis on June 28. Discovery, the oldest surviving shuttle, ended its flying career last month.
The space station astronauts will get Tuesday off as a special holiday. They will hold a news conference and link up with celebrations in Moscow, then enjoy a celebratory feast Tuesday evening.
©2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
13 astronauts celebrate 2 big space anniversaries
NASA revises shuttle launch dates
Astronauts head to ISS on spaceship Gagarin (Update 3)
Space shuttle Atlantis, 7 astronauts back on Earth
ISS crews honor Yuri Gagarin
NASA green lights April 5 launch of Discovery
Palomar survey instrument analyzes impact of Starlink satellites
Being in space destroys more red blood cells
Scientists turn back time to track methane emissions on Mars
Machine learning algorithms help scientists explore Mars
NASA's InSight enters safe mode during regional Mars dust storm
Simulated image shows how NASA's Roman could expand on Hubble's deepest view
Chang'E-5 lander makes first onsite detection of water on moon
Comprehensive detection of on- and off-target mutations
Bio & Medicine
Molecular & Computational biology
Paleontology & Fossils
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Attorney General William Barr's comment that he thinks "spying did occur" by intelligence agencies on the Trump campaign quickly reverberated outside the Senate committee hearing room, raising the hackles of top Democrats.
Schiff's fellow chairman Jerry Nadler (D-CA), head of the House Judiciary Committee, also immediately expressed his displeasure.
Barr somewhat softened his comment later on in the hearing, reclassifying "spying" as "unauthorized surveillance" which would rule out the FISA warrant of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
He said he had "no specific evidence" of spying to reference.


The Cayman is a gorgeous two-story plan, featuring soaring 22-foot ceilings in the great room and pocket sliders leading from the open concept main living area out to the open pool deck with private pool, spa, and outdoor kitchen. Expansive outdoor living on the pool deck below and balcony above offer either panoramic views of the golf course or scenic views of the Gordon River and private boat docks. The opportunity to create additional loft or bedroom space upstairs offers even more expansive living options.


text:
Zee Group shares crash, Subhash Chandra blames 'negatives forces'; apologises to lendershttps://indianexpress.com/article/business/zee-group-shares-crash-subhash-chandra-blames-negatives-forces-apologises-lenders-ilfs-essel-group-5555504/
Zee Group shares crash, Subhash Chandra blames 'negatives forces'; apologises to lenders
Apologising to lenders, Chandra also alleged that some negative forces are out to sabotage his efforts to raise money through a strategic sale in the flagship company Zee Entertainment Enterprises.
By PTI |Mumbai | Updated: January 25, 2019 9:49:18 pm
After 'understanding' with lenders, Zee shares bounce back by 16.64 per cent
Lenders agreed to not declare it defaulter after steep fall in share prices, says Essel Group
Paradise Papers: Appleby waved a red flag on companies owned by Subhash Chandra
Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra Friday said his company is in a financial mess and has blamed the same for the aggressive bets on infra, which has gone out of control since the IL&FS crisis and also the acquisition of Videocon's D2H business.
The admission incidentally came after Zee shares tanked a whopping 26.43 per cent on the BSE to Rs 319.35 Friday, while other group company shares like Dish TV plunged 32.74 per cent to Rs 22.60.
In an open letter, Chandra did not disclose the exact quantum of debt, limiting himself to say that rolling over debt has been difficult since the IL&FS crisis and the group has been able to honour its loan commitments till December.
"I am compelled to apologise to our bankers, NBFCs and mutual funds, since I believe that I have not lived up to your expectations, despite the best of my intentions," Chandra said in the letter.
Without divulging if the group has defaulted on any debt servicing commitment, he urged lenders not to react in "an anarchical manner and maintain patience" till the process of ZEE Entertainment's stake sale is completed.
"Post-sale process, we will be positively able to repay the entire dues, but if the lenders react in panic, it will only hurt them and us," he warned and claimed that he is not desirous of keeping a "single rupee" and that no promoter ever has decided to sell his "jewel crown" in face of financial troubles as he is trying to do.
The strategic sale, announced last November, will halve the promoter holdings, but is facing troubles from negative forces which are "sabotaging" by "hammering" the stock price. Chandra claimed he had achieved successes through meetings in London recently and cited the 26.43 per cent price correction to Rs 319.35 on Friday as an attempt to derail the sale process.
Using "negative force" in singular, Chandra said the troubles have been on since June 2018 and was followed up by anonymous letters to bankers, non-bank lenders, mutual funds, and shareholders. He also maintained that none of the operating firms of the group is facing trouble and it is only the promoters who are facing trouble due to different business calls.
Admitting to some of his mistakes, he said wrong bets have caused losses to the tune of Rs 4,000-5,000 crore on Essel Infra alone.
"As most other infra companies, even we have made some incorrect bids. In usual cases, infra companies have raised their hands and have left their lenders with non-performing assets, but in our case, my obsession of not walking away from a situation, has made me bleed Rs 4000 crore to Rs 5000 crore," he claimed.
Chandra said the decision to acquire Videocon's D2H business in November 2016 (completed in March 2018) in has cost him and brother Jawahar Goel a "fortune".
Another "mistake" was the decision to take on the debt of all group companies during the division of the family business, he said, adding most of the new business calls have not worked, causing debt to mount.
Chandra said he has written a number of complaints to the police, Maharashtra home minister and Sebi since November 2018, but alleged that none of this yielded any result. "I must also mention that there is no systematic protection against the insidious attacks on us by the mentioned negative forces, but we will continue to seek the support of the system to thoroughly investigate the matter," he said.
Here's the full text of the letter by Subhash Chandra:
At a very early stage of my life, I have learnt the most important lesson from my grandfather, Shri Jagannath Goenka, which taught me that a direct dialogue with the creditors should be maintained, should you find it difficult to repay any sort of loans, and this message is my earnest effort in doing so.
First and foremost, vide this message I would like to express my deepest apologies to our esteemed financial supporters. I have always been the first to accept my faults and we have been consistently accountable of the decisions taken, and I will maintain the same today as well. For the first time in my career of 52 years, I am compelled to apologize to our bankers, NBFCs & Mutual Funds, since I believe that I have not lived upto to their expectations, despite the best of my intentions.
I am extremely certain that there is no promoter in India Inc., who has dared to sell the jewel of his crown, to pay off the liabilities. While the process is still ongoing, there are some forces which are not willing to see us succeed.
That said, I am not indicating that there are no mistakes done from my end, and as always, I am willing to face the consequences of the same. I assure you, that I am not running away from the core issue and will do my best to repay each and every person. The best time for the same, however, is difficult to be mentioned at this stage.
I would also like to state through this message, the key points which have gone wrong:
Essel Infra: As most of the infra companies, even we have made some incorrect bids. In usual cases, Infra Companies have raised their hands and have left their lenders with non-performing assets, but in our case, my obsession of not walking away from the situation has made me to bleed 4000 crore to 5000 crore of Rupees. Despite the loss-making projects, we continued to pay the interest and the principle, by borrowing funds against our shareholdings in Listed Companies.
Acquisition of D2H: My recommendation made to my brother Jawahar Goel to buy D2H from Videocon was one more key error, which costed me and Jawahar both, a fortune. When our family business separation was implemented, as the eldest member of the family, I had taken the entire burden of the debts. I believe, it was my mistake to have told myself that "Subhash you can earn and repay the creditors". Post which, most of my bets on the new businesses have not worked, which led to the increased debt, due to the added interest levels.
The situation at hand, became further unmanageable after the IL&FS issue, came to public light. Till then, we were managing our borrowings efficiently. The IL&FS meltdown stopped the roll overs, diminishing our ability to service our borrowings. From May / June 2018 onwards a negative force which was acting against our grip as promoters became strongly active. This was followed by some anonymous letters being sent to all Bankers, NBFCs, Mutual Funds, Shareholders, etc.
Whenever we have reported some really good results from the operating Companies, the share prices were intentionally hammered by these negative forces, driving away the investors. While the above, are the reasons of the current situation, I must also mention what steps were taken from our end:
We wrote a number of complaints to the Department of Police, Home Minister of Maharashtra, SEBI and other concerned authorities, right since November 2018, but all the efforts did not result in any action. Till December, we continued to pay the due interest and principle, to all lenders. I have also given my best to expedite the stake sale of ZEE Entertainment. Infact, I have just returned back from London, last night itself, after a series of positive meetings with potential suitors.
The mentioned negative forces, possibly after getting a hint of these positive meetings, have attacked the share price today, with a clear intention of sabotaging ZEE Entertainment's strategic sale process. I must also mention that there is no systematic protection against the insidious attack on us by the mentioned negative forces, but we will continue to seek the support of the system in order to thoroughly investigate the matter.
About the Operating Companies:
All Operating Companies, especially our most precious one which is ZEE Entertainment, are performing exceptionally well and are under NO stress whatsoever. The debt burden is purely at the promoter level, which is reflecting negatively on the Companies. I would like to reiterate that ALL the Companies are performing exceptionally well and there is no problem whatsoever.
Having said the above, I still believe, strongly feel and would like to urge the lenders, not to react in an anarchical manner and to maintain patience, till the process of ZEE Entertainment's stake sale is completed. Post the sale process, we will be positively able to repay the entire dues, but if the lenders react in a panic situation, it will only hurt them and us.
I would again like to reiterate that I have no intention whatsoever, to keep a single rupee, till all the dues to the lenders are paid.
Zee Group shares crash, Subhash Chandra blames 'negatives forces'; apologises to lenders
1 Piyush Goyal to I-T officers: 'Refrain from being overzealous, be taxpayer-friendly'
2 Growth to remain in 7-7.5% range in next few years: PM advisory panel
3 Steps to help MSMEs, ease farmers' distress increase risk of fiscal slippage: Moody's


text:
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Home > Corporate News	> ASTRI technology leader wins HKCS Outstanding ICT Achiever Awards 2015 Back
ASTRI technology leader wins HKCS Outstanding ICT Achiever Awards 2015
Dr. Vincent Lau, R&D Director (Software and System) of ASTRI, was awarded the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) Outstanding ICT Achiever Awards 2015: Consulting Category. An award presentation ceremony was held at the HKCS 45th Anniversary Gala Dinner on 25 November 2015.
Dr. Vincent Lau has been working in the innovation technology industry for over 20 years, focusing on product creation and business development. He had worked in both local and multi-national companies on various project development. He has been offering consultancy service to a number of private companies, NGOs and government departments on technology application for value creation. His projects include government projects, ICT education projects, smart toys, location-based system for blind, and app-based training system for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children, to name but a few. He continues developing various technology projects on smart living to improve people's quality of life.
Launched by HKCS, the awards aims to recognising and honour the significant contributions of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in the Hong Kong's ICT industry. The assessment criteria include leadership, customer's needs and concerns, means and approaches, key success factors and project benefits.
ASTRI and CITIC Telecom CPC Transform Customer Experience with AR-based Operations and Maintenance Solution
[Hong Kong, 24 September 2020] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) and CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited (CITIC Telecom CPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited, have introduced a jointly developed Augmented Reality (AR) solution designed to transform field engineers' operations and maintenance processes ...
ASTRI and the University of Hong Kong to nurture FinTech talent of the future
[Hong Kong, 14 September 2020] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Hong Kong (HKU), a commitment to nurturing the talent of tomorrow and creating the FinTech expertise of the future ...
test version
HK leads in open 5G Technology to reshape telecoms sector
When it comes to 5G technology, most people would immediately think of the mobile network, yet statistics show it accounts for just 10 percent of applications with 90 percent in the industrial and business sectors ...
Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
5/F, Photonics Centre, 2 Science Park East Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong
© 2019 Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI)
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text:
Q: Unexpected token '<', "I'm beginner in Reactjs and new here at StackOverflow. Actually, I'm trying to pass the data from backend to frontend. But instead of fetching the JSON data from the backend url, it is getting data from index.html of the frontend. My backend is nodejs. Basically, I want to get JSON data from backend and post the data in the console of frontend. But I'm getting this SyntaxError: Unexpected token '<', "<!DOCTYPE "... is not valid JSON Can anyone help me to resolve this. reactjsnodejs
Frontend code
App.js
import React from 'react';
import {useState, useEffect} from 'react';
import {getOrder} from './ApiCalls.js'

function App() {

  const[values, setValues]=useState({
    amount:0,
    orderId:''
  })
  const{amount, orderId}=values

  useEffect(() => {
    createorder()
  }, [])

  const createorder=()=>{
    getOrder().then(response=>console.log(response))
  }

  const showRazorPay=()=>{
    const form=document.createElement('form')
    form.setAttribute('action',`${process.env.REACT_APP_BACKEND}/payment/callback`);
    form.setAttribute('method',"POST");
    const script=document.createElement("script");
    script.src= "https://checkout.razorpay.com/v1/checkout.js";
    script.setAttribute("data-key",process.env.REACT_APP_DATA_KEY);
    script.setAttribute("data-amount", amount);
    script.setAttribute("data-prefill.contact","9561315545");
    script.setAttribute("data-order_id", orderId);
    script.setAttribute("data-prefill.name", "Priyanka Chaudhari");
    script.setAttribute("data-image", `${process.env.REACT_APP_BACKEND}/logo`)
    script.setAttribute("data-buttontext","Donate Now!");
    document.body.appendChild(form);
    form.appendChild(script);
    const input= document.createElement("input");
    input.type="hidden";
    input.custom="Hidden Element";
  }
  return (
    <div>

    </div>

  );
}

export default App;

ApiCalls.js
export const getOrder=()=>{
    return fetch(`${process.env.REACT_APP_BACKEND}/createorder`,{
        method: "GET",
        headers: {
            'Content-Type':'application/json'
        }
    }).then(response=>response.json())
    .catch((err)=>console.log(err))
}

Backend Code
App.js
const express=require('express')
const bodyParser=require('body-parser')
const cors=require('cors')
const app=express()
const PaymentRoute=require('./PaymentRoute')

app.use(bodyParser.json())
app.use(cors())

app.use('/api',PaymentRoute);

app.listen(5000,()=>{
    console.log(`App is running at 5000 port`)
})

PaymentRoute.js
const express=require('express')
const router=express.Router()
const{CreateOrder,paymentCallback,getLogo}=require('./PaymentController')

router.get('/createorder',CreateOrder);
router.post('/payment/callback',paymentCallback)
router.get('/logo',getLogo)
module.exports=router;

PaymentController.js
require('dotenv').config()
const Razorpay=require('razorpay')
const uniqueId=require('uniqid')
const path=require('path')

var instance = new Razorpay({ key_id: process.env.KEY_ID, key_secret: process.env.SECRET_KEY })

// instance.payments.fetch(paymentId)
exports.CreateOrder=(req,res)=>{
    var options = {
        amount: 50000,  // amount in the smallest currency unit
        currency: "INR",
        receipt: uniqueId()
      };
      instance.orders.create(options, function(err, order) {
        if(err){
        return    res.status(500).json({
                error:err
            })
        }
        res.json(order)
      });
}
exports.paymentCallback=(req,res)=>{

}
exports.getLogo=(req,res)=>{
  res.sendFile(path.join(__dirname,'donate-image.png'))
}

A: I changed createorder function name to createOrder, as in the process.env.REACT_APP_BACKEND/createorder, /createorder is already present in my pathname so I think that was the reason for this error

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Personifications especially of cities become a major part of numismatic iconography. At some point I want to return to this detailed treatment of the subject from a literary perspective focusing on Republican texts.
Previous Post Do Orators Make Up History? Poetry?


text:
Posts tagged 'Coast Road Truckers'
One World in Fancy Dress.
(Was writing this in the cafe of Scottish Parliament but Virgin Wifi not good and lost it on way home) I almost made it but on the way out an Aussie lady with a bottle of sambuca suggested, quite strongly I may say, that we should partake in a valedictory shot. Which led to another one and another one and all the goodbyes and tears of the previous half hour were to no avail as we made our way back into the core of the party. Had a bit of a catch up since and the vaguer parts of the night are being filled in by some of the other more experienced drinking compadres.
The event was the end of season Applecross Inn staff party, although no one believes it is even close to end of season. It being a fancy dress party and this being the Applecross Inn, meant there were impressive attires on view. Every one from Wally to Thelma were on display including the witches, cats and clowns and various others just as impressive. Great food, lots of drink and after the Coast Road Truckers warmed us up Glittery Johnny got the karaoke going. So a night of food, drink and terrible singing just flew by. Astronaut Aron's Relax was well impressive, the Boss's and my Brown Eyed Girl was pretty awful and there was no shortage of volunteers. I went as a Moroccan wearing a borrowed kaftan
before changing into an Indian kurta
before ending up at home in the kilt.
So many photos were taken that the progress was followed by the camera and karaoke. Many photos on Facebook and Elaine kindly, if that is the right word, supplied my three. Because of the sambuca I ended up with the crowd singing Hotel California, why I ended with one of the mics is usually because they find the worst singer in the crowd. Seems that is "good" karaoke. It was a fancy dress party so, although not talked, about the fuzzy idea behind costume changes was saying it is one world with all our different cultures, ideas and heritage. One is no better than the other and all are to be respected as long as they come within a general view of human decency. Seeing the young folk of today who travel and work round the world I have hope that they can deal with the many problems,especially environmental, that they are going to have to face in their lifetimes. For me I have always regarded it as a privilege to know them as they pass through Applecross. The night ended with a rousing Hey Jude for the boss before a very apt fire alarm cleared the building. Of course by this time I was well beyond redemption and the party carried on at 6/7. The theme of the night was a hug, a feeling of camaraderie with lots of good people. Seems the goodbyes were repeated three times during the evening so there were lots of tears as I say the right things to reduce travellers to break down…in a nice sort of way. Was told that there were another two at the staff house but things were extremely vague by then. There was a little run of bad luck with the chefs with a couple of cracked ribs with one and another's car had some very severe broken ribs, discovered air bags where he never knew they were kept, but no personal damage. A fine night with conversations ranging from economics to illusions, there being many silly forgotten ones. Needless to say the problems in Applecross, Scotland and the World were sorted very quickly and easily with nothing more than a tipple to lubricate the negotiations. Huge thanks to everyone at the Inn who set up, cooked and generally organised a great night for lovely people to have a ball.
Monday was payback day and it cost a lot. There was a six-mile walk broken up by a substantial bacon, sausage and egg roll, think I was hugging chefs on Sunday, a look up to see Dan who was in doing some work on the hydraulic ram at the Turbine House, good to see all is well as it is 90kWhs weather,
a fry up, sleep and finished off the recovery with a Macaroni and Cheese tea. This coupled with the desire not to partake in any alcohol beverages for quite some time. As there was a planned trip to Edinburgh to see Fergus Ewing about fishing on Tuesday a short night's sleep on the couch before a half three rise to catch the early train in Inverness.
Applecross, Applecross Inn
After the excitement of the connection, there was the usual keeping it together and making for work. You could tell that the pressure was released when the boys came down from the Turbine House for their late dinner on Thursday. The main relief was that Sandy and his team came good.
There was still much to do and although the site works and landscaping will be left to the spring when the weather improves, programs, hydraulics, taking weights of the deflector, allowing for smoother drop and many other checks have to be carried out. The boys just had a couple of pints and looked pretty wiped out before making it back up to check the now running turbine before switching it off for the night.
Friday was a longish shift with some more of the Hydro guys and families appearing in preparation for an informal commissioning celebration, combining this with the Primary school coming out for their Christmas meal. It was a grand night busy but easy going and friendly. In fact nights like these hardly feel like work although the kitchen had to deal with 95% of their covers in around half an hour. As usual they coped well with top compliments flying back to the chefs. No mistakes from out front and all went smoothly, with Roddy and Elliot joining in only briefly. Did not stay out too late as a day at sea was planned for Saturday and I left the remaining revellers to it, leaving about 11.30.
Early start, up in the pitch black, a normal time for summer but does not feel right. Bit nervous the batteries would be flat but have disconnected the lighting bank from the starter bank and we were okay. Uneventful day although spent a fair bit splicing up cuts. Wasn't out hauling these creels for about 3/4 weeks so other boats fishing close by catch them. Either that or the last day I was out must have been very careless and shot five fleets over other fleets of creels. No matter a good day passed rapidly
and it was growing dark by the time I got to the moorings.
Tried the new spotlight out, unfortunately it did not perform but got in safe enough. Result was that it was a bit of a rush getting ready for the evening shift. Did not discover it but forgot to pull the dinghy out. Only realised when I received a phone call saying it was close to the shore. No damage as there was no weather and she just rested on the beach as the tide slipped out.
HighlandEco had decided that their Christmas dinner was going to be at the Inn this year, partly to celebrate the success of building the Applecross scheme and of course they knew the food would be okay. Mick with a bit of inside info bagged the last venison loin the previous night and the fresh squats, scallops and langoustines made an appearance. Boss was a little worried that it was not going to plan at the start as it appeared a little bitty. But it was so informal and friendly and it wound its way naturally through the evening.
The late arrival of Steve, Craig and the irrepssible Kyle added to the numbers and bonhomie. I managed to squeeze in a delightful squat lobster Thai green curry. Highland Eco use the same contractors and you can see a strong bond that results in everyone working as a team, complimenting each other. There was a short spell we as a board were looking to another contractor to carry out the works, but circumstances allowed for that decision to be corrected and the final result vindicates the Board taking the Eco route. Despite everything put in the way, every hurdle and problem was cleared with a whole day to spare. The main feeling I picked up from the evenings entertainment was the buzz of a happy group of people,
some just in for the music provided by the Coast Road Truckers,
and many out to enjoy the achievements of the community built scheme. The music was complimented by many first time listeners and there were a couple of times during the evening I took a step back and just thought WOW, hardly believing what has just been achieved. Always planned a couple of Crabbies to celebrate and it was noted by many, concerned of course that I was on the road to alcoholism. Severely limited and now back to not drinking. Too much effort and have no time to spend just recovering from drinking too much no matter how much the enjoyment of the evening. Quote of the evening was, "this scheme has given us the most satisfaction in all the ones we have built". That is saying something considering all the stresses along the road, not least the financial pressures involved in the contract. Delayed payments and trust ran through the whole project which inevitably lends more to the achievement. There was a suggestion that a few photos should be taken
while every one was still standing
and that was duly carried out with Kyle appearing quite prominently in many.
Seems there are another series of photos taken later while he was modelling underwear. That is for another part of the Internet and may be used in later life…….another reason not to imbibe too much in today's technological age.
I made it home happy and relatively sober by 1.30am, still I think not completely taking in the immensity of what has happened. It was great to meet Leanne, Paul, Jen, Katie and reaquaint myself with Steve, Craig and of course Kyle. Taking Dougal out looking up at a crisp clear sky, the stars of Orion's Belt, bright to the south west there was a small element of satisfaction that Applecross is now producing some green renewable energy for the foreseeable future. So small in the grand universe but the ocean is made up of many drops.
Applecross Inn, Community Company, Fishing, Hydro
Fishing Competition and Raft Race Weekend.
(Sunday evening) Not sure how far this post will go but home after another brisk day at the Inn. After landing the langoustines yesterday and thinking they would last till I was back out on Tuesday I was back out to the Varuna for another two boxes. They are playing a star role at the moment, going out to locals and visitors alike. Great to see people relishing good wholesome Scottish food in a dramatic surround and for once fine weather. Todays weather was slightly off kilter in that it was blowing a gale from the east but the temperature was up into the mid 20s and blue skies all around. A long and fairly tiring shift and when a finish at ten was offered I did not protest too much. Lots of walking involved as many folk were sitting outside eating in the Garden, Patio or just outside the Inn. All the flags out at one point and reactions to flags by some are interesting. The Polish who did not want the German flag is fair enough, bit of history there, the Swiss who do not want the French flag, and the Lithuanian who was so disappointed in us not having her flag. Maybe go onto to eBay and purchase a few. Flags are funny symbols of national belonging that some people hold dear and most people would say a region then a country. I am first and foremost a Highlander who looks to the sea for a living and a way of life. And for the life of me cannot explain why my flag is the saltire and not the Union Jack. A strange statement from some one who does not consider oneself to be Nationalist.
Back to the script, Friday and Saturday were concerned with the Raft Race, Fishing Competition and aftermath. Tricky decisions had to be taken due to weather forecast but everything went ahead as planned despite a heavy down pour as the Rafts were heading towards an exciting finish.
Lower numbers than usual but with a following wind all three were neck and neck at the finish. Working during this part of the evening and only took the camera out after it was all over. Funny to think this man
keeps my boat afloat, this being the same man later,
after over £1000 raised for Macmillan Cancer Relief Care, at the Hall shorn. The second photo was taken by Lesley Fox at the Hall. One of the best engineers on the west. The lifeboat from Portree came over,
unfortunately the helicopter was called out, the Coast Road Truckers played the night away and the Inn kept serving.
The Fishing Competition took place on Saturday without the Varuna as I was still trying to keep the langoustines on the menu and I hate standing about on the boat doing nothing waiting for people to catch fish. Also I know very little about catching so is a bit unfair on who ever would come out. My day was as usual, as it was a windy start, washed a fleet and went out about twelve,
hauled 200 creels and parachuted into the Inn till around eleven. Only the bonxies for company.
Came across an electric blue squat lobster, usually found on the line and not at 50 fathoms.
Enjoyed the challenge and did not hit the wall until after ten which meant it was very easy to drive past the entertainment going on at the Community Hall.
Going further back to Thursday and the three start to cover breaks and in for the long haul as Tarneybackle were playing after nine.
Last two times it has gone well sorting out the diners and finding the space for the band to set up. Small Inn and needs a fine line between getting it done and not spoiling the customers enjoyment. They have a dedicated following and were enjoyed by all.
I am sure they would not mind me saying that "The Glasgow Cat" is not the bar staff's fav tune although the Boss was in there with all the actions. I was watching a follower making some slightly bizarre motions, not having taken part in the song before, and did not realise this was a request for the song. More my kind of song was their fine version of Dougie Maclean's Caledonia, but that is the beauty of music, something for everyone. The wee chappie from Dundee got so excited after the rendition of Bonnets o' Dundee that he stotted over to Judith and declared she had "the best pub in the world".
Serious signs of autumn
well under way
although some of the summer bits and pieces have not finished such as the Buddleia which is still flowering away.
Monday is for something completely different.
Applecross Inn, Applecross Scenes, Fishing, Music
Fishing Competition
Tarnybackle
Local Coffee Band (Americano)
Sitting at the end of the bar after a call out to help the evening shift through, The Coast Road Truckers playing on T8, when I say table 8 that means shifting T8 to T9 along with 6 guys on it and putting T9 on top of the pool table, small pub, and surrounded by a hum of conversation…a good place to be. Laughed at the post from The Applecross Inn fb page which described the music as Americano, they are good but we just do filtered at the Inn, latte at a push. They can now be known as the local coffee band, although the Shieldaig contingent look as they have come over just for the coffee. Busy night with three big groups in and all went well with the usual compliments accompanying the great food. Accommodation is now back under way and the "new year" is long gone. Atrocious weather again, bad enough to stop you working on the wood even. It is just day after day, relentless. Left around eleven, in miserable weather on the bike but with some chocolate chip and golden syrup to be consoled with.
Reports of a very high tide around half eight and some people had to go up through the Estate road to get around the Bay, went up this morning to see what it was like
but as the weather had settled and the pressure had risen a little there was only the seaweed evidence on the road.
Appears you could not get down to Toscaig pier last night for a couple of hours. Even with the weather a bit more settled the tide was high enough and it was just as well I got the wood off the shore as it would have been washed away. Enjoyed the shift last night as you get to know people towards the end of the week as they come in for several meals. After the trip up the road and a visit to the shop with Dougal and Co it was a day of wood blocking.
Fallen behind in keeping the wood dry for burning but that should be sorted over the next week or so once I get this lot under cover. Meanwhile Dougal goes out on his rodent search accompanied by his mother, it does not matter what he does he ends up filthy but you have to admire his zest for life.
Back to minutes, books an bills as I have promised myself a less stressful year and that means doing things on time. Unfortunately am going to have to suffer a few reminders before I catch up but going to use the Celtic Connections as an incentive. Tickets for six concerts are here which include Indian, African, Hindustani, Scottish Contemporary Traditional, The Transatlantics and even Psalm Singers. Holidays in January must be one of the best solutions to SAD.
Applecross, Applecross Inn, Applecross Scenes, Dogs, Music, Weather, wood
Storms,a landslip and Trucking harmonies.
Tonight it is dark and windy,last night it was stormy, having to get up at 2.30am, to go down and get some sleep on the couch as it was too noisy upstairs. I would love the wind just a little bit more if I did not have a boat bouncing on the moorings at Pol Creadh. The morning broke with me checking that everything was where it should be. House seems to have survived intact ,the hive is still in place and the Varuna is sitting more peacefully on her mooring.
Even with the grim weather we are having, there are light shows still going on. Earlier this week just looking across to the Cullin, late in the afternoon, the south end of Saint Island is lit up. Christmas passed uneventfully with lots of good food and full complement of boys home plus Jill. Handy having a cook in the family and the rest of the day was spent relaxing and reading. Watched the least telly ever and felt all the better for it. A BBC Alba prog on the Macdonald brothers from Runrig was worth the watch but nothing else. Even with most off the staff away there has been little doing at the Inn until the last couple of days. Always hard to judge what goes on at this time of year but local knowledge helps….knowing very few of the holiday houses are booked. Now they are fully booked and taking a lot of bookings mean the next little spell is going to be full on. A surprising number of Europeans about, Belgians,Italians,French and Dutch in the last couple of days. And the usual flattering compliments about the food were passed on to the kitchen. Applecross is more about the New Year than Christmas.
Another landslip on the Stromeferry Bypass meant an anxious few days to see if trade was going to be affected again like last year. Fortunately it was a minor slip and unstable rock left hanging had to be brought down totalling about 15/20 tons and it has already been reopened. There is no longer any confidence on this route with buses taking school children along it twice a day. Without being alarmist it will never be safe. HC are going through a process which many residents hope will result in one of two options…..bridge or route round through Attadale. Little story about dynamite found in the woods not far from the Bypass in the press this week reminded me of a summer holiday spent in Toscaig the year they built the Upper Toscaig road. it was left to the local road crew to carry out the task and some blasting at the junction was involved. Making it slightly more efficient they drilled holes enough for two blasts and filled them up with some sticks. They then covered up the intended blast to minimise the spread of rock. Unfortunately due to a wee break in concentration the wrong blast was covered and rock rained down on Upper Toscaig, giving Danny Mor the fright of his life. I ended up with a rusty nail through my foot as we were sheltering in a barn on the croft and were more than a little disturbed by the bang and rock shower. The days of health and safety were in the distant future.
Last night The Coast Road Truckers were at the Inn and played a really good selection of Americana. Great harmonies and a good night. Meant I missed the 2nd part of William Boyd's Restless and the Michael Mara Tribute, but iplayer to rescue this evening. The storm of last night left most unscathed although there were a few unusual sights such as the fence at the Hall being covered in dead grass.
Pleasant shift to work today and there were plenty customers about and with the conditions outside pretty grim there were a number of lesuirely lunches. Before heading home Steve and I headed down to Milton to tuck Robert's dingy up by the shed as tonight's forecast is pretty severe. Despite the seemingly unremitting gales there are little breaks where you have to stop and take a little time out. Looking south on Milton pier was one such moment.
Applecross, Applecross Inn, Applecross Scenes, Family, Local Food, Local History, Weather
Yet another Funeral,the Pantomime and a Brioche.
As well as the beautiful mornings we had at the start of the week the sunsets were spectacular as well.
It is so beautiful when the sun goes down behind the Cullin at this time of year. There is a totally different kind of light on the Sound.
On Wednesday after a few jobs it was off to Balmacara to see off my aunt Eilidh who was my mum's sister-in law and from Plockton herself. The weather was fairly unpleasant and after the internment it was off to the Plockton Inn where a small gathering of cousins met up. It is always good to catch up with relatives you have not seen for a few years and reminisce about growing up in Plockton, messing about on the water,playing football,cricket…yes we do that in the Highlands and going to church of course. As my granny's house was the stopping off point for all the travelling FP ministers who preached at the communions held in the communities across the highlands. These communions were held annually and began on the thursday and went on till monday morning, with lots of time in church which was not the best appreciated by us young kids. Strong shinty influence from the Abriachan part of the family and had a reminisce about playing shinty in San Fransisco in 1980 and joking we were the fore- runners of the 4 teams that are over there now. Trail blazing again…. So not many left of that generation of our family, my mum and 2 aunts.
When you go out of Applecross word gets around and you do what is natural here, that is picking things up and dropping stuff off. Half a hind was loaded up to be dropped off in Lochcarron, then the phone rings so it was a stop of in Kishorn to drop off some money and to pick up picture frames. At Plockton Catherine came up to me at the hotel and asked if it was ok to take a couple of kegs af Plockton Bay ale back to the Inn. Really like this part of living here and some people who come to live here are always very grateful for these favours and want to pay you for them. They take a while to understand that it just goes around and you do not have to do a "favour" back but you do one for some else and it just goes round and keeps a community together. I know I owe so many people but if you keep it going it always comes back and it great and rewarding when it comes from an unexpected source.
Yesterday was time out with a visit to our primary school pantomime and to be frank the kids were brilliant. Obviously a lot of work went in to it against all circumstances of colds,flus and only one managed dress rehearsal. You would never have known. There was a big girl, called Marion who keeps repeating primary 7, She is the one wielding the axe.
The scenery and background work, lighting and sound were all great, one amusing aside was the official film crew took the wrong attachment to his tripod and the start of the opening scene was drowned out by the sound of packing tape being wrapped around the camera to try to keep it steady on its base.
The other major event of the day was the eagerly anticipated launch of the Coast Road Trucker's first album, Rolling. Well the box of 150 CDs arrived as we were standing out the back of the Inn, so it was a fairly low-key event. On sale at Nanny's today, I believe and it is good.The Inn in the evening was busy with the VT coming down for their Christmas dinner, a couple of residents and a trial run for tonight's Brioche which was quite extra ordinary.Had some myself at the end of shift, unfortunate for Aron, as he had a piece booked if any was left over. But he was "content" to watch me eat mine. So many chefs,so many things to eat…what a place this is at the moment. So the solstice has passed as I write this and the days will begin to stretch out, always remember a neighbour who stayed beside us in Toscaig and every June 21st would comment "the nights are drawing in now", a slightly gloomier way of looking at the world. Of all the politics and ups and downs over the past year was met with this attitude I would be in a spot of bother by now. Maybe its a just a part of growing older but when people who disagree with you personalise an argument you don't take umbrage as much as you used to and as many people have said recently when some one goes down that path they have very little of import to say.
Applecross, Applecross Inn, Applecross Scenes
Plockton Bay ale
CHAS annual fund raiser at the Inn.
The annual CHAS fund raiser took place at the Inn on Sunday. Busy barbecue fed lots of bikers coming from all over Scotland to raise monies for a very worthy charity.
A little dancing took place on the street.
The music was provided by the harmonious local band Coast Road Truckers, Frostie being one of their, sometimes, four harmonies. Transport links from Oban meant percussion was delayed.
Applecross, Applecross Inn, Music


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Fed to Buy Unlimited Government Debt and Lend to Businesses
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
(Associated Press) In its boldest effort to protect the U.S. economy from the coronavirus, the Federal Reserve says it will buy as much government debt as it deems necessary and will also begin lending to small and large businesses and local governments to help them weather the crisis.
The Fed's announcement Monday removes any dollar limits from its plans to support the flow of credit through an economy that has been ravaged by the viral outbreak. The central bank's all-out effort has now gone beyond even the extraordinary drive it made to rescue the economy from the 2008 financial crisis.
"The coronavirus pandemic is causing tremendous hardship across the United States and around the world," the Fed said in a statement. "While great uncertainty remains, it has become clear that our economy will face severe disruptions. Aggressive efforts must be taken across the public and private sectors to limit the losses to jobs and incomes and to promote a swift recovery once the disruptions abate."
Financial markets sharply reversed themselves after the announcement but then fell back again after the market opened. By mid-day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down about 4%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond fell, a sign that more investors are willing to purchase the securities.
In unleashing its aggressive new efforts, the Fed, led by Chair Jerome Powell, is trying both to stabilize the economy and allay panic in financial markets. Many corporations and city and state governments are in desperate need of loans to pay bills and maintain operations as their revenue from customers or taxpayers collapses. That need has escalated demand for cash. In the meantime, large businesses have been drawing, as much as they can, on their existing borrowing relationships with banks.
The intensifying needs for cash means that banks and other investors are seeking to rapidly unload Treasuries, short-term corporate debt, municipal bonds and other securities. The Fed's move to step in and act as a buyer of last resort is intended to provide that needed cash.
The central bank's actions increase pressure on Congress to approve a nearly $2 trillion stimulus package that stalled late Sunday. The bill includes funds that would help backstop the Fed's lending. Many economists say that whatever financial support Congress eventually provides will likely be even more important than the Fed's intervention. And they warn that such fiscal help needs to come soon.
The Fed's intervention is not a substitute for fiscal stimulus," said Joseph Gagnon, a former Fed economist who is now senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "Let's hope Congress passes something quickly.''
Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, a tax and advisory firm, said that if Congress can pass the legislation and have it signed into law by Tuesday, banks could start making loans to small and medium-sized businesses, with the Fed's support, by Friday.
In its announcement Monday, the Fed said it will establish three new lending facilities that will provide up to $300 billion by purchasing corporate bonds, a wider range of municipal bonds and securities tied to such debt as auto and real estate loans. It will also buy an unlimited amount of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities to try to hold down borrowing rates and ensure those markets function smoothly.
The central bank's new go-for-broke approach is an acknowledgment that its previous plans to keep credit flowing smoothly, which included dollar limits, wouldn't be enough in the face of the viral outbreak, which has brought the U.S. economy to a near-standstill as workers and consumers stay home. Last week, it said it would buy $500 billion of Treasuries and $200 billion of mortgage-backed securities, then quickly ran through roughly half those amounts by week's end.
And on Monday, the New York Federal Reserve said it would buy $75 billion of Treasuries and $50 billion of mortgage-backed securities each day this week.
"They're really setting the economy up'' to start functioning again when the health crisis subsides, said Donald Kohn, a former Fed vice chair who is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "Part of this is about the other side of the valley: Make sure the credit is there.''
Still, Kohn noted, "These things will take some time to set up. These are complicated'' programs.
Just knowing that the Fed is on the case should reassure businesses as the programs ramp up, Kohn said.
"The fact that this is coming: People will know it,'' Kohn said. "They know the Fed is on the job. If there are issues that come up, what you're seeing from this Federal Reserve is: 'We will deal with it.' ''
The Fed mostly creates the money it will use to buy bonds and lend to large and small businesses. But it seeks to avoid credit losses. It has been using money from a Treasury fund to offset any losses on its loans. That fund, the Exchange Stabilization Fund, has already committed most of that money to the Fed's existing facilities. The congressional legislation could boost that amount by $500 billion.
"The steps announced today, combined with the previous ones … should substantially improve market functioning and should provide some important support for the economy," said Roberto Perli, a former Fed economist who is now head of global policy research at Cornerstone Macro.
But Perli cautioned that the benefits won't be felt immediately.
"The next couple of quarters will still be probably bad," he said.
The new programs announced Monday by the Fed include two that will buy corporate debt issued by large companies. The Fed legally can't lend directly to companies. But it can lend to separate entities, which can then make those purchases.
One program will buy newly issued corporate debt. This is an effort to revive that market, which has effectively come to a standstill. The second will buy previously issued corporate debt. Both programs will include $10 billion provided by the Treasury to offset any losses.
A third new lending program will buy securities backed by packages of auto loans, credit card loans and some small business loans. Lending in those areas hinges on the ability of banks to package those loans into securities and sell them. So the Fed's move is critical to the ability of banks to continue to provide these loans as the economy falters.
The Treasury will also provide $10 billion to that program to offset any losses. All told, those three programs can lend up to $300 billion.
The Fed said that companies "that are expected to receive direct financial assistance under pending federal legislation" are not eligible to participate in the corporate lending programs — a reference to the airline industry and perhaps others under consideration.
Companies will have to be rated at investment grade, or above junk level, to be eligible for lending. The companies can defer payments for up to six months, the Fed said. If they do suspend payment, they are not allowed to buy back their shares or pay dividends, it said.
The Fed also said it will soon establish a "Main Street Business Lending Program" to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses. But it provided few details and didn't say when that program would begin.
That program will likely be funded by and is intended to complement the congressional stimulus legislation, which also includes a provision to provide financing to very small companies. The Fed's Main Street program will target medium-sized businesses, officials said.
Brusuelas noted that by announcing the Main Street lending program, the Fed had committed to something before a congressional backstop was in place, a virtually unheard-of step.
"You're never going to see that again, hopefully," he said.
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Beasto Blanco will release their 3rd studio album We Are on May 24, 2019 via Rat Pak Records. We Are is the follow up album to their highly successful 2016 self-titled sophomore release Beasto Blanco. Produced by Ryan Greene, the new album is available for pre-order in various bundle configurations including vinyl, cassette and hand autographed CD's at: www.ratpakrecords.com/BeastoBlanco.
Beasto Blanco will be touring U.S and Canada in support of We Are opening for Halestorm and Palaye Royale.


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March 2020: Highlights
April 6, 2020 September 19, 2020 appearsdxLeave a comment
March 2020, one of the longest months all of us have ever lived through, has been tough on us all. When Japan was first hit with the coronavirus and closed its schools for what is now looking like an optimistic two weeks, Avex Trax, perhaps to alleviate boredom, perhaps to atone for its string of live cancellations, began uploading several full-length HD concert videos on its YouTube page. This playlist is where I spent the majority of my free time this month, endlessly queuing up one video after another — discovering some new favorites, revisiting classics, mindlessly consuming any mix of audio and visual that had even a small chance of distracting me. Now this month will always be just as full of this memory for me, too, and for that I am grateful. And though I had a harder time concentrating on any hard rock/metal releases, and soundtracks are pretty much non-existent as theaters are closed and films have been postponed, we still had a month full of music releases to help us cope; here are some of the interesting ones.
Niall Horan: Heartbreak Weather
Ex-One Direction members have unleashed a slew of solo records in the last four months, beginning with Harry Styles's Fine Line in December of 2019, followed by Louis Tomlinson's Walls in February, and now Niall Horan's Heartbreak Weather this month. Each of these albums has taken on a distinct identity unique to the individual, but one thing they all have in common is their adherence to the 1D playbook. As Chris DeVille sums up, "[T]heir solo careers suggest they [want] to escape One Direction's structure, not its substance." This is not a complaint: all of these albums have been, to a degree, enjoyable, and all of them have had at least a couple of above-average songs. But while Styles carefully crafted a classic-rock Bowie persona and Tomlinson a 90's Brit-pop avatar, Horan seems torn between two styles, which wrestle almost track by track on Heartbreak Weather. Which you like better will depend on how you prefer your pop: synth or acoustic. The two are sequenced throughout the album to ensure an equal distribution to avoid front- or back-loading either half, and though the soft-rock bits are okay, it's the synth-pop songs that I find myself returning to over and over again. The arena-sized title track, "Arms of a Stranger," "Cross Your Mind" — how perfect the album would be with more of this and less "Dear Patience." It's a nice follow-up to his largely forgettable debut, and as all of the albums released this month can attest to, it's unlucky release date seems to have gotten it buried under the national traumas that are even now still rippling around the world. But for those of us looking for any form of comfort and taste of normalcy we can get, this album been an unexpected companion, the last breath we all took together before getting pulled under.
lol: lightning // Re:Complex: Neo Gravity
Last month, I lamented the dirth of co-ed groups, noting that J-pop tends to be a tad friendlier toward the outliers, and in the wake of AAA's hiatus, we got two torch-bearers in J-pop: a new album by their official replacements lol, and the debut of Re:Complex, the 13-member talent-competition winners from Kansai who released their debut single almost exactly two years ago. These two albums have a lot in common, most notably their styles — both use simple and frequent vocal trade-offs set to the kind of upbeat but generic dance-pop that AAA perfected in their early albums, but eventually moved past for a bit of personality. Both of these albums are extremely competent and enjoyable, but they lack something very important: a unique personality that elevates them beyond filler. Of course, competence is the preferable substitute for grand surface impression, the type of music that values face and personality over any attempt at shooting-for-average singles that run rampant in the idol industry, but really, who are these people? I can't keep any of the members of either of these groups straight, and if lol's 2018 concert tour -scream- is any indication, just about any skilled dancer and vocalist could have stepped in to understudy in the middle of the show and I wouldn't have noticed. I'm not sure if this is a failure on the part of management, who can clearly spot talent, but not genius, or if it's a reluctance to put in the resources to coax a star out of any one of these members who might just be waiting for the extra push. Or is the lukewarm response to a co-ed group like lol not worth the investment? Questions to ponder while these albums rotate in, enjoyable, but unmemorable.
The Weeknd: After Hours
I've devoted enough space here to The Weeknd already, and the guy really doesn't need any more press, so I'll make this quick. After Hours is everything I've come to expect from Abel Tesfaye, for better and worse: the lead tracks are the sharpest knives in this shed, with all the glossy, stylized production only money can buy, while the album tracks go back to the Tesfaye of mixtape lore, slowing the album down considerably by soaking in the moody, navel-gazing bathwater that is now routine for him. I don't mind these moments musically, though lyrically they leave a lot to be desired, but I prefer the album's propulsive moments over the dirges, so the first half lags and the second half doesn't feel long enough, and as a particular bone to pick, the synthwave bits don't go in far enough or long enough to feel like a narrative vision, rather than shallow experimentation for novelty's sake. So, it's a lot like Starboy, with the best bits being better than the former's best bits, and thankfully, not as long.
The World Standard: Wasuta BEST
Every idol group has a gimmick, the thing that tries to make them stand out from the hundreds of groups they compete with for attention and sales. Wasuta's, aside from having the classy, high-budget iDOL Street angle, is a mix of Dempa-lite and Momoiro-eccentricity, buffeted by the colorful bleeps of video game onomatopoeia and cat-ear headbands. It's curious that a group with such a haphazard, kitchen-sink approach has managed to reach their 5th anniversary intact, when so many equally solid iDOL Street groups haven't; Cheeky Parade, for example, was a first cousin to the aesthetic and they disbanded in their fifth year as well. Uh-oh…foreshadowing? A greatest hits collection like Wasuta BEST doesn't exactly alleviate the fear. As a representation of a group's best work, it doesn't get more definitive than this: a 25-track odyssey through all of the fun, nonsense, and quirky curios the group has shared with us over the years, from debut single "Kanzennaru IDOL" to fan-favorites like "PLATONIC GIRL" (unless by "definitive" you mean "exhaustive," in which case AAAs' 15th Anniversary All Time Best -thanx AAA lot-, with over 70 tracks, takes the cake). At this point, Wasuta is one of the few existing all-in idol groups from whom I genuinely look forward to new releases, and it would be a real shame if they went the way of Kobushi FACTORY and GEM and PASSPO☆, though it seems inevitable. Being a fan of Japanese idol groups is often part guilty pleasure and part learning to cherish their ephemeral existence. Successful greatest-hits collections like these, though not essential, are able to wrap it all up in one neat, happily-ever-after, leaving us plenty to remember the group by when they inevitably pass into The Great Idol Beyond.
Haruka Kudo: KDHR
Voice actress Haruka Kudo, not to be confused with former-Morning Musume member Haruka Kudou released her debut mini-album, and of all this month's releases, aside from iri's Sparkle, it has probably surprised me the most. I'm unfamiliar with the extensive work she's done with the intimidating universe that is the BanG Dream! franchise, because like so many voice actors, it's easy to get lost in the sheer amount of available content, but anyone who lists hide as a favorite guitarist and puts her money where her admiration is by actually playing guitar, gets an instant shift to the front of the line. I wouldn't say KDHR makes exceptional on any of these promising bits of information, culminating in a sound that is very much like the bread-and-butter work of seiyuu before her, but I do appreciate the emphasis on the guitar work here, which in moments rips out riffs as hard as BAND-MAID, such as on opening track "MY VOICE," when it's not drowned in layers of synths. It's a promising collection that hopefully foreshadows a full-length with just a bit more attention to originality.
Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia
Amidst the tragic, history-making events of March, Dua Lipa held an Instagram live chat on Monday, March 23 where she tearfully announced that her highly-anticipated sophomore album Future Nostalgia would be released at the end of the week, instead of the original release date of April 3. Releasing an album during a global pandemic is tough enough, but it looks like the primary impetus behind the decision was the album leaking in full online, a heart-breaking incident for any artist in the best of circumstances. Initial reviews for this album were nearly all raves: The Guardian called it "viscerally brilliant," Rolling Stone, a "studio 54-worthy disco revival," NME, "powerful pop perfection." The album is a tight, LP-sized 37-minute long journey through Latin freestyle, early 00's girl-group pop, swelling disco strings and cool, chunky synths set to slick modern production, culminating in heart-tugging anthems like "Don't Stop Now," "Levitating," and the album's show-stopping "Physical." Mega-producer Stuart Price's magic touch shimmers all over this record, and his influence is palpable even on the songs he isn't a part of, with many songs like "Hallucinate" recalling the audacity of his work on Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor. It's easy to think the universal praise is just over-hype, but lest the album seems too sterile, it does miss the bullseye in spots, most notably the final tracks "Good in Bed," and "Boys Will Be Boys," which joins Taylor Swift's "The Man" in good intentions but dull execution. Unlike recent albums that tack on eight or ten extra filler tracks for streaming stats, Lipa practices a graceful discretion, one we can look forward to being appended by later deluxe editions full of tantalizing bonus tracks (which has already been confirmed) that will keep this album fresh in the ears of listeners who are craving more, or who might still be too distracted to tune in. But that's hardly enough to take away Future Nostalgia's true accomplishment: making good on pop's promise to create music that makes you smile, that makes you dance, and that makes you proud.
5 Seconds of Summer: CALM
Boy-band concepts have evolved throughout the decades, from The Beatles, to Menudo, to *NSYNC, to 5 Seconds of Summer, but the point has stayed the same: to create music that makes people, especially young women, feel appreciated. 5SOS went all-in on this on 2018's Youngblood, though by then they were already veterans of the genre. CALM packs the same lusty earnestness into its 40 minutes: "What a blessing to feel your love," they sing in "Red Desert," "Sometimes when I look at you, I see my wife," in "Teeth," and later, "I'll make up for all of your tears / I'll give you the best years," and "You're the only thing that I think I got right / I'll never give you away." These are psalms for lovers, odes to significant others, and devotionals for the rose-colored and deluded. While most songs linger in these early utopian stages of amour, they even make angst sexy, as on "Easier," where even anger can't help but melt into a helpless confession: "Right now, it's so hard to blame you / 'Cause you're so damn beautiful." They're exactly what we expect from our boy bands, delivering on every front; it helps that the tracks keep it simple, the production sizzling with hooks and ardor. Like their predecessors, whatever CALM lacks in genuine self-awareness, it more than makes up for in heart.
The Birthday Massacre: Diamonds
There are fewer things more comforting during times of rapid, intense change than something familiar, something that offers a bit of stability. The Birthday Massacre have now released eight studio albums since 1999; I've been around for seven of those and I can confidently say that I'm always going to get exactly what I expect and want from this group: a nostalgic, early 00's Hot Topic-goth aesthetic set to chunky 80's-inspired synth-rock. The Birthday Massacre has become one of my most reliable go-tos, and this month, there was nothing more reassuring than an album that delivered nothing more than what a group has now mastered and knows best. Diamonds is not the best BM album — it's not even as great as 2017's Under Your Spell — and feels a bit on the short side, but it's as solid as it comes, and for fans who have been in it for the long-haul, it's like a hug from a friend you haven't seen in years. The Birthday Massacre might be short on original ideas at this point, might be relying a bit too hard on that iconic aesthetic to do all the visual work, and yeah, it's hard not to argue that I'm giving them a pass, but no music is released in a vacuum, and Diamonds, an album by an independent group set to be even more hard-hit by the dip in album sales and touring revenue this spring, deserve recognition for making the brave choice to move forward with the release of this album, helping to keep at least one thing feeling consistent and reliable. If you like what you hear, don't hesitate to support them.
Kalen Anzai: "FAKE NEWS REVOLUTION" PV
Our eleventh-hour entry this month is the PV for new Internet-It Girl Kalen Anzai's "FAKE NEWS REVOLUTION." Anzai has generated a lot of buzz since she debuted last year with a slew of Y2K-inspired visuals and a face so digitally edited for perfection that it didn't take long for rumors to start circulating that Anzai was a computer-generated cyber-idol: one of her first live performances that leaned heavily on holographic visuals didn't help. But, as it turns out, Kalen Anzai is a real, flesh-and-blood woman, and her potential to generate capital has just rocketed thanks to the announcement that she would be playing Ayumi Hamasaki in a drama based on the "fictional" life story of the legendary J-pop singer's rise to fame within Avex — the same label to which Anzai is signed. Till now, Anzai's whole aesthetic has been turn-of-the-millennium nostalgia, a retro-futurist amalgamation of hyper-CGI, shiny metallic and rubbery-plastic couture, and boxy, vintage computer screens, an aesthetic that recalls the peak years of Avex Trax, and notably, the salad days of their female solo-singers like hitomi, Ami Suzuki, and Ayumi Hamasaki. It is the last that Anzai is most indebted to, especially in "FAKE NEWS REVOLUTION," which, like her earlier singles, sounds specifically designed to evoke late 90's/early 00's Avex-pop from Favorite Blue to LOVEppears- and Duty-era Hamasaki, with its twinkling keyboards, soft, major-key production, and urgent twists in the chorus. As someone who grew up on this sound, I've been very intrigued with what Avex is doing with Anzai, even if Anzai herself just seems like an avatar at the moment, a convenient hanger on which to project an era she seems, by age alone, to be somewhat ignorant and disinterested in, and the tabloid-heavy drama that fans and non-cold-blooded humans are eager to witness. In that sense, the music video and song are a success, adding to the carefully-constructed narrative of her origins. But what really matters is what will happen once Anzai is allowed to move past M and let us see the person behind the persona, an identity tethered to the present — at least as much as Avex and pop, as an institution, allows any of that, as Ayumi can sit down and tell her all about.
Albums, Editorials, Singles5 seconds of summer, 5sos, birthday massacre, dua lipa, haruka kudo, j-pop, japanese pop, kalen anzai, niall horan, pop, r&b, the weeknd, the world standard, wasuta
Top ten pop/electronic albums of 2018
December 31, 2018 appearsdx1 Comment
Pop music in 2018 wasn't one for the history books, but it has delivered its fair share of healthy distractions, and in the current political and cultural climate, sometimes that's all anyone is looking for. Below are ten of the best English-language and/or Western pop and electronic albums of the year — ten albums, in no particular order, that made the year just a bit less unbearable and proved there is no end to the styles and content that can be mined from such rich and broad genres across continents.
Ariana Grande: Sweetener
Ariana Grande has spent this year conducting herself with a poise and dignity beyond most pop stars' capabilities. As proof, Sweetener showcases a notable maturation of Grande's sound: the album trades most of the Max Martin tent-pole hits for slower, groovier numbers like "The Light is Coming" and "Everytime." Fans of the pop-maestro need not worry, as commercial demands necessitate the inclusion of some of the album's best tracks for radio singles, like the effervescent "God is a Woman" and "Breathin'." But unlike past albums stitched together with equal parts Martin and Grande, Grande alone carries Sweetener with her singular vocal talent, a voice that blends a dizzying assortment of soars and coos and reverb, curated for maximum effect.
Allie X: Super Sunset
It has been a pleasure and a pain to watch Allie X grow as a pop star only to be denied widespread recognition. While it's easy to write off the artist with a glance at her very Lady Gaga-like visuals, the content of her compositions belies any sense of mere copycat. It's easy to feel overwhelmed with the sheer amount of music that is released each week, with Spotify and Bandcamp and YouTube all making grabs for ever-decreasing attention spans, though it does make it all the more magical when something brilliant like "Science" cues up, all twinkling synths and epic chorus breaking through the routine of sonic wallpaper. It's both story and song, a 4D experience you can touch and feel, the wind hitting your face from top to bottom in degrees as Allie punctuates and draws out the win. dows. ro-o-o-o-o-o-lling down. It's fresh, it's fun, and it eschews half-measures for the big win; it's the kind of serious pop music we haven't heard in years outside of last year's CollXtion II.
Charlie Puth: Voicenotes
One year ago, anyone would have laughed at the idea of Puth being a viable contender for that elusive gap in our charts: the male pop star. Certainly no one is counting on Justin Timberlake or Nick Jonas any longer. Yes, Post Malone and Drake have massive chart presence where Puth has almost none, having taken grave missteps with his poor debut album and Meghan Trainor collabs, but Voicenotes portends a welcome change. Gone is a reliance on the retro, doo-wop of a youthful Michael Buble, the sort of music that passed through the ears of listeners quicker than a passing siren. Voicenotes shows Puth a bit older, a bit wiser, and most importantly, a bit more honest. Puth finally sounds like a real human being, a person with insecurities and skeletons finally spilling out of a closet previously packed tight with crisp shirts and shiny shoes, and it is only by finally revealing and owning his truths, with a dash of inspired Hall & Oates, that he can finally find a place among the cheesiest of pop stars and their fans, all just as uncool as the rest of us.
Dance with the Dead: Loved to Death
Just like your favorite mass market paperbacks, you can tell just by looking at some covers exactly what the contents will be like. Perhaps it's the famous clinch, or the back of a shadowy, running figure, or even a a cover taken up entirely by the enormous font of an author's name. Some of the best genre paperbacks were designed in the 70s and 80s for horror fiction, lovingly chronicled by super-fan Grady Hendrix in Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction. Any one of these tales, from the one about Nazi Leprechauns, to Satanic nuns, to children with kinetic abilities look like they could be accompanied by one of Dance with the Dead's albums. Their aesthetic, like the look of all darkwave, looks ripped from the pages of a Stephen King novel, and their latest, Loved to Death similarly leans in hard. Justin Pointer and Tony Kim, the duo behind these morbidly fun 80's synth-horror tracks, expertly weave in all of their influences, from Justice to John Carpenter to Metallica to create instrumental sonic treats that brim with crunchy energy, like "Salem" and "Oracle," and guitars, especially on tracks like "Into the Shadows." Highly danceable, playfully creepy, and always entertaining, Dance with the Dead will fit in nicely with your Stranger Things viewing party next summer.
Janelle Monae: Dirty Computer
Sometimes an artist's greatest album isn't a personal favorite: certainly, Monae's previous album The Electric Lady contained just as many, if not more, attention-grabbing songs and as much style. In fact, Dirty Computer seems a touch less effortless, maybe a bit too glossy, a tad obvious. But it is hyper-stylized for a reason: it's the logical conclusion of experience, and of time spent in the presence of luminous mentors and the trenches of viral Internet warfare. Slapping a concept film on this album does little to enhance what is already Monae's winning hand: ability, ambition, and personality. Natural talent puts all of these to work and an appreciative audience hungry for the gospel allows this star to finally come into her own — part cyborg, part human, all American.
5 Seconds of Summer: Youngblood
If you've spent five seconds in the electronics department of a Target, you've heard 5 Seconds of Summer, who've blared from the giant monitors every time I've set foot in one over the course of the summer. This relentless repetition makes it easy to forget how fun Youngblood is. Look, it's hard out there for an English-speaking boy band. Just ask Why Don't We. The boy band mini-revival rose and set in the shadows of One Direction, and its future is now being pulled into question. In response, 5SOS have released one of their most musically accessible albums, a triumph of synths and enormous pop hooks. Their third studio album sounds like a group that has finally embraced their place in the pop pantheon and taken it to its biggest, most obvious conclusion, whether it's the lyrical staples of "Want You Back," "Better Man," and "Why Won't You Love Me," or blissful, windows-down jams like "Talk Fast" and "More." Part of the ability to appreciate this album will hinge on how much someone is willing to concede that the world hates teenage girls and everything they touch, but once a person can come to terms with the idea that the things girls like and things that are great are not exclusive, we can all evolve as a species together.
Sarah Reeves: Easy Never Needed You
Contemporary Christian, Christian pop, "inspirational music," or whatever you want to call it, has been mostly segregated to the outskirts of the mainstream. It's a tough genre to define when it can sound just like anything else on the radio, but you're not quite sure if it's about a significant other, or actually Jesus. It's a tough call to make, and Easy Never Needed You has a good time playing around with those perceptions and doubts. Sarah Reeve's voice, as soft and pillowy as Ellie Goulding's, also seems to be taking inspiration from the artist's music, with fast-paced Top-40 pop like "Something About You" and "Right Where You Want Me." The album's more obvious references to faith, like "Nowhere," and "Faithful," never feel as preachy as they could; it's a true crossover album, the kind that blurs the distinction between holy and secular, and when is the latter ever devoid of the former, in a non-religious sense? Music only ever means what you believe it does, and any proscribed interpretations are always presumptive. To whit, Sarah Reeves won't be making any converts any time soon, but she has made one hell of a pop album.
Rita Ora: Phoenix
Rita Ora is a jack-of-all-trades: it's been six years since she released an album, but in that time she's managed to find time to act in mega-blockbusters, shill for major corporations like Skullcandy and DKNY, design clothes, and host reality television shows like America's Next Top Model. It's all in a day's work for today's young celebrities, but one thing you can't say is that Ora hasn't worked hard hitting up every medium, besides, like, podcasts, to remain as relevant as possible. Spreading oneself so thin usually results in poor work, a sign of scattered focus rather than deep dives into true passion projects, but Phoenix, its title a reference to Ora's trouble with past record label Roc Nation, soars as high as any big-budget pop album in its class. Opener "Anywhere" sets the tone for the record's trendy EDM hooks and functions as both a statement of intent and a litmus test: non-interested parties are invited to disembark immediately at the next stop. Ora doesn't have the most versatile pipes, but she's the perfect fit for an album that would have made more sense released in the summer, perfect for windows-down, volume-high cruising. This is not the type of album that can move mountains, but it can get you out of your chair, and that's a lot more useful in the day-to-day banality of the average person's life.
Neon Nox: Syndicate Shadow
What happens when you have the capabilities of a sonic storyteller, but no contract with a film studio? Johnny Jewel and his label mates over at Italians Do It Better are sure to steer you in the right direction, but there is no shortage of artists outside that particular milieu who have their own original Drives and Blade Runners to score. If Dead Can Dance's specialty is horror, than Neon Nox's is the 80's action flick — except few 80's action flicks in the U.S. were heavy on these particular massive synths, culled from all the best glittering gems on the italo-disco circuit, like Vincenzo Salvia on steroids. There is no shortage of these kinds of synthwave artists (many featured on this list!), and a quick visit to NewRetroWave's page gives you an assorted menu from appetizers to these kinds of full courses that do everything but hand you a script. Rather, the opening track recalls TRON: Legacy's "The Grid" in setting the scene and then inviting you to use the song titles as prompts and the limits of your own imagination, like a sonic storybook. The unique perspective each person will bring to "the score" in the interactive nature of the genre is part of what makes this particular sub genre so compelling, and Syndicate Shadow so fun.
Troye Sivan: Bloom
Troye Sivan has had a whirlwind year, least of which is collaborating with Charli XCX on one of the year's most fun singles, "1999." Like Rita Ora, when he's not discoursing upon Justin Timberlake's "inspiring" 'N Sync 'do, he's working on any number of side hustles, including acting (no big deal, just critically acclaimed flicks like Boy Erased). This year also saw the follow-up to his debut album, Blue Neighbourhood, and like "1999," it's a bit of a throwaway, with playful tributes to the dawning of 90's teen-pop, down to that Michael Jackson and Naomi Campbell 2-tone vibe in single "My My My," haunting each catchy, hook-laden corner. It's never more apparent than on the stand-out titular track "Bloom," and "Lucky Strike," which meld funky tempos with finger-snapping beats. While I'm not entirely sold on the album's more introspective moments, when Sivan is at his most confessional, it proves the album is more than just surface: a deep heart beats beneath Sivan, a dual nature that captures life's black and white, its good, its bad, its highs, its lows, and the beautiful moments in between.
Robert Parker: End of the Night
Kimbra: Primal Heart
Midnight Danger: Malignant Force
Wild Moccasins: Look Together
Annalisa: Bye Bye
Albums, Year ends5 seconds of summer, 5sos, allie x, ariana grande, charlie puth, dance with the dead, darkwave, edm, electronic, janelle monae, neon nox, pop, pop music, rita ora, rock, sarah reeves, synthwave, troye sivan, year ends


One topic that has been discussed many times over, yet when it comes to configuring and recognizing the area types and there specific requirement, I still find guys not really knowing which is which.
R5 is attached to Area 0,1 and 2 making R5 by definition a ABR. We will configure Area 1 as a NSSA (Not-So-Stubby) and Area 2 as a STUB, and then explore the extensions of these two areas called, Totally-NSSA and Totally-Stubby.
Type 4 (ASBR Summary) LSA's and type 5 (AS External) LSA's will no longer be flooded into the area.
A default route will automatically be generated by the ABR (R5) into area 2.
Below config is required on all routers with Area 2 as all Area 2 routers must agree on setting the OSPF STUB flag.
Type 4 and 5 LSA's will no longer be flooded into the area.
No Default route would be generated by default.
Below config is required on all routers with Area 1 as all Area 1 routers must agree on setting the OSPF NSSA flag.
Type 3, 4 and 5 LSA's will no longer be flooded into the area.
Only one type LSA 3 will be used to advertise the default route.
A default route will automatically be generated by the ABR (R5).
Below config is required ONLY the ABR router(s) bordering Area 2.
Below config is required ONLY the ABR router(s) bordering Area 1.
[nssa] blocks type 4 and type 5 LSA's, but allows Type 7.
I enjoyed this article which had really nice detail and was well put together. And as engineers we are constantly striving for improvement so I thought that we could expand on the NSSA AREA a bit. I think it's crucial to point out that only on NSSA ASBR/ABRs can you generate a default route without having a default route in your routing table. We know that ABRs by definition have at least one of their interfaces in area 0 so the "area 1 nssa default-information-originate" works perfectly in this scenario on R5. However, let's say R8 is connected to some external network such as a RIP domain and you want to advertise a default route into Area 1 from R8. The "area 1 nssa default-information-originate" wouldn't work in this example, unless we have a default route in the routing table of R8.
I have mocked up both scenarios and they work perfectly. Not that I would use them in the real world but it's always nice to have options in case you're in a pinch.
Right now I'm pretty sure that I have been understood this topic, thank you very much, also thaks to Mark Coms by the comments already was handy to me.