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Blues Blast
Rhys Williams May 31, 2017
Aaron Burton – Southern Swagger
Self-release 10 songs – 40 minutes
Texan singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Aaron Burton’s seventh album, Southern Swagger, continues in the same impressive vein as his most recent release, All Night Long (favorably reviewed in the 09 April 2015 issue of Blues Blast Magazine). The new album contains 10 self-written songs, with Burton on vocals, guitar and banjo, William “Stompin’ Bill” Johnson on harp, Dirk Cordes on drums and Joe Degelia on steel guitar. Sonnie Collie also adds bass to one track and guitar to another.
The musicians have played together for years and their ability and willingness to focus on the song has resulted in a highly enjoyable album of roots-influenced acoustic country blues. Cordes in particular sets up a series of irresistible rhythms while never over-playing or over-shadowing the song and the space that is left paradoxically creates a bigger sound. But there is also a palpable joy apparent throughout the album, as if the musicians had a total blast while recording it.
Opening with the gloriously-titled “My Name Is Aaron Burton” Burton explains the origins of his old pseudonym, Peetie Whitestraw, over an upbeat country folk blues groove. There is a sly wit to Burton’s songs, which he sings in a lazy but engaging drawl, but there is no lack of emotional depth in his voice – the haunting “Heroine And Cocaine” has echoes of the desperation and desolation of the great Skip James.
Lyrically, he covers traditional blues themes such as death (as in the ominous one-chord boogie of “Murder”) or basic carnal desires (in the rollicking “Real Good Booty” or the country blues of “Copulate”, in which he winningly admits “I want to copulate, copulate with you. I can’t concentrate, it’s all I wanna do. Look here mama, I’m telling you straight, all I want to do is copulate. I want to copulate with you”). He is also adept at finding what humour can be eked out from a desperate situation, as with his promises to his baby in “Jewelry Store”.
The rockabilly-country of “City Of Hate” reveals a complex relationship between the song’s protagonist and the city he calls home as Burton sings “Dallas, Texas is the place I long to be. I’m going back home. Pretty mama coming home with me….. I’m going down to Dallas, way down in that Lone Star State. I’m going back home, back to the City of Hate. I’m going back home, yeah, ‘cos I love the City of Hate.”
Burton adds bouncing banjo to “Caddo Line” but primarily lays down rhythm guitar on his acoustic. Burton, Johnston and Degelia all take solos at various times, but the primary focus of the album is on the songs with the lead instruments weaving in and out of the vocal melodies. One of the highlights of the album however is the closing instrumental, the album’s title track: wonderfully dreamy (but uncredited)- (correction; Fred Harvey)- sax playing and articulate finger-picking over the top of another top notch Cordes groove.
Southern Swagger is yet another top class slice of acoustic country blues from Aaron Burton. There is an enticing timelessness to his music. Highly recommended.
Elmore Magazine
Iain Patience December 16, 2016
Aaron Burton is yet another of those Texan pickers who seems to creep in under the radar, lodging himself in the mind and memory. With around half a dozen albums already to his credit, with Southern Swaggerhe brings more than a touch of Down South, low-down and dirty acoustic blues to the mix. All ten tracks are self-written and feature his laid-back, sensitive acoustic picking with its shades of past-masters and rolling rhythmic licks.
Obviously touched by Texan influences, including Sam Lightnin’ Hopkins, Burton nevertheless manages to slip sideways into the slipstream and stamp his own character on the material and the fine fretwork with evident ease. His droll, drawling vocal delivery matches his picking style perfectly, and he always squeezes some unexpected humor into the lyrical mix. Burton is one of those guys who is clearly comfortable with the music, and has an excellent grasp of the essentials of good ole’ traditional, southern blues. Southern Swagger is one to savor.
-Iain Patience
Rex Bartholomew April 09, 2015
Aaron Burton – All Night Long
Self Release
www.aaronburton.net
14 tracks / 51:48
As blues has evolved over time it has strayed pretty far from its original formula, but country and folk blues usually stays pretty true to the original sources of the genre. Aaron Burton’s self-released sixth album, Up All Night, falls into this latter category, and delivers a solid collection of roots and blues music with a Lone Star influence.
Aaron Burton hails from the Dallas / Fort Worth area, and he has shared his pleasant drawl and fine stringed-instrument prowess around the United States and all the way to the United Kingdom, where he is gaining a respectable collection of new fans. On Up All Night he takes care of the vocals, guitar, mandolin and dulcimer, and he his joined by “Stompin” Bill Johnston on the harp and Dick Cordes behind the drum kit. There are fourteen self-penned tracks on this release, with a couple of neat covers worked into the set.
The title track is up first, and it is readily apparent that Burton has put together a power country blues trio with a big sound. “All Night Long” starts with a dulcimer ostinato and quickly adds slide guitar and mandolin. Johnston’s harmonica takes an active role, filling in the parts that would normally be covered by a second guitar or keyboard. When you add Cordes’ hard-hitting drums into the mix, the effect is quite huge.
Burton’s guitar work is very good, but he does not show off as he plays only the notes and chords that are really necessary. This makes the CD more accessible to a larger audience and provides a more laid-back vibe. His vocals are rich and appropriately growly at times – perfect for the style of blues he is selling.
Aaron is a good storyteller and a capable songwriter as shown by “The Day Big Tex Caught Fire,” a tune that uses the classic blues lyrical style and his electric guitar to recount the loss of the famed Texas State Fair icon back in 2012. He also does a stunning job of capturing the listener’s attention and emotion with “Hard Luck Child,” a more modern blues tune that tells the sorry tale of innocent folks who never had a shot at happiness in their lives.
Despite the heaviness of this last tune, Burton maintains an upbeat mood for much of the album, with light-hearted songs about things that most folks can relate to. And those things are the highs and lows of relationships with the opposite sex. A great example of this is the good sense of humor he maintains as he tries to cut a deal with his ex in “Don’t Talk Bad About Me” (and I sure won’t talk bad about you).
There covers on Up All Night are pretty cool, and they include Charlie Patton‘s “Pony Blues” and Blind Willie McTell’s 1928 standard, “Statesboro Blues.” They both end up being a lot closer to the originals than the countless other versions out there, so if you really love the Canned Heat or Allman Brothers takes on these, you might be a bit let down. But, as they are, they are refreshingly different than what we have come to expect and they fit much better into the overall theme of this release.
The set closes out with a bonus track, “I’m Your Santa Claus,” which might be a fun inclusion for your next holiday party, and it is one last chance to hear some awesome harp work from Stompin’ Bill. Well, it should probably be an adult party, as there are plenty of double entendres that are set to the tune of John Brim’s “Ice Cream Man” (famously covered on Van Halen’s debut album).
Aaron Burton is a fine musician and a mature songwriter, and Up All Night is his best work since he first entered the studio ten years ago. If you are a fan of roots music or country blues, this CD will be just what you are looking for. Also, if you are near Dallas anytime soon, be sure to check out his website as he has a heavy gigging schedule in the DFW metro area, including a regular Tuesday night Delta Blues Jam at The Goat in East Dallas.
Reviewer Rex Bartholomew is a Los Angeles-based writer and musician; his blog can be found at rexbass.blogspot.com.
Wasser-Prawda
Ian Patience January 19, 2015
Aaron Burton - All Night Long
Autor Iain Patience, Kategorie English | Reviews
All Night Long is Texan Burton‘s sixth release to date and features his usual mix of drawling southern vocals with some fine understated guitar fretwork. Here he is joined by two musical buddies, ‚Stomping‘ Bill Johnston on Harp and Dirk Cordes on Skins.
Mostly self-written, material also includes Charlie Patton‘s ‚Pony Blues‘ together with a Willie McTell cover of ‚Statesboro Blues‘. The 14 tracks that make up the album are delivered with Burton‘s trademark laid-back style and sensitivity. Always soulful, the tempo is varied giving the whole a satisfying overall feel and vibe.
Having played a few gigs in Europe (France) last year in 2014, Burton is now targeting his launches at a UK and Europe-wide audience with considerable success; this album has already featured widely on UK blues radio playlists in recent months, gaining a well-deserved growing fanbase and interest for the guy and his music. Burton is clearly hungry, hoping for success and record sales in the European blues arena.
With this latest release he might just have produced the goods to carry him onto a wider world stage.
Blues Underground Network
Aaron Burton's newest release, "The Return Of Peetie Whitestraw" is by far, the best Acoustic Blues release I have had the pleasure of listening to, so far, for 2014 and although it is still early in the year, I am almost positive that is will remain one of the best such releases, come year end. John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network) 5*****
Rainey Wetnight December 19, 2013
Aaron Burton – The Return Of Peetie Whitestraw | Album Review
Aaron Burton - The Return of Peetie Whitestraw
Self-Produced
http://www.aaronburton.net
CD: 14 songs; 46:13 Minutes
Styles: Traditional Acoustic Blues, Country Blues
Peetie Whitestraw, not to be confused with 1930s bluesman Peetie Wheatstraw, is actually a fantastic acoustic DFW Texas bluesman named Aaron Burton. He’s returned for his fifth musical foray – hence this new album’s title. It’s a follow-up to his 2005 debut release, “AKA Peetie Whitestraw,” and fans of traditional country blues will welcome his return. This is due to his acoustic and Dobro guitar mastery and gritty vocals, which definitely sound African-American although he’s Caucasian. As stated in an interview with Michalis Limnios for Blues @ Greece (http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/an-interview-with-texan-aaron-burton-the-musical-heritage-of), “Like many of the great country blues men and women before him, Aaron is completely self-taught on his instruments which leads to a unique and interesting approach.” This is best proven on these three tracks (out of fourteen total originals):
Track 03: “Lafayette” – Songs about traveling, people and places have been a timeless staple of the blues. Featuring “Stompin” Bill Johnston on harmonica, it’s a jaunty, joyful ode to this Louisiana city. “Winter’s over; no more sleet and snow. Springtime is coming, and I’ve got to go – down to Lafayette, baby. Gonna get there just as fast as I can, get some red beans and rice….” This spicy treat of a track will have one playing both air guitar and air harp!
Track 09: “Leave My Girl Alone” – Another blues trope is a song about drinking. Here, our narrator takes umbrage when a bar patron bothers his fiancée: “Leave my girl alone. Did you hear what I just said? ‘Cause the last one to harass her got some lumps upon his head. Now, there’s a drunk girl at the end of the bar. Go bother her instead! You’d better leave my girl alone.”
Track 13: “If That’s Religion” – Religious faith, or lack thereof, completes Whitestraw’s trifecta of classic blues themes. “The world was created in only seven days? Mary was a virgin, and Jesus rose from the grave? Abraham’s willing to sacrifice his son? Now, if that’s religion, I swear I don’t want none.” He scoffs at 9/11/01 as a supposed sign of the end times, and ends with this scathing sentence: “Down a dangerous path from reality we run. If that’s religion, I swear I don’t want none.” Bold words from a Bible Belt native.
It’s hard for this reviewer to fathom why more people haven’t heard of Aaron Burton. The local scene may be to blame: “It’s hard to make a living playing blues around here. I here [sic] from the older guys that it used to be better,” he tells Mr. Limnios. Hopefully that will change in the near future, because “The Return of Peetie Whitestraw” is most welcome!
Ian Patience
The Return Of Peetie Whitestraw
Aaron Burton hails from Texas, a State with a long history of blues music mastery - Lightnin' Hopkins was certainly no slouch, after all.
This is Burton's fifth album to date, self-produced and promoted, it features fourteen self-penned tracks. Strong on southern drawl and laid-back acoustic guitar picking, this album is indeed so laid back that the guitar work at times comes close to being overlooked - a mistake, because the picking, though understated, is singularly soulful, sound and skillful, contributing effortlessly to a very finely honed sound that belies its own underlying complexity.
Burton is a guy who is self-taught, an autodidact with a background playing the bars and clubs of the Lone Star State and producing interesting material that touches all of the usual areas from love and heartache to death and misery. In other words a typical blues gamut of thought and emotion, underpinned by great guitar-work and a fine rambling, rumbling, drawling voice.
With fourteen tracks to choose from here, it's impossible not find something that should satisfy a blues lover's taste. This is a guy and a CD that is real surprise and a true discovery - an artist and material of genuine quality, well worth seeking out. Burton is due to record his next album over the next few months and I, for one, look forward to hearing his next offering.
Michalis Limnios November 13, 2012
An Interview with Texan Aaron Burton: The musical heritage of Texas through the prism of the folk blues
Posted by Michalis Limnios BLUES @ GREECE on November 13, 2012 at 1:00pm
"Life - I believe everyone has experiences that could be put to music."
Aaron Burton: Old recipe of blues
Aaron Burton is a young Texan guitarist, mandolinist, and vocalist who plays country traditional blues with a distinctly Texan spin having the talent. Aaron channels the rich and diverse musical heritage of Texas music through the prism of the country blues. Like many of the great country blues men and women before him, Aaron is completely self taught on his instruments which leads to a unique and interesting approach.
His fifty plus original compositions are drawn from various life experiences and are delivered with warm, soulful, and unforced vocals. His travels have taken him from Memphis to Maine but he has truly honed his skills playing for his daily bread in the clubs, bars, restaurants, house parties and streets of his native DFW, Texas.
Debut album was "aka Peetie Whitestraw" (2005), low-fi classic blues from Texas. All original Texas country blues and roots music “How Can I Be Blue?” (2008) album featuring Christian Dozzler on piano, harp, accordion and organ. In 2010 "Recession Blues" with original country blues gems featuring Christian Dozzler, Hash Brown, Stompin' Bill Johnston, Kevin Shermerhorn and Drew Alain. "Rising Sun" (2011) combines Aaron's authentic country blues/roots style with producer Pat Boyack's well established blues rock/soul sensibilities.
What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?
That I'm stubborn and independent and will keep doing what I'm doing regardless. For me, the blues is therapy and expression.
What experiences in your life make you a GOOD BLUESMAN and SONGWRITER?
Life - I believe everyone has experiences that could be put to music. To me, the iconic bluesman embodies the American ideal of rugged individualism.
How do you describe Aaron’s sound and lyrics and what characterize your music philosophy?
It's like cooking; you take the recipes that have been handed to you mix 'em up, add your own touch, and create something new.
What's been their experience from “studies” on the road with the blues?
My studies have been living life and emulating musicians that I admire.
From whom have you have learned the most secrets about the blues music?
Mostly from various artists through their recordings. Alan Lomax's The Land Where the Blue Began is probably the best book I've read about blues.
Which was the best moment of your career and which was the worst?
It's all been pretty positive. I mean any day I get paid to play music is a good day.
What is the “feeling” you miss most nowadays from the “OLD DAYS OF BLUES”?
What's cool about the pre-war guys is that they were largely self-taught and so their guitar approaches are highly original.
Which is the most interesting period in your life and why?
Every period of my life has been interesting…at least to me.
Are there any memories from Honeyboy Edwards, which you’d like to share with us?
Haha - yeah…he tried to take a girlfriend of mine (Blue Lisa of KNON) back to his hotel room - at 90 something years old! That gives me hope for the future.
I saw a photo with Robert Lockwood Jr. tell me a few things about your meet with him?
I was busking at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena Ark. Jeff Dyson, who had hired me to open for Honeyboy, brought Lockwood by to hear me, knowing I covered a few of his songs. I played five or six of Lockwood's songs for him and he seemed pleased. He had some kind words for me and even put a tip in my case - a very nice man. Lockwood is one of my all-time favorites.
What is the best advice a bluesman ever gave you?
Sam Myers used to call showoff types "glory seekers". I understood that to mean that in seeking to gain fame and respect they weren't being real…and usually playing way to many notes.
What the difference and similarity between the ACOUSTIC and ELECTRIC BLUES feeling?
What I like about country blues is that you don't have to conform to and rely on a band.
Why did you think that Country Folk Blues continues to generate such a devoted following?
It's good stuff! I think a lot of folks like that it utilizes the full range of the guitar. Also, in an age of big, loud bands, various sound technologies, and over-production, it's nice to see a person engage the listeners directly, without fluff.
What’s the best jam you ever played in? What are some of the most memorable gigs you've had?
I've had some really cool jams at my Tuesday night Delta Blues Jam at The Goat in East Dallas. I have a different guest weekly and there are plenty of great players to choose from in the D.F.W. area; Ray Reed, Hash Brown, Texas Slim, Pat Boyack, Cheryl Arena, "Stompin'" Bill Johnston, Joel Foy, Holland K. Smith, K.M. Williams, James Hinkle, Andrea Dawson, Christian Dozzler and many others have been guests…and you never know who will drop in.
Some music styles can be fads but the blues is always with us. Why do think that is? Give one wish for the BLUES
It's simplicity has allowed it to be a foundation or part of other styles. I hope it can provide as much comfort for others as it has for me.
How do you describe your contact to people when you are on stage?
Depends on the crowd; if it's a listening/watching crowd I might close my eyes and get lost in the music, if it's a dancing/drinking crowd we interact more, and if it's neither I approach at it as a rehearsal.
Make an account for current realities of the case of the blues in Texas. Which is the most interesting period in local scene?
It's hard to make a living playing blues around here. I here from the older guys that it used to be better.
Do you know why the sound of slide guitar is connected to the blues and what is the secret for a good fingerpickin and slide player?
As I understand it, early blues players picked it up from recordings of Hawaiian music, and often used knives and other improvised slides.
Secret ... just practice.
Is it easier to write and play the blues as you get older?
Writing has never been that difficult for me partly because I don't take it too seriously. What I mean is, I don't set out to write something profound. I just want to continue to build on the success I've had and make a good living.
Aaron Burton - Home
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Page 53, 7 October 2000 — Who killed the Congo?
7 OCTOBER 2000, Page 53
Who killed the Congo?
Anthony Sampson
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MR KURTZ by Michela Wrong Fourth Estate, £13.99, pp. 324 The history of tyranny and corruption in the Congo has been presented as such an unmitigated horror-story that some readers might recoil from a book about President Mobutu, its dictator for over 30 years, with its grim title evoking Conrad's Heart of Darkness.
They would be quite wrong, for this is a wonderfully readable and vivid account with a novelist's eye which makes Mobutu and his colleagues seem thoroughly com- prehensible as they extend their web of extortion and military rule: it even manages to make Mobutu after his deposition seem quite moving. Rare for a book about Africa, it is without moral superiority or lecturing; and it raises awkward questions about the role of the West in building up the dictator as an anti-communist hero of the Cold War.
The author, as correspondent for the Financial Times, is exceptionally well- informed, with access to a wide range of sources from the CIA agent to the Congo generals to the president's family. She was there at many dramatic moments, sharing the fear and chaos. But she carries her expertise lightly, remaining in the back- ground, sketching in the people and places and letting them tell the story themselves.
She does not shirk or play down the con- sequences of Mobutu's rule or the decline of a prosperous country into bankruptcy. In pitiless detail she recounts how the copper mines and diamond fields were looted, the profits diverted to the private accounts of the president and his cronies. She describes the preposterous palace in the jungle, the houses in France and Switzerland, the chartered Concordes. She conveys all the horrors of an army, overarmed and under- paid, that had gone out of control.
But she keeps asking how it was allowed to happen. She shows how the terrible dic- tatorship of the Belgian King Leopold, who made the Congo his private colony and massacred and humiliated its inhabitants, provided the prelude to Mobutu's own dic- tatorship; and how so many others, from dissident politicians to foreign diplomats were willingly conniving in the tyranny.
She shows how cynically Belgian, French and American diplomats competed and conspired to use the deteriorating regime for their own ends, and how Mobutu could manipulate and squeeze them like putty in his hands. 'He played us like a Stradivar- ius,' said Chester Crocker, in charge of American policy on Africa under Reagan.
The author is most devastating in her condemnation of the World Bank and the IMF (she might have also included several commercial banks) who continued lending without proper safeguards when they already knew that the money was going into Mobutu's coffers. It was a scandalous misuse of international institutions. But talking to officials in Washington, she was surprised by their refusal to recognise their blunders, or take any blame.
They felt a constant pressure to lend to developing countries, however shaky or corrupt; and by the time the debts went bad the official had moved on. Her account of how the IMF helped to ruin the Congo is all the more effective through its quiet understatement. 'The image of the Fund going on bended knees to beg one of the world's most corrupt leaders to take its money is not an attractive one.'
Her account of the many other culprits involved in the Congo does not exonerate Mobutu, but it makes his villainy more credible, explaining how quickly opposition crumbled, and how an intelligent and patri- otic young soldier turned into a crazed and isolated despot. 'No man is a caricature, no individual can alone bear responsibility for a nation's collapse,' she says in her intro- duction. 'The momentum behind Zaire's free-fall was generated not by one man, but thousands of compliant collaborators, at home and abroad.'
This is the most gripping and illuminat- ing book about Africa I have read for years, and it throws its light way beyond the borders of the Congo: not just to the neigh- bouring countries which are now compet- ing for the spoils from the demoralised country, but to the wider problem of pre- venting the drift to corruption and tyranny in other parts of Africa.
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Eating NorCal
Shasta-Cascade
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Home/Destinations/Two NorCal Destinations Make Forbes List of ‘Best Places to Visit in 2020’
Two NorCal Destinations Make Forbes List of ‘Best Places to Visit in 2020’
Active NorCal December 23, 2019
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Forbes has released it’s list of the 25 Best Places To Visit In 2020 and Northern California got a lot of love. Other than Los Angeles, the two NorCal destinations featured were the only places picked on the West Coast, and to be honest, they were spot on.
The first NorCal place on the list is Redding and the Shasta Cascades, which the article calls “as under-the-radar as it gets in the lower 48.” Here is what the article said about Shasta Cascade area:
Where: Redding and the Shasta Cascades, California
Chosen by: Melissa Klurman is a travel expert, writer and editor and contributor at Reader’s Digest, Frommer’s Travel Guides and Parents, among other publications.
Why: Beautiful and remote, the Northern California city of Redding and the Shasta Cascade region are about as under-the-radar as it gets in the lower 48. Considered to be a hidden gem in the west, it’s often referred to as “California’s Last Frontier,” and it’s also one of the best bargains anywhere in the United States. The region is scattered with 50 waterfalls, dozens of lakes, rivers, mountains, historic mining towns, two national monuments, six national forests, seven state parks and even active volcanoes—most of which are free or very inexpensive, so you’ll never break the vacation bank. For example, snowshoeing at Lassen Volcanic National Park costs just $1 per person. Plus, hotels, including the iconic Thunderbird Motel, rarely go above $100, making this a bargain vacation you’ll want to return to in every season in 2020.
The other NorCal destination featured in the article is (no surprise here) Lake Tahoe, which the article called “a crystal clear, alpine paradise hidden in the Sierra Nevada mountains.” Here’s the full description from Forbes:
Where: Lake Tahoe, California
Chosen By: At the age of 21, Lexie Alford became the youngest person to travel to every country on earth and broke the Guinness World Record. Follow her on Instagram (@LexieLimitless) and read more about her accomplishment here.
Why: When people imagine traveling to California, they most often visualize driving down the PCH in a convertible mustang and encountering celebrities below the Hollywood sign. As a native to one of the most visited states in the US, I can say from experience that travelers who only visit Southern California are missing out on the best part. A few hundred miles north lies Lake Tahoe, a crystal clear, alpine paradise hidden in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Lake Tahoe is best known for its eight top-rated ski resorts and laid-back mountain culture. A powder day in Lake Tahoe wouldn’t be complete without indulging in the après ski nightlife by the fire pit with a locally brewed craft beer.
Although Lake Tahoe is a winter wonderland, this place offers something for everyone all year-round, especially if you are a nature lover or an adventure enthusiast. From lakeside casinos and luxury resorts to golfing, camping and fishing during the summer months. You can even take a cruise around the 22 mile-long lake to get the most panoramic view of the snowy peaks. I also can’t forget to mention the countless hiking and biking trails surrounding the lake that are available to the whole family. If escaping from the city is in your 2020 travel plans, look no further than Lake Tahoe.
What a ringing endorsement for Northern California! Although we could recommend a few more great NorCal spots for the Forbes readers, you can’t disagree with these two areas making the list. Happy traveling in 2020!
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Active NorCal
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M Pertzborn says:
Lived in both. Not sure what the appeal of Redding is? Probably the proximity to all the wonderful things to do and see in Nor Cal. Redding, not so much. Tahoe is fabulous. Undeniably one of America’s treasures.
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Sharon Mary Cicero, the former president of Madonna's Maverick Films company, has died, aged 53.The prominent producer passed away on 12 March (14)...
Amanda Seyfried & Rebel Wilson Film Shelved Due To Scheduling Issues
Production on Will Ferrell's latest comedy He's F**King Perfect has stalled due to scheduling issues.Les Miserables star Amanda Seyfried was cast in...
Sylvester Stallone Suffered Multiple Injuries While Filming Rocky Franchise
Sylvester Stallone still winces as he recalls the multiple injuries he suffered at the hands of his co-stars while filming the Rocky films.The Rambo...
The Things They Tweet: 4114074
"Jesus, I have just got off a plane and heard the sad news of L'wrens (sic) passing. What a terrible tragedy, I'm in shock. I saw her at the...
"I'm no expert but up close this does look like a plane and an oil slick... its (sic), like, a mile away (from) Pulau Perak, where they 'last'...
Susan Sarandon turned hairstylist on Monday (17Mar14) after her actress daughter Eva Amurri Martino was left without hot water following a 4.4...
"Sex scenes are great. A lot of my co-stars have been sexy guys my age who are really respectful and cool. So, why not? I'm not going to pretend it's...
Savannah Guthrie Gets Married Then Announces Pregnancy Live On 'Today'
Savannah Guthrie is now married and pregnant!The NBC News anchor made the two huge announcements on Monday's (March 17th) addition of the 'Today'...
What's Eating Tyler The Creator? A History
Inciting riots, homophobia, sexism, all things Tyler the Creator has been accused of in his career so far. On Saturday the 23 year old rapper was...
Mr. T To Be Inducted Into Wwe Hall Of Fame
Mr. T is to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The actor and former wrestling star - best known for his mohawk haircut and collection of large...
Madonna And Anna Wintour Pay Tribute To L'wren Scott
Madonna and Anna Wintour have paid tribute to L'Wren Scott. The singer and the iconic Vogue editor have joined many in remembering the stylist and...
Chris Brown To Stay In Jail For A Month
Chris Brown's mother cried as he was sentenced to stay in jail for another month today (17.03.14).The 'Look at Me Now' singer was transferred to a...
Amanda Seyfried's 'Really Sexy' Kiss With Megan Fox
Amanda Seyfried thinks her on-screen kiss with Megan Fox was ''really sexy.''The 'Jennifer's Body' stars locked lips in the 2009 movie and Amanda,...
Raw Power: Remembering The Stooges Drummer Scott Asheton
In the words of his Stooges bandmate Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton ‘left a huge legacy to the world’. The 64 year old drummer of the influential early...
Kate Winslet Presented With Golden Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Kate Winslet's name will be remembered for many years to come as the British actress is prized with one of Hollywood's top honors.The already...
Beyoncé Avoiding Kim Kardashian's Wedding?
Beyoncé reportedly thinks Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding will be ''tacky''.The 'Drunk In Love' hitmaker - who married rapper Jay Z in a...
'Divergent' Star Shailene Woodley Believes Human Genetics Aren't Made For Monogamy
Sheilene Woodley is Hollywood's hottest young actress, but she can't seem to find her prince charming.However, this isn't something the 22 year-old...
Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears...William Shatner? The Worst Cover Songs Of All Time
News that Miley Cyrus is set to team up with The Flaming Lips and Andrew from MGMT to record a cover of The Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with...
L'wren Scott 'Sacrificed A Lot' For Mick Jagger
L'Wren Scott's former maid says she ''sacrificed a lot'' to be with Sir Mick Jagger.The fashion designer's tragic death from apparent suicide was...
Pacino As Han Solo?! Actors Who Turned Down Brilliant Roles And Probably Regretted It
Keanu Reeves as Neo, Tom Hanks as Forest Gump - sometimes in Hollywood an actor plays a role so perfectly you would have thought it was written...
Angus T. Jones Slams 'Two And A Half Men' After Finding Christianity: "I Was A Paid Hypocrite"
Angus T. Jones has been on the beloved US sitcom 'Two and a Half Men' since 2003, and was once one of the highest-paid actors on TV.But the 20...
Everything You Need To Know About Johnny Depp's Fiancee Amber Heard
Amber Heard has stolen Johnny Depp’s heart and she’s got the engagement ring to prove it. The 27 year old Texan actress has just celebrated her...
Nfl Officials Sue M.i.a. For $16.6 Million Over Super Bowl Halftime Show Incident
The NFL have finally settled on $16.6 million in their lawsuit against British recording artist M.I.A., real name Maya.The football league is suing...
'Offensive' 'Noah' Banned - Other Movies Banned By Religious Groups
Russell Crowe’s upcoming flick Noah has been banned in the UAE because of “scenes that contradict Islam and the Bible”, according to Juma...
Kylie Minogue's 'Precious' Relationship
Kylie Minogue's relationship with Jason Donovan was ''precious''.The 'Neighbours' co-stars - who had a hit in 1988 with duet 'Especially For You' -...
Tom Hardy Couldn't Handle Hollywood
Tom Hardy couldn't handle Hollywood when he first found fame. The 36-year-old star - who was catapulted to the spotlight in 2002's sci-fi film...
Lena Dunham "Disgusted" By Woody Allen Over Sexual Abuse Claims
Lena Dunham, the star of HBO's 'Girls,' has shared her opinion on the sexual abuse claims made against Woody Allen.Last month Dylan Farrow, the...
Alexandra Shulman Wanted Music Career
Alexandra Shulman initially wanted to go into the music industry.The editor of British Vogue magazine confessed she was charmed by a young boy who...
L'wren Was In Debt When She Died
L'Wren Scott was £3.5 million in debt when she died. The fashion designer was found in her New York apartment this morning (17.03.14) having...
Angelina Jolie's Mothering Quality Transfers To Director's Chair
Angelina Jolie says her skills as a mother transfer into being a directer.The 38-year-old star - who raises Maddox, 12, Pax, 10, Zahara, nine,...
Lily Allen: Men Behind Women's Success
Lily Allen claims there is a man behind every successful woman in the music industry. The 28-year-old singer - who recently made her pop comeback...
Lady Gaga: Ten Of Her Best (Or Worst) Wonderfully Wacky Outfits
Lady Gaga has appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel show wearing a dress made out of coffee filters - are we surprised? In a word, no. Where else is there to...
More Of Chris Brown's Troubling Rehab Tales Emerge During Trial
Reporting on Chris Brown’s behavior is becoming redundant at this point, if not just plain wrong – it’s no secret mental illness and life in...
Connor Cruise Insists Relationship With Mother, Nicole Kidman, Is "Solid"
Nicole Kidman's relationship with her two older children, from her former marriage with Tom Cruise, is fairly unknown, but that doesn't mean...
Fashion World Mourns Designer L'wren Scott's Untimely Death
Celebrated fashion designer L’Wren Scott was found dead in her apartment on Monday from an apparent suicide. According to Reuters, the police...
Rolling Stones Cancel Perth Gig After L'wren Scott's Death
The Rolling Stones have cancelled their first concert in Australia following the death of Sir Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'wren Scott.The body of the...
Original Veruca Salt Line-up To Reunite
The original line-up of rock band Veruca Salt is reuniting for the first time in 14 years and releasing a new album on Record Store Day (19Apr14).Alt...
Mick Jagger's Representative Dismisses L'wren Scott Split Rumours
A representative for Sir Mick Jagger has dismissed rumours the rocker split from fashion designer L'wren Scott prior to her death on Monday...
Stars Sign Up To Be A Part Of Ralph Steadman Documentary
Slash, Jason Mraz, Richard E. Grant and Terry Gilliam have added music and memories to Johnny Depp's new movie about artist Ralph Steadman.Depp...
Bernie Taupin: 'Robert Palmer's Addicted Girls Were Bennie & The Jets'
Sir Elton John's songwriting partner has revealed his vision of the pair's Bennie & The Jets was realised by Robert Palmer in his iconic Addicted To...
Simon Cowell Offers $1.1 Million For Rare Car
Music mogul Simon Cowell has offered to buy a rare Jaguar car for $1.1 million (£650,000) after spotting the vehicle on U.K. motoring show Top...
Model Nicole Trunfio Hospitalised
Australian model Nicole Trunfio was admitted to hospital on Tuesday (18Mar14) after suffering abdominal pains.The Face Australia mentor had just...
Studio Executives Dismiss Rumours Of Cancelled Pope Francis Meeting With Russell Crowe
Studio executives have dismissed rumours that Catholic leader Pope Francis cancelled an upcoming meeting with Noah star Russell Crowe, insisting they...
Brittany Murphy's Final Film To Be Released
Brittany Murphy's final film Something Wicked finally has a release date four years after her death.The Clueless star passed away in 2009 and her...
Nikolaj Coster-waldau's Marriage Tested By Cameron Diaz Infidelity Rumours
Game Of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau had a little explaining to do when his wife of 15 years started receiving notes about her husband's...
Godfather Cafe Under Threat Of Closure
A Rome cafe which has featured in films like The Godfather Part Ii and To Rome With Love is facing closure.The Antico Caffe della Pace near the...
Scott Baio's Comedy Cancelled
Former Happy Days star Scott Baio's Tv comedy has been cancelled after three seasons.See Dad Run will end later this year (14) when all 13 episodes...
Steve Carell To Star In Cancer Drama
Actor Steve Carell is set star in Priority List, a film based on the true story of a high school teacher diagnosed with brain cancer and given just...
Chris Colfer To Pen Episode Of Glee
Glee star Chris Colfer is expanding his role on the hit Tv series by writing an upcoming episode.The actor/author was approached by show producers...
"That's kind of off the table. It always felt spontaneous. I liked that about it, too. And I think it remains that way. We never planned anything. We...
Rolling Stones Cancel Perth Gig
The Rolling Stones have cancelled their gig in Perth following the death of Sir Mick Jagger's long-term partner L'Wren Scott. The band have axed the...
Jason Biggs' Son Changed His Life
Jason Biggs has changed since the birth of his son.The 'American Pie' star and his wife Jenny Mollen welcomed their first child, Sid, into the world...
Khloe Kardashian: It Was Difficult Watching Show
Khloe Kardashian is ''not through'' her marriage breakdown.The 29-year-old star filed for divorce from Lamar Odom in December amid allegations he had...
Georgia May Jagger Cancels Catwalk Show
Georgia May Jagger has pulled out of an appearance at Melbourne Fashion Week following the death of L'Wren Scott.The 22-year-old model - the daughter...
L'wren Scott's Friends Had Worries About Her
L'Wren Scott's friends were concerned about her behaviour in the weeks leading up to her death.The fashion designer - who was found hanged in her New...
Little Mix Served Raw Chicken On Tour
Little Mix were served raw chicken while touring Japan recently. The 'Wings' hitmakers - Jesy Nelson, Jade Thirwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie...
Princess Beatrice Plans Mila Kunis' Hen Party
Britain's Princess Beatrice is planning Mila Kunis' hen party. The 25-year-old royal is whisking the 'Ted' star and several of her closest friends to...
The Cat's Out Of The Bag And So Is Ahs's Season 4 Theme
Watch out American Horror Story fans. So far, the show has done “haunted house,” “insane asylum” and “witch coven” and now the writing...
Sienna Miller To Star In American Sniper
Sienna Miller is in talks to star in 'American Sniper'.The 32-year-old actress is in early negotiations to take on the lead female role, opposite...
Robbie Williams To Collaborate With His Dad
Robbie Williams is planning to collaborate with his dad. The 40-year-old singer, who invited his father Pete Conway to perform with him at London's...
Kian Egan: One Direction Could Split
Kian Egan thinks One Direction could split up because they don't appear to have a close bond anymore. The former Westlife star thinks the band would...
Pope Francis Cancels Meeting With Noah Team
Pope Francis has cancelled a meeting with the creative team behind 'Noah'.Paramount vice chair Rob Moore, director Darren Aronofsky and Hollywood...
Steve Carell To Star In The Priority List
Steve Carell is set to star in and produce 'The Priority List'.The drama, which is based on the memoir of David Menasche, tells the story of a Miami...
New Host, New Bandleader, Same Old "Dancing With The Stars"
It looks like Dancing with the Stars is really out to give us the old razzle dazzle this season, with a new co-host, new band leader and a whole band...
Ok, So 'The Maze Runner' Is The New Hunger Games, Divergent, Etc
The Maze Runner is the latest young-adult novel to get a movie adaptation as studios become ever more convinced of the literary genre's ability to...
Lena Dunham "Disgusted" With Woody Allen: "I'm Decidedly Pro-dylan Farrow"
Lena Dunham has become one of the only celebrities to comment publically on the familial tension between director Woody Allen, his ex-girlfriend Mia...
Angus T. Jones Wants You To Know That He Still Regrets 'Two And A Half Men'
Angus T Jones really, really wants you to know that he regrets his work on Two and a Half Men. About a year ago, Jones first spoke out about it in an...
Katie Price 'Weed In A Lunch Box'
Katie Price 'weed in a lunch box' and threw it out of a car window, a friend has claimed. The former glamour model - who has children Harvey, 11,...
Simon Cowell Buys Rare Car
Simon Cowell has splashed out £650,000 on ''the most beautiful car in the world.The music mogul ordered the super-rare Eagle Speedster Jaguar after...
Aaron Paul 'Doesn't Deserve' Wife
Aaron Paul doesn't ''deserve' his wife.The 'Breaking Bad' actor insists he is a ''good guy'' who would never do anything to hurt spouse Lauren...
Kate Winslet Receives Walk Of Fame Star
Kate Winslet received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday (17.03.14).The 38-year-old actress was honoured with the accolade hours after an...
'Interim Manager' Isn’T Quite 'Second Coming', But Who Cares: Mike Bassett Is Back
Everyone’s favorite football manager is back. No, Sven hasn’t been appointed to guide England to a First Knockout Round defeat at this summer’s...
Is Wayne Knight In Jurassic Park The Best Movie Death, Ever?
Wayne Knight is not dead. That much we know. But he did die in Jurassic Park - remember? The 58-year-old played computer programmer Dennis Nedry in...
Kim Kardashian Wants To Launch A Boys Line
Kim Kardashian is hoping to launch a boys line in the future. The 33-year-old reality TV star and her sisters Kourtney and Khloe have just released a...
David Beckham Named World's Best Underwear Model
David Beckham has been named the world's best underwear model. The retired soccer star, 38, has been crowned the champion by designer Tommy Hilfiger...
Nfl Now Wants $16 Million From M.i.a, But Will Madonna Help Out?
MIA’s issues with the NFL seemed like a minor incident, until it turned out that the organization was suing the singer for $16 million in damages....
Mixed Reviews For Itv's 'The Widower', But Reece Shearsmith Impresses Critics
The new three-part ITV drama, ‘The Widower’ aired last night (March 18, 2014). The show aims to tell the story of Mark Webster, who was convicted...
Did Courtney Love Just Find Missing Malaysia Airlines Mh370 Flight?
Courtney Love has weighed in on the mystery of the Malaysia Airlines plane disappearance as the search enters its tenth day. The Hole rocker and...
Bez Joins Anti-fracking Protest
Former Happy Mondays star Bez joined protesters at an anti-fracking march in Salford, England on Monday (17Mar14).The dancer/singer, real name Mark...
Beastie Boys Reach Settlement With Toy Company
The Beastie Boys have reached a settlement with bosses of a toy company to end a legal battle over their hit track Girls.The rappers became embroiled...
John Lennon's Writing Collection To Go For Auction
A collection of poems, short stories and drawings by John Lennon is to go under the hammer in New York later this year (14).The manuscripts written...
Sky Ferreira 'Saw Bone' Following Onstage Injury
Pop star Sky Ferreira "saw bone" in her leg after she fell down an elevator shaft onstage while supporting Miley Cyrus on tour.The singer was...
Robbie Williams To Collaborate With His Father
British pop star Robbie Williams is preparing a new family-based collaboration, according to the singer's father.The Angels hitmaker and his dad Pete...
Sullivan Stapleton Fell From Tuk-tuk In Thailand
Australian actor Sullivan Stapleton suffered a nasty head injury when he fell out of a tuk-tuk in Thailand and is expected to be out of action for up...
The X Factor Musical Abandoned Midway Through Performance
Simon Cowell's The X Factor musical has been hit by more problems after a performance was cancelled half-way through on Monday (17Mar14).Preview...
Stars Turn Out For Gabrielle Union's Engagement Party
Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx, pop star Kelly Rowland and comedian Kevin Hart were among the guests who turned out for Gabrielle Union's engagement...
Eddie Izzard Urges Scotland To Stay In The U.k.
British comedian Eddie Izzard is to perform a special gig in Scotland in an effort to convince the country's residents to vote against leaving the...
Kate Winslet Named Baby After House Fire
British actress Kate Winslet gave her newborn son the middle name Blaze to commemorate the terrifying house fire which brought her together with her...
Billy Crystal Organises Scavenger Hunt For Wife's Birthday
Veteran actor Billy Crystal took his wife on a scavenger hunt around Santa Monica, California for her birthday.The When Harry Met Sally... star...
Sienna Miller To Star In Clint Eastwood's Navy Seal Biopic
British actress Sienna Miller has landed a starring role in director Clint Eastwood's upcoming film, American Sniper.The Alfie star has been tapped...
Prince has released the duet he recorded with actress/singer Zooey Deschanel. The song, Fallinlove2Nite, premiered on an episode of Deschanel's Tv...
Actress Eva Longoria celebrated her 39th birthday by enjoying a dinner in South beach, Florida with a group of pals and her boyfriend, media mogul...
"I get a call that the song was pushed back... then I get a call that it isn't... gonna take the back seat with this one." Ariana Grande is in the...
Two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda is set to receive the Robert Redford Award for Engaged Artists from the USC School of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles....
"I've been living with somebody for four years. I'm shacking up with someone, yeah. It can get pretty great when you're older. Because it's sort of...
Meeting Between Russell Crowe And Pope Francis Was Never On The Agenda
Pope Francis’ near-spotless public image lives on, as it has now come out that the Catholic leader did not cancel a planned meeting with Hollywood...
Lily Allen Earned "Nothing" From John Lewis Ad. Well, £8k
Lily Allen sure does have a strange concept of money. When asked how much she earned from the John Lewis Christmas ad, which saw the singer reach...
Cure Me I'm Gay: Doctor Warns "Adele Songs Will Make You Homosexual"
You may have seen interesting TV programme has been touted around Channel 4 ad breaks recently. We say interesting - we mean bizarre. "Cure Me I'm...
Angelina Jolie Embodies Evil In New 'Maleficent' Poster [Trailer]
It's just over two months until Disney's Maleficent is released and we get to experience the story of Angelina Jolie's wicked villainess told in a...
Kevin Spacey Swaps 'House Of Cards' For House Lights Down, With One-man Old Vic Play
Kevin Spacey is going above and beyond his responsibilities as Creative Director at the Old Vic Theatre by starring in a one-man play as part of the...
"Incognitive": David Beckham Stars In 'Only Fools And Horses' Clip [Video]
Viewers have got their first look at David Beckham's upcoming appearance in an Only Fools and Horses sketch for Sport Relief. The new skit, which...
Mel C Gets Feather Tattoo
Mel C has got a new feather tattoo.The former Spice Girls star has had the design etched onto her right arm and it is joined to her famous barbed...
Melissa George's 'Great' Three Day Labour
Melissa George was in labour for three days with son Raphaël. The 'Good Wife' actress and her boyfriend Jean-David Blanc welcomed their son into the...
L'wren Scott's Social Media Pages Removed
L'Wren Scott's social media profiles have been taken down.The late 49-year-old fashion designer's accounts on twitter, Facebook and Instagram have...
Kate Winslet Explains Son's Name
Kate Winslet's son is named in honour of the fire she escaped in 2011.The 'Divergent' actress met her now-husband Ned Rocknroll when they fled a fire...
Sarah Harding Uses Special Honey To Protect Voice
Sarah Harding uses luxury honey to keep her voice in top shape. The 32-year-old pop star relies on a special mixture of £10-a-jar Manuka honey, hot...
Sxsw 2014 Is Over, But Here's The Memories
SXSW 2014 is over. We saw 2200 bands playing over 100 stages. Well, we didn't actually see all those bands with our own eyes, but we've done all the...
Chris Evans: Public Need A Hero
Chris Evans insists it's important to have a patriotic superhero to admire. The 32-year-old actor - who plays the titular superhero in forthcoming...
James Spader Is Doing 'Unbelievable' Job As Ultron
James Spader is doing an ''unbelievable job'' as Ultron, says Kevin Feige.The 54-year-old actor has been cast as the titular villain - a crazed robot...
Terminator: Genesis Has 'Hardcore Action'
Arnold Schwarzenegger says 'Terminator: Genesis' has the ''same feel'' as the second film in the franchise.The 66-year-old star - who was forced to...
M.i.a Asks Madonna For $16m To Pay Nfl
M.I.A has jokingly asked Madonna for $16 million as the NFL step up their legal action for her middle finger salute during their 2012 Super Bowl...
Example Reveals Drug And Alcohol And Abuse
Example used to get ''absolutely battered'' before gigs.The 31-year-old rapper-and-singer - real name Elliot Gleave - has revealed his drug and...
Lady Gaga Reveals Tour Stage Design
Lady Gaga has unveiled the stage design for her upcoming 'artRave: The ARTPOP Ball Tour'.The 27-year-old star posted a photograph on Twitter of the...
Miley Cyrus' Tour Bus Catches Fire
Miley Cyrus and her crew escaped injury on Monday night (17Mar14) after one of the singer's tour buses burst into flames.The disaster was reported by...
Mick Jagger's Model Daughter Cancels Runway Show
Sir Mick Jagger's supermodel daughter Georgia May Jagger has cancelled an appearance at a fashion show and rushed to her father's side following the...
Melanie Chisholm Rescued From Dressing Room By Security Guards
British pop star Melanie Chisholm had to be rescued by security guards after she became trapped in her dressing room at a tiny London show.The former...
Rapper Dg Yola Arrested On Murder Charge
Rapper Dg Yola has been arrested on suspicion of murder.The hip-hop star, 28, who scored a hit with 2006 song Ain't Gon' Let Up, was detained by...
Lady Gaga Unveils See-through Stage Design
Pop star Lady Gaga has shown off an innovative set design for her upcoming world tour which will allow fans to dance underneath a transparent...
Shakira's Colombian School Has Improved The Community
Singer Shakira is convinced her latest school project in her native Colombia has turned around the fortunes of the local community after opening last...
Melanie Mel Brown Funding Her Own Pop Comemel Back
Former Spice Girls star Melanie Brown poured her own cash into recording sessions for her comeback single.The singer released a one-off track, For...
Belinda Carlisle Baffled By Lack Of All-girl Bands
Pop star Belinda Carlisle is baffled by the lack of self-formed all-girl bands despite improving gender equality in the modern music industry.The...
Josh Holloway Welcomes A Son
Actor Josh Holloway has welcomed his second child with wife Yessica Kumala.The Lost star has confirmed Kumala gave birth to a little boy named Hunter...
Stars Join Campaign To Improve Press Standards
More than 200 stars including Russell Brand, Sir Ian Mckellen and Dame Maggie Smith have put their names to a campaign to clean up the British...
Kate Winslet Left Baby Son Behind For Los Angeles Trip
British actress Kate Winslet had to be parted from her newborn son when she flew to Los Angeles to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame...
Khloe Kardashian Defends Herself Over Australian Tv Fall-out
Reality Tv regular Khloe Kardashian has denied allegations she cut short an Australian Tv interview after objecting to a question about her baby...
Julianne Hough Teams Up With Brother For Stage Show
Julianne Hough and her dancer brother Derek Hough are teaming up for a stage show tour across North America.The Footloose star was a professional...
Jennifer Garner Lands New Role With Save The Children
Actress Jennifer Garner has landed a senior position with a leading children's charity.The Daredevil star has been an ambassador for Save The...
Lenny Henry Brings Ethnicity Campaign To Bafta
British comedian Lenny Henry stepped up his campaign to launch more black actors on U.K. Tv by giving an impassioned lecture to members of the...
Dannii Minogue is launching a petite fashion range for department store Target in her native Australia. The diminutive singer's collection will be...
Black Eyed Peas star Will.I.Am is a fan of British children's Tv shows like In The Night Garden and Bob The Builder. The rapper tells Britain's Radio...
"I was just in London and we all had tea together. It was a private tea, nobody saw us, but we talked about our kids and regular stuff, like what...
Homeland's Damian Lewis, Scottish film star James Mcavoy and Doctor Who actor Matt Smith are among the celebrities who have been recruited for Robbie...
David Hasselhoff has headed back to Germany to film a documentary about the Berlin Wall. The Baywatch actor famously sang on top of the wall on New...
Veteran British comedian Ken Dodd was hailed as a Legend of Comedy at the 2014 Leicester Comedy Festival, held in Leicester, England. The 86-year-old...
"Everybody's been cheated on, everyone will be cheated on... We are human beings, we are complicated - you cannot go through life without tallying up...
Dame Vivienne Westwood In Shower Video
Dame Vivienne Westwood has released a video of her in the shower ahead of World Water Day on Saturday (22.03.14).The celebrated fashion designer is...
Karl Lagerfeld Does Russian Theme For Monaco Ball
Karl Lagerfeld has chosen a Russian theme for the Monaco Rose Ball.Chanel's creative director will organise the event, more commonly known as the Bal...
Lenny Henry Highlights Inequality In Entertainment Industry During Bafta Speech
Lenny Henry used his Bafta lecture to highlight the levels of inequality that are currently commonplace in the entertainment industry in the U.K,...
Batman, Superman, Iron Man And Spider-man Step Aside: Bananaman Is Coming
While Marvel and DC have been busy at work bringing every super hero character imaginable to the big screen, you can’t really go ahead and call...
Mick Jagger: 'I Am Struggling To Understand Why L'wren Scott Ended Her Life'
Mick Jagger has broken his silence following the death of his longtime girlfriend, revealing he is struggling to understand why his "lover and best...
Mick Jagger Pays Tribute To L'wren Scott
Sir Mick Jagger has paid tribute to his ''lover and best friend'' L'Wren Scott.The Rolling Stones frontman admitted he is ''struggling to...
Cameron Diaz: Everyone Will Be Cheated On
Cameron Diaz believes everyone will be cheated on at some stage in their life.The 41-year-old actress - who has previously dated stars including...
Michael Buble Feared Marriage
Michael Buble was afraid of getting married.The 38-year-old singer - who has five-month-old son Noah with spouse Luisana Lopilato - always knew he...
Cameron Douglas Released From Solitary Confinement
Michael Douglas' son has been released from solitary confinement.Cameron Douglas had spent almost two years incarcerated alone without visitors at...
Ashton Kutcher Sought Proposal Permission
Ashton Kutcher sought Mila Kunis' father's permission to marry her.The 'Anger Management' actor - who was previously wed to Demi Moore - wanted to do...
Jessie James And Eric Decker Welcome Baby Girl
Country music star Jessie James and her footballer husband Eric Decker have become first-time parents to a baby girl.The singer gave birth on Tuesday...
Take A Peek At Charlie And Snoop In This Cheeky 'Peanuts' Teaser [Trailer + Pictures]
2015 marks of the anniversary of Charles Schulz’s comic strip ‘Peanuts’. A goofy, hilarious read back then, the characters of Charlie and Brown...
She's On Fire! Miley Cyrus Tour Bus Up In Flames During Bangerz Tour
Miley Cyrus has had a pretty chaotic Bangerz North American tour so far but nothing so serious as last night's tour bus fire which apparently broke...
Hulk Hogan Is Fandango Fan
WWE Superstar Fandango admits it was a ''cool'' moment when his childhood idol Hulk Hogan told him he was a fan of his.The 32-year-old grappler...
Rolling Stones Postpone Australia And New Zealand Tour
The Rolling Stones have scrapped their upcoming Australia and New Zealand tour dates to allow frontman Sir Mick Jagger time to mourn the death of his...
Nirvana's First Drummer Not Eligible For Hall Of Fame Honour
Nirvana's first drummer Chad Channing has discovered he won't be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside former bandmate Krist Novoselic...
Smokey Robinson Suing Ex-wife Over Copyright Interest
Soul icon Smokey Robinson is suing his ex-wife Claudette Rogers Robinson to prevent her from profiting from songs he wrote during their 27-year...
Tony Award-winning Composer Mitch Leigh Dead At 86
Tony Award-winning composer Mitch Leigh has died at the age of 86.Leigh suffered pneumonia and complications from a stroke and passed away on Sunday...
Judge Rejects Motion To Dismiss Kanye West And Kim Kardashian Suit Over Proposal Video Leak
Rapper Kanye West and his fiancee Kim Kardashian have been given the green light to proceed with legal action against a YouTube.com co-founder...
Publicist Max Clifford Bragged About Sleeping With Diana Ross, Court Hears
Celebrity publicist Max Clifford attempted to land a teenage model as a client after boasting of sleeping with superstar Diana Ross, a London court...
Sofia Coppola In Talks To Direct The Little Mermaid Live-action Film
Filmmaker Sofia Coppola is reportedly in talks to direct a live-action version of The Little Mermaid.British director Joe Wright had been attached to...
Lewis Hamilton Denies Engagement Rumours
Formula One race ace Lewis Hamilton has denied reports suggesting he has proposed to longtime girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.The former Pussycat Dolls...
Angelina Jolie Forced To Do Yoga For Maleficent Role
Actress Angelina Jolie was forced to take up yoga to prepare for her evil role in Maleficent.The Salt star did many of her own stunts in the film and...
Newcomer Levi Miller Cast As Peter Pan In New Film
Moviemaker Joe Wright has found his Peter Pan - newcomer Levi Miller has been cast to take on the lead role of the boy who never grew up in origins...
Miley Cyrus recently stunned fans at the Cat's Meow karaoke venue in New Orleans, Louisiana after joining a group of girls onstage for a rendition of...
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<< 26th December 201428th December 2014 >>
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Spike Lee >
Spike Lee leads tributes to John Singleton
By Bang Showbiz in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 30 April 2019
Follow Spike Lee
Spike Lee Halle Berry Viola Davis John Singleton Quincy Jones Tyler Perry Edgar Wright Ron Howard Samuel L Jackson
A host of stars and directors have paid tribute to John Singleton following the filmmaker's death at just 51.
Spike Lee, Halle Berry and Viola Davis are among the stars to have paid tribute to the late John Singleton.
The 51-year-old filmmaker - who made history as the first African-American and youngest person to be nominated for the Best Director Oscar in 1992 for 'Boyz n the Hood' - had his life support turned off on Monday (29.04.19) following a ''major stroke'' two weeks ago and a host of big names in Hollywood have reflected on his work and legacy.
'BlacKkKlansman' director Spike praised his friend for his ''passion and heart''.
He wrote on Instagram: ''We Met While He Was A Film Student At USC.
''Over Many Years People Have Told Me 'I'm Going To Be A Filmmaker'.
''When John Said That To Me The 1st Time We Met, I Believed Him Right Away. It Was No Surprise.
''With His Passion, His Heart, The Way He Talked About His Love For Cinema And Black Folks I Could See John Would Make It Happen, And He Did.
''From Day One, We Have Remained Close Over The Decades, Cheering Each Other On In This Industry That Is Not Set Up For Us To Win.
''John Singleton's Films Will Live On Forever.
''Blessings And Prayers For His Family. May John Rest In Power. Amen.(sic)''
Halle praised the director as an ''innovator'' who will always be a ''beacon of light''.
She tweeted: ''#JohnSingleton was an innovator - he came with drive & a creative vision when people of color didn't have the same visibility we do now. He will remain a beacon of light in our community, and today we celebrate his legacy. Rest well my friend, we've lost one of the good guys.(sic)''
And Viola said the 'Higher Learning' filmmaker has ''inspired a generation''.
She tweeted: ''The best life is when we leave a trail. We leave something on this earth bigger than us. John Singleton....you inspired a generation of Artists. We will shoulder on....'May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest''. RIP(sic)''
Samuel L. Jackson, who worked with John on 2000's 'Shaft' remembered his ''true friend''.
He tweeted: ''Mourning the loss of a collaborator & True Friend John Singleton. He blazed the trail for many young film makers, always remaining true to who he was & where he came from!!! RIP Brother. Gone Way Too Soon!(sic)''
Quincy Jones also paid tribute to the 'Baby Boy' director's enduring legacy.
He tweeted: ''RIP to my dear brother, John Singleton. Gone far, far too soon...your storytelling & contributions to our culture will endure forever.(sic)''
Tyler Perry has been left ''heartbroken and shocked'' by the director's death.
He wrote: ''I cannot believe this man is gone at such a young age. He was always encouraging, supportive, and gracious to me. I will be calling his and his family's name in my prayers tonight. Heartbroken and shocked. May God add peace and rest to your ascending soul Mr. John Singleton.(sic)''
Fellow directors Edgar Wright and Ron Howard also paid tribute to their peer.
Edgar tweeted: ''This is way too sad. The word 'groundbreaker' is thrown around too easily, but it applied to John Singleton, an inspirational, influential film-maker. While he had many accomplishments in TV and film, you felt he had still more surprises up his sleeve. 51 is far too young to go. (sic)''
Ron wrote: ''Sad sad news. Such a good director and so well regarded everywhere he went. We will miss his work and his storytelling voice. RIP #JohnSingleton (sic)''
Hours after John's family confirmed on Monday they would be taking him off life support, they confirmed he had passed away.
They said in a statement: ''John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends.
''We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai [Medical Center] for their expert care and kindness, and we again want to thank all of John's fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time.''
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Filmmakers Index: 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Text Detail
Some compositional and analytical applications of T-matrices
Morris, R. D. 1989. "Some compositional and analytical applications of T-matrices." Integral 3: pp. 37-66.
Morris, Robert D
Copyright 1996-2013 Christopher Ariza.
“With the development of electronic and computer music, multidemnsionality of sound representation turned out to be both natural and useful. But music goes beyond multidimensionality -- it is even more complex.”
(Full citation)
“... the individual and the society are deprived of the formidable power of free imagination that musical composition offers them. We are able to tear down this iron curtain, thanks to the technology of computers...”
“... and the hope of an extraordinary aesthetic success based on extraordinary technology is a cruel deceit.”
“... but beware, technique can submerge the user: We must defend ourselves; it is good to use techniques, but we have to dominate them, to stay alert.”
“The characteristics of every sound depend on the way in which the sound was produced. Each art-form exploits its special production methods in order to endow the phenomena with unmistakable characteristics. Artistic economy demands that the means be appropriate to the end, and that the exploitation of the means be an end in itself.”
“The danger is great of letting oneself be trapped by the tools and of becoming stuck in the sands of technology that has come like an intruder into the relatively calm waters of the thought in instrumental music.”
“... the use of numerical machines no longer stands in need of justification. It is not a mystery. If there is a mystery, it is in the mental structures of music and not in the computers, which are only tools, extensions of the hand and the slide rule.”
“The computing machine is a marvelous invention and seems almost superhuman. But in reality it is as limited as the mind of the individual who feeds it material. Like the computer, the machines we use for making music can only give back what we put into them.”
“Composers are now able, as never before, to satisfy the dictates of that inner ear of the imagination. They are also lucky so far in not being hampered by esthetic codification -- at least not yet! But I am afraid it will not be long before some musical mortician begins embalming electronic music in rules.”
“Music is then no longer primarily conceived as a guide for premeditated emotions, but as the density of the possible relationships which first become actuality during production under the influence of chance, and which during performance are presented to the listener as sounds beyond any environmental associatiations, independent of bodily actions required to produce sounds...”
“The use of computers is the logical outcome of a historical development. It by no means heralds a new musical epoch; it simply offers a fast, reliable and versatile means of solving problems that already demanded solution. The person who writes the computer programme must bear the development of musical language up to the present in mind, and try to advance a stage further.”
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Home » Home + Design
6 decorating tips to a create a modern-rustic bedroom
Pretty, Pretty Home
Acclaimed Austin designer expands with unique new Texas showroom
Austin Home Tour
Vintage Texas fort inspires this new Austin-area ranch home
By Mary Jo Bowling, Houzz
The rear of the house makes the inspirations clear. Jacob Bodkin Photography, Houzz
Many of the early Texas ranches give a nod to Spanish missions. Photo by Jacob Bodkin Photography, Houzz
Old Chicago brick makes an interior appearance in the living room fireplace. Photo by Jacob Bodkin Photography, Houzz
This bathroom calls for a large window. Photo by Jacob Bodkin Photography, Houzz
The guest quarters. Photo by Jacob Bodkin Photography, Houzz
The porch of the guest wing. Photo by Jacob Bodkin Photography, Houzz
Some new houses struggle to capture the charm and character of dwellings built in an earlier age. Their architecture might mimic classic details, maybe even try to recreate those features exactly, but often these new-old homes seem to fall just short of authentic. This Cedar Creek-area house — which was influenced by old Texas forts, vintage Lone Star State ranch houses, the British Colonial home showcased in the movie Out of Africa, and Louisiana homes of yesteryear — doesn’t miss the mark. It is new construction, but it has the romance and the heart of a home that started life before the dawn of the 20th century.
The house is in a planned neighborhood on an 8-acre lot, but its primary influence is an 1880s Texas fort that is one of a few buildings standing on a 500-plus-acre spread. That inspiration is Fort Davis, the centerpiece of the Fort Davis Historic Preserve and one of the best existing examples of frontier strongholds.
The rear of the house makes the inspirations clear. As with many classic Texas ranch houses, its two wings appear to have been constructed at different times. The brick wing is the main house, and it holds the master bedroom, living room, and kitchen. If at first glance you think you are looking at a stone exterior, that’s understandable. The architect used Old Chicago (salvaged) brick to give the home the appearance of antiquity. The wooden wing appears to have been added at a later date, and it’s connected by a breezeway. This section of the dwelling houses the guest rooms. “It portrays a sentimental view of Texas,” architect Hugh Jefferson Randolph says. “It is nostalgic and evocative of old Texas.”
See More of This Texas Ranch Home on Houzz TV
The architect says that although the owners don’t live on one of the sprawling Texas ranches from days gone by, they loved the idea of rural architecture that is symbolic of the Lone Star State and points beyond.
“One of the things that influenced the owners was the farmhouse and farm buildings in Out of Africa,” Randolph says. The architect also brought his heritage to the table, introducing the couple to the style of rural Southern buildings that he experienced in his youth.
The landscaping does a lot to reinforce the “it’s long been here” look by relying heavily on native wildflowers.
Many of the early Texas ranches give a nod to Spanish missions. Inside this home, that tradition is visible with elements like the counter-to-ceiling Spanish-style tiles in the kitchen. “This room is open to the family room and dining room,” Randolph says. “It’s a big space, and small tile wouldn’t have been the proper scale for it.”
Why You Should Love Soapstone Countertops
On an adjacent wall, the architect included a large picture window that looks out to the lawn and trees. “I don’t want to say we have a formula, but someone once made the comment that we use really big windows or really little windows,” Randolph says. “I use big windows to frame or accentuate views, just as you would frame great art. I use little windows to let in light, but to provide privacy or hide an undesirable view.”
Old Chicago brick makes an interior appearance in the living room fireplace. The beams in the ceiling are also architectural salvage. Dark polished concrete floors are modern but take on the look of age in the surroundings.
There’s a bathroom that doesn’t have privacy issues, so it calls for a large window. “The owner wanted this room to be really connected to the garden,” Randolph says. “She chose the claw-foot tub to give the space a farmhouse character.”
How to Get a Claw-foot Tub
And there's a porch off the guest wing. “The big porches are important to the project,” Randolph says. “They are like big outdoor rooms.”
The homeowner made the choice to paint the doors on this wing an orange-red. “I like it because it has a Southwestern feel to it,” Randolph says. “I also like how it looks with the wood siding.”
Through the doors are the guest quarters. “To me, this is a very Western room,” Randolph says. “I love how it’s done in a very classic, basic way. It’s minimal without being modern.”
The architect says there are three ingredients that go into a great project: the site, the client’s personality, and what he and his team can bring to it. “In this project, we also had a client who had a clear sense of personal style and a love of materials and texture,” Randolph says.
“I think that the house reflects the souls of the people who live there and the land that it’s on,” he says.
5 easy-to-grow succulents that make great houseplants
6 ways to warm up your kitchen or bath with wood accents
4 festive Christmas tree alternatives that will spruce up your home
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Category Archives: renewable energy
A look at some of the Tax changes that become effective on January 1, 2020, as a result of the Finance Bill 2019 that was signed by the President on 7 November 2019.
The highlight was the repeal of Section 33B of the Banking Act which had put an interest rate cap on commercial bank loans, but there are also other taxation clauses of note.
Import Declaration Fee levy has been increased from 2% to 3.5%. Also, the Railway Development Levy, which is an important component of paying for the SGR, has been increased from 1.5% to 2%.
Companies that list under the Nairobi Securities Exchange’s GEMS program for the next three years can be forgiven tax penalties and interest, provided they pay the principal amount. This move to encourage listing at the NSE became effective in November 2019. But if they delist within five years, that window lapses and all taxes due before listing will again become payable.
Taxes also go up for cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, fruit wines and spirits.
Motor vehicle excise taxes go up from 20 to 25% for cars over 1500 cc, and that for station wagons and race cars go up from 30 to 35%, but for electric-powered motor vehicles, that goes down from 20 to 10%.
Sports betting companies take another hit with a 20% tax lopped on to each bet amount, regardless of the outcome of the wager.
New economy taxes: The new year ushers in taxes on the digital economy market place – this encompasses “platforms that enable interaction between buyers and sellers of goods & services through electronic means” who are now liable for income tax and value-added tax (VAT). Along with that, a taxpayer PIN is mandatory when one is registering for a paybill and till numbers (to process mobile payments) through a telephone company
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT’s), which were exempt from corporate tax are now also exempt from income tax.
There is an income tax exemption for people who register under the Government’s Ajira Digital (online work) program from January 2020 to December 2022.
Green bonds: Interest income on all listed infrastructure bonds, or green bonds,that are a minimum three years to maturity will be exempt from income tax as will income on the National Housing Development Fund.
Turnover tax of 3% has been reintroduced and will be payable monthly by any business whose turnover does not exceed Kshs 5 million (~$50,000) in any year. EDIT – does not apply to companies already registered for VAT or those earning employment income rental income, engaged in management & professional services and limited liability companies. There is also a Presumptive Tax, a new tax that is 15% of the annual fee paid for a license e.g. to operate in Nairobi County and that can be offset when paying the turnover tax.
Environmental stuff: Plastic recycling companies will get a preferential corporate tax rate of 15% for five years and machinery and equipment used for plastic recycling plants are now VAT exempt. But, going the other way, equipment for the development of solar and wind energy, including batteries, which were previously exempt from VAT, now require the Cabinet Secretary for Energy to approve any such exemptions.
A taxpayer PIN is now mandatory when one is renewing membership in a professional body or with any licensing agency.
Mitumba and shipment consolidators are now recognized – if they have warehouses in the country of origin and Kenya, and have no history of dealing with substandard or counterfeit goods.
Meanwhile, the President said at the Jamhuri Day celebrations (on December 12) that a mortgage scheme he had previously proposed, and which entailed a deduction of 1.5% of salaries, would not be mandatory. Parliament resumes in February 2020 and we shall see if they amend that.
Extracts from reports done by KPMG East Africa, RSM Eastern Africa LLP and KN Law LLP .
This entry was posted in Kenya mortgages, Kenya taxation, NSE bonds, NSE investor awareness, renewable energy, SME solutions on December 31, 2019 by bankelele.
EAVCA: Fintrek explores Fintech opportunities in East Africa
This week, the East Africa Venture Capital Association (EAVCA) with Intellecap Advisory Services released the Fintrek – which explores fintech opportunities in East Africa, new frontiers in fintech (defined as firms using technology to deliver financial products/services or capabilities to customers or others firms) and fintech investments in East Africa.
Asia Pacific and Africa have been harbingers of mobile payments and that is transitioning into fintech now. The Fintrek report notes three underlying factors driving fintech uptake as:
(i) the use of alternative data to generate credit takings of the unbanked (and deliver services to them cheaply e.g no need for bank branches),
(ii) peer to peer networks (decentralized collaboration, payments across borders, unregulated) and
(iii) the emergence of nontraditional players (telcos, wallets like Google Pay & Apple Pay, e-retailers like Amazon)
smartphones offer fintech opportunities.
Regionally, Kenya is seen as a leader in the region owing to its levels of deposit penetration, deep financial sector penetration, and smartphone ownership (at 44% compared to less than 10% for Tanzania Uganda Rwanda and Ethiopia). Kenya is where most fintechs are setting up, and Kenya-based fintechs have raised $204 million between 2000 and 2017 which is 98% of the funding to the region.
Funding: In terms of funding, fintechs are still in early stages as seen in the small deal sizes: seed funding provided 47 deals (averaging $447,000) and 60% of all funding was to impact areas renewable energy/off grid lighting and health care (microinsurance). Five companies M-KOPA, Off-Grid Electric, SunFunder, Angaza, Azuri) have raised $345 million (through debt and equity) accounting for 55% of the funding between 2010 and 2017. Another finding was that while 53% of all funding between 2010 and 2017 was from venture capital funds, their average deal size ($6 million – e.g. from Apis, Madison Dearborn) is lower than those of corporates ($15 million – e.g. from Stanbic, Commercial Bank of Africa) and foundations ($10 million – e.g. from Calvert, Emerson, Omidyar Network) deals.
Fintechs needs a balance of debt and equity investments to grow, but they are struggling to get debt financing (mainly bank loans). Fintechs in East Africa had debt-equity ratios of 1:1 compared to 3:1 globally, indicating they have capacity to absorb more debt but are not doing it. The EAVCA report cites one of the funding challenges as investors want proof of traction while fintechs need working capital to demonstrate proof of concept, lack of funder knowledge about local markets, East Africa fintechs don’t look like what foreign investors expect, currency fluctuations make it had to raise debt and there is a lack of fundraising skill among local fintechs who can’t afford the teams that will enable them to raise money.
The Fintrek report identified 11 fintech opportunities models and 47 sub-models and identified 4 sub-models that have flourished in East Africa:
– Payments and Savings: digital wallets (M-Pesa, Alipay, Tigo pesa – which pays 7-9% interest and now attract high-end users), payment intermediaries (Cellulant, Direct Pay, Jambopay) and digital currencies (Bitpesa, Coinbase, Belfrics – a crypto-currency platform).
– Lending: direct lending (Branch, Tala – with 1.8M customers in Kenya, Kreditech, Umati capital), P2P lending (Lendable, Pezesha – has 6,000 borrowers & 200 lenders), and lending aggregators (lakompare). Also, there is telco-based nano lending (M-Shwari, KCB-M-Pesa, Equitel – which issued $57 billion worth of loans – and telco-bank lenders in Kenya account for over 76% of total loan accounts, but only 4% of the loan values)
– Financial Management: Insuretech (Bimaspace, BimaAfya, Microensure), Investech (Abacus, Xeno) and personal finance management – (Chamasoft, Caytree).
– FS Enablers: (Jumo – credit underwriting for 5 million customers and 20 million loans), Arifu, FirstAccess, NetGuardian – fraud identifier), FarmDrive, Sasa solutions, Lendddo).
Some recent fintech deals in East Africa include Farmdrive (from the Safaricom Spark Fund), Pezesha (DFS lab), Pula (DFS lab, CGAP), M-Kopa ($80M – Stanbic, CDC, FMO, Norfund), Tala ($30M – IVP), Jumo ($24M – Finnfund), Mobisol ($12M – FinnFund), Angaza ($10.5M – Emerson), Flutterwave ($10M – Greycroft), Netguardian ($8.5M – Freemont), Trine ($8M – Gullspang), Lendable ($6M – Kawisafi, Omidyar, Fenway), Direct Pay ($5M – Apis), Azuri ($5M – Standard Chartered), Bitpesa ($4.25M – Greycroft), Branch ($2M – from high-networth Kenyans and funds – arranged by Nabo Capital)
Production of the Fintrek report was supported by Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Africa and Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO).
See more of the EAVCA Fintrek report and other fintech opportunities at the 5th Sankalp Africa Summit on March 1-2, 2018 in Nairobi and see their private equity snapshot report.
This entry was posted in africa venture capital, EAVCA, Investing in Kenya, NSE investor awareness, renewable energy, Rwanda, SME solutions, solar, tanzania, Uganda on March 1, 2018 by bankelele.
Kengen the Geothermal Powerhouse
Kenya is the only African country that has successfully tapped the green energy potential of geothermal power and is ranked number eight in the world. Kenya’s 676MW geothermal output trails that of the USA (3,567MW) Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, and ahead of Iceland, and Japan.
The bulk of this geothermal power comes from the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (Kengen) which supplies 1.6GW (80%) of the country’s 2.3GW electricity output. Of that 533MW is from geothermal energy, primarily from the Olkaria area near Naivasha, where the first wells were dug in 1950 and their deployment and production accelerated after 2007.
Kengen has 294 drilled walls with an 80% success rate, and part of that leap has been due to a Kengen-pioneered “wellhead technology”, which was done in partnership with Green Energy, an Icelandic company. Wellhead technology allows Kengen to tap steam energy within a year or two of sinking a well and recoup their investments faster (it usually costs $6 million to dig a well). In all, Kengen generates 75MW from 7 wellhead stations at Olkaria and one at Eburu.
Kengen’s Olkaria IV geothermal power plant.
In terms of electricity generation, Kengen plans to have supply stay ahead of demand especially considering the long setup time for energy plants (about seven years). With funds raised from shareholders and investors in 2016, they plan to add 1,000 MW to reach 1,745MW by the year 2025.
Kenya has an estimated 10,000 MW of geothermal power potential, and geothermal steam allows high energy demand manufacturing such as steel, cement and glass processing take place. These are currently hampered by the high costs of electricity, but the separation processes of geothermal gases means that such companies can tap steam to use at their factories nearby and this is the strategy behind a planned Kengen industrial park at Olkaria, Naivasha. Already Oserian Flowers buys steam and pipes it to heat their greenhouses in the nearby area.
As at June 2017, Kengen had a diversified mix of installed energy sources comprising Hydro 818 MW (including Masinga 40 MW , Kamburu 94.2MW, Gitaru 225MW, Kindaruma 72MW, Kiambere 168MW, Turkwel 106MW, Sondu 60MW, Sangoro 21.2MW, Tana 20MW), Geothermal 534 MW (Olkaria I 45 MW, Olkaria II 105MW, Olkaria IV 149.8MW, Olkaria I AU 150.5MW), Thermal 253.5 MW (Kipevu I 73.5MW, Kipevu III 120MW, gas turbines 60MW) and wind power 25.5MW (three phases at Ngong Hills).
Kenya has a liberated energy production market, and other private sector players in the geothermal sector who are seeking support under a private-public partnership program include Sosian Power, Quantum Power, and Akiira, as wells as Africa Geothermal and Orpower who are close by Kengen’s fields at Olkaria.
This entry was posted in Investing in Kenya, Japan, Kengen, Kengen IPO, Kenya economic growth, Naivasha, renewable energy and tagged clean energy, geothermal, renewable energy on February 17, 2018 by bankelele.
Tegeta Escrow
Yesterday Harbinder Singh Sethi and James Buchard Rugemarila were charged with obtaining $22 million and 309 billion Tanzania shillings from the Bank of Tanzania in what’s been dubbed the Tegeta Escrow case.
The Charge Sheet of #TegetaEscrow
We waited patiently 🙏🏽 close to 3 years pic.twitter.com/7VRvPlJmSC
— Maria Sarungi Tsehai (@MariaSTsehai) June 19, 2017
Perhaps the best summary of the Tegeta Escrow case comes from Africa Confidential (Vol 55 – N° 19) dated 26 September 2014 –
Heads may be about to roll after revelations about the contested transfer of 200 billion Tanzania shillings (US$124 million) from an escrow account in the central bank, the Bank of Tanzania, to Harbinder Singh Sethi’s Pan Africa Power Solutions Tanzania Limited (PAP, AC Vol 55 No 13). The complex details of how Sethi acquired Independent Power Tanzania Ltd. (IPTL) and then raided the BoT account have now been pieced together by two opposition members of parliament, Zitto Kabwe and David Zacharia Kafulila, with the help of The Citizen and Mwananchi newspapers.
If Sethi’s critics are proved right, this is the country’s biggest corruption scandal to date. Based in South Africa, Sethi is a Tanzanian-born businessman with a reputation for dubious past dealings in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and the United States. Sethi claims to have bought 70% of IPTL’s shares from Malaysia’s Mechmar Corporation, now in receivership. Yet Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong (SCB-HK) claims to have purchased IPTL’s debt for $76 mn. in August 2005 and says Mechmar was already in liquidation when Sethi claimed to have acquired the shares.
The Tanzanian behind IPTL, former BoT employee and self-styled international consultant James Rugemalira, is also under investigation over the $75 mn. that he was paid by Sethi for his company’s 30% share in IPTL.
Both Sethi and Rugemalira have lived up to Kabwe’s description as ‘aggressive litigators’. Their strategy has been to steer the acquisition of IPTL away from non-Tanzanian jurisdictions (Malaysia and Britain), from other interested parties (SCB-HK) and lawyers, receivers and liquidators in Malaysia and Hong-Kong. In this way, SCB-HK’s property rights in IPTL have been summarily dismissed and attempts by SCB-HK’s lawyers to negotiate a compromise with Tanesco have all been blocked. Furthermore, the findings of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes over IPTL’s overcharging Tanesco for power supplied and the proposal for a solution involving SCB-HK claims have been ignored. Tanzanian courts have been complicit in rubber-stamping IPTL’s transfer to Sethi’s PAP. None of this helps improve the country’s image abroad.
The unfolding details about the Tegeta Escrow case resulted in the removal of four ministers back in 2014. On Saturday, the energy minister, Sospeter Muhongo, resigned over his alleged role in the affair last year that saw $180m (£116m) taken from the country’s central bank. The move follows the removal from office of the attorney general, Frederick Werema, the energy secretary, Eliakim Maswi, and the housing minister, Anna Tibaijuka, who was sacked over the transfer of $1m to her private bank account Chairs of three parliamentary committees have also resigned following the scandal: Victor Mwambalaswa, energy and minerals committee; Andrew Chenge, parliamentary budget committee; and William Ngeleja, legal affairs and governance committee.
Back in December 2014, Stanbic Bank Tanzania released a short statement on the-then parliamentary report on Tegeta Escrow and their role.
This entry was posted in corruption, renewable energy, Stanbic, tanzania on June 20, 2017 by bankelele.
France & Kenya and Renewable Energy
Yesterday there was forum on renewable energy in Nairobi. It was organized by the Embassy of France and the Kenya government to show executives from French energy companies opportunities to invest in renewables and other energy projects in Kenya and Africa. Aqylon, Engie, GreenYellow, Quadran, Sogea Satom, Total , UrbaSolar, Vegrent, and Vinci representatives were part of the group.
French companies built hydro dams in Kenya
Large silent corporations include Engie which produces 3 GW in Africa and Vinci which has EUR 800 million of revenue, and 14,000 staff in Africa.
SUNREF from AFD/KAM provides tailored finance for green energy to Kenyan companies through Bank of Africa, CBA, Diamond Trust and Cooperative Bank. 11 companies have now been financed, and some that have got SUNREF green energy finance include KTDA, Meru dairy, Strathmore University, and Redland Roses.
Kenya has 10 independe power producers (IPP’s) producing 650 MW (28%) of its electricity – shows how vibrant it is for investors.
Regional electricity sharing in future: Kenya produces 2,200 MW, Ethiopia 4,284 MW (90% from hydro), Tanzania 1,583 MW (65% from thermal), and Uganda 900 MW (80% from hydro)
GreenYellow works with factory, malls, hotels, to finance & build (heat/cold/solar/light) systems that reduce their energy costs by 30%
UrbaSolar is working with Kenyatta University on a 100% self-consumption plant that will reduce electricity bills by 80% (20% is night).
Total is constructing a 40 MW solar plant at Isiolo with Green Millenia, while Kenya’s rural electrification authority (REA) has got funding to do a 50 MW one near Garissa.
KenGen which provides 80% of Kenya’s electricity, has tendered for an Olkaria 5 plant, and will build an industrial park there.
There’s opportunity in Kenya off-grid & mini grid electricity, but there’s no legal framework for integrating with the national grid integration & projects sometimes face land acquisition or compensation delays.
Solar has not picked up in Kenya, but with drop of photovoltaic prices, there’s lots of interest here now – Energy Permanent Secretary J. Njoroge told the companies.. He also said renewable energy is intermittent – it can only be used up to a certain % of Kenya’s electricity grid supply. Later there was mention of CSP solar plants which are more complex & expensive than traditional PV ones which but do give stable solar electricity.
This entry was posted in France, Kengen, Kenya economic growth, KPLC, KTDA, renewable energy, solar, Total, World Bank on September 28, 2016 by bankelele.
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Media Moment: Kenya Landscape Report
This morning a, joint report by TIFA Research and Reelforge Media Intelligence was released about the media landscape in Kenya.
Excerpts from the report
Advertising remains a key source of revenue of media. Also the media, while still powerful faces many challenges including global competition for advertisers (Facebook and Google), and for consumers from other digital platforms.
Audiences are fragmented, with people interacting with five radio and 3 TV stations every day. TIFA has tried to improve on the traditional data collecting methods for audience measurement by using an app in the phones of test subjects.
For brands, Facebook is the most effective – used by 71% of corporations to reach audiences, followed by Twitter 26%. Least used are podcasts, email and surprisingly WhatsApp – despite its prevalence (all below 2%).
Social media and content marketing are the most effective ways of reaching consumers, according to the report. The least effective methods are email campaigns, public relations and outdoors advertising (all below 8%).
Whatsapp and Facebook are the most popular platforms with internet audiences – used by over 80% of the respondents – and this is largely because they are free from Telecom providers.
The top media spender in 2019 is projected to be Safaricom with Kshs 9.7 billion. In 2018 it was gambling company Tatua which spent Kshs 5.3 billion. In 2017 it was the Government of Kenya which spent Kshs 8.6 billion in that was an election year. Spending by gambling companies has been on the rise with half of the top advertising companies now being betting firms.
Radio remains attractive because it is free for audiences access. It also had the has the highest advertising over the period – mainly by political parties during the 2017 Kenya elections.
Newspaper circulation continued to decline, and the authors estimated at circulation went down by 33% between 2013 and 2018.
Digital migration has increased the reach of TV. Today, Kenya has 173 radio stations, 68 TV stations and 9 newspapers.
The report by TIFA and Reelforge is now available for download.
This entry was posted in corporate blogging, Gambling, Google, Media in Kenya and tagged media on July 10, 2019 by bankelele.
Whats’s Next In Media?
A forum titled #whatsnextmedia was organized by Nest at the Aga Khan Graduate School of Media and Communications, in Nairobi yesterday. The first panel had Dennis Itumbi, Owaahh, Gaddo and Carole Kimutai. There was some nice chats about the current state of media, but it all came down to – what’s next in in media?
Carole:
Tuko produces viral content as Kenyans want short precise news delivered daily
They have to monetize continue – and they have just started to scratch the surface. Their sister site in Nigeria has 1 million views daily.
A new website has give answers, as there’s too much content out there. People check ma3route every day as it gives enables them to make decisions like which road to drive on.
Legacy media need to understand their audiences. Readers wants smarter delivery e.g. her Qz.com news app talks to her about the news they deliver.
Young people are less informed and can’t answer simple questions. They don’t read, but love gossip – and they now have a gossip page that is very popular.
Gaddo:
As a cartoonist, he has benefited from the freedom of media and internet in Kenya
Buni (producers of the XYZ show) contracts state that media owners cannot interfere with the program’s content.
He;s worried that our brains can only process 140 characters – and it takes a lot of expertise to do good, short content
We should discuss media ownership in Kenya. The media is owned by the political elite and crooked people.
The Kenyan president has been an observer of his online accounts, but in the next financial year (from June 30, 2016), that will change and he will become more interactive on his personal (ukenyatta) and official (presidentke) accounts.
It’s been a struggle to upgrade, secure, and improve government websites (and emails) with limited budgets but that continues. More online interactions brings improvement of government services e.g. internships at NITA
He’s fought to get jobs for bloggers and digital strategists and there will be many more for independent-minded bloggers who can articulate and sell the Jubilee government agenda
They have a digital verification hub at State House to confirm and respond to negative media stories.
Owaahh:
Niches – there is no mainstream audience, you need to write for specific people
You can’t make content for revenue, and you don’t need 1 million readers. James Murua blog is very big in the literature community in Nigeria, even though not many Kenyans know it. And when you have a niche, you can monetize it.
ghlaflarization of media – other newspapers and media are adding more gossip content, and have click bait headlines to imitate Ghafla that gets 1-2 million visitors per month
There are about 8 million whatsapp users in Kenya – more than facebook & twitter combined, and it’s a powerful channel for exchange of information – CEO of @ongair
This entry was posted in ideaexchange, Investing in Kenya, Media in Kenya and tagged media, newspapers on May 26, 2016 by bankelele.
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david bax / the tv room / tv
The TV Room: The Jinx, by David Bax
by · March 18, 2015
I’m going to miss seeing Robert Durst on my television every Sunday. Saying such a thing about a man who is almost certainly a multiple murderer might make me sound like a creep. But to deny the man’s uncommon magnetism would be to ignore the true engine humming beneath Andrew Jarecki’s The Jinx.
Jarecki, in telling the stories of Durst, the three murders of which he is suspected and how he has managed to avoid being convicted of them, is not doing so in service of an investigative journalist’s thirst for truth, no matter what Jarecki may claim in the series’ occasionally disingenuous last two chapters. No, he knows that he is chiefly making an entertainment and he does so perfectly in the first episode, easily one of the finest hours of television this year so far. Jarecki spends nearly the entirety of the initial entry laying out the third murder, which took place in Galveston, Texas, first by describing the weird, gruesome details (cross-dressing, dismemberment) before dropping the first big reveal, that Durst is an obscenely wealthy New York real estate heir. The next surprise comes when we find out he has also long been suspected in the disappearance of his first wife decades earlier. But the final shocker is the game changer. Just when we feel sure The Jinx is another true crime whodunit, we learn that Durst himself has agreed to be interviewed. The telling of this story will incorporate the vantage point of the man himself. And we’re just getting started.
After that first episode, the comparison that seemed most apt was The Staircase, another docuseries that examined a rich man who may be a murderer. And while The Staircase is something Jinx fans will want to seek out if they haven’t seen it, the two are more different than alike. Whereas The Staircase swings you back and forth in your certainty that its subject is or is not guilty, The Jinx is interested more in the man himself than in building a case. Frankly, it seems it would be nearly impossible to construct a convincing argument for Durst’s innocence even if Jarecki wanted to.
So, if Durst is so obviously guilty, how did he keep getting away with it? That’s the real motivation of The Jinx. The easiest answer would be that he got away with it because of his money. That’s certainly a contributing factor and Durst is on tape saying as much in a prison phone call to his second wife. But, as the fourth episode, which details the Galveston trial, shows, there’s something else. Durst may comport himself like a hunched little goblin. He may speak in an emotionless near-monotone. He may have large, black pupils that make his eyes look like twin gun barrels. But despite these things – or maybe even because of them – there’s something sinfully likable about the guy. How many people can admit to cutting up a dead body and throwing it in the river and then turn right around and make the jury laugh?
That Texas jury was only looking at one murder, though, and not the execution-style kiling of one of Durst’s closest friends in Los Angeles. In the fifth hour of the show, when new evidence in that case comes to the filmmakers, the focus switches from Durst to Jarecki and, by extension, to us the audience. This new information makes it so difficult to even entertain the notion of Durst’s innocence that it causes a nauseous dissonance. We’ve been able to lie to ourselves to some extent but now the show’s central conflict has been transferred to within us.
In order to resolve that conflict, we need Durst to be confronted. We need him to reckon with the same evidence that has thrown cold water into our faces. Jarecki makes that happen and the results are… inconclusive. Many have taken Durst’s accidental open mic soliloquy as a blatant confession. I wonder if those people are just making the conclusion what they need it to be. After all, we’ve seen Durst sarcastically assume the voice of his accusers before. So when he mumbles that he “killed them all, of course,” might that be no different than when he said of his slain friend in Los Angeles, “I shut her up”? Or maybe I’m the one with the clouded judgment. Maybe I’m kidding myself again, already letting Durst’s sinister charisma overcome my rationality. That, I now understand, is how he got away with it.
Movie Meltdown: Talkin’ ‘Bout Nerdy Stuff
AFI Fest 2019: Clemency, by David Bax
AFI Fest 2019: Deerskin, by David Bax
Ford v Ferrari: Men at Work, by Scott Nye
Just Mercy: Long Term, by David Bax
AFI Fest 2019: A Hidden Life, by Scott Nye
Luiz's Top Ten of 2019
Top Ten TV Shows of 2015, by David Bax
by · Published January 6, 2016
Upgrade: 21st Century Digital Boy, by David Bax
by · Published May 30, 2018 · Last modified June 8, 2018
72. John McClane
by · Published April 12, 2010 · Last modified September 26, 2013
That final recording is the creepiest thing I’ve ever heard. It sounds like a smeagol-gollum conversation. I wonder what happened when he realized he was still wearing a mic.
steve crobie says:
Nice Piece David. Truly one of the best things 2015 has had to offer us so far, and certainly one of the best documentaries I’ve seen in a long time, if not ever.
Next story The TV Room: Broad City Season 2
Previous story Walking in Place, by Dan Heaton
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The Aboriginal tribe or language group areas located around Canberra and the ACT. [00-360]
Arnhem Land and the surrounding National Parks and Sanctuaries along with main roads, rivers and towns. [00-261]
Arnhem Land and Kakadu National Park showing main roads, rivers, selected place names and elevation. [09-047c]
Arnhem Land Plateau
The western area of Arnhem Land showing the Arnhem Land Plateau, Kakadu National Park, Alligator Rivers Region and aboriginal languages of the area. [00-162]
Ashmore Reef
Map of Ashmore Reef including the three islets. [06-001a]
Australia showing state borders, elevation, lakes and major rivers. [10-025a]
Australia in colour showing state borders, elevation, main deserts, lakes and rivers. [09-074]
Australian Territories
Eight of the ten Australian Federal Territories - The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Northern Territory and Jervis Bay are all mainland territories; Ashmore and Cartiers Islands, Norfolk Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Co
Aust_basins_MurrayDarling
Major Southern Australian basin and blocks (cratons) highlighting the Murray-Darling basin. [00-147]
Climate Zones of Australia and the location of Barrow Island in relation to the Sahul Shelf.
Bonaparte Archipelago and nearby islands and reefs.
Islands and reefs off the northwest coast of Australia, north of Broome and Derby. [00-370]
The territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. [00-138]
Elevation map of Colombia, South America showing department borders and main towns with location inset. [00-214]
Country: Colombia
Derby Coast, Northwest Australia
Western Australia coast from Derby, King Sound north to Bonaparte Archipelago. [06-026]
Australian Fisheries Surveillance Enforcement Line showing the area from Ashmore Reef to Scott Reef where traditional Indonesian fishermen are permitted to fish.
Country: Australia , Indonesia
The location of King Island and the Furneaux Group off the northeast tip of Tasmania with an inset showing the islands of the Furneaux Group.
Furneaux Group, Bass Strait
The islands of the Furneaux Group, eastern Bass Strait which includes Flinders Island, Cape Barren Island and Clarke Island.
Futuna and Alofi Islands (Hoorn Islands) base - 2012.
Country: Wallis and Futuna
Japan - Australia
Japan - Australia coast showing major locations in both countries.
Country: Australia , Japan
Elevation map of Kakadu National Park showing the park boundary, floodplain (to 10m contour), neighbouring Arnhem Land and the western extent of the Arnhem Land Plateau.
Kakadu National Park location
Colour relief map showing the position of Kakadu National Park and a selection of NT locations.
Australia's third-largest island, just off the coast of South Australia, showing main conservation parks, wilderness protection areas and settlements.
Lake Eyre Basin
Location of the Lake Eyre Basin and the Great Artesian Basin in South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.
Languages of Northern WA and NT
Aboriginal languages centred around the Ord River area of northwest Western Australia and northeast Northern Territory.
Macdonnell Ranges, Northern Territory
Colour relief map of the Northern Territory showing mountains and locations within the Macdonnell Ranges.
Murray Island Protection Zone
Juristriction and protected zone areas covering the Torres Strait area of the Murray Islands.
The island of New Guinea with selected features and towns showing its proximity to Australia's top end.
Country: Australia , Indonesia , Papua New Guinea
Norfolk Island, one of Australia's oldest territories, showing the historic areas of Kingston and Arthur's Vale (World Heritage listed 2010) and the islands Reserves and National Parks.
North-west Shelf bathymetry
Bathymetric contours of the Northwest shelf of Australia.
Northeast Arnhem Land
The Northeast corner of the Northern Territory - Northeast Arnhem Land.
Northeast NSW
Colour elevation map of the northeast NSW/southern Queensland border area.
Northwest Australia
Islands and reefs off the northwest coast of Australia.
Country: Australia , Timor-Leste
Colour elevation map of Pakistan and surrounding countries showing major cities, rivers, provinces and disputed borders within Pakistan.
Pakistan base
Pakistan elevation map with provincial borders and capitals, main towns and rivers - 2012. PNG versions of the base map can be downloaded with or without elevation shading.
Pakistan regional divisions
Pakistan showing regional divisions and their capital city, main rivers and surrounding countries.
Roper River
The eastern section of the Roper River which forms the southern boundary of Arnhem Land, from Elsey to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Sea levels BP (before present) from northern Australia and the island of New Guinea.
Seabed boundaries, IEEZ's and AEEZ's between Australia and Indonesia and East Timor (2006).
Country: Australia , Indonesia , Timor-Leste
Shipping Activities
Australia & New Zealand shipping activities including major sea routes, cargo movements and annual ship visits to ports.
Country: Australia , New Zealand
Sydney Electoral Divisions
Sydney and surrounds showing electoral divisions and boundaries, national parks, major river, road and rail lines.
Basins and sub-basins of the waters surrounding Tasmania, including the 2000m contour.
The ACT and Region
The ACT and surrounding shires of NSW showing towns, roads, lakes and reservoirs.
The main islands and cays of The Bahamas, the coral-based archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Murray-Darling Basin
The Murray Basin and Darling Basin areas.
Colour map of the Torres Strait Islands from the tip of Cape York to the border with Papua New Guinea.
Torres Strait base
Torres Strait with reefs and island names - 2012.
Torres Strait Cultural Complex
Torres Strait Dialects
Western and Eastern language groups of the Torres Strait with island names in the native language.
Torres Strait language groups
Language groups of the Torres Strait Islands and southern Papua New Guinea.
Torres Strait Reefs
Colour map of the reefs and islands of the Torres Strait.
Vanderlin Island, Gulf of Carpentaria
Vanderlin Island, the largest of the Sir Edward Pellew group of islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Wallis and Futuna Islands base map - 2012. PNG versions of the base map can be downloaded with or without elevation shading.
Wallis and Futuna Islands with insets of both island groups - 2012.
Wallis Islands, Uvea and surrounding islands - 2012.
West Pakistan districts
West Pakistan showing regional divisions of Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Bahamas (1) −
Colombia (1) −
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World Mental Health Day: Why we should look to our past to design for better mental health
Designers and architects need to learn from history to plan spaces for the future, says Ben Channon for ICON.
As we transition from sedentary desk-dwellers to digital nomads, technology can often feel like the root cause of the anxiety and mental health issues many suffer from today. Social media encourages people to measure their own lives against literally rose-tinted photos, and notifications provide us with constant short-term dopamine hits – while our phones enable us to take work stress home in our pockets.
Yet, rather than seeing tech as an obstacle to happiness, it can be an enabler – but only if we take some lessons from our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
Our prehistoric parents were constantly immersed in nature, living in homes made out of natural materials, with access to water and air unpolluted by modern chemicals.
By Ben Channon
For Assael Architecture
Categories Thoughts
We now spend nearly 90 percent of our time indoors, according to the IWBI, and our disconnect from nature couldn’t be more apparent. The RSPB claims that four out of five children have now lost their connection to nature, in direct contrast to our ancient ancestors, whose connection to nature would have undoubtedly supported good mental health.
Studies from the Journal of Physiological Anthropology support this idea, showing that both blood pressure and the stress-inducing-hormone cortisol are significantly reduced when people spend time in natural surroundings. Additional research shows that a greater amount of time spent in nature correlated with higher rates of concentration and productivity; two factors that many developers and employers are seeking to bolster through better design.
As designers, we must therefore seek to bring the natural world in, creating access to flora to reduce polluting chemicals, like formaldehyde, and using tactile materials such as wool, timber and exposed brickwork to connect us back to earth.
The circadian rhythm
In his bestseller Sapiens, historian Yuval Noah Harari argued that the agricultural revolution has made life more complicated and less varied for humanity. Before the development of political structures, religion, economic systems and rapid population growth, humans were more connected to nature and its rhythms, which dictated our diets, sleep cycles and work hours.
But as Harari claims in his sequel, Homo Deus, now is the age of humanity’s pursuit of happiness. And despite our complex modern systems and immersion in technology, mental wellbeing is coming to the forefront of public debate after years of stigma.
While this heightened awareness of mental health in modern society certainly constitutes progress, it is matched in the ubiquity of the problem. Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) reports that 1 in 4 people suffer from mental health problems every year, which claim responsibility for 72 million lost working days and costing UK businesses an estimated £34.9 billion a year.
So, what other lessons can we learn from our prehistoric ancestors? Well, alongside their connection to nature, early humans lived by the sun, which – as we all know – plays a vital role in supporting a healthy sleep cycle. Modern LED lights are remarkably cost and energy efficient but if the colour temperature is incorrectly specified, they can actually inhibit the production of melatonin, the chemical which signals to our bodies when it’s time to sleep.
The constant exposure to ‘melanopically ineffective’ light (light that doesn’t adequately represent the time of day in its temperature) that many of us experience can scramble our circadian rhythms, tarnishing our quality of sleep and subsequently impacting our mental health.
As a result, we are realising that daylight in buildings is even more important than we already believed, and something that designers must prioritise – be it through increased glazing, better layouts or joined-up masterplanning that considers overshadowing from the outset. Plus, we need to allocate spaces where people can unplug, escaping white and blue light to help regulate our sleep patterns more effectively.
Not only were ancient populations far better at maintaining such natural cycles, as nomadic hunters and gatherers they were also exercising every day, as a community. While regular exercise is seemingly becoming a top priority for society again with the growth of workplace wellness strategies, running and cycling to work schemes and the proliferation of affordable gyms, many workplaces – including even those managed by the NHS – do not provide facilities such as showers, lockers or adequate bike storage to support active commuting.
Building a community
What’s more, the community focus shared by our ancestors can be still lacking from our daily lives. Loneliness is an incredibly widespread issue in the UK today, with an estimated 9 million people ‘always or often’ lonely.
Luckily, design can be an incredibly powerful tool to encourage, and foster, the community support networks that are vital to maintaining and sustaining our mental wellbeing. This should be much more than the creation of breakout spaces and residents’ lounges, with wayfinding becoming a compelling tool to drive interaction as people navigate spaces, and the use of pop-up or temporary spaces to bring people together more frequently.
Fundamentally, to support good mental health we must learn from the world we evolved in. Many of the trials and tribulations of the modern world are unavoidable, but by bringing nature, light, activity and community into our buildings – and embedding them within our lives – we can capture the lessons of the prehistoric period to make us happier and healthier in the here and now.
Published in ICON on 9 October 2019.
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Kids Films
Articles Posted in the " James Franco " Category
Matt Reeves signs on for Planet of the Apes 3
By John Underwood on January 08, 2014 0 comment
Reeves of the Planet of the Apes.
By Best For Film on December 05, 2013 1 comment
By John Underwood on August 21, 2013 0 comment
Since the apparent collapse of Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story, the task of introducing a new audience to the world’s most famously capacious throat and the woman who came with it has fallen entirely to Rob Epstein’s Lovelace. Unfortunately, a gorgeous performance from Amanda Seyfried can’t eclipse ninety minutes of hopeless bias and wilful whitewashing.…
By Steven Neish on June 25, 2013 1 comment
Returning to LA to visit friend and Knocked Up co-star Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel is looking forward to a quiet night in. Upon his arrival, however, he learns that they have been invited to a party at James Franco’s new house, and, reluctantly, accompanies Rogen across town. Before he can convince his friend to take…
The Little Prince gets a whole cast in one go
By Best For Film on June 06, 2013 0 comment
The Little Prince has a big address book.
Cheat Sheet: Harmony Korine
By Kayleigh Dray on April 09, 2013 0 comment
Harmony Korine is the sort of man you’d want to avoid if you bumped into him in a dark alleyway, judging by the skewered imaginings he brings to life on the silver screen. From films about sex-crazed criminal teens, like Spring Breakers and Kids, to his unfinished documentary Fight Harm (yup, the one which features Harmony being brutally beaten over and over again), there’s definitely a lot worth knowing about this controversial writer-director. And we’re here to provide all of that knowing on a silver platter…
By JLSB Sirisena on April 08, 2013 0 comment
Disney angels turning seedy Hollywood. That’s been the primary hype surrounding Harmony Korine’s latest R-rated project. And it’s a shame really, because this is much more than just teen queens in bikinis behaving as you’ve never seen them before; this is a dissection of a generation and an expose on the psychedelic trip that is Spring Break.
Seth Rogen in assassination comedy
By JLSB Sirisena on March 22, 2013 0 comment
Franco eyed to star in politically touchy script
By Nina Scott on March 08, 2013 1 comment
Ariel Vromen’s The Iceman sets out to chill and certainly succeeds. It is nothing but cold throughout, and I’m not just referring to Michael Shannon’s relentless, deadpan stare and unfeeling eyes. Genre fans will find a lot to love here.
Oz: the Great and Powerful
By Alex Mullane on March 04, 2013 0 comment
Oz: the Great and Powerful, the prequel to 1939’s The Wizard of Oz that everyone has been clamouring for these past 70-odd years (ahem), is most surprising in that it’s nowhere near the mess it promised to be. Luridly colourful and garish, but filled with likable performances and some excellent 3D. But while it may not be a total mess, but that’s not to say that it isn’t still wildly inconsistent at times.
AM on Why Frozen is a bad movie
An on 10 reasons Disney are unspeakably evil
Me on 10 reasons Disney are unspeakably evil
Ainsley on 10 reasons Disney are unspeakably evil
Tim Noble on Top 10 Clone Films
Snipe London
Coffee chain musical chairs: Black Sheep coffee is taking over and renaming all Taylor Street Baristas; Department of Coffee and Social affairs has bought Taylor Street name from administrators
The best things to do in London this week, from Art in Whitechapel to Zines in Hackney
Met arrests London Assembly member Caroline Russell during anti-shutting-down-of-Parliament protest
Grace Dent's review of the new artisan food court below Centrepoint: Food: 5/10 Service: 0/10 Ambience: 0/10
Saturday at noon, Downing Street, is the next protest against shutting down Parliament
Designed By Beke
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FGC Chapter 1 (commencing with § 3000) Pt. I Div. 3
2-CAFGC_3049-3055.txt - CC - 3/8/2006 0:00:00 - Statute - CA
FGC Sec 3049-3055.1 General Provisions Hunter Safety (BIRDS AND MAMMALS)
FISH AND GAME CODE
SECTION 3049-3055.1
3049. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article
to ensure the health and safety of its citizens engaged in activities
requiring the use of hunting implements.
The Legislature finds and declares that individuals who engage in
hunting should possess an adequate understanding of hunter safety
practices, principles of conservation, and sportsmanship.
It is also the intent of the Legislature that persons so engaged
be mindful of their responsibilities to others, toward wildlife, and
toward their natural environment. The department shall take all
steps necessary to carry out the provisions of this article.
3050. (a) No hunting license may be issued to any person unless he
or she presents to the person authorized to issue that license any of
the following:
(1) Evidence that he or she has held a hunting license issued by
this state in a prior year.
(2) Evidence that he or she holds a current hunting license, or a
hunting license issued in either of the two previous hunting years by
another state or province.
(3) A certificate of completion of a course in hunter safety,
principles of conservation, and sportsmanship, as provided in this
article, with a hunter safety instruction validation stamp affixed
(4) A certificate of successful completion of a hunter safety
course in another state or province.
(5) Evidence of completion of a course in hunter safety,
principles of conservation, and sportsmanship, which the commission
may, by regulation, require.
(b) The evidence required in subdivision (a) shall be forwarded to
the department with the license agent's report of hunting license
sales as required pursuant to Section 1055.5.
(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any person purchasing a
hunting license under paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section
3031. However, that license may not qualify as evidence required in
subdivision (a) of this section.
3051. The department shall provide for a course of instruction in
hunter safety, principles of conservation, and sportsmanship, and for
this purpose may cooperate with any reputable association or
organization having as one of its objectives the promotion of hunter
safety, principles of conservation, and sportsmanship.
The department may designate as a hunter safety instructor any
person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the courses
required in this article. A person so appointed shall give that
course of instruction, and, upon completion thereof, shall issue to
the person instructed a certificate of completion as provided by the
department in hunter safety, principles of conservation, and
sportsmanship.
The department shall prescribe a minimum level of skill and
knowledge to be required of all hunter safety instructors, and may
limit the number of students per instructor in all required classes.
The department may revoke the certificate of any instructor when,
in the opinion of the department, it is in the best interest of the
state to do so.
3052. No fee shall be charged for the instructor's service,
however, a fee to cover the cost of giving such instructions may be
charged each person participating and receiving such instructions. A
record of such expenses shall be kept for inspection by the
department. Such expenses may include, but not be limited to, such
items as range fees, ammunition and transportation of students.
3053. In the case of loss or destruction of a certificate, a
duplicate certificate may be issued by the instructor who issued the
original certificate, or, by an instructor of the sponsoring
organization having adequate records to establish successful
completion of the prescribed course, or by the department if verified
by adequate records to establish successful completion of the
prescribed course. An administrative fee of three dollars ($3) shall
be charged for the issuance of a duplicate certificate, for the
hunting license year commencing on July 1, 1990, and, for the
following years as adjusted pursuant to Section 713.
3054. The department shall furnish information on hunter safety,
principles of conservation and sportsmanship which shall be
distributed free of charge to persons designated as hunter safety
instructors for instructional purposes.
3055. (a) Any person who applies for a hunting license and
qualifies for the license through the issuance of a certificate of
completion of a course in hunter safety, principles of conservation,
and sportsmanship as provided by this article, shall obtain a hunter
safety instruction validation stamp. The hunter safety instruction
validation stamp shall be issued by license agents for a base fee of
two dollars ($2), as adjusted under Section 713, in the same manner
as resident hunting licenses. The validation stamp shall be affixed
to the certificate of completion. A certificate of competence issued
by this state prior to January 1, 1990, shall be accepted as
equivalent to a certificate of completion issued by this state after
(b) This section does not apply to licenses, permits,
reservations, tags, or other entitlements issued through the
Automated License Data System.
3055.1. (a) Any person who applies for a hunting license and
safety instruction validation. The hunter safety instruction
validation shall be issued by license agents for a base fee of two
dollars ($2), as adjusted under Section 713, in the same manner as
resident hunting licenses. The validation shall be affixed to the
certificate of completion. A certificate of competence issued by
this state prior to January 1, 1990, shall be accepted as equivalent
to a certificate of completion issued by this state after January 1,
(b) This section applies only to licenses, permits, reservations,
tags, and other entitlements issued through the Automated License
Data System.
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Fletcher, Ruth. (x) ›
Rowley, William R., Mrs. (x) ›
Pelton, William W. (x) ›
Whitmore, Orange S., 1836-1908. (x) ›
Dutton, Salmon. (x) ›
Wolcott, Katherine. (x) ›
Swords. (x) ›
A Tourist's Album of Japan
Katherine Wolcott and her uncle, Robert Hull Fleming, compiled this photo album on their visit to Japan in 1909. Part of a larger Asian trip, the two stopped in Japan and collected photos, postcards, bookmarks, and other materials. Fleming was a graduate of the University of Vermont, and in 1929...
Show moreKatherine Wolcott and her uncle, Robert Hull Fleming, compiled this photo album on their visit to Japan in 1909. Part of a larger Asian trip, the two stopped in Japan and collected photos, postcards, bookmarks, and other materials. Fleming was a graduate of the University of Vermont, and in 1929 Katherine Wolcott helped to fund the construction of the Robert Hull Fleming Museum in memory of her late uncle. This album, a memento from their trip, was part of Wolcott’s own collection.
There are nearly 40 leaves of collected photographs and postcards, numbering two to three per album page. The pictures range in content, some depicting staged photos of daily life while others portray landscapes and countryside. The album itself measures approximately 11 x 14 x 4 inches and is currently housed at the Robert Hull Fleming Museum at the University of Vermont.
Wolcott’s album captures a unique view of Japan at the brink of burgeoning Western influence. After defeating the Russians in the Russo Japanese War (1904-05), Japan began to cement itself as a global power, and its efforts to modernize began to attract Westerners. The images in this album depict a Japan with a strong national heritage and cultural appreciation as well as a newfound embrace of modernization and technology.
Most of the pictures in the album sold commercially as a form of postcard. In the early 1900s, the Japanese populace began consuming millions of these types of commercially produced picture postcards. Eventually, the medium became so popular that it started to replace the more traditional wood block print. The citizenry sought pictures of their budding nation, wanting to hold a still image of the rapidly modernizing and changing countryside.
A bridge spanning a small river in the Japanese countryside
A charm to protect against fire
The charm was created to protect the bearer from fire. On the marker, it says Jadaiji temple, which may be the Jindaiji temple in Tokyo.
A group of female performers
The woman on the right is holding a Shamisen, while the other women strike poses.
A group of monks under a large Buddhist statue
A group of travelers on the Japanese coast
A group of five people and a horse appear to be traveling along the coast. A small town lies in the background.
A hotel in the Japanese countryside
In the upper left hand section of the picture, there is a black X inscribed on the picture. This was probably done by the original collector to identify which room (s)he stayed in.
A husband and wife dining
A lantern maker and his family plying their trade
A large house in the countryside
A man and five women dining
The gathered group of people appear to be eating either Udon or Soba noodles. The gender ratio is somewhat perplexing, but can most likely be attributed to the artificial nature of the picture.
A man carrying his goods to a shop
The man has a large variety of goods strapped to his cart. There are hand woven baskets as well as wooden containers and ladles.
A man paying homage to two Buddhist statues
A pond full of fish
A portrait of a young woman
A public park
What appears to be the entrance to a public park. If you look closely, you can detect the mixing of cultures. Some men wear the traditional robe, but also don a western hat.
A river flowing in a valley in the countryside
In the background you can barely see a road curving through the valley, supposedly behind at Miyanoshita.
A river in the countryside
A riverboat with passengers
A riverboat with passengers and workers
Japan. (114) + -
Lifestyles -- Japan. (60) + -
Lifestyles. (53) + -
Clothing and dress -- Japan. (51) + -
Clothing and dress. (45) + -
Women. (36) + -
Peasants -- Japan. (24) + -
Peasants. (22) + -
Poor. (21) + -
Poor -- Japan. (20) + -
Architecture -- Japan. (17) + -
Architecture. (14) + -
Dwellings -- Japan. (13) + -
Rivers -- Japan. (12) + -
Dwellings. (10) + -
Rivers. (9) + -
Buddhist shrines. (8) + -
Flowers -- Japan. (8) + -
Flowers. (8) + -
Musical instruments -- Japan. (8) + -
Musical instruments. (8) + -
Religion. (7) + -
Samurai. (7) + -
Buddhist shrines -- Japan. (6) + -
Music -- Japan. (6) + -
Women musicians -- Japan. (6) + -
Women musicians. (6) + -
Fuji, Mount (Japan). (5) + -
Cities and towns. (4) + -
Gardens -- Japan. (4) + -
Landscape photography. (4) + -
Patriotism. (4) + -
Boats and boating. (3) + -
Buddhist monks. (3) + -
Castles -- Japan. (3) + -
Castles. (3) + -
Festivals. (3) + -
Gardens. (3) + -
Music. (3) + -
Parks -- Japan. (3) + -
Patriotism -- Japan. (3) + -
Pedicab drivers. (3) + -
Rickshaw men. (3) + -
Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905. (3) + -
Swords -- Japan. (3) + -
Festivals -- Japan. (2) + -
Games -- Japan. (2) + -
Games. (2) + -
Parades. (2) + -
Archery -- Japan. (1) + -
Archery. (1) + -
Capital punishment. (1) + -
Charms. (1) + -
Criminals. (1) + -
Flags -- Japan. (1) + -
Flags. (1) + -
Parks. (1) + -
Portrait photography. (1) + -
River boats. (1) + -
Shinto priests. (1) + -
Shinto vestments. (1) + -
Souvenirs (Keepsakes). (1) + -
Transportation. (1) + -
Japan (113) + -
Fuji, Mount (Japan) (3) + -
photomechanical prints (127) + -
Photograph albums (1) + -
A Tourist's Album of Japan (128) + -
Album of Japanese Photographs (127) + -
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Bin18Miami
Find Out If Your Doctor Is on the Take with Just Two Clicks | NutritionFacts.org
A long-time editor of a prestigious medical journal started his editorial on physicians’ conflicts of interest by describing a fantasy: “Doctors treat patients using simply the best evidence and their experience. They are not influenced by money or self-interest.”
“This is, of course, nonsense,” he wrote. There is a reason “pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars on the influencing, education, and entertainment of doctors around the world.”
As discussed in my video Find Out If Your Doctor Takes Drug Company Money, the vast majority of physicians in the United States take gifts from the pharmaceutical industry, and, ironically, cardiologists, whose practice centers around diseases that can largely be prevented and treated with lifestyle changes, receive the most payments of all. A previous compilation of surveys from the 1980s and 1990s found that, on average, doctors met face-to-face with drug industry representatives about once a week. Today, your family doctor may meet with drug company employees on average 16 times a month. There are only 20 workdays a month, so that’s nearly every day.
What does the public think about this? Only about half even appear to know what’s going on. Therefore, “if 83% of doctors receive gifts, it is likely that a significant percentage of patients are not aware that their personal physician receives industry gifts.” We’re not just talking about a token Viagra paperweight or soap dispenser. For marketing, pharmaceutical companies spend $15,000 per physician every year, making conflicts of interest one of the most pressing problems in American health care.
How do doctors feel about it? Most generally approve of the gifts. However, tellingly, physicians don’t want gift relationships made public. “Physicians’ disagreement that it is inappropriate to accept gifts, but their reluctance to disclose the gift relationship to the public, suggests that they must recognize that the public would not appreciate the practice.” To analyze how doctors resolve this contradiction, researchers conducted a series of physician focus groups. It turns out physicians use a variety of denials and rationalizations, including avoiding thinking about it, and denying responsibility. Physicians readily acknowledged the inherent conflict of interest, but this didn’t stop them. In fact, some complained that the gifts were getting more modest.
“We [doctors] tend to deny that we have any conflict of interest if a pharmaceutical company buys us a nice dinner. We tend to insist that it won’t affect our judgement in any way”—as if drug companies just like wasting money for the heck of it. Most physicians contend that their colleagues are susceptible to industry influence…but not them.
Though physicians don’t want these gift relationships to be public, that’s just too bad. Thanks to Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, the Sunshine Act was inserted into Obamacare. “For the first time, patients will now be able to see what, if any, financial ties their own doctor has with a drug or device maker.”
Doctors can’t hide anymore.
The Sunshine Act was designed to give patients some insights when choosing a provider, and law enforcement agencies can also use it to see who’s getting money from industry to investigate illegal kickback schemes. Right now, it might just be embarrassing, but this could allow attorneys general to go after doctors to see the kinds of incentives they may be getting for writing a lot of prescriptions. The database is live right now at openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/search/physicians or, for a more user-friendly version, Propublica’s Dollars for Docs page. The drug industry spends billions trying to influence doctors, and, for the first time, you can see if your physician, or any physician, has their hand out.
Senator Grassley hoped this would help save our nation money. It could reduce healthcare costs if patients viewed such doctors as less trustworthy and chose doctors less in bed with industry. It could also change physician behavior: Physicians may want to avoid financial relationships with companies to guard against patient distrust or becoming the target of an exposé or investigation.
Or they could just try to cover it up.
The American Academy of Family Physicians advised physicians how to “avoid getting burned” by the Sunshine Act. For example, drug companies now have to report when they give doctors free meals valued over $10. So, should family physicians just stop accepting free food from drug companies? No way! You just have to give the drug sales reps the right head count to ensure that the meal cost dips below $10 per person.
The former long-time editor of the New England Journal of Medicine said it best: “Although the spotlight has been on the failure to disclose (or adequately disclose) financial relationships with industry, the problem with [conflicts of interest] is not the lack of disclosure but the existence of the conflict itself.” Rather than just disclosing them, the best approach to financial conflicts is to have none.
No wonder physicians undervalue lifestyle interventions! See The Actual Benefit of Diet vs. Drugs and Why Prevention Is Worth a Ton of Cure. Inundated by Big Pharma without so much as a free mug from Big Broccoli, Physicians May Be Missing Their Most Important Tool. And, even worse, sometimes the drugs can do more harm than good. See my video on How Doctors Responded to Being Named a Leading Killer.
Financial arrangements can affect prescribing behavior for more than just drugs. See my video Should We All Get Colonoscopies Starting at Age 50?.
PS: I have never knowingly accepted gifts from the pharmaceutical industry, but “knowingly” is an important caveat. If you search for my name in the Dollars for Docs database you’ll see I apparently accepted money from a vision care company five years ago. I was giving a continuing medical education lecture at an optometric physicians conference and unbeknownst to me they had the corporation pay for my travel and lodging.
In health,
Michael Greger, M.D.
This content was originally published here.
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The original story can be found at http://bpnews.net/54128/cp-giving-ends-first-quarter-258-ahead-of-previous-years-giving
CP giving ends first quarter 2.58% ahead of previous year's giving
by BP Staff, posted Monday, January 06, 2020 (13 days ago)
Tags: Cooperative Program
NASHVILLE (BP) -- Giving through the Cooperative Program remains ahead of last year's pace by 2.58 percent as contributions to Southern Baptist Convention national and international missions and ministries totaled nearly $15 million in December 2019.
As of December 31, gifts received by the EC for distribution through the CP Allocation Budget total $47,511,312.90. This exceeds last year's first quarter budget contribution of $46,315,254.71 by $1,196,058.19 or 2.58 percent. The amount given is slightly less than the $49,125,000.00 year to date budgeted projection to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America by $1,613,687.10 or 3.28 percent.
The final amount received in December totaled $14,940,016.37, which was $160,675.10 more than the $14,779,341.27 received in December 2018 but $1,434,983.63 less than the monthly budgeted amount of $16,375,000.00.
"Our world is in great need of Jesus Christ. The continued increase in giving through our Cooperative Program over last year in the first quarter of our fiscal year is a very good indicator that people know that Jesus is the ultimate answer for the world," said SBC Executive Committee president and CEO Ronnie Floyd in a statement to Baptist Press.
"I want to remind all Southern Baptists that the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention is the financial fuel to take the Gospel to every person regionally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. Our giving helps move us forward to realize, in a greater way, our vision of reaching every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state and every nation. I want to thank all pastors and church leaders who are leading their churches to give through the Cooperative Program."
Designated gifts received in December amounted to $3,413,353.24. This total was $339,770.40 or 9.05 percent below gifts of $3,753,123.64 received last December. However, this year's designated gifts through the first quarter amount to $11,270,804.48, which is $1,038,696.03 or 10.15 percent more than the $10,232,108.45 given through the first quarter in the previous fiscal year. Designated contributions include the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, Southern Baptist Global Hunger Relief, Disaster Relief and other special gifts. This total includes only those gifts received and distributed by the Executive Committee and does not reflect designated gifts contributed directly to SBC entities.
The CP is Southern Baptists' channel of giving, begun in 1925, through which a local church can contribute to the ministries of its state convention and the missions and ministries of the SBC through a unified giving plan to support both sets of ministries. Monies include receipts from individuals, churches and state conventions for distribution according to the 2019-2020 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.
State and regional conventions retain a portion of church contributions to Southern Baptists' Cooperative Program to support work in their respective areas and forward a percentage to SBC national and international causes. The percentage of distribution is at the discretion of each state or regional convention.
The convention-adopted budget for 2019-2020 is $196.5 million and is disbursed as follows: 50.41 percent to international missions through the International Mission Board, 22.79 percent to North American missions through the North American Mission Board, 22.16 percent to theological education through the six SBC seminaries and the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, 2.99 percent to the SBC operating budget and 1.65 percent to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. If national CP gifts exceed the $196.5 million budget projection at the end of the fiscal year, the Executive Committee's portion of any overage falls to 0.0 percent while IMB's portion increases to 53.4 percent of the overage. The other entities' percentage distributions of the overage remain the same. The SBC Executive Committee distributes all CP and designated gifts it receives on a weekly basis to the SBC ministry entities.
Month-to-month swings reflect a number of factors, including the timing of when the cooperating state Baptist conventions forward the national portion of Cooperative Program contributions to the Executive Committee, the day of the month churches forward their CP contributions to their state conventions, the number of Sundays in a given month, and the percentage of CP contributions forwarded to the SBC by the state conventions after shared ministry expenses are deducted.
CP allocation budget gifts received by the Executive Committee are reported monthly to the executives of the entities of the convention, to the state convention offices, to the state Baptist papers and are posted online at www.cpmissions.net/CPReports.
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FBC, Bradfordville, Fla., fast-ramps its CP giving
CP giving off to best start in decade, up 3.28% over last year
Arkansas Church 'part of the bigger picture' through CP
'Fruitful' ministry is focus of Alabama convention meeting
Floyd: Florida Baptists generous in giving, Gospel sending
CP giving marks strongest start in 3 years
Formed in 1946 by the Southern Baptist Convention, and supported with Cooperative Program funds, Baptist Press (BP) is a daily (Monday-Friday) international news service. Operating from a central bureau in Nashville, Tenn., BP works with a large network of contributing writers, photographers and editorial providers to produce BP News.
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Home» Posts tagged "antonio silva"
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Pat Healy – Mark Hunt vs Antonio “Big Foot” Silva – Two Upcoming UFC Fights to Look Forward To
Posted on September 17, 2013 by fighter in Poughkeepsie martial arts
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has been recognized as the number one Mixed Martial Arts organization in the world for two decades now for good reason. While many other MMA orgs may house considerable talent on their roster in select weight classes while lacking in others, the talent in the UFC is distributed equally throughout eight weight classes from Flyweight to Heavyweight. Nearly every UFC card these days, from their televised Fight Nights to their Pay Per View events, has numerous interesting style match ups in both the lighter and heavier divisions. One great thing about the wealth of talent in the UFC is that each of its fighters has his own unique skill set which makes for intriguing clashes in the cage and as such each fan finds themselves excited about different upcoming bouts and for different reasons. Two of the more popular UFC divisions in recent years have been the lightweight-155lbs class and the HW 265lbs class, and there are two upcoming fights in these divisions which I am looking forward to eagerly. These fights which I am greatly anticipating are Pat “Bam Bam” Healy vs Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 165 in Toronto, Ontario Canada and Antonio “Big Foot” Silva vs Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night in Brisbane, Australia on December 7th. In this article I will discuss why I find these fights to be particularly intriguing to me stylistically and the strategies that I think each fighter will have to employ to be successful while giving my own personal predictions for the outcomes of these contests.
Of the two aforementioned fights, the Pat Healy vs Khabib Nurmagomedov LW fight at UFC 165 on September 21st is probably the one I am anticipating most eagerly. Both of these fighters are known for being well-rounded grapplers and fighters with a great deal of experience under their belts. Pat Healy (29-16-0-1NC) is an Oregon native and former Division 2 wrestler with strong Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills who is coming off a recent no contest against Jim Miller due to being caught using an illicit substance. Despite the fight result being over turned, Healy surprised many by catching the very tough and highly ranked Miller in a rear naked choke in the 3rd round. Prior to this, Healy had been very successful in the now defunct Strikeforce organization with decision wins over Kurt Holobaugh, Mizuto Hirota, Eric Wisely and Lyle Beerbohm, the latter of which was a fight of the year candidate in 2011 where Healy dealt Beerbohm his first loss ever. Healy has also had recent submission wins over Caros Fodor by way of arm triangle choke and Maximo Blanco by way of rear naked choke. Healy is most known for being what is often referred to in Poughkeepsie MMA parlance as a “grinder”. With most of his wins coming by way of submission, Healy generally overwhelms his opponents by clinching with them early and feeding them a study diet of low knees and body shots combined with a good deal of wall clinching and dirty boxing. When he has worn his opponent down his modus operandi seems to be to gain a takedown, usually by way of doubles, singles, inside or outside trips, and upon hitting the ground works feverishly from all positions with relentless ground and pound and submission attempts. His highest percentage submissions are generally rear naked chokes, side chokes and guillotines which he sinks in after thoroughly exhausting his opponents with his fast paced scrambling. Perhaps Healy’s best attributes are his incredible cardio and his solid chin. He rarely seems to get tired and this often causes his opponents to wilt even if they at first seem to have the upper hand in the fight because he is very good at suddenly turning the tide.
On the other hand, Khabib Nurmagomedov (20-0) is an undefeated fighter with a twenty fight win streak who hails from Russia and has an extensive background as a Combat Sambo Champion as well as holding a black belt in Judo who also learned to wrestle under the tutelage of his father growing up. Since his debut in the UFC both his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and his striking have evolved and along with his top-notch grappling he is also known for having a hard overhand right and very good cardio. Since arriving in the UFC he has had finishes over Kamal Shalorus by rear naked choke and Thiago Tavares by TKO, as well as having decision wins over Gleison Tibau and most recently Abel Trujillo where he set the record for most takedowns in a single UFC fight, completing 21 out of 27 attempts. His record is fairly well rounded, with both 7 wins by way of submission as well as 7 knockouts and 6 decision wins.
So now that I’ve discussed both fighter’s backgrounds the question becomes: what are the strategies that could best be employed by these fighters to achieve victory in this contest? By all accounts this fight seems like it is going to be a barnburner and one which could likely go the distance. Both fighters have excellent cardio and wrestling as well as top notch submission skills, but Healy is a bit more of a “grinder” who has gone the distance a number of times whereas Nurmagomedov has finished half of his fights in the first round and has only gone the distance twice. When it comes to striking I don’t see either fighter as having a significant advantage so I’m not sure that it would benefit either to try to keep the fight standing for a long period of time. As far as Healy is concerned, I think he should do what he does best and try to take this fight into deep waters and expect or even hope for it to go into the third round. While Nurmagomedov has proven he can go the distance, he has still only seen the 3rd round three times while Healy really seems to thrive in long fights so I would think his best chance is to make the Russian work for every takedown, for every strike and for every position. He should push him into the fence and hang on him relentlessly, giving him no room to breathe whatsoever. However, Khabib is likely to look for the takedown and while Healy’s wrestling is strong, in my opinion Nurmagomedov’s is superior, especially seeing as he set the UFC’s takedown record in his last fight. For this reason, while Healy should make him work for those takedowns, he should not in my opinion waste his energy trying to take the Russian down early in the fight. Instead, I think it would serve him best to be cognizant of when he can fight off a takedown attempt no longer and then at the very last second, after having already made his opponent exert some effort in the attempt, he should occasionally give way to the Russian’s takedowns and use them as opportunities to create scrambles on the mat. Healy is particularly good at coming out on top in mat scrambling scenarios and I see him as being more likely to gain a top position on the Russian by sweeping or reversing him on the ground then taking him down outright. With the Russian’s takedown ability and his clear aggressiveness he might be taken off guard if Healy fights off some of the attempts fully while using others to gain the momentum to scramble, using moves like switches and granby rolls. In this way I think Healy could eventually end up on top of the Russian in the 2nd or 3rd round once he begins to tire and from there utilize ground and pound to either set up a submission or earn a TKO victory.
For Nurmagomedov, since I believe he has slightly superior wrestling to Healy, I think he should use the aggressive style that has worked for him in his past few fights and immediately take the fight to Healy. However, since Healy will probably expect the Russian to immediately shoot for the takedown I think he should instead start the fight with some striking, particularly leg kicks and straight punches which will keep him at bay and not allow him to establish the upper body clinches and dirty boxing against the cage which he often enjoys. Then once he has lulled Healy into a striking battle he should shoot hard for doubles, power doubles or singles from outside the clinch so Healy never has the opportunity to push him against the cage. If he does find any of his attempts stuffed he should immediately disengage and resume at striking range and should do the same if Healy engages him in a standing clinch, rather than trying to clinch with him as that is Healy’s territory. Since he has a good overhand right, the Russian may be able to catch Healy from the outside and then use the opportunity to shoot for a takedown or simply get him to respect his strikes then fake an overhand right and shoot instead. Once Nurmagomedov gets Healy down however, he should work position over submission and not rush anything as Healy likes scrambles and he should do his best to avoid frantic mat wrestling scenarios. Instead, Khabib should work slowly and patiently to pass Healy’s guard while keeping heavy shoulder pressure on Healy’s jaw as much as possible to make him uncomfortable and to give him as little space as possible to initiate a scramble or get back to his feet. Healy is also good at wall walking so the Russian should try to prevent him from sliding his back to the cage where he can regain his footing. Once he achieves a dominant position like sidemount, mount or backmount, the Russian should first strike from on top with short punches and elbows and only go for a submission if it really appears as if he can finish the fight because Healy is good at using failed submission attempts to tire the opponent out and then find a chance to escape. Overall, this is a fight where it is hard to pick a winner but if I had to make a prediction it would be that Khabib Nurmagomedov wins this either via unanimous decision based on takedowns and damage from top control or scores a submission at some point in the late 2nd or 3rd round. If Nurmagomedov can win this fight he can take Pat Healy’s place at number 10 in the UFC’S LW rankings and this is undoubtedly something he has in mind on his road to the top of the LW division.
Another fight I am eagerly anticipating is the HW tilt between the number 4 ranked Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Mark Hunt at the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Brisbane, Australia on December 7th. Both Bigfoot and Hunt received KO losses at UFC 160 back in May, to current HW champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos respectively. Hailing from New Zealand, Mark Hunt (9-8) is most known for being an extremely heavy handed K-1 Kickboxing veteran with an iron chin and a reputation for being extremely difficult to knock out. Despite the fact that Junior Dos Santos recently proved that it is possible to knock Hunt out, few other than the very best strikers in the HW division would choose a standup battle with Hunt as their first course of action. Although prior to his arrival in the UFC Hunt had a fairly unimpressive record including several first round submission losses, over the past two years Hunt has amassed a 4-2 record in the UFC with impressive wins over Chris Tuscherer, Ben Rothwell, Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve. His most impressive win under the UFC banner was his 3rd round TKO over 7 foot-tall Stefan Struve back in March. Struve is not only well known for being a very accomplished kickboxer but also for having very good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with 16 submission victories to his credit. While many thought Hunt might have the standup advantage in this fight most agreed that if Struve could get the fight to the ground he would easily submit Hunt. However, much to the surprise of many MMA fans, Hunt was not only able to survive on the ground against Struve, fending off some strong submission attempts and escaping inferior positions like mount and backmount, he was even able at one point to pass Struve’s very tricky guard and establish side control which is no easy feat. Hunt then got the fight back to a standing position where he landed a devastating over hand right to break Struve’s jaw, resulting in a TKO victory. This fight, as well as others have proven that Mark Hunt has greatly improved both his ground game and his takedown defense which were previously his weaknesses. He will need these new found skills if he is to defeat a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt like Antonio Silva.
The number 4 ranked HW Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva has had some impressive wins as well as some difficult losses since arriving in the UFC. With 2 wins and 2 losses since his arrival to the big show in May of 2012, “Bigfoot” has established himself as a “kill or be killed” fighter. His two losses in the UFC are nothing to be ashamed of as they have come at the hands of current HW champion Cain Velasquez. On the other hand, Silva has recently had impressive knock out victories over both 6’7 Travis Browne and devastating K-1 Grand Prix champion Alistair Overeem. Since he possesses serious knockout power and very long reach, Silva is often at an advantage when he can get his opponents to engage in a close-quarters brawl. However, because what he has in power he lacks in speed and mobility, this strategy can work against him against faster strikers like Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier. In these cases, the intimidating Silva usually looks to take his opponents to the ground and use his size and Black Belt Jiu-Jitsu skills to earn a victory either via submission or TKO from heavy ground and pound.
So having now looked at these two fighters’ skill sets, lets look at these fighters’ keys to success against eachother in the UFC’s octagon. For Mark Hunt, he clearly wants to keep the fight standing in order to utilize his striking advantage. While Silva does possess very heavy hands, he is not nearly as proficient a striker as Hunt who is a former K-1 veteran. He also does not possess Hunt’s iron jaw, and as such a stand up fight would not be advisable for him. Silva likely knows this and so will probably try to take Hunt down early and for this reason Hunt should be working on his takedown defense and should try to make this fight a “sprawl and brawl” affair where he shuts down Silva’s takedown attempts and forces him to engage standing. If taken down, Hunt will need to use the newly acquired submission defense he utilized against Struve and work to escape any inferior positions he is put in and regain a standing position. Even if he is taken down, if he can avoid being submitted or taking too much damage from ground and pound Hunt can likely score a knockout at some point in this fight.
On the other hand, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva should try to get this fight to the ground as quickly as possible and avoid any lengthy standing exchanges with Hunt who is clearly the superior striker. Even though Hunt has significantly improved his ground game, Bigfoot is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who should have just as clear an advantage on the mat as Hunt will have standing. If Silva can get the fight to the ground he would be wise to pass guard as quickly as possible and preferably achieve a strong mount where he can reign down punches on Hunt. Despite Hunt’s iron jaw, if the bigger Silva can trap Hunt in a dominant position on the ground it is possible he could finish him with strikes. However, if this fails then Silva can attempt any number of submissions which may be effective, such rear naked chokes, sidechokes and kimuras. His best shot at beating Hunt is to submit him as others have done in the past. That said, my prediction is that Mark Hunt wins this fight via KO late in the 1st round. While Hunt’s takedown defense is not world class, nor is Silva’s takedown offense and I believe that Hunt can stuff Silva’s attempts to drag him to the mat and land his signature left hook to the jaw for a devastating knock out. If taken down I also think that Hunt has what it takes to defend himself and get back to his feet and use his heavy hands to achieve the victory.
In summation, both Pat Healy vs Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 165 and Antonio “Big Foot” Silva vs Mark Hunt at the next UFC Fight Night in December have the potential to be barn burners. Both are intriguing style clashes which could go either way and could end in any number of scenarios. All four fighters have clear avenues to victory. However, as usual it all comes down to how these individuals’ skill sets, strengths and weaknesses play off of eachother when they finally meet in the cage. I for one know that I will be tuning in for both cards to see if my predictions are correct.
Jamey Bazes is a Poughkeepsie MMA practitioner holding a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt with over 15 years of competition experience earning over 100 tournament victories. He also holds a Masters of Arts Degree in English from SUNY New Paltz with a focus on the English Romantic poets. To train with Jamey, visit our website at http://bjjfighter.com
antonio silva, khabib nurmagomedov, mark hunt, pat healy, ufc fights to look forward to, upcoming ufc fights No Comments Read More
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TLN profile: Tracy Sinclair of Chitown Tennis- “For Me, It’s Perfect!”
Many athletic kids are good at more than one sport. Just think of what pro tennis would be like today if Rafael Nadal had chosen soccer over tennis -- Roger Federer might still hold the number one ranking! Or if Svetlana Kuznetsova, winner of both the US Open and the French Open, had chosen cycling, her parents sport– and instead rejected it because she thought it was boring! Or if Tracy Sinclair hadn’t come back to tennis after choosing swimming over tennis- Chitown Tennis would be short one sharp player!
“I played tennis (and was a swimmer) from about ages 5-14,” says Tracy. “But when I hit high
school I had to choose between the two sports. I chose swimming.” (Can you believe that!) “In the long run, it might have been better if I had chosen tennis, since it's easier
(and more fun to play tennis ) to do that as an adult.” Like the rest of us, she got smart, and, ultimately, tennis was her choice. She picked it up again when she moved from Cincinnati to Chicago at age 33.
A member of Chicago Tennis since 2007, Tracy is a 3.5 competitive player who has won about half her matches. Like most of us, she is a fan of her league, which for her is “a better experience” than belonging to her private club.
“I think it’s fantastic. I play lots of matches, it’s easy to set up, and it’s inexpensive.(Tracy, middle, with cousin Kelly and brother Andrew at last year's Michigan/Notre Dame game.) Tracy, who at the beginning of the season played 4-5 times a week, has played many “really close” matches this year, losing twice in tie breaks after splitting in pro sets. If I had won all those matches I would have a better record. Even matches that appeared to be a blowout one way or another were actually tended to be really competitive…
If you are looking to get back into the sport, this is a great way to do it. I’ve also found that even if you have friends that play, they are not necessarily going to play at your level. Chitown allows you to set up competitive matches easily.”
“I think Chitown is a good way to secure matches. It’s a really good value. In other leagues, people may not play. In the league, it is within your control how often you play and you can schedule as many matches as you want. You are not paying for court time. People are really nice, and they are out there to have a good match. I don’t mind that I lose more matches than I win. Just playing helps me improve. For me it’s perfect.”
Beats swimming, Tracy, doesn’t it?
Posted by jean kirshenbaum at 7:05 AM 2 comments:
TLN Profile: Nicole Talent-- “Playing Through the Pain” in ChiTown
Nicole Talent is not just her name, it also reflects her tennis game. This 3.5 competitive player in ChiTown Tennis, our Chicago area League, has a solid 17-13 record. Nicole has playing since high school. As an adult, like so many of us in TLN, she was looking for a social/tennis combination when a Google search brought her to ChiTown Tennis in 2009.
For Nicole the ChiTown Tennis has met her two goals. 1) Finding players: “It’s been a really good experience, it’s convenient, and everyone been really nice.” 2) And being social: “It’s fun to meet new people,” Nicole says.
Nicole is glad to be back to tennis after a broken toe forced her to lay off tennis for a few weeks. How did that happen? Not on a tennis court, as you might think.
It’s likely that almost everyone reading this has suffered some sort of tennis injury or other physical (or mental?) problem at some point that keeps you off the court, whether it’s something minor like a blister, or something much worse, like a broken ankle.
Asked about how her injury occurred, she confessed: “Dancing in my apartment.” Although this interview was conducted by phone, you could almost hear her face turn red! (You could certainly hear it in her voice.) Her toe is still taped but, like a tennis trooper, she is “playing through the pain.” It’s terrific that you are back to playing, Nicole. But are you still dancing?
Nicole tries to play three times a week. Her major rival is Denise, who has defeated her three times. “But one of these days I’m gonna get her.” Nicole says. Look out, Denise. There’s some 3.5 talent behind that threat.
Posted by jean kirshenbaum at 5:01 PM No comments:
TLN profile: Tracy Sinclair of Chitown Tennis- “Fo...
TLN Profile: Nicole Talent-- “Playing Through the ...
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CIP 023.Construct Your Own Heroic Life History: Ragnar Lothbrok, The Everlasting Legend of the Viking Leader
According to legend, Ragnar Lothbrok was the most famous Viking of his age. And he remains one of the greatest heroes of Viking history. But did a Viking leader named Ragnar Lothbrok actually exist? In this episode of Classic Influence, we’ll explore the power of this everlasting legend, and why the Vikings told and retold his story over and over again. This episode also reveals the power of story and legend and myth, and how a compelling epic can shape and, at last, radically transform the future. Drawing on the example of Ragnar Lothbrok, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and others, this episode also unmasks the power of your personal story, the cardinal importance of assuming your rightful role as both the author and the protagonist of your own heroic life history, and the power the storyteller role plays in the pursuit of your own grand aspirations and goals.
Classic Influence Podcast—Now Available On:
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