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__label__cc	0.512615	0.487385	The forthcoming project was announced with Ajith Kumar replacing Rajinikanth in the roles of Billa and Raja, with Nayanthara and Namitha in the female lead roles, covering the original roles performed by Sripriya and Praveena. Prakash Raj and Prabhu Ganesan have been signed to feature in supporting roles. The film's score and soundtrack have composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The film's release is scheduled for 23 October 2007, clashing with Diwali, however the dates may vary depending on the status of the film. It is set to be released in box offices across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh, with limited releases overseas to capitulate Ajith Kumar's worldwide fans. Ultimate Star Ajith Kumar's Media Section from Ajithfans.Com Billa Exclusive Official Teaser Trailer - 35Secs New images Home / Movies / Billa Pictures Taken From The Movie Billa (Hits: 74823) Billa - On Location (35) Pictures Taken From The Movie Billa Billa - Movie Stills (157) Pictures Taken From The Movie Billa. Billa - Stills - For Fans (24) Fans can Download Original Photos for Making Banners, Vinyl Hoardings etc. Billa - Paper Ads (118) Paper Ads Releated to Billa.	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line0
__label__wiki	0.730886	0.730886	March 27, 2018 April 30, 2020 Admin Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad relaunches newspaper from the Baitul Futuh Mosque The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is pleased to announce that on 23 March 2018, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad relaunched the ‘Al Hakam’ newspaper. Henceforth, Al Hakam will serve as a weekly English newspaper for members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and will aim to provide Ahmadi Muslims with historical and contemporary content regarding the true teachings of Islam. His Holiness officially relaunched the newspaper from the Baitul Futuh Mosque after earlier announcing its relaunch during his Friday Sermon. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “I would like to announce some good news regarding the relaunch of newspaper ‘AL-Hakam’, which was first published in Qadian and was later restarted in 1934 but only for a limited time. The newspaper is now being relaunched from the UK in the English language. This newspaper was the first newspaper started during the time of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him).” Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated: “Now that is being relaunched again, I pray that may Allah enable Al Hakam to continue publication permanently. As it is being published in English, the English-speaking people should derive as much benefit as possible from this publication.” The newspaper will be in print and the weekly editions will also be available online every Friday at www.alhakam.org. His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, relaunching the Al Hakam Newspaper Al Hakam was first launched by the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) in 1897 and after its relaunch in 1934, it remained in publication till 1952. Dave’s Television Station, a local media channel in Berbice, covers the proceedings of the 6th Annual... Press Regional Conventions Videos On May 24, 2017 the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at held its first ever Tabligh at the largest... Ansarullah Events Gallery Khuddam Ul Ahmadiyya Lajna Imaillah Press Waqfe Nau May 9, 2017 Admin 0 Meeting with Mexican Ambassador to Guyana On Monday May 08, 2017, our missionaries had the honour of meeting with the Mexican Ambassador... Gallery Member's Area Press	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line1
__label__wiki	0.921478	0.921478	Fossils from a new species is a type of hadrosaur, a duck-billed plant eater, discovered near Nuiqsut, Alaska. Pat Druckenmiller / UA Museum of the North / AP Pat Druckenmiller / UA Museum of the North / AP New species of duck-billed dinosaur found in Alaska For at least 25 years, the fossils were lumped in with Edmontosaurus, a widely studied hadrosaur September 22, 2015 9:40AM ET Researchers have uncovered a new species of plant-eating dinosaur in Alaska, according to a report published Tuesday. The animal was a variety of hadrosaur, a duck-billed dinosaur that roamed in herds, said Pat Druckenmiller, the earth sciences curator at the University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks. Northern Alaska likely was once covered by forest in a warmer climate. The dinosaur lived in darkness for months and probably experienced snow, researchers said. The fossils were found in rock deposited 69 million years ago. For at least 25 years, the fossils were lumped in with another hadrosaur, Edmontosaurus, a species with a range in western parts of Canada and the U.S., including Montana and South Dakota. Study of the Alaska dinosaur revealed differences in skull and mouth features that indicated it was a different species, Druckenmiller said. The differences were not immediately apparent because the Alaska dinosaurs were juveniles. Researchers teased out differences in the Alaska fossils, Druckenmiller said, by plotting growth trajectories and by comparing them with juvenile Edmontosourus bones. Researchers have dubbed the creature Ugrunaaluk kuukpikensis. The name means "ancient grazer" and was chosen by scientists with assistance from speakers of Inupiaq, the language of Alaska Inupiat Eskimos. The dinosaurs grew up to 30 feet long. Hundreds of teeth helped them chew coarse vegetation, researchers said. They probably walked primarily on their hind legs but could walk on four legs, Druckenmiller said. Most of the fossils were found in the Prince Creek formation of the Liscomb bone bed along the Colville River, more than 300 miles northwest of Fairbanks. The bed is named for geologist Robert Liscomb, who found the first dinosaur bones in Alaska in 1961 while mapping for Shell Oil. Museum scientists have excavated and catalogued more than 6,000 bones from the species, more than from any other Alaska dinosaur. Most were small juveniles estimated to have been about 9 feet long and 3 feet tall at the hips. "It appears that a herd of young animals was killed suddenly, wiping out mostly one similar-aged population to create this deposit," Druckenmiller said. University of Alaska at Fairbanks graduate student Hirotsugu Mori completed his doctoral work on the species. Florida State University researcher Gregory Erickson, who specializes in using bone and tooth histology to interpret the paleobiology of dinosaurs, also was part of the study. They published their findings in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, an international paleontology journal. Researchers are working to name other Alaska dinosaurs. "We know that there's at least 12 to 13 distinct species of dinosaurs on the North Slope in northern Alaska," he said. "But not all of the material we find is adequate enough to actually name a new species." Animals, Archaeology, Fossil Fuels, Species Extinction Temperature’s rising: Expert says dinosaurs were warm-blooded Scientists have said dinosaurs were cold-blooded because of their large size, but a new study disputes that Much of what you know about how dinosaurs died is wrong Thirty-five years ago the asteroid theory landed, and the controversy over dinosaurs began; now new details are known Scientists unearth world’s largest dinosaur in Argentina Diplodocid fossils discovered in Patagonia indicate dinosaur that weighed 90 tons, the equivalent of 14 elephants	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line3
__label__wiki	0.568057	0.568057	Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, & the Arts Division 10 of the American Psychological Association History of Division 10 Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, & the Arts Past Conference Programs Research Micro-Grants Open-Access Scales and Tools for Research Psychology of Aesthetics Psychology of Creativity Psychology of the Arts Creative Arts Therapies Tag: micro-grants Congratulations to the Recipients of the Division 10 Research Micro-Grants! Division 10 is pleased to announce the recipients of Division 10’s first round of research micro-grants. We’ll post more details about these projects soon. For now, our congratulations to the diverse group of researchers who […] Paul SilviaPosted on April 16, 2021 Categories GeneralTags grants, micro-grants, research funding Call for Proposals: Division 10 Micro-Grants for Research Projects, Due April 1 The Division 10 Executive Committee is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity! Division 10 is starting a Micro Grant program to support one-year research projects at a level of $12,000 in AY 2020-2021, from […] Paul SilviaPosted on February 8, 2021 March 2, 2021 Categories GeneralTags grants, micro-grants, research funding About Division 10 The Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts (Division 10 of the American Psychological Association) is committed to interdisciplinary scholarship, both theoretical and empirical, encompassing the visual, literary, and performing arts. Follow us on Twitter: @APADivision10 (c) 2015 to the present, Division 10. All rights are reserved.	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line11
__label__cc	0.670591	0.329409	IWM Contemporary: Edward Barber May 26, 2016 at 6pm to September 4, 2016 at 7pm – Imperial War Museum London IWM London's latest photographic exhibition opens on 26 May. Peace Signs is a contemporary reinterpretation of Edward Barber's photographs of the British anti-nuclear protest movement in the 1980s. Organized by Hilary Roberts \| Type: exhibition Exhibition: Edwardian Seaside Photographs June 20, 2016 at 10am to August 28, 2016 at 5pm – Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery ‘Oh! I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside’ Recalls the Edwardian Holiday Experience. In 1909 the famous music hall singer of the day, Mark Sheridan, recorded the song “Oh! I Do Like to Be Beside the S… Organized by Tim King \| Type: exhibition Edmund Clark: War of Terror July 28, 2016 to December 31, 2016 – Imperial War Museum London IWM London's new exhibition of work by artist photographer Edmund Clark explores the hidden experience of state control during the ‘Global War on Terror’. Clark’s work examines the measures taken by… Organized by Hilary Roberts \| Type: exhibition	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line17
__label__wiki	0.820117	0.820117	UKRAINE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE Ukrainian superstar conductor Oksana Lyniv prepares to make history with Wagner at this summer’s Bayreuth Festival Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv has spent much of her career in the conservative world of classical music challenging stereotypes and breaking down barriers. This July, she is poised to enter the history books again as the first female ever to conduct at one of classical music’s most celebrated events, the Bayreuth Festival in Germany Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv will make history this summer as the first woman to conduct at the prestigious Bayreuth Festival in Germany (Photo: Oleh Pavliuchenkov) Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv will make classical music history in summer 2021 when she becomes the first woman to conduct at Germany’s world-renowned Bayreuth Festival, which celebrates the works of the legendary Richard Wagner. Lyniv is set to open this year’s festival with a production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman. Lyniv’s headline-grabbing star turn at the Bayreuth Festival is set to be the latest in long line of stunning achievements that illuminate the remarkable career progress of the 43-year-old native of western Ukraine. Born in Brody in 1978 into a family of musicians, she spent her childhood immersed in music before entering Lviv’s Music School in the early 1990s amid the upheavals of Ukraine’s fledgling independence. The Ukrainian classical music star first conducted an orchestra at the tender age of 16. Despite reservations from some who felt there was little chance of building a serious career as a female conductor in a field dominated by men, Lyniv persevered. She gained her first international recognition in 2004, taking third place at an international conducting contest in Bamberg. This enabled her to continue her studies and gain further experience in Germany. Lyniv significantly enhanced her reputation during an extended residency as associate chief conductor at Odesa Opera House that lasted from 2008 until 2013. While performing in Ukraine’s Black Sea port city, she won admirers for a number of daring premieres. Her career then took her back to Germany and the Bavarian State Opera. The talented Ukrainian entered the classical music history books in 2017, when she became the first female to be named chief conductor of the Graz Opera and the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra. Lyniv’s upward trajectory has continued ever since. She is now widely recognized as an A-lister in the world of classical music, and was named Best Conductor at the OPER! Awards in Berlin in November 2020. As she prepares for this summer’s Bayreuth Festival, Business Ukraine magazine spoke to Lyniv about her barrier-breaking career in classical music and asked her what she thinks Richard Wagner himself would have had to say about her upcoming historic appearance at the festival he founded almost a century and a half ago. Oksana, you will make history this year as the first woman conductor ever to take the podium since the Bayreuth Festival was founded in 1876. What are your thoughts as youlook ahead to the festival? Bayreuth is, of course, something akin to a sublime Olympus in the world of classical music. It is a very great honor for me to conduct at the festival. I am also acutely aware that as a conductor at such a prominent event, you are even more in focus and expectations will be exceptionally high. I am conscious of this responsibility and want to deliver the best possible performance of an opera that is very special to me personally. How did the invitation to perform at Bayreuth come about - was it something that had been discussed for a long time, or did it come as a surprise? I cannot give you an exact answer as to when the idea first began to take shape, but I can confirm that the invitation was not recent news for me. I think that the management team of the Bayreuth Festival first noticed me during my time at the Bavarian State Opera [Lyniv joined the conducting staff in 2013]. In any case, by 2018 I had already received the invitation to conduct the Flying Dutchman in 2021. What do you think Richard Wagner would have thought about the decision to finally invite a female conductor to star at the Bayreuth Festival? Richard Wagner occupies a very special special place in the world of classical music. In the former Soviet Union, where I was born, his music suffered from negative connotations due to associations with Germany and WWII. As a result, I rarely encountered Wagner during my childhood years. The first thing I remember hearing about Wagner was during my college days, when I was told that one of the reasons he was performed so rarely was because his operas were so long and too complicated. But this complexity was precisely what spurred me on to get to know him as a composer. I would sit for days pouring over piano reductions of his operas borrowed from the library and listening to old vinyl records, totally absorbed in his masterpieces. At the time, I could not have dreamed that one day I would be able to conduct Wagner’s operas myself. The fact that I will be the first ever woman to conduct at this magical place is very special indeed for me. In most of his operas, Richard Wagner wrote key roles for women and typically depicted them in an extremely emancipated manner. That is why I genuinely believe he would be proud to know that, almost 140 years after his death, the honor of bringing his wonderful music to life at his festival will finally fall to a woman. You have had a groundbreaking career so far and were also the first female to be named chief conductor of the Graz Opera and Graz Philharmonic Orchestra. Did youconsciously set out to challenge gender barriers and stereotypes in the classical music world? Ever since I started out on my path as a professional conductor when I was 18 years old, I have always aimed high. At the same time, I cannot say that I have consciously sought to challenge of overcome any particular gender stereotypes along the way. For me, the main motivation has always been a sincere passion for classical music and a sense of awe at the profession of conductor. Being able to lead the performance of the world’s greatest musical masterpieces is a dream come true, and I have been consumed by this calling since my early student days. I am also conscious of the huge responsibility that comes with pursuing a career as a conductor. In order to be a top conductor, you must be a leader and a professional in every sense. There are no gender or age privileges in this profession. How conscious are you of your position as a role model for girls looking to become conductors? I am always happy whenever I can help, inspire, or share my experience with the younger generation. Naturally, this also applies to young ladies who are interested in becoming conductors. When I was a student, there were no such role models for me to study or take inspiration from. During the challenging early years at the very beginning of my career, there weren’t any female conductors in my country who I could look up to, and not even any other female classmates studying alongside me. At the time, it was not something that really bothered me. It just seemed normal, so I didn’t dwell on it. If anything, it made me even more determined to develop myself and learn as much as a possibly could. While I am pleased if I can serve as a role model for emerging talents, it saddens me that many potential future conductors and musicians have been unable to gain priceless experience over the past year due to the restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19. This pandemic period has surely done a lot of damage to talents that might otherwise have been destined to emerge as the great stars of the classical music scene in the years ahead. The formative experiences that they have been deprived of over the past year can never be truly compensated. You are one of Ukraine’s most successful and high-profile cultural ambassadors. What does this status mean to you and how do you seek to represent Ukraine on the international stage? Representing Ukraine to global audiences and promoting culture inside Ukraine itself are both very important missions for me. Ukraine spent hundreds of years without statehood or sovereignty. This long struggle for national self-determination has inevitably had a very sad and negative impact on Ukrainian culture, especially in terms of music. As a result of the country’s troubled past, today’s Ukraine remains relatively unknown to the outside world, even in nearby Europe. My goal is to introduce international audiences to Ukrainian composers, Ukrainian music, and Ukrainian talent. We have so much to be proud of culturally and so much to offer to the rest of the world. This was the thinking that motivated me to organize and lead two classical music projects, the LvivMozArt international classical music festival in Lviv and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. The Youth Orchestra initiative brings together young musicians from across the country in what has become Ukraine’s most internationally successful youth ensemble. What is your advice to young Ukrainians considering a career in classical music? I would tell them that the key to success is to constantly push the boundaries of their own abilities and possibilities. Never stop learning. Challenge yourself with ambitious goals and try to create your own daring projects. Knowing how talented they are, I wish more young Ukrainians saw themselves as competitive on the global stage. In recent years, I have seen a lot of amazing young Ukrainian musicians secure places at some of the world’s top muscial academies in London, Madrid, Berlin, Tel Aviv, and beyond. I follow their careers and try to keep in contact with many of them, because I understand how important this kind of professional and personal support can be for young people. Bayreuth Festival Classical music Oksana Lyniv Ukrainian classical music Ukrainian culture	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line18
__label__cc	0.525834	0.474166	Mid-session Review Presents Misleading View of Nation's Finances The White House's Office of Management and Budget recently (and belatedly) released its annual budgetary "Mid-Session Review," which attempts to put a positive spin on massive and worsening deficits, as well as the lowest level of revenue in nearly a half century. National Debt Limit Countdown On August 2, Treasury Secretary John Snow urged Congress to raise the federal debt limit without delay, and warned that the limit will be reached by late September or early October. Mid-Session Review Confirms Continuation of Record Deficits Washington, D.C., July 30, 2004 - The White House's Office of Management and Budget today belatedly released its annual budgetary "Mid-Session Review," which attempts to put a positive spin on massive and worsening deficits and the lowest level of revenue in a half century. Download full press release (.pdf) Watcher Newletter - July 26, 2004 OMB Watch - The Watcher - July 26, 2004 Vol.5, No.15 - CBO Reports Charities Would Lose 6-12% on Estate Tax Repeal Economy and Jobs Watch: Wages Fail to Keep Pace with Inflation Tax Cuts: See You in September ... OMB Fails to Meet Another Deadline The Office of Management and Budget is required to produce a "Mid-Session Review" by July 15 of each year. However, the mid-session budget review has still not been issued. Economy and Jobs Watch: Major Cuts to Domestic Services are on the Horizon The White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has instructed government agencies to plan for cuts to a wide range of domestic programs. In a memo dated May 19, 2004, (download pdf), the White House told agencies to prepare their budgets for fiscal year (FY) 2006 consistent with the FY 2005 budget proposal -- specifically, to "[a]ssume accounts are funded at the 2006 level specified in the 2005 Budget database." The database refers to the Watcher Newsletter - April 7 Apr 7, 2004 by Guest Blogger OMB Watch - The Watcher - April 5, 2004 Vol.5, No.7 - Office of Management and Budget May Be the Only Government Programs' Evaluator First, GPRA, then PART, and now PAR - government performance measures continue to multiply. More alarming is their morphing from bipartisan efforts that had a role for both the executive and legislative branches; to performance measures dictated by the executive branch in order to control spending to support political objectives. OMB Watch Makes Available Detailed Budget Data Over the past two weeks, OMB Watch has posted detailed breakdowns of budgetary data. CBO Account-level Data on Government Spending, 2005-2014 The 2005 Budget submitted by the president last week contained only partial information for spending over the next 5 years. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has since developed estimates of costs contained in the president's FY2005 budget covering the period from 2005 to 2014.	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line19
__label__cc	0.607956	0.392044	Why the Government of Kenya accuses the United States? February 27, 2014 Blog Kenya, United States 0 Ágnes Plank \| 27 Feb 2014 The Government of Kenya has accused the United States of America of being provided financial support to the organisers of the Kenyan bloody demonstration held on 13 February 2014. According to the Secretary General of the Kenyan Safety Cabinet, Francis Kimemia, an American developmental agency called USAID financed the anti-government demonstrations in Nairobi in February. Kenya’s leading politicians believe that the USA tries to influence the voters and tends to bring the government – led by President Uhuru Kenyatta – to an end. The International Criminal Court (ICC) took actions against Kenyatta and his Vice President, William Ruto for crimes against humanity. The procedure was initiated by Kenya – which is a member of the ICC with its 122 participants – in order to call the committers to account for violence crimes during the elections in 2007. After the elections in 2007 in the process of violence more than 1,100 people died, while bloody demonstrations and murders occurred in the country, moreover women were raped and homes and shops were set on fire. The mediation of the ex-Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Anan made an end of the serious ethnic confrontations accompanying the re-election of Kenyatta. The Kenyan Commission of Inquiry concluded that numerous organizations being responsible for violent crimes were supported by Kenyan politicians and businessmen. As the Kenyan Parliament rejected twice the establishment of a court for criminals’ impeachment, the case was referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the Attorney General charged six people with crimes against humanity – including the president and the vice-president. During the demonstration occurred at the beginning of February the Kenyan police shot tear gas in order to disperse demonstrators who were protested against the sequential mistakes made by the Government, the corruption and the high cost of living. The Kenyan Government’s accusations were refused by Robert Godec, Kenya’s American Ambassador, and even declared in his proclamation that all information about the economic-developmental programs between the two countries will be announced in the future as they did so beforehand. According to analysts, the intervention of the USA and Britain in the Kenyan elections turned the public attention to Kenyatta and the national sovereignty, and even contributed to the president’s re-election. The successful mobilization of Kenya’s population led to the fact that the vast majority of the population supports the campaign of the African Union that promotes relief of the charges against Kenyatta. Since 2002 very close bilateral relations has been established between Kenya and the United States. After the transition to democracy took place in the African state, the influence of the US has become more and more significant, and the American financial support and the developmental programs supported by the USAID cost a huge amount of money. Despite all, there is a serious deterioration in relations between the two countries, as the government under Kenyatta’s leadership – that may not be called as a democratic government either – and the increasing continental collaboration urged by the African Union means significant challenges in international level. The purpose of the African Union consisting of 54 members is to integrate the African diaspora and the continent’s states. As a final goal the conception of “the African United States” is to be formulated as well; although, the countries of Africa came into numerous conflicts originated from tribes, the close collaboration involves serious potentials. Several member states urge more extensive cooperation, political and administrative reforms as well as the deepening of existing structures, so that the Union can function effectively. At the same time, several member states – among them Libya – brought up the establishment of a joint African Union army. The West is currently concerned by the demographic explosion happening on the “black continent” and the consequential migration wave; however, it is important to monitor the ever-closer economic and political cooperation between the countries of the continent. Previous post EU legal fight against human trafficking Next PostHeadscarf controversy in Europe Biden’s state of (un)grace Winter is coming for Europe Bolsonaro and his claims of election fraud in the Brazilian elections The choice we must cherish Xi Jinping’s Thought has taken over (storming) the educational system The essence of American liberalism in the shade of the four foreign policy schools Cultural genocide in Inner Mongolia Maritime disputes over the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus Preventing the return of a failed state in our backyard. How to address the Libyan stalemate? Problems with Gender Stereotypes The Institute for Cultural Relations Policy considers real-time issues of international relations of utmost importance, thus in 2013 it initiated a steady basis of international forum to discuss such issues. The blog was created in order to emphasize the mission of ICRP: “Connecting cultures through dialogue”. You are encouraged to comment on blog entries, and initiate a discussion over these aspects of international relations. Albania analysis azerbaijan Belarus Brazil Brexit China climate change conflict COVID-19 democracy diplomacy election elections environment EU Europe European Union foreign policy global warming human rights Hungary India international relations Iran Middle East migration North Korea peace politics populism protest refugees Russia Scotland terrorism Trump Turkey UK Ukraine United Nations United States USA women's rights World-changing words	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line21
__label__cc	0.737481	0.262519	All prices at least 15 minutes delayed MOEX (RUB): 293.00 +1.03% LSE (USD): 4.00 +0% Group web sites Products, solutions, service Company in the media HMS in social media HMS Group management increases its share in the charter capital Moscow, Russia – August 24, 2017 – HMS Group (LSE: HMSG) announces today that one of its managers has acquired 10,340 (ten thousand three hundred and forty) of HMS’ Global depositary receipts using its own funds. Alexander Rybin, Head of Capital markets Tel: +7 (495) 730-6601, email: rybin@hms.ru Inna Kelekhsaeva, Deputy Head of Capital markets Tel: +7 (495) 730-6601, email: kelekhsaeva@hms.ru HMS Group (LSE: HMSG) is the leading pump and compressor manufacturer, as well as provider of flow control solutions and related services to the oil and gas, nuclear and thermal power generation and water utilities sectors in Russia and the CIS. HMS Group’s products are mission-critical elements of projects across a diverse range of industries. It has participated in a number of large-scale infrastructure projects in Russia, providing pumps, oil & gas equipment and compressors. HMS Group’s global depositary receipts (“GDRs”) are listed under the symbol “HMSG” on the London Stock Exchange. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, which may include without limitation, HMS Group’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in HMS Group’s records and other data available from third parties. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. HMS Group does not intend to provide any representation or warranty and does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained herein. HMS Group 125047, Moscow, Chayanova st., 7, Russia Tel.: +7 (495) 730 66 01, fax: +7 (495) 730 66 02 www.grouphms.com General Privacy Note © 2009 - 2022 HMS Group Hot line of HMS Group \| Disclaimer	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line24
__label__wiki	0.697441	0.697441	Rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language Just in time for the Oscars is what I will now predict to be the biggest Oscar-winning film for 2013. While it might not win the big prize (my ballot will be predicting 12 Years a Slave for that trophy), it is safe to say that it will win for director and many of the other technical awards. For roughly an hour and a half you are alongside Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as they try to stay alive in space after their shuttle is destroyed by an exploded Russian satellite. Thrilling doesn’t begin to describe it. I was literally on the edge of my seat for the entire picture, chewing my nails to the nub. The biggest critique you will probably hear about this film is that it plays better on a big screen, especially a big screen with 3D. While this might be true, its still great on a small screen, and there is a 3D version for those of you with the right sets. Unlike most movies released today, I will say this is definitely one to splurge for the 3D copy if you have the right theater setup. A+ Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content Being that the first outing for the Norse god was quite bad, my hopes weren’t too high for this sequel, but thankfully the film turned out to be a vast improvement. Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor took over the reigns from Kenneth Branagh and the result is a good enough super hero movie that will keep fans happy until the upcoming Captain America sequel. Just don’t ask me to describe the plot. It is absolutely nuts and secondary to the action, special effects and interesting character interactions. It would have been nice to have a serviceable story, but at least most will be kept distracted enough to be entertained. B- Rated R for some language I hardly ever love Alexander Payne movies much the first time I see them, but knowing this I always sit through them a couple of more viewings to see if they will grow on me and they always have. After watching this black and white comedy about a delusional older man (Bruce Dern) who is accompanied by his son (Will Forte) on a road trip to Nebraska when he thinks he has won a million dollars from a Publishers Clearinghouse-like operation I felt thoroughly entertained but not overly impressed. Then I watched it again, and again. Just like with Election, About Schmidt, Sideways and The Descendants, I found myself really taken by the film. It is a wonderful comedy with amazing performances and a heart-warming story of familial love. I don’t really understand why it needed to be in black and white, but its not distracting in the least. A- Narco Cultura Rated R for grisly graphic images of disturbing violent content, drug material , language and brief nudity Very similar to the violent rap that penetrated the mainstream culture in the 90s, there is a subculture of Mexican music that has found a new popularity amongst Mexicans and Latinos both south and north of the border. Glamorizing the lives of violent cartel members, the music sounds like positive tunes to those who don’t speak Spanish, but those who do understand are told stories of drugs, bazookas and beheadings to a friendly rhythm. This documentary chronicles this music and its relationship to the horrible violence seen in Mexico and has you scratching your head at why it has had such little effect on American violence. It follows both a singer in the musical movement who worships the cartel leaders as well as a member of the CSI unit in Juarez who struggles to rid his country of the senseless violence. In 2012, Juarez saw over 2000 homicides while across the border in El Paso the number was 14. While these rates seem to be going down, the music heralds the very criminals at the source of the epidemic and has found its way into pop culture. While there were many scary movies in 2013, this was by far the most horrifying to me. A Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season There are many television dramas that I am really enjoying right now, including The Walking Dead and House of Cards, but I can’t think of a show I’ve ever loved or anticipated as much as Game of Thrones. If you thought the first season was edgy for killing off main characters, then snap in your seatbelt because season three is an even bumpier ride. Most studios would never have attempted an episode like the ninth one here: The Rains of Castamere (better known as Red Wedding), and although it shocked me to my core, I love that they were able to get away with such a groundbreaking hour. I also loved watching the development of Queen Daenerys Targaryen as she grows in power along with her young dragons. Her character has seen the most dramatic arc and now her very presence gives me goosebumps. Of important note, HBO proved their commitment this season by issuing a grander budget in order to play out some of best battle sequences in television history. For the big fans of the show, there are so many extras that I couldn’t even begin to make a dent. If I keep hacking away at them I might be done by the time of the season four premier on April 6. A+ Newhart: The Complete Second Season Available on DVD There aren’t a lot of titles being released on DVD this week, which might just give you the time to check out this little gem getting its DVD debut. Possibly the funniest man to ever grace the boob tube, Bob Newhart’s popular sitcom about a New Yorker who runs a small B&B in Vermont is both sweet and satirical. While its a little dated, the show really does prove to be a classic and there’s a lot to enjoy in this second season set. B+ Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett and John Goodman Directed by George Clooney Rated PG-13 for some images of war violence and historical smoking Based on a true story, The Monuments Men tells the tale of a group of art historians who join forces with the U.S. military during WWII to rescue stolen pieces of art that Hitler had hidden throughout Germany. When I first found out that this film was pushed back into February and would not be eligible for awards season, I was puzzled. After all, Clooney is a very good writer and director and the cast is one of the best ensembles a person could imagine. I immediately guessed that the film just wasn’t great. Unfortunately I was correct. The story itself is fantastic. The men represented here are real life heroes and responsible for much of our lifetime of enjoyment we have had walking through museums both in America and abroad. What they did was vitally important and their contribution is worthy of more appreciation than we could ever show them. If only their story were told better. I would place another guess that Clooney wanted to be as precise as possible with the actual events, and that meant not making up drama for drama’s sake. Sadly, this made the film fairly boring. None of the characters were deeply flawed, as would be expected in a compelling drama, and there was very little action aside from a couple of deaths from minor characters. Clooney tried to fix this with intelligent and pithy dialogue, but couldn’t quite manage to pull it off. The pacing is off, as is the film’s momentum. Also, I never felt any sort of empathy or connection with the men, aside from my desire to see them succeed in their mission. I do think the script could have been better but aside from fictionalizing it more to add pizzaz and punch, I’m not sure I can provide the magic formula – but something is very apparently missing from the project. C+ Not many actors can carry a film by themselves. This year even Sandra Bullock got a hand from George Clooney. In All is Lost, Robert Redford is the sole actor playing a man lost at sea when his yacht is destroyed. A challenging film from start to finish, All is Lost is a great example of the struggle to survive against insurmountable odds, but as a narrative it lacks. If I’m going to watch a movie about being lost at sea I would much prefer to take in Life of Pi or Kon Tiki. Redford is amazing, and probably should have received an Oscar nom, but I have no interest in watching the film again and cannot give it a strong recommendation. B- Austenland Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and innuendo Napoleon Dynamite director Jerusha Hess loves silly, simple and clean comedies and this year’s Austenland gives us another very similar outing. Here extreme Jane Austen fan Keri Russell travels to a resort in England named, sensibly, Austenland where she hopes to bring her favorite novels to life. The plot is preposterous and the writing isn’t too great, but the film goes all in and the end effect is at least charming. I especially loved American Pie’s Jennifer Coolidge as the brainless yet boisterous millionaire hoping for her own special memories. B- This foodie documentary follows three restaurants in different stages of success and struggle, all trying to do what they love to do most – feed people good food. I was attracted to the film when I heard that Chicago’s Alinea, possibly the best restaurant in America, was going to be a chief area of focus. But then I was equally pulled in with the stories of the family diner in Iowa and the failing Mexican restaurant in Arizona. This terrific little film is a must watch if you’re like me and love learning about food as much or more than you like eating it. A- Mother of George Rated R for sexuality, some language and a disturbing image Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead’s Michonne) proves she has some major acting chops in this fascinating story about an African woman living in New York City who is put under immense cultural pressure when she is unable to give her new husband a child. Winner of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival Cinematography Award, the film is simply gorgeous to look at although some of the musical choices were awkward in spite of their significance. It’s a tough drama but certainly worth the watch. B+ The Jungle Book: Diamond Edition Available on Blu-ray Certainly one of my all-time favorite Disney films is finally getting the Blu-ray treatment as well as a nice amount of new bonus features. Following the adventures of Mowgli, a young Indian boy raised and protected by animals, The Jungle Book has some of the best animation and music amongst all of their classic films. New in this edition is a sing-along Bear-E-Oke as well as a view of an ending that almost came to be. A Dallas Buyers Club Rated R for pervasive language, some strong sexual content, nudity and drug use Texan Matthew McConaughey has completely reinvented himself over the last two years, going from bad rom coms to amazing dramatic performances and Dallas Buyers Club seems to be his crowning achievement thus far. Playing wannabe rodeo star and hustler Ron Woodroof, he is given an HIV diagnosis and told he only has a very short time to live. But when he discovers there are drugs available that might help him extend that time frame, he steals, smuggles and connives his way to living longer and making a lot of money by offering up his findings to a select group of Texans who are in the same predicament. This true story is absolutely captivating and a testament to the desperate man’s intelligence and resourcefulness. While McConaughey is worthy of every bit of praise he is receiving, I’m not that sold on Jared Leto’s performance as his transvestite partner. He’s good but not Oscar shoo-in good. A- Rated R for language and some sexual content This terrific little British romantic comedy by Love Actually writer/director Richard Curtis did very well overseas but performed miserably here in the states. Telling the story of a young man (Domhnall Gleeson) who discovers from his father (Bill Nighy) that he has the genetically gifted ability to travel back in time to fix things he wants to fix, the movie is a marvel of creativity and romance. Using his newly found powers he finds a way to get Rachel McAdams to fall in love with him and make his life nearly perfect until he meets challenges that his ability can’t rearrange. While it sounds very sci-fi, it is not, but rather it is a sweet and lovely little film with a lot of laughs and even more heart. I wish more romantic comedies were like this. If they were, they wouldn’t have such a bad rep. A- Blood Brother is a documentary that follows the life of Rocky Braat, a young American who has dedicated his life to working in a small community of children with HIV in India. While very challenging at times, the film is not as depressing as you might think and by the end gives you a wonderful and heart-felt smile on your face with a happy tear in your eye. I found myself thanking God there are people like Rocky in the world who sacrifice themselves on a daily basis for those who have nothing and no one to call their own. A Cutie and the Boxer Rated R for nude art images This Oscar-nominated documentary follows the lives of a Japanese artist couple who have struggled with their very niche art in New York City through four chaotic decades. The characters are interesting, as are their creations, but I doubt the film will hold the interest of a broad audience as the narrative isn’t as compelling as some of the other documentaries this year. B- Jules and Jim: The Criterion Collection Available on DVD/Blu-ray combo If you’ve ever been to film school or read extensively on the subject of French cinema, you will have no doubt studied this 1962 Francois Truffaut classic about two close friends who both fall for the same woman and spend decades in a love triangle. While the film has been very influential for many filmmakers, I much prefer the films that have been inspired by this film (such as Amelie and Vanilla Sky) than the film itself. While this new collection has a wonderful new 2k restoration and thus looks fantastic, I really could care less for the story or the characters. My indifference to them and their actions make this a hard film for me enjoy on any level greater than intellectually. So if you are learning about cinematic history, or have a passion for French New Wave, then you probably don’t need me to recommend this film. For everyone else, I wouldn’t bother. C-	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line27
__label__wiki	0.609252	0.609252	This is a cross-post from falsedichotomies.com The blond youth waving an Israeli flag looked at me in astonishment. I was standing on the other side of the street, just opposite the Damascus Gate, and I was standing with the Arabs. And yet I had just told him that I had made aliyah six years ago and that was he was doing was a Chillul Hashem. The previous hour had passed with scuffles between Palestinians and the Border Police, but now the Jerusalem Day Parade was in full swing. There had just been another stampede from the horses and suddenly there were no soldiers in the vicinity. It was just me shouting over to a group of Israeli youth, and they couldn’t believe what I was telling them. This particular group didn’t call me a stinking leftist. They seemed genuinely astonished that I had described their behaviour as a Chillul Hashem. They asked me to explain myself further, but then some Palestinians came over, and insults passed back and forth across the street. This is what I would have said: I would have said that it’s a Chillul Hashem because you are declaring your love for this extraordinary city by holding a march whose implicit message is that one-third of the population is not wanted here. I would have said that they would never have tolerated a group of Arabs marching through Jewish neighbourhoods with Palestinian flags chanting “Death to the Jews”. I would have said that ‘don’t start none won’t be none’ applies just as much to us as it does to them, and that even if some of the slogans chanted by the Palestinians were as repellent as those chanted by the Jews, the Palestinians did not have hundreds of armed soldiers protecting their right to be racist. I would also have told him that there are many people who don’t want Israel to exist, and that people like him are one of their most useful weapons. I would have told him that if he truly loved Jerusalem he should work to build bridges with his Palestinian neighbours, that if Jerusalem is to remain the eternally undivided capital of Israel then he would do well to establish good relations with them. I would have told him that this is not a Beitar match, and that the behaviour of him, his friends, and the vast majority of people I saw at the march was a disgrace to the State of Israel. The soldiers returned, and we were shunted off to the side. Instead I shouted across to the stewards that it was their job to prevent racist chanting, but they just shrugged. “Death to Leftists”, one group now sang, and I asked a commander why he wasn’t doing anything about the incitement, but he shrugged too. This isn’t about Left or Right or Zionist or anti-Zionist. It’s about whether we should allow thousands of people to maraud through the capital behaving like football hooligans. It’s about whether we tolerate incitement or challenge it wherever we see it. It’s about the moral degeneration of Religious Zionism. It’s about whether the fundamental meaning of Jerusalem as the ‘City of Peace’ should hold significance on the day when we are supposed to cherish it most. We need to talk about antisemitism in Islam Gentlemen or players? Zionism and the Left: an interview with Susie Linfield	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line29
__label__wiki	0.878636	0.878636	Obama's election gives some Missouri black leaders hope By: Emily Coleman JEFFERSON CITY - As Democrat Barack Obama assumes the position of president-elect in the U.S., many Missouri black leaders said this may open doors for a black politician to become a state-wide elected official. Missouri has never had a black elected to a state-wide office. House Minority Whip and Rep. Connie Johnson, D-St. Louis City, said she is not completely convinced Missouri is ready to elect a black state-wide official. She said if the issue doesn't get addressed, the problem will continue. "It takes a willingness to sit down and discuss the issue openly," Johnson said. "I think part of the issue with race and politics is nobody wants to discuss it. It's like the pink elephant in the room, and everybody keeps walking around it. Nobody ever says, 'Oh, look at that pink elephant.'" Still, Johnson said she is optimistic that Obama's win will prompt more conversation on the issue. "I'm hopeful that it will open the door to having a discussion about having an African American in the state-wide (office) one day," said Johnson. Missouri's popular vote ended up being very close with 49.4 percent voting for Sen. John McCain, the GOP candidate, and 49.2 percent voting for Obama. "For as long as I can recall, Missouri at that level, other than what I saw Jay Nixon do this time, has always been 50.5 to 49.5," Rep. Theodore Hoskins, D-St. Louis County, said. "It's been close regardless of if it was a Republican that won or a Democrat that won. I think it's an equal Democrat and Republican state." Johnson agreed, referencing how conservative Missouri is and how much of it is rural. She said Obama's loss in Missouri is consistent with the little to no gain of seats in the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate by Democrats. "And (Obama) was a young guy who had not had extensive experience versus an older guy who was a POW and decorated military veteran," Johnson said. "So, I think that those things really played well in Missouri." Some Missouri black leaders are hesitant to be overly optimistic however. "Let's not fool ourselves; we're in a very conservative state, and we don't operate in a vacuum and racism is still alive," said Rep. Talibdin "T.D." El-Amin, D-St. Louis City. While El-Amin remained cautious about the possibilities, he spoke of his hope for the future. "When I looked at Obama (Tuesday) night, I really saw my son and he said he wanted to be president," El-Amin said, pointing to a portrait of his 7-year-old son, Hasan, on the bookcase in his office. El-Amin said as a child he did not believe his father when he said El-Amin could be president one day. "Understanding racism in a society and understanding the barriers, he probably didn't believe that," El-Amin said. "Now when I look at my son - all my sons - I say, you know what, maybe they can do that. So what I'm telling him now is that maybe in 2042, he can be a candidate for president." As an African American, a father and "with a funny name like Obama," El-Amin said, Obama's win "gives us hope." Former Sen. J.B. "Jet" Banks, D-St. Louis City, was the last black politician to be the majority leader of the Missouri Senate. He held the position from 1988 to 1996. He died in October 2003. Ronnie White was the first and only black judge on the Missouri Supreme Court. He retired from his seat in July of 2007 and was not available for an interview.	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line42
__label__cc	0.705508	0.294492	B.o.B reveals Strange Clouds album release date \| Music News \|By Verse Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr better known to the world as Atlanta repping rapper and producer B.o.B who released his debut solo album B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray in 2010 took to twitter moments ago to announce the release date for his sophomore follow up album. Strange Clouds which will feature the collaborative title track and first single with Lil Wayne (watch the video here) and the Andre 3000 featuring “Play The Guitar” (listen Here) is set to be released on March 13th via Grand Hustle/ Rebel Rock/ Atlantic Records. Stay locked for more details as they are revealed. B.O.B cover release date Strange Clouds tracklist B.o.B – “Strange Clouds Remix” ft. T.I. x Young Jeezy \| Music Video \| SoulCulture 2nd February 2012, 9:20 AM […] anticipated tracks with Big K.R.I.T., Nelly and T.I. among others, B.o.B’s latest project Strange Clouds is set for release on March 13 through Grand Hustle/Rebel Rock/Atlantic Records following his 2010 […] Snapshot: B.o.B x Young Jeezy on the set of “Strange Clouds” remix video shoot \| SoulCulture 23rd January 2012, 4:37 AM	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line44
__label__wiki	0.616945	0.616945	The Colt Revision as of 08:08, 19 September 2006 by Tripoli (talk \| contribs) (→‎Latin Inscription) 1 From the Pad of Definitions 2 Fan-submitted information below. Please do not edit above this line. 2.1 Quote from 1.20 Dead Man's Blood: 2.2 Samuel Colt 2.3 The Alamo 3 History of Conflicts 3.1 Halley's Comet 3.2 The number 13 3.3 Latin Inscription 3.4 Pentagram 3.5 Winchester-Colt connection From the Pad of Definitions From 1.20 Dead Man's Blood (episode) Colt Gun Invented by Samuel Colt, a gun named after its inventor “Colt”, and after its revolving cylinder. Before the Colt revolver, only one and two-barrel flintlock pistols had been invented for hand held use. Colt revolvers were all based on cap-and-ball technology until the Smith and Wesson license on the bored-through cylinder (bought from Rollin White) expired around 1869. Fan-submitted information below. Please do not edit above this line. Quote from 1.20 Dead Man's Blood: File:Colt02.jpg Back in 1835, When Halley's Comet was overhead, same night those men died at the Alamo, they say Samuel Colt made a gun. A special gun. He made it for a hunter. A man like us, only on horseback. Story goes, he made thirteen bullets. This hunter used the gun a half dozen times before he disappeared, the gun along with him. [..] how Daniel got his hands on it. They say... they say this gun can kill anything. (John in 1.20 Dead Man's Blood) Samuel Colt Samuel Colt (1814-1862) was the inventor of the Colt revolver, and founder of the Colt Firearms company. See Wikipedia entry for further info. The Alamo "The Battle of the Alamo was a 19th-century battle between the Republic of Mexico and the rebel Texan forces during the latter's fight for independence - the Texas Revolution . It took place at the Alamo mission in San Antonio, Texas (then known as "San Antonio de Béxar") in February and March of 1836". (Source: Wikipedia) History of Conflicts Although most people automatically think of the famous battle that occured in 1836 when the Alamo is mentioned there is a history of minor battles that occured at the Alamo. The Alamo has a long and bloody history beginning in the mid to late 1700's. In October of 1835 one of many battles occured between residents of Gonzales and the Mexican troops that occupied the Alamo at the time. This skirmish led to Santa Ana sending in troops under Martin Perfecto de Cos to San Antonio. This was only one of many smaller battles over the course of October, November, and December of 1835 that eventually led to the famous battle that occured in February and March of 1836. For more information about the history/timeline of the Alamo check out the Daughters of the Republic of Texas website. They include a detailed history of the Alamo and all its battles. Halley's Comet "Comet Halley ... more generally known as Halley's Comet after Edmond Halley, is a comet that can be seen every 75-76 years. It is the most famous of all periodic comets, even though in every century many comets appear brighter and more spectacular. Halley's comet last appeared in the inner Solar System in 1986, and will next appear in the summer of 2061." (Source: Wikipedia) The number 13 In Western culture, the number 13 is generally considered to be unlucky. However, this has not always been the case. See this article on 'triskaidekaphobia' (fear of the number 13) for a various uses and readings of the number 13 in a range of different cultures, religions and mythologies. Latin Inscription non timebo mala translates to "I will fear no evil" from Latin, and is possibly a reference to Psalm 23. See Pentagram Bullets used in Supernatural Season 1: 1.20 Dead Man's Blood - The Colt is introduced with 5 remaining bullets. 1.20 Dead Man's Blood - John shoots Luther the vampire to save Sam's life. 1.21 Salvation - Sam shoots at the Demon in Rose's nursery. 1.22 Devil's Trap - Dean shoots man possessed by a Demon's child to save Sam's life. 1.22 Devil's Trap - Sam shoots John in the thigh while he is possessed by the Demon. There is one bullet left at the end of Season 1. Winchester-Colt connection When speculating you might also be interested in the decoding of the name Winchester. Retrieved from "http://supernaturalwiki.com/index.php?title=The_Colt&oldid=2811" Pad of Definitions	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line47
__label__cc	0.740458	0.259542	JUST MY TAKE ……….top of mind things I think Author – JUST MY TAKE Dazed & Confused. Some Short Takes – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. I received a good bit of feedback from last week’s post. Most of it was positive, but some were not happy with my take with the virus situation. I don’t watch the news, but I do read early mornings to quickly figure out what is, and what is not going on with this world. I appreciate everyone’s feedback as I am looking for your take on topics I discuss. As a follow up to last week’s concerns with battling Covid-19: Last week I did mention my confusion with the communication (or lack thereof) coming from the CDC, the W.H.O., and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Since my last post the situation steamrolled, resulting in a Congressional hearing, with one senator and Dr. Fauci battling it out like it was some type of high school debate. Not cool. As I have often mentioned, I try to wear a mask indoors, unless of course I am eating or drinking (which is often). I never understood how it was imperative to wear a mask but then it be okay to take it off when sitting in a restaurant. Don’t get me wrong, I support the hospitality industry – so let’s just keep that mask rule in place to ensure we keep restaurants open. Mask on, mask off. Early on in the pandemic, when the mask mandates were first initiated, the CDC was adamant that N95 face masks not be used. A complete pivot last week – with the CDC recommending that N95 and KN95 masks be used. Another confusing directive. Some interesting news regarding Covid-19 last week: Researchers from Oregon State University announced that the hemp extract could help prevent and possibly treat Covid-19. Who would have thought hemp could make people feel better? After promising that all Americans would receive test kits by mid-January, news broke on Friday that Americans will have access to order test kits online…starting January 19. The dilemma: some of the most severely affected by Covid-19 and the variants are the elderly. I am not generalizing, but are there not going to be major challenges for our elderly to navigate the internet and order their test kits? Sometimes I just have to level-set my thoughts, but this initiative is going to be problematic. Americans can go to a new website, covidtests.gov, to order the tests, starting January 19. Tests are expected to ship within seven to 12 days of being ordered. Not surprising but still very disconcerting: “The faster omicron spreads, the more opportunities there are for mutation, potentially leading to more variants,” Leonardo Martinez, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Boston University, said. Novak Djokovic – I am a tennis fan and the Australian Open would be much better with you participating. With that said, your bulls–t is getting old. A few takes from late breaking news: What is Vladimir Putin’s desired outcome with placing 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border? Is he threatening war to prevent NATO from admitting Ukraine to the NATO alliance? Is Russia willing to generate propaganda and false-flag operations to justify a war with the Ukraine? To say the least, Russia is very complicated. I wonder what their government has spent to build up and sustain these 100,000 troops…while their economy is problematic led by a weak GDP? Time is passing us by. It has already been ten years since the Costa Concordia, a passenger ship on a Mediterranean cruise, was steered too close to shore, hit some massive rocks, and partially sank near the Italian island of Giglio. I can’t image the horror – on what was designed to be a very romantic cruise with ports of call we would all enjoy. Note: the ship’s captain was found guilty of manslaughter and is currently serving sixteen years in jail. The Costa Concordia capsized ten years ago. Bloomberg and CNBC. I could care less about their political alignment. Their content and production is excellent. Bloomberg in the very early morning provides both financial and general news, live, and from around the world. I don’t follow the bond market, commodities, or ETFs, but if you do want to catch up on the financial markets and the world economy, spend fifteen minutes on either network. North Korea is testing hypersonic weapons. Most of us could give a rat’s ass about Kim Jong-un and his bizarre behavior. That is until we understand that a hypersonic weapon can travel at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. North Korea with a missile system that evades missile defense systems. Just what the world needs right now. I am unsure of how I feel about Navient possibly canceling $1.7 billion of private student loans. Sure, I know this will give some relief to many people, but what about all of us who had to pay off some level of student loan debt? Seriously, how should this be reconciled? You have reservations about returning to your downtown high rise due to Covid-19, and the tragic building collapse in North Miami. You finally come to a level of comfort and move back in to that skyscraper. Days later, you find out that the building you have been living in is actually sinking into the ground and tilting as much as two feet north and west. Yes, this is reality at San Francisco’s luxurious Millennium Tower. At fifty-eight stories, it stands 645 feet and has sunk 18 inches into the ground. Let’s just go with a loud “No.” It is a comedy. It contains some incredibly funny lines. The writing and acting are tremendous. It deals with lessons learned. It even has a bit of romance. To keep the show with a level of authenticity, most of the production was done outside of London. Broadcast by Apple+, Ted Lasso, starring Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham, is incredibly entertaining. Ted Lasso is an American football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer club – and this video speaks volumes: Jason Sudeikis is Ted Lasso. Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday! Author justmytake.netPosted on January 15, 2022 January 15, 2022 Leave a comment on Dazed & Confused. A NEW YEAR. Amazon. Sidney +. Two Years Of A Very Difficult Battle. Not Green Acres. FreeFall. There is a good bit of criticism surrounding Amazon. Employee welfare, driving the independent retailers out of business, and the negative vibes of a category killer. I can’t criticize Amazon as I order from their site, watch content using their Amazon Fire Stick, and listen to their music offerings. I like operational efficiency and very much dislike wasting time and effort. Here is the reality of Amazon and operational efficiency: 45 minutes. That’s how much time passes between the moment you click “Place your order” and the moment your package gets loaded on the truck. That includes processing, locating, packing, scanning, and labelling your package before it hits the road. Amazon now receives 10 million orders per day (115 orders per second), and 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee. Criticize for all the right and wrong reasons, but what Amazon has created is amazing. Along with Sean Connery and Yul Brynner, Sidney Poitier was my mom’s favorite actor. I remember her telling me that he was the epitome of style, grace, and intelligence – which she obviously pointed out due to my lack of those three attributes. Sidney Poitier also was brave, taking on and dealing with the attitude of many in Hollywood, and would go on to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1963. Later in life, in 2009, Mr. Portier would earn the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Betty White, John Madden, Dan Reeves, and now Sidney Poitier to start off 2022. RIP. The 1967 film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” was a breakthrough for Hollywood. The movie, starring Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, and Sidney Poitier, may be the best romantic-comedy ever. This is one of many classic scenes. Katherine Hepburn’s stone-stare look, Spencer Tracy’s delivery, and Sidney Poitier’s stoic presence is the best: Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner – one of Sidney Poitier’s best. We have now been dealing with Covid-19 and it’s variants for two years. There is no way that any of us could predict the last twenty-four months, in many ways disturbing, disruptive, and in so many cases, very sad. Allow me to give you some recent developments with the viruses and a point of view that is a bit alarming: As of last Thursday, 5,481,215 people worldwide have died from Covid-19. The Omicron variant’s contraction rate is massive – and has caused school systems, including Chicago, to postpone the start of school post-holidays. Last Wednesday, the American Medical Association publicly criticized the CDC for their continued misinformation and variable guidance. This is two years, with the CDC, the W.H.O., and other infectious disease specialists struggling to provide consistent and consolidated guidance. The vaccination has now been available for one year and the lines keep getting longer. The same goes for testing. In the Orlando, Florida area, the wait times at testing sites average four hours. After two years, that is unacceptable. Many businesses, including American Express and Blackrock, have told their employees to stay home. Their planned office openings for the end of this month have been put on hold indefinitely. Restaurants, airlines, and hospitals are again having issues with staffing. Florida had a record 76,887 new infections on Friday; 1 out of 3 COVID-19 tests is positive as the number of patients in Florida hospitals with the virus passed 8,700, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. I am in no position to criticize anyone. I know that many healthcare professionals, scientists, and worldwide entities are trying very hard to combat these viruses. I guess I keep wondering what variants will follow Omicron? Then again, what if the pandemic involved a derivative of filovirus? Filoviruses are for now confined to regions of central, eastern, and western Africa. They are among the most dangerous human pathogens known, causing highly fatal hemorrhagic fevers – death in 60 to 90 percent of victims. This is not meant to be a negative take on our two-year battle with Covid-19. I am just trying to point out that if we are having difficulty with these types of coronaviruses, all bets are off if the different strains of filovirus ever become a worldwide pandemic. Just so all of us are on the same page: Filovirus = Ebola. Though I know very little about the topic, farming and agriculture have always interested me. Maybe my interest stems from my dad taking my brother and I to strawberry farms in the Homestead, Florida area – or the fact that the college campus I lived on had a very vibrant agriculture curriculum (Note: Berry College boasts not only the largest contiguous college campus in the U.S. but the largest one in the world). Automation and the offset of labor costs are important dynamics in most manufacturing sectors, and those dynamics have reached the farming world as well. I won’t touch labor reform, but the fact remains that immigrant farm workers make up an estimated 73% of agriculture workers in the United States today. So with the obvious labor challenges to farmers and ranchers throughout the United States, some very smart people have now provided a path to automation in the farming sector. With the ultimate goal of a better yield and product from farm to table, Iron Ox Robotics has created a very interesting way to plant, grow, and harvest produce: Technology and farming at its finest from Iron Ox Robotics. I still smile when I remember a friend on mine, while we were driving south from San Jose to Paso Robles on Highway 101. She had never been to the area and really never correlated the state of California with agriculture. You just can’t imagine the number of farmlands in the state, with 80,000 farms and ranches. The state produces a third of the U.S.A.’s vegetables and two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts. The amount of labor to support these 80,000 farms and ranches is immense, and the John Deere Company has entered the technology world to help farmers across the world. At last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), John Deere introduced an autonomous tractor. Before you roll your eyes, realize that this is the first step with automating the farming world. Think about how this tilling/planting technology will evolve with seeding, growing, harvesting, and packing – and how companies like Iron Ox and John Deere are trying hard to ensure that our grocery stores and farmers’ markets maintain their inventories. This is a very well-done video from John Deere: John Deere’s autonomous tractor. In the never-ending pursuit to embellish Orlando’s visitor experience, the tourist corridor of International Drive has added a new ‘attraction.’ I am all good with someone explaining to me the joy received from being elevated to a height of 400′ feet, being tilted forward 30°, and free-falling at speeds of up to 80 MPH. I think they should pay us to deal with this experience. Go ahead, chime in, as I just don’t get it. Thanks, but no thanks. Adios, pay if forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday! Author justmytake.netPosted on January 8, 2022 January 8, 2022 Leave a comment on A NEW YEAR. Dave Barry. A Review Of The Year 2021. I am on a break from JustMyTake but after reading this piece, I thought it would be a good idea to share as a year-end wrap up. Dave Barry, a syndicated columnist who cut his teeth at the Miami Herald, posted this creative review of 2021. I think most of you will enjoy his perspective – cheeky at best and very funny. Remember, I don’t touch religion or politics and this is not my take. Thanks to Dave Barry for this good read. https://www.miamiherald.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/dave-barry/article256603076.html Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and all the best for a happy and healthy 2022! Author justmytake.netPosted on December 24, 2021 December 26, 2021 Leave a comment on Dave Barry. The Brand. Brand Recognition. Brand Promise. Brand Awareness. Brand Positioning. Brand Equity. Brand Fail. By definition, a brand is a mix of tangible and intangible attributes, symbolized in a trademark, that can be managed to create value for organizations and customers. Marketers around the world, from consumer electronics to nano components to automobiles, help support their company or organization’s growth using their brand(s) as a marketing platform. That platform helps deliver a branding strategy that for the most part is prominent across the business spectrum: Focus on getting chosen – your product, your price, your packaging, your customer service. Stake your claim – be very clear about your brand promise. Choose your ideal customer carefully – be aware that not every customer values or appreciates your product or service and the way it’s delivered. Discover what’s important and make sure your organization delivers – understand what your ideal customers want and need, and stay away from creating product or service attributes that your customers do not care about. Make it easy to buy/acquire/participate – remove any and all barriers for your customers to purchase your products and services. Those strategies or initiatives sound like the basic marketing block and tackling. The reality is that over my career I continually have found companies and organizations struggling to stay focused on these basic strategies, leading to failure to deliver on their quarterly and annual financial forecasts and plans. This week’s take stems from the issue that surfaced in the first episode of the Sex and The City reboot. Long story short, the Mr. Big (Chris Noth) character was killed off in the first episode after riding a Peloton bike. The next day, Peloton’s stock dropped dramatically – but more importantly, Peloton answered on their brand promise. It resurrected Mr. Big with a TV spot featuring none other than Noth and Peloton instructor Jessica King. The dramatic advertisement, released Sunday and narrated by actor Ryan Reynolds, quickly blew up online, amassing more than 45,000 likes on Twitter and spurring a slew of headlines. Peloton’s marketers capitalized on what initially was a public relations nightmare and with a smart TV spot and social media campaign, delivered their brand promise. Note: their stock reclaimed all initial losses after two days. Note: last Thursday, the ad spot was taken down from Twitter and YouTube due to allegations of sexual assault by Chris Noth. A Detroit Auto Show experience. The show always starts off with the main exhibitors conducting a press conference, most of the time a high-end lights, sound, and video production. The year was 2009 and Dodge Ram decided to take their press conference outside (in January), to deliver a “one-of-a- kind” press event to promote their new truck. Note: Even twelve years ago, the Ford F150 was dominating the truck category. Absolutely freezing outside, I was joined by 1,000 spectators who witnessed, in a word, fail. A cattle drive along the street in front of Cobo Hall did not resonate with any of the spectators, who sat awestruck as the cattle, including steers, broke through the barriers as Dodge Ram’s VP tried to speak over the laughing crowd. In an epic turn of events, to top off this baseless press event, Ford had bought out the digital signage on the Cobo Arena, visible to the entire crowd, and ran ad spots promoting the Ford F150 as the #1 truck in America. I can’t image the number of Dodge Ram staff and agencies who lost their jobs after this epic fail. Move the cursor to the 5:00 minute mark and you will see what is simply called a cluster —-. Dodge Ram’s epic press event. Marketers throw around the word “optics”. “The optics look do not look good” is frequently stated in response to issues and concerns with a person or entity or brand. How about this for ‘bad optics?’ Last Saturday, with the death and destruction caused by the devastating tornadoes across the U.S., an Amazon warehouse in Illinois was destroyed resulting in the deaths of six workers. Instead of Jeff Bezos taking one of his many private jets to Illinois, he was shown celebrating the launch and landing of his rocket in Texas. That is bad optics. A lesson learned. The Amazon warehouse destroyed by a massive tornado. Speaking of a lesson learned, here is an example of a smart marketer who was very focused on his brand. I had the opportunity to design and build an outdoor pavilion exhibition stand for Patrick Ewing’s 33 brand. His shoes, back then and now, continue to sell in many European markets, so the ISPO conference in Munich was a perfect marketing play for the promotion of his brand. Patrick Ewing could not have been more appreciative of the work that we put into the pavilion, and was of course very proud of his exhibition stand. I had other clients at ISPO, including the sports sock company Thor-Lo, and asked Patrick to walk with me over to Thor-Lo’s stand in another building. He was more than happy to go with me and greet the Thor-Lo people, who were so excited that Patrick had come over to say hello. The big takeaway: when Thor-Lo asked Patrick to take photos with their group, the first thing he did was to turn and view the surroundings behind him. Why? He wanted to make sure that no competing brands would be seen in the photos – for all the obvious reasons. Brand was essential to Patrick – another big lesson learned for me. The “33” from Patrick Ewing. There are many examples of great brand strategy. No matter the product or service, the goal of brand strategy is to shape the perceptions of a brand’s audience so that ultimately we can influence them. A brand strategy sets the plan for shaping those perceptions through different forms of expression…both visual and verbal. In summary, the definition of brand strategy: “A plan for the systematic development of a brand in order to meet business objectives.” -Marty Neumeier, Brand Gap Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and Happy Holidays to all. Author justmytake.netPosted on December 16, 2021 December 16, 2021 Leave a comment on The Brand. A Campaign Run. My Takes. A Take On Making A Run For City Council. Lebanon, Elon, And The Ukraine. Many of my guest writers have offered up their take on various topics including the Middle East, the bond market, the use of energy, sports journalism, the corporate events industry and many others. This week, our guest writer covers a subject that I stay away from: politics. My friend and associate J.H., with no political background or experience, made a run at a city council seat in the north Atlanta area. Here is his take on making that run for office: In Life There Is Either a Sideline or a Field of Play Two years ago, I chose to leave a twenty-five-year career as Chief Revenue Officer for three Fortune 500 companies. My primary role was leading national sales and customer support teams in the telecom and supply chain industries. During the first 12-18 months I polished up on my golf game, began a consistent workout regimen and adapted to the Coronavirus life style. However, all along this journey, something was missing. It became apparent to me that I was missing a PURPOSE. Finding PURPOSE for me is not easy. In fact, it is a struggle. As a result, I decided to simply step off the sidelines and search for a number of potential opportunities…What is the worst that could possibly happen? One night at a city summer concert, I left the sidelines and stepped onto the field of play. Although having no prior relationship with our city mayor, I took the opportunity to walk up and introduce myself to him. Since he was a two-term mayor running for re-election, I offered my time/talent and treasure. As a result, I soon found myself actively participating as a member of the mayor’s campaign re-election team. My relationship with the mayor developed rapidly, where upon he asked if I would consider running as a city council member. Not fully realizing what it would take to defeat a two-term incumbent council member running for re-election, I allowed myself 24 hours to contemplate and simply said…Yes. That night I woke up at 2AM realizing the ramifications of my decision. I had no political experience, a limited social network, no marketing resources, limited social media presence and by the way, it would take at least $20K in funds to run a campaign of any relevance. The uncomfortable realization of stepping off the sideline and onto the field of play hit me like a ton a bricks! I was forced to get out of my comfort zone, use my God-given abilities, and quickly put a game plan together. Since running a campaign was foreign to me, the need to find a campaign manager was essential. I needed a campaign manager willing to coach me in the field of play. After conducting three interviews…I found the coach! Time was of the essence; we developed a game plan: Created a website, email, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. Developed campaign messaging: a. Keep us safe b. Preserve our neighborhoods c. Hold the line on taxes d. Planning our traffic wisely Ordering 250-yard signs with distinct colors and branding 3000 campaign brochures Two campaign mailers to likely voters Newspaper ads and interviews Recruited 7 active volunteers for phone calling and neighborhood door knocking Garnered resident voting lists with names, addresses and phone numbers Solicited donations and self-funded campaign expenses. GAME TIME (PURPOSE) My opponent utilized his existing network and social media presence to simply ask his supporters: “Who is willing to place a campaign sign in their yard?” He did not have the need to conduct an active ground game. I on the other hand, I had no choice but to hit the streets. My strategy was to take my campaign messaging to the residents to create awareness and support. Each day, my wife would collect street names and likely voters to call on. Each day we would call on ~75 residences. My wife would drive up to a house, I would get out, usually walk a long driveway to knock on a door and voice my 30-second campaign pitch and messaging on why they should vote for me. Oh yes…I was selling. This pattern went on for weeks. In the end, together we had knocked on over 1800 doors, placed 200-yard signs and collected resident concerns. Some days the temperature was stifling. Those days were quickly overcome by meeting and having discussion with so many good people. It was not about right or left politics, it was about local, state and sometimes national issues. I found it amazing by meeting a resident for the first time and transitioning my pitch into meaningful conversations. I just wish our state and national politicians would conduct themselves accordingly. I will never forget one memorable conversation with a local resident. It was one of those high humidity, stifling afternoons. I walked up to a large single story ranch home. An elderly woman with white cropped hair and piercing beautiful blue eyes answered the door. I estimated she was between 71-74 years old. As I completed my campaign pitch, perspiration rolled across my face. The lovely woman realized my discomfort as asked if I would like a cold drink. I thanked her, but pointed to my wife and indicated there is water in our car. She asked “How long have you been married”. I proudly responded, “forty years.” She responded, “Oh that is nothing, my husband and I have been married for 68 years.” She leaned toward me and with those piercing beautiful blue eyes and said, “Do you know the secret of our marriage?The secret is, I have never uttered the word divorce…BUT……I thought the word MURDER many times.” I nearly fell over with laughter. FOURTH QUARTER (2 Minute Warning) My campaign did get in the red zone on election night. But unfortunately, we did not cross the goal line. Of course, I was disappointed with the election result. But I have no regrets leaving the sidelines and stepping onto the field of play. It was an enjoyable, purpose-filled experience that I will never forget. The campaign represented a single game. As we all know life is a season of many games. As a result, I have continued the pursuit of purpose with the Wounded Warriors volunteerism, a healthcare startup company, and political action organizations. Is now the time for you to get in the game? Come on in…the water is warm! My Takes For The Week Are space flights with the likes of Blue Origin and SpaceX becoming a ho-hum event? I hope not as yesterday’s NS-19 flight and landing was fantastic. What these private space exploration entities are doing is remarkable. Speaking of space, here is the headline of the week: Devastating solar storm spotted in nearby star system could be a warning sign for life on Earth. No, this was not reported by the New York Post or the Drudge Report. What exactly is a ‘diplomatic boycott’ of the Beijing Olympics will it overshadow the actual athletic competition? T-minus thirteen days to Christmas and 19 days to start a New Year. 2021 was challenging but way better than 2020. Let us all hope that 2022 is great. Why have entities or countries not stepped up to assist Lebanon with their very serious economic crisis? Is the World Bank and International Monetary Fund not in place to assist nations in despair? Elon Musk says he may quit his everyday job. Yawn. Is there a new definition of democracy someone forgot to tell me about? What is the betting line on Russian troops crossing into the Ukraine? There is a good bit of discussion surrounding a four-day work week. Will companies in the United States adapt to this movement? Prayers to all who were devastated by Friday night’s tornadoes and storms. So sad. There has to be a better solution to early warning systems for tornadoes. I leave today’s post with something to contemplate. With all due respect: Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday! Author justmytake.netPosted on December 11, 2021 December 12, 2021 Leave a comment on A Campaign Run. My Takes. Our Dollars. Top Of Mind Thoughts. $10 Billion Of Our Money. Top Of Mind. I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday. We came out of the holiday weekend with the unfortunate news that another variant of coronavirus had reared its ugly head. This strain, named Omicron by the W.H.O., is another variant of concern, similar to the Delta strain of Covid-19. As always, I will not mince words, but I will be cautious with my opinions of the vaccines and the pharmaceutical companies employed to battle coronaviruses. I have both Moderna shots, as well as the booster. It was my personal decision, which was simply based on the science and data published to date. While I do feel good about receiving the three shots, I am a bit concerned about the reaction generated by the discovery of the Omicron variant. My concern is not with the worldwide healthcare organizations or the governments that oversee these entities. My concern is with the pharmaceutical companies participating in the development and production of coronavirus vaccines. No more than twenty-four hours after the Omicron variant was publicized, the Moderna CEO, Stéphane Bancel, declared that they had started working on a vaccine to combat this new coronavirus strain. While on the surface his statement was well-received, his comments and viral public relations campaign did not sit well with me. My first reaction is how could Moderna, after no more than forty-eight hours, have discovered and studied the Omicron mutations on the spike protein, which the virus uses to infect human cells? Bancel went on to state that the existing vaccines, including the booster, would probably not be effective with battling Omicron. I just found it very odd that the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company would provide the world with these statements so soon after the discovery of this new variant. While I want to believe that Bancel and Moderna were way ahead of the curve with the discovery and identification of the Omicron strain, my quick research of Moderna’s year-to-date and quarterly earnings cause me concern. The U.S. government has paid Moderna over $10B to produce and distribute the Covid-19 vaccine. That is $10B of taxpayer dollars to one of a few companies involved with the creation of coronavirus vaccines. Was Bancel expressing his concern about the new variant, or positioning Moderna to reap additional and massive top line revenue by creating and distributing a new round of vaccines? A legitimate healthcare executive being forthright or another money grab? You may think my take is a bit harsh and shallow, which is fair enough, but explain to me what the go-forward is with paying these pharmaceutical companies billions of dollars should five more coronavirus variants come our way? Some Things I Think As We Approach Year-End: NASA and the Japanese space agency’s plan to slam a rocket into an asteroid is underway. Designated as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, this is a test of ‘planetary defense’ against near-Earth objects. I guess it is better to practice altering the orbit of an asteroid than waiting around for a real-life “Deep Impact” movie scenario to play out? The Easy Company was the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. HBO produced a documentary about Easy Company, called Band of Brothers, which provided us with the exploits of this parachute and rifle battalion. The last surviving officer of Easy Company passed away last week at the age 99. Ed Shames was the first member of the 101st to enter the Dachau concentration camp, a day after is liberation. When Germany surrendered, Ed Shames and his men of Easy Company entered Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest where Ed managed to acquire a few bottles of cognac, with a label indicating that they were for “the Fuhrer’s use only.” Later, he would use the cognac to toast his oldest son’s Bar Mitzvah. RIP Edward D. Shames. What is the mindset of the rogue groups of people breaking into stores and taking merchandise at will? Where does this self-serving, criminal activity stem from? I have a very definitive way to end this behavior once and for all – but will spare all of you the details. Well, here is a hint: it is the Italian breed of the mastiff, and humans are no match for this animal. The Cane Corso breed. Go ahead, break into a Nordstrom department store. I can’t wait for the docu-drama about the Cuomo brothers: Andrew, the former governor of New York, and his brother Chris, who hosted CNN’s #1 prime time show. Their father, the late Mario Cuomo, was not without controversy while the governor of New York between 1983-1994. There is no greater college football spectacle than the SEC championship game. Yesterday was a perfect example. Speaking of competitive sports, Tiger is back at it. This weekend, he hosted his annual charity golf tournament, the Hero World Challenge. This tournament, held in the Bahamas, is in its 20th year and has raised over $32M to date with the proceeds benefiting youth focused charities. For those of us who were wondering if Tiger would ever be able to play golf again, take a look at this short video from Thursday’s first round: Tiger raises big money for kids at his annual Hero World Challenge. With 2022 just over three weeks away, what can we expect with our economy, healthcare, and military? How well will the financial markets continue to perform? How will the Delta and Omicron variants, as well as future strains, effect hospitals and other healthcare facilities? Will relative détente continue with China, North Korea, Russia, and the Middle East? I had not watched an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm for many years. I caught an episode last week, only to be reminded of how Larry David’s acting is so bizarre and uncomfortable. Is he really acting or is he the greater generation of Archie Bunker, George Jefferson, and Al Bundy? The stuff that comes out of his mouth is multi-dimensional…funny, alarming, rude, and vulgar…all wrapped up into one. Though this video clip is only three minutes, it just about wraps up what Larry David is all about. As my daughter frequently tells or texts me: OMG. Larry David at his finest. Adios, pay if forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday!! Author justmytake.netPosted on December 4, 2021 December 4, 2021 Leave a comment on Our Dollars. Top Of Mind Thoughts. Perspectives. A Heartfelt Response. Not Your Everyday Astrophysicist. A 17-Year-Old Boy. Tea. Two weeks ago, my take on our Generals from yesteryear generated many responses. In light of some people’s comments, I asked a former U.S. Marine to provide his take on our military leadership, and more importantly his overall thoughts of where we are with the deployment of our men and women. He was originally deployed in 2004, and subsequently served in Iraq. His roles and responsibilities included entry control point operations, where he would inspect cars searching for explosives, weapons, and contraband. I have been careful with my edits in order for all of us to clearly understand his perspective. Thank you to this week’s contributor. Your heartfelt thoughts, and your service to the United States, are greatly appreciated. OK… So, the issue we are seeing with today’s generals are the same issues we see with a lot of enlisted. Since only 1% of the population serves into today’s all-volunteer force, they are clearly the exception. But in today’s military, some service members mistake exception with exceptional. In a post 9/11 world, service members were lifted up by the press and by the public (obviously better than what the Vietnam vets got). But now, with social media, people are getting high on their own supply. So, officers become political figures FAR earlier than before. And since it’s an all-volunteer force, the political fallout is FAR less than the later stages of Vietnam where EVERYONE got called up. Now, enlisted can say whatever they want until it goes viral. But by then, they are low-grade celebrities. Officers say whatever they want but are politically protected. So, it’s a toxic mix. Ike (Eisenhower) had to deal with tens of thousands of deaths in a week. Now, three thousand deaths are considered a blunder. The public also plays a role in this… Service isn’t the same. There isn’t a collective price to pay anymore. If you were an able male in the 1940’s and didn’t go, people judged you. In Vietnam, when CACO (Casualty Assistance Calls Officer) showed up with death notices, they would hit multiple houses on the same street. During the surge in Iraq, the only people who carried the weight were the families of those who deployed… Everyone else went to the mall. So, after a decade plus of war, most of America moved on. Which meant people overseas felt overlooked, or worse, looked down on. So now we have a real toxic combination. When we had a collective price to pay, the officers understood the burden. A lack of social media meant they couldn’t just say whatever they wanted when they wanted. Even if they felt the same as officers today. Can you imagine Patton with Twitter? Or Westmoreland after My Lai? I’m sure we’d be seeing a lot of the same as we’re seeing today. So short story long, we as a society have allowed too much war for too long and allowed the creation of a warrior caste. Fathers went to war, and in some cases, their sons finished it. Some vets feel superior to the civilian caste. They feel unheard, neglected, and they are ANGRY. This is what I hear directly from a lot of the guys I served with. Gary, I don’t know what is going to fix this. We need a LONG period without conflict to settle things down. We need to invest in the V.A. MANY times over. We need to allow more vets to get care outside of the V.A. to reduce pressure on the system. A lot of anger, a lot of hurt, and a lot of grief. All of that death, and for what? We gained NOTHING. The gate I guarded where I picked body parts out of a barbed wire fence? Where I was rocket attacked? Where I dug through cars looking for bombs? Iraqis run it. ISIS is 10 miles away from there. My friend who was in Afghanistan? Lost friends, translators, and his translator was left behind. A generation is realizing that our service didn’t benefit people here. No one here is more or less free. We didn’t liberate concentration camps. We didn’t end Fascism. We didn’t stop the Red Army from crossing the 38th parallel. All we had was each other and the love of our friends and family. Many vets feel used. Many more feel forgotten. I know this may not be what you expected, but the answer is very complex, and SO many things feed into it. My body is broken. Two torn quads, calcium deposits in my knees, losing my hearing, MANY concussions, and enough bad memories to last a lifetime. I made a choice; I signed the contract. I’m glad I went, because if I’m not there, it’s an 18-year-old getting body parts out of a fence. I did what I had to do. But I’m tired of war. I’m tired of hearing from 25-year-olds who had 6 deployments. And more than anything, I am tired of vets who feel that their opinion is more valuable than a civilian. Because that’s who we serve. We serve the people. Not major corporations, not political parties. We have forgotten that. I had the opportunity (privilege is a better description) of attending a lecture by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. I was obviously concerned that his content would be way over my head, but pleasantly surprised that he has the ability to present very complicated topics in a clear and concise manner. My original concern stemmed from watching the amazing series “Cosmos” – with deGrasse Tyson both hosting and narrating. An amazing series with tremendous writing and spectacular motion graphics, but a good bit of the content did not register with me. Last Wednesday night, at the beautiful Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in downtown Orlando, deGrasse Tyson dumbed-down a great discussion about the perennial mismatch between expectations of why the United States has fallen behind with our space program due to the geopolitical, cultural, and economic realities that limit it. His method of presentation is actually very simple, using his laptop and the theater’s large screen. He gave examples that were both eye-opening and humorous, and received a standing ovation after speaking for over two hours. deGrasse Tyson spent a good bit of time discussing the U.S. space program, and why, in his opinion, we have failed to progressively enhance space exploration. His comments surrounded our competition in the so-called ‘space race’, with his strong feelings that the United States only benchmarks our programs against other countries. He suggested that the use of space vehicles for military or defense purposes was one way to stimulate the spend for the space program, and then reinforced his thoughts by showing the audience this video, which silenced the sold-out theater: India has this defense capability in place. The Prime Minister of India lamenting the fact that his country is now a space power amongst the U.S., Russia, and China, with the ability to destroy targets orbiting the earth. No wonder the United States established the U.S. Space Force, the space service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, the world’s first and currently only independent space force. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a Neil deGrasse Tyson lecture, just do it. You will not be disappointed. Politics are energy-draining, self-serving and without a doubt partisan. Kyle Rittenhouse was 17-years-old when he made the decision to participate in a night of civil protest (unrest) in Kenosha, Wisconsin. On Friday, Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges in an incident where he killed two and injured one. Due process was served, and the twelve-person jury made their decision – for whatever their reasons under the circumstances. With all that said, let’s not lose sight of the fact that it was okay for a 17-year-old to place himself in this situation carrying a AR-15. People and their politics divided on the issues surrounding this case, with the real issue being a 17-year-old running down a street with a AR-15. Has the world just gone mad? I’ll end with one of my favorite Ted Lasso quotes. To all my British friends and associates, no harm meant: Author justmytake.netPosted on November 20, 2021 November 21, 2021 Leave a comment on Perspectives. The Rise And Fall. Five Things. A Stalwart Of Corporate America Is Forced To Pivot. My Top Of Mind Thoughts. Founded in 1892, General Electric Company (GE) is a multinational conglomerate that at one time was involved in aviation, power, renewable energy, digital industry, weapons manufacturing, locomotives, and venture capital and finance. GE divested from several areas, and last week announced that the conglomerate was going to be split into three completely separate companies. The three companies will be focused on aviation, healthcare, and energy. The first spinoff of the healthcare division is planned for 2023 and to be followed by the spinoff of the energy division in 2024. In light of this corporate giant deciding to break up, I turned to a friend of mine who spent many years at GE, serving various roles and responsibilities. Thank you, Chris, for taking the time to give all of us your insight about GE. Given the latest announcement regarding the break-up of GE, I feel a cathartic need to: Provide an ‘insiders’ perspective on GE. What went wrong and why? What the latest announcement might mean to shareholders and employees. A 1984 GE Management Training Team. I joined GE on a management training program in 1984, three years after Jack Welch took helm as CEO. At the time, revenues were about $28B. I have stayed in touch with several of my management training class members (I am the young man seated on the right). I stayed with the company for 28 years, some peers left earlier, and one is still there. In the early 2000’s GE was the most valuable company in the world and when I left, revenues had reached almost $147B. What went wrong? Jack was a great leader. We both hated how hard he drove us and loved the professional and financial rewards he provided. For some of us, it was worth it. He did make one awful decision – promoting Jeff Immelt to CEO. That’s hard for me to say – I worked for Jeff and liked him a lot. But we were taught to be candid, and, in obvious hindsight, Jeff was just the wrong guy to lead GE into the twenty-first century. Jeff and the Board made many bad investments. Repeatedly, they overpaid for acquisitions and over-levered the company with debt. At the same time, the company lost its focus on costs. The solution was to sell off assets to pay down the debt and meet other obligations. The company needed a leader who was not wedded to its past or paradigms. Investors lost confidence in Jeff and for the first time in the company’s 130+ year history, they turned to an outsider. Over the last 5 years, GE stock lost 2% of its value each year while the S&P increased 9% on average. The latest announcement by CEO Larry Culp to separate the remaining pieces was a final admission that the company could not achieve necessary returns and was likely not self-sustaining. This move will create some near-term value for current shareholders of GE. If you are one, based on prior divestitures, I expect you will be issued shares in the two new companies as each are spun off (a healthcare company and an energy company – both to be named). Your newly formed company positions will be offset with a re-valued ~ $20B GE (aircraft engine business) at a lower share price. The above is only my perspective. Others may see if differently. Regardless, in the end, I remain so very grateful to have worked for and learned so much at GE. Five Things I Think I Think: Kyle Rittenhouse is one mature 18-year-old, or one of the best actors ever. There needs to be a standardized protocol dictating Covid tests and/or vaccinations to enter different venues and facilities. Obviously, this is not an issue for those who are vaccinated. Former NFL coach Jon Gruden’s contract was $10M a year for ten years. He resigned last month after revelations that he had made racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments. He now decides to sue the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Another baseless lawsuit. I am trying to be more cognizant and respectful of the environmental challenges some will face in the future. Automobile companies are betting big on their fleets of electric cars. In fact, various economists predict that U.S. all-electric sales to be 25% to 30% of new vehicles in 2030 and 45% to 50% by 2035. How will this onslaught of electric cars affect the world’s power grids? Maybe my friend T.A. can help us understand how power generation and supply entities are planning on dealing with this issue? Mental health finally is finding its way into the regular and normal thread of healthcare. It is about time that all of us respect the fact that people struggle with a myriad of health issues, and they are not necessarily physical. The pandemic, in my opinion, literally fueled the fire of mental health awareness. The welfare of our friends and family’s mental health is not to be taken lightly. Speaking of mental health, I leave you with some inspiring words from the one and only Michael Scott, from the television hit, The Office: Well said, Michael Scott! Author justmytake.netPosted on November 13, 2021 November 13, 2021 Leave a comment on The Rise And Fall. Five Things. Questions. Not Necessarily Answers. What does Professor Yuval Noah Harari know that we do not? You only need to watch the first three minutes of this 60 Minutes segment. Harari has strong words and feelings that the artificial intelligence craze, fueled by public and private entities’ race to garnering data, will eventually lead to a greater inequality of the human species. He feels that the ability to edit genetic codes and brain interfaces will ultimately lead to non-organic entities…creating biological inequality fueled by money, which will end up being the determining factor to engineering and creating a new being. A new being that relies on intelligence without conscience. Uncomfortable to think about to say the least. Artificial Intelligence and data harvesting = intelligence without conscience. As an example, listen to the late General Norman Schwarzkopf explain Rule 14. If a newly-created species is relying on intelligence only, and not their conscience, Schwarzkopf’s Rule 14 goes down the drain: Rule 14. “Do what’s right.” Do you know what Veterans Day commemorates? The Federal Holiday is celebrated this Thursday, February 11. The holiday honors all who have served in the United States Armed Forces – and is a reminder of the sacrifice made by women and men to protect the United States. Of all days, stand up, give up your seat, shake a veteran’s hand, and above all else thank them for their service. This holiday is not about politics, it is about honor and sacrifice. The very least we can all do is thank our veterans for their service. If Neil can’t explain the dilemma of daylight savings time….no one can. For years I have not been shy with my disdain with daylight savings time ending. Sure, I understand that young children going to school in the morning darkness is troublesome, but who really enjoys darkness before 6PM? I do not and as Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson tells us, he is not a fan of the time changing at all. I know all of you set your clocks back an hour :). The dilemma of daylight savings time continues… Where have our powerful and outspoken military leaders gone? Don’t misunderstand what I am asking. I have the utmost respect for our current military leaders, but who has the ultra-personas of Pershing, Patton, MacArthur, Schwarzkopf, and Mattis? Another famous general passed on last week, a leader who overcame many barriers. General Colin Powell was the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. When he walked into a briefing room, similar to the Generals mentioned above, his tremendous presence and ability to clearly communicate had everyone’s attention. RIP, General Colin Powell. General James “Mad Dog” Mattis was known for his candor and directness with his troops, the enemy and the media. His passion and disdain for the enemy was never addressed better than with one of his many eyebrow-raising quotes: “You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn’t wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain’t got no manhood left anyway. So it’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them.” Is there a more narcissistic, megalomaniac in professional sports than Aaron Rodgers? That question has nothing to do with politics. That question is why would he put himself, his family, and his teammates in a tough situation with the Green Bay Packers and the League? Many people do not like NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but Goodell will earn his pay with mitigating the fallout of Rodgers’ misleading statement regarding his vaccination. To each their own, but misleading your coaching staff and teammates is not acceptable. Where have ABBA been? It has been forty years since this Swedish band broke up, but they are back with original tracks…and they sound similar to their famous hits from yesteryear. There was something always interesting about listening to their music. Here is one from their new Voyage release: After forty years, ABBA has released their new album, Voyage. How many diet, meal, and nutrition plans can there really be? I find it amazing how flooded this space continues to be with new ventures popping up every day. There are many different types of plans, with Noom and others leading the way, but how someone determines which plan to take on is beyond me. Then, just when we really dig into Atkins, Keto, and high-protein solutions, the reality of nutrition becomes quite apparent: Nutrition at its finest. Adios, pay it forward, stay safe, and have a Funday Sunday! Author justmytake.netPosted on November 7, 2021 November 13, 2021 Leave a comment on Questions. Woke This. I Have Some Ideas. Anyone who has read a few of my posts over the last five years understands that I have a zero-tolerance policy with anything to do with discrimination and racism. Zero-tolerance comes from my upbringing, where I lived, worked, and played with people from many different countries, from different races, and with varied religious beliefs. Sure, I understand that people across the United States feel impelled to voice their opinions to ensure that injustice and prejudice are called out and exposed. With all of that said, I now have a zero -tolerance to “woke.” I am over the use of the word “woke”, do not want the word used to generalize the feelings of people, and now have disdain for the very definition of “woke”: A term originating in the United States that originally meant to be alert to racial prejudice and discrimination. For many years, journalists and protestors alike have had a misguided impression of the Atlanta Braves being just that, the Atlanta Braves. The Braves’ organization has made a tremendous effort to ensure that American Indians around the United States feel honored by the nickname “Braves” and appreciate that the fans chopping and chanting during the ‘tomahawk chop’ are actually honoring the American Indian. The article below, from a Sports Illustrated journalist, is completely off base and actually a poor piece of journalism. Shame on you Sports Illustrated. A thank you to my long-time friend Mario for sending me this crap piece of journalism. https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/10/28/atlanta-braves-tomahawk-chop-daily-cover Speaking of “woke” we again turn our undivided attention to baseball. The use of the term ‘bullpen’ was first coined by a sports journalist back in 1877, one hundred and forty-four years ago. In simple terms, baseball’s bullpen area is a cordoned off area where pitchers warm up before they are called into the game. The bullpen is part of baseball, no different than the dugout or on-deck circle. Now, in the year 2021, with all of the world’s issues and concerns, PETA has decided to step to the plate. They have gone viral with their concerns that the term bullpen, THE AREA OF THE FIELD WHERE PITCHERS WARM UP, ‘devalues talented players and mocks the misery of sensitive animals.’ PETA has recommended that the term ‘bullpen’ be changed to the term ‘arm barn.’ Say what? I have an idea: PETA, please stay in your lane and spend your time on worthy causes protecting our animals. A friend of mine knows I like history, so she recommended that I watch “Through The Decades,” a daily show hosted by Bill Kurtis that documents events that happened on that date in history. I have watched it a few times – and it is so well done that I now wonder why this show, which has been on-air for five years, is not part of some network’s prime time lineup. I have an idea: How about our school systems across America making “Through The Decades” a part of their daily curriculum? Speaking of education and television, is there a better documentary series than the PBS show ‘Frontline?’ The series digs down deep into top-of-mind topics, with a high level of content and production. Last week I caught the ‘Frontline’ episode detailing the missteps taken by Boeing with their 737 Max – an airplane that employed a sophisticated software system. Due to cost and the rush to get this plane into the skies, the use of the software system was never made part of the training curriculum for pilots of airlines who purchased the 737 Max from Boeing. I have an idea: How about the FAA ensuring that this blatant oversight never happen again? Below is the trailer – you can watch this stunning episode and others on YouTube. Frontline produced this documentary detailing the real issues with the 737 Max. Facebook has gone from an incredible technology platform to a source of unguided persuasion and unreliable information. They changed their name to “Meta”, which by definition is a prefix — a word put before another — means after or beyond, to operate at a higher level, or change. I have an idea: How about everyone “operate at a higher level” and stop taking Meta (Facebook) as a literal presentation and representation of our daily lives? I had an unusual confrontation with Alec Baldwin back in 2007, just days after a voicemail recording went viral with him telling his 11-year-old daughter that she was a ‘rude, thoughtless, little pig.’ It is a long story, but he was behind me at the LaGuardia Airport security check and may have caught me giving him ‘my look’, which stemmed from the fact that I was also a single parent of a daughter. He followed me to get a coffee, and with many seats available in the common seating area, he decided to sit down next to me. Anyone who knows me can imagine what I said to him – but respectfully listened to him rant and rave about his ex-wife, Kim Basinger. Thankfully, after twenty minutes of a heated discussion, Baldwin got completely distracted when a very attractive mom and her daughter decided to sit across from us…and you know the rest of that story. Sure, I am no fan of Alec Baldwin, but NO ONE should suffer the consequences of what happened on the ‘Rust’ movie set, including Alec Baldwin. I have an idea: A strict mandate from SAG and IATSE that no live ammunition, at any time, for any reason, should ever be allowed on a set again. Tomorrow is November 1. Twenty-five days to Thanksgiving. Seven weeks until Christmas. Eight weeks until 2022. It has been another different kind of year and hopefully 2022 will be full of success, health, and happiness. I have an idea: How about everyone just stop with hiding behind “woke” and getting on with our lives in a safe and meaningful way? It’s just an idea. Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and Have a Funday Sunday. Author justmytake.netPosted on October 30, 2021 October 30, 2021 Leave a comment on Woke This. sazehebtekar.com on Dominance on the Courts. Retail Woes. March On This. justmytake.net on Check It or Hide It? Downtown West Palm. Semper Paratus. wunderino on Check It or Hide It? Downtown West Palm. Semper Paratus. anderson home improvement on Check It or Hide It? Downtown West Palm. Semper Paratus. taca airlines on There Must Be An Island. Short Takes. JUST MY TAKE Proudly powered by WordPress	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line50
__label__wiki	0.688441	0.688441	Jamaica caught in the cross winds of Cold War Politics and South Africa 11:33 am, Tue December 10, 2013 Nelson Mandela (left) welcomed to Jamaica at Norman Manley Int’l Airport by Prime Minister Michael Manley - July of 1991. Michael Manley in September 1996 interview with Earl Moxam The iconic photograph of America's current President, Barrack Obama, shaking hads with Cuba's Raul Castro at the memorial service for anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela in South Africa on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, evoked reminders of half-a-century of enmity between America and Cuba, and raised hopes of a further thawing of those relations. It also brought back recollections of Cuba's role in sending troops to Angola during the 1970s, much to the disapproval of the United States, and Jamaica's support, under Prime Minister Michael Manley, for the Cuban action. Manley argued strongly in support of Cuban military intervention in the Angolan conflict because he saw that as a necessary move to block the further advance of the influence of the apartheid regime in South Africa on the African continent. In a 1996 interview, Manley, reflecting on that uneasy passage of history, including his encounters with then American Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. "Angola was important for South Africa because if they could have conquered it they would have completely undermined the Frontline States and the Frontline States were of course the base which the ANC had to use in the internal struggle against apartheid and was also the base that SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organisation) had to use for what is now Namibia." The South African strategic plan was quite clear, according to Manley: "They had already destroyed Mozanbique by destabilising the Somora Machel Regime, whipping up tribal conflict and stuff like that. If they could have completed the process in Angola they would have had the two wings intact to roll up everything from Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe etc... They would have pushed the strategic border of South Africa nearly one thousand miles to the north and they would also have had access to oil and many other things." Cuba was the only country "with a chance to rescue Angola from the South Africa army when it launched out from Namibia to attack Angola", Manley asserted, describing the Caribbean nation's intervention in Angola as "one of the bravest decisions of history." As Prime Minister, Michael Manley sought to explain the Jamaican position to Henry Kissinger, who wanted Jamaica to support the American position in opposition to the Cuban intervention at the United Nations. "I tried my best to explain this to Kissinger. I said, look, if we have to support Cuba here it is nothing anti-American, it hasn't a trace of anything to do with your politics and your interest; we are in the anti-apartheid struggle." Nevertheless, Mr. Manley claimed, in his book" Struggle in the Periphery" that the American government punished Jamaica by withholding a line of credit that was being negotiated at the time and further, that it fomented activities to undermine the stability of the country for a period. Michael Manley served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from March 1972 to October 1980 and from February 1989 to March 1992. He died in March 1997.	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line51
__label__wiki	0.919088	0.919088	Hope bloats Filed under: Our FIlms — Rajeev @ 11:35 pm Cast: John Abraham, Sonal Sehgal, Anaitha Nair, Farida Jalal, Girish Karnad Director: Nagesh Kukunoor There are many reasons why Aashayein is a difficult film to sit through, but chief among them is its misplaced sense of self-importance. John Abraham lumbers through his scenes as chain-smoking gambler Rahul, who abandons his live-in girlfriend and takes off to a remote home for the terminally ill when he’s diagnosed with lung cancer. There he smokes some more, befriends the assorted co-patients, and ultimately redeems himself when he sets out to fulfill their last wishes. It’s a formulaic, tried-and-tested plot that’s inherently manipulative anyway, but director Nagesh Kukunoor weighs it down further with a tone of self-congratulatory smugness. An AIDS-afflicted ex-prostitute (played by our favourite screen-mummy Farida Jalal) is treated like a pariah by the other patients, until Rahul comes along and shows them the error of their ways. He reunites an older speech-impaired patient (played by Girish Karnad) with his estranged family; and softens a caustic teenage patient when he indulges her romantic fantasies. Aashayein as you can see, is the kind of film that’s yelling out to its audience: “Look at me! Look what a noble, heartfelt film I am!” The only character in this movie written flexibly enough for an actor to inject any personality into it is Padma, the wheelchair-bound teenager (played by Anaitha Nair) who has a knack of saying all the wrong things at the wrong time. In a film bursting with stereotypes and cardboard caricatures, she’s the only flesh-and-blood character that rings true. There’s an interesting track involving Rahul’s obsession with the cult film Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it’s sadly overwritten and ends up becoming so ridiculous that you wish they’d never tried. Unlike Kukunoor’s earlier gem Iqbal – also a formulaic film but one that pushed all the right buttons – Aashayein is contrived and goes for emotional overkill instead of subtle humour. The film’s pre-climax scene in which Rahul finally agrees to Padma’s last wish is calculated to get those tear-ducts going. But it’s so awkwardly performed and written that it comes off as laughably stupid and defeats its very purpose. John Abraham’s shoulders may be broad, but he can’t seem to lift this sinking mess of a movie. He struggles through the emotional scenes, never really helped by Kukunoor’s shoddy writing and ham-fisted direction. I’m going with one-and-a-half out of five for Aashayein. Intended as a heart-felt story, it is in fact a serious test of your patience.	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line52
__label__cc	0.67231	0.32769	Meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Vladimir Putin took part in a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council via videoconference. Also taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan Pashinyan NikolPrime Minister of the Republic of Armenia , President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko Lukashenko AlexanderPresident of Belarus , President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Tokayev Kassym-JomartPresident of the Republic of Kazakhstan and President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov Japarov SadyrPresident of the Kyrgyz Republic ; heads of the EAEU observer states – President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez Diaz-Canel Bermudez MiguelPresident of the Republic of Cuba and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev Mirziyoyev ShavkatPresident of Uzbekistan ; Honorary Chairman of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Nursultan Nazarbayev Nazarbayev Nursultan , Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States Sergei Lebedev, and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank Nikolai Podguzov. The participants adopted a package of documents following the meeting. In particular, they adopted agreements on the use of navigation seals to track shipments in the Eurasian Economic Union and on audit activities within the EAEU. A number of decisions were also taken, including on the formation of a free trade zone between the EAEU and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the areas of the EAEU’s international activities for 2022, observer state status in the EAEU, and the functioning of a common services market. Speech by the President of Russia at the Eurasian Economic Council meeting President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Tokayev, colleagues, friends, Like the speakers before me, I would like to thank our Kazakhstani friends for their work during Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the Eurasian Economic Union this year. I want to stress that I have seen and I know how personally engaged the President of Kazakhstan is in this work. He devotes a great deal of his time to it. Despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the volatility of global markets, our cooperation within the EAEU has been quite productive. Indeed, I would like to confirm once again the words of our Kazakhstani colleague. The First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev was the one who initiated this union. I remember very well his telephone call when he asked me several, should I say, sacramental questions about Russia’s priorities for the nearest future. We agreed that creating an integration union would be the priority for both Kazakhstan and Russia. We had discussed it before. Belarus and even Ukraine were ready to join it. It did not work out with Ukraine although the Ukrainian leaders at the time expressed their intention to join us. Nevertheless, thanks to the First President of Kazakhstan, this process started to develop and today, we can see that it was the right thing to do, during this difficult period for the entire global economy and for our economy as well. We can see that, thanks to our joint efforts, we also managed to increase mutual trade, despite all the difficulties. Over the nine months of this year, the trade between the EAEU members increased by around 16 percent, according to Mr Tokayev, and by 10 percent compared to 2019, before the coronavirus, according to our statistics. At any rate, it is a good result. Mutual investment, the financial sector and the labour market are also showing steady growth. I would also like to point out with satisfaction that the improvement of the EAEU legislation is ongoing. It is being adjusted to the new challenging tasks of our integration development. Our countries’ economic ministries and agencies are working actively with the Eurasian Economic Commission to identify and remove obstacles to the free movement of goods, services, capital and workforce, which the First President of Kazakhstan has mentioned in his statement today. New major steps, or rather a big step will be made in this direction today in connection with a large package of amendments to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union that has been prepared and submitted for our approval. The goal of these amendments is to fill in the existing gaps in the legal regulation of our economic activity in the EAEU space. Russia was directly involved in drafting these amendments, and we certainly support their adoption. We also support the draft joint documents on the further development of our common services market, including in the construction, audit and evaluation sectors. In addition to this, today we are expected to approve an agreement on the use of electronic navigation seals in the EAEU, which has been drafted at Russia’s initiative. I would like to repeat what we said on this score several years ago: I fully agree with our colleagues, who have spoken about this just now, that these seals allow us to monitor cross-border cargo transportation, guarantee the safety of goods, and simplify border clearance procedures. Incidentally, this will also greatly alleviate the concern of many other countries, which are watching the activities of our Union and have observer status in it. The use of such seals will certainly enhance the transparency of customs operations and will have a positive impact on the development of the transportation services sector in the EAEU. Our colleague from Kyrgyzstan has said this just now, and I fully agree with him. It is also important that this will make our transit routes more attractive for the movement of goods between Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Russia has several other proposals on how to ensure the transparency of the EAEU goods and services markets, and we hope they will meet with the support of our integration partners. In particular, we are talking about a broader introduction of goods-marking mechanisms that are already in use for certain items. This practice has proven its effectiveness in addressing such tasks as combating illegal trade, especially in the consumer sector, increasing tax revenues to the budgets of the member countries, and creating a competitive environment for businesses. The Russian side is also consistently promoting the further expansion of mutually beneficial industrial cooperation within the EAEU, as the President of Belarus has said today. This year, a comprehensive strategy of industrial cooperation between the EAEU member countries and the roadmap to implement it have been approved. These mutually complementary documents lay the foundation for deepening cooperation ties between production enterprises of our states and accelerating the import substitution process within the Union. Efforts to combat the coronavirus infection encourage our countries to establish closer partnership in the pharmaceutical industry and in medicine in general. I remember when the Prime Minister of Armenia initiated our joint work in this area and even proposed an entire programme in this context. In fact, we are implementing it right now. In line with the instruction that we gave as part of our meeting last December, most EAEU states have established the production of Russian vaccines. At the same time, I would like to stress that Russia has not only invested in industrial capacities and new jobs, but also organised the transfer of the most advanced biomedical technologies. This way our EAEU partners managed to speed up the vaccination of their population with highly effective medicines – produced locally, let me stress this. Thanks to this, collective immunity to COVID-19 is increasing throughout the Eurasian space. This is important for creating conditions to fully resume the free movement of our people across the Union. The implementation of another joint project in the field of innovation and information technology, I mean the smartphone mobile app Travel without COVID-19, also helps in resuming the movement of people during the pandemic. By the way, in addition to the EAEU, it is used in other countries, too: Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. We suggest carrying on the work to improve its functions and expand the locations of its use. There are also other highly relevant and important areas where we need to boost cooperation between the EAEU member states, such as the climate agenda and the green transformation of the economy. My colleagues just spoke about that. By the way, at Russia’s initiative, a special high-level working group was formed to coordinate our positions regarding counteracting greenhouse gas emissions and reaching carbon neutrality and protecting the environment. We count on the further constructive work with our EAEU partners in this area. I know that all of you, colleagues, are involved one way or another in this work. I suggest we act more consistently and actively in this field. I am pleased to note that observer states are joining the activity of the Eurasian Union more actively; we already spoke about it today and I heartily welcome our colleagues from Cuba and Uzbekistan. By the way, Moldova also showed interest in this. They have the opportunity to take part in the activity of the integration agencies at all levels, learn about the process of preparing integration documents and using them to implement the decisions made. We know how the energy situation in Europe is developing. Moldova could have been closer to dealing with some issues and probably it would have been easier for it to deal with new ones if it were up to speed on all the developments and the decisions we make. But we have come to an arrangement, proceeding from common interests, and dealt with those issues. But it is a fact, if they had the information, it would be easier for them to solve some problems we are talking about now. In addition, the EAEU integration attracts the attention and interest of other foreign states. In particular, a flexible system of interaction between our Union and the member states of such integration associations as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and ASEAN has been developed. Talks are underway with Iran on signing a full agreement on free trade; we already spoke about it today. We have also agreed with Iran to extend the existing interim agreement to three years or until the permanent agreement on free trade comes into force. The implementation of this document will bring good results, I am sure. I also want to emphasise that Russia supports the boosting of international business ties and contacts of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the further expansion of the range of preferential and non-preferential agreements with other countries. And, of course, we also support the presented draft resolution on this issue. From this perspective, I want to note that our Kyrgyzstani friends, who will hold the chairmanship in the Eurasian Union next year, will face truly serious and demanding challenges. Of course, Kyrgyzstan can count on Russia’s every possible assistance. EAEU	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line55
__label__cc	0.598053	0.401947	Art Poetry ‘The People’s Poet’ to Read at Penn State Behrend August 31, 2016 April 12, 2017 erijams Eugenie Baumann Smith Fund, Guggenheim Fellowship, New Jersey, Penn State Behrend Creative Writers Reading Series returns September 1 Martín Espada has a reputation as “the people’s poet,” and it’s easy to see why. Espada never shies away from addressing social issues in his poetry. Instead, he embraces them, and he does so with humor. “My use of humor is a conscious effort to defy stereotypes,” Espada said in a 2007 interview. “It’s a conscious effort, first of all, to get an audience to listen more to me. I believe that when your work contains a political or social message as my work does, you have to figure out strategies for reaching your audience.” Espada will read excerpts from his latest collection, “Vivas to Those Who Have Failed,” on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the 2016-17 edition of the Creative Writers Reading Series kicks off at Penn State Behrend. His 6 p.m. reading and the reception that will precede it are free and open to the public. Both events will be held in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. “Vivas to Those Who Have Failed” was published in 2016 and, like much of Espada’s work, addresses social issues. It includes a poem that focuses on the 1913 Paterson silk strike, where immigrant workers in New Jersey fought for better working conditions. He also addresses present-day issues, including police killings of unarmed African-Americans. Espada is a professor of English at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and previously worked as a tenant lawyer. He has been honored with several awards, including the Guggenheim Fellowship, and his collection “The Republic of Poetry” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Overall, Espada has published nearly 20 books as a poet, editor, essayist and translator. The Creative Writers Reading Series is produced by Penn State Behrend’s B.F.A. in Creative Writing degree program with support from the Clarence A. and Eugenie Baumann Smith Fund. For additional information, call 814-898-6108 or visit behrend.psu.edu/readings ← Mood Swing Review: A Solo Exhibition by Ron Bayuzick Special Olympics Polar Plunge Registration Open →	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line58
__label__wiki	0.703578	0.703578	Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of The Eastern Dales Featuring Highlights Of The Beryl Burton Cycle Route Welcome to this part of my site featuring pictures taken from my return to cycling in the Yorkshire Dales based on the eastern part of the Dales around Nidderdale, lower Wensleydale and now the recently approved Sustrans route 67 that runs southeast of Harrogate to the lower Wharfedale town of Wetherby. Pictures in the order of 1 to 10 are special features of a link cycle route between Harrogate to Knaresborough. It is a spur of national cycle route 67 developed by the Sustrans in 1987 in memory of Beryl Burton OBE who was 7 times world cycling champion who sadly passed away at the age of 58. It is also a good introduction to cycling the Yorkshire Dales from Harrogate and as this path is mostly traffic free, It is suitable for families with young children. The Route from Knaresborough Joins an excellent cycle route that can be followed from the Midlands to North West Scotland. It is known as the National Byway and is Britain's Heritage Cycle Route consisting of roads that use light traffic and rural lanes, Making a good link route to the Dales. Pictures in the order of 10 to 14 feature the Ancient market town of Knaresborough and it may be worth taking a day or so off the road to explore this town as there is so much to see and do. Knaresborough's main tourist attraction on the south side of the Gorge is the historic Mother Shipton's Cave with its Dropping Well and cascading waterfalls. Other tourist attractions of Knaresborough is the Castle with its 14th Century Courthouse and is now a museum. Taking a walk into its picturesque market square there are some buildings of interest such as the oldest chemist shop in England, The Town Hall and Blind Jacks Public House. The short stretch of the A6055 Boroughbridge road that links the National Byway out of Knaresborough can be very busy at peak times and care must be exercised at all times. You can at the expense of a short detour avoid the most hazardous section between High Bridge and Bond End traffic lights. I hope to try print a map explaining this route in the near future. Pictures in the order of 14 to 24 feature my day tour of the Nidderdale and lower Wensleydale section of the Yorkshire Dales as follows. Pictures 15 and 16 feature the historic site of Brimham Rocks, A well known beauty spot located about 4 miles east of the Market Town of Pateley Bridge and is easily accessible by taking a detour off the Byway at Markington, Following through the villages of Bishop Thornton, Shaw Mills and Burnt Yates. The Rocks themselves consist of Millstone Grit dating from the Upper Carboniferous period of some 200 million years ago and as these rocks are about 227 feet above sea level they are some splendid views looking across the whole Plain Of York. Picture 17 features the historic dales town of Pateley Bridge and is a good rest stop for tired and thirsty travellers. Pateley Bridge was once a Lead Mining town and stone querying was one of the main industries of this area. Other tourist attractions of this town is the Nidderdale Museum and the Nidderdale Agricultural Show, Held annually every year towards the end of September. Picture 19 is looking from the bridlepath towards the south east side of Gouthwaite reservoir and you can get some grand views over Heathfield Moor. Gouthwaite reservoir is owned by the Yorkshire water authority and supplies most of the water to the Dales villages and surrounding areas. It is also a sanctuary for rear bird species and provides home for a rich variety of plants. Pictures in the order of 20 to 23 feature the isolated countryside of Nidderdale and the lovely villages of Ramsgill and Lofthouse, Where the Dale starts to get really wild particularly during the Winter season and this part of my route is a mixture of bridleways and on road. A word of warning about the bridleway sections if planning to attempt this route. They are only really suitable for mountain bikes as there are many rough surfaces and should the worst happen such as a puncture or a fall you should have a full survival kit for these kind of routes. Along with other spares, You need a puncture outfit and spare tube. Do not even think of attempting the bridletrack routes in very wet or icy weather conditions. Picture 22 is my departure from Nidderdale and after a well earned steep climb lasting about half an hour, The views are very rewarding towards Masham and Kirkby Malzeard Moor. This is one of the highest roads in the Yorkshire Dales reaching about 429 feet above sea level. The last three quarter of an hour ride to Masham is very pleasant and mostly downhill into the rolling hill countryside of Wensleydale. Masham featured in picture 23 is a pleasant little Market town with plenty of cafes and pubs and is also the home of Theakston's Brewery. The route from Masham rejoins The National Byway where you can retrace your steps to The World Heritage Site Of Fountains Abbey and there is a loop to The Historic Cathedral City Of Ripon if time permits before returning back to Knaresborough. Pictures in the order of 24 to 27 are on the same route of The National Byway except they where taken on a Summer Sunday afternoon ride out to Fountains Abbey and Ripon. Picture 24 features the small City Of Ripon located on the River Ure at the foot of Wensleydale and like Knaresborough it is a lovely tourist town and one of England's smallest cities. Ripon's main tourist attractions is its beautiful Minster Cathedral Church, Ripon Spa Gardens and The Prison and Police Museum. Pictures 25 and 26 feature The Historic Ruin of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Gardens. Fountains Abbey is the worlds most Heritage site and the nearby Studley Royal Gardens are beautiful with flowers in there full bloom during the late spring to early summer season. It also gets very busy during the high summer season so I would suggest you pay a visit very early and make a whole day of it. Picture 27 features the pretty village of Burton Leonard situated on the route between Bishop Monkton and Knaresborough. Picture 30 is a steam railway scene in Starbeck, Not far from the link route to Bilton and has been included because steam was the order of the day on all these old railway paths until the early to mid 1960s when they where out ruled by modern diesel engines. This particular train is The Scarborough Spa Express and used to run every summer until they recently found problems with various sections of the Harrogate to Leeds Line. There is an on road cycle route map of this route in picture 31 that has been compiled using Microsoft auto route and as you can only compile road sections using this software I will describe the following maps that are suitable for this route. If you wish to use the bridletrack sections of this route you need the Ordnance Survey series as follows. For the northern section you will need Northallerton and Ripon 99 Landranger with 1:50 000 scale and for the southern section you will need the Leeds and Bradford 104 Landranger series which covers the Harrogate and Knaresborough sections. If you wish to only do the on road section of this route then Ordnance Survey Road 4 Travel Map titled, Northern England should be suitable for this route. Regular visitors of this page should now know that sections of this cycle route through the dales, now forms the new Sustrans Coast to Coast cycle route titled The Way Of The Roses. It links the Lancashire seaside resort of Morecambe to the East Yorkshire seaside resort of Bridlington and stretches a total of 170 miles. Harrogate and Knaresborough are now linked to this route due to the resent completion of the Nidderdale Greenway and more about this route can be read by visiting the following link Pictures From My Cycle Trail Of The Nidderdale Greenway. Pictures 28 to 29 are also the newly open Bilton stretch of the Nidderdale Greenway. Meanwhile if you intend cycling the route from Knaresborough, The National Byway links with this route at Bishop Monkton with access in both directions. Please also visit my other companion site which has information on the western section of the dales by clicking the following link Pictures From Cycle Tour Of The Western Dales . Pictures in the order of 32 to 41 are pictures of the southeast section of Sustrans route 67, Harrogate to the lower Wharfedale town of Wetherby and the new off road cycle route of Wetherby to Bramham. The southeast section of the Sustrans national cycle network out of Harrogate has only been recently been approved prier to opening a permissive path through Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Show Ground and as a result this avoids the Busy A661 Harrogate to Wetherby Road. To give you an idea, Picture 42 is the onroad route of Wetherby to York. This particular route uses a short hazardous and difficult section of the A661 out of Spofforth village with no pavement and also a short section of the Busy B1224 out of Wetherby has to be used if you intend following the York section, so unless you are experienced with this route it is better to stick with the Wetherby Railway path as it is a traffic free cycle path between Spofforth to Wetherby which I will mention briefly. Picture 43 is the recommended Sustrans cycle route between Spofforth and Wetherby and is an entirely traffic free railway cycle path, suitable for family cycling with young children. There is also a short section that continues to Thorpe Arch Trading Estate in which you can from there follow the miner roads to The City Of York. Just one note regarding this section of the route at Thorpe Arch Trading Estate. The Thorpe Arch to York Section of Sustrans route 66 is not yet approved and involves cycling through the estate and approach roads from Walton and Tadcaster may be very busy during peak times and at weekends. Other then this issue mentioned, the route is very pleasant. The area southeast of Harrogate to Wetherby is not really Yorkshire Dales country with such high fells like Whernside or Ingleborough. It is in fact more low lying and gets more flatter once you get east of Wetherby and is referred to being known as The Vale Of York which is rich in agricultural farming. Never the less, it is still pleasant cycling country steeped in history with many beautiful villages. The area between Harrogate to Spofforth on route 67 is known as the low Crimple Valley which is really a small river or more regarded as a Beck that begins its journey from a small Gill situated on Stainburn Moor which lies about 4 miles west of Harrogate and 4 miles east of Fewston Reservoir. As you start your Journey of this cycle route through the Yorkshire Show Ground, there are grand views of the picturesque Crimple viaduct which still carries the Harrogate to Leeds Railway and you will see the viaduct that used to carry the Harrogate to Wetherby Railway which became a victim of closure in 1964. Like the new Nidderdale Greenway cycle route this particular line could have also been made into a cycleway which would have made a grand traffic free cycle route between Harrogate to Thorpe Arch but instead farmers and landowners jumped in first and purchased part of the land long before such a cycle route could be considered which is a real sad state of affairs. The villages of Follifoot and Spofforth mentioned in the picture text are certainly worth exploring while venturing out on this route and both villages are very well served with pubs and small stores for refreshing your energy. Picture 38 is a view of the lower Wharfedale town of Wetherby and has for century's been a staging post on the A1 Great North Road. It is also situated between London and Edinburgh. This particular riverside view of Wetherby Bridge used to be the main A1 route through the town until it was bypassed during the 1950s. Wetherby is well served with plenty of pubs and restaurants and if you are into Fish And Chips, The Wetherby Whaler situated at the southern end of the town does the best quality Fish and Chips in the entire Yorkshire Reign. I will first give you the bad news, if you intend following the route up the dale towards the Market Towns of Otley and Ilkley. The A659 that runs parallel to the south bank of the Wharfe between Collingham and Otley is a very busy and fast commuter road carrying very heavy traffic virtually all hours of the day and all cyclists must at all costs avoid it. It also has some very narrow sections and the most hazardous sections are the A61 Harewood junction which forms part of the Leeds to Harrogate road. The A658 at Pool Bank which forms part of the Harrogate to Bradford road is completely a no go road for cyclists. I will in the later future hope to feature a route that is possible from Wetherby to the Dales if you intend to avoid Harrogate, But this still involves some busy short sections of A Road. There is some good news for cyclists intending to visit the nearby villages of Boston Spa and Bramham that lie about 4 miles south of Wetherby. Due to the resent upgrade of the A1 dual carriageway into Motorway standard on the stretch that lies between Wetherby to Ferrybridge, They have took the courtesy to construct a traffic free path that runs in parallel with the old Great North Road and the new Motorway section. Picture 39 describes this trail which I like to name as the Wetherby to Bramham cycle trail and is well signposted. Bramham is also a very pleasant village with a local store and 2 Pubs. Like nearby Wetherby, It used to be part of the busy Great North Road and the nearby Bramham Park is a country house named after the village. It is also a private residence allowing visitors by appointment in party groups. Bramham Park is also the setting for the Annual Summer horse trail and the Leeds Music Festival. Pictures in the order of 44 to 46 feature the proposed Knaresborough Strand of The coast to coast Morecambe to Bridlington cycle route, The Way Of The Roses. This is another section of the route that is not yet strictly Sustrans approved and now that the Nidderdale Greenway is complete it is hoped that this section will be worked upon next. The route out of Knaresborough needs the most care which I will briefly describe. The B6164 Wetherby Road that lies between Knaresborough to St James's Retail Park is very busy but there is good news and bad news regarding this section of the route. If you have followed the river bank road that runs between the Mothershipton Bridge and the B6164 Wetherby road, There is at least a section of cycle path until you get to the junction of the A658 Knaresborough bypass and the B6164. This is a very hazardous roundabout with no cycle or pedestrian crossing and the most riskiest of the entire route. The B6164 Knaresborough to Wetherby road is reasonably quite after peak traffic times although some sections have some nasty hairpin bends, Particularly as you approach Little Ribston so great care is still needed. This road can also be very busy on some occasions such as when roadwork's are in progress on the nearby A1, It becomes an A1 diversion road. About 1 mile southeast of Little Ribston village you turn left onto a miner road and it is at this point that you begin to realise the rolling Nidd valley disappears into the flat Plain Of York. Despite the flat countryside this route takes you through the lovely villages of Tockwith, Long Marston and Askham Richard. The area around Long Marston is Known as Marston Moor where the 1644 Battle took place during the first English Civil War of 1642-1646. The route into York city centre follows mostly on cycle paths and miner roads and with common sense it posses less of a hazard then the Knaresborough section of this route. The City Of York is one of the most cycle friendly cities in the Country and has very good rail and other cycle links to the City making it a handy touring base. It is also worth spending a day or two exploring this beautiful City before venturing up to the Dales. To see more pictures of York please check out the following link Pictures From My Tours And Travels Around Yorkshire. Picture 47 features the historic Market Town of Boroughbridge and like Wetherby it is the 2nd Market town situated on the A1 between London and Edinburgh. It is also well served with Teashops and Pubs and is also the halfway stop between Morecambe and Bridlington on the Way of The Roses Cycle Route. There is now some new video footage of my resent cycle trails around Nidderdale in a 6 part series and the links can be located by scrawling to the bottom of this page, Including the new open Nidderdale Greenway- Bilton To Ripley. Pictures in the order of 48 to 52 are newly added pictures from my footage of the extension of National Cycle Route 67 south of Bramham village and feature the historic village of Aberford and the nearby country house and gardens known as The Lotherton Hall Estate. This part of the route needs about the same care as the Wetherby section but as Bramham Crossroads is a very busy Motorway junction you must take great care at its toucan crossing and I regret to say that this section is not suitable for young children or inexperienced cyclists. This route is also useful for cyclists intending to travel southbound to South Yorkshire or The Derbyshire Peak District which like The Yorkshire Dales it has many similarities and also links with The Transpennine Trail which is a link route to Derby and The North Midlands. It also links the southern section of the Pennine Cycleway which is National Cycle Route 68. Start of the link route to Harrogate and Starbeck. This location is at the site of the old Bilton level crossing and now The Nidderdale Greenway. New signposting of The Beryl Burton Cycleway as you approach it from The Nidderdale Greenway at Bilton Lane Junction. The Gardeners Arms Pub. Located in Bilton, On the spur to Knaresborough of national cycle route 67 and handy for a good pint after a day out cycling. The Beryl Burton cycle route. This peaceful location is on the old Bilton track between Bilton Hall and The Caravan Site. The Start of the Beryl Burton cycle track and this locaton is at the entrance of Bilton Hall. A taste of family cycling. This location is on The Beryl Burton cycle track between Bilton Hall and Knaresborough. The Beryl Burton Cycle track. This scene is looking across the Nidd Valley over towards Scotton. The long decend towards Knaresborough where you start to get grand views of the Castle and you need good brakes for this section as it is quite steep. The Beryl Burton Memorial Stone. This Location is in Knaresborough, Just by the Nidd bank towards the end of this trail. Complete new signposting of the Beryl Burton Cycle Route as you approach The Worlds End in Knaresborough. Knaresborough Nidd Gorge. This is looking towards its impressive Mother Shipton viaduct and is still part of the Harrogate to York railway line. Knaresborough Nidd Gorge. This scene is looking south east towards the Castle Ruins and the riverside cafe, Where you can refresh for a snack. Knaresborough. This scene is looking into the Market Place and Knaresborough also forms part of the National Byway, Britain's Heritage Cycle route. Knaresborough. This is in the Parish Church grounds looking across towards the railway station and the recent refurbished Mitre Hotel. Knaresborough. This is looking from the Parish Church Grounds, Over the north west end of the waterside with grand views of Bilton Hall. Brimham Rocks. A first taste of The Yorkshire Dales and there are impressive views from this location of York Minster and The North York Moors. Brimham Rocks. This scene dispite the poor visability is looking south towards Menwith Hill Camp. Pateley Bridge. The capital town of Nidderdale and there are plenty of good bridletrack routes for mountain bikes located near this location. This scene is in Nidderdale, On the bridleway looking over towards Gouthwaite Reservoir, With splended views over Heathfield Moor. The lovely Nidderdale village of Ramsgill, Where you can rejoin the bridlepath to Lofthouse and where you start to get the taste of real Nidderdale. The Bridlepath and Nidderdale Way near Lofthouse and this is where you start to get the most scenic views of this dale which always stays in memory. Lofthouse. This is looking back into the Nidderdale village of lofthouse and is part of the long steep climb up to Masham Moor. The last sight of Nidderdale. This is looking from High Lofthouse and was taken on the long steep road to Masham. This scene is the climb from Lofthouse Moor on my approach to Masham and there are grand views of Roundhill Reservoir The lovely small Wensleydale town of Masham and is located on The National Byway. It is also a good cycle touring route to the Dales. The Historic Cathedral City Of Ripon. Located at the foot of Wensleydale on a loop of The National Byway. The World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey. Located on the Eastern Dales Route of The National Byway, A great day out to remember of a cycle tour. Studley Royal Gardens. Located on the east side of the Fountains Abbey estate and this scene is looking across to The Moon Pond. Burton Leonard. One of the many pretty villages on The National Byway, Located between Knaresborough and Ripon. The start of the new Nidderdale Greenway cycle route at Bilton Lane. This used to be Bilton Junction during the Harrogate to Ripon Railway days. This scene is the newly opened section of The Nidderdale Greenway as you approach the Grade listed 2 Nidd Viaduct.in the southerly direction to Bilton Starbeck Railway Station. Situated not far from the link route of the Beryl Burton Cycle Route and this is a reminder of Steam Days on the old tracks On road cycle route map of this Nidderdale cycle tour excluding the Bridleway tracks and Ordnance Survey 1:50 000 are strongly recommended Follifoot. Situated about 2 miles south east of Harrogate. This village has a long history association with horse sports. Spofforth Castle. 13th Century ruin located in the pleasent village of Spofforth loacted on National route 67 about 5 miles south east of Harrogate. Spofforth. Situated in the low Cimple Valley. Spofforth was also home to the 18th Century road builder, Blind Jack Metcalf. The Harland Way. The traffic free sustrans cycle route 67, Spofforth to Wetherby section. This location is the entrance at Spofforth. The Harland Way Cycle path. This location is near Wetherby and used to be part of the Harrogate to Church Fenton Railway. The Harland Way. This is the signposting located between Wetherby and Spofforth. This Railway also became a victim of closure during the 1960s. Wetherby. Pleasent lower Wharfedale town situated about 9 miles south east of Harrogate on the Sustrans route 67 to York. The new Wetherby to Bramham cycle route that runs parallel to the A1 M Great North Road. This scene is approaching in the direction of Wetherby. Bramham. Pleasent old Coaching Inn village Located 4 miles south of Wetherby on the A1 Great North Road and is famous for its Summer horse trail. Bramham. This milestone gives evidance of the original A1 Great North Road, long before it was bypassed and later became the A1 M. Harrogate to York cycle route. This is the onroad route avoiding the Harland Way and involves short busy sections of A Road out of Spofforth The Recommended traffic free cycle route to Wetherby and Thorpe Arch Trading estate, if you intend to go eastwards to York or the East Coast. Askham Richard. Pleasent Conservation village located about 6 miles southwest of York and is the Knaresborough strand of The Roses Cycle Route. The City Of York. The Capital centre of Yorkshire and this location is in the Minster Grounds, part of the new Roses coast to coast, cycle route 636. Knaresborough to York cycle route. This is to be the proposed Sustrans route of the Roses, when the Bilton to Ripley cycle route is completed. Boroughbridge. Historic Market Town situated on the A1 Great North Road about 7 miles south of Ripon. This is also halfway of the Roses cycle route Aberford. Pleasent historic village Situated about 7.5 miles south of Wetherby on National Cycle Route 67. Also refered as the old Kingdom of Elmet. Aberford. This is in the middle high street of this historic village situated on the old Great North Road between London and Edingburgh. Lotherton Hall. Situated about 1 mile east of Aberford and like Fountains Abbey it is one of Yorkshire's most grand tourist attractions. Lotherton Hall. This scene is entrance to the museum and art gallerie and once home to the Gascoigne family. Lotherton Hall. This is one of the grounds loveliest landmarks known as its Walled Garden. Please left click on selected picture to enlarge image Links To My Other Cycle Touring Pages Related To The Yorkshire Dales Pictures From My Cycle Trail Of The Nidderdale Greenway Pictures From Cycle Tour Of The Western Dales Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of Swaledale And The North Pennines Links To My Cycle Touring Pages From Phil's Online Photo Site Photographs From My Cycle Tours During The 1980s Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of East Yorkshire Featuring The Trans Pennine Trail Pictures From My Cycle Tours Of The North York Moors And East Coast Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of Lancashire Featuring Morecambe Bay And The Forest Of Bowland Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of North Wales Via The Trans Pennine Trail Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of Scotland Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of Cumbria Featuring The North Pennines And Lake District Pictures From My Cycle Tours Of South East England Links To My Video Footage Of The Beryl Burton Cycle Route And Cycling Within Nidderdale My 2016 Bilton To Knaresborough Cycle Ride Shot With My Hero 4 Go Pro Camera - YouTube New improved video My Pateley Bridge To Masham Cycle Trail Via Lofthouse - YouTube My Spring Sunday Evening Cycle Ride Through Nidderdale Starting At Darley And Finishing in Bilton - YouTube Links To My Video Footage Of The 2014 Tour De France Going Through Knaresborough My Version Of The Tour De France Through Knaresborough Sunday 6th July 2014 - YouTube My Bilton To Pateley Bridge Cycle Trail In Super HD Quality - YouTube New 2018 edited silent video with text of my Spring 2016 footage of my complete ride up to Pateley Bridge. Site Navigation Map Of All My Web Links mailto:philip@philsnidderdalesite.co.uk	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line60
__label__cc	0.680213	0.319787	Commission proposes disappointing LCV emission targets FIA EUROPEAN BUREAU Brussels, 2nd November 2009 The FIA Eurocouncil is very disappointed by the latest proposal of the European Commission especially regarding the considerable delays in the implementation of LCV CO2 emission targets. The initially planned dates, 175 g/km average CO2 emissions by 2012 and 160 g/km by 2016 would have been more beneficial not only for the climate but also for the consumer thanks to the improved fuel economy. The FIA Eurocouncil is welcoming the target curves concept. It corresponds with the proposal the FIA and the European automobile clubs have worked out on the base of their own data, with the objective to gain a balance between achievability and climate protection. But due to the fact, that more than 10% of the new van models are reaching the step 1 targets already today, the FIA Eurocouncil is criticising the postponed introduction dates. On October 28th the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal concerning the reduction of CO2 emissions of light commercial vehicles (vans). In a first step the fleet average CO2 emission from new vans is reduced to 175 g/km. This will be phased in from 2014 with 75% to 2016 with 100% of the fleet. And in a second step, by 2020, the average emission will be reduced to 135 g/km. The individual emission limits are set according to the reference weight of the van (kerb weight + 60kg). The target curves are set in such a way that the fleet averages of 175 g/km respectively 135 g/km are achieved. For more information contact Sinziana Radu Gille - Tel. +32 2 282 08 16. Notes for Editors The Eurocouncil of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the leading motoring and touring organisation, represents via its 71 national motoring and touring organisations in 47 European countries, 35 million European motorists. http://www.fiabrussels.com/en/news/commission_proposes_disappointing_lcv_e...	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line61
__label__cc	0.527006	0.472994	home Sharjah Art Foundation people Yuko Mohri b. 1980, Kanagawa, Japan Yuko Mohri is an installation artist known for her kinetic sculptures that use reconfigured everyday objects and machine parts. Yuko Mohri is an installation artist known for her kinetic sculptures that use reconfigured everyday objects and machine parts. She focuses on encounters between objects and invisible energies such as magnetism, gravity, wind or light and authorises uncontrollable nonhuman elements to function within networks, often compared to self-contained ‘ecosystems’ that incessantly channel the surrounding environment. Mohri’s solo and group exhibitions include Weavers of Worlds - A Century of Flux in Japanese Modern / Contemporary Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (2019); Ural Industrial Biennial of Contemporary Art, Russia (2019); Assume That There Is Friction and Resistance, Towada Arts Center, Aomori, Japan (2018); Voluta, Camden Arts Centre, London (2018); Dissémination, National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (2018); Japanorama. A new vision on art since 1970, Centre Pompidou-Metz, France (2017) and 14th Biennale de Lyon, France (2017). Mohri is the recipient of the 67th Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists, Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2017); Culture and Future Prize, 65th Kanagawa Culture Award, Japan (2016) and Grand Prix, Nissan Art Award, Yokohama (2015). She was selected as one of the 2020 laureates, Cité internationale des arts, Paris (2019) and as the Asian Cultural Exchange Envoy (2018). In her role as envoy, she visited four cities in China. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Department of Information Design, Tama Art University Faculty of Art and Design, Tokyo (2004) and a Master of Fine Arts from the Department of Intermedia Art, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts (2006). Born in 1980 in Kanagawa, Japan, the artist lives and works in Tokyo. SAF participation: Inter-Resonance: Inter-Organics Inter-Resonance: Inter-Organics, Japanese Performance and Sound Art will focus on performance and sound-based installations that imagine new ecologies of nature and materiality. A bit lazy (2019) Calls (2013/2019) Oni-bi (fen fire) (2013/2018)	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line62
__label__wiki	0.582442	0.582442	‘I love you’ spoken after days of silence Home » Features » ‘I love you’ spoken after days of silence Posted By Lauren Piercey on Jan 11, 2011 Some students undoubtedly spent the break perfecting the term “couch potato”, but many took their time off to serve others around the world. Senior art major Alyssa Dickinson and sophomore Christian ministry major Ryan Murphy went to Haiti for the first time through GoNow Missions and Hope for the Hungry. Murphy had a certain goal in mind for the trip. “I hoped to accomplish our task at hand, to repaint an entire school, and to love on kids and share God’s love with the people of Haiti,” he said. Dickinson developed a bond there with a young boy named Isnold who had almost nothing to say to her. “On our final day, I ran up to Isnold, hugging him goodbye, and told him just how much I loved him, and he replied with ‘I love you, too,’” she said. “That was the first thing he said to me, as well as the last. He broke my heart for the orphans of the world.” Murphy hopes the experience was meaningful to everyone involved. Isnold, a Haitian orphan, was one of the many children affected by those serving on the Hope for the Hungry mission trip. Photo by Alyssa Dickinson “I would like to think that our trip was very successful and that God did big things in the lives of the Haitians and in my team’s hearts,” he said. Murphy’s favorite memory from the trip was bringing in the New Year by worshiping God with the Haitians. “It was amazing to see such authentic and real faith. And even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying, their love for the Lord was so evident and pouring out through their praise,” he said. Overall, he said the trip exceeded his expectations. “My team was amazing and like a family to me now. The nation of Haiti blew me away with its beauty, and God’s presence was overwhelming the entire trip,” Murphy said. Dickinson also noted the beauty of the country. “Flying into Haiti, seeing the mountains right next to the beach, I was awe-struck. But beyond the landscape, there is beauty found in their culture, in their people and in their strength,” she said. On the other side of the world, senior psychology major Brittany Richardson experienced Moldova through GoNow Missions where she worked with an orphanage. “The overall goal of the mission trip was to share the love of Christ by providing over 2,700 orphans with a new pair of winter boots and socks,” she said. She went into the experience trusting that God would provide for her. “My goal was just to go with an open mind and an open heart and to allow God to use me in whatever ways were possible, and I definitely believe that was achieved,” she said. The trip was rewarding, but challenging for her. “I had no idea what to expect. I really enjoyed being stretched and pulled out of my comfort zone to serve the Lord and it was definitely worth it in every way possible,” Richardson said. Dickinson said being aware of worldly events caused her to want to make a difference in someone’s life. She said, “I couldn’t sit comfortably in America, knowing that I could be a part of something bigger than myself by going on this trip.” Author: Lauren Piercey Lauren is a senior Mass Communication/Journalism major with a minor in Art and English. She is from the extremely small town of Plantersville, TX where she grew up with her two younger sisters and an assortment of animals. She became the transitions page editor after finally caving into joining the staff. She loves writing and is confident God will help her find a job after graduation in May. She also enjoys cooking, reading and tripping over her own two feet.	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line63
__label__wiki	0.826602	0.826602	Home College Hockey Rolling the Dice in Las Vegas Gordie was One of a Kind Canada is Mourning the Death of Hockey Legend Gordie Howe Viva Las Vegas? NHL Hockey June 12, 2016 1 The question to expand or not to expand for National Hockey League owners will be answered shortly after Pittsburgh or San Jose skates away... NHL Unlikely to “Pay for Privilege of Disrupting Season” and Cover Costs to Attend... Commissioner Gary Bettman claims there is little chance of the National Hockey League (NHL) "paying for the privilege of disrupting its season" and covering... IOC “Confident” in IIHF Finding Solution for NHL Participation at Pyeongchang 2018 Hockey June 2, 2016 0 Confidence has been expressed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that a solution will be found guaranteeing the participation of National Hockey League (NHL)... N.Y. Islanders – Out Hockey May 12, 2016 0 The Charles Wang era as the New York Islanders majority owner ended when Tampa Bay eliminated his club from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on... NHL Players May Not Play in 2018 Olympics Hockey April 28, 2016 0 The late George Young was one of the most astute men ever to be employed in the National Football League. George Young always figured... NHL Playoff first round matchups Just in case you are wondering why a professor form the United States Sports Academy in Daphne Alabama would be writing about the NHL... Best All-Time St. Louis Blues Team in NHL History You miss 100% of the shots you never take. –Wayne Gretzky The St. Louis Blues were established in 1967 and are starting the NHL playoffs... US seal third consecutive World Women’s Ice Hockey Championship title with win over Canada Hockey April 9, 2016 0 The United States secured their third straight World Women’s Ice Hockey Championship title with a dramatic 1-0 overtime victory over hosts and Olympic champions... NHL history before 1945 Hockey March 23, 2016 0 The sports book Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945 (2015) discusses the business history of the sport, with... Customers Matter in NHL Expansion Bid Earlier this week a former National Hockey League player Georges Laraque who is now a radio announcer in Montreal told his listeners that it...	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line65
__label__wiki	0.97052	0.97052	The seditious conspiracy charges against Stewart Rhodes and 10 other Oath Keepers members or associates are the first to be levied in connection with the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. They're also the first to be brought by the Justice Department in over a decade. A federal magistrate judge in Plano, Texas, ordered Rhodes, 56, of Granbury, Texas, to be held in custody until a detention hearing next Thursday. An Arizona man who was charged in the same indictment as Rhodes and other Oath Keepers members also made his first court appearance on Friday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Fine ordered Edward Vallejo, 63, of Phoenix, to remain jailed until a detention hearing next Thursday. Rhodes and Vallejo were arrested Thursday. The nine others charged in the seditious conspiracy indictment already had been indicted on charges related to the Capitol siege. Earlier Friday, the top leader of another far-right extremist group with members charged in the Capitol riot was released from jail in Washington, D.C. Proud Boys chairman Henry "Enrique" Tarrio served a five-month jail sentence in a case that wasn't directly related to the Capitol riot. Video posted on social media showed Tarrio emerging from the jail building and hugging loved ones, carrying his belongings in several white plastic trash bags. "I feel great," he told reporters as he loaded his bags into a car. Tarrio was arrested in Washington two days before the Capitol riot and charged with burning a Black Lives Matter banner that had been ripped from a local Black church during an earlier rally by then-President Donald Trump's supporters. Tarrio pleaded guilty to destruction of property and attempted possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device. Tarrio noted that the city's jail facility still holds several defendants charged in the Capitol riot. "I'm more worried about them than I was about myself," Tarrio said. The indictment charging Rhodes and other Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy says they discussed trying to overturn the election results and preparing for a siege by purchasing weapons and setting up battle plans. On Jan. 6, several members wearing camouflaged combat attire shouldered their way through the crowd and into the Capitol in a military-style stack formation, authorities say. Rhodes did not enter the Capitol building on Jan. 6 but is accused of helping put the violence into motion. Authorities have said Rhodes was part of an encrypted Signal chat with Oath Keepers from multiple states and it showed the group was "activating a plan to use force" on Jan. 6. On the afternoon of the 6th, authorities say Rhodes told the group over Signal: "All I see Trump doing is complaining. I see no intent by him to do anything. So the patriots are taking it into their own hands. They've had enough." Vallejo is accused of coordinating what federal authorities say were "quick reaction force" teams that the Oath Keepers stationed outside of Washington on standby with weapons that could be shuttled to group members and associates. Authorities say Vallejo, Rhodes and others met at a restaurant in Vienna, Virginia, on the evening on Jan. 6 to celebrate the attack on the Capitol. The last seditious conspiracy case was filed in 2010 against members of a Michigan militia. But a judge ordered acquittals on the sedition conspiracy charges, saying prosecutors didn't prove the Hutaree militia members ever had detailed plans for a rebellion. Three members of the militia pleaded guilty to weapons charges. Rhodes, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and Yale Law School graduate, founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. The right-wing extremist group recruits current and former military, police and first responders. Bleiberg reported from Plano, Texas. Billeaud reported from Phoenix.	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line67
__label__wiki	0.634878	0.634878	Film Review: 'Love, Simon' (Spoiler Free) Everyone deserves a great love story. But for seventeen-year old Simon Spier it’s a little more complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing. Directed by Greg Berlanti (Riverdale, The Flash, Supergirl), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, LOVE, SIMON is a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love. BASED UPON THE NOVEL: “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Miles Heizer, Keiynan Lonsdale, Logan Miller, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Tony Hale. Thanks to the wonderful teams at Penguin Teen Australia and 20th Century Fox, I was among the lucky and exclusive group of bloggers, readers, and fans who were able to attend a free advanced screening of the highly anticipated teen flick, 'Love, Simon', last night at the Penguin Teen Showcase 2018. The night was fabulous, spent fangirling over all things Young Adult fiction as the team at Penguin showcased their 2017-2018 releases, both AusYA and International, before joining conversation with talented Australian authors Margot McGovern and Shivaun Plozza. It was wonderful to be apart of such a awesomely bookish audience, united over our excitement for new upcoming releases and of course, Simon Spier. I for one left the showcase extremely excited for 'Leah on the Offbeat' by Becky Albertalli, 'Misfit' by Charli Howard, 'The Dangerous Art of Blending In' by Angelo Surmelis, and 'Tin Heart' by Shivaun Plozza - to name a few! Mostly however, I left totally obsessed with all things 'Love, Simon', desperate to watch it again and again. As many of us readers are familiar with, Becky Albertali is capable of magic. With only two novels to her name at present (with more on the way), she is an absolute treasure to the world of Young Adult fiction. I must admit it took her most recent release, 'The Upside of Unrequited', for me to enter the world of Albertali but once you enter, there's no going back. I loved pretty much everything about it, I related to the novels protagonist, Molly, hardcore! I think about re-reading it at least once a week. It's just that brilliant, relatable and heartwarming. It's not often I connect to a book as strongly as I was able to with 'The Upside of Unrequited.' Given this, during the Christmas break I finally got around to reading her highly and rightly praised debut, 'Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda'. I can't tell you how long I've had 'Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda' on my TBR, literally ages. Yet I kept dodging it because I was admittedly intimated by the crazy and seemingly insurmountable level of hype surrounding it. I'm happy to say that the novel does indeed live up to the hype and is easily finished in one sitting, demanding your full attention for a few marvelous hours of the day. The cast of characters are majorly lovable, the dialogue is entertaining and the plot is well...everything. One key factor that always draws a huge and loyal following to Albertalli's novels is that she isn't afraid of Diversity, in all or any of its forms. In fact, it's one of the strengths of her writing that she is always inclusive of diverse and typically underrepresented identities, providing these characters with the stories they well and truly deserve. Both novels portray characters of colour, 'The Upside of Unrequited' features a fat protagonist and 'Simon vs the Homo Spaiens Agenda' features a gay protagonist - two unlikely stars given YA fictions tendency to focus on the narratives of conventionally bodied, straight, and white individuals. As a result, 'Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda' is so important to many people and ensuring its transition into film was faithful and well done was vital to the communities who saw themselves in Simon and his coming of age story. This was evidently not taken lightly by the team involved in the production of 'Love, Simon', the novels adaptation. The film was AMAZING! It honestly exceeded my extremely high expectations. Without giving away any details, there are definitely a few noticeable changes from the novel but they are all true to the heart of the story and compliment its transition into film. In fact, they were all changes that upt the anti and made the film more engaging, so while they'll for sure stick out to devout fans of the novel, they're nothing to worry about. I thought they were all advantageous and worthwhile decisions that only benefited the storyline. The film's tagline reads 'Everyone deserves a Great Love Story' and 'Love, Simon' is that and more. LGBTI representation in this day and age isn't just some concept to toy with from time to time but instead a necessity. The power of 'Love, Simon' comes from the fact that the director and producers gave just as much magic and attention to the love story of two closeted gay teenagers interacting online as they would to any of the countless heterosexual romance stories that typically grace our screens. Just like any other film, 'Love, Simon' has a talented and perfectly chosen cast, a great soundtrack, overwhelming cuteness, suspense, a pretty location and a super aesthetic set (can I please have Simon's room?) and an epic kissing scene that wasn't shied away from nor sexualised in the weird way that gay kissing scenes usually are when marketed to straight audiences. It was just as accessible and just as captivating as any of 20th Century Fox's other book adaptations, such as 'The Fault In Our Stars'. In fact, I'd dare say that it in my humble opinion, the film was more enjoyable than any of the studio's predecessors. 'Love, Simon' could perhaps be the antidote to the dominantly heteronormative nature of film and literature. It could be the beginning of so much more and I am SO here for it! My view from the audience before the film began. I was initially a tad skeptical of some casting decisions, however after actually watching the film, I cannot critique a single choice. The whole cast excels in their roles and it was refreshing to see how each and every character in the film was taken advantage of, fully characterised and given great dialogue. Even the teachers at Simon's school who either had minimal roles in the novel or didn't exist, were fleshed out and made engaging. The dialogue is dripping with humour, providing the film with numerous laugh out load moments. As one of the first audiences to see the film, we ended up audibly applauding particular scenes that really got us! That was kind of audience goals to be honest, Becky you should be proud! As I mentioned, the cast is A+ with a cool combination of familiar and up and coming faces! But most notably, Nick Robinson absolutely shines as our beloved Simon Spier. He perfectly captured both Simon's lovable and endearing nature and his silent frustration and longing for normalcy. He is a breath of fresh air whom you can't help but be invested in. As far as I'm concerned, Nick Robinson is Simon Spier and I will fight to the death for him! Other notable mentions include Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner as Simon's parent's who were so lovely. The family dynamic represented in the film is just as amazing as it is in the novel, it's a truly special and standout component of the story that provided many emotional moments that brought me to the verge of tears. Similarly, Simon's circle of friends were also top notch, making me long for an invite in. Even Katherine Langford as Leah, surpassed my expectations, as I must admit I had my doubts about her. Interestingly, her role as Leah was seemingly more involved than in the novel, presumably given the attention the young Aussie actress received as Hannah in Netflix's 'Thirteen Reasons Why.' Lastly, Keiynan Lonsdale, you are too precious for this world and I freaking love you. That is all. 'Love, Simon' is one of the best teen romances I've seen in a long time. It is relevant, well-paced, and ticks all the boxes for an entertaining and relatable family friendly coming of age film. I have no doubt that this film is going to be really important to popular culture and I'm so excited to see the impact it has. 'Love, Simon' is the film that the LGBTI community has long deserved. I will happily accompany anyone who wants to watch it when it comes out in March as I'm already dying to watch it again. I literally had goosebumps, I went through all motions of the feels! Thank you to my galpal Francoise for accompanying me and thank you to Penguin Teen Australia and 20th Century Fox for making this wonderful oppourtunity possible, I am SO grateful! Lastly, thank you to Becky Albertali for telling these important stories and for bringing these much needed characters into the world. 'Love, Simon' enters cinemas in March this year. Aussie's can view it from March 29th and those in the US can view it March 16th. Be there or be square, you won't regret it. In: Becky Albertalli, Events, Film Review, Love Simon, Movie, Other Jos January 25, 2018 at 5:04 AM Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! As a gay guy that was Simon Spier 10 years ago I was actually worried about a couple of things in this movie (including if we are going to see any actual physical romance), but thanks to your review I feel more optimistic now. Sending love from Spain to Australia :) Marian February 3, 2018 at 2:26 AM Ugh I cannot wait to see this! Since watching the trailer I've fallen in love with the characters, the story and just love in general really. I'm also a bit sceptical about Katherine Langford, she's brilliant and all but I immediately think "13 Reasons Why" and I don't want that to take away from this story. Book Review: Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu GIVEAWAY: A Sunny Spot turns 6!	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line78
__label__wiki	0.771235	0.771235	Home News AGP News The Long Road to Hope & a Future The Long Road to Hope & a Future Written by Gordon Govier Twelve years ago Karin Krause called the Small Business Development Center to find out how to launch her dream. Today, after three dead ends , a lot of second guessing, and many miracles, her dream is starting to take shape in an old farmhouse on the west side of Madison. Many times she questioned whether she should give up or keep going. "It was awful," she said. "You can't get it out of your head and and you can't get it going. But we knew God was with us. We never could have done it if we didn't believe that." The First Neighborhood The seeds of Karin's dream go back to her childhood, growing up in a single parent home in a small town. She had a neighbor who she called grandma. When Karin got home from school and grandma noticed Karin's mother wasn't home she always called Karin to come and help her with something. A few years later grandma was in a nursing home and Karin went to visit. She was disturbed by the impersonal treatment that she saw given to this woman she loved so deeply. She believes her decision to become a nurse grew from that visit and her desire to better understand people's needs. But she also began to develop a vision for replicating the kind of intergenerational neighborhood where people of all ages worked and played together, and cared for each other. She began to put together plans for an adult family home project that eventually got the name "Hope and a Future." The first step was purchasing a property for an adult family home, with extra space on the property for community events such as music, crafts, gardening, and recreation. Step two is developing housing for healthy seniors who want to be involved in the caring community. Step three is developing rental housing for young at risk families in need of mentoring and support services. Nine Years of Trials After her SBDC consultation Karin endured nine years of trials with little discernible progress and lots of disappointments. At one point the board she had assembled to oversee the nonprofit operation fell apart. "We had to step out in faith that God was in this," Karin said. It helped when God kept arranging meetings with key people. "The vision has stayed the same." When she needed the backing of a key business woman God arranged for the woman to sit beside Karin at a meeting both were attending. When the perfect property for the project was identified, a yellow farm house on South High Point Road, a businessman bought it and sold it to Karin on a land contract with no down payment. Now that the vision is starting to materialize, interest is growing. Some local pastors have offered encouragement. A fellowship group at High Point Church has adopted "Hope and a Future" to help out with some of the needed repairs. Volunteers from City Church, where Karin and her family attend, have also pitched in. Interest is also growing at the University of Wisconsin where a geriatric research unit has just begun. "I know first hand there are benefits (to inter-generation activities) but we need to know why," Karin said. The Potluck Experience Some of those experiences occurred at inter-generational pot luck dinners which became a tradition when Karin began to provide long term care for the elderly at the Krause family home in Middleton. Food, music, and fellowship attracted up to 70 people at a time to their ranch house on Branch Street. Karin was surprised when street people with mohawks and piercings showed up. "We heard there was music, and food, and great conversation," they told her. She was also surprised that her teen age daughters stayed home and enjoyed those evenings as much as anyone. "Why would I miss this?" one told her. The Krause Family Band, which plays local venues, got its start at those potlucks. The band features Karin's husband Rick, daughters Ruthie and Katie, and other local musicians. They also play for occasionial worship services at City Church and have appeared with Garrison Keillor on his Prairie Home Companion radio program on several occasions. The pot lucks stopped when they got so popular that the local police department stopped by to check on traffic problems. And now Karin and her family have their hands full bringing their dream to fruition. "It's a lot of fun but it's also tiring," she said. There's a long list of remodeling projects that need doing, and groundbreaking was held in September for a four bedroom addition. Many times over the past 12 years Karin has wondered whether her dream would happen. But she decided not to quite on her dream and now it's taking shape. For more information, the Hope & a Future website is available, as well as a Facebook page. Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 December 2013 19:53	cc/2022-05/en_head_0035.json.gz/line80

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