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Jessica Biel Embraces Her Antihero Era
The Candy star discusses relating to her role as an ax-murdering housewife while keeping her cool at home.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
Jessica Biel lives for a complicated character. It’s what drew her to Candy, the Hulu limited series about Candy Montgomery, the real-life Texas homemaker and mother of two accused of a brutal murder in small town Texas in 1980. In it, Biel all but disappears into the titular role opposite Melanie Lynskey who portrays Betty Gore, Montgomery’s friend and eventual victim.
Ultimately, Montgomery would be found not guilty of the crime, but the show presents her at a moment when she is angry, lonely, and filled with shame. In order to prepare for the part, Biel says she tapped into her own experiences as a wife and mother (she and husband Justin Timberlake have two children: Silas, 6, and Phineas, 2). Namely, the pressure to keep up appearances and the triumphant highs and frustrating lows of parenthood. “I really feel strongly about no parent-shaming at all,” she says. “It’s such a hard job, and you’re literally working to survive every 10 minutes. Our particular culture really connects women with motherhood, motherhood with sacrifice. It’s this awful cycle that we've been thrown into. Every parent can understand the amount of sacrifice that specifically women take on and how society puts that upon us. I hope it changes—for all of our well-being and mental health.”
For W’s annual TV Portfolio, Biel embodied another complicated parental figure, Mad Men’s Don Draper. Here, she discusses working alongside her husband on set, and why Draper shares more similarities with Candy Montgomery than you might think.
How do you go about humanizing an unlovable character?
It’s one of the things that I love the most in playing these unreliable narrators and questionable humans, because it is the biggest challenge. I find a way in that I can understand in [the context of] my own life. I really understood Candy’s desire to be this idea of a perfect, super fun, cool mom: this person who hosts all the neighborhood parties, who creates an experience for people. That makes her feel fulfilled, good, and worth something. And I get that. I want that too. I want to be the cool mom who has all the fun stuff. I like to be silly with my kids, and in my life, I try to be as light about things as possible. So I tried to infuse that into Candy.
What does that look like for you, in your own life?
I’m that mom who lets the bubble machines happen inside, and the floor gets covered with soap, and Justin’s going, “That’s gonna ruin the floor and someone’s gonna slip.” And I’m like, “It’s fine! We’re having fun!” Boom, somebody slips; boom, the floor starts getting warped. The little plastic playground thing that we have in the yard is covered in paint. It’s theirs. What do I care? And people come over and they’re like, “This is kind of insane.” But it’s the way I grew up. My mother was that way.
Your husband also was involved in this project, playing the police officer Steve Deffibaugh, who starts to doubt Candy's innocence. How did he get on board? Did you two come as a package deal?
Not a package deal at all—which we should be, actually. Justin and I share scripts and ideas all the time; I’m giving him notes about his stuff, and he’s reading my stuff. He was reading my scripts, and he got to episode 4 and just loved that character. He came to me and said, “Who’s playing this?” And I said, “Oh, I don't know. We basically spent our cast money already.” He said, “I wanna do it. I know what to do with this. This guy is a performer. He worked as a clown for kids/ parties in his off time.” This man is from the South, and Justin has that innate understanding of versions of a Southern man. I was a little stunned, like, “Really? Are you kidding?” He goes, “No, I’m serious.” I said, “We can’t pay you any money.” And he goes, “I don’t care. I just wanna be paid in a prosthetic tummy and a wig.” I said, “That I can do.”
What was your overarching goal in portraying Candy Montgomery?
To create somebody who is really a 360-degree human being, not a two-dimensional person who has this made-up history. Someone who is still reeling from the traumas of their childhood, who also had a really good childhood. I wanted that oscillating experience: for you to 100 percent believe in her, and then question—wait a minute. What did she do? You don't know how to feel about this person. The confusion is what I was looking for. I want you to feel conflicted about whether you like her or believe her or not.
Throughout the series, it’s unclear what exactly happened in terms of Betty Gore’s death. The truth of what went down in the laundry room where Betty's body was found never comes to light. Were you concerned it might be too challenging to convey?
I definitely thought it was going to be challenging to convey, because I have never experienced what she experienced. But the confusion surrounding the actual room and what happened, all those questions were very intriguing to me. It’s almost like we let go of the responsibility of picking a side and we’re just handing it over to the viewers and saying, It’s on you, guys. What do you think? We’re just going to show you what we know from court records and documents. And we’re filling in some holes creatively. But we’re not trying to push you one way or the other.
When did you first start watching Mad Men?
I am a huge Mad Men fan. I was watching when it was on AMC. That show being on that network was very exciting—they were making a big change [at that time]. I’d sit down and watch it every week, or I would record it on my TiVo. Do you remember that?
Yes, TiVo! Do you consider Mad Men a greatest-of-all-time series?
It’s up there—I float around The Sopranos, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad [as my all-time favorites]. But for Mad Men, I love that era, the costumes and the way that show looked. And it’s really an embarrassment of riches for complicated characters: Roger, Peggy, Joan, and, of course, Betty.
Do you see any similarities or parallels between the characters Candy and Don Draper?
Don Draper is truly what we’re talking about with this Candy character. He has a completely other life—all of these secrets and hidden things that slowly come out, old trauma. I love-hate that guy. You’re so attracted to him, and you just want to strangle him at the same time. That’s what I want my characters to feel like—I want you to want to be their best friend and also just wanna grab ‘em by the hair, like, What are you doing?!
Ultimately, it seems like they both just want to be loved.
The book Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs, which investigative journalists wrote about the Candy Montgomery and Betty Gore story, was one of the major pieces of reference material that we used for the series. And that’s the deep theme of that book, that these two women were really just looking for connection and to be loved unconditionally. I mean, that’s all Don wants. They’re very different people, and they're not, at the same time. Don has a lot more explosive secrets than Candy probably has. But I think she has a lot of teeny-tiny secrets that also can build up to these big explosions, which clearly happened.
Hair by Adir Abergel, makeup by Fiona Stiles, and set design by Isaac Aaron. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/jessica-biel-candy-montgomery-hulu | 2022-08-16T17:11:12Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/jessica-biel-candy-montgomery-hulu | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Mackenzie Davis Didn’t Mean to Become Sci-Fi’s Shining Star
Science fiction has been good to the Station Eleven actress. But personally, she prefers the oddball humor of the Brits.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
When Mackenzie Davis first broke into acting in her mid-20s, she found that the most dynamic female roles existed primarily in stories set in alternative realities. So, she jumped headfirst into the world of science fiction and advanced technology, first as Yorkie in Black Mirror’s Emmy-winning season 3 episode “San Junipero,” and then as the replicant Mariette in Blade Runner 2049. Her role as Cameron in the cult favorite AMC series Halt and Catch Fire—while not technically science fiction—made her a household name among the show’s enthusiastic fan base and brought her critical acclaim.
From there, the now 35-year-old would go on to co-star with some of the film world’s biggest names—Charlize Theron in Tully, Kristen Stewart in Happiest Season, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator: Dark Fate—before taking center stage in Station Eleven, HBO Max’s post-pandemic drama. In the uncannily timed series, Davis portrays Kirsten, a Shakespearean actor attempting to preserve art and community in a world almost completely devoid of both. Here, Davis opens up about what it’s like when science fiction becomes reality and her deep admiration for British comedians.
For this project, you chose to dress like Stath from the Channel 4 series Stath Lets Flats. Are you a big fan of British sitcoms?
My dad is from Liverpool, so he raised me on Fawlty Towers and Monty Python. Then, in college, I got into The Mighty Boosh, which I absolutely love. It’s such a bonkers world. The same with the U.K. [version of] The Office. I remember watching it for the first time, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I couldn't believe that Mackenzie Crook was a real person. No actor is that good.
Stath Lets Flats is similar in the sense that I cannot believe Jamie Demetriou is an actor and he is not Stath—and his sister, Natasia [Demetriou], who plays Sophie. They’re all so incredible. It just makes me laugh out loud by myself. I’m constantly astounded by how insane it is. And I just want to pay homage as a true fan.
If you had the opportunity, would you guest-star on the show?
Yeah, but I’d be terrible. I think it’s kind of a “don’t meet your heroes” situation. I’m not good enough to be on that show. They’re doing something that is really fucking transcendent.
Is it true that you initially weren’t interested in Station Eleven?
It's not that I didn't want to take it—the log line of the show just felt similar to [Terminator: Dark Fate]. When I spoke to [director and executive producer Hiro Murai and creator Patrick Somerville], it became clear that this was not a post-apocalyptic show about a badass who kills everybody in her path; it was a show about humanity and connection, and how art can make life worthwhile, which really appealed to me. Patrick and Hiro had this aesthetic of rebirth that felt so gorgeous. The end isn't the end; it’s an opportunity to begin again. We have thousands of lives we can lead, even when the most obvious one has disappeared in pretty traumatic fashion.
You started filming in January 2020, right before the Covid pandemic became a reality and production stopped. What was that experience like?
Definitely surreal. I wasn't actually working on the show [in January 2020] because they started with the pandemic scenes from Kirsten’s childhood. I was shooting another movie, but I was talking to the [Station Eleven] crew all the time. I was also just tracking this approaching calamity the way we all were, thinking, Well, it can't ever hit us, right? Then it did and the world stopped. It was a very unusual experience that I hope not to have again, but it was kind of amazing to have it at the time. I mean, in what world do you film essentially a speculative science fiction piece and then have the speculation catapult into your own life?
You’ve described Station Eleven as anti-apocalyptic. What do you mean by that?
Some of the hallmarks of the apocalyptic genre are strife and destruction and eking out a hard-to-justify existence. My question, when it comes to many apocalyptic texts, is why? Why would you keep living if life is so horrible? I loved that the show answered that question immediately: You keep living for community, and to make things and to transform your personal experiences into something life-affirming. It is still very much an apocalyptic show—it just doesn't bear the marks of the genre, which is quite an achievement.
You often play these—for lack of a better term—badass women who are incredibly strong, both physically and mentally. Are those the roles you tend to seek out?
When I was younger, I had a more narrow definition of strength that was related to being young and female in an industry that prized youth, beauty, sexual appeal, and desirability. I was really attracted to roles where that didn't figure in at all, and where there was a bold articulation of strength. But the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve found myself seeking parts that articulate a more nuanced understanding of strength, individuality, and power. As you get older, your lens becomes a little finer and you start to notice different dynamics. If there’s any continuity in the roles I look for, it’s just women I think are interesting and cool, and are having experiences they might not always triumph over, but that show some of their individual strength and active purpose in the world.
You were in “San Junipero,” an episode of Black Mirror that many argue is the show’s best. What was it like to be part of that production?
I was living in New York at the time, and it felt like overnight, I could feel that people had seen me. The episode just really struck a chord. It means something to people in a way I didn't realize it would. But it also meant a lot to me as a strong piece of storytelling. That’s what you hope for—that you make, or are included in, works that create a lasting memory and aren't just content, but seem to provide an interesting space for people to live in as viewers.
Did you have a sense during filming that it would have such an impact?
No. I was such a big fan of Black Mirror, and this was still before it really exploded. So when we were making it, it felt like wish fulfillment for me. Being in a space with like-minded people who are smarter than you are, who are making art that challenges you—that feels really exciting and special. But in terms of the social response and cultural repercussions, I had no idea.
It feels like you gravitate toward science fiction stories. Why do think that is?
I think it’s a coincidence, but I see the pattern. In my 20s—when many actresses end up playing a lot of romantic roles and ingenues, which I wasn’t very attracted to—the stories that felt alternative were in a literal alternative reality or time. Science fiction kept providing roles, directors, and collaborators who gave me opportunities. I’m not a die-hard sci-fi fan—that’s just where the coolest roles were. There were also plenty of non–sci-fi projects that I would've loved to be in, but I didn’t get cast.
Why did you feel like you had to escape reality to get these strong female roles?
Over the past 15 years, it feels like culture progressed at a rate it had never progressed at before. We’ve been in warp speed. Now I think there are tons of compelling roles for young women in present-day stories based in reality, but when I was younger, a lot of romantic comedies didn’t really interest me. I see a lot of intriguing stuff for younger women right now, but I also don't know how much shit is out there. I assume an absolute mountain, based on my experience.
Hair by Carlos Ferraz, makeup by Bari Khalique. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/mackenzie-davis-station-eleven-black-mirror-interview | 2022-08-16T17:11:18Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/mackenzie-davis-station-eleven-black-mirror-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Top greenhouse ideas
In most parts of the world, gardening is an activity for spring, summer and fall — but a well-designed greenhouse can give you four seasons of growing.
The keys to keeping your greenhouse healthy are heat, insulation, heat retention and light. While creating a healthy environment for crops can be intimidating, there are many affordable and easy ways to produce a healthy harvest through winter and get a jump on spring planting. And no matter the size of your greenhouse, there are many accessories to help your plants flourish.
Best winter greenhouses
If you don’t already have one, choosing a greenhouse designed for year-round growing is a crucial first step.
Top winter greenhouse
What you need to know: While it’s not much to look at, this simple, spacious greenhouse can withstand a few inches of snow.
What you’ll love: The sturdy, powder-coated steel frame holds up to wind, and at 10 feet by 10 feet, this is large for the price.
What you should consider: Putting the tarp over the frame can be challenging, and the opaque plastic doesn’t let a lot of light through.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Top winter greenhouse for the money
Gardman 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse
What you need to know: For indoor winter gardening, this is affordable and space-efficient. Just make sure you have a south-facing window nearby.
What you’ll love: Metal shelves come built-in, so all you really need are some pots and possibly some grow lights.
What you should consider: This is an indoor-only choice.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Best ways to heat a greenhouse
Your greenhouse should passively keep itself warm in the winter, but sometimes sunlight and insulation aren’t enough for extreme temperatures. That’s where a heater becomes a vital tool in four-season gardening.
Top way to heat a greenhouse
Biogreen Basic Electric Fan Heater
What you need to know: This 1,500-watt heater can easily keep most greenhouses warm during the coldest months.
What you’ll love: The IPX4 rating means this little heater can withstand the humidity of your greenhouse, but it can be used elsewhere in your home, too.
What you should consider: For greenhouses larger than 120 square feet, this model probably won’t be sufficient.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top way to heat a greenhouse for the money
Calm Life Unscented Soy Tea Light Candles
What you need to know: By propping a spare terra-cotta pot on some bricks and lighting these candles under it, you can heat a small space at an extremely low price.
What you’ll love: If you live in a generally warm region that occasionally has cold winter nights, this is simple, costs very little and can keep your plants safe from frost.
What you should consider: It’s best to use this system only when you can keep an eye on it. Light the candles when you’re working in your greenhouse, or when you’re nearby to keep watch, just as you would with normal candles.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best greenhouse insulation
To reduce the amount of time you need to run a heater, invest in good insulation to keep that precious heat trapped, even at night.
Top greenhouse insulation
What you need to know: This common material acts as excellent insulation with its translucency and air pockets to trap heat.
What you’ll love: Insulating your greenhouse with bubble wrap is as simple as attaching it to the walls and ceiling for winter-ready protection.
What you should consider: You will most likely have to replace the bubble wrap after a season or two.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top greenhouse insulation for the money
Aviditi Corrugated Cardboard Sheets
What you need to know: Strategically placing cardboard along the bottoms of the walls in your greenhouse can keep cold from seeping in.
What you’ll love: It will take you under an hour to insulate your greenhouse with cardboard, and once it’s in place, it will probably be mostly hidden by your shelves.
What you should consider: Moisture will inevitably damage any cardboard used for insulation by the end of the season, but you can just chuck it in your compost pile.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best heat retention ideas
Combining your heat system and insulation with materials that retain heat, such as stone or water, lets your greenhouse stay warm day and night.
Top heat retention idea
What you need to know: Laying a floor of stones collects heat from the ground and from sunlight during the day.
What you’ll love: This most basic heat retention system also serves as attractive flooring.
What you should consider: These granite cobbles are expensive as stone pavers go, and it will take some time and careful planning to lay them properly.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Top heat retention idea for the money
Mountain View 1-Gallon Plastic Jugs
What you need to know: Believe it or not, water retains heat well in cold environments. If you paint these jugs black, they attract heat in the day time and radiate heat at night.
What you’ll love: Using plastic jugs to warm your greenhouse is as simple as filling them with water, painting them black and placing them in your greenhouse, where they will catch sunlight and warm up in the daytime.
What you should consider: While this will keep your greenhouse fairly warm, you may need to add some form of insulation.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top greenhouse grow lights
If you live far from the equator, winter days may be quite short. That’s where grow lights can come in handy to give your plants as much light as they need.
Top greenhouse light
Spider Farmer SF4000 LED Grow Light
What you need to know: If gardening is a source of income for you, this commercial-grade grow light can support several plants.
What you’ll love: This energy-efficient choice shines brightly — and because it can run hot, you get the added bonus of extra heat.
What you should consider: The price tag may put this light out of reach for hobby gardeners, and it may take years to pay for itself.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top greenhouse light for the money
What you need to know: This full-spectrum light uses only 75 watts while offering enough light for smaller gardens.
What you’ll love: The price of this hanging LED array combined with its energy efficiency means you can light your greenhouse all winter at a very low cost.
What you should consider: The lights are on the dimmer side.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/greenhouses-br/10-best-greenhouse-ideas-to-extend-your-grow-season/ | 2022-08-16T17:11:22Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/greenhouses-br/10-best-greenhouse-ideas-to-extend-your-grow-season/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Madelyn Cline Can’t Quit Now
The Outer Banks star talks working with her idols (and her ex), and what to expect from OBX’s third season.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
Madelyn Cline has been busy. In the past year, the 24-year-old filmed the highly-anticipated Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery before returning to her home state of South Carolina to film the third season of Netflix’s hit teen series Outer Banks. When the latter premiered in April 2020, it became an overnight sensation, propelling Cline and her co-stars, including her now ex-boyfriend Chase Stokes, to instant stardom. It was “very, very strange,” Cline says of her sudden fame amid a global pandemic. However, she wouldn’t change a thing. “It’s been like the most incredible ride of my life. Hands down, period,” she says. And despite rumors that she might be leaving the show, she has stated that she’ll play the role of Sarah Cameron “for as many seasons as they will have me.” Here, the Charleston native discusses working with her heroes and managing her own imposter syndrome.
You chose to Peggy Olson from Mad Men, specifically the scene when she quits her job. What drew you to her?
I’ve always thought that scene was so iconic. Peggy is just such a chaotic character. I thought it would be really fun to do something completely different from anything I’ve been able to play.
Outer Banks was an unexpected hit during the pandemic. What was it like emerging from quarantine as a celebrity?
It’s an interesting dichotomy. I consider myself to be a very private person. Sometimes the lack of anonymity really wigs me out. People think they know you because they know your character, when in reality, they’re two different people.
Are there any ways that you think you and your character Sarah are similar?
There are parts of teenagehood that I get to relive and make right in my mind. Sarah’s journey has been all about standing up for herself and finding her own footing. I’ve had many conversations with our writers and producers on how to make it feel very real and visceral to a young woman’s experience growing into adulthood. But you know, I’m now 24, almost 25, playing a 16-, 17-year-old. So there’s going to be some logic there that I don’t agree with. It can be a little chaotic. I wouldn’t say like Peggy, but it is still chaotic, because I have to go back and revisit the mind of a teenager who doesn’t yet completely know what she wants.
What are your hopes for Sarah in the series’ third season?
I’m looking forward to exploring more of her. We had a rough time last season; I’m excited to pump the brakes for her a little bit and re-center. God knows what adventure we go on next. We’re bringing back some very loved characters, and we’re in the thick of it. We’re in the cut again.
Your character wears a lot of short denim shorts on Outer Banks; does it ever get uncomfortable doing stunts in them?
For sure. Sarah loves some Daisy Dukes! And sometimes that lends itself to wedgies. Whenever we have big stunt sequences, I usually request to have a little bit of stretch [in my shorts] so that they don’t feel like cardboard on my body.
Can you talk a little bit about your on-screen versus off-screen relationship with Chase Stokes? How has it been to continue working opposite your ex?
We’re both professionals. We always have been since day one. Outer Banks is a big family, and at the end of the day, we show up, we’re professional, and we do our jobs.
In the sequel to Knives Out, you’re among Hollywood titans like Daniel Craig, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monáe, and Kate Hudson. What was that experience like?
It was so scary at first. I was starstruck by all of them! I didn’t know where to look sometimes because I was just so incredibly excited and happy to be working with them. One of my first weekends there, Daniel had everyone over to his villa. I was like, I’m gonna walk in and I know who all of you are, but you don’t know who I am. I grew up watching these people and admiring them, so it was such a wonderful learning experience to watch them work and see how they operate on set.
Is there a particular lesson you learned from a cast member?
Leslie [Odom Jr.] taught me how to play chess. It became one of my favorite things to do. Leslie was like, “It’s a great lesson not just in the game, but also in life.” [The experience taught me] how to handle things in a very calm manner, and [to ask myself], What are my options? I have crazy anxiety. I would go on a set and I’d be nervous every day. [Then I would remember,] what are my options? I needed to take a minute and step back. It was a really wonderful, serendipitous lesson.
You’ve said in the past that you often feel an acute sense of imposter syndrome when it comes to acting. How have you overcome this feeling?
It’s not something that ever ends, at least for me. I think about that all the time. I’ll be overthinking everything I’ve ever done in every scene. I don’t know if there’s any way of overcoming it other than just trusting that there’s never a place that you end up that you’re not meant to be in. It’s about learning how to rein it in. Like Leslie said, “What are my options?”
Hair by Amanda Lee, makeup by Jen Tioseco, photo assistant Andrew Friendly. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/madelyn-cline-outer-banks-interview | 2022-08-16T17:11:24Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/madelyn-cline-outer-banks-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
For Margaret Qualley, Dorothy Zbornak Is the Epitome of Cool
The Emmy-nominated Maid star talks her next major film role and shares why watching The Golden Girls reminds her of home.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small-screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
In Netflix’s acclaimed series Maid, Margaret Qualley stars as Alex, a young single mother who leaves her abusive boyfriend in hopes of building a better life for her 2-year-old daughter, Maddy (Rylea Nevaeh Whittet). With a small child to support, Alex takes on a series of odd jobs (including cleaning up trashed homes filled with blood, human excrement, and the like) while battling homelessness and countless indignities. Meanwhile, her own mother—played by Qualley’s real-life mom, Andie MacDowell—is a flighty presence in her life, causing her even more stress.
Speaking from a taxi in Paris, just weeks after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Qualley sees the parallels between Maid’s subject matter and the very real implications for young low-income mothers. “It’s incredibly upsetting,” she says, “and impossible not to think about.” But the actress, who is in France working on The Substance—the closely guarded film from director Coralie Fargeat, in which Qualley stars alongside Demi Moore—has plenty to be optimistic about. This summer, she received an Emmy nomination for her performance in Maid and got engaged to her boyfriend, Jack Antonoff, the six-time Grammy-winning musician, songwriter, and producer. Here, the 27-year-old discusses getting into character physically and emotionally, and why she aspires to be more like Dorothy Zbornak from The Golden Girls.
There are so many layers to your role in Maid. How did you prepare for the part?
I really occupied my time by hanging out with Rylea, who played my daughter, as much as I could. I was trying to make sure we had a relationship that you could feel, that she felt really comfortable with me. It was also just a logistics thing: She had to feel really safe in my arms, because otherwise we couldn’t get through the day.
How does one go about gaining the trust of a 4-year-old?
You just hang out and pay attention to them: Watch ’em dance, listen to ’em talk, do what they like to do. I would just kind of carry her around everywhere I went, and we got really close. I think attention is love, really.
Do you find that there are certain roles that are more conducive to intellectual research over emotional research?
It’s really project-dependent. With Maid, everything was just hanging out with Rylea. But I did this movie, Stars at Noon, where I speak Spanish. So, learning Spanish was the priority there. What I’m doing now [for The Substance] is really physical.
How so? I’m imagining you doing stunts.
I’m not doing very many stunts. I basically want my character to feel like she’s never experienced pain, so I’m doing a lot of yoga to try to make my alignment really good, trying to make myself feel like a baby would feel. That’s what I’ve been working on. [Laughs] I mean, it’s pretty good for me. I’ve never worked out like this in my life. I’m, like, Herculean. Not really—but the true test is that I’ve never been able to pop backs very well, and now I can pop anyone’s back with the lift-them-up-and-squeeze-them tactic.
What’s one thing about your mom’s acting style or process that people might be surprised to learn?
The last time I saw her was in L.A., and she had my sister and her boyfriend and me and my fiancé, Jack, over for dinner. She was about to start working on this movie, and she was performing a monologue for us. She was really excited about it. And I guess that’s something I think is really special—having done a job for X number of years and still having that fresh, excited take on it. And still having that feeling of a little kid who wants to perform for the room.
I speak for us both when I say we’re so lucky to be able to do this job, because it’s not often that people get to do something for a living that brings them so much joy. I feel like the big goal in life is to be looking at the world like a kid as much as you possibly can—that’s one of my big goals, is to try to play like a kid. Because I can be hard on myself. I can live in my head, and I can lose sight of what actually makes me happy.
Your fiancé, Jack Antonoff, recently spoke with Lynn Hirschberg for her Five Things podcast and mentioned how he’s found his person in you. I’m wondering how you would define your person?
My best friend. [Laughs] The person I’m the most excited to talk to and be around all the time.
Have you given the details of your wedding a lot of thought?
I have a general idea, but not detailed plans.
So you’re not the type of person who has been planning their wedding since they were a kid?
Right. I vaguely remember being a kid and having outlandish ideas about what I wanted when I was older. Like, I wanted a house with monkey bars built into the ceilings. I don’t think anything that I wanted as a child I would actually want now. And it’s upsetting because people told me that in real time. I was like, no! I will want monkey bars on the ceiling forever!
Integrating monkey bars on the ceiling into your wedding sounds like a good idea.
There you go.
Let’s talk about The Golden Girls. Do you remember the first time you watched it?
I grew up with it on. In North Carolina, my babysitter Julie and I would watch The Golden Girls together all the time after school. It’s just that comforting, cozy, homey feeling of a time before. It brings me back to being a little kid and sitting on the couch with Julie, who’s a real-life angel.
Do you find that you identify with Dorothy Zbornak as a character?
The truth is, I think Dorothy’s actually smarter than I am. I feel like she’s the smartest person in the room. So maybe it’s less of an identification with her and more of an aspiration. She’s not looking for attention. She’s just sussing out what’s happening, assessing the situation, and saying what we’re all thinking as audience members, but in a really articulate, funny way.
She’s like the chorus in Greek tragedies.
Yes, I couldn’t agree more. Dorothy is the hero. She’s the epitome of cool. And she’s very well-dressed. She doesn’t get the love she deserves—and I’m ready to give it to her. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/margaret-qualley-maid-the-substance-golden-girls-interview | 2022-08-16T17:11:30Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/margaret-qualley-maid-the-substance-golden-girls-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Melanie Lynskey Finds Light in the Dark
After nearly two decades of critically acclaimed performances, the Yellowjackets star lands her first Emmy nod.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
Ever since she starred in the psychological drama Heavenly Creatures at just 16, Melanie Lynskey has occupied a variety of dark, twisted roles that seem utterly at odds with her soft-spoken and down-to-earth disposition. In just the past year, the native New Zealander has taken on Betty Gore, the real-life murder victim of Candy Montgomery (played by Jessica Biel) in Candy, as well as Shauna, a plane crash survivor with deep secrets in the ‘90s nostalgia hit Yellowjackets. The latter would garner Lynskey both a Critics’ Choice Award as well as her first-ever Emmy nomination. Before jumping back into the Canadian wilderness for the highly anticipated second season of Yellowjackets, Lynskey, who lives in Los Angeles with her husband Jason Ritter and their 3-year-old daughter, spoke with W about the emotional toll of dipping into dark roles, the evolution of the true-crime genre, and being the biggest Olivia Colman stan on the planet.
You chose to portray Olivia Colman’s version of Susan Edwards in Landscapers. In real life, Edwards, along with her husband, famously murdered her parents and buried them in the backyard of their Mansfield, England home in 1998. What drew you to Colman’s take on that role?
She’s my favorite actor in the world. I watched that show and felt like this performance was magic. There are so many layers to this character. People describe her as being fragile, so she has to appear like a broken, damaged person. But she also has this energy that she might be in control of everything. She might be a murderer; she might be very dangerous. The balance that she achieves in playing both of those things in the same moment is crazy.
It seems like with so many true-crime stories on television these days, shows need something a little experimental to stand out.
For sure. People are getting really inventive with the ways they’re telling a story that may or may not be reality. The Staircase did that in a really interesting way, where they show every possible version of this woman’s death. With Candy, the writer was concerned with having the victim be present even after her death. So I appeared in certain courtroom scenes; I appeared after I was murdered.
In Candy you play Betty Gore who is murdered by her friend Candy Montgomery. As a performer, what attracts you to tragic stories?
It’s not always fun, but it is satisfying to play big emotions and things that are difficult and gritty. Candy was such a fascinating person. It’s really interesting who, culturally, we decide are victims whom we want to believe. This woman [Montgomery] got away with murder because people didn’t care for this other woman [Gore]. Person after person in this small town got up on the stand and said: “She was weird. She was awkward. I could see her snapping, but I couldn’t see Candy doing that.” It’s so heartbreaking; you have to be the perfect victim to get justice after something horrific happens to you. It makes me angry. It’s something that we’re seeing a lot of right now.
Unlike some of the characters you’ve portrayed who have outsized emotional moments, your Yellowjackets character, Shauna, is so restrained.
That’s probably the hardest thing about that character for me. She’s so afraid of the things that she discovered about herself in the wilderness. She’s so afraid of her own rage and grief. She feels like if she lets any bit of it come out, it’s going to overwhelm her and she’s going to be furious or crying forever. So she just tries to bottle it up. It’s a really fun challenge to feel all of that and then push it back down as far as you can and get on with the scene. It’s so fascinating that people can compartmentalize. I love that they show everybody dealing with their trauma in different ways. Juliette’s [Lewis] character [Natalie] is just feeling everything at all moments and lashing out. Shauna never allows herself to do that.
In all of the many roles you’ve played or read in a script, have you ever seen a teenage girl written like Shauna?
All the teenage girls on the show were written in a way that really excited me. They weren’t archetypes or what you expect to see. They were messy, complicated individuals. People fuck up; people make mistakes and do horrible things, especially when you’re a teenager. When the show was pitched to me, they talked about a lot of different things that happened to Shauna in the wilderness. I can’t spoil things, but a big part of her fear in coming home is that she discovered bad stuff within herself—which actually excited her. The small-town, high school girl version of that is sleeping with your best friend’s boyfriend. The trapped in the wilderness, fighting for survival version is something much crazier. So I’m excited for all that stuff to come out.
How do you know when a role is right for you?
I have a voice in my head that tells me it’s the right thing to do. I had this therapist once who was like, “I wish you had the same kind of agency for yourself as you do for your characters.” Because I don’t question it. I know what feels right internally. You get a weird feeling in your stomach if something is not exactly right for you. It’s like when someone asks you to go to dinner and you say yes, and you feel like, I’m not that excited about this dinner. Why did I agree to give my time? I’ve never had any acting training or anything like that, so I rely 100 percent on my instincts.
Would you ever consider moving back to New Zealand?
I would love to! My husband’s whole family is here, so it’s difficult, but I’m hoping we’ll move back even just for a couple of years.
What moment in your life or career do you feel most proud of?
In my life, I’m the most proud of my child. She’s beautiful and so kind, and I just love her. In my career, I loved doing Togetherness. There was a lot of improv involved, and I really felt like a collaborator with the Duplass brothers. I loved working with them and Steve Zissis and Amanda Peet. I look back on that show and it was great, a lot of fun.
With so much to watch on television now, do you ever get overwhelmed?
Yes. Don’t you? Somebody told me they were rewatching The Sopranos or Breaking Bad or something. I just was like, imagine rewatching something! I feel like I’m constantly behind.
Hair by Richard Collins, makeup by Kristee Liu. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/melanie-lynskey-yellowjackets-candy-interview | 2022-08-16T17:11:36Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/melanie-lynskey-yellowjackets-candy-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Pachinko Star Minha Kim Leads With Quiet Strength
The breakout South Korean actress is ready for season 2.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
There’s a tranquil yet mighty energy to Minha Kim. You can sense it, even through the phone. She chooses her words carefully, the emotion clear in every statement. Coincidentally, it’s akin to the demeanor of Sunja, the character Kim portrays on the Apple TV+ epic Pachinko, based on Min Jin Lee’s novel of the same name. That probably speaks to the series’ casting, its success in finding an actor who embodies Sunja’s manner so brilliantly. Kim, now 26, was plucked out of relative obscurity for the role, having only a few short films and small roles to her name at the time, with no agent to push her for the part. She got it on her own, after three months of line readings, interviews, and chemistry tests with the show’s antagonist, Hansu, portrayed by Korean superstar Lee Minho. But in a series filled with overwhelming emotion, world-building cinematography, and a cast that includes Oscar winner Yuh-jung Youn, Kim still stands out as the breakout star. And now, with a second season greenlighted, she will have another chance to win over audiences with her understated performance. Here, the Seoul native discusses getting into the emotional mindset of Sunja, speaking with her grandmother to prepare for the role, and the impact Grey’s Anatomy has had on her personally and professionally.
You chose to portray Lexie Grey from Grey’s Anatomy. Tell me about your history with the show.
I started watching when I was 15 years old. It was kind of shocking for me, because I’d never seen that kind of show before. I fell in love with Sandra Oh, and I loved the voiceovers. One of my friends who introduced me to Grey’s Anatomy was inspired to become a nurse thanks to the show, and now she is one. We still talk about Grey’s when we see each other.
What made you choose Lexie Grey specifically?
Lexie doesn’t appear until season 3, but I still remember when I first saw her, she was so beautiful. And then she smiled. Her smile just makes me freeze. Oh my gosh, she’s so beautiful, and she’s smart, she’s funny. She’s fragile at some points, but she’s strong. She is a warmhearted girl, and she’s lovely. When she died in season 8, I cried a lot. I couldn’t believe it.
Did the show influence you to become an actor?
Yeah. The way Ellen Pompeo does her voiceovers influenced me a lot. It’s just so powerful. Grey’s Anatomy itself is so powerful. Whenever a new season comes out, I get so excited. I’ve learned so many things from the show, not only about acting and from the performances. It’s attached to a lot of my personal life, too, and it has influenced me in many ways.
What was the audition process like for Pachinko?
I didn’t have an agency or management at the time. The casting director called and asked me to audition, so I said, “Of course, why not?” Then I saw the script, which was made up of three scenes, and it was so beautiful. I didn’t know it was Pachinko then, because they were using another title, but I read it and fell in love. I thought, I have to do this. When I got the second callback, I figured out it was Pachinko, so I read the book right away. Then, when I heard that I got the role, it was around my birthday. It was literally my birthday present to me.
Are there any similarities between you and Sunja?
Yes. I think we both look really fragile at first sight; we look naive, vulnerable. When people see me for the first time, they think I’m very shy, and an inconspicuous and timid girl. But Sunja and I both have a sturdy faith in ourselves. If we have to choose something, if we have to go somewhere or make a decision, we believe in ourselves. Sunja is like another part of me. I learned a lot from her, including things about myself. I learned a lot about love and how to take on responsibilities.
I read you spoke with your grandmother a lot while preparing for the role. What conversations did you have with her?
My grandmother is 94 years old, so she’s kind of like a friend to Sunja. I asked her about a lot of things, like, how did she suffer during this period, and what was that like for her. There were details, specific things I really wanted to know—for example, if it was normal for a girl to get pregnant at 16 like Sunja did. I asked her about the culture of the time, and I was kind of surprised that she remembered and was able to answer my questions specifically.
She’s also a really fun storyteller. So every time she told me a story, it was so fun that I would forget I had a question for her. Still, a lot of emotions came up in the conversation, too. I wanted to know how she felt at the time. She said she was so proud of me for getting the role, but she was also sad that I had to do this, even if it was just a performance.
What was her reaction when she finally watched the show?
She cried a lot. Whenever she saw my face, she cried. She said it reminded her of her childhood. And then she turned to me and said, “Minha, I just want to tell you that I love you. I’m the one who loves you the most. I just want you to know that I love you the most.” And that’s when I started to cry.
There’s a lot of talk about the importance of telling this story, especially since the history of Japan’s occupation of Korea isn’t well known to much of the U.S. audience. Have you felt that weight—of finally bringing this narrative to the screen?
Of course. First of all, our show is not the first on the historical event itself, but I think it’s more focused on humanity, and that’s what we are trying to tell the audience. It’s not only about Korean history, but the histories of others, too. There are so many unknown histories that we should know that have not been explored yet. Pachinko is a step, and we should keep going further so audiences can learn. I’m so proud that our show could do that.
Some of the scenes are very emotional. What was the hardest one to film?
Most of Sunja’s scenes are very emotional, but I remember when Sunja says goodbye to [her mother], Yangjin, she goes to Osaka. That was the most emotional scene I had while shooting. It was a long day. Whenever I had a scene with Inji [Jeong], who plays Yangjin, I got so much energy from her. Even though she’s not my real mother, it felt like she was. She would make me think about my mom and my grandmothers. At one point, I was in tears and they wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t even read my lines.
Pachinko has been renewed for season 2. Are you excited to revisit the character?
I’m so excited for Sunja’s next journey. And it’s not only about Sunja, it’s about all of the characters. I can’t wait to hear their stories, hear their histories. I’m so happy to go back.
Hair by Ericka Verrett and Makeup by Robert Rumsey. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/minha-kim-pachinko-season-2-interview | 2022-08-16T17:11:42Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/minha-kim-pachinko-season-2-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Liz Cambage announced on social media Monday that she decided to step away from the WNBA “for the time being,” addressing for the first time her contract divorce from the Los Angeles Sparks last month.
“While I’ll miss rocking the purple and gold, I’ll be taking this time to focus on my healing and personal growth before providing clarification on past rumors,” the four-time All-Star said in an Instagram post. “Thank you to all my supporters, family and friends for all the love and light you continue to surround me with.”
The Sparks were in the hunt for a playoff spot when Cambage left the team on July 26. The team lost eight of their final nine games and finished out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Los Angeles had traded away its first-round pick for the 2023 draft, meaning it won’t benefit from missing the playoffs.
Internationally, Cambage had competed for Australia, helping the team win a bronze medal in 2012. But she withdrew from playing with the Opals shortly before the Tokyo Games last summer, citing her mental health. A few days before that, Cambage had been accused of using a racial slur towards a Nigerian national team player in a closed scrimmage. Cambage denied those allegations.
Cambage averaged 13 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Sparks in 25 games this season after signing as a free agent in the offseason.
“Playing for the Sparks was a dream come true and I’m honored to have shared the court with such amazing ladies for as long as we did,” Cambage said. “I’m sorry to have left abruptly and I wish it would have ended on a different note…. I’m hopeful that the WNBA will do their part in creating safer environments and a stronger support system for their players.”
Cambage was drafted by the Tulsa franchise in 2011 with the No. 2 pick.
She has been vocal about her mental health for a long time, sitting out six years before coming back and asking to be traded from Tulsa, which by then had moved to Dallas. Cambage played in Las Vegas for two seasons before becoming a free agent and choosing Los Angeles.
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More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/australias-liz-cambage-leaves-wnba-for-the-time-being/ | 2022-08-16T17:11:44Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/australias-liz-cambage-leaves-wnba-for-the-time-being/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small-screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
Natasha Lyonne is the cocreator, executive producer, and star of Russian Doll, which is in its second season on Netflix. The show is dark and funny and plays brilliantly with time—in season one, Nadia Vulvokov, played by Lyonne, relives the same tragic night again and again. Each time, she dies at the end of a tumultuous evening in a horrible way, only to be transported back to the beginning of the same evening every time.
Similarly, Lyonne has lived many lives: She began her career as one of the kids on Pee-wee’s Playhouse and became an indie darling for her role as a misfit teenager in Slums of Beverly Hills and But I’m a Cheerleader. She went through a dark period of drug addiction, and in 2006 checked into a rehab center—and hasn’t used drugs since. Lyonne reemerged in Orange Is the New Black, which was eventually followed by Russian Doll. Throughout her career, her raspy, tough-girl voice mixed with her tiny frame and masses of copper-colored ringlets have given her a unique street urchin sophistication. “My aesthetic was so enmeshed in a tomboy mood,” she told me. “I really understood the boys’ club—the Pacinos, the De Niros. But with writing and producing Russian Doll, I was surprised how well received I was relative to the struggle of being an actress. It seems like I’m a centerpiece kind of character, but I’m not. I love being a silent observer: I’m such a believer in the idea of the arts.”
Why did you pick Audrey Landers in Dallas as the character you wanted to embody for this portfolio?
So here’s what happened: I wanted to do Ida Lupino in The Twilight Zone because she was the only actress who both appeared in an episode and then directed one. I was picturing a lot of double images and me jumping inside the screen, but it proved to be too complex. So we were styling my hair along Ida Lupino lines, and my publicist said, “Oh my god—is it Audrey Landers from Dallas?!” And in that moment, we decided to celebrate this woman who was comically great. So another blonde gets the role!
Do you watch a lot of TV?
My brain really works in movies. It’s so funny to even end up in the TV world at all. I only understand TV through movies. But I do love The Wire, NYPD Blue, and Twin Peaks. I don’t think I spent as much time as a kid developing a flavor—an aesthetic—from television like I did from films. Although I really loved Carol Burnett and Tracey Ullman. And Ab Fab. Those ladies are great.
Did any person in show business have a particular impact on you?
Yes, [the writer-director] Nora Ephron was a very significant figure in my story. My very first acting gig was as a glorified extra in her film Heartburn. That was [inspired by] Nora’s marriage to Carl Bernstein. I was 5 years old and I am sleeping on some guy’s lap at a wedding. And then when I was coming back in my phase two, post-junkie dump, I auditioned for Nora again. I wanted a part in her play, but I was having a really hard time with a boyfriend, and I said, “While I have you—if you could just give me a little advice here. It doesn’t matter if I get the job; I see this as a free therapy session.” That’s really what I’m doing in showbiz; I’ve gained access to people who are tremendous thinkers and I’m trying to crack this case.
But Nora Ephron gave you the part!
Yes! She was always looking out for me. I had to have open heart surgery and she made sure I had the best room at Columbia-Presbyterian and the greatest surgeon. I woke up to roses, and she and Chloë [Sevigny, Lyonne’s best friend] were determined to see me through this thing. And then Nora gave me my first gig back. She had me stay at her house in Los Angeles, and I was like, “Are you crazy?” And she said, “Everybody has problems.” She really helped me understand that I was okay.
Nora Ephron was supportive of other women. Sadly, that is not always the case.
It’s true. I identified with the guys. My trip was everyone from Orson Welles to Lou Reed to Robert Mitchum. Those were my people. Tough talking. And then Orange Is the New Black was a very seminal change for me, because suddenly I was friends with women like Uzo Aduba and Taylor Schilling. We were all in these uniforms and we were a girl gang! And then I started moving to writing, directing, and producing. It was so organic. Now every beautiful, incredible woman I meet, I want to support. Before, I would think, I wish I were her. Now I think, Let’s work together.
Hair by John D and makeup by Tracey Levy. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/natasha-lyonne-russian-doll-season-2-interview-dallas | 2022-08-16T17:11:49Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/natasha-lyonne-russian-doll-season-2-interview-dallas | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Nicholas Braun Is Ready to Play Ball
The Emmy-nominated Succession star discusses the series’ fourth season and being in awe of Tim Riggins from Friday Night Lights.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small-screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
“Sometimes it’s nice to get kind of bashed up,” Nicholas Braun says brightly on a recent afternoon in New York City. As the bumbling but lovable Roy family underdog Cousin Greg on HBO’s Succession, the actor has gotten used to taking a psychological beating on-screen—and has earned two Emmy nominations in the process. This year, the series made Emmys history, receiving a record-breaking 14 nominations in the acting categories and 25 nods overall. Since the show’s premiere, in 2018, Braun has become a favorite with fans, who track Cousin Greg’s power ranking among the ruthless Roys after each new episode. Braun knows there are a lot of people rooting for his character as he navigates the messy Waystar Royco empire—and he is too. Here, fresh off his first day of filming the series’ fourth season, the actor discusses his hopes for Greg’s future and his fascination with another underdog you can’t help but root for—Tim Riggins, the brooding fullback/running back from Friday Night Lights.
What is a typical day like for you when you’re filming Succession?
Most of the time, it’s very early: getting picked up between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. You really gotta wake your brain up, chug some coffee. I’m not an early riser, so it’s never been that easy for me. But Succession is a well-oiled machine. It’s been a year since we last filmed it, and it was like jumping right back in. Everybody’s so good in front of the camera, behind the camera—I was like, hell yeah, we’re doing this for nine more months. This is the crew. We’re back. It’s the best job.
Are you more of a night owl?
Yeah, I am. I usually go to sleep around 2 or 3 a.m. I don’t know why, other than my dad is the same way. I always got very little sleep in high school. I would live on four hours of sleep at night and kind of loved how hard it was. I think it was also a FOMO thing. I went to a boarding school, so kids were up in the dorms playing video games, and I never wanted to miss any of it.
Going into season 4, how have you seen Greg evolve?
He comes into this family as a puppy dog. He doesn’t really know how to be this type of person. He’s just floppy. Over the course of the three seasons, he’s soaked up a lot. The way that I’ve thought about him is, he stores a lot of things, he observes things, collects Roy behavior. He’s like, Okay, that’s how Kendall played that. That’s how Logan did that. Oh, that really hurt me—maybe I can do that to someone else later. By the end of season 3, he’s been put through a lot, and he’s ready to show off the skills he’s acquired and be a little more fearless.
Season 3 feels like his hazing period, for sure.
Totally. It’s been hard for him. He thought Kendall was a safe place; he wasn’t. Thought, Oh, Grandpa Ewan will take me back in; he doesn’t. Logan brings him on his side, but it doesn’t feel that safe. At the end of the season, when Tom is like, ‘I’ve got a path for us, follow me,’ he’s like, Okay, I found my safe place. There’s just a lot of relief. He’s been torn between a lot of potential sides and tried to play it right. A big part of his struggle is, Where do I land here? Where do I fit in here? And I’ll be a loyal soldier to whoever accepts me.
What is your biggest hope or dream for Greg?
It's hard to talk about that because I kind of know where [season 4] goes, so I don’t have a good answer without lying and saying something like, “I hope he becomes president of the world.”
That would be a real twist.
He could do it.
Let’s talk about Friday Night Lights, the series you’ve chosen for this year’s TV Portfolio. Do you remember when you first started watching the show?
I believe it was 2007. I was at college, and this was one of the first things on NBC when it started streaming stuff. I would sit through loading commercials, which were way longer than on TV—it was, like, eight minutes of buffering commercials. I got really, really obsessed. I watched it very quickly. Everyone was so good in it: Jesse Plemons is so great; he’s amazing in that part. And then Kyle Chandler, Coach Taylor—I just thought, Man, I wish I had a Coach Taylor in my life. But Riggins is perfect.
Back then, did you want to be cast as a Riggins kind of character?
I would never get cast as that guy. A lot of it is the look—you gotta have a strong jawline and great, long hair and a big, muscular bod. He’s got all that. He drinks beers, and he’s in high school, gets the hottest girls, like, wow—what a stud. And he’s good at football, too. He really hurts people on the field. He’s got some family or childhood issues that come up, and I feel for him. I want him to figure those out. But more than anything, I was just attracted to the hunkiness. In college I was like, I wish I was the Tim Riggins of my dorm.
What were you instead?
I was probably more of a Matt Saracen. I can throw a football, though. I know how to play, because I played for three days in high school. It was the beginning of my freshman year. I thought, I’m gonna start playing football and I’m gonna bulk up, because I was really skinny, really lanky, all bones. I got to practice, and these kids had been there for two weeks already, doing preseason. They were huge, nearly fully pubescent young men. They did a hitting drill [whereby] they give you the ball, and then some guy tackles you [so you can] feel what a hit is like. You’re gonna get hurt, and I did: His helmet went right into my thumb, and I kind of jammed it. I was like, Oh, fuck this. This is not what I want to do. I hated it. Putting pads on took me, like, 30 minutes. The whole thing sucked.
What about the narrative of Friday Night Lights attracted you and kept you coming back for more?
They capture the small-town Texas community really well. I grew up far from that kind of life—I’m from Connecticut and New York. It dropped you right into this little part of Texas, and you got how much football mattered to them. It was shot beautifully, and the music was great. It was kind of soapy, but it was just well done. Something about the show felt comforting. I don’t watch a lot of TV, so it actually was one of those things that grabbed me, and I stayed with it.
Do you prefer watching movies?
Yeah, I do. But I watch a lot of docuseries or nonfiction series, and documentaries. I’m watching that Mormon one right now on Netflix, Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey. Wild Wild Country…maybe I should have dressed up as Osho. Next year!
Grooming by Angel DeAngelis. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/nicholas-braun-succession-season-4-interview | 2022-08-16T17:11:55Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/nicholas-braun-succession-season-4-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Who is Roderick Williams? Everything you need to know about the British baritone including his best recordings
With his rich and nuanced voice, his infectious enthusiasm and beaming smile, Roderick Williams is one of the most famous singers in the UK. But what was his training? How did he decide to become a singer? Here is everything you need to know about the British baritone
Who is Roderick Williams?
Roderick Williams is an English baritone and composer - one of the most highly respected singers in the UK - known for the sophistication of his voice, the intelligence of his interpretations, the breadth of the repertoire he takes on and his infectious enthusiasm for life and for everything he does. He is also known for being a thoroughly nice chap, with a beaming smile.
Where did he grow up?
Born in north London, in 1965, to a Welsh father and a Jamaican mother, Williams grew up in High Barnet and attended Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford and Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Hertfordshire.
How did he get into classical music?
He started singing as a treble when he was six years old, and also played the cello. His mother introduced him to the world of opera by singing along to recordings of Maria Callas while cooking Sunday lunch, and his father played the guitar as a hobby. However, it was listening to a section from Benjamin Britten's Frank Bridge Variations as background music to a short film about glass blowing that really sparked Williams's love of classical music.
Did he go straight into singing after university?
No - despite singing as a chorister in his childhood, and then winning a choral scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford. On graduating from university he initially trained as a teacher, and worked for several years as Director of Choral Studies at Tiffin Boys' School in Kington-upon-Thames, moonlighting as a singer at weekend concerts.
So how did he change track?
Gradually, he became aware that some of his colleagues from Magdalen College had become professional singers. But the deciding moment was a conversation with his wife, when she asked him what his ambitions were. Realising that he would love to do what his colleagues had done, and go professional with his singing, he applied, and was accepted, aged 28, on the opera course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama - and threw himself wholeheartedly at it. He made his debut at the BBC Proms in 1996, in a concert performance of Verdi's Don Carlos. He has been hugely in demand ever since.
What kind of repertoire does he sing?
As an omni-enthusiast, he has sung baroque opera, Mozart, 20th-century English music - especially by Britten - as well as new roles in contemporary works by composers including Michel van der Aa and Sally Beamish. The characters he portrays are widely varied, ranging from the idealistic Billy Budd to the villainous Scarpia from Tosca - a role, he says, that he found very cathartic, despite audiences assuming him to be far too nice to play such a repellant character. He excels in 19th century art song; he loves Bach and Rameau and recently worked on Sound Voice a project exploring the lived experience voice loss.
One thing he doesn't particularly love is musical theatre, and even that he has dipped his toe into, singing Jerome Kern's 'Ol Man River' from the 1936 musical Showboat at the 2014 BBC Proms (in his own orchestral arrangement), a performance that he repeated for charity in an online concert during the pandemic.
And his compositions?
Yep, there have been several of those too - premiered at the Wigmore and Barbican Halls, the Purcell Room and live on national UK radio. Among his choral works are World Without End - a piece to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Air Force; and Now Winter Nights composed for VOCES8. Last year, he signed to Edition Peters, which released an initial eight choral works by him in January 2021.
Does he have children?
Yes, two daughters and a son.
Where does he perform?
Although he does perform abroad, Williams prefers to remain within easy reach of his family. As a result, he has centred most of his work in the UK, performing most frequently with companies including Opera North, Scottish Opera and English National Opera.
Is there anything he wishes he could do better?
Hula-hooping. And swimming front crawl by just kicking his legs; by his own admission, he goes backwards.
Photo: Getty
Roderick Williams on... his finest moment
Martin In terra pax
Roderick Williams (baritone) et al; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Matthias Bamert
Chandos CHAN9465 (1996)
There was a mix-up with the dates for the original baritone that was booked for this recording, and so I stepped in at the last minute. It was literally a day or two before the session that I got the call. I didn’t know much Frank Martin but, having been a choral scholar, I had a background in sight reading, so I thought it was something I could do. I just found the music really exciting; it’s a really austere soundworld.
There wasn’t time for anybody to do any French coaching with me, so I went in with my best O-Level French! There might have been a coach in the recording session to help me, but everything else was done on wits and nerves. If I could reverse-engineer my career, I’d persuade myself to take my languages to A-Level and beyond but I had no idea at that point that I was going to have a career as a singer.
The situation was quite tense, but actually in those moments, unless you do a bad job, everybody is just so grateful that you’re there to rescue the ship that they cut you a lot of slack. I was singing with Della Jones and Martyn Hill, who are my seniors and betters, so I ran with the ball and had a really great time.
Roderick Williams on... his favourite memory
Vaughan Williams Songs of Travel
Roderick Williams (baritone); Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin Yates
Dutton Epoch CDLX7359 (2019)
This is a piece I know very well, so I was looking forward to the sessions. I flew to Edinburgh and planned to hire a car and drive to Dundee. But it was the day after one of those storms that’s got someone’s name – Storm Kevin, or something – and trees had been uprooted in Dundee, so it had been pretty bad.
It was pandemonium in the airport; the queue was long and I saw the time peeling away. I realised I wasn’t going to get my hire car, so I got a taxi instead and arrived late in an absolute state. Everyone calmed me down, however, and we did my sessions. The orchestra was wonderful and the Caird Hall acoustics made me sound great.
The piano version of the penultimate song, ‘Bright is the Ring of Words’, is in C, so when the orchestra put down this huge chord of D major it was a bit of a surprise. You can’t ask 80 musicians to transpose down a tone, so I girded my loins and sang it in D.
Roderick Williams on... what he would like to have another go at
Schubert Winterreise
Roderick Williams (baritone),
Iain Burnside (piano)
Chandos CHAN20163 (2020)
I think anyone who records feels privileged and flattered to be asked to do it. But there’s also a feeling that you are putting your thoughts down for the end of all time. So anybody who puts on my recording of Schubert might be fooled into thinking this is how I believe Schubert’s Winterreise should go. I’ve sort of gone off that as an idea; I now believe that it’s more a case of ‘this is how I was singing Schubert with Iain Burnside during that recording session in June of last year’. Possibly the next day, Iain and I might perform and indeed record Winterreise quite differently. And the day after that I might perform it with a different pianist and record it wholly differently again.
There’s that age-old argument about recording jazz; you think by preserving it, you’re already limiting your choices. The thing I love about performing the three Schubert song cycles – but Winterreise more than any of them – is the differences I notice along the way. I love that about the piece and that’s why I’d like to return to it again, perhaps at ten-year intervals.
Roderick Williams’s new release ‘Das Mädchen spricht’ from SOMM Recordings is out now
Authors
Michael is the Reviews Editor of BBC Music Magazine. He was previously a freelance film music journalist and spent 15 years at St George's Bristol. Michael specialises in film and television music and was the Editor of MusicfromtheMovies.com. He has written for the BBC Proms, BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall, Hollywood in Vienna and Silva Screen Records.
Hannah Nepilova is a regular contributor to BBC Music Magazine. She has also written for The Financial Times, The Times, The Strad, Gramophone, Opera Now, Opera, the BBC Proms and the Philharmonia, and runs The Cusp, an online magazine exploring the boundaries between art forms. Born to Czech parents, she has a strong interest in Czech music and culture. | https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/roderick-williams-the-the-best-recordings/ | 2022-08-16T17:11:56Z | classical-music.com | control | https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/roderick-williams-the-the-best-recordings/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Nicole Byer Is Living Her Childhood Sitcom Dreams
The Grand Crew star and Emmy-nominated host of Nailed It! recalls getting her first laugh and shares her unfiltered approach to life.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
If there’s any star who could use a twin to share her workload, it’s Nicole Byer. Ever since her turn as a talking head on MTV’s GirlCode the comedian and actress has been seemingly everywhere. She’s landed guest spots on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place, launched the popular podcasts Why Won’t You Date Me? With Nicole Byer and Best Friends With Nicole Byer & Sasheer Zamata, and voiced characters in The Bob’s Burgers Movie and Tuca & Bertie. Now she’s starring in Peacock’s Grand Crew and the disaster baking series Nailed It! for which she’s been nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition program three years in a row. This year, she also received an outstanding writing nod for Nicole Byer: BBW: Big Beautiful Weirdo, her first solo comedy special now streaming on Netflix. Meanwhile, off-screen, she continues to perform stand-up live. Here, the busy 35 year old opens up about how she balances her many projects, gender parity in the comedy scene, and why talking about sex shouldn’t be taboo.
In the 1990s, there were so many Black sitcoms, from Martin to Living Single. With shows like Grand Crew, do you feel like we are entering a new era of Black sitcoms?
It is kind of wild that the ’90s did have a plethora of Black sitcoms. Friends is a rip-off of Living Single. I think that happens in television a lot. People of color set trends, and then those trends get co-opted. I'm hoping this time around, there are Black shows, and then they let us be Black. Like, I don't want to see the white Insecure, you know what I mean? Not to say that I don't want to see a white show, because yes, gimme some messy white ladies! I love The Flight Attendant. I just think that there's room for everybody at the table.
Your Grand Crew character, Nicky can’t get enough of the single life and you’ve said she was basically written for you. How would you describe Nicky in three words?
Professional, sexy, and fun.
How about Nicole in three words?
Goofy, cute, and hardworking.
Where did your love of comedy and performing come from?
That came in junior or sophomore year of high school. My mom was like, “You talk a lot; why don’t you try out for the play?” Everyone got a part, but we did short one-acts by Christopher Durang. I did one called DMV Tyrant, and people laughed in rehearsals at first, until they saw it enough and stopped laughing. But on opening night, in front of a lot of friends, family, and parents, I remember saying my first line and getting this huge eruption of laughter. I was like, I control this audience! I make them laugh with the words I say! That was eye-opening and addictive.
On Grand Crew, your character and her friends drink a lot of wine. What’s your wine of choice?
If I’m with the boys, I like Lambrusco. It’s a sparkling red. If I’m alone or not with the boys, I’ll have a rosé. Lately, I’ve been liking orange wine, but not too funky—just a nice skin-contact orange.
The comedy scene has historically skewed toward men, but in the past decade, more women and even nonbinary comedians are booking larger stages. How have you seen things change in the industry?
I’ve had jobs where—and I’ve talked to other female-identifying people about this—we’re hired, but then they’re like, Bring it back. Then the dude in the scene gets to be the wackadoodle one. Why am I being pulled back? We’re getting more opportunities, but I still think that comedy is a boys club. The gatekeepers are men; the power producers are usually men. But you have Three Busy Debras, which is three women who are so fucking weird and funny. Patti Harrison is crushing it. Ziwe is killing it. You have a lot of young women who are doing weird shit, which is exciting.
You appeared on Ziwe’s show as a guest. What was that like?
I was watching Ziwe’s Instagram interviews, and I loved them so much. I started following her and asked her to do [my podcast] Why Won’t You Date Me? I just loved her so much, and I couldn't figure her out. I was like, Is this a character or is this her? But she’s really wonderful and sweet. Being on the show is funny, because I know the game—whatever you say, she can flip it around and make you look bad. I went in with that mindset. I was a little nervous, but we ultimately had a really fun time.
Speaking of Why Won’t You Date Me?, have you always been so open about dating and sex?
I love telling people my business. I'll meet you one time, and I'll tell you everything. I don't think sex and sexual experiences are mysterious. I don’t think it happens to one person and nobody else has a similar experience. It’s a shared experience; it’s relatable.
For this portfolio, you’ve chosen to portray Michelle Tanner from Full House. Why did you pick that character?
Initially, I wanted to do the baby from Dinosaurs, but that’s a lot of makeup. Then I thought of Lucille Bluth from Arrested Development. But I really loved Michelle Tanner growing up! My middle name is Michelle, and I would tell people that I was Michelle Tanner from Full House. A lot of nice adults just nodded their heads at me. I was a full-ass Black child being like, I’m a white child on television. I grew up loving the Olsen twins, and I owned every single one of their VHS movies. I watched The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley. Michelle Tanner is an icon. From baby to youth, a fucking fashion icon, always in overalls and pigtails.
Did you dress like her as a child?
Not really. We had to shop in the clearance section, and there was never any cute Michelle Tanner–looking stuff on clearance.
Baby Sinclair from Dinosaurs would have been wild.
The show is a full-blown fever dream. What the fuck was the pitch? “We just get a bunch of animatronic dinosaurs, and they're a working-class family.” And then someone was like, “Yeah, let's do that.” TV is still fucking bonkers, and I love it.
You also host Netflix’s Nailed It! How are your baking skills these days?
I can make a pound cake. I can follow directions and make chocolate chip cookies, but not really. I don’t like cleaning up in the kitchen—if someone else can clean it up, then I’m happy.
You've got your comedy special on Netflix, several podcasts, and you host more than one reality TV series. That's a lot. How do you balance it all?
I am technically constantly doing something. But I stack my podcasts and record a bunch in a row, then slowly release them. I'm not always recording them. With Why Won’t You Date Me?, people say, “It doesn’t feel like we’re keeping up with your life.” I'm like, well, nothing is going on in my life. I'm not dating right now!
What are you most looking forward to for season 2 of Grand Crew?
I don't want to spoil it if you haven't seen it, but there are three cliff-hangers, and I'm so excited to wrap them up. I pitched something with my character that I hope happens to her. There’s a character she interacted with whom I hope we see again.
Hair by Moira Frazier and makeup by Jen Fregozo. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/nicole-byer-nailed-it-grand-crew-big-beautiful-weirdo-emmy-interview | 2022-08-16T17:12:01Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/nicole-byer-nailed-it-grand-crew-big-beautiful-weirdo-emmy-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Atlanta and South Florida have been selected to host College Football Playoff national championship games for the second time.
The CFP announced Monday that Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, would be the site of the title game scheduled to be played in January 2026, the final game of the current 12-year media rights deal with ESPN.
Miami Gardens hosted the 2021 game, following the 2020 pandemic-altered season.
“South Florida was a great host for the 2021 national championship game despite the event having to be scaled back because of COVID-19, and we look forward to returning in 2026 with a full complement of events and activities during national championship weekend,” CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said in a statement.
The game between Alabama and Ohio State at Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, was limited to about 15,000 fans because of COVID-19 restrictions. The stadium holds more than 65,000.
In its announcement, the CFP said the host of the 2025 game also was selected and would be announced at a later date.
A person familiar with the decision, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the official announcement had not been made, said Mercedes-Benz Stadium would be the site of that game.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported that decision.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 75,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium, is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United and the Peach Bowl.
A news conference has been scheduled at the stadium on Tuesday to make the announcement. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens are scheduled to attend.
The first Alabama-Georgia championship game in 2018 was played in Atlanta and won by the Crimson Tide in overtime.
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AP National Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/cfp-championship-games-to-return-to-atlanta-south-florida/ | 2022-08-16T17:12:05Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/cfp-championship-games-to-return-to-atlanta-south-florida/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Quincy Isaiah Tames the Fame Monster
The Winning Time star discusses getting his mind right in order to play Magic Johnson, and how he relates to Ted Lasso’s toxic positivity.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small-screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
Earlier this year, Quincy Isaiah found himself in a car headed for Beverly Hills. Although mere months before, he'd made his very first appearance on-screen, in the breakout role of Magic Johnson for Adam McKay's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, the Muskegon, Michigan, native had been selected for the Hollywood Reporter Drama Actor Roundtable, giving him a chance to sit down for a conversation with legends like Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, and Brian Cox. "To be in that room was crazy," Isaiah tells me in May, from his residence in L.A. "I'm still processing it." Isaiah's portrayal of Johnson in the HBO Max basketball drama, which chronicles the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" era, may have been his introduction to a major acting project, but the role made it eminently clear he belonged among the roundtable’s Hollywood heavyweights. "It was an opportunity to just geek out over the craft of acting with people who have been doing it for years," he recalls. "That don't happen that often."
Prior to landing Winning Time, Isaiah had spent years going on auditions and turning up with nothing. "That was really tough," he says. "When I decided to chase the dream of being an actor, I felt like I might get a few guest stars here and there. Maybe I'd get a series regular part and work my way up to becoming an established actor." Instead, he found himself on billboards all across L.A. and at bus stops in New York, starring in the series alongside the likes of Gaby Hoffmann, John C. Reilly, and Adrien Brody. He suddenly entered a "new wave of exposure that I never experienced before," he adds, but it only made him want to perfect his craft. "I was inspired to be like, Okay, I gotta get to work more. I gotta do better. I gotta study more. And that's what I love. I just want to earn my spot, that's all." As he gears up for season 2 of Winning Time, the actor discusses binge-watching Ted Lasso, and details how he chose to integrate therapy into his preparation for the role of a lifetime.
To play Magic Johnson, you had to get into physical shape—but you also went to therapy ahead of time. Why?
I wanted to have a good foundation and address some things in my past—make sure that I'm good and healthy emotionally, and understand myself more. Being able to talk to somebody who’s unbiased, having another pair of eyes, another brain, a set of ears to listen helps you through things. Booking this role was a major thing that I needed to wrap my mind around and understand what was about to happen. Everybody kept telling me: Your life is about change. I understood where it was coming from, and I also understood that all this new stuff was going to open so many doors. I don't know if, without therapy, I would've been able to embrace that newfound—I don't want to call it fame, but interest in me. This journey is about making sure that I can be as me as possible.
Did you watch any of the episodes of Winning Time that made it onto television?
Multiple times—I'm not gonna lie. But since the finale aired, I'm trying to look forward to season 2 and other projects. It's good to have something else to focus on and not critique yourself too much. Some scenes I don't watch, though. I will admit that I fast-forward through them.
McKay often directs characters to break the fourth wall. Did you have any idea that the final cut of Winning Time would be the way it turned out, especially tonally?
I knew it would be fun, based on the way that we shot it. Seeing the final product, I think they did exactly what they needed to do. You know, a lot of scenes didn’t make the cut. For me, it's been a trust fall: trusting that they know what they're doing. And they do.
You've chosen Ted Lasso as your character to re-create. When did you first start watching the show?
About a month ago. People had talked about it, and I saw it won a bunch of Emmys. Going into it, you're like, All right, this is gonna be a fun 30-minute comedy. Right away, you learn the premise of him leaving, and you're like, Wait—something isn't right. Then you find out he's going through a divorce and all these things are going on with this team. I thought it was brilliant, the way they touched on therapy in there too, talking about mental health, toxic positivity, and not addressing the issues in your life—and how they can come up physically sometimes. You love his character, and you want him to realize that he doesn't have to put up this shield all the time. You want him to be more open about his feelings. If most people would do that, I think we would have better communication and fewer misunderstandings. But the other great part of the show is, you can dissect it, or you can just watch it and not think too deeply about it.
Which way do you prefer to watch Ted Lasso?
I gotta pay so much attention to it. I watch it with subtitles—I can't miss a line. If I miss a line, I rewind it. I love comedy; that's my thing. I mean, I love my drama, don't get me wrong. That's where I want to make my living, but I definitely have a heart for comedy. I want to do both—and the darker stuff, too.
What is your dream drama role and your dream comedy role?
I've said King [Richard] Pryor multiple times. But also just a person: a teacher, because teachers don't get nearly enough credit for what they do and how tough their jobs are. And for a comedy role, something with a lot of makeup. Something where I get to wear a fat suit and change my voice, maybe walk with a limp, have different physicality. I want to be unrecognizable in the part.
Grooming by Simone. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/quincy-isaiah-winning-time-lakers-magic-johnson | 2022-08-16T17:12:07Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/quincy-isaiah-winning-time-lakers-magic-johnson | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sadie Sink Will Go Wherever Stranger Things Takes Her
The actor talks Max’s future on the final season, and why her character and Elaine Benes have more in common than you might think.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
After so many Stranger Things episodes centered on Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Max (Sadie Sink) finally got to take center stage in season 4. Reeling from the loss of her brother, the flame-haired skater retreats from her friends and cuts things off with her boyfriend, Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin). Her only companion is a Walkman—which has the cassette tape containing Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.” She listens to the song so much that even though she’s kept her friends at bay, they know it’s the one song that could save her life—and, they hope, theirs. (Viewers have also been listening to it on repeat, to the point where, 37 years after its release, it hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart several times following the Netflix series’ season 4 premiere.)
Stranger Things—which, as the costumes make clear, takes place in the ’80s—isn’t the only way Sink gets her nostalgia fix. The 20-year-old actor has also been revisiting Seinfeld. Here, she makes the case for her similarity to Max and reflects on her character’s past, present, and future.
What was your reaction to the news that the Duffer Brothers [who cocreated Stranger Things] originally planned for the season to end with Max dying?
I didn’t know until someone told me about the interviews. They never really tell us what’s going to happen until we get the scripts, and when I got the script for episode 9, it said that Max dies but that she sort of comes back. It’s uncertain, but she’s not fully dead. I didn’t know the plan was to completely kill me off, which definitely would’ve been a very impactful ending. They’ve been saying in interviews that Max’s state at the end of season 4 is intentional, crucial, and calculated in terms of how it’s going to come to play in season 5—I guess. I know nothing.
What did you think was going to happen to Max before you read the script?
Season 4 was a wild journey for her. I definitely knew nothing good would happen, but I was not expecting this—this was a crazy, crazy end. I thought either she was going to succeed in a really epic way, or it would be her downfall, and I guess we landed somewhere in the middle.
You had to pause filming the season for more than half a year during lockdown. How much did Max stick with you during that break?
I definitely needed that time because of the state Max is in in season 4. That sense of isolation she feels is something we could all relate to coming out of quarantine, so having a lot of time by myself was good. By the time we returned to season 4, we were all really hungry to get back to work, so there was this determination and excitement on set. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be to get back into the groove of filming after such a long break.
Do you keep in touch with your costars when you aren’t filming?
Yeah, we keep in touch all the time—I was just on FaceTime with Gaten [Matarazzo, who plays Dustin] and Caleb last night. Over quarantine, there would be an occasional text like, “Is everyone okay? I hope we get back to work soon!” After that period of uncertainty, there was an intense appreciation for one another when we reunited on set.
Have you watched this season?
I have. They’d put two episodes at a time in our Netflix accounts a few weeks in advance. [I have] a shared account with my family, so we’d all watch together wherever we were. I especially loved watching the show this year because it was so scattered; I had no idea what they were doing in Russia and in California. It was nice to see all the pieces come together. And some of that stuff was so long ago, you forget what happens.
You constantly listened to Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” the song that ends up saving Max’s life, when filming this season. Have you listened to it since, or are you sick of it?
I have. I haven’t listened to the radio in a long time, but it was playing when I was in the car the other day. It was some kind of top-hits [station], very modern music, and then “Running Up That Hill” played, sandwiched between TikTok sounds. It was a surreal moment to hear it on the actual radio, so many years since its release.
Max almost always has big headphones on. How much did you feel like you were in your own world on set?
The thing with the headphones is that not every Walkman worked. They had probably a dozen for me, but there wouldn’t always be music playing. And they’re pretty poor quality, so the music was very faint and muddled. I think I broke three or four Walkmans throughout the filming process. I started breaking them so much that they made me a Styrofoam one. It was fake, and it was essential.
Your choice of character for this portfolio was Elaine from Seinfeld. When did you first see the show?
There were a few sitcoms that were always on rotation in our house growing up, so I grew up with Seinfeld. My parents would watch it, and I would kind of sneak into the living room and watch a little bit if they let me. I just recently started revisiting it, so it was fresh on my mind. And with Elaine, the dynamic is so cool. It reminded me of Stranger Things in a way—being the only female character in a group full of male characters, similar to Eleven or Max. And just thinking of her in terms of fashion, because Elaine’s costumes are so underrated.
Do you have a favorite?
She wore this really grandma-y red dress [in season 3, episode 4], with socks and some kind of [oxfords]. She always does really flowy, feminine dresses, then toughens them up with a blazer of some sort. I’ve found that I’m modeling my summer style off of Elaine ever since doing this shoot. I love the blend of traditionally masculine silhouettes with feminine flair.
What about a favorite look that Max wears this season?
There are these dark jeans [she wears] with a green top and this cool corduroy jacket. She first puts it on in episode 6 and then wears it until episode 9. That was my favorite, and I’m glad I liked it because I definitely had to wear it a lot—probably a year in total. I would just show up and put this costume on every single day. There were multiples, like a bloody pair of jeans and a clean pair of jeans. They really had to track the whole story, like Where is she at right now? How dirty and bloody are her clothes?
What do you think is going to happen with Max and Lucas next season?
Poor Max—who knows? She’s definitely not able to make it to the movie date on Friday. A lot is up in the air. But after this whole experience, she’s probably learned a lot about the value of keeping people close in her life. We see a little glimpse of that in episode 9, when she agrees to the movie date. It feels like she’s ready to let people back into her life, heal, and move on from everything. Sadly, that was interrupted. But I would like to see her go further with that and be in a place where she’s fully herself again.
When do you start on season 5?
With it being the final season, I don’t think they’re going to rush it. They want to make it perfect and have the most epic ending to the most epic journey ever. Hopefully it’ll be a shorter turnaround than the season 3 to season 4 gap. I’m really excited to get back to work. I trust Matt and Ross [Duffer] so much, so wherever they want to take my character, I’ll be there.
Hair by Tommy Buckett; makeup by Tyron Mchaussen. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/sadie-sink-stranger-things-season-5-interview | 2022-08-16T17:12:13Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/sadie-sink-stranger-things-season-5-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sienna Miller Is Ready to Make You Laugh
After immersing herself in Anatomy of a Scandal, the British star is venturing into comedy.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small-screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
“For somebody who is really quite joyful and pathologically authentic, I choose insanely dark material,” Sienna Miller tells me on an afternoon that finds her wrapped up in a blanket in her cottage in the English countryside. We’re discussing her most recent turn in Netflix’s Anatomy of a Scandal, in which she stars as Sophie Whitehouse, an upper-class Brit whose world is upended when her husband, James (Rupert Friend), is publicly accused of rape. Through harrowing courtroom scenes and flashbacks to the early days of the Whitehouses’ romance, Sophie slowly comes to terms with the fact that her college sweetheart might not be the man she thinks he is. For Miller, starring in the psychological thriller from David E. Kelley offered a welcome challenge. “It goes back to a place of feeling a desperate need to prove myself as somebody serious,” she says of why she gravitated toward the role. It’s hard to believe the British star still feels, at 40, compelled to prove her seriousness on-screen. But perhaps it’s because she’s known—and loved—for her seemingly chill demeanor in her personal life. To wit, when I mention the viral photos of her at Wimbledon sitting in front of her ex Tom Sturridge (with whom Miller has a 10-year-old daughter) kissing his girlfriend, Alexa Chung, she laughs: “That’s the definition of a modern family.” Here, Miller discusses venturing into comedic territory on film and how motherhood keeps her honest.
Playing Sophie in Anatomy of a Scandal must have been emotionally taxing. Did you have any reservations about taking the role?
Initially, my story line was more focused around betrayal. I was [reluctant] to take that on because it felt like unpleasant territory to put myself into for five months. But I think as a whole, it was such an interesting and current examination of how difficult it is to prosecute a rape and how people who are entitled and privileged get away with almost anything. James nearly walks away from it all, and is cleared of the rape that I unequivocally think he did do. Some people didn’t think he did, which was staggering.
Where does it rank among your other heavy roles?
It’s up there, but this wasn’t necessarily the one that’s been the most emotionally demanding. I mean, American Woman was devastating—I lose a child in that movie. But I just did my first comedy, and I had so much fun every day, going to work and laughing. I realized that can be far more rewarding than feeling like you have to put yourself through hell to express something truthful. From now on, it’s comedies and levity. I’m going to be tap-dancing and singing, and that’s all I want to do. I don’t know that I’ve got any more ways to cry than I’ve shown. That’s it—that’s all I’ve got.
Do you completely immerse yourself in a character, or are you able to separate yourself at the end of the workday?
I have a daughter who will not allow me to fully immerse myself. I used to try to read her bedtime stories in whatever accent I was doing, and she was like, “No. You can do that when you get in the car on the way to work, but when you walk through that door, you’re mum.” In order to balance motherhood and the responsibilities I have outside of my job, I have to put it in a box. Now I can laugh in between takes, and I’m better at creating an atmosphere that I need. I didn’t know how to ask for that when I was younger, so I just would have to sit in a corner, listening to Sigur Rós, and work myself into some emotional place.
Why do you think Sophie stays in court? Why put herself through hearing such painful testimonies?
For much of the show, she does believe he’s innocent. She’s got her family, and she’s adamant she will keep it together and get through this. He says something like, “You might as well announce to the world that you think I’m guilty” if she doesn’t show up in court. So she makes the decision to support him for the optics, and then gradually, sitting there and having to listen to these impossibly difficult memories really takes its toll and puts her on the journey of questioning him and his innocence. She’s sitting there looking at this person she’s been with since she was 17, 18, 19 years old and realizing she doesn’t have any idea who he is. That’s terrifying, and it’s not as uncommon as we think. People are capable of enormous duplicity.
On a much lighter note, you chose to channel Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous. How would you describe her to American readers who aren’t familiar with the show?
A sort of boozing, drug-taking, elegant, hilarious, recalcitrant bomb. [Laughs]
When did you first see it?
I must have been, like, 8. I don’t remember a world without Ab Fab in it. If you are raised in England, it’s part of your culture. Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders [who play Patsy and Edina, respectively] are complete cultural heroes for us. One of my best friends made people come to her hen party as famous blondes, and made me come as Patsy. I don’t know if I’ve ever had more fun at a party than I did being her. I’ve got an inner Patsy that I like to channel. [Laughs]
Hair by Caren Fisk; makeup by Wendy Rowe; makeup assistant: Alice Swindells. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/sienna-miller-anatomy-of-a-scandal-interview | 2022-08-16T17:12:19Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/sienna-miller-anatomy-of-a-scandal-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tom Blyth Makes the Case for a Lost Reboot
The Billy the Kid star reflects on the infamous outlaw’s humanity and looks ahead to starring in the next Hunger Games.
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
It takes a certain type of someone to lead a franchise as major as The Hunger Games. And whereas Jennifer Lawrence had already broken out with Winter’s Bone when she joined the adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s wildly popular young adult novel, Tom Blyth, who will take up the mantle of its star in its prequel installment in 2023 (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), is only just beginning to make a name for himself. Earlier this year, it became clear why Lionsgate took a bet on the 27-year-old up-and-comer: With his role as the titular star of the Epix series Billy the Kid, Blyth proved to the industry that he’s leading-man material. He managed to make the infamous outlaw—who killed between eight and 10 people before his death in 1881—not just human, but surprisingly sympathetic. It was precisely the type of role Blyth, a graduate of The Juilliard School, had been wanting to play ever since he first fell in love with complex, deeply flawed characters like Jack from Lost. Here, the British star explains his enduring love for the ABC series and looks ahead to what life might be like post–Hunger Games.
Were you at all familiar with Billy the Kid’s story before starring in the show?
Vaguely—I'd heard his name, and at some point during my childhood, I Googled him. I was a bit of a dork about Westerns when I was a kid. I remember sitting up late at night, researching the Old West and characters like Jesse James when I should have been in bed. I don't know why that was something I was into, being a kid from Northern England, but it was.
Billy the Kid died when he was in his early 20s, but he really lived hard in a short span of time.
All the stuff he did before the age of 21 most adults don't ever do in 80 or 90 years. He was this very young kind of vagabond character, but he was probably wise beyond his years at the same time. I think our show lifts the veil of the slightly clichéd version of him we all know. Why did he end up killing people, and what did he go through that turned him into someone who was willing to do that? I also asked the question, Was he always in the wrong? If you look at it, you start to realize that he was often on the right side of history more than we think.
Had you ever shot a gun before playing Billy?
I think I shot one once, out in the countryside at a target range. But it was a very old-school, single-load shotgun. I'm from England, and just no one has guns there. It's not a thing.
Your two most recent projects, Billy the Kid and The Gilded Age, take place in the late 1800s. Do you want to continue doing period pieces?
As a Brit going to drama school in America, I was told from the start that I was going to get cast in period pieces. And they weren't wrong. [Laughs] I guess Americans hear a Brit and they just automatically think you’re from the Victorian era. Which is fine—there are fun parts out there for those kinds of roles. When I graduated, the first thing I did was a period piece that was set in the 1930s. Then I did The Gilded Age, which was in the 1880s, and then Billy, which was in the 1870s. I'm slowly moving backward. Eventually, my aim is to play a caveman. Like, 2000 B.C. times.
What inspired you to portray Jack from Lost for this portfolio?
Lost was the first show that I remember thinking, I want to do that. I was 10 years old. Remember when you had to look through the television magazine to see what was going to be on? I used to go to my grandma's house on the weekend and flick through it, and [one day] I saw that the premiere of Lost was that Sunday. I pretty much watched it from the day it first premiered in England into my teens—some very formative years.
I remember always being amazed at how Matthew Fox [the actor who played Jack] had this permanent frown throughout the whole six seasons. It's amazing that his head didn't explode from frowning. He's kind of a reluctant hero. A lot of the characters I'm drawn to are slightly fucked-up people who have a chance to, and manage to, do good. Even though they're all kinds of messy, they get to still be strong and overcome their mess at some point. I like characters that remind us that we're not black and white, or that we're not one thing.
They really did make everyone feel very human on the show.
Sexy and fun, too. They're all buff and running around the beach—and they're all angry and fighting with a big smoke monster and a polar bear. [Lost] has everything. When I was emulating Jack in this photo shoot, I was like, Man, I wish they would remake this show so I could be in it. I would so love to do that show.
Reboot!
Oh yeah. I hate reboots just for the sake of reboots, but maybe this is the one that I’ll make an exception for.
If you knew you would be stuck on a deserted island, what’s the one thing you would bring with you?
This is such a cliché actor answer, but I think it would be the complete works of Shakespeare. Not even because I'm a huge Shakespearean actor fan. I don't think you can ever fully understand him: There's layers on layers on layers on layers. It would give you decades of trying to work it out and also keep your mind sharp. It’s like reading poetry—you have to deduce the subtext beneath what's actually written.
What about the one person you would choose to get stuck with?
It would have to be someone funny. If they’re too funny, they could get a bit annoying after a while. But you could always banish them to the other side [of the island]. So a great ridiculous, absurd comedian—someone like Jack Black. Someone who, no matter what the situation was, they could manage to make it ridiculous. You’d have to have the ability to laugh at yourself and the situation, even if you were in dire straits.
You’re gearing up to star in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, a prequel to The Hunger Games. Have you met your costar, Rachel Zegler, yet?
We’ve spoken a lot on FaceTime and over the phone and Zoom, but we haven't yet met in person. That will happen soon. I'm a big fan, and I feel very lucky because I think she's going to be perfect. I think she's going to bring a lot of life and nuance to the role that seems required, based on the book.
The Hunger Games is such a massive, beloved franchise. Have you thought about the fact that this project might change your life?
Honestly, I try not to. I actively try not to think about it, because it can drive you crazy. It's important to keep around you the people who ground you. I didn’t mean to rap that, but I did. [Laughs]
Now you sound like Shakespeare.
Yeah, you know what? I don't even need Shakespeare's full works, because I can write them myself. [Laughs] No, all I've really thought about is how, when things get a bit crazy in this industry, I find myself gravitating toward my family and friends, reminding myself what's important. It's very much about the work and not the hype of it all. Yes, it's nice to be recognized, but the main thing that I want is choice over my career. I want to be able to choose from all the fruits of the great scripts that are out there, and that's something you get when you do bigger things.
Grooming by Melissa DeZarate. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/tom-blyth-billy-the-kid-hunger-games-interview | 2022-08-16T17:12:25Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/tom-blyth-billy-the-kid-hunger-games-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Pete Carril, the rumpled, cigar-smoking basketball coach who led Princeton to 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, where his teams unnerved formidable opponents and rattled March Madness with old-school fundamentals, died Monday. He was 92.
Princeton released a statement from Carril’s family, which said he died “peacefully this morning.” It did not give a cause of death.
“We kindly ask that you please respect our privacy at this time as we process our loss and handle necessary arrangements. More information will be forthcoming in the following days,” the statement said.
Carril, a Hall of Famer, schooled his teams in a distinct and throwback brand of ball — the Princeton offense, a game marked by patience, intelligence, constant motion, quick passing and backdoor cuts that often ended in layups.
It was an offense that could be played at any level of basketball — as Carril proved when he left Princeton and joined the NBA’s Sacramento Kings as an assistant.
At Princeton, Carril’s offense was performed by players often dismissed or overlooked by some of the nation’s basketball powers. Come the NCAA Tournament, however, Princeton’s unforgiving discipline could offset the disparity of talent on the floor.
During Carril’s 29 seasons as the Tigers’ coach, the system worked splendidly. His teams won 13 Ivy League titles and posted a 514-261 record without the benefit of scholarship players. Its deliberate approach draining the high octane from many opponents, Princeton led the nation in scoring defense in 14 of his last 21 seasons, including the last eight in a run that ended in 1996.
He guided Princeton to the National Invitation Tournament championship in 1975 and was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Basketball fans loved to watch the headaches Carril’s teams caused in March. That was certainly the case in 1989 for Georgetown’s John Thompson, the Hall of Fame coach sweating late in the game with his trademark towel draped over his shoulder.
Princeton gave a No. 1 seeded Georgetown team featuring Alonzo Mourning and Charles Smith all it could handle, and as a No. 16 seed was on the verge of a monumental upset. The Tigers had two shots in the closing seconds at sending Thompson and his team home but were denied, losing 50-49.
Carril’s final season in 1996 was highlighted by a first-round NCAA victory over defending champion UCLA, an outcome many consider one of the biggest surprises in tournament history.
Former Princeton athletic director Gary Walters was taught civics by Carril in the classroom and played on the hardwood under Carril in high school in Pennsylvania. He later served as an assistant coach to him at Princeton and was a lifelong friend.
“His adaptability as a coach and being able to put the pieces together in a constructive way, was very, very important,” Walters told The Associated Press on Monday. “He also understood the game so well fundamentally. Very few coaches had his ability to teach fundamentals.”
There was an outpouring of sympathy and praise on social media for Carril.
“I believe that in defining greatness in coaches u must determine if they get maximum out of their TEAM personnel,” ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale tweeted. “PETE CARRIL is a prime example of a brilliant coaching mind that got max out of his talent. May Coach RIP !”
Peter Joseph Carril was born on July 10, 1930, to Spanish immigrant parents in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He played at Lafayette College under a venerable coach in Butch Van Breda Kolff. After an Army stint, Carril coached in high school in Pennsylvania in the 1950s and ’60s before getting a college head coaching job at Lehigh. He spent the 1966-67 season there, going 11-12, and then was on his way to Princeton.
Carril was more than a basketball coach. Friends and former players say he was intelligent, philosophical, a great judge of character, honest and caring. He was not the country-club type. He was down to earth, his attire simple: open-collared shirts, wrinkled sweaters, his thinning hair never quite combed. Occasionally, there would be a sport jacket.
On the court, Carril was demanding. He worked his players hard and sought perfection. It would not be unusual for him to sit on the bench with a 20-point lead and a pained look creasing his face following a bad pass, a turnover or missed layup. It was the craft, the process that mattered, never mind the score.
If asked, he would recall what his father had told him growing up in Bethlehem, one of the country’s steel capitals.
“When you lower your standards, they can turn around and attack you,” Carril said often.
Success on the court never changed Carril. He liked his cigars. He enjoyed a drink, a coffee or just chatting with people at Andy’s Tavern in Princeton, that is until it became a sushi bar in the 1990s. Conte’s Pizza remained one of his hangouts. He would occasionally stop at the Princeton basketball office to talk hoops with Mitch Henderson, who became Princeton’s coach in 2011.
After leaving Princeton, Carril jumped to unfamiliar ground — the NBA. He spent 10 seasons as a Kings assistant, helping coach Rick Adelman’s teams win two Pacific Division titles and a spot in the 2002 Western Conference finals.
He joined the Washington Wizards’ staff in 2007 and in 2009 returned to the Kings. He retired from coaching in 2011.
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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/pete-carril-old-school-princeton-coaching-maestro-dies/ | 2022-08-16T17:12:26Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/pete-carril-old-school-princeton-coaching-maestro-dies/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Introducing W magazine’s third annual TV Portfolio.
For the last two years, we’ve asked some of the most sought-after names in television to pay tribute to their favorite small-screen characters by stepping into their shoes. It’s an assignment that the stars have come to take quite seriously—especially since their choices often reveal as much about their fandoms as it does about themselves. The end result is a visual celebration of all things TV as we gear up for primetime’s biggest night—the Emmys. This year, a host of first-time nominees will be hitting the red carpet including Adam Scott (Severance), Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets), Jung Ho-yeon (Squid Game) and Margaret Qualley (Maid), all of whom are featured here. With just a few weeks until the awards ceremony on September 12th, and so many great shows to binge, the only question is, what are you watching?
“In college I was like, I wish I was the Tim Riggins of my dorm,” the Succession star says. “He drinks beers, and he’s in high school, gets the hottest girls, like, wow—what a stud. He’s got some family or childhood issues that come up, and I feel for him. I want him to figure those out. But more than anything, I was just attracted to the hunkiness.”
Read Nicholas Braun’s full interview here.
Photographed by Lea Winkler
“Cheers was such a big deal when I was growing up in the ’80s,” the Emmy-nominated Severance star says. “For me, it was more than just this sitcom. It was a tunnel into this other world.”
Read Adam Scott’s full interview here.
Photographed by Julien Sage
“There are so many layers to this character,” the Emmy-nominated star of Yellowjackets says. “I watched that show and felt like this performance was magic,” and notes that Olivia Colman, who portrays Edwards in the series, is “my favorite actor in the world.”
Read Melanie Lynskey’s full interview here.
Photographed by Julien Sage
“I find [I’m drawn to] characters who battle with their morality,” the Atlanta star says. “Fleabag is constantly in this war-torn place within herself: Is she bad, is she good, what is she contributing to the world, have her actions rippled out, affecting those around her? Her emotional turmoil, I was so attracted to and could empathize with, and could see and feel.”
Read Zazie Beetz’s full interview here.
Photographed by Julien Tavel
“My babysitter Julie and I would watch The Golden Girls together all the time after school,” the Emmy-nominated Maid star says. “It’s just that comforting, cozy, homey feeling of a time before. Dorothy is the hero. She’s the epitome of cool. She’s not looking for attention. She’s just assessing the situation and saying what we’re all thinking as audience members, but in a really articulate, funny way.”
Read Margaret Qualley’s full interview here.
Photographed by Shane Timm
“So here’s what happened,” the Russian Doll creator and star explains, “I wanted to do Ida Lupino in The Twilight Zone because she was the only actress who both appeared in an episode and then directed one. I was picturing a lot of double images and me jumping inside the screen, but it proved to be too complex. So we were styling my hair along Ida Lupino lines, and my publicist said, ‘Oh my god—is it Audrey Landers from Dallas?!’ And in that moment, we decided to celebrate this woman who was comically great. So another blonde gets the role!”
Read Natasha Lyonne’s full interview here.
Photographed by Lea Winkler
“I love-hate Don Draper,” the Candy star says. “You’re so attracted to him, and you just want to strangle him at the same time. That’s what I want my characters to feel like—I want you to want to be their best friend and also just wanna grab ‘em by the hair, like, What are you doing?!”
Read Jessica Biel’s full interview here.
Photographed by Alex Lockett
“My sister [Dakota Fanning] and I would watch The Simple Life and act out the scenes,” the Emmy-nominated star of The Great says. “I would normally be Nicole Richie and she would be Paris. We would say ‘That’s hot’ and ‘Loves it.’ Finally, I get to dress up as Paris and have the dog, because Dakota always had the Chihuahua.”
Read Elle Fanning’s full interview here.
Photographed by Elle Fanning
“With Elaine, the dynamic is so cool,” Sink says. “It reminded me of Stranger Things in a way—being the only female character in a group full of male characters similar to Eleven or Max.”
Read Sadie Sink’s full interview here.
Photography by Lea Winkler
“My middle name is Michelle, and I would tell people that I was Michelle Tanner from Full House growing up,” the Grand Crew star and Emmy-nominated host of Nailed It! says. “A lot of nice adults just nodded their heads at me.”
Read Nicole Byer’s full interview here.
Photographed by Gabriel Sapiandante Lopez
“Stath Lets Flats just makes me laugh out loud by myself,” the Station Eleven star says. “I’m constantly astounded by how insane it is. I’m not good enough to be on that show. They’re doing something that is really fucking transcendent. And I just want to pay homage as a true fan.”
Read Mackenzie Davis’s full interview here.
Photographed by Tung Walsh
“Catra is the antagonist in She-Ra, an animated series developed by the incredible queer graphic novelist ND Stevenson,” the Reservation Dogs star says. “I had so many queer people in my life being like, ‘You need to watch this show.’ It blew me away. Truly, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a show as well written or thought through—which is wild to say, because it’s a cartoon. I watched the series again in preparation for this, and the finale emotionally ruined me. It left me in such gay tears.”
Read Devery Jacobs’ full interview here.
Photographed by Lea Winkler
“Olivia Pope has this balance about her where she’s showing her emotions, but you still know that she’s done [the job],” the Bel-Air star says. “She can handle everything that’s being thrown at her, and that motivates me.”
Read Coco Jones’s full interview here.
Photographed by Alexander Cody Nguyen
“I don’t remember a world without Ab Fab in it,” the Anatomy of a Scandal star says. “If you are raised in England, it’s part of our culture. Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders are complete cultural heroes for us. One of my best friends made people come to her hen party as famous blondes, and made me come as Patsy. I don’t know if I’ve ever had more fun at a party than I did being her. I’ve got an inner Patsy that I like to channel.”
Read Sienna Miller’s full interview here.
Photographed by Tung Walsh
“I’m such a fan of thriller, horror, real crime, anything like that,” the Selling Sunset star says. “No one would guess that. My favorite emotion is to be scared. And I love Michael C. Hall. For a long time, I had a crush on Dexter, which says something about me.”
Read Chrishell Stause’s full interview here.
Photographed by Julien Sage
“I thought it was brilliant,” the Winning Time star says of Ted Lasso. “The way they touched on therapy, talking about mental health, toxic positivity, and not addressing the issues in your life—and how they can come up physically sometimes. You love his character, and you want him to realize that he doesn't have to put up this shield all the time. You want him to be more open about his feelings. If most people would do that, I think we would have better communication and fewer misunderstandings.”
Read Quincy Isaiah’s full interview here.
Photographed by Lea Winkler
“Grey’s Anatomy is so powerful,” the Pachinko star says. “I started watching when I was 15 years old. It was kind of shocking for me, because I’d never seen that kind of show before. I fell in love with Sandra Oh and the way Ellen Pompeo does her voiceovers influenced me a lot.”
Read Minha Kim’s full interview here.
Photographed by Julien Sage
“Peggy is just such a chaotic character,” the Outer Banks star says. “I thought it would be really fun to do something completely different from anything I’ve been able to play.”
Read Madelyn Cline’s full interview here.
Photographed by Alexander Cody Nguyen
“Lost was the first show that I remember thinking, I want to do that,” the Billy the Kid star says. “I remember always being amazed at how Matthew Fox had this permanent frown throughout the whole six seasons. It's amazing that his head didn't explode from frowning. He's kind of a reluctant hero.”
Read Tom Blyth’s full interview here.
Photographed by Alexander Cody Nguyen
“In working-class Britain, Miami Vice was a dose of the American dream,” the Pistol star, who played Johnny Rotten on the Hulu series, says. “What the Sex Pistols did with music and fashion, Miami Vice did with TV.”
Read Anson Boon’s full interview here.
Photographed by Lea Winkler | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/w-tv-portfolio-2022-full-list | 2022-08-16T17:12:31Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/w-tv-portfolio-2022-full-list | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
For W’s third annual TV Portfolio, we asked 21 sought-after names in television to pay homage to their favorite small screen characters by stepping into their shoes.
After four seasons on the critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated dramedy Atlanta, Zazie Beetz is finally embracing her own talent. Despite booking blockbuster film roles as Domino in Marvel’s Deadpool 2 and Sophie Dumond in Joker, the 31-year-old says she spent many days on the set of Donald Glover’s groundbreaking FX series second guessing herself. Now, as Atlanta’s fourth and final season is set to air later this year, she’s reflecting on all that she’s learned. “In 2021, which is when we shot seasons 3 and 4, I started to feel more relaxed and was able to glean a lot more joy,” she says. Here, Beetz, who’s reportedly in talks to reprise the role of Dumond in the Joker sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, discusses why she’s so drawn to messy women and the film that’s most influenced who she is today.
What drew you to Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag?
I find the show as a whole concept fascinating and inspiring. I love that the series organically grew from a one-woman show. Phoebe’s courage to write and make content in general is something I admire and respect. I want to be braver; I want to create more. It’s cool to watch something actively shift how we see TV or content. The fourth-wall breaking is so interesting, considering how we’ve treated the fourth wall up until this point.
Not to toot my own horn, but Atlanta plays with format in an interesting way, which is why I think people are also drawn to it or repelled by it, because it doesn’t completely follow formulas that we know. Narrative-wise, in general, I’m drawn to stories particularly about women. I find [I’m drawn to] characters who battle with their morality. Fleabag is constantly in this war-torn place within herself: Is she bad, is she good, what is she contributing to the world, have her actions rippled out, affecting those around her—like her best friend, Boo, or even her relationship with the Hot Priest. Her emotional turmoil, I was so attracted to and could empathize with, and could see and feel.
There are some morality and nuance similarities between Fleabag and Atlanta, particularly in Van’s bottle episodes.
We were actually thinking for the photo shoot I’ll essentially look like Van from my final episode [of season 3]. The whole look is kind of Fleabag, in a way—the lipstick, that haircut. Often I think of Fleabag and I think of her in this striped shirt. I agree; the episodes overlap with darkness and quirky comedy in a way.
Do you think that Van and Fleabag would get along as characters?
I was going to say I don’t think so, and then I hesitated. It depends on where Van is. Fleabag is pretty chaotic, and Van, in most of her life, isn’t seeking chaos, but in season 3 she was. Van in baseline would struggle with Fleabag, because Fleabag brings a lot of instability. But in season 3, Van would’ve hung out.
What have you learned about yourself as an actor working on Atlanta?
I was able to go back over and over again—four times to this character. Each season, you can deepen your character because you know them better, you spend more time with them, the writers know you better and can write specifically for you. With Atlanta, we all grew up as well. The pilot we shot in 2015. I was quite fresh and young in the industry, and I felt at the time that I had a lot of growing and learning to do. I was still so insecure about my work and what I was doing; I felt so fearful all the time being on set.
I love acting; I grew up doing it. But it was really hard to translate that into something that is a monetized hobby because there were additional pressures I wasn’t used to. It’s not just about community—it’s also about, are you worthwhile for this role? Are you going to make money? I was internalizing a lot of that and putting a lot of pressure on myself. Being on set was such a painful and devastating experience because I was so caught up in my feelings. I thought I would never grow out of that. It’s really beautiful for me, at least, to now feel like…okay, I’m here to have fun. I don’t need to be the best actor the world’s ever seen; I’m here to do the best I can do, and maybe that’ll yield something absolutely out of this world, maybe it won’t. I’m going to prepare, I’m going to show up having done my homework, and I’m just gonna move on. Because what’s the fucking point? Let me just enjoy myself and connect with people, because that’s the whole point.
What are your formative memories of television?
My first thoughts are cartoons. I have to say, growing up—and still—I didn’t really watch a lot of TV. I lean more into movies. My dad would show me a lot of things that went over my head as a kid. We watched a lot of old films together. Growing up, I watched the movie that is my namesake, Zazie dans le Métro, a French book that was turned into a film in 1960. It resonated with me so strongly, especially the character Zazie, the little girl who was me in my mind. That movie, alongside many [my dad showed me]—I feel like they’ve really shaped the flavor of the person I am.
As an adult, I would say the first show that knocked me into TV consciousness was Mad Men, which I watched in college. I remember thinking very differently about what TV was—which was also around the time TV started changing in general. I grew up on something very different, but Mad Men was the first show that shifted my whole view of television. It didn’t feel like a show that depended on cliff-hangers, or a show that was made to last for 20 years—but something that really had strong narrative and gravitas, and that I was interested in enough to watch the whole thing. TV had never pulled me in before in that way.
Hair by Damien Lacoussade, makeup by Andrée-Line, and line production courtesy of Jim Schachmes. | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/zazie-beetz-atlanta-final-season-interview | 2022-08-16T17:12:37Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/zazie-beetz-atlanta-final-season-interview | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Zoë Kravitz Regrets Wading Into “The Slap” Discourse
It may feel like eons since “The Slap,” but the infamous incident is still fresh on Zoë Kravitz’s mind. Two days after Will Smith smacked Chris Rock for cracking a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alopecia while onstage at this year’s Oscars, the 33-year-old actor became embroiled in the scandal by simply posting an Instagram caption and comment. “Here’s a picture of my dress at the show where we are apparently assaulting people on stage now,” she wrote alongside a photo of herself in the pink Saint Laurent gown she wore on the evening in question. “You don’t support him defending his wife?,” one user commented, to which Kravitz succinctly responded “nope.” She eventually deleted the post, but the backlash continued. Now, nearly five months later, Kravitz has made it clear that she has regrets about using her platform to call Smith out.
“I’m torn about what to say right now, because I’m supposed to just talk about it; I have very complicated feelings around it,” she told the Wall Street Journal. “I wish I had handled that differently. And that’s okay.” The response made Kravitz reflect on speaking out in general. “It’s a scary time to have an opinion or to say the wrong thing or to make controversial art or statements or thoughts or anything,” she continued. “It’s mostly scary because art is about conversation. That should, in my opinion, always be the point. The internet is the opposite of conversation. The internet is people putting things out and not taking anything in.”
Kravitz has learned from what she now considers her mistake. “I was reminded that I’m an artist,” she added. “Being an artist is not about everybody loving you or everyone thinking you’re hot. It’s about expressing something that will hopefully spark a conversation or inspire people or make them feel seen. I think I’m in a place right now where I don’t want to express myself through a caption or a tweet. I want to express myself through art.”
Kravitz isn’t the only one who’s still thinking about The Slap: Less than a month ago, Smith broke his silence in an extremely belated video in which he formally apologized to Rock. From the sound of it, though, Kravitz is ready to put it the whole thing in the past. Her grid has returned to its usual programming: ads for Saint Laurent, photos of her dad Lenny, and teases of her directorial debut Pussy Island (starring her boyfriend, Channing Tatum). | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/zoe-kravitz-the-slap-comments-regrets | 2022-08-16T17:12:43Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/zoe-kravitz-the-slap-comments-regrets | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — The slumping New York Yankees were shut out in consecutive games for the first time since 2016, losing to Ryan Yarbrough and the Tampa Bay Rays 4-0 on Monday night.
Coming off a 3-0 defeat Sunday night against the Boston Red Sox, New York failed to provide any run support for ace Gerrit Cole, whose only run allowed followed a misplay in center field by Aaron Hicks.
“Obviously we gotta play better, we gotta do better than that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
The AL East leaders were blanked for the fourth time in nine games and dropped to 8-16 since the All-Star break after a 64-28 start.
Yarbrough (1-7) pitched four innings as a bulk reliever for his first win in nearly a year, striking out six without a walk. He previously won Sept. 24, 2021 and had lost eight straight decisions over 14 appearances, matching the franchise record.
“It was nice,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I think Yarbs has pitched really well here as of late. He probably deserves a little bit better in the win-loss column, but he’s contributing in a big way.”
The Yankees hadn’t been held without a run in back-to-back games since Sept. 22-24, 2016, when they were blanked once by the Rays and twice by the Toronto Blue Jays.
“Right now we gotta do better and it’s hard right now,” Boone said. “It’s hard and we gotta find a way. We gotta keep digging ourselves out of this.”
Hicks got turned around on the warning track and couldn’t field David Peralta’s flyball in the fourth inning, resulting in a triple. Isaac Paredes then singled off Cole (9-5) for a 1-0 lead, enough to get the Rays on their way to a third straight victory.
“First off, I turned the wrong way,” Hicks said. “I tried to recover. I ended up thinking it was still right on top of me and it ended up being behind me.”
Tampa Bay added three runs in the ninth on Jose Siri’s RBI single and Yandy Díaz’s two-run single.
Cole allowed one run and five hits in six innings. He struck out six, walked two and allowed one run or less for the 11th time this season.
Hicks batted with the bases loaded in the fourth but hit a soft comebacker to Yarbrough, who started a 1-2-3 double play
After Yarbrough’s 58-pitch outing, Ryan Thompson got the next five outs, getting Aaron Judge on a double play in the eighth. Brooks Raley fanned Anthony Rizzo before the Rays added on, and Jason Adam pitched the ninth.
RIZZO’S FRUSTRATION
Rizzo thought he was grazed on the right leg in the third, but plate umpire D.J. Reyburn ruled he leaned into the pitch. Rizzo and manager Aaron Boone vehemently argued to no avail.
“It shouldn’t have been called tonight,” Rizzo said. “I have been hit by a lot of pitches and it’s never been called.”
After striking out on the next pitch, Rizzo slammed his helmet in the dugout five times.
“Whenever you feel like you got screwed over on a call anytime it’s annoying because we’re out here competing at the highest level and I’m up here talking to you guys (media),” Rizzo said. “And I feel like the umpires have zero accountability when they miss something like that. I know they’re not trying to miss, but it’s just frustrating.
Rizzo has been hit by a pitch 17 times, tied for the AL lead with Seattle’s Ty France.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: SS Wander Franco (right hamate bone) will join Triple-A Durham to start a rehab assignment Tuesday or Wednesday.
Yankees: OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles tendon) took batting practice in the indoor batting cage and also did fielding drills in the outfield. He said he is not quite ready to start a rehab assignment. … RHP Luis Severino (strained right lat) threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session since going on the IL July 14. Severino said he feels “the best I’ve felt all year.” … An MRI on INF DJ LeMahieu showed inflammation in his right big toe and he is day-to-day.
UP NEXT
Tampa Bay LHP Jeffrey Springs (4-3, 2.56 ERA) opposes New York LHP Nestor Cortes (9-3, 2.67) on Tuesday.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/yankees-blanked-for-2nd-straight-game-lose-to-rays-4-0/ | 2022-08-16T17:12:47Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/yankees-blanked-for-2nd-straight-game-lose-to-rays-4-0/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Kendall Jenner Begins Her Transition to Fall Dressing, Pairing Beach Style With Loafers
Transitioning between seasons can be tricky. You’re forced to accept summer is coming to an end, plus it’s also when allergies are at their peak, and one must decide if wearing a sweater—even with shorts—will leave you feeling cozy or, possibly more likely, sweaty and regretful. Luckily, though it’s still only mid-August, Kendall Jenner is ahead of the seasonal transition curve, and she’s providing a lesson on how to enter fall in style.
On Monday, Jenner stepped out in Los Angeles, and while her outfit screamed, “I’m ready for the beach,” her shoes provided a different story. The model wore a tiny black bandeau top, which she paired with a black and blue silk wrap skirt from The Row. Jenner then accessorized with a black shoulder bag and loafers, both also from the brand. One would expect someone to pair this outfit with strappy sandals, considering the airy nature of the skirt, but instead, Jenner opted for juxtaposition.
Jenner is far from the only person ready for fall. On Sunday, knit-lover Katie Holmes stepped out in a full on wool sweater. Like Jenner, though, Holmes paired the fall-ready piece with something more seasonally appropriate in the form of light weight cargo pants. So, if you’re looking to start incorporating more autumnal pieces into your wardrobe already, take a cue from these two ladies—it’s all about balance.
Get Kendall’s transitional look:
We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article. | https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/kendall-jenner-beach-style-transitional-dressing | 2022-08-16T17:12:49Z | wmagazine.com | control | https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/kendall-jenner-beach-style-transitional-dressing | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Record numbers of people are having their benefits stopped amid a "Tory crackdown", it has been reported. Charities have warned people need payments such as Universal Credit to live after 110,000 claimants were sanctioned by the Jobcentre in May.
Conservative ministers have also asked claimants to look for jobs outside their expertise after four weeks instead of three months to get 500,000 into work by June. But the number of sanctions is said to have more than doubled from six months ago, The Mirror reports.
Sanctions also skyrocketed after face-to-face Jobcentre appointments restarted last summer. The number of claimants subject to a sanction rose from 3,827 in May 2021 to 109,506 in May 2022.
READ MORE: DWP's most underclaimed benefit: what is it and who is eligible
Numbers rose steadily through winter but leaped after 'Way to Work' launched in February, from 74,746 in January to 93,479 in March. A record 59,000 new sanctions were slapped on Universal Credit claimants in March alone.
People’s benefits are either cut back or stopped entirely if Jobcentres decide they have fallen foul of rules. But mental health charity Mind warned sanctions are often "unfair" and "people on benefits need these payments to live – whether they’ve been sanctioned or not".
Rethink Mental Illness chief executive Mark Winstanley said the "huge" rise was a "cruel political choice". He added: "Benefit sanctions are incredibly damaging to people’s mental health, whether they’re living with the fear of being hit by penalties, or dealing with the massive financial and psychological impact. We’re calling on the government to stop subjecting disabled people and those living with mental illness to these devastating sanctions."
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Way to Work successfully supported half a million unemployed people to move into work, helping lift incomes as people can be £6,000 better off in work than on benefits. It is right that people who can work, are encouraged to take up employment and people are only sanctioned if they fail, without good reason, to meet the conditions they agreed to."
He added people who were denied a cost-of-living payment in July "could be entitled retrospectively if a sanction is successfully appealed".
READ NEXT:
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- Boyfriend of tragic soldier dies just weeks after her death at army base | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/charities-warn-cruel-dwp-sanctions-7472341 | 2022-08-16T17:18:45Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/charities-warn-cruel-dwp-sanctions-7472341 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
An urgent warning has been issued as Brits face losing £628 in benefits. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients have been warned that they must inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of any changes to circumstances.
PIP is a disability benefit designed to help those with a long-term disability or health issue with the extra financial costs that arise from having their condition. Recipients are able to get up to £628 support a month, but the eligibility could be affected by certain life events, the Express reports.
Some of the things that must be reported include if someone’s personal details need to be updated, which includes their name, address or doctor’s information. The DWP also expects PIP claimants to inform them if their disability or health condition gets better or worsens as the amount of money they get could change.
READ MORE: DWP's most underclaimed benefit: what is it and who is eligible
People who have spent an extended period of time in a hospital or care home must tell the DWP. PIP recipients who have spent time in prison or detention should also tell the department as this counts as a life change.
Those who get PIP who are not British citizens need to inform the DWP of any changes to their immigration status. Updates to someone's circumstances can be made to the Government via the PIP helpline by calling 0800 121 4433 - it should be noted that it is possible to call the DWP on someone’s behalf in regards to their PIP claim if their disability or condition has worsened.
On its website, the Government outlines why benefit claimants need to report changes to their circumstances to the DWP. It states: “You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount of benefits.
“Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change straight away or you give incorrect information. If you do not report a change or a mistake, you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to pay some of the money back. You might also have to pay a £50 penalty.”
READ NEXT:
- Industrial units and trees go up in flames in Dartford
- How hot it will get in Kent as heat health alert issued across England
- The quiet sandy beach with tidal pool and stunning views
- Kent's hidden African-safari trail that puts you metres away from elephants
- Boyfriend of tragic soldier dies just weeks after her death at army base | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/dwp-sends-urgent-pip-warning-7472065 | 2022-08-16T17:18:47Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/dwp-sends-urgent-pip-warning-7472065 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
When you think of going for a night out to some classy bars, I can bet that the first place many think to go would be London - even though we have plenty of places to go in Kent. I have to confess that would certainly be my first instinct, but a new opening in Canterbury may have now changed that forever.
Cosy Club recently set up shop in our historic city, having officially opened to the public today (August 16). This is a franchise bar that has already proven incredibly popular in locations such as Bath, Durham, Guildford and Manchester.
Now, Kent finally gets a taste of Cosy Club’s signature relaxed dining and drinking experience completed by ‘a touch of timeless glamour’. On their menus, you will find an extensive selection of drinks and cocktails as well as an array of food dishes of British, European and Asian origin.
Read more: I explored ‘haunted’ Kent landmark with a creepy past and it was spine-tingling
Found on St Margaret’s Street in a characterful four-storey building, it’s a landmark that’s easy to spot and certainly leaves an impression. As a former resident and frequent visitor of Canterbury, I was very keen to try out this new bar for myself. Here’s how I got on.
Initial impressions
They really weren’t kidding with the ‘touch of timeless glamour’ line, as this bar certainly had one of the most striking interiors I had ever seen. Walking through the entrance, I was immediately greeted with a bar that had been meticulously and impressively furnished.
Each wall was brought to life with an array of art pieces, while all the furniture gave an undeniable sense of elegance throughout. This paired with the low lighting and candle-lit tables made for an atmosphere that was as cosy as the name would suggest.
This was certainly a step up from the Wetherspoons trips of my student days in the city. The whole site very much had the vibe of an upmarket London bar, and it felt as though I’d stepped right off the streets of Canterbury and into the capital.
It was also completely packed out with people, so clearly the spot is already off to a good start within the city. While the atmosphere and appearance had very much sold me on the spot, the food and drink would be the ultimate deciding factor.
My experience
Upon being shown to my table, I was given a sample of one of the house white wines. I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be some kind of wine connoisseur, I’m not a wine person in the slightest and know very little about it.
I can tell you though that this wine, whatever it may have been, tasted very nice. What I was most looking forward to, however, was trying out the range of food on offer.
If you’re like me, you like to have already studied the menu before arriving anywhere new, so it's safe to say that my stomach was rumbling in anticipation by this point. This is also where I really have to highlight how incredibly helpful and attentive the staff were, truly some of the best service I’ve ever received.
Now onto, what was for me, the main event. My table, which consisted of two friends and myself, was presented with an array of small dishes to sample and at this point I was very glad I had enlisted help as there was no way I could have gone through all of that food by myself.
Dishes we got to sample included; Asian fried chicken, crispy duck salad, tomato arancini, fried halloumi and a warm sourdough sharing loaf. If I had to pick the standout dishes, for me it would definitely be the Asian fried chicken and the tomato arancini.
The chicken was absolutely cooked to perfection, accompanied by a sauce that I would gladly purchase by the gallon given the opportunity. Then, the tomato arancini was the perfect, melt in your mouth savoury treat that would make for an incredible starter and one I’m very eager to have again.
Consulting their menu, we can see that the prices for these dishes is as follows:
- Asian fried chicken - £6.95
- Crispy duck salad - £7.25
- Fried halloumi - £6.75
- Tomato arancini - £7.25
- Warm sourdough sharing loaf - £4.50
Now, obviously this isn't the cheapest lot of food out on the market, which means that for a lot of people, a visit to the Cosy Club would likely be reserved specifically for special occasions rather than a weekly visit. However, I would definitely say that this would be a pretty perfect spot for such special occasions, and here the higher prices are certainly reflected in the immaculate quality of the food.
Verdict
Overall, it is safe to say that I was blown away from my experience at the Cosy Club Canterbury. Everything from the setting and the service to the quality of the food and drink made for an experience that was as close to perfect as you could possibly get in my eyes.
Will I be coming back? Absolutely, and this time I’ll be very excited to tuck into some of the scrumptious sounding mains plus a cocktail or two. So, next time you fancy a somewhat fancy night out on the town or are in the mood to celebrate, skip out on the train fare to London and get yourself to Canterbury. I know that’s what I’ll be doing.
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READ NEXT: | https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/food-drink/went-canterburys-new-cosy-club-7471605 | 2022-08-16T17:18:50Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/food-drink/went-canterburys-new-cosy-club-7471605 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
General Motors is recalling more than 484,000 larger SUVs in the U.S. to address a problem that could cause the seat belts in the SUV's third-row to malfunction.
Affected are certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats.
A rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.
Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.
GM owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 26, 2022.
Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/gm-recalling-nearly-one-half-million-suvs-due-to-seat-belt-malfunction/article_4e1b2348-1d83-11ed-a376-43ff4813a322.html | 2022-08-16T17:19:18Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/gm-recalling-nearly-one-half-million-suvs-due-to-seat-belt-malfunction/article_4e1b2348-1d83-11ed-a376-43ff4813a322.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Happy Tuesday, everyone! Our Tuesday will feature partly cloudy skies, with a few more clouds arriving this afternoon. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.
A more active and possibly wetter pattern sets up shop around the Tennessee Valley Wednesday-Friday.
Periods of showers & storms will be possible with the greatest threat looking to be on Wednesday. The extra clouds and rain chances will keep temperatures below normal, with highs only in the 70s and low 80s.
We’re back to a more typical afternoon pop-up rain chance for the weekend with highs back into the 80s.
Rain chances may actually increase even more moving into next week, as a stalled front helps to create more widespread rain coverage and cool temps! | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/increasing-clouds-with-spotty-showers-tuesday-afternoon/article_b748c7c4-1d80-11ed-81d8-bb8578453dc6.html | 2022-08-16T17:19:25Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/increasing-clouds-with-spotty-showers-tuesday-afternoon/article_b748c7c4-1d80-11ed-81d8-bb8578453dc6.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Edinburgh International Festival music reviews: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra | Dunedin Consort
Pounding dance rhythms from the Bergen players, and an intimate journey from the Renaissance to the Baroque from Edinburgh’s own Dunedin Consort. Reviews by Susan Nickalls and Ken Walton
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Usher Hall *****
Dance-inspired music is too tame a description for the pounding rhythms and explosion of rich textures that dominate the works bookending this fabulous programme by the Bergen Phiharmonic Orchestra. Their chief conductor Edward Gardner is a master of finessing large-scale forces to paint the most ravishing sound pictures. In Ravel’s La Valse, the orchestra swept the waltz melodies off their feet into a dizzy maelstrom that eventually fragmented under its own weight. Ravel might have called the work a choreographic poem for orchestra, but as was evident in this immaculate and sumptuous reading, it’s really film music in disguise.
Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances have similar aspirations, starting out with all the swagger of a Hollywood western for sumo wrestlers. The bass clarinets and contrabassoons growled like hungry coyotes, which created an edgy undercurrent to the insistent string rhythms. Gardner’s pacing was spot on as he steered the piece to its heady climax.
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In between, there was plenty of poetry in Víkingur Ólafsson’s immaculate and understated performance of Schumann’s Piano Concerto. There was much to enjoy in his fresh approach to this repertoire classic, particularly the close interactions with Gardner and the orchestra in the more intimate moments of the slow movement. Susan Nickalls
Dunedin Consort, Queen’s Hall ****
This was essentially a gentle affair. A gorgeous tapestry of mainly solo vocal-led works centred on that magical moment in European music, from the start of the 17th century, when the early Baroque morphed out of the Renaissance. It featured a well-planned journey in time and style from Monteverdi to Buxtehude, its medium an intimate period combo from the Dunedin Consort, fronted by its associate director, tenor Nicholas Mulroy.
It opened with a soft, beguiling Kapsberger instrumental toccata, Elizabeth Kenny’s solo theorbo establishing a mellifluous air of gentility that was to dominate the programme. Other instrumental repertoire acted as breathing points in the proceedings – a glistening Frescobaldi toccata, a Buxtehude trio sonata, and the crystalline precision of harpsichordist John Butt in a Frescobaldi capriccio. But the heart of the presentation lay in the vocal mix.
Mulroy led us from one musical treasure to the next, from Monteverdi in the contrasting guises of his muted Salve Regina and spirited Più Lieto Il Guardo, the languid penitence of Schütz’s O Misericordissime Jesu, the sweetness of Caccini, to a much more exotically charged Monteverdi in Nigra sum. Then finally, Barbara Strozzi’s Lagrime mie, emotionally extravagant, but ending perfectly in sublime tranquility. Ken Walton | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/edinburgh-international-festival-music-reviews-bergen-philharmonic-orchestra-dunedin-consort-3808002 | 2022-08-16T17:19:35Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/edinburgh-international-festival-music-reviews-bergen-philharmonic-orchestra-dunedin-consort-3808002 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Italian cinema icon Gina Lollobrigida will run for the Senate in her country's elections next month, weeks after celebrating her 95th birthday.
The elections were triggered after Italy's President Sergio Mattarella dissolved Parliament in July following the resignation of the country's Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Lollobrigida, who joined the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018, is standing as the candidate for the Sovereign and Popular Italy Party in the city of Latina.
"I was just tired of hearing politicians arguing with each other without ever getting to the point," the film star told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in an interview on Sunday.
"I will fight for the people to decide, from health to justice. Italy is in bad shape, I want to do something good and positive," she added.
Although she had "respect" for Draghi's work, Lollobrigida said she did not agree with it. She decided to launch an election campaign after speaking with her lawyer, she said.
Lollobrigida said she was "good friends" with Indira Gandhi, who was the first female Prime Minister of India. "I saw her every time she came to Rome. She was an extraordinary woman."
The actress, who has starred in films such as 1956's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Come September" in 1961, first tried to enter the political arena in 1999 when she ran for a seat in the European Parliament, although she was unsuccessful.
"It was an experience. In life you can lose and you can win," she said.
"As long as there is energy, I use it for important things, especially for my country," she added.
She is not the first celebrity to make such a transition.
In 1994, media tycoon and former AC Milan football club owner Silvio Berlusconi formed the Forza Italia Party and was elected Prime Minister. However, he was removed from office near the end of that year and lost the 1996 election. Five years later, he won the general election with 18.5 million votes to become Prime Minister of Italy.
Meanwhile, after making a name for himself on Italian TV in the 1970s and 1980s, former comedian Beppe Grillo founded the Five Star Movement party in Italy in 2009.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/actress-gina-lollobrigida-95-to-run-for-senate-in-italys-elections/article_227ea50a-1d80-11ed-9913-9b6156a444a6.html | 2022-08-16T17:19:37Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/actress-gina-lollobrigida-95-to-run-for-senate-in-italys-elections/article_227ea50a-1d80-11ed-9913-9b6156a444a6.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Colorado River cuts set to disrupt farming in American West
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The U.S. government on Tuesday is expected to announce water cuts to states that rely on the Colorado River as drought and climate change leave less water flowing through the river and deplete the reservoirs that store it.
Farmers in central Arizona will largely shoulder the cuts, as they did this year.
The Colorado River provides water to 40 million people across seven states in the American West as well as Mexico and helps feed an agricultural industry valued at $15 billion a year. Cities and farms across the region are anxiously awaiting official hydrology projections — estimates of future water levels in the river — that will determine the extent and scope of cuts to their water supply.
Water officials in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming are expecting federal officials to project Lake Mead — located on the Nevada-Arizona border and the largest manmade reservoir in the U.S. — to shrink to dangerously low levels that could disrupt water delivery and hydropower production and cut the amount of water allocated to Arizona and Nevada, as well as Mexico.
And that’s not all: Officials from the states are also scrambling to meet a deadline imposed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to slash their water use by at least 15% in order to keep water levels at the river’s storage reservoirs from dropping even more.
Together, the projections and the deadline for cuts are presenting Western states with unprecedented challenges and confronting them with difficult decisions about how to plan for a drier future.
While the Bureau of Reclamation is “very focused on just getting through this to next year,” any cutbacks will likely need to be in place far longer, said University of Oxford hydrologist Kevin Wheeler.
“What contribution the science makes is, it’s pretty clear that that these reductions just have to have to stay in place until the drought has ended or we realize they actually have to get worse and the cuts have to get deeper,” he said.
The cuts expected to be announced Tuesday are based on a plan the seven states as well as Mexico signed in 2019 to help maintain reservoir levels. Under that plan, the amount of water allocated to states depends on the water levels at Lake Mead. Last year, the lake fell low enough for the federal government to declare a first-ever water shortage in the region, triggering mandatory cuts for Arizona and Nevada as well as Mexico in 2022.
Officials expect hydrologists will project the lake to fall further, triggering additional cuts to Nevada, Arizona and Mexico next year. States with higher priority water rights are not expected to see cuts.
Reservoir levels have been falling for years — and faster than experts predicted — due to 22 years of drought worsened by climate change and overuse of the river. Scorching temperatures and less melting snow in the spring have reduced the amount of water flowing from the Rocky Mountains, where the river originates before it snakes 1,450 miles (2,334 kilometers) southwest and into the Gulf of California.
Already, extraordinary steps have been taken this year to keep water in Lake Powell, the other large Colorado River reservoir, which sits upstream of Lake Mead and straddles the Arizona-Utah border. Water from the lake runs through Glen Canyon Dam, which produces enough electricity to power between 1 million and 1.5 million homes each year.
After water levels at Lake Powell reached levels low enough to threaten hydropower production, federal officials said they would hold back an additional 480,000 acre-feet (more than 156 billion gallons or 592 million cubic meters) of water to ensure the dam could still produce energy. That water would normally course to Lake Mead.
Under Tuesday’s reductions, Arizona is expected to lose slightly more water than it did this year, when 18% of its supply was cut. In 2023, it will lose an additional 3%, an aggregate 21% reduction from its initial allocation.
Mexico is expected to lose 7% of the 1.5 million acre-feet it receives each year from the river. Last year, it lost about 5%. The water is a lifeline for northern desert cities including Tijuana and a large farm industry in the Mexicali Valley, just south of the border from California’s Imperial Valley.
Nevada is also set to lose water — about 8% of its supply — but most residents will not feel the effects because the state recycles the majority of its water used indoors and doesn’t use its full allocation. Last year, the state lost 7%.
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Naishadham reported from Washington. The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.witn.com/2022/08/16/colorado-river-cuts-set-disrupt-farming-american-west/ | 2022-08-16T17:19:43Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/2022/08/16/colorado-river-cuts-set-disrupt-farming-american-west/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
My Festival: Randy Feltface
The Alien of Extraordinary Ability on life as an endangered species, quality time with otters, and breaching Aussie biosecurity
What are you doing at this year’s festival?
I’m doing a show called Alien of Extraordinary Ability every night at 9.15pm, and the rest of the time I appear to be either walking uphill, snacking on flapjacks or politely declining bits of paper from enthusiastic strangers.
What do you most want to see this year and why?
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I’d like to see Scottish Dance Theatre’s show Antigone, Interrupted because I sometimes wish I had chosen dance instead of comedy as a career. I took some ballet lessons in my early 30s and realised I’d possibly left my run as a dancer a little too late when I puked mid-pirouette in the third lesson. I had to do three weeks of vestibular rehabilitation to get my balance back.
What’s your favourite place in the city and why?
Duddingston Loch because I know of at least two otters that live there.
Who do you most like spending time with at the festival?
The otters at Duddingston Loch.
What do you remember about your first ever Edinburgh festival appearance?
I remember stepping out of Waverley Station for the first time and seeing the Castle shrouded in fog and immediately feeling an overwhelming wave of emotion. Turns out it was the vegetarian pastie I ate on the train repeating on me but it was a powerful moment nonetheless.
What are the best and worst things that have happened to you in Edinburgh?
The worst thing was the time Pete Firman spilled his maggots backstage and I didn’t realise some of them had landed in my suitcase until I was fined by Border Force agents for breaching biosecurity regulations on my way back into Australia. And the best thing to have happened is the dramatic increase in vegan dining options in this city since 2008.
How was lockdown for you? Did it change you, and if so how?
Lockdown was two years ago! Why are we still talking about it? When dealing with global trauma, I always find it best to return to a sense of normalcy as quickly as possible without taking any practical measures to prevent the cause of the trauma from reoccurring. Therefore I have since reverted to my pre-lockdown lifestyle with such reckless abandon that any life lessons I may have learnt have been quickly forgotten in a sea of international boarding passes, petrol station hot chips and careless handshakes with sweaty strangers.
Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
I am a critically endangered species. And I can play the harmonica. But mostly the critically endangered bit.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Check for earwigs and shimmy down the drainpipe.
And what’s the last thing you do before you go to bed at night?
I cocoon myself in a sleep nest of throw pillows and pug dogs and listen to a sleep mediation. My current go-to is the Steven King novel The Shining as narrated by Nicola Sturgeon.
Thanks for the interview! We’d like to buy you a drink. Where are we going and what are we drinking?
That would be lovely, thank you. We’re going to Morocco for a mint tea.
Randy Feltface: Alien of Extraordinary Ability, Assembly George Square, 9.15pm, until 28 August | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/my-festival-randy-feltface-3807420 | 2022-08-16T17:20:07Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/my-festival-randy-feltface-3807420 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It's primary election day in Wyoming and Alaska.
In both states Tuesday, there are key primary races that will test the fate of two of former President Donald Trump's biggest critics.
Here's everything you need to know:
In Wyoming, Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chair of the House select committee investigating January 6, faces several Republican challengers, including attorney Harriet Hageman, whom Trump has endorsed. Cheney has been one of Trump's harshest critics and was ousted from her House Republican leadership post last year after publicly rejecting for months Trump's lie that he won the 2020 presidential election.
A University of Wyoming poll released last week found that Cheney is trailing Hageman by 29 points. Yet one question looming over the Republican primary is how many Democrats and independents will switch parties and vote for Cheney, which even her supporters acknowledge is her only chance to stay competitive.
The Cowboy State is also holding a gubernatorial primary election.
Meanwhile, Alaska will also host a special election to fill the state's at large House seat, which has been vacant since Rep. Don Young's death in March. Three candidates, including former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, will be on the ballot, with the winner decided by ranked choice voting.
Also running is Republican Nick Begich III -- who won the Alaska Republican Party's endorsement in April and is the product of a powerful Alaska political family as the grandson of the Democratic congressman of the same name, who disappeared on a flight in 1972, and the nephew of former Democratic Sen. Mark Begich -- and former Democratic state Rep. Mary Peltola.
Independent candidate Al Gross was previously running but withdrew from the race.
There is also a regular top-four primary election for the same seat and a gubernatorial primary.
Additionally, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski will be the only senator who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial facing voters this year. Trump has endorsed Kelly Tshibaka, the former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration, in the primary. However, due to Alaska's top four primary system -- where all candidates run the same ballot and the top four candidates advance to the general election -- it's likely that both Tshibaka and Murkowski will be on the ballot in November.
How to follow CNN's election coverage
You can follow along with results on CNN.com and with our live updates. CNN's decision desk will be monitoring results and will make projections accordingly.
What time do polls close?
- In Wyoming, polls close at 9 p.m. ET. Mail ballots are due by the close of polls on August 16.
- In Alaska, polls close at 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET. Mail ballots must be postmarked on or before August 16 and must be received no later than August 26.
Election resources
CNN has numerous election-related resources available to readers:
- 6 things to watch in Wyoming and Alaska elections: Trump's campaign to purge the Republican Party of his opponents could reach its most dramatic moment of the 2022 midterm election cycle.
- Cheney's fate in Wyoming is a final test of Trump's hold over the GOP: Trump's hold on the Republican Party is tightening even as the former President's legal challenges are mounting.
- Cheney tries to hold on in tough Wyoming primary reshaped by Trump: The contest between Cheney and Harriet Hageman stands as a telling bookend of the Republican Party's evolution.
- From Cheney friend to foe, Harriet Hageman takes command of Wyoming race animated by Trump: Hageman proudly wears Wyoming on her sleeve -- and wields it like a hammer against Cheney.
- Alaska voters are casting ballots in two separate elections for the same seat. Here's how it works: There's both a special general election to fill the remainder of the late Rep. Don Young's term and a primary election to decide who will compete in November for the seat's next full term starting in January.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/how-to-follow-tuesdays-primary-elections/article_ba6333a7-68c3-5a51-a0ba-dda4580cdbed.html | 2022-08-16T17:20:14Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/how-to-follow-tuesdays-primary-elections/article_ba6333a7-68c3-5a51-a0ba-dda4580cdbed.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Two top House Democrats are accusing the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General of obstructing their investigation into missing Secret Service text messages related to the January 6 Capitol attack, escalating tensions between Congress and the watchdog agency.
In a letter on Tuesday, House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, who also chairs the House January 6 committee, wrote to DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, detailing claims of how Cuffari has not cooperated with their previous requests to provide documents or make his employees available for transcribed interviews in their ongoing investigation.
Maloney and Thompson have previously called for Cuffari to recuse himself from the investigation, saying they had lost confidence in him after he waited months to inform Congress that Secret Service text messages from January 6 had been erased.
"Your obstruction of the Committees' investigations is unacceptable, and your justifications for this noncompliance appear to reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of Congress's authority and your duties as an Inspector General. If you continue to refuse to comply with our requests, we will have no choice but to consider alternate measures to ensure your compliance," Maloney and Thompson wrote.
As CNN has reported, the Secret Service texts were erased as a result of a previously scheduled data migration of its agents' cell phones that began on January 27, 2021, exactly three weeks after the attack on the US Capitol.
In their Tuesday letter, Maloney and Thompson reveal that Cuffari wrote to them on August 8 informing them he would not be complying with their requests. "To protect the integrity of our work and preserve our independence, we do not share information about ongoing matters, like the information you requested in your letters," Cuffari wrote. "Similarly, we do not authorize our staff to sit for transcribed interviews with your committee about these ongoing matters."
Cuffari said that once "these matters are complete," his office will "consider a renewed request for documents, briefings, or transcribed interviews," according to Tuesday's letter.
CNN has requested comment from the DHS IG office.
The lawmakers also raised questions of whether Cuffari is using the ongoing criminal investigation into the missing text messages as an excuse to obstruct Congress.
"We are concerned that you are now improperly using a criminal investigation that you only recently announced to hide evidence from Congress of your misconduct and mismanagement," Maloney and Thompson said.
In his previous letter, Cuffari defended how he has informed Congress, writing to Maloney and Thompson, "consistent with the law, I have reported to Congress various access issues that my office has experienced since 2021," and cited DHS OIG's semiannual report sent to Congress in November 2021.
But, Maloney and Thompson state that the November report "made no mention of Secret Service text messages," and was given to Congress "nine months after communications were requested from the Secret Service, and long after your office learned that text messages were missing."
The committee chairs also referenced a memo obtained by the Project on Government Oversight and shared with CNN last week detailing how federal investigators believed the Secret Service was impeding them from obtaining key information about the agency's response to January 6, 2021, was significantly altered to remove reference to nearly all those efforts before a final report was presented to lawmakers in June.
Despite the alleged obstruction from Cuffari, Maloney and Thompson made a renewed request for documents and for DHS OIG personnel to be made available for interviews with a deadline of August 23.
Weeks of tensions
Tuesday's letter is the latest in an ongoing back and forth between Congressional committees and DHS OIG as multiple investigations into why text messages from Secret Service agents from the days around the Capitol attack were deleted, and why it took so long for Congress to be notified are ongoing.
Maloney and Thompson say that Cuffari is also obstructing their efforts on another investigation. Since May 10, the committee chairs have been requesting documents relating to reports that Cuffari's office tried to "censor or delay" findings of domestic abuse and sexual harassment by DHS employees.
"In response to our requests, your office withheld responsive documents and instead produced a copy of a letter you previously sent to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in response to their separate inquiry" Maloney and Thompson wrote.
Cuffari informed Maloney and Thompson that he has sought the advice of the Office of Legal Counsel "concerning whether I am permitted to release deliberative records and information to Congress."
Maloney and Thompson call Cuffari's request for the Office of Legal Counsel "highly unusual" and question whether it is a "a delay tactic meant to hamper the Committees' inquiry."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/top-house-democrats-accuse-dhs-watchdog-of-obstructing-investigation-into-missing-secret-service-text-messages/article_53fa34ed-caad-5b7d-a6ba-94637e9e68b0.html | 2022-08-16T17:20:32Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/top-house-democrats-accuse-dhs-watchdog-of-obstructing-investigation-into-missing-secret-service-text-messages/article_53fa34ed-caad-5b7d-a6ba-94637e9e68b0.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tickets selling fast for Peterhead theatre group production
The talented members of Centre Stage Productions will be taking to the stage this weekend for another superb show.
Oh What a Night will be staged at Peterhead Community Theatre on Saturday, August 20, at 7pm, this time in aid of CHAS and the amazing work it does.
Following the break for the pandemic, the group returned with two successful productions in September and December 2021.
This year is particularly poignant for Alasdair Corbett and his theatre bestie Steph Weymss as it’s the last show he will be doing for a while before jetting off on his adventures down under just three weeks later.
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And he’s managed to gather his friends to make sure it's a show to remember with plenty of familiar faces offering a wealth of musical genres from pop and indie to country and the latest theatre hits.
And there are sure to be a few favourites along the way to make sure the audience gets a chance to sing along.
Ali said: “We just love the chance to come together with our incredibly talented chums and raise money for such great causes at the same time.
"I’m sure it will be another amazing night and probably a bit emotional for me personally as we’ve raised more than £20,000 since we started our concerts.”
Tickets for the show are selling fast, so don’t miss out! They are priced at £9 each and are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/peterhead
Alternatively, you can call 01779 481197 to reserve your seat now. You won’t be disappointed! | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/tickets-selling-fast-for-peterhead-theatre-group-production-3807142 | 2022-08-16T17:21:02Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/tickets-selling-fast-for-peterhead-theatre-group-production-3807142 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
City reaction: Watches of Switzerland sees sales tick up in 'solid' Q1 trading update
Luxury goods retailer Watches of Switzerland Group, led by Glasgow-born chief executive Brian Duffy, has clocked up “strong” momentum in the first quarter, saying the UK saw major growth on the back of pent-up, post-lockdown demand.
The firm, which floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2019, in a trading update unveiled group revenue amounting to £391 million for the 13 weeks ending July 31, up 25 per cent year on year on a constant currency basis, and 31 per cent at reported rates. UK sales specifically reached £239m, jumping 8 per cent.
Mr Duffy highlighted the group’s plans to move its 900-square-foot Rolex Boutique on the UK capital’s Bond Street to a 7,200-sq-ft outlet on Old Bond Street next year. “This new flagship will reflect the importance of the London market and the special relevance of London to the history of Rolex,” he said, having earlier this year flagged plans to boost the company’s store network in Scotland.
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Looking at the firm’s latest figures, he said: “The first quarter continued with strong momentum throughout, and we carry this positive momentum into the second quarter. Despite the well-publicised concerns about the macro environment, demand for our products remains robust, with client registration of interest lists continuing to extend... we remain confident in our long-range plan."
The firm reiterated its previous full-year guidance on an organic pre-IFRS 16 basis, saying this anticipates a possibly tougher trading environment in the second half. It expects revenue to be £1.45 billion to £1.5bn, and adjusted earnings before interest and taxes to be £157m to £169m.
Analyst Eleonora Dani of Shore Capital deemed the trading update “solid”, and showing that the group’s growth is “broad-based”; its luxury watches arm saw sales increase 32 per cent to £342m, with luxury jewellery enjoying a jump of more than a third to reach £27m.
Ms Dani noted that the group’s shares have fallen by about 42 per cent since the start of the year, “and we believe that the valuation is relatively undemanding given the potential growth trajectory in the fragmented US and EU markets”.
Highlighting Shore Capital’s “buy” rating for Watches of Switzerland, she added: “Demand for luxury watches continues to outstrip supply. In our view, this is a management team executing its strategy well, and adapting to dynamic market conditions.”
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/business/city-reaction-watches-of-switzerland-sees-sales-tick-up-in-solid-q1-trading-update-3807664 | 2022-08-16T17:21:08Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/business/city-reaction-watches-of-switzerland-sees-sales-tick-up-in-solid-q1-trading-update-3807664 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Double award nod for Amity Fish Company
Amity Fish Company has been named finalists in two categories at the Herald’s Digital Transformation Awards.
The award-winning Scottish seafood supplier, based in Peterhead, is up against fellow industry finalists Altar Group, Arran Sense of Scotland, NoTosh and Snappy Shopper in the Business Growth category, celebrating businesses that have used technology with significant results through the pandemic and beyond.
Meanwhile Amity’s Digital Content Creator, Jenna Urquhart, has been named as a finalist in the Digital Professional of the Year category, for her contribution to developing Amity’s online presence.
The awards recognise and reward Scottish businesses from across all industries and sectors who are using digital technology in new and innovative ways. This can be to benefit the people they work with, grow their business, deliver successful digital marketing campaigns, or completely change the way they are working on a daily basis.
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Amity Managing Director Jimmy Buchan said: “As much as I am thrilled to learn Amity has once again been shortlisted for an accolade, I am very proud to see the hard work of Jenna (my daughter) be recognised – and as the only woman in her category too. All the finalists are extremely worthy, but it is a little special when it’s one of your own.”
The Digital Transformation Awards ceremony will take place on August 25.
But the good news doesn’t stop there.
Two of the Seafood Supplier’s signature products have been ranked among some of the best produce in the country, receiving a Great Taste star each in this year’s meticulous tasting awards.
The bestselling Panko Breaded Single Wholetail Scampi has been re-awarded a Great Taste star after first winning the accolade in 2021, with judges adoring the “sweet and plump” scampi that delivered on flavour.
In a welcome surprise, this year Amity’s Panko Breaded Queenie Scallops have also been awarded a star, with judges deeming the product “sweet, soft and succulent” with a lovely crunch.
The Great Taste 1-star rating signifies these products are ‘simply delicious’ in the eyes of the judges and so they join a prestigious group of food and drink products that have been singled out for being impressively delicious. | https://www.scotsman.com/business/double-award-nod-for-amity-fish-company-3807145 | 2022-08-16T17:21:15Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/business/double-award-nod-for-amity-fish-company-3807145 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Half-dozen sustainable Scottish start-ups being checked in at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Six Scottish start-ups that have been supported by a key business incubator are having their wares showcased in a new space at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh dedicated to supporting sustainable firms based north of the Border.
The venture is known as The Curiosity Shop, which has been created in tandem with Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit incubator for entrepreneurs to start up and thrive that is part of Sir Richard Branson’s business empire.
The half-dozen firms featured have all been supported by Virgin StartUp as well as being purpose-driven with a focus on sustainability.
The Curiosity Shop says the space features “beautifully crafted” Scottish products available exclusively to Virgin Hotels’ guests, and all companies featured have considered sustainability throughout their manufacturing and packaging processes.
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They include Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful, which was founded by a Scottish marine biologist, and offers seaweed supplements made using organic Hebridean seaweed that is sustainably wild-harvested from “pristine” local waters.
Also on the list are Genevieve Sweeney’s knitwear brand, with products made in Scotland with both traditional artisan and innovative knitting techniques using Scottish spun yarns; and Meander Apparel, an Edinburgh-based outdoor clothing brand that says around 90 per cent of its products are made using natural or recycled, low-impact materials.
Rutland Square Gin makes small-batch craft gin, handcrafted by a master blender in Edinburgh, and also produces what it says is the world’s first oolong white tea infused chai spiced Scottish gin made using sustainably sourced leaves from Assam, India.
Completing the group of six firms are Seilich, a small, family-run company based in the Lothians and created by botanist Dr Sally Gouldstone, selling natural skincare products made using ingredients grown in the family’s wildflower meadow; and silk sleep product firm Sensi, which was launched in 2022 by Jennifer Norrie.
The Curiosity Shop said the six firms it showcases will change over time to give others the opportunity to feature.
Virgin StartUp managing director Andy Fishburn said: “Virgin has always been entrepreneurial at its heart, so it’s great to see Virgin Hotels providing this space to showcase Virgin StartUp companies, particularly those that are making sustainably-driven products right on the doorstep here in Scotland.”
Welcomed
Scott McArdle, general manager at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, stated: “We are proud to have a space of the hotel dedicated to championing small Scottish businesses and we have already received great feedback from hotel guests who are enjoying exploring the shop and discovering new sustainable Scottish products.
"All Virgin Hotels are unique and draw inspiration from their location, so the Curiosity Shop is one of many things we are doing at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh to tell the story of this spectacular country.”
Rutland Square Gin founder Nishant Sharma also commented, explaining that the firm started out in November “with a vision to make small-batch artisan gin that has Scottish spirit with an Indian soul”, adding: “Each batch is distilled in the heart of Edinburgh, with inspiration from the Far East.
“The support we have received from Virgin StartUp has been brilliant from the beginning and now, to get this opportunity to share our products with international visitors at a landmark new hotel in the city is incredible. We are really excited to see what interest it generates in our products.”
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/business/half-dozen-sustainable-scottish-start-ups-being-checked-in-at-virgin-hotels-edinburgh-3808212 | 2022-08-16T17:21:34Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/business/half-dozen-sustainable-scottish-start-ups-being-checked-in-at-virgin-hotels-edinburgh-3808212 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Scotland set to play critical role in plugging green energy skills gap
Scotland remains in prime position to capitalise on the green jobs explosion, a new study reveals.
Analysis from PwC suggests that the creation of green jobs relating to the energy transition is running at more than one-and-a-half times the UK national average in Scotland.
The firm’s latest research paper, which builds on PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer, notes that a total of 2.3 per cent of all opportunities advertised in the sector in Scotland throughout 2021 were classed as “green jobs”, compared with the UK average of 1.6 per cent.
The paper also highlights a UK-wide shortage of skilled labour - with a green energy skills gap of around 200,000 people - that cannot be addressed from the existing UK energy sector workforce alone.
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Jason Higgs, ESG and energy transition leader for PwC Scotland, said: “Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, is facing a continuous rise in the demand for electricity which must be met with a huge increase in low carbon energy generation, new ways of working and a more efficient whole system approach.
“While we are in a unique position north of the Border, with a strong concentration of green jobs connected to the growth of offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture - and the potential to create a global energy hub in the North-east - there is a real need for investment and the creation of a diverse pipeline of talented and skilled individuals to help Scotland capitalise on its position.”
PwC’s latest research includes consultation with key UK energy sector stakeholders across oil and gas, renewables and nuclear power.
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/business/scotland-set-to-play-critical-role-in-plugging-green-energy-skills-gap-3807555 | 2022-08-16T17:21:48Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/business/scotland-set-to-play-critical-role-in-plugging-green-energy-skills-gap-3807555 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NBA schedule won’t have games on Election Day this year
(AP) - The NBA will be off on Election Day.
The league’s schedule for the coming season will have all 30 teams playing on Nov. 7, the night before the midterm elections. The NBA is hoping teams use that night as an opportunity to encourage fans to get out and vote, plus amplify the need for civic engagement.
But on Nov. 8, which is Election Day, no NBA teams have games scheduled. Teams are being encouraged to share election information — such as registration deadlines — with their fan bases in the weeks leading up to Nov. 8.
“The scheduling decision came out of the NBA family’s focus on promoting nonpartisan civic engagement and encouraging fans to make a plan to vote during midterm elections,” the league said Tuesday.
All 435 U.S. House seats will be up for grabs on Nov. 8, along with more than 30 U.S. Senate seats and gubernatorial races.
“It’s unusual. We don’t usually change the schedule for an external event,” James Cadogan, the executive director of the NBA’s social justice coalition, told NBC, which first reported the league’s Election Day schedule plan. “But voting and Election Day are obviously unique and incredibly important to our democracy.”
The move is a rarity for the league, which typically plays no games on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and tries to avoid scheduling games on the day of the NCAA men’s basketball championship game — often the first Monday of April. It also has a few days off built around the All-Star Game, which takes place in February.
The NBA and its players were openly involved in several election-related pushes in 2020, largely as part of the response after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor reignited the quest to eliminate racial inequality and police brutality.
Many players, including LeBron James, were involved in voting registration drives and other get-out-the-vote initiatives. Some teams turned their arenas into registration or voting centers.
The NBA’s full schedule for the season will be released Wednesday.
There are some sporting events in the U.S. scheduled for Nov. 8. The NHL has 11 games on Election Day this year, with eight of those in the U.S. And there are three FBS-level college football games being played on Nov. 8, all in the state of Ohio.
Major League Baseball’s season should be over by Election Day; the latest possible date for the World Series, barring postponements, is Saturday, Nov. 5. The NFL hardly ever plays on Tuesdays — there have been seven games on that day of the week since 1948, six of them for coronavirus-related rescheduling reasons in the last two years — and has no games scheduled this year on Nov. 8.
“The NBA is creating a culture of political participation, which extends not only to its athletes but to fans as well,” said Andrea Hailey, the CEO of Vote.org, which has partnered with the NBPA on various initiatives in recent years. “Players, coaches, event staff and fans all deserve to have the time and space to make their voices heard at the ballot box. The league is setting an important precedent that I hope other businesses and leagues will follow.”
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/16/nba-schedule-wont-have-games-election-day-this-year/ | 2022-08-16T17:22:07Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/16/nba-schedule-wont-have-games-election-day-this-year/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
‘Pop Idol’ and stage star Darius Campbell Danesh dies at 41
LONDON (AP) — Performer Darius Campbell Danesh, who went from a British reality television show to a stage and music career, has died at the age of 41.
The singer’s family said Tuesday that he was found unresponsive in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota on Aug. 11 and pronounced dead by the local medical examiners’ office.
“The local police department have confirmed that there were no signs of intent or suspicious circumstances,” the family said. “The cause of his sudden death is unknown at this stage while medical examinations continue.”
Born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and Iranian father, Campbell Danesh appeared on reality show “Popstars” in 2001, making a splash with his intense interpretation of Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time.”
He had more success later the same year on “Pop Idol,” an early Simon Cowell reality-talent show hybrid that aimed to find a new singing star. He came third behind Gareth Gates and Will Young but topped U.K. charts in 2002 with the single “Colourblind,” from his debut album “Dive In.”
Campbell Danesh went on to major roles in musicals, including West End productions of “Chicago” and “Guys and Dolls,” and starred as Rhett Butler in a musical stage adaptation of “Gone With the Wind.” The big-budget show opened in London in April 2008 but closed two months later after poor reviews and ticket sales.
In 2010, he won another reality show, “Popstar to Operastar” and afterward performed in a production of “Carmen” at London’s O2 Arena.
He also made a foray into Hollywood as a co-executive producer on the 2016 horror film “Imperium,” starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Campbell Danesh married actress Natasha Henstridge in California in 2011; they divorced a few years later.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/16/pop-idol-stage-star-darius-campbell-danesh-dies-41/ | 2022-08-16T17:22:14Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/16/pop-idol-stage-star-darius-campbell-danesh-dies-41/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
She’s making the breast of it.
Rebecca Butcher, a woman who only grew one boob, is virally displaying her uneven endowment in a titillating series of TikTok testimonials.
“I noticed that when I went through puberty that one of my boobs was growing and the other one wasn’t,” explained UK resident Butcher, 25, in a trending tell-all with more than 2.3 million views.
“So I went to my doctor and they said, ‘You haven’t finished going through puberty yet. It’s fine. It’s nothing. It will grow. It’s normal for women to have one boob bigger than the other. Come back if it hadn’t changed in a few years,’ ” she continued.
However, after suffering through her teenage years with her right breast developing much faster and larger than the left side of her chest, Butcher feared that her asymmetry was caused by more than a pubescent delay.
“I was having to stuff my bra with socks and wear turtlenecks to hide it because I didn’t want anybody to know,” she admitted.
With little help from her doctors, a distressed Butcher typed “one boob” into Google. And after sifting through a heap of “weird things” that popped up on the global search engine, the brunette discovered that she likely had Poland Syndrome.
The rare congenital disorder is classically characterized by the absence of chest wall muscles on one side of the body, per Rarediseases.org. And in females, there may be underdevelopment or an absence of one breast and underlying tissues.
But when she presented the probable cause of her stunted boob growth to her doctor, he was stumped.
“He said, ‘Yes. I’m pretty sure this is what you’ve got, but I can’t diagnose it because I don’t know anything about it,’ ” Butcher said.
She claimed the physician went on to confess that he never studied the disorder in medical school because his professors presumed it “unlikely” that he’d ever encounter the unusual condition.
So, the doc passed Butcher off to a specialist, who also didn’t know much about the deformity.
And after visiting a revolving door of at least 11 medical experts, each with different diagnoses — including one doc who suggested she give the medical marvel a name because she was likely the only person in the world to grapple with the affliction — an exhausted Butcher ended her search for help from the health care system.
Instead, she decided to find a Poland Syndrome community and cope with others like her.
But sharing her story with her more than 27,000 TikTok followers has given Butcher an added dose of support and love, too.
“I am so impressed that you can talk about this so calmly. This whole process sounds like a nightmare. Glad you’ve found online support systems,” one commentator remarked.
“One of my friends had that. She’s the first person I’ve ever met with it. Hers is a little less noticeable. She did receive implants to make the match,” penned another.
In a separate post with 3.2 million views, Butcher said she doesn’t want an implant, and she cheekily poked fun at how frequently doctors offer a boob job as a solution to her lopsidedness.
Elsewhere, the Poland Syndrome advocate revealed that she once took hormone pills for five years. She said the doctors hoped the chemicals would promote the growth of her left breast. But, instead, the meds reportedly gave her severe migraines that nearly caused a blood clot in her brain.
Butcher also noted that she could undergo a muscle transplant procedure during which surgeons would remove a muscle from her back and place it in her chest. But she’s opting out of the surgery for fear the transplant would make her back weaker.
“I feel like I’m never really going to know completely everything about this condition,” Butcher said, adding that there’s no “100%” answer to why the deformity occurs. “And I’ve just accepted that.” | https://nypost.com/2022/08/16/i-only-have-one-boob-and-i-was-born-with-a-real-medical-condition/ | 2022-08-16T17:22:27Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/16/i-only-have-one-boob-and-i-was-born-with-a-real-medical-condition/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $38.8 million to Junior Achievement USA and 26 local operations — the largest single gift in its 103-year history — the national education nonprofit announced Tuesday.
Like all of Scott’s nearly $12 billion in donations since 2019, her gift to Junior Achievement USA is unrestricted, meaning the Colorado-based nonprofit, which prepares students for adulthood by teaching them financial literacy, career skills and business ownership training, can use the funds for any project it wants.
Jack E. Kosakowski, Junior Achievement USA’s president and CEO, said the gift was “a huge, pleasant surprise” and raised morale throughout the organization. Junior Achievement USA will receive $10 million, while 26 local Junior Achievement operations will split $28.8 million based on the evaluation of Scott and her team.
It is not clear whether the gift to Junior Achievement marks a new run of donations from Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett. The author and philanthropist does not comment on her donations beyond her Medium blog, which has not been updated since March. Her gifts are only announced if and when the groups receiving them confirm the donations.
Kosakowski said he is thrilled by Scott’s unrestricted gift because it can be used to modernize the group’s technology infrastructure, a need that is rarely high on most donors’ priority lists. The $10 million will also help expand the nonprofit’s digital educational offerings and add volunteers in currently underserved areas.
“We support all 102 of our local offices across the country, so this is going to really help us streamline our operations,” Kosakowski told The Associated Press. “Ultimately, as we get more efficient, it’s gonna allow us to use more of our traditional donor dollars for directly serving the young people that we work with.”
Scott, currently worth about $42 billion according to Forbes, has signed the Giving Pledge, a promise from many billionaires to donate more than half their wealth. As part of her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who was then the richest person in the world, Scott received 4% of Amazon’s shares.
Since then, she has worked diligently to make unrestricted donations quickly. Initially, Scott focused on funding that would generate more racial and gender equity, with substantial donations to numerous HBCUs and groups like the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which received $275 million from her in March.
However, in recent donations, Scott has also singled out long-established nonprofits with a focus on their communities – including Habitat for Humanity and The Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Communities with a habit of removing obstacles for different subsets of people tend to get better for everyone,” she wrote in her March blog post.
And now, she is supporting Junior Achievement, which educates more than 12.5 million students in 115 countries around the world.
“It’s given our board, given our staff, just a huge boost in confidence,” Kosakowski said. “People are seeing and acknowledging what we do to get these young people prepared to be successful in life.” | https://nypost.com/2022/08/16/mackenzie-scott-gives-39-million-to-junior-achievement-usa/ | 2022-08-16T17:22:39Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/16/mackenzie-scott-gives-39-million-to-junior-achievement-usa/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Secured Debt Facility Enables Koalafi to Further Scale Expansion of Loan Financing to Serve More Consumers Through an Innovative Single Application
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Koalafi, a fast-growing consumer financing provider committed to providing innovative pay-over-time options to customers from all credit backgrounds, announced today the signing of a multi-million secured debt facility from Forbright Bank. This facility helps Koalafi rapidly scale and expand loan originations to a broader range of consumers through its first-in-kind, single financing solution, which launched nationwide last year.
With Koalafi, consumers from all credit backgrounds can apply for payment plans through a single streamlined application in store and online. "Before this unprecedented offering, merchants faced a number of headaches with the financing solutions available," said Rob Finnegan, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Koalafi. "A patchwork of different providers, long applications, and inconsistent customer UX have created friction at checkout, causing would-be customers to abandon the transaction. Our single application removes these friction points, allowing consumers to seamlessly discover the right-fit payment plan on the first try."
Rob Finnegan emphasized "this credit facility with Forbright ensures we can quickly scale our loan funding volume to offer our dramatically simplified financing approach to more businesses and their customers."
"Koalafi has a strong lending track record and Forbright is excited to help the company continue to scale its lending platform with an increasing focus on serving prime and near prime consumers and home improvement businesses," said Kenny Elias, President of Specialty Lending at Forbright.
For more information, visit Koalafi.com.
Koalafi (www.koalafi.com) makes it possible for consumers, whether they have excellent or no credit, to make essential purchases. With a single application and platform, Koalafi merchants can offer a wide range of transparent and simple pay-over-time plans to every customer who visits their business. Koalafi serves ecommerce and brick and mortar merchants nationwide, with a focus on furniture, mattress, appliance, tire, and home improvement businesses. Koalafi delivers high approval rates by leveraging big data and machine learning to optimize credit modeling and underwriting and is recognized for exceptional service by industry leading NPS scores.
Forbright Inc., rebranded from Congressional Bancshares, Inc. is the bank holding company for Forbright Bank. Forbright Bank (www.forbrightbank.com), rebranded from Congressional Bank, is a full-service bank, commercial lender, and asset manager headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, that is committed to accelerating the transition to a sustainable, clean energy economy by financing the companies, investors, and innovators driving that change. With approximately $8 billion of owned and managed assets, the Bank provides lending, banking and asset management services to clients across the United States. Its business banking group provides nationwide lending products, including real estate loans, working capital, warehouse lines of credit, term loans and forward loan purchase agreements to entrepreneurs, growing middle market companies, and sophisticated investors and operators in clean tech, healthcare, financial services, technology, real estate, renewable energy and other industries where a trusted and highly responsive lender is needed. The Bank provides sophisticated and competitive deposit products, which will soon include deposits linked to decarbonization- and sustainability-oriented loans, to businesses and individuals.
Member FDIC as Forbright Bank. Forbright Bank is an equal housing lender and makes loans without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status.
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SOURCE Koalafi | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/koalafi-closes-multi-million-dollar-warehouse-facility-with-forbright-bank/ | 2022-08-16T17:22:59Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/koalafi-closes-multi-million-dollar-warehouse-facility-with-forbright-bank/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Holidaying With Your Hound: Here are six expert tips for taking your adorable dog on a campervan holiday
With the summer holidays are underway you might be planning a campervan holiday with the whole family - including any four-legged friends.
For many owners who decided to welcome a new dog in recent years, this summer is the first that has been restriction free for three years and therefore could be the first time they will take their pup away with them.
While this is an exciting time, preparation and planning is essential to make sure your dog has a stress-free experience.
Here’s what motorhome experts goboony recommend.
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Preparing your pup for travel
It’s important to prepare your dog for the changes that will come with a motorhome holiday. Dogs thrive off of routine, so disrupting this can lead to an anxious pup if you don’t take the right steps.
While you’re on the road, the safest option for your dog is to remain in a travel crate while the vehicle is in motion. This should be an appropriate size so that the dog has enough space to stand up and circle around, but not so big that they can pace inside it.
Make sure to choose one that is easy to assemble, store and use. There is plenty of storage space in a motorhome, so you can put it away when you’re not driving, unless your pet prefers sleeping in it. Also aim to get a travel crate designed for car travel rather than air travel, unless you think you’ll need it for both. Add their bed, favourite blankets and some comfort toys to make sure they feel right at home.
If your dog doesn’t love travelling, it’s also a good idea to give them something long lasting that they can enjoy, such as a stuffed kong or a frozen lickmat. If your dog doesn’t use a crate at home, make sure you purchase this well in advance and get them comfortable inside it before you set off.
If you know your holiday is going to involve longer walks and earlier (or later) mornings, then try and slowly implement this in the weeks approaching your trip. It’s also important to consider what activities you’ll be doing while away and whether your dog has been exposed to this before or not. For example, if your family wants to enjoy plenty of pub lunches, make sure you’ve introduced your dog to the social atmosphere of a pub so you know how they will likely react and it won’t disrupt your time away.
Food on the road
Is your dog on a meal plan that’s going to be difficult to implement while you’re on holiday? Consider their food in advance and whether or not it’s practical to take their meals on the road with you for the time you’ll be away, for example if they are raw fed. Make sure you have enough supply incase if you know you won’t be able to buy it while away, and if you do have to slightly change their diet while you’re away, make sure to slowly introduce this to them in the weeks running up the trip. Road trips and upset tummies are something best avoided.
Safety in the campervan
It’s vital to ensure your dog is safe and comfortable when you’re both driving and parked up at the campsite. The best way to do this is to bring a travel crate so that your dog has a safe place to relax in. It should also be secured in the campervan so that it does not move should there be a sudden stop. Bear in mind that it’s illegal to not have your dog secured and you could face a fine if caught.
Must-have accessories for camping
While most items from home will transition nicely into your camping trip, there are a few accessories that will make your time away stress-free. The first item is a longline leash for campsites. You can use a hook to anchor this into the soil of the campsite and it means your dog gets the flexibility to walk around but has the safety of a leash too.
Even if your dog is recall trained, many campsites make it a requirement they must be on a lead at all times, so this will save you getting caught without. A towel is essential for a quick rub down after a muddy walk too. Campervans can get dirty quickly if you’re not careful.
It’s a legal requirement to have an ID tag on your dog, and while your address will mean very little if you’re on holiday, it’s essential to have an up to date phone number so that you can be contacted should your dog get loose.
Medical and safety in the outdoors
Whilst many items in a human first aid kit can be used for dogs, not all are applicable. If you plan to go camping with your pup, we recommend investing in a dog first aid kit. It should contain correct bandages, tools for removing ticks or splinters and have an emergency cooling pack. This provides the peace of mind of being ready for anything with your dog.
People-friendly etiquette at your campsite
Keep your dog on a leash whenever it is outside of your vehicle. Even if your dog is super friendly and just wants to greet people, not everyone is a dog fan. So keep them close to ensure people don’t feel uncomfortable. That being said, it is important to use up your pets energy so they’re not cooped up. Consider it an opportunity to explore the area and get some great exercise, head out for long walks and keep them moving by throwing a ball.
This ensures they sleep well back at the campsite and when travelling. Many campsites offer a dog run where they can go wild and meet other pups. If there’s other dogs at the campsite, always ask the owner’s permission before taking your dog over to say hello. Some dogs may be more nervous, or reactive to new dogs. Keep an eye on what they find, sadly a lot of campsites can have litter or nasties on the ground, so ensure your pup isn’t picking up anything they shouldn’t.
For all the latest dog news, pictures, advice and information, join our Scotsdog Facebook group here
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Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/holidaying-with-your-hound-here-are-six-expert-tips-for-taking-your-adorable-dog-on-a-campervan-holiday-3807458 | 2022-08-16T17:23:17Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/holidaying-with-your-hound-here-are-six-expert-tips-for-taking-your-adorable-dog-on-a-campervan-holiday-3807458 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Obedient Dogs: These are the 10 breeds of adorable dog that are easy to train without expensive obedience classes - including the loving Labrador Retriever 🐕
These breeds of dog are known to be biddable and eager to please, making them perfect for first-time puppy owners or busy families.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a new puppy over lockdown then you’re not alone – the Kennel Club says the number of people welcoming new dogs into their homes since the start of the pandemic has soared.
But choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
Another thing to take into account is that certain breeds are significantly more difficult to train than others – from walking to heel to toilet training.
So, if you don’t want the extra expense of dog training lessons, or are a first-time dog owner who is nervous about the process, there are several dogs worth putting up at the top of your wish list.
These are the ten dogs that are easiest to train, according to the Kennel Club of America.
For all the latest dog news, pictures, advice and information, join our Scotsdog Facebook group here
Read More: | https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/obedient-dogs-these-are-the-10-breeds-of-adorable-dog-that-are-easy-to-train-without-expensive-obedience-classes-including-the-loving-labrador-retriever-3310178 | 2022-08-16T17:23:37Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/obedient-dogs-these-are-the-10-breeds-of-adorable-dog-that-are-easy-to-train-without-expensive-obedience-classes-including-the-loving-labrador-retriever-3310178 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
James Bollich, a World War II veteran, was honored on his 101 birthday.
Senator Gerald Boudreaux said," During World War II, he survived the Bataan Death March, a 40-month ordeal during which the Imperial Japanese army forcibly transferred thousands of prisoners of war to camps in the Philippines. I had the opportunity to present Mr. Bollich with several commendations from the local, state, and national governments."
The presentation was followed by a drive-thru birthday celebration. | https://www.katc.com/news/around-acadiana/world-war-ii-veteran-honored-on-101-birthday | 2022-08-16T17:24:11Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/around-acadiana/world-war-ii-veteran-honored-on-101-birthday | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LAFAYETTE, La. — "Good morning! Thank you all for being here. It's absolutely great to be back with you here in Lafayette. I will address some of the lingering questions you have all had over the last few weeks."
Those were the first words—spoken at Monday morning press conference at the Lafayette Consolidated Government Building-- heard from Lafayette Mayor Josh Guillory in just over three weeks. But after addressing the challenges of his battles with alcohol and PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome), Lafayette Mayor Josh Guillory almost immediately laid down the gauntlet and defended his record.
"When I returned home,” Guillory began, “I wasn't surprised to see attacks in the media; I get it, we have done things differently in our administration. Our processes have not been status quo, and for good reason: The old way of doing things was inefficient, and full of crippling bureaucracy."
The floor opened to questions, and I asked the mayor if he could understand why some in our community might wonder how he could be fully vested in his 21-day stint in rehab, yet at the same time, still be available to essentially run the city.
“Sure, absolutely, it’s different,” said Guillory. “In the past, a lot of times, people kind of cover this stuff up. Do it in the dark of night and make some excuse to why you’re not at council meetings and things like that, you know we’ve always been transparent. When you open up the hood, sometimes it’s a little messy under there. But I am human. I will say though, Scott, that every treatment is different, every person is different, I just trust the experts and am thankful for ‘em.”
Basically, that question wasn’t answered. The same is true when a respected veteran newspaper reporter asked why Guillory didn’t simply follow the charter and hand over the reins of power to members of the City Council. “Look, the people elected me, elected my powers, elected my thoughts and ideas, and the administration is there to carry out those thoughts and ideas. 21 days not a long time, and folks deserve those initiatives to go forward.” Again, no real answer to the question.
The mayor did, however, suggest to those who oppose him or disagree with him to visit his office. “If you want to work with me, in good faith, and bring contributions toward our efforts to continue to make Lafayette a premier destination in the state of Louisiana, my door is always open.”
And as to why the mayor was so willing to meet with the media and discuss his rehab on his first day back at work? “Look, I feel like I have a mission, and part of the sobriety effort is to help other folks in this situation, and that’s why I appreciate you guys being here. It’s important that we talk about this.”
“Anybody that knows me,” added Guillory, “from when I started my office to whatever I do—these guys (he said acknowledging members of his staff who were in the room) are all familiar with it—everything must be lawful and ethical. Everything must be lawful and ethical.”
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Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers | https://www.katc.com/news/guillory-returns-to-work | 2022-08-16T17:24:23Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/guillory-returns-to-work | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Dermatologist Dr. Fayne Frey doesn't believe people have to spend a lot of money to take care of their skin.
"There's no correlation between how much you pay and whether the product works," Frey said.
Dr. Frey is about to release a book, "The Skincare Hoax: How You’re Being Tricked into Buying Lotions, Potions & Wrinkle Cream."
"I primarily treat skin cancer, but as a student of chemistry for many, many years, skincare formulations, skincare ingredients, I became very interested in over-the-counter skincare products," Frey said.
She says the high cost of many skincare products is due to marketing.
"Anti-aging is the biggest myth, in my opinion," Dr. Frey said. "Anti-aging is a brilliant marketing term. Why? Science hasn't found a single ingredient, a single product that can reverse the aging process."
She says that by law, skin products cannot change the function of your skin. When it comes to taking care of your skin, Dr. Frey says it's more simple than many realize.
"Healthy skin in a healthy individual mimics a healthy body," Dr. Frey said. "And this isn't the sexy answer everybody wants. But healthy skin, again, mimics healthy life. And we know that it requires a good night's sleep, a healthy diet, regular exercise."
Ria Kim has been researching and working for years to have healthy skin.
"I think I've been trying skincare products for almost like since I was maybe 13, so almost ten years now," Kim said.
Kim is very passionate about skincare.
"I had pretty bad cystic acne all the way through the beginning of college," Kim said. "And it was really stressful and I just wanted to do anything to fix my skin. So I did a lot of research. I tried anything and everything that was within a high school budget."
Every day, she says she cleanses her face, hydrates it, and protects it from sun damage. Kim says sunscreen is one of the most important skincare products. Dr. Frey agrees. She says sunscreen and a moisturizer are the two essential skincare products to consider. In terms of cleaning your face, she says all you really need is water.
"I actually surveyed about 500 women and half of them, remember these are women with healthy skin, half of them only used water," Frey said.
However, if you wear oil-based makeup instead of water-based, Dr. Frey says you may want to consider a cleanser.
Kim says her trick is buying in bulk from Korea.
"With such like a high standard in Asia for these products, there is so much competition and that lowers the prices," Kim said.
When it comes down to it, you don't need to be that savvy of a skincare shopper. Frey says cheaper products may work just as well, if not better, than the expensive products. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/dermatologist-busting-myths-to-help-save-people-money-on-skincare | 2022-08-16T17:24:29Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/dermatologist-busting-myths-to-help-save-people-money-on-skincare | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Head In The Clouds Festival, which returns to Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Aug. 20 and 21, just released set times for both days.
The festival, created by the 88rising record label, celebrates Asian pop music made by Asian artists from both the United States and around the world.
This year’s headliners include such artists as the Indonesian singer NIKI, an 88rising artist who played her own set at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio back in April, and Jackson Wang, a Chinese singer also known for his work as a fashion designer, who was part of an 88rising showcase at the desert festival this year too.
Here’s how the two days will unfold across the festival’s three stages: the 88rising main stage, the Double Happiness second stage and the Club Year Of Dance Tent.
Saturday
88rising Stage
3:25-3:45 p.m. Hojean
4:15-4:45 p.m. Milli
5:10-5:55 p.m. Dabin
6:20-6:50 p.m. Chung Ha
7-7:10 p.m. Kinjaz
7:35-8:15 p.m. Jay Park
8:45-9:35 p.m. Yebi Labs with a Joji DJ set
10:05-10:55 Niki
Double Happiness Stage
1:30-3:10 p.m. DJ Triple XL
3:10-3:35 p.m. 1NOnly
4-4:30 p.m. Shotta Spence
4:45-5:30 p.m. Boylife oylife
5:55-6:30 p.m. Thuy
7:10-7:45 p.m. Audrey Nuna + Deb Never,
8:10-8:45 p.m. Yeek
9:35-10:05 p.m. MXMToon
Club Year Of Dance Tent
3-5 p.m. B
5:15-6:45 p.m. Hu Dat
7-8:30 p.m. Camgirl
8:45-10 p.m. Surprise Guest
Sunday
88rising Stage
2:45-3:05 p.m. Ylona Garcia
3:25-3:55 P.M. Atarashii Gakko!
4:15-4:45 p.m. Warren Hue & Chasu
5:05-5:35 p.m. Bibi
6-6:35 p.m. EAJ
7-7:50 p.m. Rich Brian
8:20-9:10 p.m. Jackson Wang
9:30 p.m. Finale
Double Happiness Stage
1:30-3:05 p.m. DJ C01
3:05-3:45 p.m. No Rome
3:55-4:20 p.m. Stephanie Poetri
4:40-5:10 p.m. Dumbfoundead
5:35-6:15 p.m. Lastlings
6:40-7:10 p.m. Raveena
7:35-8:10 p.m. Teriyaki Boyz
Club Year Of Dance Tent
3-5 p.m. Jackjack
5:15-6:45 p.m. Venessa Michaels
7-8:15 p.m. Surprise Guest
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Changing work patterns bring huge challenges - Caroline Donaldson
Many of us are now working on a hybrid basis, partly from home and partly in the office. I am aware of a variety of hybrid working approaches. Regardless of the working model adopted, I am hearing from both my clients that I am coaching and the coaches that I am supervising that the leaders of organisations are struggling. The psychological stamina and emotional resilience needed now is a tall order after the pandemic.
I met a CEO recently at one of our female networking events and she is taking a sabbatical as the strain over the last two years has taken its toll. She told me her challenges include feeling isolated, exhausted and lonely at the top, having few people to share it with and keeping motivated when the workforce don’t want to come back into the office. At this face to face event, she felt a huge contrast, thanks to being connected in person and having the opportunity to chat in person with enthusiastic people.
Another business leader client told me the joy had gone out of her work. She was feeling de-motivated and flat. Her people are not enthusiastic, reluctant to come into the office, much preferring to stay working from home and not engaging. She is finding it hugely challenging. Our conversations focus on her leadership role in aligning her team with the purpose of their work, to help re-ignite them – and herself!
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We are in a dilemma and a period of huge change; we are working harder at the connections that are not physical as people want to work less in the office but no one gets a kick from yet another virtual “happy hour”! We know from neuroscience how the lack of engaging “in person” impacts on our energy, positivity and creativity. In-person connections are essential to establish a baseline level of trust and understanding between two or more people, especially early on in a relationship, and help build stronger and more meaningful social bonds. You don’t get to notice the subtle changes in facial expressions, vocal inflections, hand gestures, and eye contact that convey meaning and help ensure our messages are not misunderstood; up to 85 per cent of communication is nonverbal and this is missed in the virtual world.
I know from my supervision that other coaches are experiencing this with their clients. Our conversations focus on personal resilience and how vital our psychological stamina is. Psychological stamina rests on more deep-seated emotional patterns shaped by our individual needs, histories, and experiences. Stamina is required because, frankly, what we are going through is not particularly exciting. People report feeling bored, disconnected, and anxious. This requires perseverance, endurance, and even defiance against the randomness, gloom, and burden of the pandemic and the economic reality.
Cultivating resilience requires some emotional rewiring and calls for a different kind of appeal to team members and colleagues. The essential task is to identify your biggest challenges over the next year and then tap into the psychological stamina you and your team needs to get there. This could involve in-person team sessions, group engagement, check-in and listening sessions, and maybe even finding the right coach to help you stimulate the positive energy you need to make it happen.
Caroline Donaldson is Director of Kynesis Coaching, www.kynesis.co.uk
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/changing-work-patterns-bring-huge-challenges-caroline-donaldson-3806796 | 2022-08-16T17:24:36Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/changing-work-patterns-bring-huge-challenges-caroline-donaldson-3806796 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
'It's going to be a great year:' Area schools begin to welcome students back
MASSILLON – About 430 juniors walked through the doors of RG Drage Tuesday morning. It was the first day of class for the students as they prepared to embark on their first year of career technical training.
They were among hundreds of students closing the chapter on their summer vacations and heading back to the classroom across Stark County.
Back to school:Some Stark area school districts adding cameras to catch motorists passing buses illegally
During the next few days, more school bells will ring as districts begin the 2022-23 school year.
Drage will welcome about 400 more seniors on Wednesday. Director Dan Murphy said this is the largest enrollment the school has seen. Its numbers have been on a steady rise for the past four or five years.
"I think they realize it is a great opportunity," Murphy said. "Every program earns them college credits and it's a seamless transition into college or the workforce."
He credits his staff and the great job they do with helping with recruiting and retaining students.
"It's exciting to have a new group of kids coming in," Murphy added. "It's going to be a great year."
This is the first year since the pandemic, that students are seeing a "more normal" year without COVID-19 restrictions, including masks.
Schools are following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health agency recommendations.
While masks are not required at Drage, Murphy said any student or staff member is welcome to wear a mask.
More:New Perry elementary schools to feature art, railroad and agriculture themes
On Tuesday, Jackson Local Schools also started the new school year.
"We are always excited to welcome our nearly 6,000 students back to for another school year and today was the first step in that journey," Jackson Superintendent Chris DiLoreto said. "Our employees have been diligently working to make sure we get the 2022-2023 school year off to a great start and we are fortunate to have so many caring employees to contribute to making that a reality. We look forward to partnering with our parents to make this a great school year at Jackson.”
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.
On Twitter: @aknappINDE
First day of school by district
Here's a look at when Stark County-area students return to school:
Alliance City Schools
Thursday: Grades 1, 2, 4, 6
Friday: Grades 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
Aug. 23: Preschool, kindergarten, Parkway Learning and Development Center
Brown Local Schools
Wednesday: Grades 1-12
Thursday and Friday: Kindergarten (as assigned)
Monday: All kindergarten
Canton City Schools
Tuesday: Grades 4, 7 and Early College Grade 9
Wednesday: Grades 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8; McKinley High School Grade 9 and Early College grades 10, 11 and seniors with high school courses
Thursday: McKinley grades 10, 11 and 12 and Early College grade 12
Aug. 23: Kindergarten and preschool
AIM Academy students began on July 27.
Canton Local Schools
Tuesday: Grades 1-9
Wednesday: Grades 10-12, preschool
Friday: Kindergarten
Carrollton Exempted Village Schools
Thursday: Grades 1-12
Aug. 26: Kindergarten
Dalton Local Schools
Monday: Grades 1-12
Aug. 24: Kindergarten
Fairless Local Schools
Wednesday: Grades 1-6, 9; kindergarten (as assigned)
Thursday: Grades 7-8, 10-12; kindergarten (as assigned)
Friday: Kindergarten (as assigned)
Monday: All kindergarten
Green Local Schools
Wednesday: Grades K-12
Jackson Local Schools
Tuesday: Grades K-12
Lake Local Schools
Tuesday: Grades 1, 3-9 and grade 2 with last names A-L
Wednesday: Grades 10-12 and grade 2 with last names M-Z
Monday: Kindergarteners (last names A-L)
Aug. 23: Kindergarteners (last names M-Z)
Louisville City Schools
Wednesday: Grades 1-6 and 9
Thursday: Grades 7-8, 10-12 and kindergartners attending on "A" days
Friday: Kindergarteners attending on "B" days
Marlington Local Schools
Sept. 6: Grades 1-12
Sept. 6-7: Kindergarten (as assigned)
Sept. 8: All kindergarten
Massillon City Schools
Thursday: Grades 1-12
Kindergartners will be notified of their start date.
Minerva Local Schools
Wednesday: Grades 1-12
Friday: Kindergarten
North Canton City Schools
Friday: Grades 1-3, 6 and 9
Monday: Grades 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
Aug. 24: Preschool
Aug. 25: Kindergarten
Northwest Local Schools
Tuesday: Northwest Primary (last name A-L); Stinson Elementary (as assigned); Grades 6 and 9
Wednesday: Northwest Primary (last name M-Z); Stinson Elementary (as assigned); all middle school and high school
Osnaburg Local Schools
Wednesday: Grades 1-12
Thursday and Friday: Kindergarteners (as assigned)
Perry Local Schools
Wednesday: Grades 1-5, 7-9
Thursday: Grades 6, 10-12
Aug. 22-25: Kindergarten (as assigned)
Aug. 26: All kindergarten
Plain Local Schools
Friday: Grades 5,7 and 9
Monday: Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12
Aug. 25: Kindergarten (last names A-L)
Aug. 26: Kindergarten (last names M-Z)
R.G. Drage Career & Technical Center
Tuesday: Juniors
Wednesday: Seniors
Sandy Valley Local Schools
Tuesday: Grades 6 and 9
Wednesday: Grades 1-5, 7-8, 10-12
Kindergarteners will be notified of their start date.
Sebring Local Schools
Thursday: K-12
Tuslaw Local Schools
Wednesday: Grades 1-12
Monday: Kindergarten (last names A-L)
Aug. 23: Kindergarten (last names M-Z)
Sept. 7: Grades 1-12 | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/16/stark-students-begin-return-to-classroom/65404932007/ | 2022-08-16T17:24:41Z | eonline.com | treatment | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/16/stark-students-begin-return-to-classroom/65404932007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Girl Scouts of the USA unveiled a new cookie Tuesday that is set to join its lineup for the 2023 Girl Scout cookie season.
In a press release, the Girl Scouts described the Raspberry Rally cookie as a thin, crispy cookie that is a "sister" cookie to the beloved Thin Mints.
The group said the new cookie will still be dipped in the same chocolate coating, but instead of mint, the new cookie will be infused with a raspberry flavor.
According to the Girl Scouts, the annual cookie season happens nationwide between January and April, but local timing varies, as some groups could begin selling cookies sooner.
Consumers can check the group's website for more information to see when the cookie will be available in their area. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/girl-scouts-unveil-new-cookie-inspired-by-thin-mint-raspberry-rally | 2022-08-16T17:24:41Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/girl-scouts-unveil-new-cookie-inspired-by-thin-mint-raspberry-rally | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
What's new at the Mu? Tiger-Striped Ice Cream Night set Aug. 17
The Massillon Museum will celebrate the beginning of the 2022 Massillon Tiger football season with free orange-and-black ice cream following the Tiger Kickoff Pep Rally at Duncan Plaza on Aug. 17. Tiger-Striped Ice Cream Night, co-hosted by the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club and the Massillon Museum, has become part of Massillon’s football tradition.
Highlights
IGHLIGHTS
Dr. Charles Paquelet of the Booster Club started the tradition when he worked with Handel’s Ice Cream prior to the 2004 football season. An orange-and-black-marbled treat was created to serve after the annual pep rally. Handel’s donates the cones for the event.
Prior to the rally, Tiger fans can attend the unveiling of a bronze Obie statue at First Street and Lincoln Way East near the football mural. MassMu Events and Volunteer Coordinator Rose Milnes suggests having dinner downtown to make a complete evening of the festivities.
Why you should attend
The Massillon Museum said in a news release that it is proud to partner with the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club. The Paul Brown Museum is open during regular museum hours from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Like the rest of the Massillon Museum, admission to the Paul Brown Museum is free. Visitors can currently see the “Carry On: A Century of Swing" exhibition and the Paul Brown/Massillon Tiger Football History Timeline.
The Massillon Museum is proud to partner with the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club. The Paul Brown Museum is open during regular Museum hours Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 and Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Like the rest of the Massillon Museum, admission to the Paul Brown Museum is free. Visitors can currently see the “Carry On”: A Century of Swing exhibition and the Paul Brown/Massillon Tiger Football History Timeline.
More information
What: MassMu Tiger-Striped Ice Cream Night
What: MassMu Tiger-Striped Ice Cream Night
When: Aug. 17, immediately following the pep rally
Where: Massillon Museum Lawn
More: massillonmuseum.org or 330-833-4061 | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/15/whats-new-at-the-mu-tiger-striped-ice-cream-night-set-aug-17/65396193007/ | 2022-08-16T17:24:47Z | eonline.com | treatment | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/15/whats-new-at-the-mu-tiger-striped-ice-cream-night-set-aug-17/65396193007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Narrow vote upholds funds for Duncan Plaza restrooms, upgrades at 'Getz Building'
MASSILLON – A new restroom facility near Duncan Plaza is back on the table for the city's Court Services Building.
City Council voted 5-4 Monday night to defeat a proposal aimed at defunding a 2021 ordinance that dedicated $250,000 to upgrade the building, 54 City Hall St. SE, also known as the "Getz Building," making it handicap accessible.
Councilman Ed Lewis, R-at large, said the citizens of Massillon deserve adequate restrooms for Duncan Plaza, rather than the temporary, mobile facilities provided per event.
Judge Elum's building upgrades approvedTesty exchanges during a special meeting of Massillon City Council did lead to some resolution related to Getz Building
"To me, this is a last-ditch effort by some to kill an already approved project," Lewis said prior to the vote.
The building is adjacent to the plaza and Massillon Government & Justice Center. It's formerly the city's police dispatching center.
Councilmen Jim Thieret, R-Ward 2, and Jamie Slutz, R-at large, were sponsors of the proposal voted down Monday.
The Duncan Plaza $1.394 million renovation project competed in spring 2021 should have included restrooms, Thieret argued, adding that going forward with an overhaul of the Getz Building would be "foolish and destructive."
Councilman Ted Herncane, D-at large, who was against the restroom effort, said much of the pitch to move forward with the project seemed deceptive.
"The (handicap accessible) argument has been used as a mask to spend $250,000 on restrooms to be used (a few) times a year," he said.
Most Massillon residents speak Monday in favor of plaza restrooms
About a dozen people spoke at Monday's council meeting, a majority of them favoring the restroom project for Duncan Plaza. Comments from the public took up the first 30 minutes of the meeting. Council debated the issue later for nearly another half-hour.
"This will be (restroom) access for everyone. I think it's the right thing to do for our residents and guests," said Gary Miller.
Hannah Burnworth, a mother of a special needs son, said improving the restroom situation would help individuals with disabilities get out in public.
"Your thoughts and consideration (on the issue) are appreciated," she told City Council.
Redesigned Duncan Plaza start of renaissance for downtown Massillon
Since last year, the city has been providing mobile restroom units for public events held on Duncan Plaza. Attendees also are able to utilize the restroom inside Police Department lobby.
Jason Hout said the plaza should have adequate restrooms for public use. But does the city really need to spend $250,000?
"I think most of our (city) public restrooms are closed due to vandalism," said Hout, who spoke against the project.
The bulk of the $250,000 upgrade effort is to provide handicapped-accessible restrooms in the back, garage section of the Getz Building. Federal Community Development Block Grant dollars via COVID-19 relief were appropriated in early 2021. About $40,000 has already been spent for design and engineering.
More:Getz Building used as backup city courtroom
Earlier this summer, City Council appropriated more than $48,000 of improvements to the facility, as ordered by Municipal Judge Edward Elum. The work included electrical service, new ceiling panels and wall and floor renovations.
Elum and Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry have been at odds on how building improvements should be handled.
About the 'Getz Building' in Massillon
The 2,960-square-foot Court Services Building serves as an emergency location for Massillon Municipal Court, as well as a hub for a main city computer server. It was built in 1967.
The building was named for Ivan A. Getz, a longtime city electrician.
The single-story, brick building is also used as a community room for local government agencies, including probate and municipal court and emergency management meetings.
It acts as a meeting spot for local organizations, such as the Massillon Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, a satellite Stark County Public Defender’s Office, Adult Probation & Parole Office and Veterans Service Commission.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/16/massillon-council-moves-forward-with-restroom-work-near-duncan-plaza/65399872007/ | 2022-08-16T17:24:53Z | eonline.com | treatment | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/16/massillon-council-moves-forward-with-restroom-work-near-duncan-plaza/65399872007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
'Fabulous gift.' 8-foot bronze Obie statue placed in new home in downtown Massillon
MASSILLON ‒ A crane operator from Berens Tree Service and a worker from Coopermill Bronze Works worked together Monday morning to maneuver the highly-anticipated bronze Obie statue into place along Lincoln Way.
The 1,000-pound, 8-foot sculpture of the Tigers' beloved mascot will be formally unveiled Wednesday night after the annual kickoff pep rally in Duncan Plaza. The Tiger growl begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the rally at 7. The unveiling of the statue will follow. Guests are then invited to the Massillon Museum lawn for a free scoop of Tiger Stripe ice cream.
Tiger fans can meet the football team, cheerleaders and senior members of the Tiger Swing Band as they prepare for the season opener at 7 p.m. Friday against Archbishop Moeller at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
The Obie statue, through a donation from an anonymous benefactor, was created by Zanesville artist Alan Cottrill. It features the mascot wearing a letter "M" on his sweater, a football helmet and carrying a football in his left arm while his left leg is extended and his tail dances behind.
How was the new Obie statue created?
The funding for the project was donated to the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club to create and construct the larger-than-life piece.
"I'm excited for the citizens of Massillon to have something that gravitates the community to one common admiration for what most people perceive as the city's mascot," school board member John Paquelet said. "It's a highly recognized high school mascot throughout the country. It's great to be able to memorialize it for all people to see."
Obie:Massillon Tigers' beloved mascot cast in bronze as work on statue continues
A small crowd gathered Monday to watch the installation. On hand were Paquelet and his father, Dr. Charles Paquelet, a 1952 Washington High School alum, who has helped spearhead the project for the booster club.
"It's better than what I imagined," the elder Paquelet said as the statue was lifted into place at Lincoln Way E and First Street NE next to Benders. The backdrop will be the mural created by Eric Groh in 1997. The "Century of Heroes" mural showcases the history and traditions of Massillon Tiger football. A 4-foot wall is expected to be built behind the statue.
Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry also joined the crowd.
"I love it," she said. "It's a beautiful, wonderful, fabulous gift to the city."
Paquelet said his son and several others, including Jean Morris, owner of Studer's Signs, have followed the process of developing the statue from start to finish.
The effort began earlier this year when Cottrill created a miniature version and proceeded to create a life-size clay model. Tweaks were made to arrive at the final image. Over the past few weeks bronze was poured into about 50 pieces that were welded together. On Friday, a patina was added to create the orange and brown stripes.
Statue:Proposed new Obie statue in Massillon moves closer to reality
"Everyone who saw it thinks it's terrific," John Paquelet said. "It's classy. Not too big. Not too small. I think it is perfect."
From the start of the project, the artist wanted the statue to be a part of the town. Interactive artwork fans could pose with and take pictures and touch.
"He didn't want it put on a pedestal behind a fence," Paquelet said. "Think about after games when the team comes downtown. This is going to be a central intersection where everything will gravitate to going forward. It's good for the community and it ehances the things the (city) did to enhance downtown."
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.
On Twitter: @aknappINDE | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/16/tiger-fans-to-get-first-look-of-obie-statue-during-annal-pep-rally/65397234007/ | 2022-08-16T17:24:59Z | eonline.com | treatment | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/16/tiger-fans-to-get-first-look-of-obie-statue-during-annal-pep-rally/65397234007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Scotland has become the first country in the world to provide period products, like tampons and sanitary pads, free of charge.
CNN reported that it was made possible after the Period Products Act was passed by Scottish lawmakers unanimously in November 2020.
According to Scottish Parliament's website, the new law states that schools, colleges, and universities must make a range of period products available for free in their bathrooms.
"The Scottish Government will have the power to make other public bodies provide period products for free," Parliament's website said.
The bill's author, Monica Lennon, said she introduced the bill to tackle "period poverty," when those in need of period products struggle to afford them.
“Proud of what we have achieved in Scotland,” Lennon said on Twitter. “We are the first but won’t be the last.”
Proud of what we have achieved in Scotland. We are the first but won’t be the last. 🏴🩸🙌#PeriodDignity #FreePeriodProducts #MenstrualJustice follow @Period_Poverty for updates. https://t.co/8bFTML3MkK
— Monica Lennon MSP (@MonicaLennon7) August 15, 2022
According to the Associated Press, the law went into effect on Monday. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/scotland-becomes-first-country-to-make-period-products-free-of-charge | 2022-08-16T17:24:59Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/scotland-becomes-first-country-to-make-period-products-free-of-charge | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On the loose: Efforts continue to capture wallaby hopping around Stark County
BREWSTER – A wallaby spotted around southwestern Stark County for nearly a week remains on the loose.
Authorities searching for the creature have set a cage trap in hopes of catching it alive.
Wallaby related:Wallaby on the loose in Brewster area
Brewster Police Chief Nathan Taylor said Monday night that Noah's Lost Ark Animal Sanctuary, of Berlin Center, is assisting in the effort. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recommended the village work with the sanctuary.
"I can't stress enough (for people) to stay away, and don't try to hunt it," the chief said. "Let us do (the job), and get him safely to the place where he belongs."
A kangaroo is not on the loose in Canton or Stark County
Wallabies are native to Australia and can be misidentified as a kangaroo. While the two animals are related, a wallaby is somewhat smaller. Officials are uncertain who owns the animal.
With the help of the sanctuary personnel, authorities have learned more about the wallaby, which consumes grass and fruit.
There are a number of breeders in Northeast Ohio, and many are kept as pets, Taylor said. No one has come forward to claim the wallaby.
Wallaby breeders are required to have a permit, said Taylor, adding that there's no license required to own one as a pet.
"There are a lot more wallabies in the area than I ever dreamed of," he said.
No reported southwest Stark sightings of wallaby Monday
There were no reported sightings on Monday around Brewster, according to Taylor, who said some species of wallabies are nocturnal. The animal has been seen mainly between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
An infrared drone on loan from the Wooster Township Fire Department has been used in the search search. Taylor said movements have been witnessed, but none have resulted in apprehending the animal.
Taylor urged residents not approach the animal if seen. Instead, call the Brewster Police Department via the dispatch line at 330-830-4272.
Akron Zoo official: Loose wallaby may not survive winter
According to Shane Good, senior director of animal care at the Akron Zoo, the wallaby's survival isn't likely to extend beyond winter, mainly due to road traffic, a declining plant-based food source and chance of being snatched by a fox, coyote or dog.
"Long-term survival is very limited. At a zoo, wallabies are fed vitamins," said Good, who has worked with wallabies and kangaroos for about 20 years at multiple Ohio zoos. "They won't get that (nourishment) in the wild. The chance of it getting to winter is going to be a challenge for this animal."
The Akron Zoo does not house wallabies and kangaroos.
Wallabies primarily weigh around 30-to-40 pounds, some reaching a height of 3 feet, said Good. The animals are faster than humans but slower than deer.
"Think of it as a deer in that it will run away from people," said Good, who advised people to not approach the animal. "They don't pose a serious threat to humans or pets. They do have a strong kick and bite."
Brewster area man spots wallaby on camera used for deer tracking
In recent days, the wallaby has been spotted by multiple residents. Dan Nofsinger was surprised to see an online video of one crossing state Route 93.
Nofsinger realized the animal was near the region where he hunts on his family's farm. He was curious if his camera had caught the animal on video. It did.
"I thought what are the chances?" Nofsinger said. "It showed up multiple times."
The wallaby has been seen on his deer camera as early as 6 a.m. Saturday and more recently around sunrise Sunday morning.
"There are so many deep fields and spaces here he can duck into."
Independent Reporters Amy Knapp and Steven Grazier contributed to this report.
Reach Amy at amy.knapp@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @aknappINDE
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/16/wallaby-search-continues-near-brewster-state-route-93/65404450007/ | 2022-08-16T17:25:05Z | eonline.com | treatment | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/16/wallaby-search-continues-near-brewster-state-route-93/65404450007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CHICAGO — Colette Hurd calls herself "Collette 2.0" after successfully undergoing a groundbreaking lung and kidney transplant.
According to Northwestern Medicine, Hurd was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2020, a rare disease that weakens the heart and lungs.
A year after her diagnosis, Hurd's lungs were reportedly failing and she was considered for a double-lung transplant, but she also needed a kidney transplant as her body began to deteriorate.
Northwest Medicine says Hurd was placed on the transplant list. However, due to a blood condition, it was difficult for doctors to find a match for Hurd.
The transplant team decided to take a chance and accept organs that were not the right match, but treat her blood so her body wouldn't reject the new organs.
The surgery was a success.
“Transplant is such a young field that we’re still learning what the boundaries are,” said Dr. Satish Nadig, chief of organ transplantation at Northwestern Medicine, who performed Hurd’s kidney transplant. “With Colette’s case, our transplant team was able to push that boundary, immunologically speaking, even further to the benefit of those requiring life-saving organs globally.”
Northwestern Medicine said the treatment had previously only been utilized in Toronto for lung transplant patients.
"It’s very uncommon," said Dr. Rade Tomic, medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Lung Transplant Program.
Hurd was discharged from the hospital in August, following a 15-month stay.
"I have a second chance at life,” she said. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/woman-successfully-receives-crossmatch-lung-and-kidney-transplant | 2022-08-16T17:25:05Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/woman-successfully-receives-crossmatch-lung-and-kidney-transplant | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tigers fans: Get you 'whiteout' T for season opener
MASSILLON ‒ The Washington High School DECA marketing class is selling T-shirts to create a "whiteout" during the Tigers home opener Frirday against Cincinnati Moeller at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
The white shirt features the Obie logo and slogan "WE ARE ONE" to represent students, alumni and community.
Shirts are $12 and are available in youth small to XL. Add $2 for sizes XXL and larger.
The shirts can be purchased at the Tiger kickoff rally tonight and through the DECA Marketing Tiger School Store.
To order shirts, call 330-830-3901 ext. 51409, email crichards@massillonschools.org or at the high school main entrance, 1 Paul Brown Drive SE.
Checks should be made payable to the Massillon Board of Education.
DECA students use the T-shirt project for a competition later in the year. The marketing students design the T-shirts, plan a marketing strategy and carry out the sale of the shirts. | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/16/washington-high-deca-creates-whiteout-shirt-for-tigers-season-opener/65404354007/ | 2022-08-16T17:25:11Z | eonline.com | treatment | https://www.indeonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/16/washington-high-deca-creates-whiteout-shirt-for-tigers-season-opener/65404354007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Celebrity Cruises is a happy medium between a floating Six Flags and a Waldorf-Astoria at sea.
Not too young, not too old. Not too wild, not too calm. And from a cost perspective, not too chintzy, not too extravagant. Said another way, if cruise lines were department stores, Celebrity would be Nordstrom compared with Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean’s mainstream-class Macy’s, or Azamara, Oceania and Windstar’s luxury-class Saks Fifth Avenue, or Seabourn, Silversea and Regent Seven Seas’ ultra-luxury-class Le Bon Marché. (I’ve never been to that one, either.)
Celebrity, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group, is within the premium cruise category that includes Holland America, Princess and Cunard. Each of these lines has a distinctive personality, and a few things that separate Celebrity from most of its class mates are onboard activities that actually involve sweating and cheering, a spicy late-night comedian and a main dining room with service and food on par with upcharged specialty restaurants. Depending on the time of year and itinerary, cruises on Celebrity also seem to have the desirable ratio of adults versus children for grown-ups, generally in their 50s, who want at least a few tikes running around their vacation rental of a few days or longer. Mexican Riviera cruises tend to skew younger than sails to Alaska, for example.
Speaking of which, with mostly seven-night voyages starting in late September, Celebrity will offer itineraries to the fun and sun destination of Mexican Riviera for the first time in 15 years. The upcoming season also marks the first time Celebrity Solstice will be homeported in Southern California, taking as many as 2,852 of the fully vaccinated to such Pacific ports as Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Ensenada and Catalina Island from San Pedro’s World Cruise Center.
Ahead of Solstice’s Sept. 24 arrival to the Port of Los Angeles, marking the first of any Celebrity ship there since the pandemic, we paid a week’s visit to the oldest of its namesake, five-ship class on an Alaskan sail out of Seattle. Happy to report, the German-built luxury liner with high nautical mileage looks and functions great after 14 years. Even with postponement of a dry-dock refurbishment that had been scheduled for last October, the ship, one of 15 in Celebrity’s fleet, is a beauty. The cruise line promises that Solstice will look even spiffier over the next several months; a “full soft goods refurbishment” is underway with installation of new carpets, curtains and furnishings stealthily being done between and during sails.
What’s cooking?
Since a flavor-filled journey is what many passengers want out of a sea cruise, let’s start with the food. The most pleasant and tasty surprise was the consistent quality of dishes coming out of the main dining room galley — the best in my 11 cruises taken since COVID-19. No supply chain or labor issues under the watch of Executive Chef Manish Naik. Plates were brought to the table as ordered, at the right temperature and, with few exceptions, comparable to what usually costs extra at specialty restaurants. Sublime was the prime rib on the fourth night in the Grand Epernay Restaurant, the main dining room for those not booked in Retreat or Aqua class cabins; these bigger spenders have the option of being served in the more exclusive Luminae and Blu dining rooms, respectively.
Eclectic and inviting as the buffet lunches and dinners appeared at the expansive Oceanview Café, most of what was tried leaned toward the mediocre. Hamburgers, pizzas and even ice cream weren’t worth the calories all week, which isn’t a bad thing. Positive exceptions at the buffet were the daily Indian dishes, cold salads and the wunderbar German sausage station near the end of the cruise.
Also on the plus side were the ship’s four specialty restaurants. No disrespect to the à la carte Sushi on Five, which makes a mean sunset roll and barbecue pork ramen bowl, but it’s a tossup choosing the favorite among French-accented Murano, southern Italian-influenced Tuscan Grille, and Le Petit Chef, where augmented reality meets luxury cuisine.
Murano is the most elegant dining experience onboard with impeccable service to match. Yet even with all the fancy-schmancy touches that include three entrees being prepared tableside — all winners are the lobster, chateaubriand and Dover sole — the stately bistro has zero pretentiousness. The savory scallop Wellington and lobster bisque starters plus some amazing desserts are worth the $60 per person and 18% gratuity upcharge. If you really want to splurge, opt for the five-course gastronomic and wine tour for $107.
After being disappointed by dozens of specialty Italian restaurants no better than Olive Garden, how nice it is to recommend Tuscan Grille ($55 per person plus 18% gratuity). Located on deck 5 like the other upcharging dining options, the oregano-dusted steakhouse has killer beef and veal meatballs, lobster rigatoni alfredo, tiramisu and something else its sister eateries don’t have: an incomparable romantic view. Dining at the stern often comes with distracting noise and vibrations from the rumble of the engines, but not on Solstice. That’s impressive for an older ship.
Next door, Le Petit Chef proves that gimmicky restaurants don’t always sacrifice on food. The concept of having an animated little chef making a rendering of each course directly on your table, followed by the real thing, is adorable and TikTok worthy. Dual menus that change every two days have themes that yield thrills, laughs and even a tear or two. The two-hour, 4-D experience can be enjoyed at top restaurants around the world, but at sea it’s a Celebrity exclusive. The upcharge of $60 per person plus 18% gratuity is a steal when you consider that when Le Petit Chef was at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles from February to May this year, the price per head was $145.
Putting down the knife and fork
On a ship that prepares 13,000 meals a day and boils 1,700 tails on lobster night alone, it’s hard to fathom that there’s more to do on Celebrity Solstice besides eat. In truth, each day offers more than 60 activities, and that doesn’t even include what’s scheduled for youths participating in the Camp at Sea program. Each morning starts with fitness classes and every evening is capped by a DJ-hosted dance party. In between are trivia games, shopping events, casino tournaments, dance and origami classes, wine and martini tastings, spa treatments — and that’s just what goes on indoors. Outdoors, on the fleet’s first Lawn Club with a half-acre of actual grass, are bocce ball contests, movies under the stars and the most serene sunbathing on the ship.
Also outside is the fleet’s first hot glass studio. What sounds like a snore-spawning use of prime real estate on the top deck is actually a hit with crafty passengers; classes, taught individually in 20-minute intervals, regularly sell out. Thrilled to get three coveted spots was Mary Lawson, a former Irvine resident and current Texan who, like her husband and 16-year-old son, spent $120 and braved a 2,100-degree furnace to make a unique and stunning memento from molten glass.
“It’s something wholesome we can do as a family,” said the mom, who is no doubt proudly displaying her jellyfish at home next to hubby’s pumpkin and the son’s equally beautiful heart.
Different artistic talents of professionals are showcased in the bars, lounges and foyer, where the sounds of classical, pop, rock, disco, country, R&B and other genres are heard day and night. Inside the grand 1,113-seat Solstice Theatre are production shows that often feature a live orchestra. The current cast of singers, dancers and aerialists is terrific, as are the shows continuing through Solstice’s season in the Mexican Riviera. “Amade” is an elaborate and provocative musical journey from classical to contemporary; “Rock City” explodes with power ballads; and “Broadway Cabaret” on the final night gives the singers a stage to belt their favorite showtunes.
At press time, Celebrity (www.celebritycruises.com) was offering deep discounts with onboard credit for sails on Solstice. Fares were starting at under $500 per person, taxes and fees included, for seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera.
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Winners announced in Mintlaw garden competition
Mintlaw Communty Council held its garden competition recently – the first since 2019.
This year’s judge was Peter Scott from Peterhead, himself a keen and accomplished gardener who has won many prizes at local flower shows.
It was a particularly difficult task this year as the standard was exceptionally high, but he finally managed to pick the winners.
Taking to prize in the larger gardens section, and the coveted overall winners crown, were Mr and Mrs G. Grant of 1 Station Way. In that category runner-up was Mr E. Low of 2 Aden Gardens, with Mr and Mrs A. Day, Strathbeg, Station Road in third and Mr and Mrs Lawrence of 7 Pitfour Place in fourth.
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Highly commended in the category were Mr and Mrs A. Park of 1 Burnside Road.
Commended were Mrs B. Morrison, 15 Academy Gardens, Mr and Mrs M. Panton, 3 Newton Grange, Mr and Ms M. Michie 23 Newton Grange and Ms. C. Findlay, Hawthorn, Station Road.
The smaller gardens contest was won by Mr S. Grant of 8 Pine View.
Runner-up was Mr J. Marshall of 15 Ferguson Cresent. Mrs J. Watt of 90 Burnside Road was third and Mr I Mundie, 12 Aden Circle in fourth.
Highly commended were Mr and Mrs A. Laird, 5 Newton Grange, Mrs K. Simpson, 23 Aden Gardens and Mr and Mrs D. Whyte, 31 Aden Gardens.
Meanwhile, commended were Mrs K. Thomson, The Neuk, The Square, Mrs S. Strachan, 82 Burnside Road and Mr J. Ritchie, 19 Quarry Road. | https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/winners-announced-in-mintlaw-garden-competition-3807138 | 2022-08-16T17:26:15Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/winners-announced-in-mintlaw-garden-competition-3807138 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tory leadership contest: Scotland has felt like an afterthought, but tonight it will be the focus
The candidates to be the next prime minister have been touring Scotland’s north-east ahead of a hustings for party members in Perth.
Lis Truss visited the BenRiach distillery near Elgin, where she spoke to the media and enjoyed a dram with Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, before heading to an event in Aberdeen.
Rishi Sunak, meanwhile, was due to meet the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation in Stonehaven before travelling up to Cluny Castle and across to the Granite City.
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Senior Tory politicians often choose to visit the north-east. Three of the party’s six Scottish MPs represent constituencies there, after all.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously held press events at RAF Lossiemouth, the Roseisle whisky distillery and, memorably, a rural farm in Aberdeenshire.
The latter took a surreal turn when he told journalists a part of his soul still yearns to believe in the Loch Ness monster.
Today’s visits by Ms Truss and Mr Sunak are largely for party members. Media access is limited, and communication hasn’t been great from either camp.
Helpfully, this paper was only officially told of Ms Truss's midday visit near Elgin – a three hour and 40 minutes' drive from our base in Edinburgh – at 9:32am.
Still, at least she invited newspapers, which is more than can be said for Mr Sunak.
As for the hustings in Perth, what should we expect from the two candidates?
It will be the only opportunity for Scottish Tory members to question them on their respective visions for Scotland.
They say the only certainties in life are death and taxes, but to those you can add a third – Ms Truss will once again describe herself as a “child of the Union”.
She will highlight her childhood in Paisley in the hope it shows she understands and can deliver for Scotland.
Mr Sunak will try to show he gets it too, and that the Union is safer in his hands.
Both candidates have promised greater scrutiny of the Scottish Government if they win the keys to Downing Street.
Both will lay into the SNP’s domestic record.
But both will also have to demonstrate they can move beyond easy soundbites and deliver on the substance.
Scotland has so far felt like a bit of an afterthought. Tonight it will be the focus.
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/tory-leadership-contest-scotland-has-felt-like-an-afterthought-but-tonight-it-will-be-the-focus-3807909 | 2022-08-16T17:26:48Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/tory-leadership-contest-scotland-has-felt-like-an-afterthought-but-tonight-it-will-be-the-focus-3807909 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The 49ers are off to Minnesota, where they’ll have two joint practices against the Vikings ahead of their second preseason game. Since the Niners have the day off Tuesday, let’s make some predictions.
San Francisco cut four players Monday to get down to 86. There’s still one more roster spot to fill. Today, I’ll predict the 53-man roster. Let’s get into it.
Quarterback (2): Trey Lance, Nate Sudfeld
Brock Purdy provides preseason entertainment, but he’ll serve as the practice squad quarterback this season and take over for Sudfeld next year when the veteran is an unrestricted free agent.
That gives Purdy a year to learn the system, put in the work it takes to be a pro, and play scout team quarterback if necessary.
Ideally, Sudfeld doesn’t take a snap all season unless it’s in the final few series of the fourth quarter in a blowout. This year, and hopefully the next decade, will be all about Lance.
Running back (6): Elijah Mitchell, Kyle Juszczyk, Trey Sermon, Jeff Wilson Jr., Ty Davis-Price, Jordan Mason
As tempting as it was to keep Jordan Mason over Wilson Jr., I don’t see Kyle Shanahan keeping a running back room full of first and second-year players along with Juszczyk. But, on the other hand, you run the risk of Mason getting plucked off the practice squad unless Mitchell has to miss time to start the season. So, instead of making the decision an either-or, I’ll keep both.
Would the 49ers keep an extra running back and only five receivers with Mitchell’s injury history? That’s something else to keep an eye on. I believe so, and it comes down to not losing Mason. Because of that, Mason makes the final 53.
JaMycal Hasty had another special teams blunder Friday, which has been par for the course for Hasty as a returner. Unfortunately, the value isn’t there for Hasty to keep on the roster. Mason played 11 special teams snaps Friday, covering kicks and playing on both return teams.
The extra back gives the 49ers flexibility, prevents over usage, and allows each guy to prove themselves as the competition sorts itself out during the year's first half.
Wide receivers (5): Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Danny Gray, Ray-Ray McCloud
Five wideouts might feel light — remember that the head coach was a collegiate wide receiver. Still, thinking big picture, Mason has a better chance of becoming an impact player on this roster than any sixth receiver I’d keep.
Malik Turner would be the final pass-catcher, but his five special teams snaps in Week 1 of the preseason were telling. On offense, Turner caught one pass on two targets for eight yards. He lined up in the slot on one of his 13 routes. He’s more of a 50/50 ball receiver down the field but lacks the explosiveness to run by you.
I’d rather risk losing Turner or one of the other receivers on the practice squad than Mason.
I can’t in good faith say I’d use Turner in any situation over a receiver listed above. Now, if you keep five, they better be pretty damn good. Luckily, that’s the case for the Niners. Let’s start with the All-Pro.
Fret not about the running game. Deebo will get his fair share of carries every game. You don’t see Samuel's success last year and come away thinking, “you know what, let’s give him the ball less.”
If you need a big play, you give your best playmaker the ball. That line of thinking propelled the 49ers to the playoffs and on the brink of another Super Bowl appearance last year. That’s not changing in 2022, especially as you’re breaking in three new interior offensive linemen with a new quarterback.
During Samuel’s initial media availability, after he became a much wealthier man, Samuel said I don’t mind doing whatever it takes for this team to win. Samuel lined up in the backfield on 80 snaps last year. Seventy-four of those came after Week 10. In high-leverage situations — think in the red zone or on third and short situations — the ball will find 19.
Samuel became a running back overnight, and on 59 carries, he averaged 6.2 yards per attempt, with 22% of those going for at least ten yards. Samuel is a natural with the ball. He averaged 4.71 yards after contact, with one-third of his carries going for a first down.
Samuel told Niners Nation he planned on improving his route running during the offseason. But, if training camp is any indication, Brandon Aiyuk is ready to emerge as a star. Jimmie Ward gave his stamp of approval for Aiyuk, saying he’s had the best camp of any player and that he’s taken his game to another level.
Lance has two potential #1 receivers, two speedsters to stretch the field and pick up yards after the catch, and a contested catch receiver he can trust in critical passing downs. The 49ers are set with five wideouts. Any reps a sixth receiver gets is taking away from Danny Gray’s development. No thank you.
Tight ends (3): George Kittle, Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley
I could give you 85 more reasons why five receivers are plenty. Woerner, the team’s number two tight end, should practice this week. He came on strong late last year as a blocker.
Dwelley remains TE3 and will make the roster thanks to his special team’s play. Dwelley didn’t miss any tackles in 69 kick coverage snaps last year. Had he remained healthy, Jordan Matthews would have given Dwelley a run for his money. You hate to see injuries take away an opportunity.
Offensive line: (9): Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, Mike McGlinchey, Jaylon Moore, Jordan Mills, Daniel Brunskill, Nick Zakelj
Nine offensive linemen ensure the 49ers keep their draft picks. Obviously, Burford starts, but Zakelj isn’t ready. Thankfully, he won’t have to be.
Brunskill can play any of the three positions in a pinch, and Moore can play guard or tackle. So the team is protected from any injury twice over.
The hype train for Burford isn’t slowing down any time soon. There will be plays where not even Lance’s athleticism can escape Burford or Banks’s mistakes. Who knows what to expect from Brendel at center.
You’d be irrational if you weren’t somewhat worried about how the interior offensive line would look. Remember, the 49ers stormed back in the second half of the season with journeyman Tom Compton at right tackle and Brunskill at right guard, who has been replaced by a Day 3 pick.
In theory, your tackles, talent at the skill positions, and scheme will be good enough to offset any interior woes.
Defensive line (10): Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Charles Omenihu, Kevin Givens, Hassan Ridgeway, Drake Jackson, Kemoko Turay, Kerry Hyder, Robert Nkemdiche
“Yeah, I want him.”
“I’ll take him, too.”
“Nope, not letting him go.”
That’s how it went when selecting the defensive line.
This is the first time in his career that Arik Armstead will play 17+ games at defensive tackle. Javon Kinlaw is coming off season-ending surgery. Drake Jackson is a late second-round pick. Ten defensive linemen allow Kris Kocurek to preserve his starters for the fourth quarter and, better yet, the end of the season and a playoff run while Jackson can develop at his own pace.
The 49ers will win games this season because of their defensive line. It’d be wise to invest an extra body up front. Hyder gives the team a much-needed veteran presence, while Nkemdiche’s energy and upside are worthy of a flyer.
Linebackers (5): Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Oren Burks, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
This is the most straightforward position on the team. There are three linebackers that would start on every team. Then, the new special teams ace and the hybrid linebacker that can backup either three starters.
Marcelino McCrary Ball had an interception Friday, but that had more to do with Talanoa Hufanga than the linebacker. There are a couple of intriguing young backers on the roster, but they are a year or two away from contributing.
Cornerbacks (5): Charvarius Ward, Emmanuel Moseley, Samuel Womack, Ambry Thomas, Ka’Dar Hollman
Assuming Jason Verrett starts on the PUP list, Hollman has been ahead of Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir all camp. Hollman started over Lenoir Friday. It sounds hollow after Hollman gave up a long touchdown, but he seems like what the team had hoped to get out of Lenoir with Hollman’s size, speed, versatility, and potential.
Thomas is saved by his draftHis draft status saves Thomas for another season. Thomas has underwhelmed since the start of camp. But, to his credit, he came a long way in one season.
Tariq Castro-Fields lands on the practice squad, while Womack earned a starting job in 28 plays. The rookie impressed, but it was a preseason game. This team goes as Ward and Moseley’s health do.
Safeties (5): Jimmie Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum, Tarvarius Moore, Dontae Johnson
A “pretty bad” hamstring isn’t something you brush off for a 31-year-old safety. Moore is the next man up. And as someone who believes the 49ers can get the job done with Moore on the field, you can’t replace Ward.
If Ward misses multiple games, you go from having safeties who were high school teammates and worked off each other in unison to an inexperienced tandem. Ward and Jaquiski Tartt gave up next to nothing deep. That’d be the worry with Hufanga and Moore on the field.
Moore’s speed and Hufanga’s instincts, paired with each’s willingness to tackle, should keep the defense elite when you factor in the nine other players on the field and who is calling the plays.
Special teams (3): Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper
The kicker, punter, and long-snapper remain unchanged from 2021. Gould making a 50+ yard field goal is a great sign, even if it’s the preseason. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/8/16/23307600/49ers-53-man-roster-projection | 2022-08-16T17:27:27Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/8/16/23307600/49ers-53-man-roster-projection | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ESPN NFL analyst Bill Barnwell joined Mina Kimes on the latest episode of The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny to preview the AFC North this coming season. As the duo worked their way through the division, they discussed how San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could fit into the Cleveland Browns' plans this season.
The Browns are expected by many to be trying to acquire a quarterback before the start of the regular season. The Browns' current starter Deshaun Watson is expected to receive at least a season-long suspension for rampant sexual misconduct against dozens of massage therapists after the NFL appealed a six-game suspension Watson recently received from an arbitrator.
Both Barnwell and Kimes agreed that Garoppolo is clearly the best available option for Cleveland. Barnwell pointed out, “The Browns run a very similar offense to what the 49ers run with Kyle Shanahan,” and added, "Garoppolo has every reason to want to go play for the Browns where it’s basically a one-year opportunity to prove yourself before hitting unrestricted free agency.”
Perhaps most importantly, the Browns have nearly $50 million in effective cap space, making them the only team in the NFL that could acquire Garoppolo’s $25.5 million cap hit without any additional moves. Cleveland will still likely try to entice the Niners to retain some of Garoppolo’s base salary and/or negotiate a lesser contract with Jimmy G’s agent, but it is far easier to envision a final deal.
Kimes agreed with Barnwell’s analysis but also pointed out that the 49ers almost assuredly have to release or trade Garoppolo before the start of the regular season. With Cleveland looking like the only viable suitor at this point in time, Kimes pondered whether the Browns would be willing to make a trade and absorb Garoppolo’s current contract when they could probably wait a few weeks to acquire him in free agency without trading a draft pick or using as much salary cap space. Then again, given how close the regular season is, waiting a couple of weeks to acquire their starting quarterback could put the Browns' offense well behind schedule.
While the Browns do not have their first-round pick in the next two drafts, Cleveland has a second, third, two fourth, two fifth, sixth, and seventh-round picks in this year’s draft. The 49ers also are currently slated to have at least 10 picks of their own (with compensatory picks incoming for D.J. Jones and Arden Key’s departure), leaving plenty of potential for the teams to work out pick swaps that entice the Niners to make a trade without Cleveland sacrificing significant draft capital.
Here is Barnwell’s full quote on Garoppolo:
“They’re the one team in the NFL who have the cap space to absorb Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract without any other changes. It makes total sense... The fit is very logical. The Browns run a very similar offense to what the 49ers run with Kyle Shanahan under Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland. The cap fit makes sense. The salary is not an issue, and Jimmy Garoppolo has every reason to want to go play for the Browns where it’s basically a one-year opportunity to prove yourself before hitting unrestricted free agency.” | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/8/16/23307654/49ers-trade-rumors-browns-jimmy-garoppolo-mina-kimes-bill-barnwell | 2022-08-16T17:27:27Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/8/16/23307654/49ers-trade-rumors-browns-jimmy-garoppolo-mina-kimes-bill-barnwell | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Royal Mint announces Harry Potter coin series to mark 25 years since first book - when will first coin will be unveiled?
The first of the new coins will be unveiled later this month
The Royal Mint has announced a special collection of Harry Potter coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first book in the series.
The coins will be the latest range focused on childhood characters, following on from fan favourites including Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland and The Snowman.
Announcing the news on Twitter, The Royal Mint said: ”Are you ready @wizardingworld? We’ve created a #HarryPotter coin series, and the first design will be revealed via live stream on 8 Sept at 7pm! That’s right… a Harry. Potter. Coin. Series.”
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Potterheads were thrilled with the update, with one replying: “Wow!!! Looking forward to this!!”
Another tweeted: “Perfect timing as the Winnie the Pooh set is near its end.”
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books in 1997, the first of J.K. Rowling’s adventures of Harry Potter, and his unforgettable friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
The idea for Harry Potter and friends was first thought of by Rowling whilst travelling from Manchester to London, and it has gone on to be one of the most iconic book and film franchises ever known.
This first book in the saga has sold 120 million copies worldwide, and this was just the start of the adventures.
Over the next decade, J.K. Rowling wrote six more books which went on to be made into hugely popular films.
Now the series will be immortalised by The Royal Mint, starting with a unique online event in September.
Here’s what you need to know about the coin collection and when the first coin will be unveiled.
How do I register for the online event?
As part of the special series, fans are being invited to attend a special online streaming event which will see the launch of the first coin.
There will also be a panel discussion, where you will have the opportunity to send in questions for our expert panel to discuss.
You can register for this event by visiting the Royal Mint website and providing details such as your name and email address.
The event will take place at 7pm on Thursday, 8 September 2022.
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/read-this/royal-mint-announces-harry-potter-coin-series-to-mark-25-years-since-the-first-book-when-the-first-coin-will-be-unveiled-3807649 | 2022-08-16T17:27:33Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/read-this/royal-mint-announces-harry-potter-coin-series-to-mark-25-years-since-the-first-book-when-the-first-coin-will-be-unveiled-3807649 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Rangers urged to be vigilant against Hibs after 'torn shreds' moment - 'he saw it with his own eyes'
Martin Boyle has been tipped to cause Rangers issues on Saturday when the Glasgow club travel east to take on Hibs in the cinch Premiership.
Rangers are at Easter Road this weekend, sandwiched in between their two Champions League play-off ties against PSV.
Boyle scored a hat-trick for Hibs in last season’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final and their former striker Tam McManus believes that Rangers, and in particular their defender Connor Goldson, will be wary of the damage he can do.
"Martin Boyle tore Connor Goldson to absolute shreds,” McManus recalled. “Giovanni van Bronckhorst would have sat in the Main Stand at Hampden and realised the Hibs man can do that to his team.
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"Boyle is the one man whom Rangers fans and staff will truly fear. And Saturday is the time for him to be fully unleashed. Martin has made a big difference coming off the bench in the last two games, but Lee Johnson has to start him.
"He scored a hat-trick against Rangers in that semi-final last season and there’s not many players who do that floating around.
"He is a talisman. Russell Latapy is the one man that I played with at Hibs that you looked at in the tunnel by your side and thought: He can do something magic today. When Russell was playing, you fancied it. If he wasn’t, you thought you might struggle a bit.
"I feel Martin would be like that now for the current team. He is up to speed and he’s been brought back to make a difference. No better time than Saturday.
"I would play Martin through the middle. He did that at Hampden and, as I said, ripped Goldson to pieces. Van Bronkhorst was just in the door and saw it with his own eyes.”
McManus added in his Daily Record column: "Rangers have lost Calvin Bassey who provided some speed at the back and, if Martin can isolate Goldson again, Hibs could get real joy." | https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/rangers-urged-to-be-vigilant-against-hibs-after-torn-shreds-moment-he-saw-it-with-his-own-eyes-3807398 | 2022-08-16T17:28:26Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/rangers-urged-to-be-vigilant-against-hibs-after-torn-shreds-moment-he-saw-it-with-his-own-eyes-3807398 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Potomac High School graduate Marquis Hall was named Tuesday to the watch list for the 2022 Black College Football Player of the Year Award.
Hall was one of two Norfolk State players to make the list. The other is sophomore running back JJ Davis. A total of 49 players from 26 Historically Black College and Universities are on the list. Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass won the award the last two seasons.
Hall was named to the preseason All-MEAC first team. Norfolk State's starter at middle linebacker last year, Hall was a second-team All-MEAC pick last season. He finished the season with 49 tackles, 4.0 for loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. He also forced two fumbles, tied for the most among conference players.
NAL honors Myers
Forest Park High School graduate DJ Myers was named first-team, all-National Arena League at jack-linebacker and second team at wide receiver.
Myers, who plays for the Carolina Cobras, finished third in the league during the regular season in receiving yardage (842). He totaled 68 receptions in 14 games and 17 touchdowns.
Defensively, he recorded four interceptions, one touchdown, 13 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Freedom hires new AD
Thomas Annunziata is taking over as Freedom-Woodbridge High School’s next activities director.
Annunziata was the former AD at Fred Lynn Middle School in Woodbridge for five years.
Before taking the Freedom job, Annunziata was scheduled to be a health and PE teacher this school year at Hylton, while assisting activities director Sal Colangelo.
His first day at Freedom was Aug. 5.
Brewers release Bettinger
The Milwaukee Brewers waived Hylton High School graduate Alec Bettinger Aug. 7. He was with Triple-A Nashville at the time, posting a 2-4 record with a 6.49 ERA with 21 walks and 21 strikeouts in 34.2 innings.
The right-handed pitcher spent his entire professional baseball career with the Brewers after they selected him in the 10th round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia.
Bettinger made his MLB debut with Milwaukee in 2021. He pitched in four games, including starting his first one in which he tied an MLB record for most runs allowed by a pitcher in his debut.
The Brewers removed Bettinger from their 40-man roster earlier this season. | https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/local-briefs-potomac-graduate-marquis-hall-in-running-for-2022-black-college-football-player-of/article_c29e2632-1cbd-11ed-aa70-7b6818697f51.html | 2022-08-16T17:29:46Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/local-briefs-potomac-graduate-marquis-hall-in-running-for-2022-black-college-football-player-of/article_c29e2632-1cbd-11ed-aa70-7b6818697f51.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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2022 Cincinnati | https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2746059/cincinnati-riske-amritraj-saves-4-sps-hits-through-sorribes-tormo | 2022-08-16T17:31:54Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2746059/cincinnati-riske-amritraj-saves-4-sps-hits-through-sorribes-tormo | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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2022 Cincinnati | https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2746061/cincinnati-mcnally-bests-sasnovich-in-3hrs-for-1st-win-in-home-town | 2022-08-16T17:32:00Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2746061/cincinnati-mcnally-bests-sasnovich-in-3hrs-for-1st-win-in-home-town | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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2022 Cincinnati | https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2746063/cincinnati-tomljanovic-survives-townsend-s-touch-in-nailbiter | 2022-08-16T17:32:06Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2746063/cincinnati-tomljanovic-survives-townsend-s-touch-in-nailbiter | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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Megan Thee Stallion‘s rise defines the word meteoric. Here & Now‘s Celeste Headlee speaks with music writer Taylor Crumpton about “Traumazine,” the latest album from rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-16/in-traumazine-megan-thee-stallion-cements-her-place-as-a-rap-superstar | 2022-08-16T17:40:17Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-16/in-traumazine-megan-thee-stallion-cements-her-place-as-a-rap-superstar | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
When U.S. armed forces left Afghanistan a year ago, many aspiring refugees were left behind.
NPR’s Tom Bowman talks about the state of U.S. involvement with Afghanistan and its people.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-16/looking-back-on-the-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-and-its-impact-on-people | 2022-08-16T17:40:29Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-16/looking-back-on-the-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-and-its-impact-on-people | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON — Students who used federal loans to attend ITT Technical Institute as far back as 2005 will automatically get that debt canceled after authorities found "widespread and pervasive misrepresentations" at the defunct for-profit college chain, the Biden administration announced Tuesday.
The action will cancel $3.9 billion in federal student debt for 208,000 borrowers, the Education Department said. The debt is being forgiven using a federal rule known as borrower defense, which is meant to protect students from colleges that make false advertising claims or otherwise commit fraud.
"The evidence shows that for years, ITT's leaders intentionally misled students about the quality of their programs in order to profit off federal student loan programs, with no regard for the hardship this would cause," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said.
It adds to the administration's growing list of piecemeal student debt cancellations — a similar action in June promised to erase $5.8 billion in debt related to Corinthian Colleges — but it provided no answers on broader student debt cancellation.
President Joe Biden supported debt cancellation as a presidential candidate and for months has been considering erasing up to $10,000 per borrower. He recently promised a decision by the end of August, but Tuesday's announcement cast no new light on his thinking.
Through targeted cancellation for specific groups of borrowers, the administration says it has now approved nearly $32 billion in student debt for 1.6 million borrowers.
The new policy will automatically cancel any remaining federal student debt that was used to attend ITT Tech from Jan. 1, 2005, through its closure in 2016.
At its height, ITT was among the largest for-profit college chains in the nation, with 130 campuses across 38 states. The company abruptly shut down after facing heavy sanctions from the Education Department amid accusations that the company pushed students into risky loans and misled them about the quality of academic programs.
The Education Department has previously approved the cancellation of $1.9 billion in debt held by former ITT Tech students, largely for students who applied for relief saying they were misled by the company. The new policy will not require borrowers to apply for relief.
Federal officials based the decision on findings from many state attorneys general, along with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the nonprofit Veterans Education Success.
Investigators found widespread evidence that ITT Tech made false claims about the ability of its students to find jobs after graduating, the agency said. They also found that the chain misled students about their ability to get credits transferred to other schools, and about the accreditation of the chain's nursing program.
"ITT defrauded hundreds of thousands of students," said Richard Cordray, chief of Federal Student Aid, the federal office that oversees student loans. "By delivering the loan relief students deserve, we are giving them the opportunity to resume their educational journey without the unfair burden of student debt they are carrying from a dishonest institution."
The decision drew applause from groups that represent students.
"This is a life-changing announcement for thousands of people who only wanted to improve their lives and trusted the wrong people to help them do it," said Libby Webster, senior counsel of the nonprofit Student Defense.
Tasha Berkhalter enrolled at ITT Tech in 2006 to pursue a career in criminal justice after being honorably discharged from the Army. Recruiters promised she would easily find a job after graduating. But after earning her bachelor's, no one would hire her.
"It was all for a degree that no one takes seriously. Whenever I told employers where I attended college, I was shown the door," said Berkhalter, of Lima, Ohio.
Berkhalter previously got much of her nearly $100,000 in debt erased through the borrower defense rule, and said she expects more to be canceled soon.
"The cloud has been removed from over my head," she said. "I know there are hundreds of thousands of former students like myself who are finally getting the relief they deserve."
In a separate action, the Education Department began a process to recoup $24 million from DeVry University to make up for loan cancellations approved by the federal government because of alleged fraud.
In February, the Biden administration approved $70 million in relief for 1,800 former DeVry students after the Education Department concluded that the school lied about the success of its graduates in order to get new students to enroll. It was the first time the agency approved such claims for an institution that's still in operation.
DeVry will now get the chance to submit arguments explaining why it should not be held liable. DeVry officials are reviewing the department's notice, spokesperson Hessy Fernandez said. She emphasized that the school has changed ownership and leadership since the time of the allegations.
"We continue to believe the department mischaracterizes DeVry's calculation and disclosure of graduate outcomes in certain advertising, and we do not agree with the conclusions they have reached," Fernandez said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-16/3-9-billion-in-debt-is-canceled-for-former-students-of-itt-tech | 2022-08-16T17:40:35Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-16/3-9-billion-in-debt-is-canceled-for-former-students-of-itt-tech | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A district in California is using a curriculum that includes a “Genderbread Identity” man for sex education, Fox News Digital has learned.
The “Genderbread Identity” was found by public records request in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District sex-ed curriculum it purchased called “Teen Talk,” which is used for middle and high school students. Teen Talk is taught to thousands of students throughout California.
The “gender” section of the ‘Genderbread Identity’ man included a video on “what it’s like to be trans in high school” with two teens discussing transitioning. The heart of the ‘Genderbread’ man represented the various sexual orientations – pansexuality, homosexuality, asexuality and heterosexuality. The rainbow brain of ‘Genderbread’ represented a person’s gender identity.
Fox News Digital spoke with moms from the California district who said they were concerned about how the sexual curriculum could impact children.
“It’s horrifying,” said Haley Jenkins. “And they try to create the little ‘Genderbread’ man to make it seem like it’s more fun. And it’s for younger kids – it’s appealing – but it’s confusing [for them].”
Jenkins currently homeschools her daughter. She said the curriculum can have a diffuse effect on children in the district even if they are not in public school. “They’re playing with all these kids [who are in the district’s schools… As they get older, they go to their friends to talk about things. They don’t come to their parents as much. So maybe my kids aren’t getting this specific curriculum, but most of their friends are.”
“They’re really starting so early to sexualize our children,” said Amy Peters, who put her kids through the Newport-Mesa school district. “We felt like it was our responsibility to teach our kids about what they needed that was age appropriate.”
The district responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment stating, “The California Healthy Youth Act requires that students receive comprehensive sexual health education once in middle school and once in high school, starting in seventh grade.”
“We use a state-approved health curriculum with select modules that are appropriate for our students, taught by credentialed teachers. Parents can opt out their child from participating in comprehensive sex education. Parents also have the ability to review all curriculum taught in our schools so that they can be well-informed and make the best decisions for their child. We understand that there are varying viewpoints and beliefs and we follow California State Standards for curriculum, while also supporting parent choice.”
The curriculum shows graphic images of genitalia, including the differences between circumcised and uncircumcised penises.
“Our children are sponges,” said Alicia Beget, a mom in the district who is also a school psychologist. “There’s an influence on our young children, and this is by very much by design [by] the progressive agenda to slowly [of the]… sexualization of our children. I worry about it every single day.”
“Rather than guiding them with an ethical and moral responsibility to access of mental health care, they are instead referring to resources to affirm their gender,” Beget said.
Another mom said parts of the curriculum were anti-parent, and reminded her of the education system in her birth country.
Henny Abraham said, “I was born and raised in Iran and I finished junior high in Iran. And my biggest concern with all of this… is that they are trying to tell our children to hide things from our parents… I remember when they will line us up first day of school and they said, ‘Don’t tell your parents, but let us know what you did over the weekend.'”
If a child said there was alcohol in their house, a mixed-gender party, or if there was an American or European movie played, “somebody would show up at your house and interrogate your parents,” Abraham said.
Abraham noted that Teen Talk recommended children speak to and ask questions from a “trusted adult” who is over 18 about sex who may or may not be their parents.
“So for someone like me who came, you know, I was 14 when I came here because of the greatness of this country. And to see resemblances are what has happened in countries like Iran that we fled from to come here for freedom creeping in into my child’s future is frightening,” she said. “My personal goal is to shed light because our children are not political – they are kids. They need to be protected…. And it is so wrong of our schools… and the school unions to try to demonize parents who are standing up for their kids by pointing fingers, just calling us bigots and all these kind of names just because we are trying to protect our kids.”
“I feel like under the guise of being an ally, they’re aiding in this confusion, and it’s creating havoc among the children,” Jenkins added.
Teen Talk has also caught the eye of watchdogs.
Sharon Slater from Family Watch International told Fox News Digital that “Teen Talk is typical of the many harmful Planned Parenthood-inspired [comprensive sexual education] programs that we have analyzed and scored 15 out of 15 for harmful CSE elements when analyzed using our 15 Harmful CSE Elements Analysis Tool.”
“It has the same manipulative ‘values clarification’ exercise designed to deconstruct children’s values under the guise of helping them clarify their values,” Slater said.
Another watchdog, Stop Comprehensive Sex Education, said their materials “Normalizes child sex or desensitizes children to sexual things. May give examples of children having sex or imply many of their peers are sexually active.”
The watchdog also lists stories in the curriculum of teens discussing sexual encounters in detail.
“[Teen Talk] [n]ormalizes these high-risk sexual behaviors and may omit vital medical facts, such as the extremely high STI infection rates (i.e., HIV and HPV) and the oral and anal cancer rates of these high-risk sex acts.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Teen Talk for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
“We’ve come together to activate our community, to inform our community, because a lot of parents are in denial, which I understand that’s a more comfortable state… [than] feeling… a discomfort in the knowledge that we have seeing these the curriculum,” Beget said about her coalition of moms.
“I think educators, many of them who have progressed through to an administrative level, perhaps once had that passion and an interest of children and have forgotten it,” she added. | https://nypost.com/2022/08/16/newport-mesa-unified-school-district-curriculum-includes-genderbread-identity-man/ | 2022-08-16T17:43:10Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/16/newport-mesa-unified-school-district-curriculum-includes-genderbread-identity-man/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
-
Higher Ed Gamma
MOOCs and beyond.
Title
Internationalizing Black American History
Situating race and labor systems in a global and comparative perspective.
Who is a Black American? Barack Obama, the child of a Kenyan economist and an economic anthropologist, who was raised primarily by his white maternal grandmother? Kwame Akroma-Ampim Kusi Anthony Appiah, the London-born political and moral philosopher and cultural theorist, who was raised Kumasi, Ghana, and whose parents were a British children’s book author from a family that traced its ancestry to William the Conqueror, and a lawyer, diplomat, and politician from Ghana’s Ashanti region?
How about Claude McKay, the Jamaican-born Harlem Renaissance poet and novelist, or John Brown Russwurm, who co-founded the United States’s first Black newspaper and was also born in Jamaica, or Kwame Ture (born Stokely Carmichael), who was 11 when he arrived in the United States from Trinidad and Tobago, or Shirley Chisholm, who spent a large part of her childhood in Barbados?
Today, over 10 percent of African Americans were born outside the United States and over a fifth (21 percent) are immigrants or the children of immigrants.
How we view the past is always colored by our present-day vantage point, but long before the recent surge in Black migration from sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, African American history and culture had an international dimension.
Even in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pioneering Black historians stressed that Black Americans were part of a much broader African diaspora and that the history of race and labor systems couldn’t be understood in geographic isolation.
Black historians, past and present, as different in ideology as Benjamin Brawley, W.E.B. DuBois, John Hope Franklin, Michael A. Gomez, Gerald Horne, Robin D.G. Kelley, Rayford Logan, Nell Painter, Benjamin Quarrels, Isabel Wilkerson, Chancellor Williams, George Washington Williams, and Carter G. Woodson, insisted that the history of Black Americans and indeed of the United States must be viewed in global, comparative, and diasporic terms.
As UCLA historian Kelley put it in 1999, Black scholars, from the late 19th century onward, offered a novel transnational “framework for understanding United States history and the history of the West in general, but much to the impoverishment of American history-their work had been dismissed or overlooked by the mainstream historical profession.”
Many pioneering Black historians were highly critical of American nation-building, which hinged on the displacement and dispossession of Native Americans, the exploitation of Africans and their descendants, and the conquest of a vast empire of land from Mexico and other countries. But these scholars, many of whom were heavily influenced by currents of Pan-African thought, were engaged in their own nation-building project: To assert a collective African American identity by recovering and reconstructing the African past, upending degrading representations of blackness, and toppling claims of figures from Kant to Toynbee that Blacks were a people without history.
Comparative, transnational, and diasporic history can take many different forms. Ther are works, like Gomez’s or John Thornton’s that examine the how West and Central African belief systems, aesthetics, religious practices, foodways, and much more were adapted or modified in New World circumstances. There are examinations of the African American role in anti-imperialist and the decolonialist struggles.
There are also comparative studies like Eric Foner’s comparative analysis of the shift from slavery to new systems of racial classification, segregation, and debt peonage and Sidney Mintz’s and Sven Beckert’s studies of the role of slave-grown sugar and cotton in the development of modern capitalism. Then, too, there are studies of shifts in racial identities, like Nell Painter’s The History of White People, and Isabel Wilkerson’s use of the concept of caste to understand America’s system of racial inequality.
As Kelley is quick to point out, “to think about the history of black people in transnational or diasporic terms does not automatically render one an opponent of American nationalism or even of a nation-centered approach to history.” For example, in his study of 19th century Black nationalists, UnAfrican Americans, the Nigerian-born scholar Tunde Adelek demonstrates that 19th century demonstrates that such figures as Martin Delany, Alexander Crummell, and Harry McNeal Turner strongly supported the mission civilisatrice , the West’s civilizing mission to uplift Africa, and, as a result, helped lay the foundation for European colonization of Africa.
This approach to Black history offers a powerful way to internationalize U.S. history. It not only provides a potent antidote to celebratory claims of American exceptionalism and myths of national innocence and the unambiguous march of progress and justice. By exposing the ugly underside of this society’s history while bringing to light the extraordinary agency and influence of an exploited, marginalized people, a much more complete vision of U.S. history emerges, a vision that reconnects the United States and the world.
A former colleague, Gerald Horne, has played a leading role in charting the globalized, comparative future of African American history and bringing fresh perspectives to topics not previously viewed through the prism of race. An extraordinarily prolific scholar, Horne, the John and Rebecca Moores professor of history and African American studies at the University of Houston, has written a series of books of remarkable chronological, geographic, and topical range. With his transnational and comparative approach, he might well be seen as C.L.R. James’s successor.
The Princeton, Berkeley, and Columbia educated Horne has published scholarly books on everything from the American, Haitian, and Texas revolutions to the Associated Negro Press, aviation, boxing, Hollywood, the American left, jazz, labor, settler colonialism, and the pivotal role of U.S. ships in the illegal transatlantic slave trade.
His books on American diplomatic history include studies of U.S. involvement in Egypt and Ethiopia in the late 19th and early 20th century, in the post-Civil War South Seas, and in Kenya, Southeast Asia, Zimbabwe in the mid and late 20th century. He has also published biographies of John Howard Lawson, William Patterson, Paul Robeson, Shirley Graham DuBois, W.E.B. Dubois.
Especially striking are his books that foreground race and the role of African Americans in subjects where Black perspectives were largely ignored by the historical mainstream, for example, in the use of Black troops during the early 20th century Mexican Revolution, Black responses to the Cold War, and African American attitudes toward the rise of the Japanese empire before World War II.
To be sure, Horne is not alone in writing about Black resistance to slavery during the Revolutionary era or the violent confrontations between police and residence of Watts in 1965. But his work underscores an unsettling fact: That by failing to recognize the centrality of race and slavery in American cultural, diplomatic, economic, and political history and in the formation of the modern world system, leading historians not only obscured African American agency, Black perspectives, and the impact of black culture on everything we think of as American, but distorted and impaired public understanding of the country’s underlying power dynamics.
James M. Banner Jr., who taught at Princeton for many years before creating the National History Center, the History News Service, and the National Humanities Alliance, recently declared that “all history is revisionist history.” History is certainly an argumentative discipline. Historians not only write clashing accounts and interpretations of past events and decisions, but vigorously debate the purposes and uses of historical inquiry, the dynamics of social transformation, and the possibility and desirability of historical objectivity.
Just as consensus is the toxic enemy of creativity and innovation, it is also the enemy of historical insight and progress.
History, a discipline that for too many years defined itself narrowly, as the study of politics, statecraft, and warfare from leaders’ vantage point, has certainly broadened its range of subjects, methods, and evidentiary base. But until extraordinarily recently, history was a regrettably exclusionary discipline that drew a sharp divide between those whose accounts mattered and those whose writings didn’t.
If you want to understand why diverse perspectives matter, you need look no further than at our standard curriculum. American history looks fundamentally different when we shift perspective and view the past through the lens of African American, Asian American, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and women’s history, and disabilities studies.
Or take another example offered by the insightful commentator who writes under the nom de plume Unemployed Northeastern. Look at the Great Books canon between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the 16th century, between Aurelius and Plutarch and Erasmus, Machiavelli, Montagne, Rabelais. Which books are typically assigned? Certainly Dante and Chaucer and perhaps Anselm and Acquinas.
But look what’s left out: “The Golden Age of India, the Golden Age of the Islamic World, the Golden Age of the Maya, the flowering of fiction in China and Japan…. The Shahnameh, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Outlaws of the Marsh, The Conference of the Birds, Vis and Ramin (the explicit inspiration for Tristan and Isolde), the Popol Vuh, The Tale of the Genji, the Tale of the Heike, various retellings of the Ramayana and Mahabharata - all of these are monumental contributions to literature made by non-Europeans during the ‘Dark Ages….’” Those were just a few reading suggestions off the top of Unemployed Northeastern’s head.
It's unsettling to discover that “there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
Ars longa, vita brevis. Understanding takes time, and, alas, life is all too short. The acquisition of wisdom Is a collective task that requires the inclusion of perspectives previous ignored and voices hitherto unheard.
Steven Mintz is professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin.
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Learning Innovation
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Discussion Topics for Book Clubbing ‘After the Ivory Tower Falls’
A conversation guide.
After the Ivory Tower Falls: How College Broke the American Dream and Blew Up Our Politics—and How to Fix It by Will Bunch
Published in August of 2022.
Higher ed insiders are talking about Will Bunch’s After the Ivory Tower Falls. I’m hearing rumbles of book clubbing.
Should you organize and participate in a campus conversation about After the Ivory Tower Falls? Is it worth collecting a group of colleagues, scheduling a physical and virtual room, and scrounging up the funds to buy everyone a copy? The answers to all these questions are “yes.”
After the Ivory Tower Falls is a book we in academia should be engaging with. Bunch’s thesis that the deep political and cultural divisions that increasingly define the US can be traced to failures of higher education around access, costs, debt, and relevance will make for a fascinating campus conversation.
Will reading and discussing After the Ivory Tower Falls provide us within higher education with any roadmap or actionable set of ideas for how we might change our institutions for the better? You will have to tell us how your book clubbing conversations go, but the likely answer is “not really.” And this is too bad, as After the Ivory Tower Falls is full of penetrating insights about the worrisome arc of our postsecondary system across the last seven decades.
The fact that After the Ivory Tower Falls is written primarily for those outside the academy is not a failing of this deeply researched and passionately argued book. I hope that readers come away convinced that:
A) We must support policies and politicians committed to investing in public colleges and universities, especially community colleges.
B) That too much attention is paid to elite colleges and universities and that the real focus of higher education conversations should be on community colleges and state institutions, the defunding of public education, and the $1.7 trillion higher ed debt crisis.
Still, I wish Bunch’s reporting had surfaced some of the issues that those of us within academia are debating today as we try to confront challenges of student costs and access while navigating significant structural demographic and funding challenges.
For instance, while the book talks about for-profit education and its role in the student debt crisis, there is almost no analysis of the growth of non-profit/for-profit partnerships. The big questions that many colleges and universities are grappling with now have to do with the wisdom (and risks) of working with online program management (OPM) companies and for-profit online learning platform providers.
The answer to whether colleges and universities should or shouldn’t work with for-profit companies on online degree and non-degree programs is not simple. For many schools, partnering with a company such as Coursera and edX/2U to offer new online programs is part of an institutional strategy to drive down learner costs and enhance access. This is especially true of schools working with partners to provide scaled low-cost degree programs and a range of alternative credential non-degree online courses.
Another theme left unexamined in After the Ivory Tower Falls are the efforts of colleges and universities to advance learning and enhance student support. Students get themselves in the most trouble with student debt when they fail to graduate. University efforts to raise retention rates and shorten the time to graduation have yielded uneven success. An analysis of why the US education system seems to do an excellent job of admitting students but a poor job of graduating them would have been welcome in this book, as success stories and innovative programs could have been highlighted.
Despite these higher ed insider critiques, I want to stress that After the Ivory Tower Falls is an important and persuasive book. We should be talking about a sort of universal national service gap year for all high school graduates. And certainly, there are conversations we should be having on our campuses about what role the higher ed industry should be playing in policy conversations related to student debt.
The core idea of After the Ivory Tower Falls, that the Blue State / Red State political divide is, in reality, a growing chasm between those who completed college (38 percent) and those who have not (everyone else), is undoubtedly worth debating and likely internalizing.
We should remember our history of the consensus around the value of higher education for everyone coming out of World War II and the GI Bill and do everything we can to re-energize the idea that college should be a public and not a private good.
What is necessary, I think, is for us to do the work to connect the big ideas of After the Ivory Tower Falls to things that we can do at our institutions to grow access and lower the costs of a college education.
What are you reading?
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- Vice president meets with college presidents on abortion | https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/learning-innovation/discussion-topics-book-clubbing-%E2%80%98after-ivory-tower-falls%E2%80%99 | 2022-08-16T17:45:36Z | insidehighered.com | control | https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/learning-innovation/discussion-topics-book-clubbing-%E2%80%98after-ivory-tower-falls%E2%80%99 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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University’s Facebook Page Hacked
The Facebook page of Thomas More University, a Roman Catholic institution in Kentucky, has been hacked. Instead of news from the university, the site has since Friday featured photographs of women with messages such as, “Can’t sleep without someone to cuddle with” or “I just rented a room that can accommodate 2 people but I'm alone so if you're looking for a place to stay hit me up.”
The university responded by creating a new Facebook page and posting this message: “The Thomas More University Facebook account Thomas More University was hacked. The university is doing everything we can to contact Facebook to help us resolve this issue and regain control of our page. In the meantime, we have developed this Facebook page Thomas More University so that our community can continue to interact with us on this social network platform and so that we can dispute the other page’s activity under our name. Of course we are frustrated by the incident, but we ask for your patience and grace as we work through this challenge.”
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- Is it possible to decolonise the business curriculum?
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- Vice president meets with college presidents on abortion | https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/08/16/university%E2%80%99s-facebook-page-hacked | 2022-08-16T17:45:46Z | insidehighered.com | control | https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/08/16/university%E2%80%99s-facebook-page-hacked | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Misrepresenting Seattle Pacific's Reasons for Suing Its State
University officials believed it needed to protect its First Amendment right to hire based on sincerely held religious beliefs and maintain a voluntary academic community based on a shared framework of faith.
To the Editor;
The 8/1/22 Inside Higher Ed article, “Seattle Pacific Sues Washington AG,” contains several errors of fact that need to be corrected and additional editorial decisions that demonstrate bias in both terminology and perspective.
In the initial news sub-headline, author Josh Moody incorrectly described the reason Seattle Pacific University (SPU) was compelled to file a federal lawsuit in the Washington Western District Court against the state attorney general. This necessary action was not for any ordinary employment inquiry, but because the attorney general’s egregious demand for confidential employment information related to University personnel and policies violates the essential protections under the law afforded to religious organizations, including institutions of Christian higher education. Knowing we are Christian leaders and witnesses to our students and community we discerned the need to defend them and the institution inspired by our shared mission.
We believe the AG’s office has targeted the University because of our Christian beliefs and biblical worldview. Their investigation called into question SPU’s legal right, protected by the First Amendment, to hire to mission based on sincerely held religious beliefs and to maintain a voluntary academic community based on a shared framework of faith. This lawsuit was necessary to ensure the University is able to protect its religious identity and Christian mission and purpose that have been its foundation for over 130 years. It is important to note that nothing has changed in regard to SPU’s expectations for University employees, including faculty, to adhere to and uphold our statement of faith, and to both support – and advance – our collective mission among SPU peers, students, alumni and the larger community.
Regrettably, the overall framework of this article does not give a clear, truthful and objective view of the situation at SPU. Again, nothing has changed in our hiring practices, rights as a religious institution, our mission, Statement of Faith or behavioral Lifestyle Expectations, which shape the vision and mission of the institution as a Free Methodist-affiliated university. Regular employees that voluntarily decide to work and be a part of our community have always signed and accepted our staff and faculty handbook.
Another inaccuracy in your article that needs to be addressed is the relationship between SPU and The Free Methodist Church, both of which are Christian institutions that believe in the inherent truths of the Bible. There was never a change of policy or foundational belief by either entity.
SPU is an intentionally loving, grace-filled, welcoming community. In regard to faculty and staff, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or genetic information, but it does exercise its right to hire based on sincerely held religious beliefs. SPU does not require students to indicate a faith affiliation, as we welcome and encourage thoughtful dialogue and robust academic inquiry among students, faculty and staff – including civil discussions about human sexuality and marriage. Our purpose has and will always remain to be a place where students can explore and go deeper in their faith.
Recent Board votes and decisions are in line with our role and responsibility to uphold the mission and purpose of the University, and to continue to protect our freedom to choose employees on the basis of religion, free from interference or intimidation from the government.
Seattle Pacific is not alone in this endeavor. Religious institutions across the country are being attacked despite their legal right that continues to be upheld by federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, to make faith-based hiring decisions and resolve issues of doctrine and practice without government interference.
First Amendment protections are at the heart of our pluralistic society and have led to the rich diversity of American religious education. As such, SPU will continue to provide a rigorous academic education to fulfill our mission to engage the culture and change the world by graduating next-generation leaders of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom and modeling grace-filled community.
--Dean Kato
Board Chair
Seattle Pacific University
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- Supporting Ukrainian scholars: what’s next for #ScienceForUkraine?
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- Please follow the following: user guidance tasks as assessments
- Address bias in teaching, learning and assessment in five steps
- Is it possible to decolonise the business curriculum?
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- Higher ed must change or die (opinion) | Inside Higher Ed
- Why did U of Florida suddenly fire its honors director?
- How Should Staff Interact with Faculty? | Inside Higher Ed
- Seven professor actions that contribute to student well-being (infographic)
- Vice president meets with college presidents on abortion | https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2022/08/16/misrepresenting-why-seattle-pacific-sued-its-state-letter | 2022-08-16T17:45:56Z | insidehighered.com | control | https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2022/08/16/misrepresenting-why-seattle-pacific-sued-its-state-letter | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
2 hours ago - Health
COVID public health emergency appears to be headed for extension
The Biden administration appears headed toward extending the COVID-19 public health emergency for another three months, allowing special powers and programs to continue past the midterm election.
Driving the news: HHS had extended the emergency declaration through Oct. 13 and pledged it would give states and health providers 60 days' notice before it ends.
Why it matters: Lifting the emergency would bring major policy shifts to insurance markets, drug approvals and telehealth.
- It also keeps in place a higher share of federal Medicaid spending if states offered continuous coverage to enrollees, avoiding the program's usual churn.
- Ending the emergency would lead states to determine whether their Medicaid enrollees are still eligible for coverage — a huge undertaking that could result in millions of Americans being removed from the program.
Where things stand: After a long plateau, the number of new COVID cases have been falling and wastewater surveillance data has shown declines for three straight weeks, per Evercore ISI.
- And yet, about 400 Americans still die every day from COVID-19. | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/covid-public-health-emergency-extension | 2022-08-16T17:50:44Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/covid-public-health-emergency-extension | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
House Dems say watchdog stonewalling inquiry into Secret Service texts
Two top House Democrats alleged on Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general has refused to cooperate with, and even hindered, an investigation into deleted U.S. Secret Service messages related to Jan. 6, and called for him to comply with congressional demands.
Why it matters: This is not the first time that the duo, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who chairs the House oversight panel, and Rep. Bennie Thompson, who chairs the Homeland Security and Jan. 6 select panel, have questioned Inspector General Joseph Cuffari's part in the probe.
- Earlier this month, Maloney and Thompson alleged that there was evidence of a cover-up within the inspector general's probe of the missing text messages, and called for Cuffari "to "step aside."
The big picture: In a letter to Cuffari on Tuesday, Maloney and Thompson called on his office to comply with congressional requests for documents and interviews.
- They noted that Cuffari had previously blocked his staff from sitting for transcribed interviews.
- Maloney and Thompson recalled several instances in which Cuffari had failed to properly report information to Congress regarding the missing text messages.
What they're saying: "Your obstruction of the Committees’ investigations is unacceptable, and your justifications for this noncompliance appear to reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of Congress’s authority and your duties as an Inspector General," they wrote.
- "If you continue to refuse to comply with our requests, we will have no choice but to consider alternate measures to ensure your compliance," the letter added.
What's next: Cuffari must provide all requested documents and ensure employees requested for interviews are made available by Aug. 23. | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/democrats-dhs-inspector-general | 2022-08-16T17:50:50Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/democrats-dhs-inspector-general | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
R-rated genre struggling at the box office
So far in 2022, the percentage of box office revenue that has gone toward R-rated films is the lowest it's been in over 25 years.
Why it matters: R-rated films across genres like drama and romance are increasingly being pushed to at-home streaming, while more family-friendly action and adventure franchises continue to dominate theaters.
The big picture: "If the greatest chance of box office success is having a PG-13 rating, or not having an R rating, then that's where the industry really had to go," said Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian.
- This year's box office, while up significantly from this point last year, is still down more than 30% compared to 2019.
- The pandemic forced many indie films, which are more likely to be rated R, out of the theatrical business.
By the numbers: The vast majority of movies that hit theaters over the past two years were PG-13, according to data from The Numbers.
- Every movie that grossed over $100 million in 2021 was rated PG-13.
- So far this year, every movie that has grossed over $100 million has been PG-13 with the exception of two G-rated movies: "Minions: The Rise of Gru" and "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" and one R-rated film, "Nope."
Yes, but: Several notable R-rated $100 million+ domestic performers have historically come out in August, Dergarabedian said.
- "I call it the punk rock month for movies," he said, referring to releases like "District 9," "Superbad" and "Inglourious Basterds."
- "It seems to be the month where you get the edgier summer fare."
What's next: Sony’s "Bullet Train," which debuted earlier this month with an R rating, has grossed over $50 million domestically.
- Idris Elba's survival thriller "Beast" debuts Friday with an R rating. | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/r-rate-movies-box-office | 2022-08-16T17:51:15Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/r-rate-movies-box-office | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Ann Marr has become a member of board of directors at Cass Information Systems, Inc. Marr is executive vice president of global human resources at World Wide Technology (WWT) where she oversees all global human resources functions and serves as a member of the executive team and board of directors. Marr also manages WWT’s Corporate Development Program, which includes diversity and inclusion, supplier diversity and small business enterprise and is president of the WWT Charitable Foundation. Cass Information Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated information and payment management solutions.
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- This Week's Photos: Jul. 21, 2022 | https://www.stlamerican.com/business/people_on_the_move/anne-marr-named-to-board-at-cass-info-systems/article_703dde82-1d71-11ed-9177-e33e32101484.html | 2022-08-16T17:53:10Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/business/people_on_the_move/anne-marr-named-to-board-at-cass-info-systems/article_703dde82-1d71-11ed-9177-e33e32101484.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The first bells of the school year will soon be ringing, and KidSmart STL, D.A.D.S. of STL and Krissy’s Kids Books have an assignment for the community.
The organizations are hosting a supply drive with a goal of filling 200 backpacks with needed supplies for children as the school year enters its first week.
According to KidSmart, 90,000 children in the St. Louis area attend school without basic school supplies, including pencils, paper, and folders to organize work. KidSmart's mission is to empower children by providing free essential tools for learning.
Since 2001 with the help of the St. Louis community, it has donated $70 million in free school supplies to more than 200,000 students within the St. Louis area.
The company has less than 10 employees, but volunteers donate time, talent, and supplies.
KidSmart serves 12 school districts, including St. Louis Public Schools, Ferguson/Florissant, Jennings, Ritenour, Riverview Gardens, University City, Hazelwood, Parkway, Special School District, Normandy, Confluence Charter schools, Lift for Life Academies, and additional charter schools.
“Statistics show a 75% increase in self-esteem when children are given the school supplies necessary to learn. The kids served have a desire to learn, they have big hopes and dreams for the future. They simply lack the resources they need to be successful in school,” Shaun Swearengen, CEO of D.A.D.S of STL and Kristin Mosley, Krissy’s Kids Book Club CEO, said in a joint release.
“By hosting this supply drive, D.A.D.S of STL and Krissy’s Kids Book Club believe this will help give teachers supplies for their classrooms and eliminate them having to use their own funds to do so. It will also give kids the confidence to show up to school prepared and equipped to learn without the worry of not having the proper tools to start their school year.”
Supplies needed include pencils, 24 count crayons, one subject notebooks, 10-12 colored pencils, blue/black pens, broad pip markers, filler paper, erasers, child scissors, pocket folders, highlighters, pencil boxes or pouches, glue bottles (8oz), and glue sticks.
Shopping is available online at an Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3FAS15KPEANI7?ref_=wl_share.
Supplies can be brought in person to KidSmart, 180 Progressive Park way in Maryland Heights 63043, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022. | https://www.stlamerican.com/education/kidsmart-partners-packing-backpacks-for-students/article_c6c48a86-1d57-11ed-a443-c74d8df7f84a.html | 2022-08-16T17:53:16Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/education/kidsmart-partners-packing-backpacks-for-students/article_c6c48a86-1d57-11ed-a443-c74d8df7f84a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It is not surprising that the National Basketball Association is valedictorian of America’s major sports leagues when grading fairness in hiring and diversity practices.
The NBA received an A+ for racial hiring practices and a B+ for gender hiring practices, scoring an overall A, according to an annual study by the University of Central Florida Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport [TIDES].
While the NBA annually tops the NFL, MLB, NHL, and Major League Soccer [MLS], the league improved its overall grade in 2022 because of head coaching hires.
People of color now hold 50% [15] of NBA head coaching positions because seven of eight head coaching vacancies during this past off-season were filled by Black or African American men.
The percentage of people of color among general managers increased from 40% in the 2020-21 season to 50% this past season. As of the beginning of 2021 season, there were 12 general managers of color.
Last season, 82.4% of players were people of color, the mist in any professional sports league in the U.S.
The NBA also excels in front office diversity by race and gender.
Women hold 43.4% of the NBA’s professional staff roles, and team vice president and team senior management categories saw respective increases, reaching 30% and 39%.
Four African Americans hold the role of chief executive officer and/or a president for NBA teams. Fred Whitfield (president, vice chairman, Charlotte Hornets), Cynthia Marshall (CEO, Dallas Mavericks), Koby Altman (president of basketball operations, Cleveland Cavaliers) and Masai Ujiri (president and vice chairman, Toronto Raptors).
And there were six women in one of these positions: Matina Kolokotronis (chief operating officer, Sacramento Kings), Jeanie Buss (CEO, Los Angeles Lakers), Gillian Zucker (president of business operations, LA Clippers), Marshall (Dallas), Mel Raines (executive vice president of corporate communications, community engagement and facility operations, Indiana Pacers), and Gretchen Sheirr (president of business operations, Houston Rockets).
Michael Jordan is the only Black majority governor/chair of an NBA franchise, the Charlotte Hornets.
Vivek Ranadive, who is from India, is chair, CEO, and governor of the Sacramento Kings. Joe Tsai, who was born in Taiwan, is the majority governor and chairman of the Brooklyn Nets. Marc Lasry, who was born in Morocco, is a team governor for the Milwaukee Bucks.
There are three women who are primary team governors. Jeanie Buss is the controlling team governor and CEO of the Lakers. Gayle Benson is the principal governor of the New Orleans Pelicans. Jody Allen is the majority team governor of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Richard Lapchick, TIDES director and the study’s main author, said the NBA’s grade improvement and overall score were earned “in spite of the fact that we used a higher standard of measurement for race because we switched to reflect the 2020 census for the first time.
“TIDES recognizes that teams are now worth billions of dollars and that the percentage of the population of that fits into the billionaire category is not the same as the racial groups represented in the U.S. Census. Nonetheless, that is the criteria we are using in the racial and gender report cards.
“In spite of these areas where there is room to grow, I congratulate the NBA on its marked improvements on an already great record for hiring women and people of color in leadership positions. The NBA stands above the other men's professional sports leagues,” Lapchick wrote. | https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/sports_eye/nba-passes-hiring-exams-with-flying-colors/article_074fd8e8-1cc8-11ed-8d66-7f4d13dd1d3a.html | 2022-08-16T17:53:23Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/sports_eye/nba-passes-hiring-exams-with-flying-colors/article_074fd8e8-1cc8-11ed-8d66-7f4d13dd1d3a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Campspot recognized as one of the most successful independent small businesses in America out of six million applicants
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. Magazine today revealed that Campspot is ranked No. 487 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. Campspot, the leading online marketplace for RV resorts, family campgrounds, cabins, glamping options, and more, has seen rapid growth in recent years and most recently processed over $1B in gross bookings within a 12-month period. Campspot offers the largest bookable inventory in the camping industry with nearly 200,000 total campsite listings.
On the 2022 list, Campspot is ranked No. 487 overall, securing its place as the fourth fastest growing company in the travel and hospitality segment, fifth in the state of Michigan, and no. 1 in Grand Rapids.
"We're really proud of this recognition both as part of the larger Inc. 5000 community, but also in the travel and hospitality industry and in our headquarters' state and city," says Campspot CEO Michael Scheinman. "Being included in the Inc. 5000 list is just another signal to keep doing what we're doing. We are deeply committed to being the best partner we can be to the campground industry, serving both campgrounds and campers. We're proudly taking the Inc. 5000 recognition with us as we continue to tackle bold goals and reach for new heights. It's an honor to be part of this esteemed list."
Since its introduction in 1982, the Inc. 5000 list has become a hallmark of entrepreneurial success in the United States, with notable alumni including Intuit, Under Armour, Microsoft, Clif Bar, Pandora, Patagonia and Oracle, to name a few. Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have been ranked according to overall revenue growth over a three-year period. As an honoree, Campspot will be individually profiled on Inc.com and one of the top 500 companies featured in the September 2022 issue of Inc. Magazine, the leading entrepreneurial print publication.
About Campspot
Campspot is the leading online marketplace for RV resorts, family campgrounds, cabins, glamping options and more, providing access to more than 180,000 campsites across the United States and Canada. Campspot's real-time, cloud-based campground management solution enables a best-in-class reservation system (site inventory and ancillary add-ons) by giving its customers a POS system and the necessary management tools (utility billing, housekeeping tracking, etc.) to provide the best possible user experience. Campspot provides an intuitive easy-to-navigate guest booking experience that returns relevant and easy-to-modify searches, making planning a vacation seamless.
For more information, please visit www.campspot.com. Follow Campspot on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Download the Campspot Mobile App on Apple IOS HERE and Android HERE.
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SOURCE Campspot | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/campspot-secures-4-position-travel-hospitality-companies-2022-inc-5000-list-fastest-growing-private-companies/ | 2022-08-16T17:54:53Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/campspot-secures-4-position-travel-hospitality-companies-2022-inc-5000-list-fastest-growing-private-companies/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
General Admission, VIP, and Special Packages Available For Automotive Enthusiasts and Car Shoppers
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Presenting an extensive array of automotive attractions and unparalleled opportunities for comparison and on-site test drive experiences, the Los Angeles Auto Show® today announced that tickets are on sale. The 115th edition of the annual show will run from November 18 to 27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Spanning more than one million square feet of indoor and outdoor space, the show will unite the global automotive world, underscoring its position as the must-attend event for those with a passion for "all things automotive."
The 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show will welcome the return of many of the auto industry's premier brands displaying cars, crossovers, SUVs, trucks and more. Show-goers will see newly introduced domestic and import models, concepts and historically significant collector cars, tracing the past, present and future of many brands.
Reaffirming its position at the epicenter of the nation's electric vehicle landscape and the capital of car culture, the Los Angeles Auto Show will showcase the newest entries in the ever-growing world of electrification. This will include established manufacturers as well as new brands, some of which are rooted in Southern California.
With EV consideration rising, the Los Angeles Auto Show will provide car shoppers extraordinary access and an up-close true sense of the latest electric vehicles via numerous indoor and outdoor driving tracks situated throughout the show. Test-drives and rides will also be available for gas-powered cars, SUVs and trucks.
As always, the event will offer show-goers a seemingly endless selection of auto-themed attractions encompassing the Southern California lifestyle and its impact on the automotive world. This will include displays honoring the show's 115-year history, multiple motorsports exhibits, micro-mobility and more.
True to its deep roots in the automotive styling and aftermarket world, the popular "Garage" area will feature the latest in products, accessories, special builds and performance accessories from popular brands.
"From design and innovation to cultural trends, the impact of Southern California on the automotive landscape is profound," said Los Angeles Auto Show President Terri Toennies. "This will be consistently reflected in all aspects of our 2022 Show, as evidenced by the sheer volume of cars and selection of attractions for our guests to experience. We look forward to welcoming automotive enthusiasts, families and new car shoppers in November."
The Los Angeles Auto Show will again be cashless this year; tickets can be purchased online at laautoshow.com/tickets or at on-site ticketing kiosks with a credit or bank card. Individual tickets, family and VIP packages include:
- Any Day General Admission Tickets: Adult $22, Senior $12, Child $6
- VIP Early Entry on Saturdays and Sundays: Adult $45, Senior $24, Child $12
- VIP Guided Tours on Select Weekdays and Weekends: Adult $100, Child $45
- Wednesday/Thursday Thanksgiving Family Four-Packs: $65
Special programs and ticketing options for military personnel and first responders are also available. For groups of 20 or more, please contact the Los Angeles Auto Show directly for group ticket pricing.
For additional information, please visit laautoshow.com.
About the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®)
Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®) is widely recognized as one of the most influential shows globally. Reflective of its location, the show celebrates the love affair Angelenos have with their cars and offers a global platform to industry technology and innovation, synonymous with California.
The show runs for 10 full days over the Thanksgiving period and is a must-attend destination for many industry influencers, car enthusiasts and families wanting to enjoy a day out over the holiday season. Held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the LA Auto Show contributes several hundred million dollars to the local economy, stimulates the local job market, and is the number one revenue generator for the LA Convention Center.
Taking place on November 17, AutoMobility LA media and industry day will include a range of groundbreaking industry announcements and reveals. Doors open to the public November 18-27. LA Auto Show is owned and operated by ANSA Productions. To receive the latest show news and information, follow the LA Auto Show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and sign up for alerts at laautoshow.com.
For press inquiries, email Jeff Perlman at media@laautoshow.com.
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SOURCE Los Angeles Auto Show | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/la-auto-show-2022-tickets-now-sale-eagerly-awaited-annual-event-celebrates-its-115th-anniversary/ | 2022-08-16T17:57:00Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/la-auto-show-2022-tickets-now-sale-eagerly-awaited-annual-event-celebrates-its-115th-anniversary/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The R.I. Ethics Commission on Tuesday fined state Rep. Carlos Tobon thousands of dollars, after an investigation revealed he repeatedly violated the state ethics code by failing to report a series of unpaid debts, business ownerships and board memberships.
The ethics probe was launched after a Target 12 investigation back in May documented multiple individuals who said they got burned doing business with Tobon, including while he was representing Pawtucket in the R.I. House of Representatives, and serving on the powerful Finance Committee.
At the same time that Tobon was helping craft the state’s annual $13 billion spending plan, he was failing to disclose his own financial woes — tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid debt — to the Ethics Commission despite a legal requirement to do so annually.
Tobon also opened a series of limited liability companies over the years in connection with his messy business dealings, Target 12 found, which he also did not disclose in full on the ethics forms.
The Target 12 investigation prompted the Ethics Commission to begin its own examination of his disclosure forms, and R.I. Republican Party Chair Sue Cienki filed a formal complaint against him soon after. The panel voted in June to pursue a full investigation.
During a meeting behind closed doors in Providence on Tuesday morning, the commission voted to adopt a 10-page settlement agreement with Tobon. The report details 15 different violations of state ethics law and levies a $3,600 fine, which Tobon has agreed to pay.
Target 12 attempted to speak to Tobon as he left the meeting, but he declined to comment on the settlement.
“I just came and did what I had to do,” Tobon said while getting into an elevator.
Tobon never showed up to the House again after Target 12’s report aired on May 5, missing the final seven weeks of the legislative session. He was also kicked off the Finance Committee by Speaker Joe Shekarchi just hours after the story came out.
Yet Tobon never resigned his seat, meaning he continues to collect his $17,626 legislative salary and is still being covered by a state health insurance plan worth $22,416.
Asked Tuesday why he stopped showing up for work at the State House, Tobon touched his ear and told Target 12 as the elevator doors closed, “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that.”
John Marion, executive director of good-government group Common Cause Rhode Island and a longtime observer of the Ethics Commission, described the penalty against Tobon as sizable when compared with how much other politicians have paid over the years for leaving information off their disclosure forms.
“Representative Tobon’s fine by the Ethics Commission is a significant one, which is commensurate with his failure to disclose numerous debts and board memberships over a number of years,” Marion said in a statement. “This was not a case of a simple omission, but rather a systematic failure by Representative Tobon to disclose large amounts of information.”
He added, “It is good to see that the Ethics Commission didn’t wait for the public to file a complaint, but initiated the process itself based on the initial WPRI reporting.”
Tobon did comment on the allegations back in May, casting himself as a typical entrepreneur who had suffered setbacks and done what he had to do to survive.
“I think that in part tells the story of America, where somebody gets up and gives it a try,” Tobon said at the time. “When you give it a try there’s risks, there’s a high likelihood you may not make it. And I’ve done that for 20 years. Just tried.”
But Target 12 discovered multiple people have had to sue Tobon to get him to repay the money he borrowed from them, with some of the litigation lasting for years.
The Ethics Commission found that over multiple years, Tobon failed to report five different personal debts, four business interests and six executive positions on his required disclosure forms.
“This settlement recognizes the seriousness and quantity of the respondent’s financial disclosure omissions over a six-year period, while acknowledging the respondent’s willingness to fully cooperate with the investigation, take immediate responsibility for the above violations, and properly amend his financial statements,” reads the settlement, signed by Tobon and Ethics Commission executive director Jason Gramitt.
Tobon’s term ends in January and he is not running for re-election in House District 58 this fall.
Four candidates are running in the Democratic primary to succeed him: Matthew Carvalho, Cherie Cruz, George Hovarth, and Maribel Echeverry McLaughlin. No Republicans or independents filed to run for the seat.
Steph Machado (smachado@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence, politics and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.
Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook.
Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesi’s Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook
Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is the Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter at 12 News, and the host of Newsmakers. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. | https://www.wpri.com/target-12/rep-carlos-tobon-hit-with-3600-fine-for-over-a-dozen-ethics-violations/ | 2022-08-16T17:57:05Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/target-12/rep-carlos-tobon-hit-with-3600-fine-for-over-a-dozen-ethics-violations/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sunny and hotter today. Morning temperatures in the 60s-70s, near 90 by noon and afternoon highs in the mid 90s-near 100.
A strong ridge of high pressure will continue to build into the Pacific Northwest today and tomorrow setting the stage for another heatwave starting tomorrow with highs in the triple digits.
Heat Advisory... Wednesday 11 AM - Friday 11 PM
- Location: Everyone
- Temps: 100 - 107
- Near Record Highs
- Stay Hydrate
- Take Breaks
- Remember Pets
- Increasing Fire Danger
An upper level low off the central coast of CA will send a little mid-level moisture north tomorrow. This along with daytime heat could be enough for a few stray thunderstorms in southern and central OR through Friday. There's also a very slight (10%) possibility for thunderstorms in the mountains of the Blues and Cascades Friday and Saturday. Most everyone else will just see some high clouds and for that reason, I'm cooling us down by a degree or two. But temps will remain in the low 100s.
The ridge begins to shift east late Saturday-Sunday allowing a "cooler" airmass to return to the area with highs falling into the mid-upper 90s. Which is still slightly above average for this time of year. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/another-heat-wave/article_a2d3a2ea-1d77-11ed-9a41-375e69318bbd.html | 2022-08-16T17:57:11Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/another-heat-wave/article_a2d3a2ea-1d77-11ed-9a41-375e69318bbd.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
RICHLAND, Wash.-
The city of Richland Parks and Recreation invites the community to the 1st Annual Family Fit Day, this Saturday, August, 20th.
The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in John Dam Plaza.
It will be a day of exercise and fun, featuring live music and vendor booths. Trainers will lead group exercises.
The event is free and open to anyone regardless of age or physical ability. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/family-fit-day-this-saturday-in-richland/article_4e997704-1d81-11ed-b613-77f259ecf592.html | 2022-08-16T17:57:17Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/family-fit-day-this-saturday-in-richland/article_4e997704-1d81-11ed-b613-77f259ecf592.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
RICHLAND, Wash.-
Gesa Credit Union will be awarding $300,000 to school districts across Washington as part of the Affinity Debit Card program.
The program supports local schools by earning funds for partner districts to use for academic programs, technology needs, extracurricular programs, and athletics.
"Gesa is a proud supporter of education across the state, and we're especially passionate about supporting our local school districts and the remarkable educators in our community," said Don Miller, President and CEO of Gesa Credit Union
With every swipe of an Affinity Debit Card, Gesa makes a donation to that particular school district. Co-branded Affinity Debit cards are available exclusively at Gesa and are free to Gesa members with a checking account.
Pasco is one of the districts receiving money.
"This year, we plan to use the funds to provide additional career-connected learning experiences, including industry tours, job shadows and special events," said Michelle Whitney, Superintendent, Pasco School District.
Some of the local schools and their awards are:
Pasco School District: $64, 527
Richland School District: $59, 829
Kennewick School District: $59, 233
Columbia Basin College: $10,000
Yakima School District: $5, 290 | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/gesa-awards-300-000-to-local-schools/article_f5f36d2e-1d73-11ed-8907-0f335dadbba6.html | 2022-08-16T17:57:23Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/gesa-awards-300-000-to-local-schools/article_f5f36d2e-1d73-11ed-8907-0f335dadbba6.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON, D.C.-
The personal finance website WalletHub released its report on 2022’s Best & Worst Community Colleges, as well as its rankings of the Best & Worst Community-College Systems.
WalletHub compared more than 650 community colleges across 19 key indicators of cost and quality, to determine which schools offered the best education at the cheapest rates.
The data set ranged from the cost of in-state tuition, the student to faculty ratio, and graduation rates.
It was determined that Washington State had the 4th best community college system, while Oregon had the 10th. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/wa-and-or-in-top-ten-for-best-community-colleges/article_901088f4-1d7b-11ed-9371-7372e0c27f23.html | 2022-08-16T17:57:29Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/wa-and-or-in-top-ten-for-best-community-colleges/article_901088f4-1d7b-11ed-9371-7372e0c27f23.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
YAKIMA, Wash.-
The Yakima Fire Department responded to nine different dumpster fires in the downtown area from 10 p.m. Sunday to 4 a.m. Monday.
There were 2 fires on S. 3rd St, 4 on S. 4th St, and 3 on S. 6th St.
This string of dumpster fires is under investigation and the Yakima Fire Department urges the public to notify officials if they see any suspicious activity. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/yfd-investigates-string-of-dumpster-fires/article_b56df356-1d68-11ed-952b-43b37b3fccb1.html | 2022-08-16T17:57:35Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/yfd-investigates-string-of-dumpster-fires/article_b56df356-1d68-11ed-952b-43b37b3fccb1.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
D'Orazio to lead industrial imaging arm of SHINE
JANESVILLE, Wis., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SHINE Technologies, LLC (SHINE), a next-generation fusion technology company, today announced Tom D'Orazio has joined as the CEO of Phoenix LLC (Phoenix). SHINE and Phoenix are both wholly owned subsidiaries of Illuminated Holdings, and Phoenix operates the industrial imaging arm of the business. D'Orazio succeeds Jess Giffey, who served as interim CEO and will continue in her role as General Manager of SHINE's Systems & Manufacturing division.
D'Orazio brings more than two decades of experience in sales leadership roles for start-ups, emerging and established companies across health care, biotech and software industries. He most recently was the Chief Operating Officer for Tryp Therapeutics, a clinical-stage pharma company, where he was also a founding member. Prior to Tryp, he was CEO and President at ImmnoPrecise Antibodies, a scientific services and research organization.
D'Orazio's leadership experience spans strategic planning, corporate partnerships, fundraising, and building sales and marketing teams.
"As a proven leader for science-driven companies, Tom will be a great addition to Phoenix," said Greg Piefer, Founder and CEO of SHINE. "Along with the announcement of a contract with the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year, Phoenix has signed several new imaging contracts this year. With his leadership and experience, Tom will continue to build on that momentum. I'd also like to thank Jess for serving as interim CEO for the past year."
"I'm delighted to be back in Wisconsin and working on growing an innovative service enterprise," D'Orazio said. "The advanced technology and opportunity to help create a safer world through neutron imaging is both inspiring and exciting. I'm anxious to meet the talented team and get to work."
D'Orazio holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Loyola University of Chicago and an MBA from Vanderbilt University with concentrations in marketing and finance.
SHINE is a next-generation nuclear technology company, deploying state-of-the-art fusion technology to create a scalable path toward fusion energy. Based in southern Wisconsin, with headquarters in Janesville, and with a future site in development in Europe, SHINE deploys its safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly technology in a step-wise approach. Our systems are used for industrial imaging of components in aerospace, defense, transportation, energy and other sectors. And SHINE's proprietary isotope production processes create molybdenum-99 and non-carrier-added lutetium-177 used in tens of thousands of daily procedures to diagnose and treat heart disease and late-stage cancer. For more information, follow SHINE on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
Phoenix is an industry leader in neutron imaging, a critical tool for nondestructive testing in aerospace, defense, health care and other industries. This testing helps manufacturers design better, more efficient, safer products, and provides quality assurance and failure analysis. Located in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, the Phoenix Neutron Imaging Center is the first facility of its kind to offer commercial neutron imaging services without the use of a reactor alongside X-ray imaging.
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SOURCE SHINE Technologies, LLC | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/phoenix-names-tom-dorazio-ceo/ | 2022-08-16T17:57:45Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/phoenix-names-tom-dorazio-ceo/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Nigerian equities market reversed the previous day’s loss on Tuesday as the All-Share Index (ASI) notched a 0.2 per cent increase to close at 49,709.46 basis points.
Basically, equities trading at the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) closed positively amidst low turnover, thus, halting three consecutive days of negative tempo.
With this, both the month-to-date and year-to-date performance was pegged at -1.31 per cent and 16.37 per cent from their previous close of -1.47 per cent and 16.18 per cent respectively.
Investors, therefore, earned N43 billion as the market capitalisation followed suit the direction of the ASI to stand at N26.812 trillion, representing a 0.16 per cent increase from the N26.769 trillion it stood at the end of the previous trading session.
Bears’ camp maintained dominance over the market breadth with 22 counters in the losers’ chart pitted against 10 counters in the gainers’ chart.
Cutix gained 7.50 per cent to become the best performing stock in the session, flanked by Lasaco Insurance, Union Bank of Nigeria, Academy Press and BUA Cement, while from the rear of the chart, UPDCREIT, PZ, Courtville, Japaul Gold and Wapic Insurance populated the top five losers’ chart.
Key sectoral indices closed in a mixed direction with the ASI, with the NGX Industry sector gaining the most weight, as the NGX Insurance sector lost the most weight, while NGX Growth and NGX ASEM sectors closed flat.
Market activity as measured by the volume of trades shed weight in the session with daily traded volume standing at 204.163 million units, representing a 3.17 per cent downtick from a volume of 210.836 million units traded in the previous session.
The value of those traded stocks dipped by 25.02 per cent in the session to stand at N1.640 billion as against a value of N2.188 billion recorded in the previous trading session.
FBN Holdings dominated the volume charts as the top traded stock by volume for the trading session, followed by ETranslzact, United Bank for Africa, Access Holdings Corporation and Eternal Oil to complete the list of the five most traded stocks by volume, while with regards to the value of traded stocks, FBN Holdings took the lead of the top five performers, flanked by Guaranty Trust Holding Company, Access Holdings Corporation, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank.
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Local stock market halts negative trend… Local stock market halts negative trend… | https://tribuneonlineng.com/local-stock-market-halts-negative-trend-as-investors-earn-n43bn/ | 2022-08-16T17:58:34Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/local-stock-market-halts-negative-trend-as-investors-earn-n43bn/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Concentric Energy Advisors report reveals significant shortcomings accompany 'competitive' solicitations for regional transmission projects
NOVI, Mich., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ITC Holdings Corp. (ITC) and other members of the Developers Advocating Transmission Advancements (DATA) Coalition are calling attention to a new study showing that unintended consequences of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Order No. 1000 include project cost increases and schedule delays.
The study titled "Competitive Transmission: Experience to Date Shows Order 1000 Solicitations Fail to Show Benefits" prepared by Concentric Energy Advisors, reveals that completed and active competitive transmission projects awarded to non-incumbent developers experienced an average of 12 months in schedule delays and 27% in cost increases, contrary to promises made by competitive developers in winning bids.
Ten years ago, FERC issued Order No. 1000 in response to the growing challenge of planning and constructing new transmission to keep pace with national and state energy policy priorities. The order allows for public utility transmission providers to use competitive bidding to solicit transmission projects or project developers. Now a decade later, new emerging data of so-called "competitive projects" now in service, or in advanced stages of development, show significant shortcomings.
Using six projects awarded to developers through competitive solicitations, the study investigated claims that Order No. 1000 solicitations contribute to cost savings and the timely development of transmission infrastructure.
- One project from New York Independent System Operator's service territory experienced a 67% cost increase above the developer's promised cost cap, which is now attempting to be recovered from customers. This calls to question whether competitive processes create incentives for outside developers to submit overly aggressive bids to win projects.
- Another example from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region found that the final cost for a competitive project was approximately equal to MISO's planning-level cost estimate and the average of all the submitted bids, indicating no benefit from the solicitation.
For the first time, these case studies provide policymakers the most accurate assessment of the Order No. 1000 competitive process.
"These results add to the growing case that it is time to move in a new direction," said Nina Plaushin, Vice President of Regulatory and Federal Affairs at ITC and DATA Coalition member. "As FERC considers new reforms to regional transmission planning processes, it is clear we must return to a collaborative planning model that has been proven to result in cost effective transmission infrastructure. At a time when transmission investment is sorely needed to power our transition to a clean energy economy and achieve the nation's climate goals, there is no time to waste."
The study was prepared on behalf of the DATA Coalition, a group of transmission-owning utilities consisting of Ameren, Eversource Energy, Exelon Corporation, ITC Holdings Corp., National Grid USA, Public Service Electric and Gas Company and Xcel Energy.
ABOUT ITC HOLDINGS CORP.
ITC Holdings Corp. is the largest independent electricity transmission company in the United States. ITC provides transmission grid solutions to improve reliability, expand access to markets, allow new generating resources to interconnect to its systems and lower the overall cost of delivered energy. Through its regulated operating subsidiaries ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains, ITC owns and operates high-voltage transmission infrastructure in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and in development in Wisconsin. These systems serve a combined peak load exceeding 26,000 megawatts along 16,000 circuit miles of transmission line, supported by 700 employees and 1,000 contractors. ITC is based in Novi, Michigan. For further information visit WWW.ITC-HOLDINGS.COM. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit WWW.FORTISINC.COM.
About Concentric Energy Advisors
Concentric Energy Advisors specializes in management consulting and financial advisory services focusing on the North American energy and water industries. Through its subsidiaries, CE Capital Advisors and Concentric Advisors ULC, Concentric provides capital market advisory support and consulting services in Canada.
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SOURCE ITC Holdings Corp. | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/study-shows-order-no-1000-transmission-solicitations-have-not-yielded-customer-savings-or-improved-transmission-development-timelines/ | 2022-08-16T17:58:38Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/study-shows-order-no-1000-transmission-solicitations-have-not-yielded-customer-savings-or-improved-transmission-development-timelines/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NBS, UNICEF launch 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday officially launched Nigeria’s 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS) report, providing reliable nationwide and internationally comparable data to monitor the situation of children and women in Nigeria.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey is a household survey developed by UNICEF to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring human development indicators in general and the situation of children and women, in particular.
It has evolved over the years to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round in 1999 to 200 in its current sixth.
In a joint statement issued by Ichedi, Sunday Joel of the National Bureau of Statistics and Geoffery Njoku,
Director, Communication & Public Relation, UNICEF Nigeria, said “Study finds that exclusive breastfeeding rate increased from 24 per cent to 34 per cent, while nearly 60 per cent of Nigerian children are now registered at birth with civil authorities”
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) implemented MICS which provides data on child mortality, health, nutrition, education, child and social protection, women’s health care and empowerment, water, sanitation and hygiene, while NICS assesses vaccination coverage provided through the health systems.
Indicators produced for the first time include social transfer, household energy use, child functioning and foundational learning skills, and the survey measures the government’s progress towards national commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The MICS results reveal that Nigeria has made progress in some sectors. Child mortality decreased from 1 in 8 children dying before their fifth birthday (MICS 2016) to 1 in 10 children (MICS 2021).
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There has also been significant progress in exclusive breastfeeding and birth registration rates – the exclusive breastfeeding rate increased from 24 percent to 34 percent, while nearly 60 percent of Nigerian children are now registered at birth with civil authorities, compared to 47 percent in 2016.
In addition, child marriage (women married before age 18) has reduced from 44 percent to 30 percent since 2016.
The Statistician-General of the Federation/CEO National Bureau of Statistics Prince Adeyemi Adeniran said, “The 2021 Nigeria MICS-NICS report provides evidence-based data for all key stakeholders to prioritise quality services for children and women with higher efficiency and effectiveness.
“As we build back better from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MICS-NICS survey provides evidence to shape interventions and focus resources in a way that helps children and their families reach their full potential”.
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria said, “The information collated will inform policies aimed at social inclusion of the most vulnerable population, help identify disparities, and allow for international comparability.
“Data is critical for effective budgeting and decision making – and the data from these surveys together paint a picture of the situation for children and families in Nigeria”.
According to him, “The picture is a mixed one. While there has been some good progress, and we should celebrate that – we still have a long way to go to towards ensuring the well-being of children in Nigeria.
“The findings of this survey will help guide the Federal and State Governments as they plan their budgets – providing evidence for where more support and funds need to be wisely allocated and utilized.
“Using the data to monitor progress towards our collective commitments to children and families, and inform future action is critical if we must leave no one behind.” | https://tribuneonlineng.com/nbs-unicef-launch-2021-multiple-indicator-cluster-survey/ | 2022-08-16T17:58:51Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/nbs-unicef-launch-2021-multiple-indicator-cluster-survey/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The number of animals coming into shelters peaks during the summer months making it a great time to open your heart and home to a new pet.
Summer is a great time to adopt a pet, more people are spending time at home which allows for more time to bond with your pet. The warm weather is also ideal for walks or trips to the park. If you are interested in adopting, first check out the shelter’s website to see what’s available.
“This is when we do see the numbers in shelters go up. Right now we’ve got a number of really nice dogs and a number of cats and even some really cool small pets that are available for adoption.” Lori Swanson, Executive Director, Thomas J O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center
According to Swanson, there are a few things to keep in mind if you are heading to the shelter. First, employees just want to get a sense of who you are, so bring the whole household if you can. Next, be prepared to spend some time at the shelter getting to know a pet. Also, keep an open mind, don’t get stuck on qualities like color or coat, you never know who will pull on your heartstrings.
In addition to being great companions, pets are also good for your health, They lower your blood pressure and help keep you active. Adults who walk their dogs, or cats, are less likely to be overweight. Other benefits include improved cardiovascular fitness, stronger muscles and bones and decreased stress.
Don’t be afraid to cuddle up! Studies have shown that the majority of people sleep better because of their pets. There is no time like the present to get a pet. Shelters are well-stocked with plenty of animals waiting for loving homes and beyond that, you are doing something that’s healthy for both you and your family. | https://www.wwlp.com/love-your-pet/you-never-know-who-will-pull-on-your-heartstrings-perfect-time-to-adopt-a-pet/ | 2022-08-16T17:58:53Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/love-your-pet/you-never-know-who-will-pull-on-your-heartstrings-perfect-time-to-adopt-a-pet/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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