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Training Requires training in how to use the breathing equipment, safety procedures and troubleshooting. Although no centralized certifying or regulatory agency many dive rental and sale shops require proof of diver certification. Requires no training. Snorkelers favor shallow reefs ranging from sea level to 3-12 feet. Deeper reefs are also good, but repeated breath holding to dive to those depths limit the number of practitioners and raises the bar on fitness and skill level.
The 1950s were the heyday of older-generation snorkel-masks, first for the pioneers of underwater hunting and then for the general public who swam in their wake. One even-minded authority of the time declared that "the advantage of this kind of mask is mainly from the comfort point of view. It fits snugly to one's face, there is no mouthpiece to bite on, and one can breathe through either nose or mouth". Another concluded with absolute conviction that "built-in snorkel masks are the best" and "a must for those who have sinus trouble." Yet others, including a co-founder of the British Sub-Aqua Club, deemed masks with integrated snorkels to be complicated and unreliable: "Many have the breathing tube built in as an integral part of the mask. I have never seen the advantage of this, and this is the opinion shared by most experienced underwater swimmers I know". Six decades on, a new generation of snorkel-masks has come to the marketplace (see Figure 3).
Trade winds that are constantly sweeping Aruba cool the fragrant tropical air, whip up great surfing waves and bend local Divi-divi trees all the way over beaches providing shade to beachgoers. A tiny Dutch island in the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba has perfect, sunny weather year around, sparkling white beaches, clear waters and gentle surf. Strong European influence makes architecture in the capital Oranjestad interesting, such as Dutch gables among more typical vividly colored Caribbean houses.
An island may be described as such, despite the presence of an artificial land bridge; examples are Singapore and its causeway, and the various Dutch delta islands, such as IJsselmonde. Some places may even retain "island" in their names for historical reasons after being connected to a larger landmass by a land bridge or landfill, such as Coney Island and Coronado Island, though these are, strictly speaking, tied islands. Conversely, when a piece of land is separated from the mainland by a man-made canal, for example the Peloponnese by the Corinth Canal or Marble Hill in northern Manhattan during the time between the building of the United States Ship Canal and the filling-in of the Harlem River which surrounded the area, it is generally not considered an island.
The small, crescent shaped island of Molokini off the southwestern coast of Maui is a popular destination for snorkeling and diving. In fact, the waters and colorful reefs here are so rich with life, Molokini was named a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District. Molokini is only accessible by boat tour. Tours are available from nearby Maalaea Harbor in Kihei and Lahaina Harbor on Maui’s western shores.
The Cook Islands is a 15-island archipelago nation in the South Pacific, halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, southwest of Tahiti. The islands are scattered across 2.2 million square kilometers of the ocean and 240 square kilometers of land. The Islands’ ancient volcanic peaks, covered with dense vegetation, slope to brilliant white sands and quaint palm-fringed blue lagoons.
By far the most interesting snorkeling in Bermuda can be found off its western beaches. Arrange a tour to visit the remarkable Western Blue Cut, which contains three shipwrecks—the Constellation, Montana, and Lartington—all within easy swimming distances of each other and all lying in less than 20 feet of fabulously clear water often visited by giant grouper. Note: Wet suits are a must in wintertime.
By mid-morning, all the seafront beach chairs were overlaid with people or place-saving towels, so I checked out the upstairs sundeck. For such a large complex, the sandy beach was actually quite narrow, just a spit of sand ringing the wading pool in front of the sea. It reminded me of million-dollar Malibu beachfront homes where erosion has taken almost all of the sand, leaving behind just the idea of a beach. Still, I wasn’t immune to the satisfaction of being in a bikini in the indoor-outdoor world while regular, old February raged on outside, and there was a particular joy in swiping sand from my ankles as I readjusted.
Many people don’t get the chance in their lifetime to encounter dolphins in the wild. By boarding "Shumba," or another of our many personalized Wild Dolphin Encounter and Snorkel boats in Key West, you not only get a unique view of the ocean from under an extended bimini top, you also get the chance to encounter the wild dolphins up close and see how these happy mammals play and interact with each other, and with you! Along with a clean vessel and an energetic crew, this will make for lasting memories and stories to share for years to come.
9:30am, 3:30pm moderate 4.5 hrs Food & Beverages
Situated in a huge hangar originally intended for the construction of cargo airships (though the venture went bust before any living airship made it out of the hangar), Tropical Islands is just off the Berlin-Prague highway, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of Berlin, in the middle of a dark wood in Brandenburg. A Malaysian investor realized the potential of the abandoned structure and brought the jungle of his home country to Germany. I remember when Tropical Islands was under construction: I was living in Berlin at that time and visited the site a couple of times.
In 1997, Miss Maryland Jamie Fox became the first contestant in 50 years to compete in a two-piece swimsuit at the Miss America Pageant. Actresses in action films like Blue Crush (2002) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) made the two-piece "the millennial equivalent of the power suit", according to Gina Bellafonte of The New York Times,
There are many great places to eat in OB. BO-Beau Kitchen + Bar is a romantic spot as it offers upscale French fare in a cozy, candlelit dining room. If you prefer something casual, try the juicy, loaded burgers at Hodad's, fresh fish tacos at South Beach Bar & Grille, or a slice of pizza and some San Diego craft beer at Pizza Port. Kaiserhof is known for its authentic German food and brews while Old Townhouse Restaurant is the best for diner-style breakfast (especially when recovering from a long night out).
Eco Tour • Snorkel • Kayak • Paddleboard
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island in a river or a lake island may be called an eyot or ait, and a small island off the coast may be called a holm. A grouping of geographically or geologically related islands is called an archipelago, such as the Philippines.
From the 1950s to mid-1970s, men's contest formats were often supplemented with women's beauty contests or bikini shows. The winners earned titles like Miss Body Beautiful, Miss Physical Fitness and Miss Americana, and also presented trophies to the winners of the men's contest. In the 1980s, the Ms Olympia competition started in the US and in the UK the NABBA (National Amateur Body Building Association) renamed Miss Bikini International to Ms Universe. In 1986, the Ms Universe competition was divided into two sections – "physique" (for a more muscular physique) and "figure" (traditional feminine presentation in high heels). In November 2010 the IFBBF (International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness) introduced a women's bikini contest for women who do not wish to build their muscles to figure competition levels.
A snorkel can be useful when scuba diving as it is a safe way of swimming face down at the surface for extended periods to conserve the bottled air supply, or in an emergency situation when there is a problem with either air supply or regulator. Many dives do not require the use of a snorkel at all, and some scuba divers do not consider a snorkel a necessary or even useful piece of equipment, but the usefulness of a snorkel depends on the dive plan and the dive site. If there is no requirement to swim face down and see what is happening underwater, then a snorkel is not useful. If it is necessary to swim over heavy seaweed which can entangle the pillar valve and regulator if the diver swims face upward to get to and from the dive site, then a snorkel is useful to save breathing gas.
Kids rode the waterslides in endless loops; couples walked around in matching robes or napped in sync. On the lazy river jet stream channel, I read the words “Memento Mori” tattooed in a scripty font between the shoulder blades of the man in front of me. I ate a frozen yogurt at Café Borneo while an employee wearing a harness walked by. He was pulling a hot air balloon filled with guests.
Stretch nylon bikini briefs and bras complemented the adolescent boutique fashions of the 1960s, allowing those to be minimal. DuPont introduced lycra (DuPont's name for spandex) in the same decade. Spandex expanded the range of novelty fabrics available to designers which meant suits could be made to fit like a second skin without heavy linings. "The advent of Lycra allowed more women to wear a bikini," wrote Kelly Killoren Bensimon, a former model and author of The Bikini Book, "It didn't sag, it didn't bag, and it concealed and revealed. It wasn't so much like lingerie anymore." Increased reliance on stretch fabric led to simplified construction. It allowed designers to create the string bikini, and allowed Rudi Gernreich to create the topless monokini. Alternative swimwear fabrics such as velvet, leather, and crocheted squares surfaced in the early '70s.
The quiet island of Koh Kradan, off Thailand’s west coast in the Andaman Sea, is home to Hat Chao Mai National Park where you can snorkel atop untouched corals and beds of anemones, home to tons of clownfish. The island itself offers accommodation, albeit the rustic variety. Those seeking a more posh experience can bed down on the nearby island of Koh Lanta and take a day trip.
Underwater photography has become more and more popular since the early 2000s, resulting on millions of pictures posted every year on various websites and social media. This mass of documentation is endowed with an enormous scientific potential, as millions of tourists possess a much superior coverage power than professional scientists, who can not allow themselves to spend so much time in the field. As a consequence, several participative sciences programs have been developed, supported by geo-localization and identification web sites, along with protocols for auto-organization and self-teaching aimed at biodiversity-interested snorkelers, in order for them to turn their observations into sound scientific data, available for research. This kind of approach has been successfully used in Réunion island, allowing for tens of new records and even new species.
Rent fins that are neither too tight, nor too loose, and that don't hurt. Having a fin fall off when you most need it, is potentially very bad. And getting sores on your feet from fins that have hard spots or are too tight will ruin your time. Keep in mind that your feet will be wet, and will often shrink a little in the cooler water, and so a snug fit is important. Don't even think about not having fins. They are essential for safety. They give you a tremendous amount of swimming force and will save you a ton of energy. Read more about the different types of fins here.
There are two parking lots and they tend to fill up fast on weekends, so you might have to settle for on-street parking near here. The Ocean Beach Bike Path runs inland along the river from here for bikers and runners. The extreme north end of this beach is called Dog Beach and it’s overrun with happy pooches. To get here, take the Ocean Beach Freeway (I-8) west to the end then follow Sunset Cliffs Boulevard to West Point Loma Blvd which ends at the beach.
The Bahamas is a coral archipelago with 700 islands and more than 2000 cays scattered over 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, about 50 miles off the coast of Florida. The population of the Islands range from deserted to packed, and the most visited are Grand Bahama and Paradise Island. Home to the Andros Barrier Reef, the Bahamas are a scuba divers paradise and some of the best tropical islands to visit in the Caribbean.
Nice reviews. I’ve spent a couple weeks in Bocas and it was a great place despite the crazy partying til 4am at Heiki. I’m more of the exploring, mild social drinking. Panama is amazing. Last summer, I spent 2 weeks on St John, USVI and had a great time. The main exploring takes place in the water. Most of the land isn’t that hike-able, which I like a mixture of both. Super expensive. Just a small carton of orange juice (8oz) was $3, a 1/4 pineapple was 4 dollars, etc. Most everything is imported and their electric runs off a diesel generator and averages $200-$400 a month for electric alone.
Allow about 5-7 working (business) days for delivery. Orders must be picked up within 10 days of delivery to the access point. You will need to present government issued photo id, driver’s license, passport, foreign national or military id as identification in order to pick up your package. If package is not picked up before the time expires, the order will automatically be sent to our warehouse to be processed as a return.

domain: geography


Last July, the Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics released a data brief that found that white adults between the ages of 18 and 64 are far more likely than their black and Hispanic counterparts to search for health information online. Fifty-seven percent of whites surveyed had looked up medical information online over the last 12 months, compared to 38 percent of blacks and 29 percent of Hispanics.
At first look, these findings can be attributed to two well-known and interrelated facts: more than half of all black and Hispanic households lack a broadband connection, and many of these non-adopters cite lack of interest or need as the reason for not being connected. Solving this conundrum requires immediate action by policymakers at every level of government to ensure that more minorities understand and appreciate the many health-related benefits associated with using broadband at home.
However, there are other factors involved. The authors of the CDC brief concluded that “sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors” came into play as “greater use of the Internet for health information…among adults was associated with being…employed, college educated, with income at or above 300 percent of the [federal poverty level], and having private health insurance.” This is not surprising in light of some alarming trends within the black and Hispanic communities.
The Pew Research Center, for example, reported that the “median wealth of white households is 20 times that of black households and 18 times that of Hispanic households.” This wealth gap has long been a barrier for many minorities wishing to get online. Closing this gap will be difficult, though, given the fact that, in general, black and Hispanic students, especially men, lag behind their white and Asian counterparts in school and still comprise far too large a percentage of high school dropouts in the United States. In addition, a significant number of blacks and Hispanics continue to lack health insurance even though they are more likely than whites to develop a number of chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Despite these many barriers, minorities stand to benefit greatly from more avid use of online health services. Resources like HealthcareResourcesOnline.org allow users to instantly access educational tools, patient assistance, coupons, samples, vouchers, and product information. It also offers the ability to connect with others who may be experiencing similar ailments. The research section enables users to participate in market research or as members of various clinical trials.
In addition, innovators continue to develop and release cutting-edge telemedicine tools, many of which are being delivered via wireless broadband networks. Blacks and Hispanics have demonstrated a preference for mobile Internet connectivity, so education and outreach efforts should attempt to raise awareness of wireless-enabled healthcare tools within minority communities.
As detailed at length in MMTC’s book on broadband adoption, using broadband to enable telemedicine tools is critical to ensuring that minorities are able to readily access and benefit from a wider array of affordable healthcare options. However, accessing these opportunities – and acquiring first-class digital citizenship – is impossible without a broadband connection. Our mission must remain the same: We need to bring stakeholders from the public and private sectors together to raise the minority broadband adoption and bolster digital literacy skills.


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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his inaugural address at the 101st Indian Science Congress reiterated that the country should increase its annual expenditure on science and technology to keep pace with international tech-savvy peers.
In a clear indication of significant amounts of black money in poll expenses, 30% of lawmakers spent less than 50% of their poll funds.
At Rs.400 crore, Samsung's advertising budget for mobile phones and tablets dwarfed Apple's Rs. 90-100 crore spent on promoting its iPhones and iPads in the country.
In his inaugural address at the 101st Indian Science Congress here, the Prime Minister also said that India is joining the CERN, a premiere European Organisation for Nuclear Research, as an associate member.
Manappuram Finance has come out with another public issue of secured, redeemable, non-convertible debentures aggregating to Rs 100 crore to finance capital expenditure.
Congress today demanded that all expenses incurred on publicity by BJP should be included in the election expenditure of Narendra Modi and not his party.
Gurgaon district administration has decided to add cost of newspaper, published into favour Aam Aadmi Party , in election expenditure of Yadav.
'If we do not meet the revenue targets, given the slow growth, where do we get the money from except cuts or more divestment?,' asks Prabhat Awasthi.

domain: finance


According to reports coming out of Japan, Toyota is expecting 40,000 pre-sale orders for the 2010 Toyota Prius in Japan, due to go on sale there next month.
That?s a big enough number in itself, but consider that Toyota sold 73,100 Prius models in 2008 and it begins to look like Toyota is shooting at the moon. Not so - the world?s largest carmaker has already received over 20,000 orders.
The third-generation Prius has been beaten to the market by the 2009 Honda Insight, which surpassed domestic Prius sales when it went on sale in Japan in February.
In its first month on the market, 18,000 Honda Insights found homes in Japan, 3.6 times more than the 5,000 units the company had expected.
Priced at 1.89 million yen (AU$26,195), Honda?s 1.3 litre Insight hybrid sells for the same price that Toyota is expected to offer the current model Prius for, while the all-new Prius hybrid, powered by a 1.8 litre engine, will sell in Japan for 2.05 million yen ($AU28,410).
Toyota is expecting 400,000 sales worldwide of the new Prius in 2010.


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“I can’t breathe.”
These words have become agonizingly well-known in recent days.
They were familiar to Jesus also because he frequently encountered people whose experience of isolation, hopelessness, marginalization and pain forced the breath out of their lungs.
Across the Sea of Galilee, along the shore in the country of the Gerasenes, Jesus met a man possessed by demons.
He had been ghettoed among the tombs, where the stench of death and decay made it almost impossible to catch his breath.
Irrational and intolerable people had bound him with shackles and pinned him to the ground, which made breathing even more difficult.
With frantic jerking and pulling against his restraints, he had broken loose and run into the mountains, where, despairing, he screamed day and night and cut himself with sharp stones.
Isolated by unfeeling and fearful townspeople, he was tormented by loneliness and a legion of forces beyond his control.
And then he met Jesus, who was not afraid and did not bind him. The demoniac’s wild eyes, filthy face, matted hair, bloody arms and swollen feet communicated a grim message: “I am alone. I am crushed. I can’t breathe.”
So, Jesus responded (Mark 5:1-20).
While on his way to visit the deathly ill daughter of Jairus, Jesus unexpectedly happened upon a woman whose chronic hemorrhaging had drained all of her physical and financial resources.
For 12 years, she had suffered a condition that made her embarrassed and uncomfortable but also ritually unclean and forbidden to associate with those for whom cleanliness was next to godliness.
Now pressed on every side by a crowd that was pushing to get close to the wonder worker, she felt faint from her repeated, unsuccessful attempts to be rescued.
Then, miraculously, she was next to him. Extending her trembling hand, she touched his garment, maybe to whisper, “I am exhausted. My situation is hopeless. I can hardly breathe.”
So, Jesus responded (Mark 5:25-34).
Traveling to Jerusalem near the border between Judea and Samaria, Jesus saw 10 men who suffered the fearsome scourge of leprosy.
Cloth masks covered their faces, both as a warning and a protection for others. Hardest to endure, however, was the plague of looking dangerous when they were guilty only of being different and disadvantaged.
Then they saw the man whom people claimed could cure illness and even overcome death. They gestured shamelessly and shouted from a safe distance, pleading for mercy and to be noticed.
Sent by him to a priest who could declare them clean and restore them to community, their awful condition was suddenly altered.
Only one of them – a Samaritan sadly accustomed to the racial slurs, stares and suspicions of the Jewish majority – realized that Jesus had treated him with dignity.
Returning, he knelt before this mysterious savior without his mask for the first time in months and thanked him profusely for his kindness.
Perhaps he thought, “I have been an outcast. I could not show my face. But now I can breathe freely again.”
Despite his particularity and imperfection, this leper was a beloved child of God with infinite worth as a fellow human and brother.
So, Jesus responded (Luke 17:11-19).
Such episodes were common in an imperfect, broken world where Jesus’ redemptive response was often needed.
Even at the end of his life, hanging on the center cross between two criminals, Jesus had an opportunity to show what abundant living looks like.
One of those crucified with him was skeptical and dismissive, demanding he use any power he had to save them both.
But then Jesus turned to the other thief, who begged to be remembered after the “King of the Jews” came into his kingdom.
The dying man longed for something he felt was unattainable. He expressed his hope haltingly, with tremendous effort and labored breathing, because the cruel design of the cross as an instrument of political torture and death made it increasingly difficult for a victim to inhale and exhale.
Gasping for air, the penitent thief used his last ounce of strength – almost his last lungful of air – to plead for help.
It was as if he said, “I am nobody important, but I don’t want to be forgotten. I dream that maybe there is still life after I have breathed my last.”
So, Jesus responded (Luke 23:39-43).
Two thousand years have passed since Jesus met these people whose stifling circumstances sucked the air out of their lungs.
They cried out for companionship, cleansing, compassion and a chance to live. Their words became both an appeal for social justice and an indictment against the domination systems of the day.
“I can’t breathe. I am isolated, hopeless, marginalized or pained. I am a victim of social misunderstanding, religious judgmentalism, racial discrimination or governmental oppression. Help me, please. I can’t breathe.”
Jesus heard these cries for help and responded with restoration, healing, transformation and promise.
More to the point, however, is the implication of these gospel stories. For when we hear these same calls for assistance from those we encounter today, are our hearts and minds troubled and will we be stirred to act?
How will we – who claim to follow the way of Jesus – respond?

domain: literature


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This is a richly and brilliantly illuminated booklet about an extensive subject. The 59 illustrations -- all in colour -- are very instructive. They constitute a goldmine for everyone with an interest in "the other medieval world." All the monstrous figures appear in medieval manuscripts in the British Library, and this booklet is an elegant appetizer and introduction to the Library's illuminated manuscripts. It is a bit more difficult to adopt an attitude to the text. The author writes that she will explore the pantheon of medieval monsters in images from manuscripts seeking their roots in antiquity, the Bible, and in the imagination of artists, authors, and scribes (6). The text is too short for any serious investigation, and that is not its intention, but we must consequently content ourselves with a fine preliminary introduction to the grotesque world, though one which is, nevertheless, rather a narrow path to an understanding of this fascinating world.
Alixe Bovey insists that nowhere are the monsters more abundant than in illuminated manuscripts, "which collectively preserve more medieval art than any other type of object" (5). Of course it is impossible to prove this assertion quantitatively, but the world of monsters in art outside and inside churches is huge, and probably not smaller than that in manuscripts. One should also draw attention to the medieval wall paintings teeming with grotesque figures, in which one can find hundreds of grotesques and indeed thousands of images that do not belong to traditional iconography (see www.kalkmalerier.dk [search droleri] and www.medieval-image.org).
In this book, as promised at the beginning, Bovey describes the roots of the grotesques from antique authors to Mandeville's Travels, from the Bestiary to the Bible, from Dante's Divine Comedy to Psalters and Books of Hours. Yet it is difficult to find out if there is a difference between the individual sources. The reader needs indications of eventual deviations in the representation of monsters within different sources and media. The author writes that whereas book production originally had been dominated by monasteries, from the thirteenth century it was possible to commission manuscripts from professional scribes and illuminators in the towns (43). These illuminators and their patrons loved fabulous grotesque imagery. One is tempted to ask to what degree these late medieval grotesques and monsters corresponded with their roots. Is there an unbroken link from Pliny's writings to the Rutland Psalter's illuminator, whose work "boasts many monsters with a clear pedigree in the Plinian monsters" (p. 51)? Which creatures are we looking at? We can use neither analogy nor traditional iconography, inasmuch as "the attempt to create a system of descriptive categories for that which exists to resist and confound systematization involves an obvious contradiction" (David Williams, Deformed discourse. The Function of the Monster in Medieval Thought and Literature [Exeter, 1996], 107).
The author points to an interesting subject: the relationship between written stories and painted images. Artists had to imagine what the verbally described monsters looked like. Two different images of giants with enormous fan-shaped ears indicate that visual representation is creating an independent monstrous world (10-11). In response to the assertion that medieval illuminators had to imagine the verbal description, one might point to Rudolf Wittkower who has argued that one of the two images has obviously been derived from a source different from the text ("Marvels of the East: a Study in the History of Monsters," in Rudolf Wittkower, Allegory and the Migration of Symbols , 5).
The subject is of especially crucial importance to illuminated manuscripts, with their close relationship between word and image. One would thus like to learn more when reading that "other grotesques interact directly with the text" (50). To what extent are our linguistic translations of the visual configurations correct or adequate? Bovey writes about an illustration in the Rutland Psalter that "an arrow shot from the bow of a hunched creature is about to hit the bottom of a sciopod, who is oblivious to the imminent strike" ?(51). On the same image Michael Camille comments that the letter "p" of the Latin word conspectu (meaning to see or penetrate visually) enters the anus of a prostrate fish-man by joining up with the arrow shot by an exotic archer (Image on the Edge , 22). The interrelationship between word and image is complicated and apparently mutual. I would like to ask, is it a Plinian blemmya who is standing with a bow and an ancient sciopod who is being shot in his anus by the arrow? Or have they established quite a new late medieval life in the nearness of a text? And do they represent the same connotative world when they appear in other media, e.g. wall paintings liberated from the linear text? Both can for example be seen facing each other in the Danish church of Raby (www.kalkmalerier.dk [search 123-2344, 123-2348, and NF-0758]). In Voldby church one find a crowned blemmya standing with a long arrow or a spear pointing at another crowned blemmya. Behind him a man is lying on his back with his legs spread. Before the picture's restoration he had undoubtedly exposed his bare bottom (www.kalkmalerier.dk [search Voldby-10]). There are quite a lot of similarities between the two images in the Rutland Psalter and the Danish wall painting. But maybe they connote two complete different meanings.
These remarks advocate interdisciplinary research about monsters and grotesques in manuscripts as well as in other media. On this task, one can make a start in Bovey's booklet.

domain: library


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Using plastic deformation tests and high-energy X-ray scattering, we examined the anelastic strain and structural anisotropy in a binary Cu64.5Zr35.5 metallic glass deformed homogeneously under uniaxial compression at 425 °C, which is approximately 60 °C below the glass transition temperature. For a sample quenched immediately after deformation, we find that the atomic structure observed by X-ray scattering is anisotropic with the average bond length parallel to the loading axis being smaller than that of an undeformed, structurally relaxed reference sample, while the average bond length normal to the loading axis is dilated relative to the same reference sample. For a different sample annealed at 425 °C for 500 s immediately following deformation, the magnitude of the structural anisotropy decreases as anelastic strain is recovered. The relationship between the atomic-scale structural rearrangements that occur during annealing and the macroscopic anelastic strain recovery is discussed.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Ceramics and Composites
- Polymers and Plastics
- Metals and Alloys

domain: chemistry


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Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer told the commissioners this week that there are several businesses looking to expand their operations. Origer said it’s time to look for more funding in the Revolving Loan Fund.
“We have a couple of businesses in the community who have approached me in the last two weeks that are interested in expanding and possibly trying to borrow from the RLF (Revolving Loan Fund),” said Origer. “Wednesday afternoon I’m going up to the Department of Ag’s Rural Development office in Knox to look into some of their funding opportunities to expand our Revolving Loan Fund because right now we only have about $70,000. Any one of these three who have approached me just in the last week or two are probably going to kill that. That’s a good thing but it’s a bad thing.”
Origer added that this would allow the county to make more funds available for other expansion plans should they arise.

domain: news


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R.I.N. (replicated intelligence network) final animation. I’ll be trying to update weekly for the next few weeks as I continue to push closer to finishing the game demo (still needs a lot of work) and also finishing the first pages of the motion comic which will be somewhere between 12-16 pages with some animated panels. The game and comic will release together and will kick off the official story line of Neon Wasteland so stay tuned.
Shields has a website, following the URL in the animation: www.robshields.net.
The animation comes to us via Cursed Maker.

domain: artistic


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Sewing the Scene: The Uses of Embroidery in Medieval Film
By Valentina S. Grub
Paper given at the Borderlines XIX Conference at Queen’s University, Belfast on April 12, 2015
Introduction: Well before any of us went to school and learned about the Middle Ages through academic text books, our conception of the era was probably established through more non-academic means, namely literature and film. It is impossible to know with the precision needed to create a film what the Middle Ages actually looked like. Thus, filmmakers more often than not, fall back on inaccurate tropes that we have come to equate with the Middle Ages, but which are really romantic constructs of the 19th century. And it is this very type of ahistoricism, according to historian Arthur Lindley, which obscures the reality of the Middle Ages and sentimentalizes it in a way that denies it any real independent existence. Filmmaker Andrew Elliot also noted that scholars are upset with Hollywood because, as he describes it, of the ‘filmmaker’s audacity to infringe on the serious scholarly domain of the Middle Ages.’ But if this is the way most people are exposed to the Middle Ages, then it behoves us to acknowledge medieval film as an important area of scholarship.
But is there really such a thing as a ‘medieval film’, and if so, what defines it? In her book, Filming the Middle Ages, Bettina Bildhauer argues that medieval films should be considered a genre unto themselves, sharing a portrayal as a time of monks, death, sexual repression and violence; this demonization has its origins in the Reformation and the Enlightenment. But the accuracy (or lack thereof) of events and scenery aside, there are three characteristics which define a medieval film; non-linear time, a visual rather than a literate culture, and an anti-individualism that Bildhauer calls ‘pre-individualism’. This is relatively broad criteria for medieval films, and encompasses everything from The Name of the Rose to Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
But just as important as the construction and perception of the Middle Ages in film is the creation of the feminine in medieval films. Particularly in earlier films, female characters are shown as passive and languid, and are rarely the main protagonist. In addition to their clothing and attitudes, the use of embroidery is key in establishing and further grounding the female characters and the setting in the Middle Ages. It is where, as Pauline Johnstone explains, the popular conception that ‘embroideries were created by ladies wearing their elegant wimples, sitting in their solars sewing a graceful seam whilst listening to troubadours’ is reinforced. In reality, it was almost equally as likely that a man would embroider as would a woman, and there were several men noted for their skill with the needle in the Middle Ages. However, the 19th century came to see embroidery as the height of femininity and equated medieval women with this as a symbol of domesticity. In these films, embroidery establishes a feminine space which is at odds with the other, male-dominated scenes. However, more recently, embroidery has been used in medieval film as a means by which the main female character reclaims her autonomy.
I will be looking at a selection of films that conform to Bildhauer’s criteria, and which form a continuum. The continuum begins with female characters who create a feminine space, only to wait there for the main male character to invade it, which corresponds to a change in their marital or maternal status. On the other side of the continuum, embroidery both connotes and denotes an acceptance of the main character and the claiming of her independence.

domain: history


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NORTH TEXAS MAYORS
to Celebrate our International Ethnic Communities
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2011
Contact: Anne Marie Weiss-Armush
DFW International Community Alliance
Thirty-eight North Texas mayors have been invited by DFW International Community Alliance to participate in a dinner on Tuesday, June 14 that celebrates the contributions of New Americans to the DFW area. Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia is the Honorary Chair of this fourth annual dinner, which will be held at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Rd, at 6 pm. In 2010 twenty-three mayors participated, and this year the flags of 75 nations will be presented during the event. The DFW International Dinner with the Mayors is open to the public and tickets are available for $100 from the webpage www.dfwinternational.org, or by calling 972-965-5727.
According to the US Census data collected in the recent DFW Today report prepared by DFW International Community Alliance, a total of 2,447,053 North Texans are either foreign-born or the children of immigrants. Two hundred thirty nine languages are spoken in the metroplex, and in 29.3% of the region's homes, English is not the language spoken normally spoken.
Honorary Chair and member of the DFW International Advisory Board, Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia says, “As Honorary Chair and Advisory Board member for DFW International Community Alliance, we invite you to continue writing the history of International Dallas by joining the mayors of the DFW metropolitan municipalities and more than 70 international communities as we come together to share our diverse and wonderful cultures and move forward in building a vibrant international community in the DFW area.”
The evening’s emcee will be Raul Mateo, Director of Diversity and Community Outreach at SMU Meadow School of the Arts, and MillerCoors Latino Líder of the year. Raul says, "Education is the most important issue to most New Americans, which make up 44% of residents in our area. Government alone can’t solve the educational crisis affecting our country; it will take all of us working together with our elected officials to improve the quality of education for our children. Join us at the 2011 Dinner with our Mayors on June 14th and become part of the movement.”
DFW International Dinner with the Mayors
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Rd
$100 for individual ticket, $900 for community table, tickets available from www.dfwinternational.org
6:00 pm reception with cultural program
6:30 pm photos with the mayors
7:00 pm Parade of Nations with flags representing New Americans from 75 countries
7:25 pm five course international banquet
DFW International Community Alliance is the portal for global North Texas, a network of 1,600 of the regions ethnic and internationally-focused civic, community and educational organizations. Its mission is to build mutual understanding and respect by linking diverse international cultural communities. The organization promotes and links North Texas global groups through its website and cultural calendar at http://www.dfwinternational.org/ . For more details about DFW International Community Alliance, see the media page HERE or call 972-661-2764.

domain: sociology


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The city will not pay former City Council member John Montgomery's legal fees in a lawsuit filed against him and Sunrise by Council President Bill Colon, council members decided Tuesday.
In the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Colon claims that in 1983 then- Council President Montgomery violated his civil rights by conspiring to have him fired from a job with a Lauderhill insurance company.
Also named in Colon's lawsuit, scheduled to be heard before District Judge Jose Gonzalez on April 14, is former Mayor John Lomelo, the city of Sunrise and two city police officers.
Montgomery, who was removed from office last October following his conviction on extortion and tax evasion charges -- the extortion conviction was later overturned -- says the city should pay his legal fees because the alleged actions occurred while he served on the council.
In addition, Montgomery claims the city provided him with legal defense without protest until he and Lomelo, who is now in a federal prison, were removed from office last year.
Four attorneys who have represented the city advised council members not to pay the fees, saying the action could compromise the city in other pending lawsuits involving Montgomery.
Council member Mike Stern agreed, saying, "If John Montgomery conspired with John Lomelo to violate Bill Colon's civil rights, he was not acting as a councilman, and I don't want to pay his legal fees."
The vote against Montgomery's request was 3-1, with Colon not voting and council member Bernie Weiselberg voting to pay the costs.
While the city is also a defendant in the Colon suit, it has filed a counterclaim against Montgomery, saying that any wrongdoing on Montgomery's part was done outside the scope of his council duties.
After the council decision, Montgomery said he would probably sue to recover costs for the Colon case as well. He also is suing the city to recover legal costs from his federal extortion case.


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Photos and projections from our Lights Trauma Revelation Chicago Show at Outerspace Studios.By the time the openers: Eugenia Leigh, Fatimah Asghar, Ching-In Chen and Angela Torres left the stage, we felt as though the space was opened with so much tenderness and risk-taking ferocity that it was so natural for all of us to be fearless with them. Thank you for that, and reminding us why we write poetry. Let us stay in touch and form a constellation of asian-american poetry together.
Lights Trauma Revelation: iampaultran, cathylinhche, and jessxchen are three asian-american poets going on tour across the country. Next stop: St. Paul, Madison, South Dakota, and Seattle.
For an upcoming list of shows go here.
Photos and projections from our Lights Trauma Revelation NYC Kickoff Show at the Wild Poets House with openers: Sally Wen Mao, Wo Chan and Hosannah Asuncion. Tuesday August, 26th, 2014. Thank you NYC for your warmth and generosity of spirit.
Lights Trauma Revelation: iampaultran , cathylinhche, and jessxchen are three asian-american poets going on tour across the country. Next stop: Detroit! For an upcoming list of shows go here.
"Ode to My Burning Country" Jess X Chen 2014 | gouache and ink
For the first time I found the time and confidence to make a painting that directly addresses the violence of my cultural history. I see the Cultural Revolution as a forest fire that spread across China from 1966-1976. It clear-cut millions of family trees through extreme propaganda & violent class struggle instigated by the government. This is the last family dinner. Even sixty years later, my motherland still burns from the phantom pain. Though I may never understand, I can honor the resilience of my people.
Thanks to yukoshimizu & chris buzelli for the direction, and extended time they spent on giving me feedback, and pushing me to do a personal piece.
do you have an instagram? i'm gonna do artist promotions on my ig tomorrow!
Hello. I am super excited for the reading you are doing in Seattle in September. I bought your poetry book and absolutely loved in. I was super bummed that I missed Silence and the Earth but didn't hear about it and was unfamiliar with your work at the time.
aw, thank you so much! Silence & The Earth is turning into a feature film, so its’ okay if you were one of the many who missed it! It will be a long labor of love, but we’re all excited for it. We should actually be doing two readings in Seattle! One of them is at Youthspeaks sunday open mic, on Sunday September 7th: the facebook event is here, and the other one, the venue is yet to be disclosed! Hope to meet you then and thank you for your support.
can you recommend any asian artists? thanks
yeah!! i’m gonna take a minute to make this post bc there def are some asian artists that i admire
kelsey tahara!!, my old friend! // illustration, paint // usa // instagram
jess x. chen // illustration , poetry, filmmaking // usa // tumblr
vivian a new friend! // photography // usa // tumblr // website
lee lai // illustration, comics // aus // tumblr
(me! rosi vo // lettering // usa // work)
im in the car rn so i cant do anything more involved but i thought of two more! julaya-antolin (photography) & lescreamingtrees (filmography)
Wow so nice to be included on this list of asian-american artists. Thanks Rosi -> yellowxperil <3. I can compile you a list of poets too if needed.
Jess X Chen 2009-2014
These are actually cropped parts from one of the earliest watercolors that I’ve ever done in 2009 that I’m rather embarrassed by. The red adds a visceral element and revives them into more abstract pieces that I feel comfortable showing.
The heart is where the body begins and ends.
When you listen to my heartbeat, you listen
to my lineage and my blood.
"Funeral for the Honey Bee" by Jess X Chen
Scratchboard / Screenprint | 14”x19”
" I close my wings and hit
the ground. I open my wings
and my colony drops dead. I close my wings
and every flower at my funeral mourns for me.”
- excerpt from The Last Words of the Honey Bees , a poem from my recent chapbook of poetry: From The Earthworm To The Night
Did you know all worker bees are women?
Watch this ted talk by bee researcher, Martha Spivak to learn more about colony collapse disorder.
Additionally, a limited edition of colored gicleé prints of this image are available at the LoveHoldLetGo store.
They will also be available very soon at the Justseeds Collective store!
The last 5 black and white screenprints of Funeral For The Honey Bee are now available at the Justseeds store!
50% of the profits will go towards sustaining the justseedsartists Cooperative, a decentralized network of 24 artists committed to making print and design work that reflects a radical social, environmental, and political stance. I’m constantly impressed by the portfolios JustSeeds manages to put together and how they unite transcendent imagery, a politically-engaged artist practice, and tangible activism.
A series of painted envelopes for letters. #mailart / Jess X Chen 2014
Jess X Chen / Sketchbook 2014
Just a sky someone might have seen last night. When this lifetime ends I will be just a part of that red sunset.
Jess X Chen 2014
More zombie cat mail art!
"Fog" Jess X Chen 2014 | Digital Photography
Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia
"Inspired by the directorial cue—”Lights, camera, action!”—award-winning poets Cathy Linh Che ( cathylinhche ) , Jess X Chen ( jessxchen ) and Paul Tran ( iampaultran ) embark on a cross-country extravaganza to read from their first and upcoming books. From New York City to Seattle, these fearless poets combine the ferocity of oral history, spoken word, and Asian American poetics to extricate new narratives of trauma, exile, colonialism, and love in the aftermath of war. Their poems turn from anger to sorrow, mercy to compassion, the erotic to the crowning of one’s own life. Nothing is spared or unexamined. Here is a desire to witness and write it all.”
Poster & Photography by Jess X Chen, with assistance from Paul Tran and Cathy Linh Che
The event for our NYC Kick off show is here.
So excited to announce that I’m going on a short cross-country tour with two of my favorite asian-american poets, and best friends: Cathy Linh Che and Paul Tran at the end of this month! Follow our adventures at lightstraumarevelation !
On heavy mornings, as I feel the dead weight of my body rise with the light of the sun, I am reminded: perhaps it is no miracle that this body will someday become stardust.
Jess X Chen 2014 / #sketchbook #watercolor
And every sprout is holy.
Jess X Chen / Sketchbook 2014


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TEWS Technologies is committed to operating in a socially and environmentally responsible and ethical manner throughout the world.
As an EU manufacturer, our standard products are designed and built using 100% lead-free soldering metals in compliance with the RoHS requirements. In addition, certain older or customer specific products that required lead-based solders are available under the various EU exemptions.
The embedded I/O electronic products produced by TEWS Technologies are considered Articles under the EU’s REACH definition. The articles are not intended to release any substances under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use and, based on current information available, do not contain any substance meeting the criteria of a “Substances of Very High Concern” (SVHC)” in sufficient amount to trigger notification.
We support the humanitarian goals of the US Dodd-Frank Act and the EU ‘Conflict Minerals’ Regulation (2017/821) in ending the illegal trade of conflict minerals. Conflict Minerals include tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold or their derivatives which are used in many electronic components.


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2018. All Rights Saved


Jharkhand HRD minister pitches idea for reservation of Govt jobs for students of Govt schools
Jharkhand Human resource development (HRD) minister Jagarnath Mahto pitched for an idea of reservation of government jobs for students studying in government schools.
Objective behind the idea is to make government schools lucrative and relevant, the minister said.
“Even though the plan is in very nascent stage and nothing has been finalized yet, we are working on this idea. We are discussing it with every stakeholder and taking their views if this idea can be translated into reality,” Mahto said over phone.
“I come from a poor family. So, I understand their problem. Students studying in private schools have several career options. They can go for big opportunities such as becoming scientist, IT professionals and many others. But, government school students have limited options of jobs because they mostly belong to poor families in rural areas,” the minister said.
A parent of a private school spends Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 in a year for education of a child. “Government officers, employees and ministers all send their children to private schools for education. But, they need government jobs,” he said,
The government spends Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per student every year in government schools, he said. “If they don’t get government jobs, what is the benefit of spending such huge money every year,” the minister said.
Government schools do not get attention as compared to the private schools. “If this idea could be brought into action, the government schools would able to draw the attention of all. We know poor students of rural Jharkhand mainly go to government schools. The idea can also bring a change in their living standards,” Mahto said.
When the minister asked about school infrastructure and quality of teachers in government schools, he said these all would improve when government schools would get attention.
State educationists welcomed the idea but said it would be tough to bring into action due to Constitutional provisions.
Former pro-VC (vice-chancellor) of Ranchi University, VP Sharan, said, “Idea is not bad. It will help government schools to bring its importance back. Everyone would love to go to government schools. But, it needs to be checked if constitution allows implementing such idea. I believe three to four articles in the constitution including the law of equality that could be a hurdle in way of implementing this idea.”


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Regional thoughts from the No. 1 Cajuns
UL baseball coach Tony Robichaux has avoided discussing rankings all season long – even when his Ragin’ Cajuns rose to No. 1 in one of five national polls.
So it should come as no big shock that Robichaux did not embrace it even when the Cajuns became unanimous No. 1 earlier this week, as it prepared for play as the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament under way today.
“We don’t talk about it,” said Robichaux, whose host 53-7 Cajuns open the Lafayette Regional at 6 tonight vs. Jackson State.
At the start of the season, Robichaux convinced his club of this: “We made them realize that if being No. 1 guaranteed you to get to (the College World Series in) Omaha … we’d talk about it.”
Obviously, it does not.
Some other thoughts from the Cajuns heading into their opener in a Regional that also includes Mississippi State and San Diego State:
X X X
From starting left fielder Caleb Adams: “I think it’s very winnable. We’re not gonna take the field if we plan on losing. So we plan on winning this Regional. We plan on winning every game we play.”
X X X
From starting centerfielder Seth Harrison: “These last couple weeks, it’s been fun … to watch my teammates do it. Just watching runners go first-to-third, just watching guys coming out the pen and shutting down the inning, hitting jacks (home runs). It’s fun to watch, fun to play, fun to be a part of. We have a lot of versatility, and to see it work, it’s a great feeling.”
X X X
From starting second baseman Jace Conrad: “We’re just gonna come out, and we’re not gonna think of the little things outside of playing our game and staying together and winning.”
X X X
From Robichaux, whose team has not lost back-to-back games all season long: “Our private work is now just starting to become public. These guys put a lot of work in behind closed doors to do what they’ve done.”

domain: sports


Coventry's Youth Offending Service has passed an audit by the national Youth Justice Board with flying colours, achieving the highest rating possible.
The team, which has been considered to be at the forefront of cutting youth crime for some time, was praised for the "supportive environment" for young people, the commitment and skills of staff, and its close working relationship with local authority agencies.
Initial feedback from the auditors singled out the range of programmes provided for young offenders aged 10 to 18 as being "particularly excellent".
The Evening Telegraph reported recently that the first year of a scheme involving first-time offenders had notched up a 90 per cent success rate, with the majority of youngsters making significant strides towards getting back into education or employment.
The referral panel scheme sees volunteers from the public and a case worker from the YOS help draw up a specially-tailored programme for the young offender, including some form of community punishment, help for any drug or alcohol problems, as well as educational or training goals.
Head of Coventry YOS Andy Pepper said: "We have been told we will be awarded a two-star rating this year. No authority will receive a three-star rating as it is the first audit of its kind.
"Obviously that means we have scored as highly as possible and we are, of course, delighted with the outcome. Every member of the service and our partner agencies should be commended for their contribution to the success of the service."
John Bolton, director of social services and chairman of the Youth Offending Service steering group, said: "The auditors were really impressed by the way in which the YOS brought together staff from different disciplines, including police, teachers, social and youth workers, and volunteers to provide an imaginative range of services to work with young people to reduce crime in the city."


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The Bryce Edwards Frivolity Hour
Multi-talented instrumentalist and modern-day vaudevillian vocalist Bryce Edwards makes his solo debut at Birdland Theater with “The Bryce Edwards Frivolity Hour.” The acclaimed troubadour presents a variety show that enthusiastically reviews traditional jazz and popular music from the 1910s, 20s, and 30s, bringing his singular verve and sensibility to songs made famous by artists such as Bing Crosby, Ted Lewis, Cliff Edwards, and more. Taking cues from the crooners of the era, as well as the bombastic voices of the acoustic phonograph era, Edwards accompanies himself on a myriad of instruments, including banjo, ukulele, tenor guitar, and mandolin. In between musical numbers, Edwards gleefully delivers snappy dialogue and witty banter, providing a timeless night of entertainment and fun. Joined by extraordinary jazzmen Scott Ricketts (cornet), Ricky Alexander (clarinet, tenor saxophone), Conal Fowkes (piano), and Jay Rattman (bass saxophone), Edwards brings his delightfully idiosyncratic and eccentric performance style to Birdland’s most intimate space.
Venue: Birdland Theater
315 WEST 44TH STREET
What do you think?
New York Pop’s Holiday Performance at Thompson Central Park at Parker's
The New York City Pops are currently performing at Carnegie Hall, which is steps away from Thompson Central Park. An ode to New York City’s music history, and named for the late, great jazz musician C...
Julieta Eugenio Trio Joins Tribeca PAC for 40th Anniversary Season! at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Julieta Eugenio is an Argentinian Saxophonist based in New York City. Since obtaining her Jazz Masters Degree from Queens College, she has blazed a trail in the industry and worked alongside the fines...
Rotunda Holiday Concert: Charles Turner & Uptown Swing with Jasmine Rice LaBeija at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Celebrate the season with festive music rooted in the tradition of jazz, swing, and the blues. For this evening, Charles Turner & Uptown Swing, along with Asian drag artist and Juilliard-trained tenor...

domain: entertainment


LED rear lights
Climate control air conditioning
Monte Carlo logo and exterior styling including rear spoiler, rear diffuser, front grille and door mirrors in black
TRAVEL IN STYLE. TRAVEL IN SPACE.From OTR
The ground breaking technology integral to the inner workings of the ŠKODA Superb Estate provides a truly enhanced driving experience, powered by your choice of new EU6 compliant engines. The new cutting edge direct-injection turbocharged engines consist of four TSI petrol and three TDI diesel engines, making them more powerful and more dynamic.
Explore further by seeing what each engine has to offer and begin planning your engine set up.
The TSI engine always runs quietly meaning that your driving comfort is not compromised whether driving leisurely down a country lane or at higher speeds along a busy motorway. The TSI engines also come with direct fuel injection and a turbocharger with waste gate.
These 4-cylinder engines come with direct fuel injection and a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry.
The ŠKODA Superb Estate comes with brake energy recovery, a feature that transforms the kinetic energy generated when braking into usable electricity, which is either stored in the battery or used across any of the electrical systems. The stop/start system is also included. Simply clever.
Do not remove or change this. This is for GA tracking. You will not see in the front-end.
© ŠKODA AUTO a.s. 2018


Rajon Rondo is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers after a couple of entertaining weeks. Last season, the veteran point guard played with the Atlanta Hawks before getting traded to the Los Angeles Clippers to help the Californians win a championship.
He couldn't do it, and the Clips traded him to Memphis. The Grizzlies decided to waive Rondo over the weekend, with the Los Angeles Lakers looking like the favorites to land the 2x NBA champion.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Rondo is returning to the Lakers on a one-year deal. This is what the Lakers have done this offseason after landing Russell Westbrook to create a Big 3 with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers superstar trio will take most of the cap space for the next season, with the rest of the roster signing mid-level and minimum deals. Rondo now belongs to the second group after agreeing to a $2.6 million contract.
Rajon was part of the Lakers team that won the championship in the Orlando bubble last year. He will try to help the squad again next season.


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 is a high-end desktop graphics card based on the second generation Maxwell architecture. The GM204 chip is manufactured in 28 nm at TSMC. Compared to the older GeForce GTX 780Ti, the 980 offers similar performance levels but at reduced average power consumption. The similarly named Nvidia Geforce GTX 980M for notebooks is based on the same chip, but uses less shader cores and slower clock speeds for reduced performance. Since end of 2015, the GTX 980 is also used in laptops (same chip with same clocks and branding).
The Geforce GTX 980 supports a range of unique features like CUDA, 3D Vision, PhysX, GeForce Experience, GameStream, GPU Boost 3.0, Adaptive Vertical-Sync / G-Sync, SLI, DSR, MFAA and Virtual Reality latency improvements.
GeForce GTX 900 Series
|Pipelines||2048 - unified|
|Core Speed||1126 - 1216 (Boost) MHz|
|Memory Speed||3500 MHz|
|Memory Bus Width||256 Bit|
|Max. Amount of Memory||4 GB|
|API||DirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.5|
|Power Consumption||165 Watt|
|Transistor Count||5.2 Billion|
|Features||CUDA, 3D Vision, PhysX, GeForce Experience, Surround, GameStream, GPU Boost 2.0, Adaptive Vertical Sync, G-SYNC, SLI|
|Date of Announcement||19.09.2014|
|Link to Manufacturer Page||http://www.nvidia.de/object/geforce-gtx-...|


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Bands vie for slots at massive Chicago festival
Lollapalooza Festival organisers have announced the details of a contest that gives bands the world over the chance to perform at the massive Chicago event.
Last Band Standing asks bands to submit their music and information online so the public can vote on them. Finalists will compete at a live show in Chicago where celebrity judges will determine the winners.
The winner of the competition and the first runner-up will be given performance slots at the festival August 3-5 at Chicago’s Grant Park, where they’ll share the stage with the likes of Interpol, Muse, Iggy And The Stooges, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pearl Jam and Modest Mouse.
For further information, visit Lollpalooza.mp3.com.
–By our Los Angeles staff.


Timing Chain Problems
The timing chain problems affecting the n47 and n47s engines pertain to the following BWM ECT series models: 1, 3, and 5.
At Fermoy Garage, we only use all genuine BMS parts to make these repairs.
We can provide dealer-level diagnostics for BMWs.
Full Diagnostic Service Available for all makes of engine, airbag, ABS, including DPF problems and re-mapping.


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“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
~ Soren Kierkegaard
If you wish for freedom, you will never know it—but if you take and protect your freedom, it will be yours. Instead of succumbing to fear, and looking to government for answers, take charge of your own lives, and make all those that would assault you, your mind, your body, or your liberty, know fear. Fear is just a catalyst used by the ruling class in order to frighten and divide the people so as to gain power and control over them. This fabricated fear leads to dependence, which leads to indifference; indifference leads to silence, silence leads to oppression, and oppression leads to slavery. It is better for the people to instill great fear in the minds of any that would choose to rule over them, instead of accepting tyranny from the scourge that is the political class. All of this boils down to the fact that the citizens themselves are entirely to blame for their current lot in life.
Most of the people in this country are fond of claiming that this is a republic, and that the people rule over the government through their alleged ‘representatives,’ not the other way around. The irony is that this belief is ridiculous, while also being partially true, because the people are their own worst enemy. They have voluntarily allowed others to rule over them, and they believe that by voting for their own masters that they have some control over the process, and the policies created therein. This thinking of course is lunacy, but it is the prevalent attitude of the masses. This asinine notion has been instilled in them since birth, and the bulk of society still believes that they are ‘free.’ The people could be fully in charge in that they have the power to accept or deny rule, but in the case of the majority of people in the United States, they have accepted state domination instead of self-rule. In order to reverse this situation, all that is necessary is for the public at large to remove all consent from any claiming authority.
The solution seems simple enough, but the problem lies in how to achieve it given the weakness, cowardice, and gullibility of the herd. In order to regain the upper hand in any quest for freedom, all that is necessary is for a fairly large number of people to disobey any government order, and to deny any support whatsoever for the political class. Disobedience, non-compliance, and self-defense against any aggression by the oligarchic few attempting to gain power and control over you, will end immediately any attempt by the state to acquire that control. So why is this population so seemingly consumed with an attitude of acquiescence? This society continues to wallow in self-pity and such irrational timidity as to allow for its own servitude at the hands of tyrants when simple rebellion would save the day.
What is going on today is a psychological experiment by ‘governing’ forces meant to accomplish a global takeover referred to often as “The Great Reset.” This experiment in order to be successful requires that the masses acquiesce to those in power, follow orders, and obey all rules ‘mandated’ by the state. Once this mindset is in place, as is the case now, regulation of every aspect of life becomes evident. Thought is controlled, as is behavior and movement, and the one test of the psyche of this country’s people used to gauge total compliance has already been achieved. That test is the almost universal wearing of useless and deadly masks. Allowance has replaced all freedom, confusion has replaced clarity, and sacrifice by all is expected.
We are now in a time where the people in the name of condemning any that choose to resist and disobey, are justifying evil. Government edicts are being protected by the masses due to false fear of ‘virus’ monsters that do not exist. The American people are being used to solidify their own servitude, and are operating in concert with the ruling class to destroy their own liberty. This is only the beginning of a greater hell on earth. Once the economy is completely destroyed, once the biosecurity state is fully in place, once digital money and tracking are complete, and once this terrible and life-changing ‘covid’ vaccine is widely injected, will there be any way out?
Arguments will continue, and blame will be spread wide, but in the end as Pogo so eloquently put it, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Collectivism and collective ‘thinking’ are the ruination of man, and can only lead to communal self-destruction.To Know the Enemy That Has Caused This Tyrannical Carnage, Just Look at the Reflection in the Mirror


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safari net – follow up
Marriott International has reinforced its commitment to developing local talent in Saudi Arabia by launching its fourth iteration of the Tahseen leadership programme. The 12-month programme, designed in partnership with Cornell University, aims to develop the next generation of hospitality leaders. This year’s programme in Saudi Arabia, which also includes Bahraini nationals, will feature more than 37 new participants.
Francisca Martinez, Chief Human Resources Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International, said, “Our commitment to investing in young local talent to ensure the success of the Kingdom’s travel and tourism sector is unwavering. We are excited to launch the fourth edition of Tahseen in Saudi Arabia and look forward to developing the next group of hospitality leaders in the Kingdom. We are also delighted to see the continuous career advancement of those leaders who previously graduated from the program in the Kingdom despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic.”
In partnership with Cornell University, the fourth year of Tahseen in the Kingdom will see 37 participants go through a unique and highly individualized 12-month programme focused on practical application across all departments as well as an in-depth understanding of leadership skills led by teams across Marriott’s participating hotels. Tahseen provides candidates with operational experience and theoretical training, empowering them with the knowledge, skills and expertise to accelerate in leadership roles within the industry.
Tahseen recently celebrated the graduation of its 2021 class, which saw 46 graduates, of which nearly half were women, step into leadership within their respective hotels and in the department of their choice.
Since its inception in 2018, more than 110 candidates have graduated from the Tahseen programme in Saudi Arabia and moved into roles within Marriott International’s properties in the Kingdom. To date, more than 75 per cent of the graduates remain employed at a Marriott International hotel and have progressed in their careers across the Kingdom in managerial, supervisor and director roles across functions such as Sales, Human Resources, Food & Beverage, Marketing, Finance and Operations.
The Tahseen programme supports Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy, which aims to create a thriving industry that will provide new employment prospects to a generation of Saudis. The strategy works alongside the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reforms, which aim to create one million jobs in the tourism sector, attract 100 million visitors annually, and shape the tourism sector to contribute to 10 percent of the country’s GDP by 2030.
Tahseen’s recent graduates and new candidates shared their thoughts on the programme and its impact on their careers.
Abdulrahman Al Hadi joined Marriott International as a Telephone Operator. Since graduating from the Tahseen programme in 2018, he has moved on to become the Director of Sales at Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah. Looking back at his journey, Al Hadi said, “Taking part in the Tahseen programme allowed my career to grow exponentially. I was able to work my way up from Telephone Operator at the Le Meriden Al Hada to working on important commercial accounts, thanks to the business and communication skills I acquired during the programme. In addition, rotating between departments was the best experience, as it helped me understand how my decisions can impact various departments.”
Najd Alruwaili, Executive Assistant at The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, who will be a candidate in this year’s programme said, “I am thrilled to be a part of such an incredible programme that will offer me the tools and resources I need to succeed in hospitality. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in the different departments and learning how each department contributes to the hotel’s overall success.”
Tahseen is a programme that falls under Marriott International’s Sustainability and Social Impact Platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, which guides how the company makes a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business. From empowerment opportunities to sustainable hotel development, the platform is designed to foster business growth while balancing the needs of associates, customers, owners, the environment and communities. One of the priority areas, or “coordinates”, of Serve 360 is Empower Through Opportunity. Tahseen is a programme that directly supports and brings this vision to life.


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Organic Short Grain Brown Rice
This nutty-flavoured rice is soft and sticky once cooked. It is ideal for making puddings, risottos, sushi and pilaffs. Brown rice is much higher in nutrients than white rice, while low in calories, and is considered one of the healthiest whole grain foods.
Faithful to Nature’s pantry range is packed in eco-friendly bags/boxes. Their 100% recyclable paper bags/boxes are made using elemental chlorine-free bleach, raw material from sustainably managed forests, and strictly vegetable-based inks.
Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. After opening store in an airtight container.

domain: food


|Dean||Keon-Hyung Lee (director)|
The Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, located in Tallahassee, Florida, is a graduate school within the Florida State University College of Social Sciences. The School was founded in 1947 and offers eight specializations within the MPA, as well as joint degree programs with Urban and Regional Planning, Social Work, Criminology and Criminal Justice, and the Florida State University College of Law. It was renamed in honor of the former governor, Reubin Askew.
U.S. News & World Report (2015 edition)
- Public Affairs - 16th overall
- City Management and Urban Policy - 15th overall
- Public Management Administration - 18th overall
- Public-Policy Analysis - 28th overall
The Askew School of Public Administration and Policy was ranked 3rd in the nation in faculty research productivity by a study published in the International Public Management Journal.


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New York City’s restaurant scene in the Theater District has exploded in the past few years, with new dining spots springing up left and right. However, it can be difficult to find a great pre-theater meal around Times Square and the Theater District. Prices tend to be high and some restaurants are super touristy. As a result, it’s best to look off the beaten path.
You’ll find plenty of bargains and a variety of top-notch restaurants from contemporary to classic. An array of tasty cuisine can be found in the New York City Theater District but it can be hard to decide where to eat before a Broadway show. With our guide, you’ll know where to go to enjoy a fantastic meal before you bask in the bright lights of Broadway.
1) Joe Allen
326 W. 46th St.
This is one of the more reasonably priced American-cuisine restaurants right in the heart of the Theater District. Joe Allen has been serving great food to Broadway performers, theatergoers and tourists for over 50 years. In addition, this lovely restaurant is just two blocks from Times Square. As a result, it’s a great place to get a good, well-rounded meal when you’re being a tourist.
Joe Allen isn’t a glitzy restaurant and the menu is not very large or exotic. However, there is something for everyone. Try the marinated grilled chicken with mashed potatoes. It’s outstanding! While you enjoy the food, you can ogle the old Broadway posters on the walls. The restaurant is known for its “Posters of Broadway Bombs.” Reservations are necessary.
2) Don Antonio
309 W. 50th St.
If you’re in the mood for one of the best pizzas in New York City, stop at Don Antonio’s. It’s as good as it gets! Opened in 2012, the restaurant offers a classic, creative Neapolitan-style pizza. The cheese and sauce on their pies are fresh, and the crusts of their Pizza Fritta, which is filled with cherry tomatoes, homemade mozzarella, fresh ricotta, and salami, are slightly fried until lightly crisped and puffy.
The menu ranges from classics like the margherita to slightly more unique concoctions featuring toppings like truffle cream, pistachio pesto, and fresh ricotta. Vegetarian options are also available. On the weekends, the restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. straight through dinner; on weekdays, it’s closed for an hour between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. You don’t need reservations, but show up with a little time to spare.
251 W. 50th St.
When discussing where to eat before a Broadway show, you can’t overlook Toloache. A contemporary Mexican Bistro, Toloache opened in 2007 in the Theater District. It offers a wide selection of Mexican food plus an extensive vegetarian menu. The appetizers and entrees feature ceviches, tacos, oyster shooters and ribs. In addition, three versions of guacamole are served. There is plain, a fairly traditional mixture of roughly mashed avocado with some onion and Serrano chilies, a small dice of tomatoes and a sprinkling of cilantro lives. A fierier recipe offers chipotle and more tomatoes, a hint of queso fresco, and some red onions. It’s all delicious!
Toloache isn’t a fancy restaurant. However, the fact that its always packed should tell you something. The food, great service, and a colorful, vibrant atmosphere create a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Early reservations are a must.
4) DB Bistro Moderne
55 W. 44th St.
Just east of the Theater District, between the Avenue of the Americas and 5th Ave. Midtown West, this stylish French-American eatery is a quick stroll from any theater below West 50th Street. In addition, it gets you away from the hustle and bustle of Times Square. This classic New York City diner offers a calm, modern ambiance. Try the famed D/B burger with short ribs, foie gras, and a black truffle-parmesan bun. It’s a legendary local favorite.
346 W. 52nd St.
The quaint 36-seat Danji restaurant serves upscale, creative Korean small plates bursting with flavor. As a result, it’s one of the most popular places to eat near the Theater District. Unfortunately, Danji doesn’t take reservations for groups smaller than six. With that in mind, be sure to arrive early in order to get a table.
Unassuming and totally casual, this is where to eat before a Broadway show if you’re looking for fantastic food without the dress code. Try the garlic honey wings, bulgogi beef sliders or spicy yellowtail sashimi. They’re all so good!
6) Bar Centrale
324 W. 46th St.
Bar Centrale is where to eat before a Broadway show to experience a hip yet laidback vibe. As this location is a converted apartment, coming here almost feels like visiting a friend’s place. But with better food and drinks. Famous people also tend to visit Bar Centrale, so act cool and don’t be that guy.
When you dine at Bar Centrale, small plates are the main focus. We recommend ordering several to share. You can’t go wrong with the lobster quesadillas, lamb shawarma, or baja style fish tacos. The cocktails here are also top-notch, including classic drinks presented in modern ways. Try the Manhattan, Martini or Sidecar.
It’s also important to pay attention to Bar Centrale’s address. This discreet, speakeasy-style bar, located between Orso and Joe Allen’s, is only identifiable by the number (324) on its door. Reservations are needed and are taken one week in advance.
7) Sushi of Gari
347 W 46th St
We’re not going to lie–dining at Sushi of Gari isn’t a cheap pre-dinner meal. But, it is some of the best sushi in New York City. There are four locations in the city. However, Sushi of Gari 46 is the ideal location for where to eat before a Broadway show.
Helmed by owner and chef Mastoshi “Gari” Sugio, the creative sushi served here comes with sauces and toppings perfectly chosen by Gari. This is in an effort to dissuade patrons from overusing soy sauce, instead focusing on the flavor of the fish, rice and other ingredients.
During your pre-show meal, we highly recommend trying the Omakase. It’s the signature sample of “Sushi of Gari,” featuring the originally created seasonal items of the day. In addition, the Gyoza (pan-fried dumplings), Tempura, and other sushi rolls like Eel & Avocado and Spicy Tuna Rill are excellent options. Be sure to sit at the sushi counter to get the full Sushi of Gari experience.
9) Trattoria Trecolori
254 W. 47th St.
If you’re in the mood to eat classic Italian food before seeing a Broadway show, this spot is for you. The bustling atmosphere is surprisingly inviting while the affordability of the menu is attractive t many theater-goers. On top of that, the food the service is expedient and friendly so you can rest assured you’ll be on time for your show.
As far as what to order, this restaurant specializes in classics like lasagna, ravioli, and veal. However, they’re also known for their delicious black linguini. Of course, if you’re dining as the Italians do, you’ll have to order a pasta dish and an entree. Recommended entrees include the Scarpariello (chicken breast with sauteed with sweet Italian sausage) and the Veal Martini ( parmesan-crusted veal cutlets.) Save room for dessert, though. The tiramisu is to die for!
10) Aldo Sohm Wine Bar
Don’t let the name of this establishment fool you–it’s much more than a wine bar. Ran by the same group as Le Bernardin (also an excellent place to eat before a Broadway show if your budget allows), the atmosphere is casual yet trendy and the food. Plus, the wine list is surprisingly budget-conscious.
The relaxed approach to good food and good wine easily creates a good time. As a result, Aldo Sohm is an ideal place to go pre-show for upscale food with a low key vibe. Inspired by French fare, highlights of the small plates menu include the grilled foie gras lollipop, truffle pasta, and goat cheese potato parfait.
Enjoy Dinner & a Show
Now that you know where to eat before a Broadway show, you’re all set for a great night in NYC. Whether you’re looking for a three-course meal or lighter fare, the options in the New York City’s theater district will be sure to please your palate. Keep in mind, it’s always best to make reservations when available. And, plan on allowing two hours for your meal time. This will ensure you have plenty of time to enjoy yourself and arrive on time for your show.


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He’s the bad boy of the art world. Here he reveals the secrets of Rome, the beauty of Old Tallinn, and where Valentine’s Day comes from.
By: Bob Guccione Jr.
Published on: www.wonderlusttravel.com
Follow the link to the article: https://wonderlusttravel.com/10-travel-questions-mark-kostabi/
American born, Estonian-heritaged Mark Kostabi is one of the most successful — and prolific — fine artists on the planet. His collectors are rabid and snap up his new work before the paint is dry (sometimes that is literally true, as they will buy from an emailed sketch). Among artists he’s highly respected, and he dutifully plays his part in the art scene, like a medieval baron making sure he appears at the royal court when expected. But some critics, particularly in America, have been dismissive of him because he has the temerity to admit he operates studios, in Rome and New York, where dozens of talented painters actually paint his canvasses, from drawings and detailed ideas from Mark.
As he points out, this is not new and the greatest artists from Raphael and Michelangelo to Rembrandt and Rodin did the exact same thing, utilized skilled assistants to execute their visions. And many other contemporary artists do as well. But for some reason, Kostabi drew the ire of the — let’s face it, somewhat snobby — art critic establishment.
But Mark, and most of the rest of the world, don’t care. His signature style of usually smooth, faceless figures, from Angels and lovers to Demons and musicians, is instantly recognizable, and his paintings are on display in some of the best museums in the world, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum, Guggenheim, and Brooklyn Museum, as well as the National Gallery in Washington D.C., the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, and the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome. He also did a Guns ‘N’ Roses album cover, for Use Your Illusion, and album covers for the Ramones and Jimmy Scott, among others, and has produced a handful of oversized, extremely heavy coffee table books.
And he trained himself to be a classical musician and composer, who is making his Carnegie Hall debut in early 2020.
I resisted the temptation to ask, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” because I know Mark and he would have just said, take the subway.
Where is the most beautiful place in the world to paint?
I started drawing at age 6. All the encouragement I got from my parents, friends and schoolmates made me sure that I should be an artist. When I finally decided to “graduate” from drawing — to painting, at age 12, feeling it was a momentous occasion, I decided to paint my first oil painting on the rooftop of our family garage in Whittier, California. I felt like a king and wanted to paint at the top. The garage roof was the top! And to this day I still paint at the top. The real top: New York City — the most beautiful place in the world to paint.
What is your favorite spot on the planet?
Anywhere where there’s peace and passion for the arts. Rome, Venice, Florence. But for me personally, to get more specific, my favorite spot is in either of my homes in New York or Rome on a rainy day, especially when I don’t have appointments and can do whatever I want, anytime I want. My favorite spot on the planet is a blank page in my appointment book.
What is the strangest place you’ve ever been?
Las Vegas airport. The first thing I see at that airport are endless slot machines, followed by big billboards selling guns. I grew up in relatively gun-free Orange County, California and I now live in relatively gun-free New York and Rome, and it’s truly strange for me to see the rampant gun culture in middle America.
Another strange place I’ve seen a few times is the Capuchin Crypt in Rome on Via Veneto. It contains the skeletal remains of thousands of human bodies on display in ornate patterns.
Boning up: The Capuchin Crypt and it’s odd ornamentation of human skeletal remains
What do you wish people knew about Estonia?
That it’s one of the few debt-free countries in the world. That it’s a leader in technology, inventing Skype (with the Swedes) and that they have very effective online voting and tax paying that takes just 5 minutes. That it went from being a poor country with no toilet paper to being a rich country with many of the world’s best restaurants in an arc of 10 years. That it has many of the best classical musicians: Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Lepo Sumera, the Järvi family. (And I’m representing Estonia as a composer at Carnegie Hall in New York on March 3, 2020.)
And the best thing about Estonia is walking the streets of Old Town in Tallinn, the capital. It’s like living in a beautiful fairy tale. One of the best preserved medieval cities on the planet, along with Prague.
Fairy Tales are made of this… Tallinn, the capital of Estonia
Paris is the City of Light, but is it really the best light?
I’m really no expert on Paris, but I loved my visits there and I’m tempted to try living there some day. It certainly did well for Picasso and the early 20th century avant-garde.
You live in Rome — what are the three best things about it?
The best thing about Rome is the spirit of Rome. The people. The Roman attitude. The humor and welcoming spirit.
The people of Rome know it’s the greatest and most beautiful city in the world and they know they don’t have to prove it. They just welcome everyone and we all have a great time! They can be sarcastic but they’re not snobs. They have nothing to prove. They have Caravaggio, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain. The list is endless. They have Campo de’ Fiori. Caffe Greco. The Spanish Steps, Trastevere. Rome is in the center of Italy — the most beautiful country in the world. And if you like pasta: there’s nothing better than the Roman dish Spaghetti cacio e pepe, especially at Antica Pesa — a restaurant in Trastevere, filled with my paintings and also Sophia Loren’s favorite restaurant.
The Trevi Fountain in Rome
Rome has many hidden gems off the typical tourist-beaten path. One is the staggeringly beautiful and transporting Quartiere Coppedè, slightly outside the center. I especially love its “Fountain of the Frogs.” Then, near my apartment in Piazza Vittorio, the biggest piazza in Rome, there’s the Porta Magica, also known as the The Alchemical Door. Typical tourists don’t know about it, but whenever one of my more artistically inclined friends hear that I live in Piazza Vittorio, they exclaim: ” Wow! You live by the Door of Alchemy!”
So, I live overlooking Rome’s biggest piazza but my second favorite piazza is Rome’s smallest: the tiny piazza Arco degli Acetari, a delightful secret off Via del Pellegrino, near Campo de’ Fiori. It’s a public piazza but it feels like you’re invading someone’s private space when you enter, so quiet with picturesque, romantic ivy climbing up weathered and crooked staircases and two cats sleeping in a wheelbarrow. Another super-fabulous secret is the rooftop restaurant of Hotel Raphael near Piazza Navona with its stunning romantic views of the Eternal City and the best vegetarian food imaginable. The entire hotel is breathtakingly beautiful, with its facade dripping in luxurious ivy, its lobby filled with eccentric old master paintings, DeChiricos and Picasso ceramics. You can have lunch on the roof on the hottest day of August under their massive beige canvas umbrellas and feel perfectly comfortable because of the cool breeze which is otherwise blocked by buildings at street level.
And if you’re on a budget and want a great, authentic meal, don’t miss La Quercia, in Piazza La Quercia, a beautiful, quiet piazza with an oak tree in its center and which also faces the beautiful Palazzo Spada which houses the incredible Borromini’s Perspective. There are countless other secret beauties in Rome. Every direction is filled with discovery. The only risk is that if you stay in Rome for more than 7 days you may never leave. That’s what happened to me.
Confronting Climate Change, 2019
Of all your travels, what experience thrilled you the most? What frightened you the most?
What thrilled me the most was definitely going to Berlin on that foggy night in November 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down. I was moved to tears watching people cross the border that night. Another travel experience that thrilled most (in a different way) was recently: In the Abruzzo region of Italy. Most Americans and Europeans dream of Tuscany. But Abruzzo is a secret — because it’s just as great! So recently I was invited to live, work and eat at Villa Corallo, in Sant’Omero, between the Adriatic Sea and the mountains of Abruzzo. As their guest! What traveler wouldn’t want free everything! Of course not anyone can stay there for free. I’m one of the few blessed, lucky ones. Of course I show my appreciation by making artworks that reflect my paradise lifestyle in Villa Corallo. I recommend it to anyone. They grow all their own vegetables in the farm behind the villa.
What frightened me the most was traveling to my first day in Kindergarten at Macy Elementary School in La Habra, California when they showed a film of giant waves from the ocean crashing towards us.
Who are three painters from anytime in history that you would like to have dinner with all together, and where would you go?
Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo and we’d eat at Cafe Fiorello in New York on Broadway across from Lincoln Center and which is filled with Kostabi paintings. I’d offer them all jobs painting Kostabis and I’d promise to pay them more than the Pope would and the working conditions would be more comfortable too.
A prophet is rarely loved in his own land. Is the same true for artists? Where are you most appreciated?
Without a doubt I’m most appreciated in Italy. Which is fine by me because it’s the greatest and most beautiful country in the world. A close second is the USA, which I also love. They seem to love me in Estonia. Perhaps partially because I have Estonian roots. I certainly love Estonia. My visual art is definitely appreciated in Germany and Turkey too. And in terms of art market: Japan heavily in the 80s and 90s. The Japanese cooled on Western art after 1994.


text: Cow Farm Scene Third place ribbon Il Gourd Society, Clinton, IL 2008 – Cow scenes are popular with Karen Wilson. This particular martin gourd design is a wren birdhouse with a back door. It is acrylic painted and coated by brushing on two coats of semigloss polyurethane indoor/outdoor finish. It is one of our folk art specialties. Also have won a first place ribbon in Arthur, IL for a birdhouse competition overhaul painting of the gourd design.

domain: design


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