text:
Ayalah Deborah Bentovim (born 30 December 1970), better known by her stage name Sister Bliss, is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of Faithless. In 1996 she teamed up with Faithless bandmate Rollo to successfully remix Moby's recording of "That's When I Reach For My Revolver". Moby was so pleased they were asked to remix another song – "Honey".
Never miss another show from Sister Bliss.
Contact Sister Bliss on Messenger.
On this page you can listen to mp3 music free or download album or mp3 track to your PC, phone or tablet. Release title: Sister Bliss - Sister Sister. Photo of Sister Bliss - Sister Sister. More albums of Sister Bliss: Deliver Me. Oh! What A World. This album was released on the label Multiply Records (catalog number 12MULTY 68P). This album was released in 2000 year.
|Sister Sister (Blunt Radio Edit)||3:31|
|Sister Sister (Original Club Mix)||9:01|
|Give Me Music||7:23|
|Sister Sister (Ibi & Rollo's Tuff Mix)||6:44|
|Sister Sister (Nalin & Kane Remix)||10:21|
|Sister Sister (The Shining Remix)||11:10|
|ADICT100CD||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (CD, Maxi)||Addiction Records||ADICT100CD||Australia||2000|
|12MULTY68PX||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (12", Promo)||Multiply Records||12MULTY68PX||UK||2000|
|12MULTY 68P||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (12", Promo, Blu)||Multiply Records||12MULTY 68P||UK||2000|
|12 MULTY 68 PY||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (12", Promo, W/Lbl)||Multiply Records||12 MULTY 68 PY||UK||2000|
|12MULTY 68P||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (12", Promo, Whi)||Multiply Records||12MULTY 68P||UK||2000|
|TMULTY68||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (12", Single)||Multiply Records||TMULTY68||UK||2000|
|12MULTY68P, 12MULTY68PX||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (2x12", Single, Promo)||Multiply Records, Multiply Records||12MULTY68P, 12MULTY68PX||UK||2000|
|Not On Label||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (Acetate, 12")||Heathmans Mastering||Not On Label||UK||2000|
|0120095 MUL||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (CD, Maxi)||Multiply Records, Edel Records||0120095 MUL||Europe||2000|
|CDMULTY68||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (CD, Single)||Multiply Records||CDMULTY68||UK||2000|
|none||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (CDr, Single)||Multiply Records||none||UK||2000|
|none||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (CDr, Single, Promo)||Multiply Records||none||UK||2000|
|SB1||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (12")||Jive||SB1||Europe||2001|
|SB 2||Sister Bliss||Sister Sister (12")||Jive||SB 2||Belgium||2001|


text:
Are Gulf states on the same side as the US in the Qatar rift?
It has almost been a month since the beginning of the Gulf crisis in which several countries, in a very drastic move, imposed blockade on Qatar. Since the beginning of this standoff, there have been several developments that have hindered the resolution of the conflict. The 13 article list of demands that were put forth by the Arab bloc demonstrated the intractability of the situation. As mentioned in this column before, if these demands are actually considered reasonable by the listed parties, there is not much hope for the tension’s resolution in the near future.
Experts still have unanswered questions about the Gulf Arab countries’ decision both in timing and nature that led to this crisis. The tweets from U.S. President Donald Trump shortly after the decision led many to believe it was a coordinated effort by the U.S. and its Gulf allies, most probably decided during Trump’s trips to Saudi Arabia and Israel. However, shortly after statements from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the remarks from Secretary of Defense James Mattis, perceptions altered once again. People started to consider that the U.S. president may be attempting to make a move that Washington’s main foreign policy and security institutions did not sign on to. When Trump doubled down his statements about Qatar during a press conference, the rift in the executive body became even more obvious. Interestingly, since then, we have not heard much from Trump about Qatar. Even more perplexing, little has been said concerning the approval of the sale of F-15s and the beginning of a joint military drill between Qatar and the U.S., which raised questions about U.S.’s approach to the crisis.
If the previous confusion in U.S. foreign policy decision making regarding Qatar was present during Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia, there is definitely a need to talk about the misreading of signals by Trump and Saudi King Salman. Those who argue the presence of such a misreading of the signal started to talk about the possibility of another “April Glaspie moment” in U.S. foreign policy. However, as hours turned into days with no resolution in sight, the Gulf coalition’s delusions concerning U.S. policy on Qatar soon evolved into misinterpretations on American foreign policy and its decision-making structure. As mentioned before, there was a generally cooperative vibe between the U.S. and the coalition countries. However, it is not clear at this point if they were able to convince Trump to move against Qatar during his trip. At the moment, there are no signs of change.
If, on the other hand, the Gulf countries thought the U.S. would readily adopt their policies against Qatar, they failed to take into consideration the significant security and military cooperation between the two countries. Likewise, if they assumed irrefutable arguments were made to change U.S. foreign policy on Qatar, a serious miscalculation was made concerning the strength of U.S. policies and its position regarding Qatar. In fact, in the first statement following the eruption of the crisis, the U.S. State Department stressed Qatar’s contributions to the fight against terrorism and its support for the U.S. in the region.
Even if the new U.S. administration decided to change its policy, no obvious signs of preparations to shift its strategic relations with Qatar at this point have surfaced. The demands by some officials in the coalition that the U.S. remove its military base in Qatar turned out to be rather premature, especially when there are multiple threats to the stability of the region and international security. Thus, other than trying to spread rumors about Qatar in social media and attempts to correlate the country with terrorism in order to gain U.S. support, there has not been much influential development in this sphere. Unless these countries provide solid evidence of Qatar’s connection with terrorism that American intelligence has yet to discover, the U.S. is not likely to remove Qatar from its coalition against Daesh. Moving the military bases from Qatar does not seem to be on the table at this point either. It still is not clear what impact the mud-slinging campaign will have on U.S. foreign policy. At this point, it seems these countries have underestimated American policy and priorities in the region, and the role that Qatar plays in it all. How such a serious miscalculation was made is not clear at this time, but some clues may be found in the list of demands given to Qatar. It seems that every country in the coalition, most significantly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Eygpt, all have their own agendas, while at the same time believing the U.S. would shadow each one’s national priorities.
This article was first published in Daily Sabah on July 1, 2017.

domain: news


text:
The adrenal glands help the body respond and adjust to stress generated from both internal and external forces.
Under chronic stress, cortisol can be overproduced, resulting in weight gain and difficulty in managing healthy blood sugar levels.
Adrenal Cortisol Support™ combines adaptogenic herbs with Chromium, Corosolic Acid and Relora® to maintain energy levels, manage appetite, and support insulin levels already within the healthy range. *
4 x Cortisol Helps evaluate stress response
2 x Insulin Helps investigate blood sugar control
DHEA Helps determine stress adaptation
Secretory IgA Helps evaluate toll on immunity
17-OH Progesterone Helps determine adrenal reserve
Gluten Antibodies Helps identify grain intolerance
Ashwagandha Extract 450mg 90 Vegetable capsulesAshwagandha is classified as an adaptogen, which means it helps the body cope with daily stress and generally enhances physical and mental functioning. Ashwagandha has been shown to increase the amount of hormones secreted by the thyroid gland, and as with most adaptogens, is also very good at supporting the adrenals, too.
Scientific studies support ashwagandha’s ability not only to relieve stress, but also to protect brain cells against the deleterious effects of our modern lifestyles.
DHEA 25 mg 90 vegetable capsulesSecreted naturally by the adrenal glands, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is important as a regulator hormone and a precursor hormone. DHEA naturally decreases in the body with age. Lower levels of DHEA have been associated with poor health. More recently DHEA has been used for adrenal exhaustion and fatigue.
Female Hormone Panel [Pre-Menopause] (saliva) LabFemale Hormone Panel [Pre-Menopause] (saliva): a simple, non-invasive test. Eleven saliva samples are collected during specified time periods throughout the menstrual cycle which allows a view the profile of Estrogen and Progesterone simultaneously. In addition, the cycle average for Testosterone and DHEA is reported. Hormonal balance evaluation and customized support becomes a reality with the Female Hormone Panel.
Health Assessment Phone ConsultationHealth Assessment Phone Consultation: Are You Sick & Tired of Being Sick & Tired? Consider a 1 & 1/ hour, one-on-one consultation, with a clinical nutritionist, herbalist & pharmacist. Marty Donovan has been seeing clients since 1998, successfully dealing with the wide variety of health imbalances many people live with on a daily basis for years.
L-Theanine 100mg 60 vegetarian capsulesL-theanine, a unique amino acid compound commonly found in green tea, is noted for its calming benefits without drowsiness. Suntheanine® brand pure L-theanine is produced through a patented manufacturing process. L-Theanine increases the levels of the brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA. Some research suggests L-Theanine decreases anxiety, relieves tension and improves learning.
L-Theanine 200mg 60 vegetable capsulesL-theanine, a unique amino acid compound commonly found in green tea, is noted for its calming benefitswithout drowainess. L-Theanine increases the levels of the brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA. Some research suggests L-Theanine decreases anxiety, relieves tension and improves learning.

domain: biology


SOC24 company owned by DIM System merges with Infradata Polska to create one of the leading companies in IT security industry.
SOC24, owned by DIM System merges with Infradata Polska to create one of the leading companies in the IT security industry. The merged companies will offer a competitive portfolio on the IT market, proposing comprehensive solutions in the area of security and network services.
As a result of the merger, a team of the widest scope of qualifications in the industry will be created, composed of certified engineers of the highest level.
Infradata Group, of which Infradata Polska is a part, made a next step on the way to become one of the largest players providing network, security and cloud solutions in Europe.
On 31 May 2019, the board of directors of DIM System sp. z o.o. and Infradata Polska sp. z o.o. companies signed an agreement on the merger of the two entities. At the same time, Infradata Polska sp. z o.o became the sole shareholder of DIM System and its affiliated companies, i.e. Tukan IT sp. z o.o. and SOC24 sp. z o.o.
The purpose of the merger of both companies is to benefit from complementary competences and areas of operations in order to ensure a wide range of comprehensive services, required for modern IT infrastructure of today’s businesses.
Following the merger, the competences of Infradata will be significantly enhanced. The combined technical team will consist of the highest level network specialists (JNCIE and CCIE certificates), experts in network security and ADC (CISSP ISC2, expert certificates of 40x F5 Networks) as well as in end security and SIEM systems (the largest team of McAfee certificated engineers in Poland).
In addition, customers of Infradata Polska will gain 24/7 technical support, SameDay-level SLA for equipment replacement throughout Poland, access to services of network maintenance or system security – SOC24 and NOC.
The largest beneficiaries of that change will be companies and IT departments whose needs vary from development of modern ICT infrastructure to ensuring full digital security in all areas of operations.
The scope of solutions provided to date by individual companies will not change. After the merger, the companies will use the synergies and complementarity of their offers to support the sale of products and services of businesses they have been working with to date.
After the merger, the registered office of the companies will be at ul. Puławska 537 in Warsaw. The companies expect that legal consolidation will be completed by the end of 2019.
June 6 2019
Infradata Polska sp. z o.o. is an international integrator of modern security systems, local and cloud-based network solutions and managed services. The company designs and implements technological solutions of leading manufacturers, which respond to current business challenges and drive positive changes in companies. Infradata offers a wide range of services, such as consultancy, integration or managed services for providers of services and network operators.
DIM System sp. z o.o. – award-winning and standing out provider on IT market, specialising in ICT security services for systems and working stations.
SOC24 sp. z o.o. provides monitoring and cyber security management services in the 24/7/365 mode and consultancy services in development and implementation of the Security Operations Centre in clients’ locations.
Tukan IT sp. z o.o. company designed a proprietary GREENmod software enabling the categorisation of documents and electronic mail based on the knowledge of the author on the importance and confidentiality of content created by him or her.


text:
Camp was a sanctuary. Escaping the imprisonment of infusion, we found solace among our fellow cancer fighters.
Amber and I spent hours on the lake, watching blackbirds and breathing in the scent of pinecones.
“Let’s stay here forever.”
But the reprieve was soon over and so too was Amber’s struggle.
“Do me one favor,” she whispered. “Bring me back.”
Wiping away tears, I empty the canister into the campfire. Tendrils of smoke slowly form a familiar-looking figure, her eyes sparkling.
“The camp’s haunted,” newcomers gasp as a lyrical breeze rustles the trees.
“No,” I laugh, catching a falling pinecone. “It’s alive.”

domain: artistic


text:
Update: Public health officials in Harris County reported July 13 they had identified a baby with Zika-related microcephaly, marking the first such occurrence in both the county and in Texas.
Public health researchers say Houston -- with its mix of poverty, rainy conditions and world travelers -- is particularly vulnerable to the spread of the Zika virus, the mosquito-borne disease that has dangerous effects on the fetuses of pregnant women.
At a recent conference of public health experts and researchers at Rice University, Peter Hotez, a fellow in disease and poverty with Rice University's Baker Institute, described the situation in Houston and the U.S. Gulf Coast as a "perfect storm" of conditions that could facilitate the next wave of the Zika virus, a condition the World Health Organization has declared a health emergency.
"Our area is highly vulnerable," Hotez said of Houston, adding that the depth of Houston's poverty rivals any other part of the country. "This is not hard to find," he added, of the conditions that facilitate mosquito bites and breeding. "Houses with no window screens, discarded tires filled with water, especially now after a lot of rain, plastic containers. This is mosquito heaven."
Stopping the spread of Zika will take more than research. It will take prevention and what Hotez calls "house to house environmental cleanup," particularly in poor communities.
"Texas seems to be uniquely vulnerable," added Hotez, who also serves as dean of the School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. The threat, he said, isn't just Zika but also a slew of other emerging and neglected diseases.
His comments come as concern about Zika have come closer to home in recent weeks after the disease's initial spread in Brazil. In April, a 70-year-old man in Puerto Rico died, marking the first U.S. Zika death. Last month, a Houston woman who previously lived in South America tested positive for Zika. And this month, the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, which provides blood to medical facilities across the Texas Gulf Coast, will start testing blood donations for the virus, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Hotez cautioned that the U.S. shouldn't feel like it's immune from the mosquito-borne illnesses just because it's a wealthier nation.
"Most of the world's neglected and emerging infections are not necessarily in the world's poorest countries," said Hotez. Instead, he said, diseases like Zika and Dengue are "mostly occurring in the 20 wealthiest economies." The populations that are most vulnerable are the poor in cities like Houston, a major destination for international travel and migration at the heart of the phenomenon, he said.
Houston should also expect more cases as the weather warms, he said. "It's the poor living among the wealthy that are accounting for these diseases," he added.
The risks of the Zika virus were poorly understood when patients in northeastern Brazil first began complaining of aches and fevers. It wasn't until doctors confirmed a link between the mosquito-borne illness and microcephaly, a condition that causes birth defects, that the severity of the virus began to be understood. Lt. Col. Wendy Sammons-Jackson, of the the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, said although Zika was on public officials' radar along with malaria and HIV, it wasn't a high priority. "There wasn't a great understanding of what that impact would be," she said during the panel.
Closer to home, compounding the threat in Houston is the fact that the Aedes aegypti species of mosquito that helps carry the Zika virus is common in the Gulf Coast during the summer months. Cities in south Florida and Texas are particularly vulnerable to diseases carried by the mosquitos, including dengue, which has flared up in Texas in recent years. Known for the deadly diseases it carries, Aedes aegypti was once eradicated from many of the countries now battling it again.
"By 1962, 18 countries plus several islands in the Caribbean announced they had eradicated the mosquito, thanks to hefty doses of the insecticide DDT, military-grade organization and plenty of funding to train personnel and buy equipment and supplies like DDT," according to the International Business Times. "In Brazil, the process involved 617 million house visits from 1931 to 1958."
But the U.S. Gulf Coast was not part of the massive effort, according to Hotez. "We've historically refused to control Aedes aegypti on the Gulf Coast," he said, noting that many Latin American countries, ironically, had actually complained about that shortcoming as the mosquito continued to survive and eventually reemerge in those countries after funding decreased.
Eradicating the species now, while possible, would require significant investment, Hotez said. "It's doable, it has been done," he said, but, "we're not seeing any international will to do this."
There are still many unknowns about the disease as researchers work to create a vaccine and look to the federal government for funding. The Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch is one of the institutions currently working on the virus and diagnostic tests.
"We can process about 1,000 specimens in a 24-hour period," said James Le Duc, director of the laboratory. Both Le Duc and Hotez warn, however, that it will be some time before the the Food and Drug Administration sign off on any tests or vaccines for Zika partly because of the the many regulatory precautions taken with the target population: pregnant women.
"When you're trying to do safety testing," explained Hotez, "what's the highest bar of all? Women who are pregnant or thinking of being pregnant."
Efforts to secure emergency funding for both research and prevention has stalled in Congress, after the president asked for some $1.9 billion in funding. In lieu of congressional support, the White House redirected $589 million to put toward the fight, most of which came out of funds originally for Ebola. But health officials and politicians are stressing the need to create a source of stable funding for future health emergencies.
"That's not the most effective way to do it," Congressman Gene Green, who represents the 29th District including parts of north and east Houston, said of the administration's decision at the panel. He noted Zika is merely one of several emerging diseases threatening Texas.
"All of these issues require emergency involvement," Le Duc added.
As cases of Zika virus inch north, Hotez said he expects Haiti to be the next country hardest hit by the disease. Like northeastern Brazil, it shares critical characteristics that help accelerate the spread of this and other viruses including poverty and crowding.
Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services is tracking reported cases of Zika and its mosquito control division is working to head off the virus. "It's a matter of when, not if," the agency's executive director Umair Shah recently told Wired magazine. As was the case with Ebola, Shah told the audience at Friday's conference that it's important to do on-the-ground community outreach, particularly in Houston's international communities. "We cannot spray our way out of this," he said, "We have to engage our community and partners."

domain: health


text:
By Tamara Shiloh
The minstrel shows of the early 19th century are believed by some to be the roots of Black theatre. However, they were written, acted, and performed by whites for white audiences. The first known play by a Black American was James Brown’s “King Shotaway” (1823), but the first Black play published was William Wells Brown’s (ca. 1814–1884) “The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom.”
While “Escape” was published in 1858, it was not officially produced until 1971 at Emerson College. It was one of the earliest extant pieces of African American dramatic literature.
Brown, whose mother was a slave, was born on a plantation outside Lexington, Ky. He would become a Black antislavery lecturer, a groundbreaking novelist, playwright, and historian.
According to the New Bedford Historical Society (NBHS), he is “widely considered to have been the first African American to publish works in several major literary genres, and widely acclaimed for the effectiveness of many of his writings.”
Bought and sold several times before age 20, Brown spent his childhood and much of his young adult life as a slave in St. Louis, Mo. There he was hired out to work on the Missouri River which, at that time, served as a major thoroughfare for the slave trade. This location allowed him several chances to escape. It was New Year’s Day in 1834 that he slipped away from a steamboat and finally became successful.
Brown landed in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began educating himself and reading antislavery newspapers. He later worked as a steam boatsman on Lake Erie and conductor for the Underground Railroad. On arrival at Cleveland, he’d taken shelter with Mr. and Mrs. Wells Brown, a white Quaker family and later adopted their names.
By 1843, Brown had become a regular on the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society lecturing circuit. He was also deeply committed to speaking out on women’s rights and temperance laws (laws banning the sale of spirits in less than 15-gallon quantities). It was Brown’s speaking that led many historians and scholars to provide the trajectory for his later career as a writer. By 1845, he’d published “Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave, Written by Himself.”
Brown personified the American dream. He’d become an internationally renowned antislavery activist and writer who resided in and traveled widely across the northern United States and the British Isles. He penned a series of remarkable books including the first Black novel, the first printed Black play, the first Black travelogue, and the first Black panorama displayed in Britain.
Focusing on his own historical works, Brown penned two histories of the Black race, a history on Blacks and whites in the South, and a rare military history of Blacks in the Civil War. He eventually settled in Boston, where he practiced medicine until his death from cancer in 1884.
Learn more about Brown’s compelling story through his classic American slave narrative: “The Narrative of William W. Brown a Fugitive Slave.”
The post William Wells Brown, Personifying the American Dream first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

domain: literature


text:
LondonTown.com - Office Location Map
Further articles featuring Office on LondonTown.com
The first European Nobu Hotel opens in Shoreditch the former Port of London Authority HQ is turned into a luxury hotel in 2016. ...
With more people remote working, co-working, freelancing and becoming self-employed than ever, LondonTown highlights the city's most welcoming cafes, hotels and WiFi hotspots where...
Proving that eating out and on the go doesn't have to be a sugar and calorie laden minefield, these cafés, restaurants and markets are leading...
Manhattan Loft Gardens Hotel opens in Stratford and Scotland Yard HQ is transformed into a luxury hotel in 2017. ...
London hosts the final of the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham Stadium on 31st October 2015, the Frieze Art Fair draws the world's most...
Discover what's on in London 2016 with our comprehensive guide to the best events. From theatre to art and music to sport, London 2016 has something for everyone - so read on to find out what London town has to offer.
Hotels near Office
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel from £74 34% off
20 Pembridge Gardens, W2 | 12 minutes from Office
Wrap yourself in Victorian elegance at this exclusive hotel. Located in peaceful residential street close to Notting Hill gate, the shops and nightlife of the West-end ... More
London > Hotels > Budget Chain Hotel from £66 31% off
Off Ilchester Gardens, W2 | 13 minutes from Office
An attractive, Grade II listed building on a leafy street in Bayswater, this traditional, reasonably priced townhouse B&B was at one time three separate Victorian homes. ... More
Entertainment near Office
London > Entertainment > Live Music
Powis Square, Notting Hill, London W11 | 3 minutes from Office
This refurbished Victorian church has been converted into a multi-functional venue for arts and exhibitions. Facilities include a dance studio, theatre-style performance space, soundproofed production studio ... More
London > Attractions > Museums
111-117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 | 5 minutes from Office
From Cornflakes to Ker-plunk, Spacedust to Spacehoppers, take a nostalgic tour through 200 years of British consumerism with Robert Opie's unique creation. Enter the Museum of ... More
London > Restaurants > Modern European restaurants
186 Portobello Road, Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, London W11 | Same location as Office
Perched above a busy bar, this restaurant is housed in a grand, chandelier-laden dining room full of rustic stonework. Even after 15 years, they still manage ... More
Also in Portobello Road
Our recommendations in the same street as Office
Alternate names and popular misspellings for Office
What's On Today
Exhibitions | Until 31st July 2016
Television Centre 4.45 miles from Office
It's set for demolition but before the East Tower at Television Centre is reduced to rubble it will this summer ...More
Hotels near Office
From cheap budget hotels to luxury 5 star hotels see our discounts for Office hotels, including London Premier Notting Hill from 86% off.

domain: travel


text:
Total time:50 minutes
I love eggplant with parmesan. But as someone who thinks almost everything on bread is better, I really yearn for eggplant parmesan sandwiches. Take me to an Italian deli or complementary store and that’s the first thing I’ll look for on the menu.
Now I know I can satisfy those cravings at home with these Eggplant Parmesan Sandwiches. They are cheeky, cheesy and dirty at their best – my kind of comfort. And for those who are interested in small recipes, this one is designed for two people.
I started with the free base from the no-roast eggplant parmesan recipe I shared a few years ago, the no-roast part. The oven roaster is ideal for turning rubbery eggplant slices into silky goodness in no time and with minimal effort. Unlike the casserole, where I top the dish with a crispy layer of breadcrumbs, I thought I might miss the breaded eggplant here. I decided to see if I could do this in a more simplified format without going back to the frying pan and the awful multi-step dredging process (often flour, egg, breadcrumbs).
This recipe has everything you want in eggplant parma, minus frying.
The answer was yes. Turns out you can get a pretty good semblance of pan frying by toasting breaded eggplant slices on a well-oiled baking sheet. Plus, you can make it all in one go, as the pan easily holds one sliced eggplant, the perfect amount for two sandwiches. Please don’t shy away from the amount of oil I recommend for a frying pan. It is extremely important to prevent the eggplants from sticking together, as they hardly brown – you will see them bubbling, resulting in a beautiful golden crust. Take comfort in the fact that it won’t all be consumed (and that it’s probably a casual dinner!).
I also realized that, at least for this dish, you don’t need to coat the eggplants with multiple ingredients, as they come out of the oven after the first broiler period moist enough for the breadcrumbs mixture to stick. And don’t worry if your breading isn’t perfect. In the end, we put them in a roll with cheese and sauce, and while you get the taste and modest crunch of the crumbs, the appearance is moot.
How to use a broiler to fire up your home cooking
Another benefit of the mental gymnastics for practicing the roasting method in the oven was that it freed up the stove to quickly prepare the tomato sauce. Made with canned crushed tomatoes, one of my star dishes, it’s ready in about 10 minutes. It’s just the right balance of sweet and tart, rich and vibrant.
In accordance with the architecture of eggplant parmesan, I build a sandwich in layers: bread, sauce, eggplant, parmesan-reggiano, eggplant, sauce, parmigiano-reggiano, mozzarella, bread. I keep the brazier for the final trick, melting the mozzarella or provolone into a sticky blanket that pulls everything together.
Sandwiches with eggplant and parmesan
Want to spice up or modify a recipe to suit your needs? In the spirit of our Eat Hungry newsletter by Daniela Galarza, here are a few suggestions:
- Substitute your favorite non-dairy cheeses for a vegan recipe. Or give up cheese entirely.
- Use canned diced tomatoes for a fresher, more rustic sauce.
- Don’t want pancakes? It’s easy to miss. After 10 minutes on the first side, flip the eggplant and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the second side is browned and the slices are soft.
- Add the garlic bread component, brush the sliced buns with butter, then grill until golden brown. Rub half a clove of garlic all over the toasted bread. You will feel the difference. (See VARIATION below.)
- Put a little hot pickled pepper in a sandwich to add spice.
- Turn this into a mini eggplant parfum by layering the eggplant and sauce in a small baking dish. As with sandwiches, top with mozzarella and fry (assuming your dish is broiler safe) until melted and bubbling.
Would you like to keep this recipe? Click the bookmark icon under serving size at the top of this page, then go to My Reading List on your Washingtonpost.com user profile.
Scale this recipe and get a printable desktop version here.
- 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more as needed
- 1 medium eggplant (1 lb), trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
- A pinch of fine salt
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- One (15 oz) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt, plus more as needed
- Pinch of ground red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sugar to taste
- 2 sandwiches or buns, cut in half lengthwise and toasted
- 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, divided (may substitute for the vegan version)
- Two (1 ounce) slices of mozzarella or provolone (may be substituted with a vegan alternative)
Prepare the eggplant: Place a wire rack 4-6 inches from the broiler and preheat (use a high setting if you can). Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, spreading it evenly with a brush. Place the eggplant slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, rubbing them against the skillet to make sure they are well coated in oil. Lightly season the eggplants with salt and pepper, turn over and repeat the same process, adding seasonings and rubbing them into the oil. If the pan and the bottom of the eggplant look dry, add a little more oil.
Roast for 8-10 minutes, flipping the sheet from front to back halfway through, until the eggplant is soft and lightly browned in places. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer the eggplant to a plate. Brush the skillet with 2 more tablespoons of oil.
Prepare the Sauce: While the eggplant is cooking, make the sauce. In a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, heat oil until shimmery. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, and red pepper flakes, if using, then reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly and takes on a strong odor, about 10 minutes. Taste and add more salt and sugar to taste, starting with a pinch, until you reach your desired flavor balance. Remove from heat and leave to assemble; you should have about 1 cup.
Back to the eggplants: Combine the Italian breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs in a large shallow dish, like a pie plate, along with a pinch of salt and pepper, stirring until smooth. Dip each slice into the breadcrumbs mixture, pressing them against the eggplant so they stick. Flip once. You can put a little more on top, even if it doesn’t look like it’s going to stick – it will brown well and stay on after it’s toasted. As you work, shift the slices back to the baking sheet. Drizzle the eggplants with the remaining tablespoon of oil; if you run out, use a little more as needed.
Still over high heat, sauté the eggplant until rich, golden brown and bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes. The topping should also be a bit crunchy, though don’t expect it to be the same as pan-fried eggplant. Flip the slices and fry again until golden brown, 2 to 3 more minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a plate if you plan to use the assembly pan, as shown below.
Assemble the sandwiches: On a baking sheet or oven-friendly plate, spread 1/4 cup sauce on the bottom half of each roll. (Feel free to use less if you want your sandwich to be less savory. Any extra sauce is great for dipping or as a pizza topping.) Place a quarter of an eggplant on top of each sauce bun, 3-4 slices. Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons of Parmigiano-Reggiano over each sandwich, then another layer with the remaining eggplant, another 1/4 cup of sauce and the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano. Cut each slice of mozzarella or provolone in half and arrange the slices on top of the sandwiches, covering as much of the sauce as possible.
Place the opened sandwiches under the roaster for 1 to 2 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Remove from the oven and finish the sandwiches with the top halves of the buns. Cut in half and serve.
OPTION: Cut the rolls and brush the inside with olive oil. Grill over high heat, cut side up, until the bread is golden and crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from oven and rub the toasted surfaces with a clove of garlic. Then assemble the sandwiches as above.
The ingredients are too variable for meaningful analysis due to the amount of olive oil that can be used and ingested.
From Voraciously staff writer Becky Crystal.
Tested by Becky Crystal; questions by email email@example.com.
Scale this recipe and get a printable desktop version here.
Browse our recipe finder to find over 9,800 proven recipes.
Have you made this recipe? Take a photo and tag us on instagram with #edible.

domain: food


text:
It’s going to be a scorcher this weekend in the Portland area if you haven’t heard by now.
The growing expectation is that Portland will dip into the triple digits and potentially log record-breaking temperatures.
Here’s a look at what local weather experts are saying about the heatwave quickly approaching that will charge into the beginning of next week:
National Weather Service in Portland
The National Weather Service in Portland has an excessive heat warning that will go into effect on Saturday morning until Monday night.
NWS Portland predicts “dangerously hot temperatures,” with numbers locally potentially reaching 103 to 108 degrees.
In their latest detailed forecast, the weather service is expecting sunny and hot weather, with the high near 95 Friday. They predict temperatures jumping close to 105 on Saturday, 109 on Sunday, and 107 on Monday.
“Heat of this magnitude is not often felt in June, and it’s more typical of July and August,” the service said. “As such, many very well may experience heat stress on Saturday.”
The service recommends you stay hydrated, take things easy, and avoid heavy exercise or work outdoors.
Those with pets should be careful on walks, too.
“For those who walk dogs and other pets: If the surface is too hot for your feet, then it is way too hot for your pets’ paws,” they added.
Could there really be three consecutive days in the 100s?
In his latest forecast for the heatwave, Chief Meteorologist Matt Zaffino of KGW predicts numbers climbing that high:
KOIN 6 Weather
Numbers have only continued to jump in Kelley Bayern’s weather outlook for KOIN.
Bayern has temperatures climbing to as high as 105 on Saturday before triple digits on Sunday (109) and Monday (107). She has an excessive heat warning in place Saturday through Monday.
Can you believe it? My forecast highs this weekend have bumped up a little more every single morning this week...109° now on Sunday in Portland. 🔥 An Excessive Heat Warning is in place Sat-Mon for dangerous triple-digit heat. #orwx #PDX @KOINNews pic.twitter.com/0rqj4YthVR— Kelley Bayern (@KelleyKOIN) June 24, 2021
Enjoy today while you can, folks.
That’s what Andy Carson of KPTV suggests, as it’s the final day before the wave begins. Carson’s latest weather blog predicts records beginning to break tomorrow.
His forecast has the high on Friday hitting 97. Saturday’s is 106, with Sunday’s 110 breaking the hottest temperature recorded. Carson has Monday’s high being 108 before cooling back down to the upper 90s on Tuesday and Wednesday.
-- Aron Yohannes


Scientists, for the first time, have mapped the genetic diversity of microbes residing in the human gut and mouth. They found 46 million genes, with at least half of these genes appearing to be unique to each individual—a diversity far exceeding the researchers’ expectations.
The study, which was published 12 August 2019 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe as “The Landscape of Genetic Content in the Gut and Oral Human Microbiome,” is the first to include DNA samples from bacteria that reside both in the mouth and the gut; previous studies have focused on one or the other. The authors, from the labs of Aleksandar Kostic and Chirag Patel at Harvard Medical School (HMS), say their work is just the beginning of efforts to analyze the entire genome collective of the human microbiome.
“The field still does not have a grasp on the scope of the microbiome’s genetic content—in the gut and otherwise—a question crucial for understanding microbial function in the context of host disease,” they wrote.
Earlier work found that changes in both bacterial count and bacterial content have been linked to the development of conditions ranging from cavities in teeth and gut infections to more serious ones, including chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.
“Ours is a gateway study, the first step on a what will likely be a long journey toward understanding how differences in gene content drive microbial behavior and modify disease risk,” said first author Braden Tierney, an HMS graduate student, in a press release.
Scientists estimate that the human microbiome—the collective body of microbes that populate our guts, mouths, skin, and other parts of the body—contains trillions of bacteria, most of them harmless, many beneficial, and some disease-causing.
Cataloging the array of microbial genes could inform the design of precision-targeted treatments, said Kostic, assistant professor of microbiology and an investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center. “Such narrowly targeted therapies would be based on the unique microbial genetic make-up of a person, rather than on bacterial type alone.”
Additionally, profiling the unique genes that make up a person’s microbiome could act as a form of microbial fingerprinting that provides valuable clues about past exposures to different pathogens or environmental influences, as well as disease predispositions, Kostic added.
In the study, the HMS researchers set out to estimate the number of microbial genes in the human body, gathering all publicly available DNA sequencing data on human oral and gut microbiomes. In total, they analyzed the DNA of some 3,500 human microbiome samples, of which more than 1,400 were obtained from people’s mouths and 2,100 from people’s guts.
They found nearly 46 million bacterial genes in the 3,500 samples—about 24 million in the oral microbiome and 22 million in the gut microbiome, the researchers found. Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that we may never know the actual number of genes present in the collective human microbiome.
But what they did discover may be more relevant to future clinical applications. More than half of all the bacterial genes (23 million) occurred only once, rendering them unique to the individual. The researchers termed these unique genes “singletons.” Of the 23 million singletons, 11.8 million came from oral samples and 12.6 million came from intestinal samples.
Researchers noted that these singleton genes also performed different functions than other genes. The analysis showed that commonly shared genes appeared to be involved in functions critical to a microbe’s day-to-day survival, such the consumption and breakdown of enzymes, energy conversion, and metabolism. The singletons tended to carry out more specialized functions, such as gaining resistance against antibiotics and other pressures and helping to build a microbe’s protective cell wall, which shields it from external assaults.
This finding, the team said, suggests that singleton genes are key parts of a microbe’s evolutionary survival kit.
“Some of these unique genes appear to be important in solving evolutionary challenges,” Tierney said in the release. He and his colleagues hypothesize that bacteria’s ability to evolve their DNA rapidly in response to changes in the host environment could drive the genetic diversity they observed.
“If a microbe needs to become resistant to an antibiotic because of exposure to drugs or suddenly faces a new selective pressure, the singleton genes may be the wellspring of genetic diversity the microbe can pull from to adapt.”


Alder Hey hasn’t so much been a second home for four-year-old Jayda Jones for three quarters of her life, it’s been her main home.
The youngster, from Kirkby, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and has been in and out of the hospital – but mostly in – since she was three months old.
During one particularly traumatic and worrying stay, she needed to spend 231 days on the high dependency ward as her lungs repeatedly collapsed.
“That was in 2012 and I was told they couldn’t do any more for Jayda – I was so close to losing her,” recalls her devoted mum, Nicola.
“I was very close to saying ‘Just let her go’. But then...”
The concerned look on Nicola’s face is suddenly replaced by a big, beaming smile and she says; “At the end of January 2013 we just saw a massive difference in her and it was like all my dreams had come true and all my prayers had been answered.
“I wasn’t even going to go for a tracheotomy (a surgical procedure to create a direct airway through an incision in the trachea/windpipe) for her because I thought ‘I can’t put her through any more’.”
Nicola, a single mum, was able to take Jayda home last year after a care package was organised, but this fell down and she explains: “Alder Hey then helped me by taking Jayda for two or three nights a week so I could get some sleep.”
But then, last September, three days after starting school, her daughter was rushed into intensive care after suffering severe respiratory problems. She later got infection after infection and spent more time in intensive care before Christmas.
Nicola adds: “She picked up again but spent Christmas in hospital – she’s spent three Christmases in Alder Hey. And she must have spent three quarters of her life here, so thank God this hospital is in Liverpool – if I had to travel anywhere else I don’t know how I’d cope. We’re so lucky to have Alder Hey – especially me. Without it I wouldn’t have Jayda, because they saved her life.
“She has a complex condition which requires complex treatment, but she couldn’t be in a better place. All the people who work here are like her extended family – and I must give special thanks to Dr Stefan Spinty, her main doctor. I now raise money for Alder Hey – as well as Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice – and would urge all ECHO readers to please donate what they can for the new hospital. Where else would our children get this type of care?”
But that care, across all departments, comes at a cost – with neurosurgeon Benedetta Pettorini, for example, saying: “We are the most expensive department; we are very demanding and very expensive because we use very fancy equipment!”
This includes the hospital’s £3m “intra-operative” MRI scanner – the first of its kind in Europe – which was unveiled by Prince William during his visit to Alder Hey in 2010. It has been used to perform life-saving brain operations and enables medics to scan patients in the operating theatre during surgery.
And, again showing the importance of charity, the scanner was the result of a £3m donation from the Barclay Foundation – the largest single donation ever received by the Trust. Benadetta adds: “It has provided better outcomes for patients and means we don’t need to bring them back to theatre for a second operation at a later date.”
Fellow Alder Hey neurosurgeon Sasha Burn says: “Every hospital in the country wants one of these scanners. Bristol has just unveiled one, Sheffield is building one and lots of people want them, but the only one that’s been up and functioning for any length of time is ours – we are very much ahead of the game.”
One of her patients, meanwhile, is Luke McElhinney, 17, from Derry, Northern Ireland, who has epilepsy and has just undergone two operations at Alder Hey in the hope of reducing his number of seizures. And mum Anna says: “We can’t rate Alder Hey highly enough. Our experience has been top-notch – just amazing. Everyone has been so caring and the attention we have had has been fantastic.”
Luke’s dad, Tony, adds: “We feel like everyone is going above and beyond the call of duty for our son. If this was a top of the range private facility in America we couldn’t get any better level of care than we are getting.”
Another neurosurgery patient, Lauren Smith, seven, from St Helens, has been on a complicated medical journey, after first suffering from chicken pox, then meningitis, listeria and hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain).
At Alder Hey Lauren has had a shunt fitted into her brain to drain the excess fluid into her abdominal cavity, and mum Lesley Swift says: “They saved her life. And I appreciated that they were honest right from the start – pointing out the dangers. We’re so lucky this hospital is on our doorstep.”
When we met her, Lauren was looking forward to soon being discharged, with her mum saying: “She’s been here for 14 weeks and we call it home now!”
Surrounded by One Direction posters and pillow cases, the young patient tells me Niall Horan is her favourite member of the boy band, adding: “I’m going to marry him, then I’ll be Lauren Horan!”
Yes, she’s obviously feeling better – Alder Hey has again done its job!
Why is our 100 year old hospital a real groundbreaker?
Every year Alder Hey cares for more than 270,000 children, young people and their families and leads research into children’s medicines, infection, inflammation and oncology.
This year it celebrates 100 years of care, in which time it was the first to:
- Test penicillin, saving a child from pneumonia in 1944
- Establish a UK neonatal unit
- Cure the UK’s most commonly encountered congenital heart defect
- Pioneer various splints and appliances, including the famous Thomas Splint
- Introduce ‘liquid glass’ to reduce infection
- Be accredited by the World Health Organisation for public health promotion
Alder Hey is also:
- A Centre of Excellence for cancer, as well as spinal, heart and brain conditions
- A Department of Health Centre for Head and Face Surgery
- A Centre of Excellence for Muscular Dystrophy and the first UK Centre of Excellence for Childhood Lupus
- One of four national centres for childhood epilepsy surgery, a joint service with the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
- A Children’s Major Trauma Centre
- And it has Europe’s only intra-operative 3-T MRI scanner which is a pioneering technology for neurosurgery, reducing repeat operations in 90% of cases
What your money could buy:
- £2,000 would pay for a specialised extendable parent bed so parents can stay next to their children during their overnight stay.
- £2,500 could buy an interactive television so children can watch movies, access the internet, Skype their friends and family and play games.
- £8,000 could help pay for specialist critical care cots to be used in the critical care units. Cots are fully integrated with diagnostic equipment like weighing scales, x-ray plates and monitoring equipment.
- £10,000 could help personalise the children’s bedrooms, including installation of visual technology (to enable choice of lighting, colour, projection of images onto walls, etc.) services and parent sofa beds.
- £15,000 could help pay for the development of the bereavement garden for families.
- £19,000 could help pay for areas for play and reflection in the external garden and courtyards, which can be developed to support physiotherapy activities, sensory developments and education.
- £20,000 could enable projection equipment to be placed in the hydrotherapy suite which would encourage children to move about during physiotherapy by spotting characters on the walls and ceiling.
- £30,000 could pay for a specialist ward chef for a year.
- £80,000 could pay for an integrated theatre system which allows full automation of processes plus video streaming. This allows surgeons to control the theatre environment intra-operatively. Systems can be pre-set for various operations, be it lighting or equipment. It also allows for telestration, which enables the team to pause and rewind the operation as it happens (Sky +) and telemedicine, meaning contact can be made outside of the operating room to anywhere in the world in real time.
- £350,000 could pay for a specialist x-ray machine which enables the whole spine and/or legs to be X-rayed while the patient is standing up. This enables focus on a specific anatomical area of interest in a single scan and in two planes simultaneously. A 3D reconstructed image can then be obtained as a result. This, thus, reduces x-ray exposure.
- £750,000 could pay for a specialist Angiography suite. Angiography is the x-ray study of the blood vessels.


text:
Things to do near Inn at Playa Del Rey
- 435 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90293Distance: 0.0 mi3 reviewsHotel Class: 4
So cute!! This place has so much charm, I fell in love with it immediately! I felt like I left LA and arrived on the New England seaboard. But instead...Popular with
- Nearby Things to do
- 41Ranked #9 overall in Venice things to doDistance: 3.8 mi2 reviews
- 42Ranked #10 overall in Venice things to doDistance: 3.1 mi2 reviews,
T-shirt designs are funky & fashionable! Great 2nd year anniversary gift (cotton) is the "t-shirt of the month club"...hubbyPopular with
- 43Ranked #46 overall in Santa Monica things to doDistance: 5.0 mi2 reviews
- 44Ranked #49 overall in Santa Monica things to doDistance: 4.5 mi3 reviews
Actually, I am not sure why I cannot find NAAM Yoga for this review but I did find YogaWorks which is also quite a lovely place. The photo is from...Popular with
- 45Distance: 2.0 mi2 reviews,
A lush, huge neighborhood park. Used to be a daily gathering for dog owners - unfortunately dogs are now required to be on leash, and a huge child playground has...Popular with
- 46Ranked #11 overall in Venice things to doDistance: 2.5 mi1 reviewPopular with
- 47Ranked #4 overall in Marina del Rey things to doDistance: 1.3 mi1 review
Look for the hiking/running trails around the school. Park by the basketball courts and park and then walk towards the many tiny trails.
- 48Ranked #12 overall in Venice things to doDistance: 3.6 mi1 review
The Mecca of body building.
- 49Ranked #19 overall in Culver City things to doDistance: 4.5 mi1 review,
Visited this park near my house for the 1st time recently, with my wife & daughter. It was very pleasant with nice shade trees, various type's of activities for the...Popular with
- 50Distance: 2.6 mi2 reviews
Shanghai is one the top cities to visit when in China. I personally prefer Beijing. There is much more culture and the vibe is much more chill. Check out the...

domain: geography


text:
Chegg does not guarantee CDs, access codes, or lab manuals with this book.
PUBLISHER: University of California Press
This Land Is Our Land - Immigrants and Power in Miami: For those opposed to immigration, Miami is a nightmare. Miami is the de facto capital of Latin America; it is a city where immigrants dominate, Spanish is ubiquitous, and Denny's is an ethnic restaurant. Are Miami's immigrants representative... Show more»
Rent This Land Is Our Land - Immigrants and Power in Miami 1st Edition today, or search our site for other Stepick Emigration & Immigration textbooks. All of our textbooks come with a 21 day Satisfaction Guarantee, 14 days for eTextbooks.


text:
Prolific Louisiana rapper Kevin Gates has been around the rap game for over a decade. He is gritty style has given us plenty of under-the-radar classics over the years. Most know him for his hit songs “2 Phones” and “Really Really.” We just learned earlier today that the man is going to be coming out with another new project sometime soon. There is no confirmation on a release date as of yet.
We already have two projects from Gates earlier this year. The first of which, THE LUCA BRASI STORY (A DECADE OF BRASI), came out on February 1. Just a little over five months later, Kevin put out another project, Stranger Than Fiction, on July 15. To get fans ready for the release of Ceremony, he dropped a new music video and lead single for it.
“God Slippers” sees Kevin Gates rapping about grinding to the top and overcoming the toughest of obstacles. It is a triumphant return and one that fans are accustomed to hearing from him. Hopefully, we get some more news on the album in the coming days. Gates likes to keep things lowkey so we will see how this all unfolds.

domain: entertainment


text:
Our holdings include hundreds of glass and film negatives/transparencies that we've scanned ourselves; in addition, many other photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs) in the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) They are adjusted, restored and reworked by your webmaster in accordance with his aesthetic sensibilities before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here. All of these images (including "derivative works") are protected by copyright laws of the United States and other jurisdictions and may not be sold, reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes without permission.
Vintage photos of:
Located at the corner of Franklin and Main in White Hall, Illinois. D. Collins, proprietor. View full size.
Scanned from the original 5x7 inch glass negative. View full size.
November 1965. Fabulous, glamorous, glittering, world-famous Hollywood & Vine. My mother, father and brother take in the dazzling sights while I snap off this Kodachrome, two years after my previous memorable visit. Looks like brother and I have been hitting the record shops. Notable vehicles include a shiny red pre-1957 Volkswagen beetle, a 1961 or 1962 Thunderbird, a 1958 Plymouth wagon and, most interesting of all, a City of L.A. Water & Power Studebaker Champ pickup. View full size.
The Manitou cliff dwellings west of Colorado Springs. This was taken on my grandparents' honeymoon out west in 1962. View full size.
Chicago, Illinois, circa 1962. At 10:27 a.m. Looking north along Michigan Avenue at Adams Street, with the Chicago Art Institute on the right. View full size.
My cousins, dressed in their Easter Sunday best, pose among the flowers at Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory. 35mm slide. View full size.


text:
The Weeknd ‘Forgot How to Sing’ and Lost His Voice Because of Acting in ‘The Idol’: ‘It Was Terrifying’
The artist, formally known as “The Weeknd,” revealed that he temporarily forgot how to sing. The moment was
said the artist, now going by his real name, Abel Tesfaye.
Abel stars as “Tedros,” a cult leader in the new HBO series, “The Idol,” he says that him getting so deep into character and then transitioning back to “The Weeknd” when he wasn’t on set was difficult and emotional.
The Weeknd Says He ‘Forgot How to Sing’ and Lost His Voice Because of Acting in ‘The Idol’: ‘It Was Terrifying’ https://t.co/q3twmuBCi5
— Variety (@Variety) May 15, 2023
Tesfaye had to end a show in Los Angeles in September because he couldn’t speak.
I don’t know what just happened… but I just lost my voice,
the singer told the crowd from the stage.
This is killing me, I don’t want to stop the show, but I can’t give you the concert I want to give you right now.
He did reschedule the show, but in a recent interview with W Magazine, the artist says it was his “Idol” character that may have caused the problem,
I had to take off the Weeknd outfit, put on Tedros’s wig, shoot with Jocelyn, then go back to being The Weeknd,” the singer said. “It was tough to go from one head to another. Then, after the concert, I lost my voice. No voice came out at all. That’s never happened before.
Have you ever lost your voice at a bad time? Share your story.

domain: celebrity


text:
|downloads are free, CDs also free (at the shows!)|
I'm mighty proud of this y'all!
This three song demo is something that my band, The Thumbless Hitchhikers, has been working on in earnest for the past month or so.
In addition to playing keys, I engineered, mixed and mastered it ... and you can tell ... dem drums on LA Woman! (LOL). It was a learning experience, and I've gotta say the sounds we did get, while not perfect, are fo' sho' pretty damn great.
We're gearing up to hit the gig circuit around town pretty hard. It promises to be a jammy summer, my peeps!
You can download the demo for free off our bandcamp page, or just give it a listen right here:
'Course if you're a true fan, you'll want a physical disk for your retro CD collection. You can get those at our shows!


text:
Fizzy drinks can cause people to faint or suffer an irregular heartbeat, says research
- Downing large amounts of cola drinks may cause unusual symptoms
- These include fainting, an irregular heartbeat, and weight gain
- A case study was presented at the EHRA Europace 2013 meeting in Athens
Drinking excessive amounts of cola can cause people to faint or suffer an irregular heartbeat, reveals new research.
Researchers found downing large amounts of cola drinks can cause unusual fainting and symptoms of irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia, as well as causing people to pile on the pounds.
A case study was presented at the EHRA Europace 2013 meeting in Athens.
Drinking large amounts of cola can lead to unusual symptoms such as fainting, irregular heartbeat and weight gain
Professor Andreas Goette, the EHRA Scientific Programme Committee chairperson, said: 'The study underlines the importance of clinicians taking detailed medical histories for patients with unexplained arrhythmias and including questions about their dietary intakes.'
In the abstract Doctor Naima Zarqane and Professor Nadir Saoudi, from the Princess Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco reported how excessive consumption of cola drinks can result in marked potassium loss and potentially life threatening arrhythmias.
They described the case of a 31-year-old woman admitted to hospital for traumatic syncope, or fainting.
Once other problems had been excluded - including a family history of sudden death - tests revealed the patient had blood potassium levels of 2.4 mmol/L, and a QTc - the QT interval on the ECG corrected for heart rate - of 610 ms.
Normal blood potassium levels range between 3.5 to 5.1 mmol/L; while the normal QTc for women is less than or equal to 450 ms.
Professor Nadir Saoudi, from the Princess Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco reported how excessive consumption of cola drinks can result potentially life threatening arrhythmias
When they took a medical history the clinicians discovered that since the age of 15 years the patient had exclusively replaced water with cola drinks.
When cola consumption ceased on medical advice, the patient’s potassium level returned to 4.1 mmol/L at one week, and 4.2 mmol/L at one month, and her QTc duration returned to 430 ms at one week.
A search revealed six other case studies where excessive cola consumption could be related to adverse medical conditions including rhabdomyolysis - damaged skeletal muscle tissue, arrhythmias, and even one death related to Torsades de pointes - a form of ventricular tachycardia that can degenerate into ventricular fibrillation.
There are two potential explanations for the connection between cola consumption and low blood potassium level, according to the researchers.
Through osmotic principles the high fructose corn syrup content of cola is likely to prevent water from being absorbed by the gut and lead to people suffering from diarrhoea that is associated with heavy fluid losses that ‘flush’ potassium out of the body.
And caffeine in the cola is also likely to have an effect on the kidneys where it reduces the amount of potassium that is reabsorbed.
Caffeine in cola is likely to have a negative effect on the kidneys as it reduces the amount of potassium that is absorbed
In the heart reduced extracellular potassium can inhibit the potassium current in ion channels and delay ventricular repolarisation that may in turn promote arrhythmias.
Doctor Zarqane said: 'One of the take home messages is that cardiologists need to be aware of the connection between cola consumption and potassium loss and should ask patients found to have QT prolongation about beverage habits.'
Prof Saoudi saidd: “It’s also important that the people are made aware of the potential health dangers of excessive consumption of sugary drinks.
'There are important political messages for governments to ensure that bottled water is cheaper than sugary drinks, which is not always the case.'
He said a further study would be helpful to explore whether there are differences in blood levels of potassium between people who had high cola intakes, and people who did not consume the drink.
And excessive drinking of cola and other sugary beverages is likely to have additional adverse cardiovascular effects.
Prof Saoudi added: 'Due to the high calorie intake it’s likely to result in weight gain which increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.'
Most watched News videos
- Shocking moment Florida bridge collapses on traffic
- David's night has sinister turn as Josh leads him to bed
- Hillary Clinton tours Jantar Mantar monument on India trip
- The Duchess presents a shamrock to Irish Wolfhound Domhnall
- Philadelphia Zoo shares video of gorilla walking on two legs
- Sanders says Andrew McCabe 'had some very troubling behavior'
- Panic and confusion in aftermath of car crashing into Kent club
- GRAPHIC CONTENT: Aftermath of bridge collapse at FIU
- Eerie moment 'ghost of Lord Nelson's wife' seen aboard HMS Victory
- What went wrong? Timelapse shows construction of collapsed bridge
- Truck dashcam video shows moment FIU bridge collapses
- People frantically run to Miami bridge moments after collapse

domain: medical


text:
February 27, 2015
STATE OF IDAHO, Plaintiff-Appellant,
COREY ALLEN THIEL, Defendant-Respondent
2015 Opinion No. 27
Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District of the State of Idaho, Ada County. Hon. Michael R. McLaughlin, District Judge. Hon. Carolyn Minder, Magistrate Judge.
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Idaho Attorney General, Boise, attorney for appellant. Mark W. Olson argued.
Ada County Public Defender's Office, Boise, attorneys for respondent. Dylan J. Orton argued.
W. JONES, Justice. Chief Justice BURDICK, Justices EISMANN, J. JONES, and Justice pro tem KIDWELL, CONCUR.
W. JONES, Justice
I. Nature of the Case
This case presents an issue of statutory interpretation. Idaho Code section 20-621 authorizes commutation of county jail sentences for good behavior, making county inmates with good records while incarcerated eligible for five (5) days off for each and every month of their sentence. A prisoner's eligibility, however, is conditioned upon receiving a recommendation from the supervising county sheriff. The primary issue presented in this case is whether the statute vests the magistrate court with the discretion to reject a recommendation from a sheriff.
II. Factual and Procedural Background
In December 2011, Corey Thiel (Thiel) was charged by the State of Idaho (State) with felony domestic battery. Pursuant to an agreement with the State, Thiel pled guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor domestic battery and was placed on supervised probation. Approximately one week after entry of this guilty plea, on February 29, 2012, Thiel was charged with a misdemeanor violation of a no-contact order for an incident that occurred while the battery charge was pending. On March 13, 2012, Thiel pled guilty to violating the no-contact order, and
the magistrate court imposed suspended jail time and two years of unsupervised probation, while crediting time served. Under the terms of his probation, Thiel was required to comply with the terms of supervised probation established in the underlying battery case.
Less than two months thereafter, on May 2, 2012, the State moved for the court to issue a bench warrant for Thiel's arrest based on probation violations. At a June 15, 2012 hearing on the State's motion, Thiel admitted the violations, specifically regarding his failure to appear for drug testing and for providing a diluted drug test. The court reinstated Thiel on probation. Approximately four months thereafter, the State moved for a second set of probation violations, alleging that Thiel failed to maintain contact with his assigned probation officer and also failed to provide documentation that he had completed the required domestic violence treatment. At a March 15, 2013 hearing on the State's motion, Thiel admitted the violations. The court revoked Thiel's probation and imposed his original sentence of 356 days, with a credit of 67 days. Thiel was taken into custody and began serving his sentence in the Ada County Jail.
On October 15, 2013, the Ada County Sheriff's Office submitted a letter to the magistrate court recommending that Thiel be granted an early release for good behavior pursuant to Idaho Code section 20-621. Specifically, the Sheriff cited the statute and wrote, " While an inmate in the Ada County Jail, [Thiel] had a good record and performed all assigned tasks in an orderly and peaceable manner." Given this good behavior, the Sheriff recommended 55 days of early release time, or 5 days for each of the approximately 11 months of Thiel's sentence. Under this calculation, Thiel's release date would be November 4, 2013. The bottom of the letter included a signature caption for the magistrate judge, designed to facilitate the court's acceptance of the recommendation. On October 23, 2013, however, the magistrate court denied the Sheriff's request. In the caption provided the court stated, " I do not agree to any release. This decision will be purely up to the [Ada County Sheriff's Office], but I will not [illegible] permission."
On November 14, 2013, Thiel separately moved for his " immediate release" based on the Sheriff's letter. On November 15, 2013, the magistrate court denied this motion, writing, " I will not sign an order releasing an untreated, violent offender into the community. The Ada County Sheriff, if he believes he has the authority to do so, may release regardless of my [expressed] concerns for safety." Thiel appealed this denial of his motion for release to the district court.
In its intermediate appellate capacity, and on an expedited basis, the district court reversed the magistrate court's decision, holding that where a county sheriff recommends an inmate be released pursuant to Idaho Code section 20-621, the magistrate court is required to follow the recommendation and release the inmate. The State timely appealed the district court's intermediate appellate decision to this Court.
III. Issues on Appeal
1. Whether Idaho Code section 20-621 vests the magistrate court with the discretion to reject a sheriff's recommendation for an inmate's early release based on good behavior.
2. Whether Idaho Code section 20-621, if it provides no discretion to the magistrate court, violates separation of powers.
IV. Standard of Review
This Court exercises free review over questions of statutory interpretation and application. Flying Elk Inv., LLC v. Cornwall, 149 Idaho 9, 15, 232 P.3d 330, 336 (2010) (citations omitted). On review, " [a]n unambiguous statute must be given its plain, usual, and ordinary meaning. Statutory provisions should not be read in isolation but instead are interpreted in the context of the entire document." Id. " A statute is ambiguous where the language is capable of more than one reasonable construction." Hayden Lake Fire Prot. Dist. v. Alcorn, 141 Idaho 388, 398, 111 P.3d 73, 83 (2005) (quotation omitted), rev'd on other grounds by Farber v. Idaho State Ins.
Fund, 152 Idaho 495, 272 P.3d 467 (2012). However, statutory language is not ambiguous " merely because the parties present differing interpretations to the court." State v. Doe, 140 Idaho 271, 274, 92 P.3d 521, 524 (2004) (citing In re Application No. 36-7200, 121 Idaho 819, 823, 828 P.2d 848, 852 (1992)).
Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. of Idaho v. Eisenman, 153 Idaho 549, 552, 286 P.3d 185, 188 (2012).
A. Idaho Code section 20-621 plainly vests no discretion with the magistrate court.
The parties' dispute centers on whether Idaho Code section 20-621 vests the magistrate court with the discretion to reject a recommendation made by a county sheriff regarding an inmate's early release for good behavior. The State argues that the statute either clearly gives magistrate judges discretion in the good-time early release process, or is at least ambiguous as to the respective roles and duties of the sheriff and magistrate judge in the process. Under both scenarios, the State asserts that the legislature did not intend to give county sheriffs unbridled authority to release inmates from county jail. Thiel contends that the statute is plainly worded and gives the magistrate court no discretion or authority to disregard or reject a recommendation from a sheriff in the context of good-time early releases. For the reasons outlined below, under a plain and ordinary reading of the statute, the magistrate court is vested with no discretion in the good-time early release process.
Idaho Code section 20-621 reads as follows:
Every person serving a jail sentence in a county jail in the state of Idaho who has a good record as a prisoner and who performs the tasks assigned him in an orderly and peaceable manner, shall upon the recommendation of the sheriff be allowed five (5) days off of each and every month of his sentence, by the magistrate judge.
I.C. § 20-621.
The State argues that the statute unambiguously vests discretion with the magistrate court. Alternatively, the State asserts that the statute is ambiguous, pointing to the conflicting meanings of the terms " recommendation," " allowed," and " shall" as support. In applying the plain and ordinary meanings of these terms, the State describes a " recommendation" as " a suggestion which may or may not be followed, rather than a mandatory directive," and as an " action which is advisory in nature rather than one having any binding effect." As to the legislature's use of " be allowed," the State asserts that the phrase connotes " permission or eligibility," but does not mandate or direct acceptance. Thus, in parsing the language, the State argues that while the statute provides county sheriffs with the authority to recommend early releases under certain circumstances, it does not expressly bind or require magistrate courts to follow said recommendations. The State contends that if the legislature intended to bind the court to these recommendations, it would have made its intention clear by expressly stating " shall release" or " shall follow the recommendation for release."
The State also advances certain policy arguments in support of its position, specifically that there is " no oversight or review" of a sheriff's determination that an inmate has complied with the statute. For example, in the letter recommending Thiel's early release, the Ada County Sheriff's Office quoted the relevant language from the statute, but provided no documentation or support evidencing that Thiel's custodial time qualified as good and peaceable. Lastly, the State contends that an interpretation of the statute offering no judicial discretion or review endangers certain rights held by Idaho crime victims pursuant to Idaho Code section 19-5306(1)(e), specifically the right to be heard at all criminal justice proceedings including those where a defendant's release from custody is considered. The State argues this right to be heard " would be meaningless if a magistrate court has no authority other than to follow the mandatory directive of a county sheriff to release an inmate."
Thiel argues that the statute is plainly worded and unambiguous, and asserts that
the State's focus on the terms " recommendation" and " allowed" overlooks and disregards the " statute's controlling imperative 'shall.'" Further, Thiel relies on an opinion issued by this Court interpreting an earlier version of the same statute. While the statute has since been slightly adjusted, Thiel argues that the Court has already recognized law enforcement's complete authority to make this determination, leaving no statutory discretion for the court. As such, Thiel contends that the statute creates a mere ministerial duty for the magistrate court, with no substantive discretion in the process.
" 'The objective of statutory interpretation is to give effect to legislative intent.'" State v. Doe, 156 Idaho 243, 246, 322 P.3d 976, 979 (2014) (quoting State v. Yzaguirre, 144 Idaho 471, 475, 163 P.3d 1183, 1187 (2007)). " The interpretation of a statute 'must begin with the literal words of the statute; those words must be given their plain, usual, and ordinary meaning; and the statute must be construed as a whole. If the statute is not ambiguous, this Court does not construe it, but simply follows the law as written.'" Verska v. Saint Alphonsus Reg'l Med. Ctr., 151 Idaho 889, 893, 265 P.3d 502, 506 (2011) (quoting State v. Schwartz, 139 Idaho 360, 362, 79 P.3d 719, 721 (2003)). Thus, this Court's role is typically limited to " appl[ying] the plain and ordinary meaning of the terms and, where possible, [giving effect to each and] every word, clause and sentence." Robison v. Bateman-Hall, Inc., 139 Idaho 207, 210, 76 P.3d 951 954 (2003).
Following the plain language of Idaho Code section 20-621, the authority to determine a good-time early release is vested solely with the sheriff. Use of the term " shall" signals clear legislative intent. The State's arguments parsing the meanings and connotations of " recommendation" and " allowed" are unpersuasive and ignore the operative and controlling imperative " shall" at the beginning of the phrase at issue. " Shall" acts as a qualifier to all other terms within the phrase, including " be allowed." Thus, an ordinary reading of the statute establishes that this determination rests entirely within the province of the sheriff and leaves no room for judicial discretion in the process.
The Court's precedent with this statute supports this reading. Without expressly stating that the magistrate court lacks discretion, the Court previously held that the statute at issue vests authority with law enforcement to determine whether an inmate qualifies for early release under the statute. See State v. Hughes, 102 Idaho 703, 639 P.2d 1 (1981). The Hughes Court held that under Idaho Code section 20-621, sentences of county inmates are " subject to the authority of the sheriff. .. to approve not more than five (5) days per month reduction for good time." Id. at 705, 639 P.2d at 3. If the sheriff has this authority, then by extension, the magistrate court does not.
" If [a] statute is not ambiguous, this Court does not construe it, but simply follows the law as written." Schwartz, 139 Idaho at 362, 79 P.3d at 721. " We have consistently held that where statutory language is unambiguous, legislative history and other extrinsic evidence should not be consulted for the purpose of altering the clearly expressed intent of the legislature." City of Sun Valley v. Sun Valley Co., 123 Idaho 665, 667, 851 P.2d 961, 963 (1993). Idaho Code section 20-621 is not ambiguous. As such, this Court does not construe it but simply follows it as written.
As noted by the district court in overturning the magistrate court on intermediate appeal, the statute, as written, creates a ministerial duty for the court. We affirm the district court's finding that the statute is ministerial and does not allow for judicial discretion. A ministerial act or duty " involves obedience to instructions, but demands no special discretion, judgment, or skill. [ A ministerial act] is absolute, certain and imperative, involving merely execution of a specific duty arising from fixed and designated facts." Ausman v. State, 124 Idaho 839, 842, 864 P.2d 1126, 1129 (1993) (quoting Black's Law Dictionary 899 (6th ed. 1990)). A ministerial duty is " [o]ne regarding which nothing is left to discretion--a simple and definite duty, imposed by law, and arising under conditions admitted or proved to exist." Id. If a statute or rule is " clear, specific, and mandatory with respect to what a judge must do[,]. .. [t]his is a ministerial act as opposed to a discretionary or judicial one." Ausman, 124 Idaho at 842-43, 864 P.2d at 1129-30.
The State relies on statutory construction to support its argument that there is uncertainty regarding the magistrate court's role in the good-time release process. Specifically, the State contends that the legislature would not have included the magistrate judge in the statute if it did not intend for the court to have some discretion in the matter. This argument is unavailing. While the magistrate judge is certainly included in the statutory scheme, the statute vests no discretion with the judge. Rather, the magistrate judge's designated role is a ministerial one. Under the statute, if a sheriff finds that an inmate in county jail has a good custodial record and has performed the tasks assigned in an orderly and peaceable manner, and the sheriff so recommends, the magistrate judge is required to commute five days off of each and every month of the inmate's sentence. The magistrate court is included in the process for procedural clean-up reasons; more plainly, for purposes of administrative record-keeping and finality, as well as serving as a potential mechanism for providing crime victims with notice of the act of release, there must be some official court record memorializing early releases.
Beyond the statute at issue, the State argues that if Idaho Code section 20-621 vests no discretion with the magistrate judge, then it endangers certain rights held by Idaho crime victims under the Victims' Rights Act, Idaho Code section 19-5306. This argument is also not persuasive. Under the pertinent portions of the Victims' Rights Act, a crime victim has the right to be notified of and an opportunity to be heard " at all criminal justice proceedings considering a plea of guilty, sentencing, incarceration, placing on probation or release of the defendant unless manifest injustice would result," as well as the right to be notified when a defendant is released from custody. I.C. § 19-5306(1)(d)-(e), (j). Statutes that relate to the same subject matter " are to be construed in harmony, if reasonably possible." State v. Barnes, 133 Idaho 378, 380, 987 P.2d 290, 292 (1999). Thus, we must reconcile apparent inconsistencies between Idaho Code section 20-621 and the Victims' Rights Act if it is possible to do so. Id. at 382, 987 P.2d at 294.
The statutes at issue here can easily be harmonized, as there is no apparent conflict between the good-time early release statute and the Victims' Rights Act. The Victims' Rights Act states that a crime victim is entitled to be notified of any proceeding related to a defendant's release, as well as when a defendant is actually released. I.C. § 19-5306(1)(d), (j). Nothing in Idaho Code section 20-621 prevents this notice from occurring. Further, the Victims' Rights Act provides victims with an opportunity to be heard at proceedings considering, inter alia, sentencing, incarceration, or release of a defendant. I.C. § 19-5306(1)(e). The State contends
it would be meaningless for a victim to be heard at a good-time early release hearing if the court lacks the discretion to weigh, consider, or otherwise act on the victim's concerns. While this is true, it does not violate the Victims' Rights Act.
The Victims' Rights Act gives crime victims a voice in proceedings related to pleas, sentencing, incarceration, probation, or release. However, an impact can only be had in proceedings where judicial discretion is involved. The Victims' Rights Act creates a right to be heard at proceedings " considering" a defendant's possible release, which connotes the exercise of discretion. As stated above, the good-time early release process involves no exercise of judicial discretion. Since the court has no discretion in the process outlined in Idaho Code section 20-621, the legislature did not intend for a crime victim's voice to impact these proceedings. Rather, a ministerial duty is imposed on the court. Once a recommendation has been made by the sheriff, there is nothing left to consider. Thus, the two statutes can be construed harmoniously as nothing in Idaho Code section 20-621 conflicts with Idaho Code section 19-5306.
For all of these reasons, this Court holds that the respective roles and duties of the sheriff and magistrate court in the early release process outlined in Idaho Code section 20-621 are clearly defined. Idaho Code section 20-621 is unambiguous and a plain-language reading establishes that a magistrate judge exercises no oversight or discretion in the good-time early-release process. Rather, the duty imposed on the magistrate court is a ministerial one. The legislature intended to grant the sheriff commutation authority for inmates in county jail, with a maximum possible reduction of five days off for each month of an inmate's sentence. In receiving recommendations from the sheriff, the magistrate judge was meant to have no discretion in the process. The district court's decision overturning the magistrate court on intermediate appeal is affirmed.
B. Idaho Code section 20-621 does not violate separation of powers.
If the statute is held to vest no discretion with the magistrate court, the State argues that it violates the Idaho Constitution by improperly divesting sentencing authority from the judiciary. For the reasons outlined below, this argument fails.
The Idaho Constitution prohibits any branch of government from exercising powers that properly belong to another branch, unless expressly directed or permitted by the State Constitution. Idaho Const. art. II, § 1. " Our State Constitution is a limitation, not a grant of power, and the [l]egislature has plenary powers in all matters, except those prohibited by the Constitution." Rich v. Williams, 81 Idaho 311, 323, 341 P.2d 432, 439 (1959). " Because the Constitution is not a grant of power, there is no reason to believe that a Constitutional provision enumerating powers of a branch of government was intended to be an exclusive list. The branch of government would inherently have powers that were not included in the list." Idaho Press Club, Inc. v. State Legislature, 142 Idaho 640, 642-43, 132 P.3d 397, 399-400 (2006).
" [T]he powers reserved to the several departments of the government, but not specifically enumerated in the [C]onstitution, must be defined in the context of the common law." State v. Branson, 128 Idaho 790, 792, 919 P.2d 319, 321 (1996).
It was early held by this [C]ourt that the power to define crimes and prescribe penalties belongs to the legislative department of government; that the power to try offenders, and to enter judgment convicting and sentencing those found guilty, belongs to the judicial department; [and] that the power and prerogative of granting pardons, paroles or commutations belong to the executive department.
Spanton v. Clapp, 78 Idaho 234, 237, 299 P.2d 1103, 1104 (1956).
The statute at issue in this case, Idaho Code section 20-621, is entitled " Commutation for good behavior" and acts as a form of sentence commutation. The good-time early release statute does not encroach upon the powers of the judiciary in violation of the Idaho Constitution for the following reasons. For one, and as recognized by the Spanton
Court, the judiciary has constitutionally recognized authority in the sphere of conviction and judgment, but not in the period following the entry of judgment. Id. at 238, 299 P.2d at 1104. The good-time early release program falls outside of the realm of conviction and judgment because it impacts only the period following the entry of judgment. Two, the executive branch wields the power to pardon and commute sentences, and the good-time early release statute properly places commutation authority in the hands of an executive agency, the supervising county sheriff's office. Lastly, the early release scheme can be construed as falling within the legislature's power to fix punishment. In defining crimes and fixing punishment, the legislature " has great latitude" in the exercise of this power. Malloroy v. State, 91 Idaho 914, 915, 435 P.2d 254, 255 (1967). The scheme at issue here simply reduces an inmate's sentence if certain conditions are met. The legislative pronouncement that an inmate is entitled to an early release upon the recommendation of the sheriff is a legitimate exercise of the legislative power to define crimes and their penalties and does not involve resentencing inmates. For all of these reasons, Idaho Code section 20-621 does not violate separation of powers under the Idaho Constitution.
In arguing that the statute improperly divests sentencing authority from the judiciary, the State relies on this Court's holding and rationale in State v. McCoy, 94 Idaho 236, 486 P.2d 247 (1971). McCoy involved an attempt by the legislature to establish, by statute, a mandatory minimum sentencing scheme. The McCoy Court struck down the statute based on the judiciary's common law authority to suspend a sentence. The Court in State v. Branson explained the McCoy holding as follows: " [T]he [common law] authority possessed by the courts to sentence necessarily included the power to suspend that sentence, [thus] this power may not properly be abrogated by statute. It is an 'inherent right' of the judiciary and one which the separation of powers doctrine places beyond legislative mandate." Branson, 128 Idaho at 792, 919 P.2d at 321. Thus, the McCoy Court held that the legislature could not enact a mandatory minimum sentence absent a constitutional amendment, given that " the judiciary possessed the power at common law to suspend a sentence" and a mandatory minimum sentence interferes with this power. McCoy, 94 Idaho at 240, 486 P.2d at 251.
In response to the Court's holding in McCoy, the legislature proposed and the people adopted an amendment to Article V, Section 13 of the Idaho Constitution. Idaho Const. art. V, § 13. This amendment granted the legislature the constitutional authority to enact mandatory minimum sentences. After the amendment to Article V, Section 13, it was no longer unconstitutional for the legislature to issue a mandatory minimum sentence infringing upon the judiciary's inherent, common law authority to exercise its discretion to suspend a sentence.
The facts presented in this case are not the same as those in McCoy. The Court's holding in McCoy was premised on courts possessing, at common law, the power to suspend a sentence. However, a suspension is not the same as a commutation. For one, " [a] commutation diminishes the severity of a sentence, e.g. shortens the term of punishment," while a suspension delays the entry of a sentence. Standlee v. State, 96 Idaho 849, 852, 538 P.2d 778, 781 (1975). More importantly, whereas the authority to suspend a sentence rests with the judiciary at common law, courts do not similarly possess the power at common law to commute a sentence. A commutation is inherently a creature of the executive branch. For these reasons, the State's reliance on McCoy is misplaced.
The legislature has the constitutional authority to identify and define criminal acts, as well as the power to prescribe penalties for these crimes. If it has the power to do these things, it surely has the power to enact a targeted early-release scheme to lessen the penalties for these crimes. Furthermore, the legislature has the authority to delegate the good-behavior determination to an executive branch agency. Thus, the good-time early release program contained in Idaho Code section 20-621 does not unconstitutionally infringe upon the judiciary's inherent
sentencing authority, and does not violate separation of powers principles.
This Court affirms the judgment of the district court that the statute vests no discretion with the magistrate judge. Further, this Court holds that the statute itself does not violate separation of powers principles under the Idaho Constitution.
Chief Justice BURDICK, Justices EISMANN, J. JONES, and Justice pro tem KIDWELL, CONCUR.

domain: law


text:
October 30, 2014
October 23, 2014
October 19, 2014
October 15, 2014
October 10, 2014
Confidence is a four-letter word. Not literally, of course.
I am not a confident person. When faced with unfamiliar scenarios and conflict, I cower behind a facade. I sing my confidence song (from either ‘The Sound of Music’ or The King and I’) and I pretend that my stomach is not twisting around inside my body, threatening evacuation. Over my lifetime, what little confidence I had was shaken by multiple moves and cruel peers. I have never been part of the in-crowd. I have never tried to be popular or have a ton of “friends”, I have always danced to the tune of my own drum. I consoled myself with the fact that eventually I would be accepted for who I am. I’m fine with who I am, I like who I am. But I am not confident. Over the last two years, especially, I have been dealt a serious blow to my confidence in my professional capabilities due to a prolonged, difficult work situation.
When I look into a mirror, I don’t see a true image. I see the consorted view of my mind. Like a thin person only seeing weight and an attractive person only seeing ugliness. I don’t want my boys to feel this way. I want them to view themselves the way they truly are. Every night I say an affirmation with them, detailing a few of the ways they are good and important. I want them to believe these things (after all they are true) and I want them to have healthy self-esteem and self-confidence. Unlike their mother.
Can I be truly comfortable with myself and lack confidence? I tend to second-guess myself. At my day job, I constantly need direction and review. Maybe I’m in the wrong line of work? Maybe there is something out there where I would be completely confident?
Even when writing I have some doubts about my ability. But I find it so relaxing and liberating that I keep on trying. I ignore the voice in my head that says my story is ridiculous and I'm just wasting my time. I feel free when the words are pouring out of my mind onto the screen. The same feeling I get when I ice skate, play the piano or sing. The weight of the world slips off my shoulders for a fleeting moment in time.
The circumstances of the past influence the path of the future. At my current job, I have been inadequately trained and constantly criticised. I've been there for two years. I am finally getting some more training after two years of requests. Now I wonder if I can do the job? What is my path forward? Am I doing the job I'm meant to do? At thirty-four, I'm still asking myself what I should be when I grow up.
There's no guarantee in life. No sure fire way to select the right path. In fact, we often have to choose the wrong path before we find our way. You simply have to pick and forge ahead. And sometimes you have to fake your confidence and convince yourself to believe you can do it!
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t -- you're right.”