text: Go on a half day tour to visit two of the best attractions in Spain – the Monastery of El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen. Hop on a comfortable coach which will take you to your first location at Spain's most chilling and controversial tourist site, the Basílica of Valley of the Fallen. As you approach the site at Sierra de Guadarrama, you can evidently see the 500ft colossal cross standing before the cobalt sky. Once you arrive at the Esplanade, you'll discover a huge basilica tucked into the hillside where thousands of fallen Spanish civil war soldiers were buried, as well as the enormous crypt that houses the tombs of General Franco and José Antonio Primo de Rivera. After your site visit, you'll next head to Spain's most important architectural monument during the Spanish Renaissance, the Monastery of El Escorial. Built by the orders of King Philip II, this building was built to be a burial place for his father, King Charles V, as well as a palace. Today, it is utilized as multi-complex that houses a church, monastery, royal palace, a college, and a library. Walk through the building's many halls and marvel at the wonderful Spanish architecture. This tour to this historic sites will be a fun day filled with an appreciation for history and culture. It's something you should definitely see while visiting Madrid.


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- Courtesy Walker Art Center
All content including images, text documents, audio, video, and interactive media published on the Walker website (walkerart.org) is for noncommercial, educational, journalistic and/or personal use only. Any commercial use or republication is strictly prohibited. Copying, redistribution, or exploitation for personal or corporate gain is not permitted.
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- Still Life With Flowers
- Florine Stettheimer
- unframed 26-3/8 × 30-¼ inches
- oil on canvas
- Not on view
- Paintings (Paintings)
- Accession Number
- in green paint front LR illegible “SF 1921”?
- Physical Description
- flowers in a vase under a light. white background
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Ettie Stettheimer, 1955
- Object Copyright
- Copyright retained by the artist

domain: artistic


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Coming Undone (Harlequin Blaze) by Stephanie Tyler
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Irresistible (Hqn Romance) by Susan Mallery
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Dare Me (Signet Eclipse) by Cherry Adair
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About meI've been a reader since I read "Around the World in 80 Days" when I was in 4th grade. During middle school and high school, I generally stuck with mysteries (Nancy Drew, etc) and the occassional Danielle Steel novel. When I got to college, I fell out of the habit of reading for pleasure. About 5 years ago, I re-discovered my love for books and on most days people will almost always see me with a book in hand.
About my libraryFor the longest time, my library mostly consisted of college text books and a handful of Clive Cussler books. About 2 years ago, I realized that the public library didn't have many of the books that were on my to-be-read list, so I began to purchase more books. I'm really into series, so most of the books I own are parts of series. And of course, if you buy one, you have to get the whole series.
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domain: literature


Björk performed live on Jools Holland’s BBC show “Later…” last night. It is the first time the Icelandic musician performs live on TV in eight years. RÚV reported first.
The performance featured the all-female flute choir which Björk formed to record on her latest album, Utopia. The group performed in elaborate costumes surrounded by a lush set of tropical plants. Björk performed both The Anchor Song, from her first album Debut, and Courtship from Utopia.
See videos of the performances below.


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RV ownership opens up a whole new world of travel and adventure for families and individuals. Because an RV is a special type of vehicle, regular auto insurance is usually not the best idea. If you have questions concerning RV insurance, we have answers at Pritchards and Associates Inc, serving Okeechobee, FL. Let’s find out what you need to know about RV insurance.
Isn’t Auto Insurance Enough?
Many people think that adding their RV to their regular auto policy will be adequate. The truth is insurance policies specifically designed for RVs provide customized coverage. An RV policy can include protection of personal belongings because when you travel or stay in your RV for an extended amount of time, your personal belongings will be with you. An RV policy can also be paused if you will not be using the RV for extended periods of time during the year. This can save you money on the policy cost. The best way to know which type of policy will work for you and your family will be to sit down with a knowledgeable insurance representative.
What Do RV Policies Cover?
An RV insurance policy can be customized to suit your individual needs, however, most policies will cover the following general areas:
Collision/Comprehensive- In the event that your RV is involved in an accident, this coverage will pay for repairs or replacement of your RV.
Liability- If your RV is the cause of an accident that causes injuries to other vehicles or to individuals, this coverage will pay for damages and medical bills which result.
If you would like to learn more about our insurance products, please contact our office at Pritchards and Associates Inc, serving Okeechobee, FL. We will be very happy to answer your insurance questions and help you pick the best coverage options.

domain: travel


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Last year the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) together with the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) presented the Icon's Talk where the legendary Caiphus Semenya addressed music makers and other industry enthusiast and practitioners. The talk also served as a networking session for those present and an opportunity to look at some of the music traditions that were destroyed by apartheid. Needless to say - it went down real well. So well that the second Icon's Talk will take place next Saturday and this time it's the iconic trumpeter and music educator Johnny Mekoa who will address the audience on Township based big bands and how they have always been a place where instrumentalists are bred and can continue to serve our communities. Arts and Culture Trust's Programme Co-ordinator Karabo Legoabe joins us in studio to tell us more.
For more news, visit: http://www.sabc.co.za/news


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Judgment Day: Prison or Parole?
Each year in America, 85% of inmates seeking early release will be denied, but 15% will be released from prison before serving their full sentences. Two thirds of these parolees will commit a crime that sends them back behind bars, making the decision to release an inmate early an agonizing dilemma. Judgment Day: Prison or Parole is an investigative series that takes viewers inside the high stakes decisions made by parole boards everyday. When 95% of inmates in the US will eventually be placed back into society, parole board members must decide who should remain incarcerated and who is safe for release.
Backgrounds (Fan Art)
Full HD backgrounds you can use as your desktop wallpaper or in your favorite TV project. All are 1280x720 or 1920x1080.
Legacy banners that use less vertical space. Each is 758x140.
Posters can be used in coverflow applications and in social media applications. They are 680x1000.

domain: law


The introduction of Universal Credit and benefit cuts are "a driver of food poverty", according to a report from three major charities.
Oxfam, Church Action on Poverty and the Trussell Trust said, last year over 20 million free meals were given to people at the risk of going hungry because they could not afford food.
Analysis by Oxfam and Church Action on Poverty found that 20,247,042 meals were given to people in food poverty in 2013/14 by the three main food aid providers - the Trussell Trust, Fareshare and Food Cycle - an increase of 54% on the previous year.
The safety net provided by the welfare system seemed to be under threat because cuts to benefits are having a "severe impact on poor and vulnerable families".
More top news
There will be blustery showers across northern parts overnight with showery rain and sleet across the south.
Rap mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight has been arrested on murder charges after a fatal hit-and-run incident in Los Angeles.
The Canadian used only ice hooks to scale the frozen cliffs, and says the walls were "unstable" and "unpredictable".


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Coffee In The Garden...
at the Los Angeles Arboretum Library
Saturday, June 17
from 1pm - 4pm,
with a presentation at 2pm
On Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 1:00 to 4:00, we are pleased to offer a unique “Coffee in the Garden” hosted by Susan C. Eubank, Head Librarian at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, who will be introducing members of the Southern California Horticultural Society to the recently renovated Arboretum Library. The building is an open, beautiful, mid-century modern renovation which houses almost 30,000 items recorded in the online catalog.
Admission to the 127 acre Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden that day will be waived and refreshments will encourage conviviality and lingering with the materials in the beautiful space. NOTE: The Arboretum grounds and parking lot will close at 4:00 p.m. on this date for a Pasadena Pops event.
Please complete registration before Thursday, June 15. If you prefer to register with a check by mail, you can download this flyer and send in the registration by mail.
2017_6 CITG Flyer.pdf
The Arboretum Library has been a center for plant and garden information since the 1950s, with a comprehensive collection of books, e-books, historical Arboretum publications which have also been digitized, current and non-current specialized magazines, historic nursery catalogs, rare books and local history. Susan’s presentation will explore the materials, services and programs of this highly specialized resource and will also talk about how she and the Arboretum Library can help you successfully ride the tsunami wave of information about your favorite subject: plants and gardens.
Susan has worked almost her entire 30 year career in small specialized libraries. This is her third botanic garden library following San Francisco and Denver. Susan came to the library world with an undergraduate degree in art history, a graduate degree in library and information studies and a father who loved books and a mother who loved beauty and plants. As a former board member and newsletter editor for SCHS, she hopes that this visit to the Arboretum Library will encourage SCHS members to utilize the wealth of materials and services available.

domain: library


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> 12112"SPIRIT" purchase this and other photographs and postcards from my website
12112"SPIRIT" purchase this and other photographs and postcards from my website
Nikon Coolpix 8800
1/525s f/7.8 at 40.0mm iso50
Copyright protected Doanld Verger Photography
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And this is my fav here - it does not contain a single unnecessary element! Beautiful shot! V.
very like a Turner painting, a gem
Love it. Nice mood setting and great composition. Vote
lovely light Donald. well captured
Absolutely beautiful! V
This is absolutely beautiful! Great work.
Susanne v. Schroeder
Oh so beautiful!!
Fantastic, beautiful work!
Sublime espiritualidad. GMV+++
Incredible image! Love the bright golden light and the sun "touching" the top of the tree, like a Christmas star! V
Love the sun behind the island and golden color. V
Wow indeed! ron
Still my favorite!
Wow! That's all I can say, it is an amazing shot, spiritually enlifting! (which explains your number of hits)
Too bad it has to be displayed so small, but very understandably...
this is so mystic. love the lights and fog.
bit small image,but worth the vote.
An amazing shot!
Extraordinary, to say the least!
Iain M Norman
great composition !!! Th lighting is wonderful.
Manuel Libres Librodo Jr.
You seized that day. Beautiful...magical. Big vote
My goodness this is an amazing image. v
excelent feeling. did you try to print this big? must be very nice
Absolutely fascinating!!! The Sun is born... :)
Love it....I'm guessing sunrise, Maine has the best!
This is my favorite!!!!
Jose Paulo Andrade
Very good light and effetc in the mist!!
very beautifull mood and color .great shot!!
Impressive shot. Voted.
An over the top stunning shot!!! Daniel.
wow! wow! wow! ___/|°___
Beautiful! You found the light there :)
Don, this is incredible. Your pictures are just wonderful!
Congrat on this fine pic. I miss it the past few times I was browsing thru :). There is a spiritual feel about it. Is this near where you stay? Lucky you... but of course, it takes a photographer eye to 'see' the pic.
a super one
What a surreal image, Don. Thumbs up.
OMG! This is terrific! WOW! GMV! If I could, I would vote non stop!
I would use this one, as one of the twelve.
beautful, pure joy
Amazing shots,i would find it hard to pick one also;).(there all good) Vote!
DON! I SOOO love this!!!!!!!!!
Kelly Clark Moncure
this is beautiful. love the radial effect of the yellow and trees towards the sun
George - Omiros Christakos
Amazing photo Donald. A vote from me.
Fantastic pic Donald, it's the spirit of beauty
Awesome shots Donald. Tahnks for sharing.
Greetings from Madrid
Fabulous! Are you looking to have your images stolen and printed? This is FAR too large to not worry about this.
Angel Gonzalez Molero
WOW WOW .... WOW
Don..I LOVE this! MaryAnne
great image beautiful
Nunes BEIRAO - PHOTO
Masterful shot, Don. I would like to have shot it. Vote.
Stunning image - I'm quite taken by this!
Really awesome shot, Donald. It does have a very mystical quality to it. Really great post-processing as well..
marilyn k holmberg
this is an amazing shot!! .. 'm'
Does photography get any better than this? I don't think so.
Wonderful magical image. Wow! Thank you very much for your comment on my "Youth" at Women Digital Photograpers site.
Just a true wonder !
Robert Stuart Davies
Incredible mood..Fantastic shot. Congratulations.
June Marie Sobrito
Wow...I dream of taking a shot like this...gorgeous and thanks for all your comments on my stuff!!
Absolutely fantastic! A dream of a shot! Congrats.
The light, the color and the composition all go so well that the ghostly mood is created perfect. Just awesome.
I see what you mean. This is brilliant. I can't believe the light. It's almost surreal.
I can understand why!
I don't know how I missed this one.. it has to be one of my favorites. Would be an amazing print on the wall, Don. The trees seem to be reaching for the sun.. outstanding!
And this one too!!!!
Many thanks to our Creator, for the beauty on earth. Not "mother earth".....what the heck is that???
Give credit, where credit is due!
amazing light and colour (well worth it!!) :)
Many thanks to Mother Earth !
And to you Don, to have captured this !
What Paul D said. Very powerful.. Great light and composition
This one is mystical!!!
wow - this is really lovely - the intensity of colour and the composition are excellent.
I lied I think this would be my personal favorite.
this is powerfull


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Once again Chaumet is inspired by the eternal expression of love for its latest Liens de Chaumet collection. First unveiled in the 1970s, the Lien creations now comprise four stories featuring the latest Liens Séduction jewels. Their designs adopt a playful theme, focused on whimsical and loosely tied ribbons that symbolise both passionate love and freedom.
Bazaar was treated to an exclusive presentation of the collection at the Chaumet boutique in The Dubai Mall. The 16 new jewels are available as slender or wide rings, bracelets, hooped earrings, ear studs and pendants, created in diamonds with rose or white gold.
To celebrate the Liens creations, Chaumet has released a film directed by Damien Krisl featuring a mosaic of six short scenes that follow the emotional journey of a ring.
Beginning with the designer’s initial idea of a tied ribbon design, we see the ring crafted by the jeweller in metal and diamonds. The ring is then gifted between a couple, with the woman later giving it to her daughter who in turn shares the jewel with her friends. The film culminates with a woman opening her arms to the horizon of Paris, the iconic city of love and creation.
Portraying how Chaumet’s jewellery can accompany many of life’s key emotions – romance, love, friendship and happiness – the latest Liens Séduction collection offers a sparkling companion for these happy moments.

domain: design


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With Sampaoli now out of the Albiceleste, two former Baseball Jerseys Custom coaches are the running to take over following last-16 elimination Russia The top job Jerseys Wholesale at the national team is vacant for the third time Baseball Jerseys Wholesale as years, and unlike 12 months ago Baseball Jerseys Wholesale those charge seem at a loss as to how to fill that crucial position. They all did work hard, played hard. That drive would result a Bills touchdown. He’s been able to grasp the responsibility as the play-caller and is the needed physical presence Baseball Jerseys Custom coach Raheem wanted to help solidify the run defense. Lacks the prototype size and bulk some teams are looking for a bell-cow runner. But, if her mom and coaches are correct, her career has only begun to take off. 3 – Berman’s bold prediction for The list MLB Jerseys Wholesale of Baseball Jerseys Custom Bills fans goes on and on, but the legendary Berman be one of the most iconic. Still, feels a measure of respect is forthcoming.
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Don Beasley, 87, a former commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club of Bellingham, died November 4, 2023.
Paula Pellegrino, 68, a retired teacher and native of North Cambridge, Mass., who attended kindergarten through high school with Sheehan World publisher Kathy Sheehan, died October 3, 2023. The former Paula Zani had attended the 50th year reunion of the North Cambridge Catholic High School Class of 1973 in June and was enjoying retirement with her family and friends. She went into a hospital in the fall for an operation and didn’t come home.
Jon Martin, 69, a Bellingham sailor who dedicated his life to community service, died August 31, 2023. A bad fall he took less than a year earlier had led to the discovery of a brain cancer. Jon moved from California to Washington as a VISTA volunteer in his adulthood and worked in various weatherization and construction roles for non-profits in Walla Walla and Bellingham for many years before his retirement from the Opportunity Council in Bellingham in 2021. He served as treasurer of the Corinthian Yacht Club of Bellingham from 2019 to 2022 and was well known in Squalicum Harbor where he spent many hours and days working on his Yankee 30 and helping other boaters. Jon was also the main organizer and promoter of the Fairhaven “Doxie Walk,” an annual event for Dachshunds and their owners.
Kathy Cole, the master gardener of Niagara Drive in Bellingham, died June 20, 2023. She went into a hospital for an operation and didn’t come home. Kathy had a lifelong love of learning, engaging in paid and volunteer work and hobbies that let her explore nutrition, bookkeeping, reading, singing, investing and growing fruit, vegetables and flowers on her property on Alabama Hill. She was one of the best neighbors the Sheehan World has known.
Craig Ammerman, the executive editor of the Philadelphia Bulletin when it printed its final edition on Jan. 29, 1982, died Jan. 27, 2023 in Florida. He was 74 and had tried to revive what was once the largest evening newspaper in America. Craig was also a former executive editor at the New York Post, a founder of a health publishing business called Health Ink and an avid golfer. Lou Antosh wrote of his business partner at Health Ink and boss at the Bulletin: “Craig had the down-home ease of a quick-witted but slow-talking southern boy who learned early on the value of relationship building.”
Dave Warren, a leading voice in the Pacific Northwest labor movement who served as president of the Northwest Washington Central Labor Council for more than 25 years, died Dec. 27, 2022. He was 74. A Democrat, he was the longest serving member of the Bellingham Civil Service Commission and a loyal “favorite brother” to all working people, from his brothers and sisters at SEIU in Alaska to the Polish shipyard workers who battled an authoritarian government in the 1980s. A relentless fighter for democracy and justice, he made life better for thousands of workers by promoting fairness and equality on the job. He battled four types of cancer before he succumbed to lung cancer in 2022. The Sheehan World sends his heartfelt sympathy to Charlie, his wife and soulmate, and his extended family.
Gundel Brockhaus, 92, a devout Christian who raised six children with her husband Henrich in The Sheehan World neighborhood of Bellingham, died Dec. 15, 2022. She was a mother, nurse, nanny and teacher to many children. Born in Germany to a Baptist preacher and his wife, she emigrated to Vancouver, BC, Canada, from London in 1955. It was not until 1958, while enrolled at the University of British Columbia, that Gundel met Henrich Brockhaus, her future husband, at Emanuel Baptist Church. It turned out that they both had been working in London at the same time, had come over on the same boat, had been on the same train from Montreal to Vancouver, and had not met! Gundel and Henrich lived in Seattle before moving to Bellingham in 1965. Five years later, they moved into a newly built house on Niagara Drive.
Joanne Hennessey, 63, a one-on-one special educator who fought cancer and the effects of years of smoking, died Nov. 18, 2022. She was related by marriage and a "sister from another mother" to fellow Virgo Kathy Sheehan, publisher of The Sheehan World. A few days before she died, she warned her friends of the dangers of nicotine addition from her hospital bed in New Hampshire, saying she was suffering from COPD and hypertension: "I was a life time smoker and I am paying the price now. I no longer smoke but sometimes you wait too long to come to the obvious realization that you are not immune to the awfulness of bad habits. I am telling you this to perhaps deter anyone from smoking and to ask for prayers. I have been been very sick these last few days and scared for my life."
Gael Brockerman, 75, a businesswoman, world traveler, gardener, hostess, voracious book reader and amazing cook, died March 14, 2022 in Bellingham.
Pat Gillespie Sr., 76, the gregarious, cigar-smoking, golf-playing, retired business manager for the Philadelphia Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, died August 29, 2022. He was a fierce fighter for the working class, serving for more than 30 years as the influential voice of the building trades, a group of hard-working men and women who, his wife Arlene said, “gave Philadelphia its magnificent skyline.” During his long career, he also was chairman of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation; a Pennsylvania state representative from Delaware County; vice president of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO Labor Council; and board member of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. Said his longtime friend and golfing partner Jim Martin, Gillespie was one of the region’s most successful and influential labor leaders because “he could will things to happen.” The ruddy-faced Irishman often sparred with Philadelphia Daily News labor reporter Kathy Sheehan, driving her out of his office with a nauseating expelling of cigar smoke. In addition to his wife Arlene, he is survived by four children and 10 grandchildren. (Philadelphia Inquirer obituary; Subscription may be required.)
Floyd McKay, 86, an award-winning print and TV journalist who reported extensively on the Pacific Northwest for four decades and wrote three books, died on March 4, 2022, in Bellingham. He covered politics at The Oregon Statesman (now the Statesman Journal) and worked as a news analyst at KGW-TV in Portland, Oregon. A 1968 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, he helped launch the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and taught journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham. He retired from WWU in 2004.
Bill Sterling, 68, a Bellingham-area tuba player, bass guitarist, environmentalist and community builder, died Nov. 29, 2021. Bill contributed to the foundation of the River Farm in Van Zandt, where he served as a steward of the land for more than 20 years and established the annual Herbal Faire music festival. The Kulshan Community Land Trust honored him for "Creating Permanently Affordable Homeownership Opportunities," and he was involved in many community projects such as the Whatcom County Seed Swap and the Whatcom Skill Share Faire. In addition to his biologic family, Bill recognized his community as family and generously shared his building skills and warm hugs with all. Among the bands he contributed to were the Critical Mass Marching Band (the original flash mob for music), K-Kats, Brasscadia, What the Chelm, The Clay People, and Patriots of Tomorrow.
Nicole Hurtubise, an amazing vocalist with the Bellingham group, Stirred not Shaken, died July 1, 2021.
Jerry Tegarden, a songwriter, musician and bona fide hippie, died Feb. 1, 2021 in Bellingham. He was 72. Jerry was a friend to Kathy Sheehan and Chuck Dingee and the longtime sweetheart of Rose Nerad.


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Frank Ugochukwu Edwards, also known as Frank Edwards, a Nigerian gospel minister, has released a new song titled “Morning Bells.”
An American gospel vocalist, Don Moen contributes to the amazing tune.
Without further ado, download the song below, and don’t forget to tell your friends what you’ve been listening to.
Listen and share your thought below:
Leave a Reply


Trump confirmed intelligence that the US had picked up to North Korea by retweeting a Fox News story that contained leaked classified intelligence from an anonymous government official.
Fox News reported, “Despite the United States’ insistence that North Korea halt its missile tests, U.S. spy agencies detected the rogue communist regime loading two anti-ship cruise missiles on a patrol boat on the country’s east coast just days ago. It’s the first time these missiles have been deployed on this type of platform since 2014, U.S. officials with knowledge of the latest intelligence in the region told Fox News on Monday.”
Instead of keeping the intelligence an unconfirmed report, Trump confirmed the classified intelligence leaked by his administration with a retweet:
Trump and his Twitter account continue to jeopardize national security. Thanks to Trump, the North Korean regime is now aware of what US intelligence agencies have uncovered. Trump is bumbling America into a potential confrontation with North Korea over their nuclear program one bumbling tweet at a time.
The President has declared war on leakers. Unless the leaks are covered by Fox News, and the leaker is one suspects could be the President himself.
Trump has no credibility but somehow continues to find new ways to sink even lower. The President Of The United States could very well start a war because he refuses to stop tweeting and start governing.
Mr. Easley is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association


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The past couple of years True Blood has held a big presence here at the annual San Diego Comic-Con. The mixture of vampires, sex and drama are merely just a couple of the many things that make fans want more year after year.
Naturally True Blood‘s panel would be taking place on Saturday which is arguably one of the biggest days of the famed convention. Fans eagerly await not only to see footage from the latest season but seeing creator Alan Ball at the convention center for the last time. The reason for this is because he’ll be stepping down as the showrunner at the end of the fifth season. So what better way to send off the man who created one of the most popular HBO shows out there than by getting plenty of love from the cast and the fans surrounding them.
It’s weird that the moderator started off the panel addressing the fact that The Vampire Diaries were in Ballroom 20 merely just a few hours before them. The whole cast brushes off the question, phew. Then they ask Alan Ball why was it he decided to bring some of the characters together, a couple of which have never really interacted together in a friendly manner before. “It’s definitely a conscious decision and it’s one of my favorite things about the show. The new chemistry with characters that may have been at odds before. In this particular season they have to have a romance.” What romance is he referring to? Well if it was our guess, we think it has something to do with Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bill (Stephen Moyer).
The moderator calls their new dynamic on the show the “season of the bromance.” Given the fact that they’ve been going to Comic-Con long enough to know their fans, the two actors say just the right words to get every person in that room excited. Alex starts off saying “Alan (Ball) and the writers have been struggling with it because we’ve had a little too much fun together and we’ve kind of [grunts]. It’s been four years of us fighting for Sookie and there’s like a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid moment…”
“And we get to play the [grunt] together,” growls Moyer in his perfect accent. It took a good minute for the room to collect itself after that happened. But Moyer explains more as to why this team up works right. “We can’t do it apart, we have to do it together. All sorts of animosity aside, they get together. I don’t know about you but I kind of felt when we were working together that there’s something between them in the past that we haven’t seen yet. That there’s some kind of old friendship.” Can we say season six?
Then the two joke about how difficult it was for them to compose themselves while filming the trunk scene. Stephen Moyer talks about how upset some people got because of how long it took, especially Alan Ball. “So we both received emails from Alan, the lord and master, basically saying anytime you guys go up to actually see me that’ll be fantastic. I got up, called him [Alexander Skarsgård] and asked if he’d seen Alan’s email. So we ended up kind of going in to see the principal to get our wrists slapped.”
The one question that plenty of fans want to know, and have probably asked at one point or another, is who’s the best cuddler between Eric and Bill? Anna says “It’s hard to say” but the sheer thought of either of the two cuddling sends the fans into a screaming frenzy.
Then they start giggling like crazy when they begin talking about Pam’s (Kristin Bauer van Straten) wardrobe in the show. What’s even more amazing is the fact that three women are sitting up in the front row wearing some of her character’s ugly-looking sweatsuits. Still, Kristin sends her love out to the costume designer Aubrey Fisher. The best part about this portion of the panel was Sam’s (Trammell) strange love for a particular outfit she wears in season two. “Sam is so hung up on this outfit too. They asked him what he thought was the most shocking thing to see on True Blood. He thought about it for a long time and said this red sequin jumpsuit.”
But Pam isn’t the only character that’s having fun with her wardrobe this season. There’s Tara (Rutina Wesley) whose outfits are beginning to become a little more bold and leathery. “Yeah, I have a feeling that Pam went up to her, brought her through her closet and made her up.” Rutina talks about how her mother complimented her on the outfit she’s wearing after that particular episode. Yeah, we’d feel a little uncomfortable too if our mother was giving us a thumbs up on a bustier.
Now it’s Joe Manganiello’s turn to speak, or more so it’s his turn to just sit there and look gorgeous while the audience gives out the biggest round of applause out of the whole panel. Especially since we’re fresh off the release of Magic Mike, there’s a considerable amount of love for Manganiello. The moderator suggests that he takes it off, making reference to Magic Mike, and he dances a little, taking off his jacket but stops, which drives everyone wild. Then Rutina gives her best version of a body roll followed by Alan Ball. We were a little bummed that Stephen Moyer or Alexander Skarsgård didn’t try to outdo them all, but that’s okay.
Poor Sam, he seems to not be having any luck with the ladies in the show. He explains a bit more about his character’s latest predicament in the supernatural dating world. “There was a question of whether Emma was a shape shifter or a wolf. I saw her just shift into a wolf so that’s going to have some ramifications. He’s trying to figure out how to fit into that wolf family. Her grandmother is a wolf so it’ll be kind of interesting.” Best of luck to your character Sam!
Then it was time to talk about Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) and Jason’s (Ryan Kwanten) budding relationship in the show. The two seem to work off of each other really well and hearing Deborah gush about how much fun it is to work with Ryan made our hearts all warm and fuzzy. “I adore working with Ryan. He’s the sweetest, most giving actor. I look forward to [working with him] all the time.”
And we have to talk about Christopher Meloni’s super powerful vampire that pops up in this fifth season and how much fun it was not telling his wife about the kid exploding in an episode. It’s suffice to say that True Blood does continually raise the bar when it comes to their story, and fans love them for that.
Now check out the official trailer for Season 5 of True Blood below that was shown at Comic-Con, along with an image gallery of the cast at the panel (courtesy of Getty Images):

domain: entertainment


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PARIS (Reuters) - French oil major Total TOTF.PA said on Monday that strikes against the government's pension reform were having no impact on its fuel supply and distribution ahead of a four-day nationwide strike in French oil refineries.
A day before unions are starting a 96-hour strike and protest actions at refineries in France, oil companies and the government are saying that motorists need not fear fuel shortages, but union leaders say they are determined to squeeze supplies until the government drops its pension reform plans.
“Our gas stations are well stocked on Monday. The protest movement that has been announced will have no impact on the supply of our network from Jan. 7 to 10 and beyond,” Total said in a statement.
Total said that only 26 - or just 0.7% - of its 3,500 gas stations had supply problems on Monday morning and that there was no risk of shortages in its retail network.
Hard-line CGT union official Thierry Defresne told Reuters that seven out of eight French refineries will be on strike for 96 hours from Tuesday to Friday.
He said those refineries will close completely and will not distribute a single product, including no kerosene fuel for airplanes.
“There will be disturbances to fuel supply. Our goal is not to make motorists’ lives miserable. We want to show that workers are united against this reform,” Defresne said.
About 50% of the fuel sold in France is not produced in local refineries but imported, which reduces the impact of French refinery strikes, an industry source said.
Total said its four oil refineries in Donges, Feyzin, Normandie and Grandpuits as well as its bio-refinery at La Mède were in operation.
It said that in Donges, Feyzin and Normandie products were shipped normally by trucks and pipeline, but that Grandpuits and La Mede could only be supplied by pipeline.
Total also said that with the exception of two fuel storage facilities attached to Grandpuits and La Mède, no depots were blocked. Nationwide, France has some 200 depots from where fuel is distributed to gas stations.
Public transport sector workers at national railway SNCF and Paris metro operator RATP have been on strike for more than a month, and on Thursday unions are organising a fourth day of nationwide protest marches against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform plans.
Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by David Goodman and Lisa Shumaker
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

domain: politics


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How do you stay hydrated when you are out and about in summer? Even though Innsbruck sits in the Alpine mountains, it can still get really hot in summer. I have come across a lot of drinking fountains here just as I needed them. In fact, there are over 140 in Innsbruck!
The drinking fountains are well distributed alright, but do people use them? Absolutely! The key factor, I think, is that the water here is tasty and refreshing. It tastes simply neutral and its chilly temperature quenches the thirst fast. Their popularity is further backed up by people’s confidence in the water quality which is top-notch.
Many drinking fountains here provide constantly-running streams. Therefore, the water always feels fresh and the sound of the flow encourages the passersby to stop and replenish.
It’s a Lifestyle
The network of drinking fountains supports the fairly active lifestyle in Innsbruck. Before the snow returns, whether people go biking, hiking, jogging, dog-walking or even shopping, there are revitalizing water fountains dotted along the route. Many people simply bring a handy bottle to refill. Of course, the beer at the mountain Alms is still irresistible especially after the climb, but it’s a good idea to replenish your bottle at their drinking fountains for the journey!
Healthy Living and Sustainability
The convenience and the density of the drinking fountains help people develop the habit of using them. Many playgrounds are equipped with drinking fountains and I often see children actively using them instead of turning to sugary drinks. On the other hand, single-use plastic bottles are an environmental issue. I have regrettably bought too many bottles of water when I lived elsewhere. In Innsbruck, bringing and refilling my own bottle is my preferred and sole choice!
Drinking Fountains in the City Center
The Old Town was the first outlet in Innsbruck supplying spring water to the public. The water was originally directed from Hötting (in the west) but Mühlau (in the north) has become the main source for the city since the 16th century. Both areas are at the foot of the Nordkette, part of the Karwendel Nature Reserve. In the City Museum, there is a section focusing on the local history of water supply.
As there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars in the Old Town, you might not be looking for water on the street. However, there are a few interesting drinking fountains worth a look:
- Trautsonbrunnen (pictured above): A Baroque style marble fountain, built in 1806, in front of Trautsonhaus (22 Herzog-Friedrich-Straße) between Golden Roof and the Swarovski shop
- Golden Roof: The small but artistic fountain on the facade was installed in 1934. It shows an angel above the coat of arms of Innsbruck. This is the historic site where in 1485 spring water was offered for the first time in Innsbruck.
- Bücherbrunnen (Book Fountain) : This is a special fountain in a lovely corner (near Stiftgasse 2 & 4). I don’t think we are meant to drink from it due to its design but the water is of drinking quality.
There is a term in German called “Dorfbrunnen” which means “village fountain” and most villages here seem to have one of their own. They are the “signature” fountains of their respective community and provide drinking water. (There are definitely more drinking fountains nearby though!)
The more elaborated and classic “Dorfbrunnen” share a common style. At the end or on the side of a long trough stands a decorated column where the water comes out. On top of the column is a sheltered figure which usually depicts the local patron saint.
There is a Christian saint whom you are most likely to encounter in Tyrol – Saint Florian (Der Heilige Florian). He was born in Linz actually. I find it very fitting when he appears on top of drinking fountains. Since he was martyred by drowning, he is associated closely with water and is the guardian of firefighters. His statues usually hold a bucket purring water and are therefore easy to recognize.
Apart from “Dorfbrunnen“, I also saw the term “Brunnendorf” (Fountain Village) when I visited Telfs, a market town 27 kilometres west to Innsbruck (about 20 minutes by train). It is famous for the traditional carnival “Telfer Schleicherlaufen” and used to have a lot of religion-themed drinking fountains. Several are still in use and you can simply follow this Culture Walk. Every January, there is a mass procession (Sebastianifeier) dedicated to their patron saint, St. Sebastian.
- Most drinking fountains operate only in summer. It’s a seasonal treat!
There is an interactive map showing some drinking fountains. For the full list, please refer to the city government’s website (only available in German; keyword: Trinkbrunnen).
- In the city centre: If it’s just about water, drinking fountains can be found at following locations:
In front of Kaufhaus Tyrol next to Annasäule / at the northern end of Maria-Theresien-Straße / outside Café Munding / on the platform at (bus) Terminal Marktplatz / Adolf-Pichler-Platz (playground) / next to the Ferdinandeum (Museum) / in the south-west corner of the Hofgarten (next to the Alpine Garden)
- Popular hiking trails with drinking fountains on offer:
The following hiking routes start from Hungerburg.
The first drinking fountain is next to the cable car station (towards Seegrube). This fountain has a second basin close to the floor. How animal-friendly!
- Popular jogging routes with drinking fountains on offer:
“Fitnessmeile“: The “Fitness Mile” runs along the Inn Promenade and the Sill Promenade between the Sieglangersteg (bridge) and New Orleans Brücke (bridge). There are areas with workout equipment installed, too.
- Personal favourite: north of the local church (Pfarrkirche) in Arzl, consist of a well-made statue, tasteful material, splendid drinking water and the smell of the farms
The Photo on top of this page: © TVB Innsbruck / Mario Webhofer

domain: geography


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The first time Hugo Chávez appeared on television was on the morning of February 4, 1992 when he asked his rebel troops to surrender after a failed coup launched against President Carlos Andrés Pérez. “Men, unfortunately, for now, the objectives we set out to reach in the capital were not accomplished […] Listen to me, listen to your commander Chávez, who is asking you to please reflect and lay down your weapons.”
The then 37-year-old paratrooper was unable to take Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. His accomplices were able to capture strategic points across the country, including the oil-rich Zulia state. But the words “for now,” heard throughout Venezuela on radio and television, was seen as a vow he would one day return.
Hugo Chávez Frías was born in Sabaneta, Barinas state, on July 28, 1954. In 1971, he entered the military academy with the idea of leaving his home town and going to the capital Caracas, with the hopes that some baseball scout from the United States would recruit him for the major leagues. He was known as “the fiery left-handed pitcher” among his army buddies, who also remember him “an excellent first baseman.”
He remained on the mound for more time he should have been there, relishing his moment
Along with his budding baseball dreams and military career, Chávez began dabbling in leftist movements, encouraged by his brother Adán, who had been part of a guerrilla movement in the 1960s. The eventual goal was to dismantle the two-party system — the Social Democrats of Acción Democrática and the Christian Democrats of Copei — which had dominated Venezuelan politics since democracy was restored in 1958.
One of Chávez’s dreams was achieved when he was invited to throw the first pitch at the Met’s old Shea Stadium in New York six months after he had first been elected president. Afterwards, he remained on the mound for more time he should have been there, relishing his moment in the middle of a major league baseball field and waving to the thousands of cheering spectators.
Chávez won his first elections on December 6, 1998 with 56.4 percent, running under the V Republic Movement (MVR) banner. At the time, two-thirds of the Venezuelans said they didn’t believe in political parties as an institution because they found them corrupt. As soon as he was sworn into office, Chávez proposed broad constitutional reforms, including eliminating the bicameral Congress. The Constitution, redrafted and approved in 1999, called for new elections in 2000, which Chávez easily won with nearly 60 percent of the vote.
He promised to govern up to 2021 “or as long as God gives me life”
But the opposition had grown angry over the president’s authoritarian manner. In December 2001, he decreed some 49 laws that gave him broader powers. In a controversial live broadcast on April 7, 2002, he fired the entire management at the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa). Four days later, thousands of Venezuelans marched on Miraflores to demand his resignation; it turned into a violent showdown between chavistas and the opposition with dozens of people killed and many more injured.
That day ended with a coup launched by a group of military officers backed by opposition politicians and businessmen. Chávez was detained and taken to La Orchilla island. But the rebellion only lasted 48 hours, ending when loyalist troops rescued the president and brought him back to Caracas.
An August 2004 referendum, held to decide whether to revoke his term in office was also won by Chávez. Fueling the president’s free-spending ways and regional influence was the soaring price of oil, which shot up to more than $124 a barrel between 2005 and 2008. Chávez supplied cheap oil to several regional allies, including the Castro regime in Cuba.
In 2009, he proposed an amendment to the Constitution that lifted his term limits and allowed him to run for re-election indefinitely. He promised to govern up to 2021 “or maybe 2031 or 2049, or as long as God gives me life.” But it was the cancer diagnosed in June 2011 that prevented Chávez from entering the fourth term he won last October.


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Table of Contents
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domain: game


text:
Yesterday it was announced that scientists and researchers have now confirmed that the remains found under a parking lot in Leicester, England are those of King Richard III. He was king of England for just a few years in the mid- to late-fifteenth century. Nevertheless, news of the recovery of his dry bones splattered across the internet, cable TV and newspapers.
By all accounts Richard III was a bad man. He almost certainly killed his nephews–first making them disappear into the Tower of London, then causing them never to be seen again. And it’s no secret he arranged for the removal of his sister-in-law’s family because they stood in his way to success.
Shakespeare’s Richard III says such charming things as
“And thus I clothe my naked villany
With odd old ends stolen out of holy writ;
And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.”
“And therefore, — since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days, —
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.”
and, perhaps most sinister of all,
“Why, I can smile and murder whiles I smile,
And cry ‘content’ to that which grieves my heart,
And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
And frame my face for all occasions”
Even if you strip away the distortions of Richard by his successors, the Tudors, there’s still a whole lot of bad in the record to lay a dark shadow across his reign.
According to the chroniclers and now the scientific evidence, Richard died dramatically. His skeletal remains show evidence of at least ten wounds, two of which were devastating blows to the head. Some of the wounds were clearly meant to be humiliating–like the one indicating a sword thrust to the right buttock. Richard was the last British king to die in battle and his bones demonstrate the horror of it.
On the battlefield that day, Henry Tudor essentially became king. Although there was no way for him or anyone else to know it, his dynasty would reign for more than a hundred years and would change England forever. Under the Tudors, the religious change that swept the continent was welcomed into Britain. The medieval monarchy faded into the past as England accepted the Renaissance, the Reformation and the rise of the modern nation-state into its island home.
These transformations brought about by the Tudors undoubtedly affected my family. Even calculating conservatively, I had thousands of direct ancestors in Britain at the time. I have thousands–if not tens of thousands–of great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers of various degrees who were subjects of Richard III and then citizens of England under the Tudors.
For now, my ancestors’ experiences in the fifteenth century lie beyond my view. I’m not sure if any fought with Richard or Henry at the Battle of Bosworth. I don’t know if any were of such status that they might have even met one of the kings.
But I can say with relative certainty that the changes under the Tudors affected my family in at least one significant way. Almost all my ancestors were Dissenters–men and women who chose to worship in a way that differed from the royal imperative. Some were Quakers; others were Presbyterians; a few were probably Puritans. None of these options would have even been possible without the changes in the religious sphere that occurred under the Tudors.
Another possible impact the Tudors had on my family is geographical. It was under the Tudors that the process of plantation–specifically the Ulster Plantation–sped up. Although the idea of settling loyal English subjects in Scotland and Ireland dates back to as early as Henry II’s reign in the twelfth century, the real momentum for such forced (or heavily encouraged) emigration came under the Tudors. I have no doubt that many of my ancestors moved from England to Scotland or Ireland under the Tudors. And that migration planted the seed for future movements that would find them ultimately living in America.
Historians argue over how and why things change. For some, it is the people of history and their decisions that make all the difference. For others, it’s the ideas that gain strength and currency until they wash over societies like a tidal wave, regardless of any individual or his decisions.
Whatever you believe about historical causation, it’s intriguing to think how different our world may have looked–especially from the vantage point of my family–if Richard III had not died that day at Bosworth. If Henry Tudor had not made it to the throne, would England have experienced the religious transformations as it did? Would Dissenters exist? Would the Puritans and Quakers and Presbyterians have had any reason to flee overseas and found a new land of religious freedom?
Richard’s bones are dry. His decisions lie buried in the distant past. But I can’t help but think my life would be different without him.
— — —
See this BBC story for more about the wounds to Richard and for links to other articles about the discovery of his bones: Richard III dig: Grim clues to the death of a king.

domain: history


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On2 and VitalStream Deliver Flash 8 Video to Sundance OnlineBring 2006 Sundance Online Film Festival to the Internet (January 20, 2006)
VitalStream, the world leader in video streaming, and On2 Technologies, Inc. (Amex: ONT), the premiere developer of Flash 8 video encoding tools, are bringing the 2006 Sundance Online Film Festival to the Internet in high-quality, Flash 8 video.
DEEPBLU Studios, the creative group behind the world-renowned showcase for independent filmmakers, is leveraging VitalStream's powerful content delivery network (CDN) optimized for Flash 8 video delivery and On2 Technologies' Flash 8 video encoding tools to enhance the official Web site for the event, http://festival.sundance.org. On2's product, On2 Flix Pro, enables creation and delivery of Flash 8 video content for a high-quality, seamless online experience for attendees.
"Movie-goers want to be immersed in the films they see in a theater without thinking about how the film will be projected or delivered," said Amye Osti, creative director of DEEPBLU Studios. "Flash 8 video enables us to create the same experience for visitors to the Sundance Online Film Festival, offering high quality, evocative videos for a true Sundance experience."
Earlier this year, VitalStream and On2 Technologies partnered to create a single-source solution to create and deliver pristine quality digital media content with Macromedia Flash 8 video, which is quickly emerging as the highest-quality format for streaming over IP. DEEPBLU will use On2 Flix Pro to create the video content, and VitalStream's CDN to deliver high-quality Flash 8 video to the hundreds of thousands of people who will visit the 2006 Sundance Online Film Festival.
"Research shows more people are going online to view events like the Sundance Film Festival, supporting a need for advanced content delivery services," said Jack Waterman, chief executive officer of VitalStream. "VitalStream's leading video streaming services, supported by Flash 8 and combined with On2's video encoding, improve entertainment to attract and engage online audiences."
"The Sundance Online Film Festival is the latest in the list of highly visible entities who are realizing the endless creative possibilities with Flash 8 video," said Eric Ameres, chief technical officer and executive vice president of software development for On2 Technologies. "On2 Flix Pro is rapidly becoming the tool-of-choice for Flash developers and digital media designers, and coupled with powerful content distribution networks from VitalStream, we're making Flash 8 video an increasingly viable, hotly desired medium for creating and delivering content."
About VitalStream, Inc.
VitalStream, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of VitalStream Holdings, Inc. (OTC: VSTH), is a global provider of integrated content delivery services that enable businesses to broadcast digital media and communications to worldwide audiences via the Internet. The company provides complete solutions, including video and audio streaming, live event broadcasting, media asset management, integrated Web hosting and consulting services, that seamlessly integrate with today's leading streaming media technologies. To ensure a worldwide reach, VitalStream engineered its award-winning content delivery network certified for quality delivery in the United States, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.vitalstream.com.
Related Keywords:On2 , VitalStream, Flash 8 Video, Sundance Online


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ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
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LETTERS TO EDITOR
Writing for Us
A CurtainUp Omnibus Review
The 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival
Shows Reviewed (*Asterisks before titles as they are reviewed) :
*Hurricane | *Academy |*Fantasy Football | *Fat Camp |F@#cking Up Everything | *The Happy Embalmer | *Max Understood | *Rainbow Around the Sun | *Seeing Stars | *Street Lights | *The Toymaker | *Whatever Man |
F@#cking Up Everything
Provocative title, check. Provocative show, not so much. But I did have fun. It's a sweet, if basic, story of a nerd and his indie-rock hipster friends, complete with unrequited love and tangled relationships. But there's a certain irreverence to F@#cking Up Everything that makes it highly enjoyable, particularly as captured by those indie rock hipsters.
The band around which the plot centers is vulgar and wacky; it's hard to figure out how its womanizing front man (adorable So You Think You Can Dance alum Neil Haskell) could be friends with a puppeteer who might well be the sweetest guy on earth (the endlessly endearing Noah Weisberg). They compete for girls (an intelligent singing beauty in particular) and have completely different outlooks, but they're old friends, and they're there for each other.
F@#cking Up Everything features a fun rock score with some definite long-lasting earworms, but the highlight is Sam Forman's book, especially its quick wit and snappy humor. The characters may be clichÈd, but Forman keeps the laughs coming, even when the plotline becomes tired. The show might be fluffy, but its writing is smart, and this seems a team to watch. – Reviewed by Deborah Blumenthal on October 16 at the 45th Street Theatre
I've had the demo to Street Lights since seeing excerpts from the show performed at a fundraiser for President Obama's campaign in early 2008 and have been curious to see the show in ful. I it did not disappoint.
The synopsis might make it sound a bit like In The Heights, but past locale and genre-mixing, it takes a completely different angle. Its focus is on a group of high school students fighting to save their neighborhood's Music Center, a community safe-haven filled with legacy. It's a much darker, edgier and more political look at life in Upper Manhattan, as these characters' lives are torn apart by drugs and violence, and they look to the civil rights movement for inspiration. Their passion is moving, but strangely, it's not until tragedy strikes that they look past simply saving the music center, and turn their sights on the betterment of their community.
Joe Drymala has created a genuine hip-hop theater score, one in which the musical genre is of utmost importance, but the pounding bass lines and synthesized sounds often overpower his lyrics, which need to be at the forefront of the storytelling.
This is the kind of contemporary show with a big voice that festivals like the NYMF were built for. . It's already (deservedly) headed out to the Old Globe in San Diego, and I look forward to seeing what comes next. — Reviewed by Deborah Blumenthal on October 17 at the ATA – Chernuchin Theater
Rainbow Around the Sun
In this show music star Zachary Blasto is being interviewed on his hometown radio station. It often feels fragmented and fuzzy, something like a fever dream — an apt sensation, as Zach not only talks, but also drinks, his way through significant moments in his life. Writer Matthew Alvin Brown (the founder of a band himself) plays Zachary, but the undoubted star is the score. Songs dovetail to vignettes as Zachary recounts growing up, falling in love, loss, and destruction throughout his career. The final moments are moving, when,in recounting his father's death, Zachary finally breaks open. Though his story is difficult to connect with as for most of the show he is callous, detached and largely unlikable, Brown's performance does bring out a sorrow that incites, if not pity, a sense of intrigue.
I'd suspect Rainbow worked better in its previous film incarnation. It's interesting to watch, but doesn't seem germane to the stage. Similarly, Brown is clearly verytalented, but this musical leaves one more interested to see his work with his band. – Reviewed by Deborah Blumenthal on October 17 at the 45th Street Theatre
It's a little bit Guys and Dolls (opposites attract), a touch of City of Angels (a smoky, jazzy score), and a splash of Damn Yankees (sports meets musical theater), so don't be surprised if the new musical Seeing Stars doesn't feel all that new to you in the end. Still, this winsome retread—which builds up to a definitive boxing match between old rivals “Gentleman” Joe Sullivan and Eddie “Bare Knuckles” McSoreley in 1937 Hell's Kitchen—includes enough captivating parts to make up for its derivative whole.
In particular, Kevin Earley and Michael Halling (as McSoreley and Sullivan) do a fine job navigating their barbed rivalry, while Margaret Nichols turns in a lovely Girl Friday turn as plucky Jean Barker, a rising reporter determined to capture a sensational sports story. (She also, of course, just happens to end up in the middle of this love triangle; and, at one point, the boxing ring.) Director Jenn Thompson gets the throw-back tone just right, and the energetic ensemble gamely whizzes through Liza Gennaro's slinky choreography.
There's really nothing to complain about in Seeing Stars. Shelley McPherson (book), Don Breithaupt (music), and Jeff Breithaupt (lyrics) have created a very endearing, enjoyable production. It's just hard to stop wishing—as the piano and drums spar and jab at each other during the perky overture—that the show ultimately packed more of a punch. —Reviewed by Amy Krivohlavek on October 13 at Theatre at St. Clements.
Fantasy Football: the Musical
Fantasy Football: the Musical Is there really an audience for this show? Who knows, but those who do make it to this festival production are likely to enjoy themselves. It te lls the (totally fictional) history of how fantasy football became the phenomenon it is today. Set in 1991, it features real life sports analysts Bill Simmons (played by "The Amazing Race" winner Nick Spangler) and Matthew Berry (Ben Steinfeld) as regular guys in their early twenties who struggle with finding a career as meaningful to them as their sports teams are. Along the way, Fantasy Football reveals itself to be a warmhearted tribute to male friendships and the bonding power of sports. The show was originally written for an ESPN contest, and feels like it: many of the jokes are sophomoric, several characters feel extraneous (for example, Forbidden Broadway vet Christine Pedi is totally wasted) and the songs, though likeable are uneven. All this doesn't matter much, though: Fantasy Football is so good-natured, funny, and unexpectedly sweet that we forgive its flaws. Thanks to the excellent cast, Adam Arian's spot-on direction and author David Ingber's witty storyline, this "show without an audience" is bound to be one of the more popular new musicals at NYMF. —Reviewed by Julia Furay on October 3 at TBG Theatre.
The Happy Embalmer
The Happy Embalmer certainly avoids tired comedic cliches. The funeral industry, the Dalai Lama, and Iceland are among this goofy new musical's targets for lampoonery. It's the story of Edward, a talented young embalmer at a family-owned funeral home, who discovers he can bring the dead back to life. Add in an evil Texan funeral corporation, Edward's four clownishly stupid brothers, a Hollywood star conspiracy, and of course, the Dalai Lama's worldly marketing plan, and you get a sense of just how zany the show is. Despite all this creativity, The Happy Embalmer fails to deliver on almost every level. That's mainly because of the sloppy writing. Authors Mark Noonan and Nick Oddy did not insert enough laughs to carry off the relentlessly unrealistic premise, nor did they structure the show so as to give it dramatic momentum, nor did they make their characters very likable or interesting. In addition, the production seems to have very little coherence: director Kelly Devine could have done more to bring the show's disparate elements together, though her choreography is energetic and likable.
To its credit, The Happy Embalmer has a terrific cast, led by Broadway vets Daniel Reichard (as the wonderfully woeful title character) and Tituss Burgess (brilliantly diva-like as the Dalai Lama). Additionally, Austin Switser's projections infuses unexpected humor and technological savvy into the physical production. Nevertheless, The Happy Embalmer needs a lot more work if it's to become the wacky musical it aspires to be. —Reviewed by Julia Furay on October 7 at Acorn Theatre.
Given the uncertain teenage mind and the difficulties of high school, it's not so surprising that some kids would make a deal with the devil just to get through the semester. That's the central plot of Academy, a Faustian musical set in a posh boy's boarding school. Freshman Benji has trouble fitting in both socially and academically, and two seniors make a bet on just how far he'll go to succeed. The production is directed by Urinetown's John Carrafa, and features one of the stronger scores I've heard at the festival, with catchy music and colorful lyrics by John Mercurio, who also wrote the book.
Mercurio's talent as a both as a songwriter and a playwright are obvious, but this show still feels like a work in progress. Academy runs just 80 minutes, but the story line feels stretched thin even at that length. Towards the end of the show, some of the unfolding revelations are pretty hard to swallow, and the eventual life lesson feels forced as a result. At these moments, Academy feels like a poor man's Spring Awakening. Interestingly enough, the production is at its strongest when it drops the heavy-handed Faust imitation and instead becomes a slice-of-life of teenage boyhood, with hilarious exchanges between classmates, moving moments of insecurity, and well-crafted songs. Carrafa's cocksure direction and the nine very likable young men in the cast make up for many of the piece's shortcomings, however. Overall, then, this is a very promising show, one that's given a strong production with likable actors. Academy doesn't feel quite ready for a wider audience, but I feel we'll be seeing more of this piece, and certainly more of its author. —Reviewed by Julia Furay on October 7 at TBG Theatre.
Max Understood must be one of the more unusual musicals featured at the festival; in fact, it doesn't feel like a musical at all. The production, about a day in the life of an autistic boy named Max is really best called an experimental play with music. Co-creator and composer Michael Rasbury is primarily a sound designer, a fact that explain's much of how Max Understood proceeds. Rasbury's music has something of a tuneless, tonal sound, but the score is nevertheless lively: he pipes in alarm clocks, television commercials, washing machine gurgling and other ambient noises to create the rhythmic, repetitive sounds that go through young Max's head on a daily basis.
The storyline is skimpy. Max (the very talented young actor Marlon Sherman) wanders off one day from his home and meets some of the characters in his neighborhood, while his parents frantically search for him. We mostly see events from Max's perspective, giving the show a swirly, dreamlike quality that is further enhanced through Caleb Wertenbaker's white sheeted scenic design and David Schweizer's fluid direction. Max Understood runs just 70 minutes, but the conceptual feel of the piece starts to wear thin by the show's end. Nevertheless, it's nice to see NYMF branch out into this sort of music theatre, a type of show that constantly pushes boundaries. —Reviewed by Julia Furay on October 4 at 45th St. Theatre.
Bryan Putnam, author of the book, music and lyrics for The Toymaker, certainly doesn't back down from risky subject material. The Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, the massacre at Lidice, concentration camps— all feature heavily in this unabashedly emotional new musical. Weighty stuff indeed. The bad news is that as it stands now, The Toymaker is more ponderous than powerful. The new musical takes place in Lidice in 1942 as well as the present day. It's structured as a mystery. Modern-day New Yorker Sarah (Broadway vet Rosena M. Hill) travels to Europe to look for a toy made by one of the Lidice victims, and in doing so makes a lot of discoveries about the past as well as herself. As the mysteries unravel, it becomes clear that The Toymaker contains little narrative drive to keep us involved in the action. Characters sing long and intricate melodies, but Putnam's generic lyrics rarely catch fire, and Sarah's haphazard toy hunt simply doesn't make for very interesting theater. In this context, the tragic events on stage feel more like tear-inducing gimmicks than anything else. A firmer directorial hand might have helped. Lawrence Edelson's staging seems to make The Toymaker feel even more cluttered, and the cast of twenty doesn't connect with the audience as they should.
All that said, there are some gorgeous moments in The Toymaker. Putnam's music is often lovely, and best of all is the wonderfully theatrical use of jerky human marionettes to portray some of the more violent moments. However, the show is badly in need of a sharper textual focus, and one hopes this production will call attention to its weaknesses and do the kind of reworking needed to make this a powerful piece of theater. —Reviewed by Julia Furay on October 6 at St. Clements.
The irresistible brainchild of the irrepressible Randy Blair, Fat Camp is the most fun I've had at a musical in months. Blair stars as Robert Grisetti, the wittiest kid at a weight-loss camp dubbed (wink!) Camp Overton. From The Parent Trap to Dirty Dancing, a summer camp presents a veritable human petri dish of possibilities, but bookwriters Blair and Timothy Michael Drucker manage to unearth fresh, fizzy humor from cliched scenes of bunkhouse woe. They mine the usual dilemmas— unrequited puppy love; catty cliques; overbearing, perky counselors; junk-food contraband— but they don't jam each moment full of jokes. Camp has always been a place for self-reinvention, but here, the failure to adapt (i.e., lose weight) has dire consequences.
Matthew roi Berger's pop-influenced score is immediately catchy and glitters with vocal pyrotechnics, while Alex Timbers' adroit direction makes the two-and-a-half-hour running time whizz by. But really, it's the cast—the majority of whom are generously proportioned performers with gigantically awesome voices—who give Fat Camp its heart and hard-rocking soul. From Hairspray alum Carly Jibson's incredibly acute comic timing to Cale Krise's impeccably executed idol-worship, this cast isn't just large – it contains multitudes.
In the end, the message of the show both is and isn't a question of size. Fat Camp has placed its performers in a warm, welcoming spotlight, but I wonder: Why haven't I seen most of them in other shows? —Reviewed by Amy Krivohlavek on October 3 at Acorn Theatre.
Superheroes, group therapy sessions and romantic comedy: each has already been featured in many musicals, but Whatever Man might be the first to combine all three. It doesn't mix these elements very well, however: Whatever Man veers from goofy satire to awkward relationship drama to adventure story without ever finding its footing. The musical is the theatrical debut of composer/writer Benjamin Strouse (son of Charles Strouse, who wrote Bye Bye Birdie and other classics), and is a disappointment throughout.
The problems are manifold. To begin with, the premise is difficult to buy. Aimless hero Charlie (Colin Hanlon), who joins a therapy group to save his relationship with his girlfriend (Kristin Maloney), finds himself mixed up in an intergalactic, superheroic struggle of good versus evil. Strouse's rock-tinged score lacks originality, and his book doesn't contain as many laughs as it needs to. Hanlon, Maloney and the other cast members are likable, but seem unsure as to whether to play their characters straight or ironically, and director Hilary Adams' pacing is herky-jerky throughout. With all these problems, Whatever Man has a long way to go before it can be considered a workable piece of musical theatre.
——Reviewed by Julia Furay on October 2 at 45th St. Theatre.
With a cast of thirty, a complex score, and a storyline that seems impossible to musicalize, Hurricane has to be one of the most daunting shows the New York Musical Theatre Festival has tackled to date. The new musical focuses on the 1938 hurricane that shocked Rhode Island and killed hundreds, just one day before Hitler marched into Czechoslovakia. Although it's wonderful that such an uncommon musical gets a chance to air out in public, here it is given a disappointingly sloppy production that showcases the show's many flaws and minimizes its strengths.
Chief among those strengths is Michael Holland's score, which is full of soaring counterpoints and choral grandeur. Both music and lyrics also contain lovely elements of 1930s radio as well as traditional musical comedy. On the other hand, Holland and co-author Eric Bernat's book is a mess. They've chosen to dramatize the hurricane through two perspectives: that of the doomed residents of a seacoast Rhode Island village, and the bureaucratic ditherers of the National Weather Bureau. Both angles feel half-baked: the characters are underdeveloped, and their stories lack dramatic tension. Hurricane is further weakened by director Michael Bush's staging, which confuses more than it clarifies. The tone of the piece often changes jarringly from scene to scene, and by the time the hurricane finally arrives in the second act the tragedy has lost its emotional pull. Add in the clunky and ineffective use of eight colonial-era ghosts who act as Greek chorus and later physically embody the hurricane itself, and you can begin to imagine just how muddled this show is. Hurricane may contain some truly promising elements, but neither the script nor the production itself contains the level of craft needed to carry off this unquestionably ambitious piece of theatre. The enormous cast, which includes veteran actress Rita Gardner of The Fantasticks, practically raises the theatre's roof with their vocal prowess, but none of them rmanage to make their character stand out.
Reviewed by Julia Furay on October 1 at St. Clements.


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by Sarah Gilbert
When it comes to eco-tourism in Nicaragua, it may sound like an outlandish trend, something that most foreigners can only afford to get in some of their own first world countries. However, recent economic growth in Nicaragua has fostered the fast-paced development of the tourist industry in the country. According to Sarah Gilbert, picture editor for the Guardian US, tourism is this Central American nation’s largest industry, which increased by 20% last year.Mrs. Gilbert’s visit to Nicaragua inspired her to write about our country and recommend some of the eco-friendly tourist resorts where she stayed. The following is an abridged version of the original article featuring in the Guardian:
Nicaragua’s landscape of lakes and volcanoes, lush rainforests and deserted beaches is a nature lover’s paradise. With 76 protected areas covering over 20% of its landmass, it outstrips its more popular neighbor for eco-tourism, Costa Rica. Containing the largest area of primary rainforest north of the Amazon, it is home to 7% of the world’s biodiversity, including many endangered species such as howler, white-faced and spider monkeys. Jaguars and crocodiles, meanwhile, are plentiful, as are a multitude of birds, butterflies and orchids; the Indio-Maíz reserve alone has more species of trees, birds and insects than the whole of Europe.
As the Nicaraguan government struggles to meet the challenges of deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution and poaching, it has been left to forward-thinking individuals to develop a sustainable tourism industry. There is, of course, a danger that visitors will be “greenwashed” in the scramble for the eco-tourist dollar, but as long as the International Ecotourism Society’s definition of eco-tourism (“responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people”) is kept in mind, Costa Rican-style excesses such as “eco-car hire” will hopefully be avoided.
Options for the green tourist in Nicaragua
1. Finca Esperanza Verde (Green Hope Farm)
The setting of Finca Esperanza Verde – lush green mountains interspersed with wisps of cloud – couldn’t be more conducive to relaxation.
Founded in 1998 by a non-profit organisation based in North Carolina, the farm ploughs its profits back into the nearby town of San Ramón, funding community projects such as a school for local children and reforestation and fresh water schemes.
Hikes through the nature reserve with local guides – all ex-agricultural workers- offer spectacular bird-watching opportunities. A visit to the butterfly farm is also a must. The altitude also lends itself to shade-grown arabica coffee and from November to February you can help with the harvest and witness the wholly organic process in action.
The lodge and cabins are built of handmade brick and local materials. All waste is composted, showers are solar-powered and the electricity comes from a hydro scheme. The meals are healthy and delicious and visitors can even get their own environmentally friendly napkin for the length of their stay.
2. Domitila Private Wildlife Reserve
One of the last remaining areas of dry tropical forest on the Pacific coast, this private reserve – the first in Nicaragua when it opened in 2001 – is owned by Doña Maria Jose Mejia. A feisty and determined lady, she’s passionate about conserving the biodiversity of the land that has been in her husband’s family for generations. She’s equally determined to foster an ethos of conservation in the surrounding communities, beginning with the education of her staff.
As well as containing over 200 howler monkeys, Domitila is the habitat of numerous species of birds, butterflies, insects and flowers, and is a flourishing centre for specialist scientific study.
3. Morgan’s Rock hacienda and ecolodge
Morgan’s Rock is the antithesis of the condos springing up around nearby San Juan del Sur. Beautifully constructed from a variety of sustainably-sourced woods, the fifteen solar-powered cabins were created to blend into their surroundings. There’s no air conditioning, but the walls are open to allow the Pacific breeze to filter through. There’s no TV either: just the sound of the crashing surf. The alfresco shower is perfect after a day on the beach, while the alfresco swing bed is perfect anytime.
Visitors can hike, cycle, ride, kayak, boogie board or simply lounge by the pool safe. The land was bought by the French agronomist Clement Ponçon in 1998, and its 4,500 acres include tree-farming, reforestation and conservation schemes. The Ponçons have planted over 1.5 million trees and tourist can even plant their own.
4. Rio Indio Lodge
“Monkeys here and there; birds warbling; gorgeous plumaged birds on the wing; Paradise itself, the imperial realm of beauty – nothing to wish for to make it perfect.” That was Mark Twain’s description of the Rio San Juan in 1866 – but little has changed since then.
The Rio Indio Lodge is set in the Rio San Juan wildlife reserve, within sight of the one remaining dredger from the abandoned shipping canal. One can dine on fresh fish and enormous river shrimp in the impressive lodge before going to sleep in family-sized wooden cabins surrounded by lush vegetation and separated by thatch-roofed walkways.
The Indío-Maiz reserve is a wild and wonderful network of rivers flanked by mile upon mile of virgin rain forest. The lodge, from where it is easily reached, donates petrol to the Nicaraguan Ministry of Natural Resources to help them fight illegal poaching in the area, and works with them to control gill net fishing.
Rainforest hikes, bird watching, river kayaking and sport fishing are all on offer. The guides are Rama Indians. Indigenous to the reserve, they’re ex-hunters with a knack for seeing the unseeable. They also speak English, a legacy from the days when the area was a British protectorate.
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Summertime is grilling time! Watch this how to video to learn how to make delicious grilled buffalo wings with blue cheese dipping sauce. Perfect for your summer backyard BBQ!
Grilled buffalo wings with bleu cheese dipping sauce ingredients:
3/4 cup sour cream
1 cup blue cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup Mayonnaise
1 green onion, finely chopped
3 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp salt
4 lbs chicken wings
1/4 cup butter
4 tbsp hot sauce
salt to taste
celery and carrot sticks
1. To prepare the blue-cheese dipping sauce to a small bowl add sour cream, blue cheese, mayonnaise, green onion, 2 tbsp of cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt and stir.
2. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
3. Separate the chicken wings at the joint and remove the tips, then add to a bowl.
4. To the wings add olive oil and season with salt.
5. Place on the grill and cook for about 30 minutes.
6. To make a buffalo sauce to a bowl add melted butter, hot sauce, 1 1/2 tbsp of cider vinegar and salt, then mix.
7. Add cooked wings and toss to evenly coat.
8. Serve with blue cheese dipping sauce and celery and carrot sticks.
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domain: food


Global pop sensation Ava Max unleashes her powerful new single “EveryTime I Cry,” an undisputed summer smash, the highly-anticipated, adrenaline-fueled track is pure electropop perfection.
The new song is a new sound we haven’t really heard from Ava yet and it will for sure be a new pride anthem for sure! The new track opens with resonating synths, building up momentum until a groovy beat drops. The song is about finding power in tears and realizing that being in touch with your emotions is healthy.
Of the empowering single, Ava says, “After every struggle you go through you become a little bit stronger. And every tear you shed is not wasted, but becomes your river of hope.”
Stream “EveryTime I Cry” now!


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Fairy Coloring Book
There will never be anything like getting your very first coloring book. Giving this to a kid opens up every colorful thought they will ever enjoy. Can you remember all those little drawings and all the work you put in them to impress mama and daddy with that first coloring book page. Share the same moments with your little one as well. More
Fairy Coloring Book - Perfect for Kids 3+ - Your little princess will love this book that is full of cute fairies for her to color. Perfect for Coloring fun and an awesome activity book for children to develop their fine motor skills. This entertaining and educational fairy coloring book for kids has so many awesome fairy coloring pictures that they can color with any hue that they love! These books are perfectly rendered for coloring - Kids will love these books and will enjoy putting their own color and designs in these books.
Available ebook formats: