(CNN) - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin plans to appear on Saturday Night Live this weekend, multiple sources told CNN Thursday.
Saturday Night Live has featured opening skits in which former cast member and Palin lookalike Tina Fey portrays the Alaska governor. It was not known whether Fey also will appear on Saturday night's program.
The program airs at 11:30 p.m. ET.
Wait...you mean that wasn't her on SNL all these weeks? Man, you couldve totally fooled me.
Does this mean Tina Fey is laid off? Tut – tut...with this faltering economy, the Mccain-Palin ticket mows down yet another job. Way to go Hatchet-Man..
Will there be a doppleganger? Tina Fey is much better!
I've got $100 that says she messes up "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night."
No one talking about Joe Biden. Sarah Palin is the new rock star.
John McCain and Sarah Palin will win this election.
Secret Service says claims of shouts saying "Kill Him" at McCain/Palin rallies are unfounded and baseless. Obama quoting a liberal blogger.
Liberals will not listen to Secret Service and will continue the lies. Check your facts liberals.
The finality of it all. The 2008 Republican campaign is the biggest joke in the history of the world and is now reduced to slapstick and faux porn ("nailin' palin").
President Barack Obama, America welcomes you as our new leader for a new era of......
wait for it.....
Glad to hear Obama was only EIGHT YEARS OLD when Ayers committed those heinous crimes. There are a lot of teenagers around now that were eight during the 9-11 attacks. It's good to see that, in another 16 years, they can become "casual acquaintances" with people involved with that attack.
Ayers and his wife are known terrorists (by pretty much everyone in Chicago), they named their son after a terrorist cop-killer (also well known), and he has been photographed stomping on the American flag. Let's ignore the fact that the limited relationship is enough to prevent Obama from cleaning floors in an FBI building. Obama claims to be just a friendly acquaintance with Ayers. McCain wouldn't even shake his hand. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
I like Tina Fey better; she has more brains.
I'll be sure "NOT" to watch this episode with palin.
she should make a great fit! all she has to do is act as dumb as she is.
I would vote for Tina Fey for Vice-President before I'd vote for Palin.
That's nice, Sarah. You refuse to go on "Meet the Press" and you censor reporters/press at your rallies-but you have time to do SNL.
Enjoy your 15 minutes – they're up on the 4th of November.
Who will Tina Fey play? The Sarah Palin who puts a coherent sentence together.
If we are lucky, we can leave her!!!
Big mouthed cheerleader, so what!!!!!
Nobody cares what ego trip she is on, people see her for what she is. IAn inexperienced woman who bit off more than she could chew. Her family needs her alot more than this country could ever handle her mistakes.
Go Home Palin, take old man McCain with you.
Great so she will still write Tina Fey's lines? Watch out Tina, Sarah is coming to take your job... She can't be trusted!
Okay…is there a reason why no one is addressing the elephant in the room or on the debate table. John McCain’s over all behavior during the debate scared me…this is someone who indicates signs of anger management issues and from a description of a cry baby by Gov. Schwarzenegger…Senator McCain presented as a “girly man” during the debate stating “he got his feelings hurt.” Was he serious?? That whole scene in the debate was uncomfortable to me and very strange and I can not believe no one is talking about it. Senator’s McCain behavior was nothing like what I would have expected from a POW.
That's good.........shows she has a sense of humor.
The perfect place for a joke of a VP candidate!
Hey, Sarah, when are you going to have a press conference?
Failin doesn't realize we are laughing at her, not with her. Pathetic.
So...she enjoys her status as a national punchline...? Or does she not understand it?
Let's see . . . she won't appear on Meet the Press or Face the Nation, she won't give a press conference, she won't give any more interviews unless its Rush Limbaugh, but she'll appear on Saturday Night Live ???
And this woman is running for Vice President of the United States?
There is just no better way of saying it – Sarah Palin is an idiot.
I finally realized what her major malfunction is – she doesn't know what she doesn't know. To think that people want to see her on SNL because they like her? They want to see her because WE are ALL amazed at what an idiot she is and doesn't realize it.
Oh how Mavericky is this?
My guess is she'll stink up the show. It suddenly won't be funny when she's on it.
She is already getting comfortable for her next career...as a TV talk show host.
Well...in situations where she has a script/notes she does not do half bad so she should fair well on SNL. It is when she is forced to try and think when she makes herself look stupid and writes scripts for the SNL writers.


Nine Bills Left Unaddressed ISLAMABAD, March 29, 2012: Starting an hour and 50 minutes behind schedule, the first sitting of 36th session of the Punjab Assembly lasted two hours and 25 minutes. It witnessed low attendance of Members with only 25 present at the outset and 84 when the sitting was adjourned. Apart from the…Details
ISLAMABAD, March 29: The number of First Information Reports (FIRs) filed for counterfeiting currency continued to increase with 44 per district being filed in January 2012 as compared to 37 registered in December and 28 in November 2011, says a Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) report released Thursday.Details
ISLAMABAD, March 28, 2012: Starting 63 minutes behind schedule, the Joint Sitting of the Parliament met for two hours and 16 minutes on Wednesday. Out of the 246 legislators attending the sitting, only four legislators – two each of the Senate and National Assembly – spoke on the report of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security for 47 minutes (35% of sitting time).Details
ISLAMABAD, March 27: The fifth sitting of Balochistan Assembly’s 31st session, starting 75 minutes behind schedule, met for an hour and 16 minutes on Tuesday.
The House adopted a Resolution calling the provincial government to restore the sacked employeesDetails
ISLAMABAD, March 27, 2012: Starting an hour and 50 minutes behind schedule, the Joint Sitting of the Parliament met for three hour and 12 minutes as it witnessed two walkouts and passed a bill on Tuesday. The legislators of ANP and MQM respectively walked out of the House over delay in starting the sitting and the law and order Karachi.Details
ISLAMABAD, March 26, 2012: Starting two hours and 20 minutes behind schedule, the Joint Sitting of the Parliament met for three hour and five minutes. Twenty-six Points of Order consumed 81% of the sitting time. However, none of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.Details
ISLAMABAD, March 24: The fourth sitting of Balochistan Assembly’s 31st session, starting 55 minutes behind schedule, met for an hour and 17 minutes on Saturday. The sitting witnessed low attendance as 20 Members were present at the outset and 15 when it was adjourned. Eleven Points of Order consumed 60 minutes of the sitting time.…Details
ISLAMABAD, March 23, 2012: In the first three sittings of its 31st session, the Balochistan Assembly has passed a bill and adopted two resolutions.
The session which started on March 17 passed the Balochistan Zakat and Ushr Bill 2012Details
ISLAMABAD, March 22: The 14th sitting of Sindh Assembly’s 34th session, which met for two hours on Thursday, passed a motion to unseat former Chief Minister and the Parliamentary Leader of PML (F-B), Arbab Ghulam Rahim, because of continuous absence from the House. The Speaker informed the House that he has received a report from…Details
ISLAMABAD – Ninety five boys’ primary schools out of 161 monitored across 85 districts in January 2012 were found to be without playgrounds, says a Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) report released on Thursday. Similarly, 38 schools had no arrangements for clean drinking water for students while only eight had sanitary workers.Details


The European Commission has recommended health warnings become a component of online gambling advertisements. (Image: safetyatworkblog.com)
Today, everyone knows the ubiquitous warnings found on packages of cigarettes. They’re just a little different from nation to nation, nevertheless they remind consumers associated with well-known health dilemmas that may appear due to smoking each and every time they look at a pack.
Now, the European Commission wants to see those warnings expanded to a new area: online gambling. The commission will ask countries to in turn request that Internet gaming adverts have warning messages that explain the potential risks of gambling to viewers.
Recommendations Not Binding
The recommendation, apparently part of a draft document which was seen by Reuters, comes as europe is expected to recommend tighter controls in the online gambling industry this week. None of these tips is legally binding, but they could be taken to heart by some countries, especially those which were already considering tighter rules in the sector.
The recommendations suggest warnings about several aspects of gambling. For example, adverts might point out the odds of winning or losing, contain information on ways to get support for problem gambling, or mention the risk of becoming addicted. The EU also recommends a ban on Internet gambling companies acting as sponsors for events that are target (more…)


text:
Which of these is a territory that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state?
An enclave is a territory, or a part of a territory, that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state. Territorial waters have the same sovereign attributes as land, and enclaves may therefore exist within territorial waters.
An exclave is a portion of a state or territory geographically separated from the main part by surrounding alien territory (of one or more states). Many exclaves are also enclaves. Enclave is sometimes used improperly to denote a territory that is only partly surrounded by another state. Vatican City and San Marino, enclaved by Italy, Lesotho, enclaved by South Africa, and Nagorno-Karabakh, enclaved by Azerbaijan, are completely enclaved states. Unlike an enclave, an exclave can be surrounded by several states. The Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan is an example of an exclave.
Semi-enclaves and semi-exclaves are areas that, except for possessing an unsurrounded sea border (a coastline contiguous with international waters), would otherwise be enclaves or exclaves. Enclaves and semi-enclaves can exist as independent states (Monaco, Gambia and Brunei are semi-enclaves), while exclaves always constitute just a part of a sovereign state (like the Kaliningrad Oblast).a territory, or a part of a territory, that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state

domain: geography


BE AUDIO Q-210
The Q -210 is basically the Q-210 with Neo drivers and is a passive 2 -way loudspeaker housing two 10 LF drivers positioned in as dipolar arrangement and a 1.4″(3″ VC)HF compression driver fitted to a waveguide. The75″ constant directivity horizontal dispersion pattern is maintained down to 600hz, while te vertical HF dispersion of 15′ allows the Vulcan to be used construct vertical column that produce a curve coherent wave front. The mechanical and acoustical design of the cabinet enables vertical splay angles to be set between 0’to 15′. You can even mount the Vulcan -210 on a poll the optional pole mount bracket. Vulcan cabinets can therefore be used in vertical configurations starting from the cabinets with a 15′ to 30′ dispersion, up to 12 cabinets with a fully user and venue designed vertical profile. the cabinet is constructed from birch plywood. incorporation a pair of handles and has a scratch resistant paint finish.


text:
Can CBD Help with Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It causes inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and even malnutrition. While there is no known cure for this life-altering condition, many patients are turning to alternative treatments like CBD, hoping to find some relief. But can CBD really help with Crohn’s disease? Let’s dive into the scientific research and take an analytical approach to answer this question.
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a compound found in the cannabis plant. Unlike its famous counterpart THC, CBD does not induce psychoactive effects, making it an appealing option for those seeking therapeutic benefits without feeling “high.” The therapeutic potential of CBD has been widely studied, and there is promising evidence suggesting its efficacy in managing various medical conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, and even some forms of cancer.
When it comes to Crohn’s disease, the research on CBD is still in its early stages, but the results so far are intriguing. Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of Crohn’s disease, and CBD has shown anti-inflammatory properties in several studies. A preclinical study published in the journal PLoS One found that CBD reduced inflammation in a mouse model of colitis, a condition similar to Crohn’s disease. The researchers concluded that CBD could be a potential therapeutic option for inflammatory bowel diseases.
But it’s not just inflammation that CBD may target. Crohn’s disease is also characterized by an overactive immune system, which mistakenly attacks healthy tissues in the digestive tract. CBD has been shown to modulate immune responses in various studies, suggesting that it might help regulate the immune system in patients with Crohn’s disease. This immune-modulating effect of CBD could potentially reduce the severity of flare-ups and provide symptomatic relief.
In addition to its anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties, CBD also possesses analgesic qualities, meaning it may help alleviate pain associated with Crohn’s disease. Chronic abdominal pain is one of the most debilitating symptoms of the condition, and traditional pain medications may not always provide adequate relief. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a crucial role in regulating pain perception. By activating certain receptors within this system, CBD may help reduce pain and improve the quality of life for Crohn’s disease patients.
While these findings are promising, it’s crucial to note that most research on CBD and Crohn’s disease has been conducted on animal models or in vitro studies. Although these types of studies provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms of action, they cannot be directly translated to human patients. Therefore, more clinical trials involving human subjects are needed to determine the true effectiveness of CBD in managing Crohn’s disease.
Despite the limited scientific evidence, many anecdotal reports suggest that CBD has provided relief for some individuals living with Crohn’s disease. These stories often describe how CBD helped reduce symptoms like pain, inflammation, and gastrointestinal distress. One such example is Sarah, a 35-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease ten years ago. She tried various medications, but the side effects and lack of efficacy forced her to search for alternatives. After using CBD oil for six months, Sarah noticed a significant decrease in her pain and a decrease in the frequency of her flare-ups. While this is just one person’s experience and cannot be generalized to everyone, it highlights the potential benefits that CBD may offer.
It’s important to approach CBD as complementary therapy rather than a stand-alone treatment for Crohn’s disease. While it might provide relief for some patients, it should not replace conventional medical treatment. As with any alternative treatment, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before adding CBD to your treatment regimen. They can offer guidance and ensure CBD does not interact negatively with any medications you may be taking.
In conclusion, although more research is needed, the current evidence suggests that CBD may hold promise as a complementary therapy for Crohn’s disease. Its anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, and analgesic properties make it a potentially valuable option for managing the symptoms of this debilitating condition. However, it is important to remember that CBD is not a cure, and its effectiveness may vary from person to person. As the research continues to unfold, it is essential to make informed decisions about CBD and consult with healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible care for individuals living with Crohn’s disease.

domain: medical


text:
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Kicked Out the House
De La Soul
The Mysterious Hanger
More Than You Know
Puerto Rico (The Original Mix)
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domain: entertainment


Needless to say, iOS 15.5 is available for the same devices that received iOS 15 in the first place, namely iPhone 6s and newer. If you’re using one of the latest-generation iPhones, you are obviously good to go.
What’s new in iOS 15.5
The new operating system update comes with several notable improvements, and one of them concerns Apple Cash.
The Cupertino-based tech giant explains that Apple Cash customers can now send and request money from their Apple Cash directly from the Wallet.
Then, iOS 15.5 comes with an important change for Apple Podcasts, an app that has received plenty of attention from Apple lately.
“Apple Podcasts includes a new setting to limit episodes stored on your iPhone and automatically delete older ones,” Apple explains.
And last but not least, Apple says that it managed to fix a glitch impacti… (read more)
This post has been read 16 times!


text:
I used to hate drinking water. I felt like I could taste every bit of chlorine and other chemicals floating around it. It took me a while to learn to love water, but when I gave up sugary drinks and milk many years ago, I had no choice. Now I never go anywhere without my water bottle.
Since I’m an oil gal, I like to put a drop or two of essential oils in my water when I need an afternoon pick-me-up or want to cleanse my system a little. However, the essential oils I use are the highest quality which means they have the ability to breakdown petrochemicals like plastic. So that limits me to glass or stainless steel water bottles.
For a while I was set on having a glass water bottle. The first one I had was too heavy, but I kept using it. That was until I dropped it and it busted. So of course, I did my research to find a better glass bottle. This next one was a thinner, lightweight glass and even had a place for me to put my tea leaves if I wanted to mix it up a bit. I loved it, but it didn’t last long. It fell out of my bag as I was walking into an essential oil event I was doing. Shattered. Water and glass everywhere.
That was the end of my love affair with glass water bottles.
Review of S’well Bottles
After my terrible experience with glass bottles, I went on the hunt for the best stainless steel water bottle money could buy. That’s when someone introduced me to S’well. Apparently they’re trendy right now and I can see why. I had to talk myself into purchasing such an expensive bottle, but I’m so glad I did! I purchased the turquoise blue 25oz bottle. They have two smaller sizes (17 & 9oz) and come out with new designs all the time.
Benefits of S’well Bottles
- Can add essential oils to your beverage
- Keeps your drinks cold for 24 hours, hot for 12
- 18/8 double-walled stainless steel, non-toxic, non-leaching and BPA free
- 9oz & 17oz fit in a standard sized cup-holder
- 25oz holds an entire bottle of wine 😉 and fits in many cup holders
- Bottles do not condensate
- Mouth is wide enough for ice cubes and drip-free sipping
- Show your personality with the many design options
- Your purchase helps provide clean drinking water to children around the world
Although there is a lot that I love about this water bottle, there are a couple of things I don’t love.
Cons of S’well Bottles
- Lid dents easily. Maybe it’s just my nature with my water bottles, but it fell out of the car and dented the lid. Still works though and lids can be replaced!
- Hard to clean. You can’t put them in the dishwasher. Right now I clean with soapy water, but probably need to get a good brush. They do sell a fancy one.
- No straw option. I drink a lot more water when I have a straw. Problem is most straws are plastic. I do have stainless steel straws, but they are too short for the bottle.
- Expensive. These bottles are about double the price of other quality water bottles, but from my experience so far, it was well worth it!
If you don’t already keep a water bottle with you at all times, I encourage you to start. Water is an essential component to a healthy lifestyle. If you’re an essential oil lover like me, you’re probably already putting lemon or even peppermint essential oils in your water. You need a great, non-plastic, non-toxic water bottle to do that. I encourage you to give S’well bottles a try.
POSSIBLE FREE BOTTLE: When I went to the website to get the link for this post, I couldn’t help myself and began looking for a 9oz bottle for me and Silas. They were actually running a survey deal where I could get another 9oz for free when I completed a short survey! I don’t know who that’s for or how long it’s going on, but it’s worth a shot. Add something to your cart and see if it pops up when you go to view your cart. I can’t wait to get my mini S’well Bottles in!
Side Note: I am in no way getting compensated for this review nor did S’well ask me to write one. I just love sharing a good thing when I find it.

domain: hobby


Digital Kitchen Scale | Battery Free - Rotating Knob - (5 Kg, Stainless Steel)
Original Price Rs. 2,499.00
Current Price Rs. 1,399.00
About this item:
Direction for use:
- Tare function: It comes with tare function which allows you to measure the weight of all ingredients separately after adding one after another without having to remove the previous ingredients. It also allows user to cancel out the weight of the container in which the ingredients are measured.
- 5 Kg Capacity: Equipped with high precision measurement gauge sensors, the device meets your precise weighing requirements every single time. Its weighing capacity is up to 5kg.
- Multiple Measurement units: Sansui Kitchen Scale can display weight in a lot of units of measurement. You can easily measure units in grams (g), ounces (oz), water-ml, and milk-ml.
- Battery Free: Sansui Digital kitchen weighing scale comes with battery free technology (U-Power). A single twist of the knob and get free energy anytime.
- Auto off function: Auto off function feature turns off the scale automatically when it is left idle for few minutes.
- Easy to use and store: Sansui kitchen weight machine is convenient to use and store. It is compact and can be easily placed on the kitchen counter. Also it is easy to move from one place to another.
- 1 Year Warranty: 12 Months warranty from date of invoice generation. The warranty is subject to the terms & conditions.
- Equipped with high precision strain gauge sensor system
- Capacity: 5kg
- Auto zero resetting / Auto power off
- Low power / Over-load indication
- Dimensions: 302 x 302 x 25 mm
- Power: Battery-free Technology (U-Power)
Direction for use:
- Put the scale on a hard & flat surface.
- Rotating button not less than 120 degrees
- And the LCD will show zero.
- Put the food on the platform
- The weight will be displayed.


text:
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
This recipe was submitted by a reader and has not been tested in our kitchen.
Serves: 26 cookies
Prep Time: 2 hr 40 min
Cook Time: 22 min
- 2 cup(s) Flour
- 1/2 cup(s) unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) Salt
- 1 cup(s) Unsalted butter, at room temp
- 1 cup(s) Confectioner's Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) Pure Vanilla extract
- Course decorating Sugar for sprinkling
- In medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, and salt.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and confectioner's sugar on medium-high until fluffy, beat in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually mix in the flour mixture until just combined ( do not overmix)
- On a lightly floured surface or piece of parchment paper, roll the dough out 1/4 inch thick. With a 2-inch cookie cutter, cut the dough into rounds, flouring the cutter and refolling the scraps as necessary. Arrange 1-inch apart on parchment lined baking sheets. Refrigerate on the baking sheets for at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
- Heat oven to 350* F. Sprinkle the rounds generously with the course sugar and bake, rotating the sheets halfway through, until set 20-22 minutes. Cool slightly on baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Here are some alternate versions of this recipe created by our wonderful community of chefs!

domain: food


text:
Risk and volatility have been familiar bedfellows for investors during the past few years.
Playing safe, for example, paid off in the years following the financial crisis, with some of the best returns coming from bonds and dividend stocks. The investing climate, however, changed in 2013. Equities started outperforming bonds and the outsized returns started coming from assets that just a couple of years ago would have been considered too toxic to touch, such as Greek government debt.
But this year’s blockbuster rally has meant many plays have become crowded and while economists are forecasting stronger global economic growth next year, especially in the United States, much of that growth has already been priced in this year. As a result, risk is going to have a harder time paying off for investors in 2014.
“For financial markets, the improved growth backdrop may be largely already factored into current prices,” said Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets. “Next year may prove to be more challenging, with the [U.S. Federal Reserve] actually beginning to act on its taper talk, bond yields expected to rise another 50-to-75 basis points, and stocks having skated through the past two years without a full-blown correction.”
Mr. Porter’s summation is typical of the conflicting messages coming from analysts and economists. On the one hand, many see 2014 as a year of improving economic growth, with some of the concerns that dominated markets this year, such as account deficits and sagging economies in emerging markets, moderating next year. On the other hand, the stock market rally of 2013 has been so strong that almost every risk asset has become crowded.
The outlook is almost a complete reversal of what investors experienced in 2013, when stock market returns were phenomenal even though there was only moderate economic growth in developed countries.
From the U.S. to Japan to the eurozone, equities posted double-digit returns. The S&P 500, for instance, set new records throughout the year and should post its eighth-best year since the Second World War if current trends hold.
Investors also poured cash into Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain — collectively dubbed the PIGS for their near-collapse in 2010 — to the tune of some $13.4 billion this year, according to EPFR Global data, while there were hardly any positive flows there in 2012. Markets in all four countries have posted healthy gains, from the 18% rise of Italy’s FTSE MIB index to the whopping 25% climb by Spain’s IBEX 35 index.
Even Greek bonds, once considered very toxic, were among the hottest assets to own in 2013. Ratings agencies Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s all upgraded Greece’s government bonds during the past year, and bond funds tracked by Morningstar show Greek bond funds are among the world’s best performers as yields have dropped and prices have surged. Greek-only bond funds have flirted with 100% returns.
Such stellar returns for risk, of course, mean it’s hard to find any assets that can repeat the comeback stories of 2013. The big losers this year, such as U.S. Treasuries and gold, are forecast by analysts to stay in the doldrums in 2014 as the U.S. Federal Reserve works toward tightening monetary policy.
But one area that could be ripe for a rebound is emerging markets.
Sadiq Adatia, chief investment officer at Sun Life Global Investments, particularly likes the opportunity in frontier markets — a subsection of emerging markets focusing on countries such as Nigeria, Vietnam and Ukraine that traditionally have lower liquidity or smaller-market capitalizations than more popular emerging markets.
“Frontier markets are an area where I see a lot of opportunity, but obviously there are risks,” Mr. Adatia said. “People tend to be quite nervous about those markets because they typically have less liquidity and smaller capitalizations in some of the stocks. But I think they’re in line based on their valuations and the growth of those economies. If you can stomach a bit of the volatility, there’s a good play there.”
Some of the numbers suggest emerging markets in general could be a place where risk pays off in 2014.
The MSCI Emerging Market Index, which tracks 800 different securities in 21 emerging market countries, is down 5% in the past year.
Fund flows out of emerging markets started hammering many countries beginning in May, when the Fed first announced it would begin tapering its asset-buying program sometime this year (it announced in December that tapering will begin in January). Many emerging markets have benefited from the liquidity the program has created, and investors fear its withdrawal will expose some bubbles that might burst.
The original taper announcement in May couldn’t have come at a worse time for emerging markets, because there were already suggestions that economic growth in many EM countries was slowing. Growth dropped to 4.9% in 2012 from 6.2% in 2011, and the International Monetary Fund forecasts emerging market-economies will slow to 4.5% for 2013.
Next year, however, is set up for a rebound. The IMF expects emerging-market growth will hit 5.1% in 2014, versus 3.6% by the world as a whole.
Jay Roberts at RBC Dominion Securities in Hong Kong in a recent commentary said the economic rebound will improve the attractiveness of stocks that are already a bargain after this year’s selloff.
“Emerging market equities are inexpensive on both an absolute and a relative basis,” he said. “[We note] that the current price-to- book value multiple of approximately 1.5x for emerging market equities compares favourably to the long-term average of 2.0x. Relative to MSCI world equities, emerging market equities trade at a 25% discount in terms of price-to-book value.”
Once markets catch on to just how much a bargain emerging market stocks are, a situation could develop that would mirror the scenario that played out in the eurozone this year. As the economic picture brightened, many analysts adjusted their earnings outlook on eurozone stocks and investors realized just how cheap valuations had become.
That same money shift could come to emerging markets again if investor appetite for risk stays strong next year. The valuations certainly make it a compelling prospect.
“This is the biggest discount [for emerging markets] in close to 10 years,” Mr. Roberts said.

domain: economics


text:
THIS IS SOOO COOL!!!!!!!
DREAM Records is pleased to announce The #LITO Remix contest hosted by famed remix artist and producer, David Thulin. The contest invites the group's fans to download the stems to their first single, #LITO from their website, ThisIsPressPlay.com, adding their own flavor to it and re-uploading it to David Thulin's official Soundcloud account. The new album, which comes out September 30th, can be pre-ordered today on iTunes here: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lito/id679410136?ls=1).
The group will be headlining this year's JCTV Tour with Manic Drive, Silverline, Jonathan Thulin and speaker Sean Park starting October 25th. The tour is also sponsored by NewReleaseTuesday.com, World Vision and Not Of This World Clothing.
Check out the lyric video for #LITO:
For more information about the remix contest go to ThisIsPressPlay.com. For tickets and additional information about the JCTV Tour go to JCTVTOUR.com. Keep up with PRESS PLAY at their official website and on Facebook.

domain: news


During presidential elections, Democrats nationwide see Florida as 29 swingy electoral votes.
But the progressive group Swing Left also wants Democrats retaking state governments nationwide. With that goal in mind, the group Thursday morning announced 18 Florida House districts and two Florida Senate seats it will target this year.
“There’s been a continued focus on the Republican side of things on statehouses in the past several election cycles,” said Alex Pilla, communications manager for Swing Left. “A lot of that is about redistricting in 2021. But we want to break up the unified control and think flipping the House is the best way to do that.”
So where will the group focus its energy?
Swing Left will help defend four House districts — 59, 69, 72 and 84 — now represented by Democrats. Three of those shifted from Republican to Democratic control in 2018.
District 59 is represented by Adam Hattersley and District 72 by Margaret Good, both of whom elected to run for Congress in 2020. In Districts 69 and 84, freshman Democratic Reps. Jennifer Webb and Dolores Hogan Johnson, respectively, are seek reelection to second terms.
As for offense, Swing Left aims to flip Districts 15, 21, 26, 28, 29, 42, 60, 89, 93, 105, 115, 118, 119 and 120.
That would mean cementing parts of South and Central Florida as Democratic country, but Pilla notes there’s some geographic diversity on that map. The group will target a Jacksonville seat now held by freshman Republican Wyman Duggan, who’s facing Democrat Tammyette Thomas. And they have eyes for a Gainesville seat occupied since 2016 by Chuck Clemons, but where Democrat Kayser Enneking has already filed.
“There’s a wide path to breaking this supermajority,” Pilla said.
On the Senate side, Swing Left will target open seats being vacated by Longwood Republican David Simmons and Miami Republican Anitere Flores. A number of Democratic groups have looked to those districts as potential pickups.
Pilla said Swing Left has no interest in disrupting primaries, and will commit to back whatever Democrat wins the nomination in any of its districts.
“Once a candidate gets through the primaries, they will have a built-in infrastructure to build on,” she said.
But in many cases, Swing Left knows the battles will still be difficult. Through careful analysis of past voting performance and demographic trends, the districts seemed good zones to target. But by nature, these are battles that can go either way.
That said, Swing Left enjoyed success when it decided to invest $1 million into Virginia in 2019. The result was Democrats taking full control of the statehouse in November.
“There, 89% of our donations went to races that were decided by single digits,” Pilla said. “We intend to do the same here.”
Susan B. Aertker
January 18, 2020 at 9:04 am
Ben Marcus is running against Jason Fischer.
Jason Fischer’s J-1 bills have outraged a lot of people.
I think Ben Marcus has a chance. Why didn’t you mention Ben Marcus?
January 18, 2020 at 10:56 am
VOTE RED, OR FLORIDA’S ECONOMY IS DEAD!
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NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunt Real Estate Capital, a leader in financing commercial real estate throughout the United States, announced today it provided a Fannie Mae affordable multifamily loan in the amount of $19.5 million to finance the acquisition of a multifamily property located in Austin, Texas.
Blunn Creek Apartments is an affordable housing community located at 701 Woodward Street. Built in in 2002, the property consists of 280 housing units and is comprised of 12, three-story buildings and a leasing office and business center.
The borrower is a Texas LLC sponsored by Avanath Capital Management (ACM) that was formed in 2008 by Daryl J. Carter. Hunt Real Estate Capital was able to provide four-years of interest only payments on this transaction.
"ACM is a California-based investment firm that acquires, renovates, and operates apartment properties with an emphasis on affordable and workforce communities," explained Paul Weissman, Senior Managing Director and head of originations for Affordable Housing Finance at Hunt Real Estate Capital.
Since its formation in 2008, ACM has acquired over 8,000 apartment properties in 12 states throughout the nation.
Blunn Creek is an affordable housing property and 100% of the units are restricted to individuals or families whose income is 60% or less of the Area Median Income.
Common area amenities include gated access, on-site management, a clubhouse, laundry facility, fitness center, business center, picnic areas, barbecue grills, covered parking, a playground and a pool. In addition, 32 units are accessible by persons with disabilities.
"The borrower has allocated approximately $2 million in funding for a variety of interior and exterior improvements," added Weissman. "We were pleased to partner with this qualified sponsor on such a nice property to offer residents of Austin a solid opportunity for affordable housing."
About Hunt Real Estate Capital
Hunt Real Estate Capital, part of Hunt Companies, Inc., is a leader in financing commercial real estate throughout the United States. The Company finances all types of commercial real estate: multifamily properties (including small balance), affordable housing, office, retail, manufactured housing, healthcare/senior living, industrial, and self-storage facilities. It offers Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA financing and its own Proprietary loan products. Since inception, the Company has structured more than $28.4 billion of loans and today maintains a servicing portfolio of more than $15 billion. Headquartered in New York City, Hunt Real Estate Capital has 241 professionals in 25 locations throughout the United States. To learn more, visit https://huntrealestatecapital.com/.
Hunt Real Estate Capital
SOURCE Hunt Real Estate Capital

domain: finance


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GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND (Monday 15th February 2021) – Surfing Queensland acknowledges media reports suggesting the World Surf League may not run this year’s Corona Open Gold Coast, scheduled to take place at Snapper Rocks throughout April and May.
Surfing Queensland recognises that the decision to run the event rests with the World Surf League and Queensland Government, and appreciates the strain that COVID-19 places on activating events of this kind.
Surfing Queensland CEO, Adam Yates, said that a major South East Queensland surfing event is an important part of the state’s broader sporting culture.
“The Gold Coast championship tour event is Queensland’s, if not Australia’s, biggest surfing spectacle, with tens of thousands of enthusiasts supporting the event each year at Snapper Rocks as well as following online,” Mr Yates said.
“Snapper Rocks has been a breeding ground of world surfing talent, fast-tracking the development of national icons including Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore and Joel Parkinson,” he said.
“No official decision has been announced regarding the Gold Coast world tour event, and we’ll be following the matter closely over coming days to keep the Queensland surfing community updated,” he said.
Regardless of the decision surrounding the Gold Coast event, Surfing Queensland is on track to deliver its full calendar of events throughout 2021.
“We’re collaborating with state and local government, commercial partners and community stakeholders to ensure that our Queensland-based surfing programs, initiatives and events continue to run, providing an important pathway to professional surfing,” Mr Yates said.
“Events such as the Queensland Surfing Festival, Gold Coast Open and Australian Open of Surfing will provide ongoing surfing action throughout Queensland, which is great news for surfers and spectators,” he said.
“All world surfing professionals start local, which is why grassroots competition is so vital to the ongoing health of one of Australia’s most celebrated and historic sports,” he said.
For more information on Surfing Queensland events, please follow Surfing Queensland on social media and visit www.surfingqueensland.com.au
Mitchell Shepherd | Communications Manager | 0418 201 700 | email@example.com


Bath's Andrew Higgins and David Barnes have each been banned for a fortnight by separate disciplinary panels.
Centre Higgins and prop Barnes will now miss their club's opening Heineken Cup games against Leinster and Bourgoin.
Higgins was dismissed during Bath's 18-16 Premiership win over Gloucester after receiving two yellow cards, the second for tripping Mike Tindall.
Barnes was cited for striking an opponent during Bath's Powergen Cup win over the Ospreys on 9 October.
Both players pleaded guilty, with Higgins appearing before a Rugby Football Union panel and Barnes in front of a joint RFU/Welsh Rugby Union panel.
Barnes and Higgins would have challenged strongly for first-team places in Bath's tough game against Leinster in Dublin next Saturday.
The one crumb of comfort for Bath rugby director John Connolly is that the pair will not miss November's Premiership programme.
Much of it coincides with England's autumn Test programme, with Bath likely to be weakened by losing the likes of Danny Grewcock, Matt Stevens and Lee Mears.


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Description4% Console $50 Bond 50¢ Coupon of 1907 Hessler X166I.
This 50¢ coupon is from the Four Percent Loan of 1907. The coupons were redeemed quarterly with the first payment due in the final quarter of 1879. This coupon has a portrait of William H. Seward. Conjecture is that coupons such as these were at times a medium of exchange. This particular coupon is for the first quarter of 1896. The portrait for these coupons can either be on the left or right side. If the coupon is an even number, the portrait is on the left. If the coupon is an odd number, the portrait is on the right. This coupon is number 74. PCGS Apparent Fine 15, edge splits; stains; and an ink stamp on the face.
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Death and Life Posters
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Type: Premium Poster
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domain: artistic


CNET has finally found a rig that can hit 60 FPS with Crysis maxed out: Falcon Northwest’s Mach V is loaded with a 3.79GHz Core i7, 12 GB of RAM and 2 x 1GB Radeon 4870s.
No, you’re not seeing double: Abarth’s Powerplay Extreme is from the same company that brought us today’s FZ1 naked bike; similarly, it uses an Antec Skeleton case with an i7 Core CPU.
Both Gateway and Dell are dropping Core i7s into their desktops, and at relatively low price points: Dell’s Studio XPS starts at $999, while Gateway’s FX 6800-01e starts at $1,249.
Although rather cheap at just over $1K, Alienware’s Area-51 750i gaming desktop is a good value: you’ll get a 3GHz Core 2 Duo, 512MB 9800GT, 2GB of RAM and a beefy 750W PSU.
YOYOtech’s MLK1610 is an uber rig that runs Intel’s brand new Core i7 (Nehalem) CPU on an X58 chipset; it also packs in 9GB of DDR3 RAM, an 80GB SSD, and a 1TB HDD.
Like their Eee notebooks and PCs, Asus’ Atom powered Eee Top is not a powerful system. However, its clean, all-in-one form factor and touchscreen LCD make it an ideal second PC.
If Dell’s XPS One left you wanting for power, the XPS One 24 answers with a 1080p 24″ screen, Q8200 quad core CPU, 4GB RAM standard and optional GeForce 9600M GT video card.
Despite its humble workhorse purposes, we’re actually liking the industrial design of Dell’s new OptiPlex 960 series; they’ll come in three sizes which are designed to be power efficient.
We kinda wish we had some Mac Classics lying around, because these custom Mac-O-Lanterns are pretty easy to make: just some epoxy, spray paint and a JPEG jackolantern face.
Asus’ liquid-cooled CG6155 desktop has a pretty tight case, but it’s the nForce 790i mobo that takes the cake, with 3-Way SLI and up to 8 GB DDR3 RAM. It even packs a fingerprint scanner.
Blu-Ray just got a lot more affordable: Acer’s Aspire X3200 HTPC squeezes in a Blu-Ray drive alongside a 2.1GHz AMD CPU, 4GB RAM and a 640 GB HDD, all for only $680.
Acer’s Predator gaming rig has finally arrived; unmistakable for its orange transforming case, it comes loaded with Core 2 Quad CPUs, up to three 640GB hard drives and 8 GB RAM.
Joining Dell’s Hybrid today are the Studio Desktop (MT) and Slim (ST). Despite cool, black styling, the modest 350W and 250W PSUs make clear their mid-range intentions.
HP’s TouchSmart IQ816 series tops off their line of all-in-one touch screen PCs; this 25.5″ beauty gets a TV tuner, webcam, bluetooth, and can be wall mounted. It’ll be available 10/12.
The Antec Skeleton PC case takes care of ventilation by stripping out most of the walls and slapping a 250mm fan on top; in total, there’s room for 7 expansion slots and 4 drive bays.
Recently announced at CEDIA, the Sony JS is a value-priced all-in-one PC; it’s got a 20.1″ XBRITE screen and 3.0 GHz Core 2 Duo CPU; optional: BD-ROM and up to 4 GB RAM.
The Sony RT is a behemoth all-in-one PC, with a 25.5″ screen, quad-core Q9400 CPU, 8 GB of RAM and 1 TB RAID storage. Hell, it even has a built-in subwoofer.
The Shuttle Atom is low cost entrant to the nettop category (Intel Atom powered mini desktops); it consumes only 23 watts when idle, is whisper quiet and still squeezes in 4 USB ports.
Only available in Japan, the Linux Space Cube by Shimafuji is the ultimate small form factor PC, measuring 2″x2″x1.7″. It has an NEC 333 Mhz CPU, 64MB of RAM, and a 1GB CF card.
Dell’s new Studio Hybrid is 80% smaller and draws 70% less power than standard desktops. Available in six colors and bamboo, it features an HDMI port, 8-in-1 media card reader and optional Blu-ray.
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|Vector Clipart ID: c2663400|
color vector clipart
Image title: Be responsible and Vote! On USA map. Vintage
|Be responsible and Vote! On USA map. Vintage patriotic poster to encourage voting in elections. Retro styled, aged layers can be easy removed|
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EPS, AI, CDR, WMF - scalable vector grafic formats; JPG - unscalable raster format. Other graphic formats are available upon request.
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domain: design


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Get into the spooky spirit with these festive halloween crafts kids can make at home
Oct 23, 2013 at 5:22PM
Silly Eagle Books
Make use of your bottle-cap stash and have fun finding places for these creepy-crawlies -- you're sure to get a surprise in a pantry or drawer.
From: Silly Eagle Books
What you'll need: bottle caps, pipe cleaners, hot glue, regular glue, googly eyes.
Directions: Cut the legs and hot glue them to the back of the cap. After they dry, bend the legs out in a spidery fashion. Glue on as many googly eyes as you wish.
Yummy recipes, DIY projects, home decor, fashion and more curated by iVillage staffers.
The very dirty truth about fashion internships... DUN DUN @srslytheshow http://t.co/wfewf
Behind-the-scenes pics from iVillage.


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I regularly post links to some related BBC shows that touch on the material we cover on the module or material that we don’t always have time to go into enough depth with. Here we have a celebration of the like of Martin Luther King in the 50th anniversary year of his death from Radio 4’s Great Lives series.
Actor Clarke Peters narrates a special edition of Soul Music marking fifty years since the assassination of the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King on April 4th 1968.
“If in doubt, pray and sing” an activist recalls how music was used as part of Dr King’s non-violent resistance movement.
This edition of Soul Music tells the stories of the songs behind the Civil Rights Movement including the spirituals and freedom songs that were integral to the struggle. In the 19th century, music became a tool for protest and resistance among the enslaved peoples of the American South. The programme hears the stories behind some of the most popular anthems and Freedom Songs that were later used as part of the civil resistance movement that eventually led to voting rights and desegregation. From Swing Low Sweet Chariot and We Shall Overcome to Amazing Grace, Strange Fruit and A Change Is Gonna Come, witnesses to and participants in the Civil Rights Movement recall how songs were such a vital part of the story.
Every now and then the BBC Great Lives series pushes out a musical cracker. Here we have Adrian Utley of trip-hop/electronica act, Portishead, explaining why Mr Davis is the one of the greatest jazz musicians to ever graced this planet.
Miles Davis – trumpeter, composer, bandleader – is championed by Adrian Utley of Portishead.
“He’s always been really important in my life, right from early on when my dad used to play him. It was part of the atmosphere of our house.”
From the early years with Charlie Parker and on via Kind of Blue to playing in front of 600,000 hippies on the Isle of Wight, Miles Davis was a musician who never stood still. “Always listen for what you can leave out,” he used to say, and Portishead’s seminal nineties album Dummy seems to have taken advice from the man. According to Adrian Utley, “The darkness and the sense of space is the thing that I have assimilated from Miles … he’s in my DNA.”
With Richard Williams, author of The Blue Moment: Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue and the Remaking of Modern Music,.
Presented by a sceptical Matthew Parris, and produced by an enthusiastic Miles Warde.
I’ve often found this BBC Radio 4 series to be a little bit hit or miss with regards to their episodes and their focus but there are some gems hidden away that you deserve to listen to. The episode below is from Series 25 and tackles the late Bob Marley classic ‘Redemption Song’ – one of the singer’s last (and finest) songs from the Uprising album. It features some heart-wrenching accounts of the song and its meanings that fans have attached
You can stream the show here and you can download the mp3 here.
“If you’ve never heard of Bob Marley then you must be living under a rock” – Neville Garrick, Bob Marley’s Art Director and friend.
At the time he wrote ‘Redemption Song’, circa 1979, Bob Marley had been diagnosed with the cancer in his toe that later took his life. It is considered one of his greatest works and continues to inspire generations of Marley fans across the world.
For Grammy Award Winning artist John Legend, it’s become an anthem for addressing the criminal justice system of America. ‘Musicians without Borders’ practitioner Ahmed al ‘Azzeh finds the song inspires him to work towards a better life in the Palestinian Territories. For Jamaican Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison, it is a reminder to continue Marley’s call to ‘sing these songs of freedom’ and for Bob Scott, it will forever be heard in memory of his nephew Dominick who lost his life during the 2004 Tsunami.
Featuring interviews with Neville Garrick and Wailers Guitarist Don Kinsley.
Disco is a genre that rarely appears to be taken very seriously and, in the present day, often seems to be disregarded as novelty music that people do not genuinely believe to be of supreme quality. However, during its emergence from the late 1960s to the 1970s, it represented a very important outlet for a lot of people who, away from the dancefloor, were the target of much discrimination at this point in history. As well as this, revisiting a lot of disco music is an enjoyable thing to do because, despite how it sometimes tends to be perceived today, it is a genre that produced a considerable amount of very good music. It went though something a crisis with the ‘Disco Sucks’ campaign and the film Saturday Night Fever, which seemed to ignore so many of the important themes that were at the centre of the disco movement but, through a retrospective look at the disco scene, it is clear that it deserves a lot more respect that people have often been willing to give it.
The origins of disco and its initial popularity are usually traced back to the DJ David Mancuso and his parties at The Loft in New York in the early 1970s. An Alex Petridis article in The Guardian after Mancuso’s death in 2016 says: “The crowd Mancuso’s parties drew were pansexual and racially mixed – about 60% black and 70% gay, according to one estimate – a gathering of ‘the disaffected and disenfranchised’”. This was in the wake of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which had empowered communities who had been consistently targeted by police and oppressed for so long and had led to the formation of groups like the Gay Liberation Front. The music and nightlife were important as a means of exercising that liberation and as expression for racially and sexually diverse groups of people. Musically, what Mancuso played was dance music that had its origins in funk, with distinctive basslines and horn sections. These characteristics can be heard in songs like Manu Dibango’s 1972 jazz-funk hit ‘Soul Makossa’
Artists such as Donna Summer and Grace Jones emerged as standout stars of the genre. Particular highlights from their respective discographies include Summer’s 16-minute disco epic ‘Love to Love You Baby’ from 1975 and Jones’s irresistibly funky bass-driven 1977 reworking of Edith Piaf’s ‘La Vie en rose’ from her first album, Portfolio. The sexual liberation that disco fans were enjoying was reflected in the music. The lyrics to ‘Love to Love You Baby’ are punctuated by moans that are clearly there to emphasise the intensity of the sexual experience the song appears to be referencing.
The early years of disco were characterised by freedom and diversity, and also by musical innovation. Nicky Siano, a DJ who opened his club The Gallery in 1973, is acknowledged as the pioneer of various new DJing techniques, such as beatmatching and the use of multiple turntables. As an interview on the Vinyl Factory’s website highlights: “In the history of DJ culture, Nicky Siano’s presence looms large. His club The Gallery was instrumental in forging the disco culture of the 1970s in New York, while his technique on the decks helped further the art of mixing records as we know it.” In terms of the history of dance music as a whole, Siano’s innovation that was central to the disco scene in New York has been very influential.
It was not just in the USA where disco took off. It was also prominent in European popular music. Boney M, made up of four vocalists from the Caribbean but formed in West Germany in 1975, were particularly successful. Musically they had unmistakably disco elements but also took inspiration from reggae. Their live performances were characterised by the energetic dancing and costumes of Bobby Farrell and they enjoyed chart success throughout Europe with singles such as ‘Daddy Cool’ and ‘Sunny’ as well as the uniquely unforgettable 1978 track ‘Rasputin’.
ABBA were also involved with eurodisco and remain one of the most successful bands of all time. The disco tracks that these acts put out may be a bit poppier and perhaps less interesting than the music of Donna Summer and Grace Jones but they are still fun to listen to and the early days of disco were all about people having the freedom to express themselves and have fun in a way that had previously not been so open to them.
The release of 1977’s Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, brought disco very much into the mainstream. However, what was represented in the film was not a particularly accurate depiction of the disco scene. It centred on white, heteronormative characters and was soundtracked by the Bee Gees. It would be difficult to describe it as a celebration of the racial and sexual inclusivity that was so fundamental to the development of disco music and dancing.
While Saturday Night Fever’s portrayal was perhaps unhelpful for how disco was received, the ‘Disco Sucks’ campaign, started by rock radio DJ Steve Dahl, was to prove more damaging. As a Hadley Meares article for Aeon describes: “Dahl saw disco as slick and inauthentic, and he took to playing popular disco tunes, only to ‘blow ’em up real good’ with sound-effects live on-air.” He had a lot of fans who agreed with him and the movement kept growing. This culminated in the 1979 public demolition of many disco records and subsequent riot at a Chicago White Sox baseball game. Dahl distanced the movement from racism or homophobia but it did involve many young white men who appeared to find the disco scene, which welcomed so many marginalised people, threatening to their notions of constructions of masculinity.
Disco did slow down and the scene became less prominent into the 1980s but it is impossible to deny the influence that it has had on popular music styles since then. It undoubtedly deserves to be loved and appreciated for what it represented, and for the joy and freedom that the music communicated.
After the dust cloud of the Sex Pistol’s implosion had settled, there was no time for Punk’s eulogy as our dear music culture at the time wasn’t particularly into grieving for the era that has just been and gone. And so with that mentality the music scene had decided that an almost page-one-rewrite was needed for the coming era.
Gone was the righteous hegemonic masculinity of punk rock where men were Neanderthals in expressing a deep rooted rage at the establishment and everything it stood for. These punk rockers were unprepared for the likes of Joy Division and the kind of earnestness that Ian Curtis would bring to dark dystopian guitar work and tribal drum beats figuratively exploded the heads of those who once engaged in the slamdancing and spit fights of the mid-to-late 1970s. Where punk had been the liberation of a generation, post-punk was the rising of underground music to a mainstream that needed a new direction.
The post-punk moment in music was one which ignored the doctrine of the time before it and raided the pre-punk chest of the whole of prog rock, the androgynous sexuality of Roxy Music and perhaps most importantly balls-to-the-wall all out craziness of Captain Beefheart. While this type of music had been viewed as stale when the likes of The Ramones and The Clash set fire to them in the mid 70s, it was the new pioneers of the Talking Heads and The Cure who found in this the key to a new future. Whether it’s David Byrne reciting Captain Beefheart’s ‘Well’ or getting former Roxy Music member Brian Eno to produce the pivotal post-punk album Remain In Light, it is easy to find the fingerprints of pre-punk all over post-punk.
While 1977 had been the year that gave us Never Mind The Bollocks which had become the holy scripture that the Sex Pistol’s brought down from the mountain top of counter-culture, David Bowie and Brian Eno were putting out what Bowie described as “new language” what was particular interesting, about these release in hindsight is how the experimentation of Low and Heroes had been unprecedented. On one hand it was being described as “alienating” by a Dutch journalist and on the other was being regarded by the New York Times as “a strange crossbreed of Roxy Music, Brian Eno’s own solo albums, Talking Heads and an Indonesian gamelan”.
With this response to Bowie’s Low, it is easy to identify how post-punk was melting the minds of a music audience whilst feeding them the conventions of the early 1970s rock music which punk had attempted to erase from the archives of popular culture. While we could of course talk at great lengths about the krautrock influence on David Bowie’s work in Berlin and how he appropriated the sounds of Neu, Can and Kraftwerk for his very western and very large cult following, it is important to accept that David Bowie is to this day being cited by contemporary pop artists such as; Lady Gaga, St. Vincent, Calvin Harris and Lorde and it is this period of work that is time and time again referenced as his greatest imprint on music.
There is also a separate discussion to be had on Brian Eno’s influence on the colourful landscape of modern music.
Whilst Brian Eno began his career as a producer by working on the various cornerstone records of post-punk and new wave, it was from this that he became the master of turning big bands into great bands. When it came to U2, he turned them from the biggest cult post-punk band into THE biggest band of the late 1980s and 1990s. This was evident in the various reinventions in U2’s career that begun Eno-produced The Unforgettable Fire and had continued through until the late nineties. U2 of course also being a product of early post-punk influences courtesy of the sounds of CBGBs with Television and Talking Heads having a large influence on the Irish band along with the dystopian experimental sounds of British bands Joy Division and Wire. Then there is the sequel to U2; Coldplay who enlisted Eno as producer on their Viva La Vida and Mylo Xyloto which spawned a variety of anthemic pop songs that topped worldwide charts. None of this could have possibly happened without Eno’s beginnings as a member of glam rock outfit Roxy Music and the subsequent genre fusing that led to post-punk.
Of course there is the highly influential feminist post-punk bands such as; Au Pairs and The Raincoats who can share the acclaim of heavily influencing nineties alternative rock acts such as; Nirvana and Pixies. It is documented that Kurt Cobain had high praise for The Raincoats and went as far as to listing their self-titled debut in his top 50 albums of all time as well as being credited as being a reason for their mid-nineties reformation. The Raincoats’ amateurish punk sound had been the framework for the sound of Nirvana, not only in its bare bones approach to a defiant rock sound, but in its both personal and often self-celebratory spirit which is reminiscent of the few and far between almost joyous moments of Nirvana’s short career, a key example being ‘Silver’ and ‘Been A Son’.
So while it is only quietly, you will find admission of post-punk’s wide ranging influence on the music of today and a lot of what has transpired since it faded into the early 1980s, once David Bowie’s work with Brian Eno is considered as being a sort of genesis for post-punk and those whom took influence from Low and Heroes in this period, it is easier to find how the roots of post-punk led to a portion of the popular music of today. And perhaps the most key example of this can be found here
They used to be bland and boring, now, they give it all for an adventure of a lifetime
For a newly upcoming band in the alternative rock spectrum, it’s quite difficult to make everyone instantly like you. For Coldplay, their music was arguably non conformist to the alternative rock ‘n’ roll stereotype, much to the extent that many people sought to reject their musical style and seek something…let’s just say, a bit more “rebellious”.
Since then, the band have faced mass amounts of scrutiny from fans of the genre for their lack of rock ‘n’ roll significance, going as far as branding them as being very bland.
Why, you might ask? Rock bands such as Rage Against the Machine use their songs as platforms to voice their opinions of society. Listening to Coldplay, there’s no underlying issues raised in their work.
What does ‘Fix You’ mean? Are they voicing their opinions on the political, economic or societal state of the world? No, they’re singing about love. Richard Bradley, a writer for the Huffington Post, argued that Chris Martin’s ‘songs ought to be more political, less personal.’
Take this into account and substitute the “in your face” guitar distortion that is often associated with rock, for sweet melodic piano driven relaxation vibes. Subvert the riotous singing for calm undertones of a peaceful serenade from a leader that in the eyes of Andy Gill thinks is, the ‘world’s least impressive rock star by virtually any criteria connected with rock’n’roll’ and you get an alternative rock band that isn’t really much of a rock band at all…or at least, perhaps one without a cause.
As sad as it is, people actually use that about Martin as an excuse for disliking him and the band, and arguing how dull they can be…truth is, if they were really that boring, then why is it that they are still relevant sixteen years later?
According to Forbes, the band earn $88 million as the eighth highest paid celebrity in the entertainment industry, having apparently sold over ninety-three million records with seven incredible albums, by which, according to Official Charts, all reached the number one
spot in the UK charts.
For the decade of the noughties, Coldplay released Parachutes,
Rush of Blood to the Head, X&Y and Viva La Vida. Ultimately Coldplay are known for their consistency within albums. Even though X&Y was least favoured by some as Adam Silverstein demonstrates, it obtained the number one spot in the UK Official Charts for four consecutive weeks, containing top notch singles like ‘Fix You’ and ‘Speed of Sound’.
A collaboration with Johnny Cash, having only made it to the written stage as he unfortunately passed away before recording could be done. This was a major victory for Coldplay because if they were so tasteless, then why would one of the most iconic figures from rock ‘n’ roll history want to collaborate with them?
In fact, why would artists like Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rhianna and the Chainsmokers, want to collaborate with artists that had a reputation for being uninteresting? How would this profit themselves? Yes, so Beyoncé may have turned down a song before and said it was ‘awful’
but every artist has the occasional bad song but lets not forget she did collaborate with them for their newest album, A Head Full of Dreams, lending her vocals to ‘Hymn For the Weekend’ – they must’ve done something right?
Coldplay have blossomed in the spotlight; by embracing their blandness critiques, they’ve managed to constitute it for a more emotional performance. So much so, that having been emboldened to try new things, visually and sonically, came with great success and relevance throughout the years.
Although they have no political stance, they’re admired by fans around the world for being different. Martin himself has stood his ground for over a decade cultivating a genre that was full of stereotypical madness.
Even though some lyrics may be considered border-line cringe – singing about generic love and loss (lost in translation to someone who’s tired of hearing those things, yes, it can be a little boring) but, the music is expressive.
The emotion in Martin’s voice, the soul in the music; how it can make you smile, laugh and cry, all at the same time reflects all the attributes of an amazing artist and experience.
Despite whatever criticism Coldplay have received in the past about their songs, their performances have been beyond a dream, enough to have millions of fans worldwide eagerly wait on the edge of their seats for tour dates and tickets to be released.
Following the release of their newest album, A Head Full of Dreams, on 4 December 2015, the same album which won Best British album of the year at the Brit Awards in 2016. Touring started near enough immediately, having first appeared at in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 31 2016.
Still performing around the world just over a year and a half later, there’s no denying the band’s determination is inspirational. Aol reported back in 2016 that, a ‘second round’ of dates had to be ‘added across Europe’ because the 2017 tour had ‘sold out in minutes’. At present, Coldplay are still adding tour dates on thanks to the major stadium sell outs and the cry for more dates.
No one can argue that their journey from Starfish days, singing in local pubs to global sell out stadiums has become anything but an adventure of a lifetime. They’ve provided their fans with enough memories in one night, to last them a lifetime – I’m sure of this because I still remember
July 16 2016 at Wembley Stadium like it was just yesterday – firework and confetti explosions, inflatable surfing, laser beams, illuminous colour changing bands that lit
BBC 4 has a 3 part series on air at the time of writing that fits in with some of the content we look at in the first couple of weeks on the module. Psychoactive drug experiments by pioneering psychologists and starry-eyed kids combine to create a movement quite unlike anything that came before it.
Here’s the show notes for Episode 1:
The first episode looks at how ideas, music and lifestyles from Asia, Europe and the American Left became entwined in California. It traces the roots of the hippies back to a 19th-century German sect of wandering naturalists called Lebensreform who brought their freethinking ideas about nature to California after the Second World War. There they merged with a growing interest in Eastern mystical concepts of human nature imported to America by maverick British thinkers like Aleister Crowley and Aldous Huxley. Add to this mix a wonder drug first developed by the CIA called LSD and a wave of student activists and anti-war protestors agitating for revolution and you have the astonishing story how these forces came together to give birth to the Summer of Love in San Francisco, 1967.
If that sounds good to you then you can click through this link to watch via the BBC iPlayer.
The second episode can be found on this link. Show notes below:
The second episode explores how the Summer of Love of 1967 set in motion an era of social upheaval that pitted America’s youth against its elders and how the American government responded with a series ofbrutal crackdowns. The hippies failed politically, but their cultural influence changed the world. Everything from the environmental movement to the explosion in alternative health practices to the birth of feminism all grew out of this moment. And most surprising of all, we trace how hippie ideas first imagined on LSD went on to shape the information age itself.
The song ‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes’ is a beautiful and whimsical folk track that was written by Sandy Denny (prior to her brief stint with Fairport Convention), when she was only 19 years old and it betrays a much older soul. Her life was tragically cut short, aged only 31.
The tune is the subject of the BBC Radio 4 series, Soul Music, this week and it’s one of those hauntingly beautiful tragic songs that warrants a half hour deep dive. Click this link to go to the show or download an mp3 (26.9mb) by clicking the image below.
Here’s the show notes:
Sandy Denny was just 19 years old when she wrote ‘Who Knows Where the Time Goes?’, her much-loved song about the passing of time. Soul Music tells the story behind the song and speaks to people for whom it has special meaning.
The record producer Joe Boyd and founder member of Fairport Convention Simon Nicol remember Sandy and her music. We speak to musicians who have covered the song, including folk legend Judy Collins and the singer Rufus Wainwright, about what the song means to them. And we hear from people whose lives have been touched by the song, including the singer-songwriter Ren Harvieu, who suffered a back break in a freak accident and found strength in the song during her recovery. And neuroscientist and best-selling author David Eagleman explains why the years seem to fly past ever more quickly as we grow older. Also featuring contributions from Sandy Denny’s biographer Mick Houghton and Dr Richard Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Music at Newcastle University.
Producer: Mair Bosworth.
The track has been covered extensively. You can find some of the covers referenced in the show together with a few other notable versions in the playlist below
Back in September 2016, Square Sounds Tokyo held its annual gathering for musicians from around the world to come and perform ‘chipmusic’ live. This genre, more commonly known as ‘chiptune’ (which is how I’ll be referring to it hereafter) or ‘8-bit’, refers to the creation of electronic music using sound chips commonly found in vintage computers, game consoles and arcade machines. If you need an example, think of the original ‘Super Mario Bros. Theme’. That’s chiptune before ‘chiptune’ even really existed as we know it today.
Upon watching a performance from Irish musician Chipzel (Niamh Houston) at Square Sounds, I began to wonder why so many people, including myself, enjoyed listening to music from this relatively niche genre. It seems odd, as a society, to have made so many technological advancements in music and sound quality over the past few decades and yet still occasionally rely on creating music through this method that existed purely due to technological limitations.
Let it be clear that this is not a ‘new’ genre. It has existed since the early 1980s, ever since equipment such as personal computers and video game consoles became outdated and hence more accessible to creative individuals who wished to use them for sound or art purposes. The reason I think many people see it as a new genre is because it sticks out like a sore thumb now more than ever because of, as I say, advancements in technology, as well as the simplistic nature of the sounds used in chiptune. Most people associate this genre with the soundtracks of video games in the ‘70s and ‘80s, such as Super Mario Bros., Tetris, Sonic the Hedgehog etc. The fact it has made a comeback from the 2000s onwards is bound to confuse many who didn’t think there was a market for ‘video game music’. With the release of consumer software (such as LSDJ, a GameBoy cartridge created specifically for creating chiptune music on the console) from the late 2000s-early 2010s, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people utilising these old-school sounds, including popular mainstream artists.
For enthusiasts, it likely elicits a very strong sense of nostalgia. It takes them back to a time where they were playing video games as children. In this sense, they experience a sense of loss – a longing to return to this simpler, worry-free time, and the consumption of this music genre helps to bridge that gap. It sounds odd that a certain genre could achieve this. Nostalgia is usually specific – associated to a specific artist, song, phrase or lyric – but chiptune is such a distinct and recognisable genre that it can be linked to almost any video game from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Keiji Yamagishi, composer for Ninja Gaiden, chimes in on the appeal of chiptune, and states that “it’s difficult not having any limitations. I feel like I was being tested.” It’s an interesting concept – having technological limitations could actually make you feel less pressured to outdo other artists or create something incredible – it gives you a sense of focus. This familiarity would understandably benefit both composers and listeners.
But technological advancements in music and music production have not been lost on some chiptune artists. While some do create ‘pure’ chiptune tracks, using nothing but these old-school sounds for every instrument, including drums, bass, keys etc., the majority incorporate chiptune sounds into other styles of music. This creates many different subgenres of chiptune, including one that I found particularly interesting – Nintendocore. Yes, you read that right. Take a listen to ‘Four to Six‘ by Math the Band. They have found a way (and they are not, by any means, the only artist to do this) to combine punk rock and chiptune. Two genres that are very different from one another, but they somehow work. Other examples include EDM mixed with chiptune, courtesy of the aforementioned Chipzel (which, as a sidenote, works wonders live) and even orchestral rock (Curious Quail’s Rallying Cry). I’m not sure why any of these work, but they do. I’m the last person to be listening to punk rock, but throw some chiptune in there and I love it. It brings that sense of nostalgia and familiarity to any genre it’s paired with – it’s hard to explain
However, the (potential) problem with chiptune is that it generally doesn’t have lyrics. Much like the video game soundtracks it emulates, chiptune creates its melodies through instrumentation rather than vocal work. This makes it harder to break through into the mainstream, which is why many notable songs that feature chiptune (such as Ke$ha’s ‘Tik Tok’) simply sample it and use it sparingly as a background instrument rather than the main focus. A few artists, however, have created chiptune-centric tracks with vocals, such as the Somerset-based duo You Love Her Coz She’s Dead. These artists, however, very rarely see mainstream attention. Perhaps the most mainstream artist who can be considered ‘chiptune’ would be Crystal Castles, but even then, it seems to take a back seat to EDM in their songs.
This, ultimately, leads to it becoming a very niche genre, and seen by many as ‘hipster’ music because of the fact it is a fairly-recent trend that is outside of the mainstream. And the fact it is so niche is amplified whenever someone claims to have done this technique for the first time. This happened as recently as February 2016 when Killscreenran a story about a musician who had used a Sega Genesis sound chip to create a remix of some music from Sonic the Hedgehog. He said he believed he was the “only producer within the contemporary music platform that’s using that sound chip.” Needless to say, this pissed people off – so much so that they had to change the article to account for the massive amount of chiptune artists who pointed out the obvious oversight in Killscreen’s reporting (and the man’s ability to perform a quick Google search).
Maybe it’s an acquired taste. I know plenty of people who describe chiptune as simply “noise” and don’t see the appeal, which is fine, I see where they’re coming from to a certain extent. But in the right hands, these simple sounds can be a very powerful tool. Take a listen to the Spotify playlist and see what you think. There’s a wide variety of different chiptune tracks there for you to make up your mind about this relatively unknown genre.
Whether you love it or hate it, just don’t try and claim you invented it.
[[SOUND OFF]] is a series of student-written features on artists/albums/music worth checking out
When discussing genres, music critics love a good death metaphor – and it’s easy to see why – as a general theme around which to centre a review or think piece there’s so much room for witty, clever and entirely non-derivative turns of phrase that seek to illustrate to the reader the sombre truth that we, as a culture, have suffered a tragic loss. A music genre is no longer as popular as it used to be. A moment’s silence please.
A notable victim of music journalism’s psychopathic serial killer streak is Rock music, with scores upon scores of articles being written every year that mournfully state as an unequivocal fact that rock music, if not stone-cold dead, is barely hanging on to life – conjuring images in the reader’s head of a hospitalised middle-aged white man, R. Music, connected to machines by tubes and wires after being involved in a tragic (but totally rad) high-speed crash while thundering his Harley Davidson down Route 66. His leather jacket lies in tatters next to his tin pail of Jack Daniel’s and book of LaVeyan scripture.
The main problem with this ‘rock is dead’ narrative (aside from the obvious factual inaccuracy that we will get on to later) is that so many reviews of contemporary rock artists’ work is viewed through this lens, and not only is the rhetoric dull, tired and repetitive – but it places a severe amount of undue pressure on upcoming bands that presumably just want to play some music and not be tasked with the daunting challenge of striding purposefully into R. Music’s death bed, looking at his chart, and giving him the life-saving treatment he desperately needs in order to get back on his Harley and head out onto the open road.
Take, for example, this piece in NME where The Nicest Man in Rock™, Dave Grohl, singles out Bristol-based duo Royal Blood as being a good band – not a particularly sensationalist statement – and there are certainly no insistences that we have finally found the fabled saviour of our resident over-extended metaphor R. Music. This then gets picked up by another website under the considerably more hyperbolic title of ‘Dave Grohl reckons Royal Blood will save rock ‘n’ roll’, an article that impressively even links to the original piece where the Foo Fighters frontman explicitly does not say that. Then of course when the album is reviewed – it is seen at least partially through this lens, whether they think the album is good or bad . There have been many bands that this claim has been levelled at over the years, such as The Strokes, The White Stripes, Gaslight Anthem and many, many more – so many bands, in fact, that one might begin to question whether rock is actually even dead at all!
To be fair to music critics, they are generally not the ones who have written the obituary – they seem to be just part of a climate where it’s essentially regarded as received wisdom that rock music is dead and as such, it’s convenient to proclaim that any fellas with a guitar and some good tracks will be the ones to save the genre. The people we truly have to blame for this questionable received wisdom are, bizarrely, rock musicians themselves.
Roger Daltry, Flea, Gene Simmons, Bob Dylan and Joe Perry have all recently been quoted in articles as saying that rock music has died. What’s particularly irksome about the incessant claims from these musicians, is that after they were all tearfully huddled around R. Music’s bedside during his final moments, they will have left (presumably on Harley Davidsons) to play sell-out stadium tours with their respective bands – disproving their own point and earning millions of dollars collectively by playing rock music.
So that point is obviously not entirely fair, all of the aforementioned musicians are already established (bewilderingly, in the case of Gene Simmons) as rock legends and, as they come from a time before the supposed tragic demise of rock music, they are still able to find huge audiences and rake in the cash. This is where the ambiguity of the term ‘dead’ comes into play – if we’re to assume that a ‘dead genre’ is one that is simply not currently the most popular in the world then sure – forget all the snarky bullshit I’ve spouted over the last seven hundred words; rock music is dead – I’ll do a reading at the funeral. However, if we’re to assume that a ‘dead genre’ is one that is creatively and artistically spent – that there is nobody doing anything interesting within the confines of the generic conventions of rock music then I am delighted to announce that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated.
The reason I think the distinction between the two different possible meanings of ‘dead’ is an important one is that the popularity of the genre should have no impact on and is of no relevance to the critical discussion surrounding the actual music within the genre, which is why it is infuriating to see articles that proclaim new bands to be the saviour of rock, or to hear old musicians claiming that the genre is dead.
Artistically, rock music has been doing just fine for decades – it may not be the biggest genre in the world any more but that doesn’t matter, there are still great bands doing great things and it’s okay that they’re doing them to moderately smaller audiences. So when a website runs an article with the headline ‘Gene Simmons: “Rock is Dead, It Was Murdered”’ it may as well read ‘BREAKING: Old White Man Thinks Things Have Changed Since His Day and Boy is He Angry About It’.
[[SOUND OFF]] is a series of student-written features on artists/albums/music worth checking out
The home of med332 – a module about popular music culture


text:
Neurologist Oliver Sacks was a best-selling author of numerous books concerning the field of medicine. Sacks his most known for his publication of neurological case histories, his writing has inspired films consisting of the Awakenings (1990) and At First Sight (1999), and The Music Never Stopped (2015). As an author, he received considerable notoriety from those in his field and the public. His writing has influenced other authors and individuals such as Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief of medical correspondent, who credits him as the person who inspired his love of the brain (website) and Lisa Genova, neurologist and author, crediting Sacks as an influence on her. One of the many books written by Sacks is The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat published in 1985.
For instance, Disney 's 'Aladdin ' in 1992 is an example of how he established his talents as a voice actor the role of the Genie, it showed is genius and how he can come up with so many voices. The performances from him shook the entertainment world generated a lot of revenues. Even more pleasurable moment was perhaps of his years and career came in the year 1997. This was his best year and he was able to stand out as one of the best in the world through several awards. He starred in ‘Good Will Hunting’ which was a great film and this lead to him winning accolades as the therapist.
I found this movie interesting because I agree with what the film implied on how all patient share a commonality called vulnerability. In the movie Wit, you are allowed a peek into the medical world that shows disregard for humanity. The film revolves around an English professor, Vivian Bearing, being diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, the treatment, and how her professional status is taken away for being a patient. A major theme of this movie is dependency on others by chronicling Vivian 's trial treatment and it allows the viewers a peek into the world of a patient dying from cancer. After watching the film, I noticed that there were a lot of significant moral issues, which correlates with the nursing profession.
His acting is always great, but I think he won the Oscar for the sake of winning it, because it was due time. He was nominated many times before, but for some reason failed to win. Alas, he had to win something, or at least that’s what I think the Oscar people
The movie Concussion was made which revealed Omalu’s story to the world. The release of Concussion was the ultimate vindication for all his hard work and dedication he put into studying CTE. Along with being the chief medical examiner at San Joaquin County, Omalu is also the president of Bennet Omalu Pathology and the associate clinical professor of pathology at UC Davis Medical Center. Omalu strived for the truth, but it was more than he expected. He once stated, “There are times I wish I never looked at Mike Webster’s brain.
Some heroes may be fictional as well. Take Kevin, who had a disease, from the book Freak the Mighty, he opened up the world to a boy named Maxwell Kane, he was his brains. These people, both fictional and true, are life changing heroes. People are called heroes because they are selfless in doing actions that need to be done. Heroes do
Freak spoke with a lot of lingo he also spoke sometimes like he was part of King Arthur and the knights of the round table. They also went on a lot of quests that involved medieval stuff Max and Freak showed that going on adventures is a good way to create friendship. Kevin and Max’s friendship was strong because of the adventure and how they helped each other. Also they were really good friends in the beginning when Freak freaked out Max, but through it all they demonstrated exactly a good friend ship looks like. Because of this their was a lot of trust between them.
Grey’s Anatomy focuses on the fictional lives of medical experts - doctors and interns - and their attempt at a work-life balance. The characters’ personal and professionals are what strike viewers the most and has been intensely followed since 2005. To date, the show has been awarded a Golden Globe for Best Television Show in Drama, and posts are again swooning over McDreama, also known as Patrick Dempsey. But there are things that viewers do not know
Adversity in “The Intouchables” “My true disability is not having to be in a wheel chair. It’s having to be without her.” (The Intouchables). Lines like that are just a piece of the great undertaking directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano took when they decided to be part of The Intouchables. Adapted from real-life events, this French biography was applauded for succeeding in painting a touching and resonating picture of the events that led to the birth of a strong relationship between the two protagonists, Driss and Philippe. Winning multiple awards, this movie has achieved the status of being one of the greatest French movies ever made.
Kite Runner Being an immigrant is about leaving one’s native country; but it is also, more importantly, about adapting and assimilating to a new culture. Relocating to a new country could sometimes cause a life-transforming moment. In 2003, when Khaled Hosseini published the mainstream fiction story, “The Kite Runner,” he was an extremely successful M.D. (Medical Doctor) who was practicing internal medicine. Throughout his novel, he describes different characters which possess different characteristics and personalities.


text:
Il mio corpo vi seppellirà
1860, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. While Garibaldi's troops are invading this lawless territory, four female bandits nicknamed the "Drudes" are looking for their own personal revenge.
The title “My body will bury you” reflects the original intent of this movie, which is about Errè, a woman who embodies the condition of Sicily at the very beginning of Italy’s unification. Such unification gave way to a great social and political change, taxes ended up, for the most part, contributing to investments in the North, thereby causing an economic crisis in the South. More a war of conquest than a liberation one, the peasants struck back by forming armed groups, often led by the old-guard military from the previous Bourbon Reign.
The way Sicilian swindlers resisted and opposed the Savoy occupation is striking; equally, the female swindlers – “Bringantesse”. They were just as wild and raw as the land and the time they inhabited, which in a way reminds the American border as narrated in western movies. This film is a juxtaposition between such former genre and pulp.

domain: history


A digital-to-analog converter (DAC or D-to-A) is a device that converts a digital
(usually binary) code to an analog signal (current, voltage, or electric charge). An analog-
to-digital converter (ADC) performs the reverse operation .
Basic ideal operation
The DAC fundamentally converts finite-precision numbers
(usually fixed-point binary numbers) into a continuously varying physical
quantity, usually an analogue electrical voltage.
In an ideal DAC, the numbers are output as a sequence of impulses, that
are then filtered by a reconstruction filter. This would, in principle,
reproduce a sampled signal precisely up to the Nyquist frequency,
although a perfect reconstruction filter cannot be practically constructed
as it has infinite phase delay; and there are errors due to quantisation .
DACs are used in many other applications, such as voice
synthesizers, automatic test system, and process control actuator.
In addition, they allow computers to communicate with the real


Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 4-ish years, you’ve probably watched a TED Talk or two. Deborah Ring, in her new piece TEAD Talks, pokes fun at TED’s very familiar segment style and through some comedic performances enlightens her audience about “Ideas Not Worth Spreading”. While the characterizations are certainly entertaining to watch, the commentary of the piece is a little confusing. Running October 20-22 as part of the Fresh Meat Theatre Festival, TEAD Talks has tons of character but lacks substance.
In case you’re not familiar with the popular YouTube videos (which is also totally fine, no judgement here), a quick Google search will tell you that they are lecture-style conferences lead by expert thinkers in Technology, Entertainment, and Design fields (hence the name TED- though they’ve expanded into many other fields as well), the live-recordings have been offered online for free since 2006 where they reached (collectively) over one billion views in 2012. My personal favourite is by neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor who describes her very unique experience suffering a stroke. That video was then remixed into Symphony of Science’s very excellent ‘Ode to the Brain’, which is also worth the watch.
Ring’s comedy (directed by Gabbie Lazarovitz) revolves around the premise of trying to sell the audience on dubious ideas that are presented in a confident and convincing manner. We are introduced to three different individuals- played by Ring- who each demonstrate their philosophies on life and living. The first speaker brings his very own middle-aged-white-man style of feminism that plays on the characters “good” intentions and his problematic results. Second to take the stage is Lil’Ging, the world’s first female ginger rap artist and purveyor of “Gingerism”. Finally, we meet Maureen who suffers from “anti-body dysmorphic disorder” which causes her to be supremely self-confident despite the character being portrayed as not ‘traditionally pretty’ (meaning: not congruent with the images most often circulated by mainstream media).
The staging of this piece is good. Ring nails the style and atmosphere of a TED Talk perfectly and each character carries their own distinct lecture style. Furthermore each speaker is a fully fleshed out caricature making each segment entertaining to watch. However, I’m still not sure what the take away from all this is.
The ‘isms’ as they are presented- Feminism, Gingerism, and Bodysms- are humorous but the material is still a little shallow. The “anti-feminist feminism” as portrayed by a middle-aged white man, let’s call him ‘Joe’ (I missed his name if it was mentioned, but I figured this was suitable), is undoubtedly or perhaps ideally an “Idea Not Worth Spreading”; however, it lacks punch considering we currently have Donald “Nobody Has More Respect for Women Than I Do” Trump running for POTUS. The segment with Maureen also left me a little confused as Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a very real thing and I didn’t find the play on “anti-body dysmorphic disorder” to be very clear. Again, the character work is funny but I am having difficulties reconciling its underlying message. Is it supposed to be a representation of a woman who’s gained self-confidence by way of a possibly real mental disorder? Or is it a reflection on women who find confidence through bringing down other women?
Ultimately, if TEAD Talks is meant to be, at its core, a satirical comment on the actual TED Talks themselves and perhaps also on less than qualified speakers branding their thoughts as expert knowledge, then playing these individuals as ‘average joes’ (instead of maybe posing as members of the intelligentsia) sort of robs the piece of that biting commentary. It’s funny, yes, to see these people (people like us) so out of place on a stage that usually hosts Nobel Prize winners, but does it run deeper than that? We already know that these ideas are bad by way of the stereotypes presenting them to us, there’s really no mystery. However, the greater opportunity (I think) lies in actually selling the audience on these ‘Ideas Not Worth Spreading’ through the use of highly convincing pseudo-academic and/or expert characters. We should be reminded that sometimes (okay, most times) these expert speakers have their own biases and self-motivations that colour how they present a certain issue and, moreover, just because an issue is presented to us in an attractive manner that doesn’t absolve it from further critical analysis.
A good effort on Ring’s part but there’s still a wealth of potential left to explore in TEAD Talks.
Written & Performed by Deborah Ring
Directed by Gabbie Lazarovitz