In 2019, competition in the downstream segment will only increase in Ukraine, and the development of non-fuel services will be the key to stay ahead of the pack. This article written by Nefterynok exclusively for PetrolPlaza takes a look at the market through some of its main players.
Some 7,500 petrol stations serve Ukraine's 42 million inhabitants and 8.5 million cars with internal combustion engines. Traditionally, the market has been divided into premium operators, middle class, and lowcost. Competition is heavy in the market and a race for innovation, primarily in non-fuel sales, is currently taking place. The largest part of the market consists of national operators. Foreign operators are represented only by companies that after 2014 changed their Russian residence permit to the European one - AMIC and Glusco, the Azerbaijani SOCAR, and a joint venture operating under the Shell brand. AVIA International may enter the market in 2019. The Swiss OMC can be the first Western company to come up with a franchise format, which is not a popular business model in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the arrival of AVIA is viewed positively and its development will be watched with interest.
In 2018, Ukrainian petrol station chains were struggling to attract new customers. Retailers invested in modernizing stations and expanding related services. The crucial battle took place in the non-fuel sales segment, the fast-food area. Unlike Western models, where we see the creation of co-branded platforms like Applegreen, Euro Garages and Tank & Rast, Ukraine has adopted the strategy of developing its own brands. This is due to the limited presence of global companies that traditionally cooperate with gas station networks in Europe and the United States – firms such as Starbucks and Subway are not present in Ukraine. Despite this trend, a very powerful cluster of local brands is spreading across Ukraine. Here is an overview of the most active operators in the Ukrainian filling station market.
OKKO – 400 sites. OKKO's network of filling stations is the undisputed leader in innovation and non-fuel sales development. The OKKO filling station network ('Concern Galnaftogaz') is a part of OKKO Group and is one of the largest in Ukraine. The company's portfolio also includes the country's largest network of catering facilities on the road, consisting of 38 restaurants operating under the brands A la minute (European cuisine), Pasta Mia (Italian cuisine) and Meiwei (Pan-Asian cuisine). The company's subdivisions are also engaged in the sale of goods through stores at gas stations. The share of non-fuel sales accounts for more than 20%, and it is constantly growing. Coffee and hot dogs are the best sellers. Coffee is supplied by Rombouts (Belgium) and prepared on Melitta coffee machines. Over the past two years, the company has doubled its sales of coffee. The exact number of cups sold is unknown but it easily exceeds 30 million per year. Compared to other players like Russia's Rosneft (2,962 sites) and Gazprom Neft (1,224 gas stations), which sold around 29 million cups each, the number is staggering.
In 2018, the company started offering packaged meals and installed heated windows with fast-food products. OKKO's restaurants have a '15-minute standard' – if a consumer does not get his dish after 15 minutes, they will get a free coffee. Moreover, the network is actively developing their delivery service, car wash area, dry cleaning and charging of electric vehicles – in 2019 it plans to install 300 EV charging stations. The plan follows a national trend with electric cars showing record growth. There are currently 9,525 electric cars and 8,285 hybrids registered. Finally, the network is actively undergoing the process of digitalization, as demonstrated by new mobile applications, digital signage solutions and others.
WOG – 500 sites. Considered a key player in the market. Traditionally, there has been a competition between the two "greens" in Ukraine, as the branded colors of OKKO and WOG are both green. The WOG network of filling stations is the largest under a single brand. They are actively developing convenience services, particularly the brands of WOG CAFE and WOG MARKET. Hot drinks and food are sold in 386 WOG CAFEs, of which 363 are located at petrol stations, another 16 in train stations and 7 have a city format. The WOG CAFE project has become the most successful in the company's history as they are now the largest coffee seller in Ukraine. From 2015 to 2017, WOG increased its sales hugely from 16 million cups to 26 million. The company uses Franke FoamMaster800 coffee machines. The coffee supplier is the German company J.J.Darboven. The success of Franke machines at WOG stations boosted the Swiss brand's business and now the vast majority of sites in Ukraine have their coffee machines. The company also focuses on the installation of electric charging stations.
UKRNAFTA – 537 sites. UKRNAFTA is the largest national petrol station network in Ukraine. It is undergoing a major rebranding programme and, on many occasions, acts as a game-changer in the industry. The network has traditionally competed in the lowcost segment, attracting customers with low fuel prices. By the end of 2019, however, the company plans to have 50 rebranded stations and compete head-to-head with premium brands. UKRNAFTA, while remaining a lowcost network, has started offering premium coffee and hot dogs, which, depending on the site, boosted non-fuel sales up by 15-20%. The new design has an unusual "industrial" style with the stations themselves painted black, a rare feature in the Ukrainian market. The company is actively testing new fast-food trends such as self-service hot dogs. With the retailer now refurbishing its sites, its activities will be closely monitored by medium and premium competitors.
AMIC – 231 sites. AMIC Energy is the operator of 231 petrol stations previously owned by Russian oil company Lukoil. After a difficult economic period, its sales stabilized in 2018. The company occupies the middle price segment and offers a standard set of services. In Ukraine, the rebranding of the network took place almost immediately, as many customers refused to refuel at Russian-branded stations due to the political tension between both countries that begun in 2014.
BRSM-Nafta – 144 sites. In the mid-price segment, the company is considered the leader in fuel, coffee and wine sales. The latter is not a traditional bestseller at convenience stores but it does create additional customer traffic. The company imports Italian wines (Viticcio and Cavalli Neri) directly allowing it to set competitive prices. The price for a bottle of Italian wine starts at 3 euros. In 2018, the company begun upgrading its network to compete with premium retailers. The strategy to improve and expand BRSM-Nafta's portfolio is to reinvest profit in the opening of new sites and the modernization of existing ones.
Glusco – 127 sites. A dynamic business owned by Proton Energy trader (in 2019 it will switch ownership to Wexler Global). The company owns the former Rosneft group of stations. In January 2019, Glusco announced that two of its sites in Kiev will be rebranded as AVIA. The Swiss OMC is represented by the Polish company UNIMOT in Ukraine. The deal has set a precedent for the return of Western brands to the Ukrainian market. If the launch of the AVIA brand is successful, it will entice other European brands to enter the market on a franchise basis, therefore increasing competition.
Shell – 134 sites. International oil major Shell upholds the standards of a premium network but spends little in marketing and advertising, which takes its toll on sales. According to Nielsen research, Shell is currently fourth placed in the fast-food segment despite being the first retailer to introduce hot dogs at gas stations 10 years ago. A number of specialists left the company after receiving offers from competitors. Today, Shell is being outrun by its competitors in pricing and range of related services and meals. A hot dog at Shell costs around €2 while UKRNAFTA offers the same product for just €1. During 2018, Shell focused on the refurbishment of its network, including the reconstruction of three filling stations, significantly upgrading five and repairing a number of other locations.
SOCAR – 59 sites. Azerbaijani operator SOCAR has built the most expensive gas station network, and repeatedly surprised the market with unique services. The company's premium status translates to high prices for fuel and related products. At the same time, SOCAR is not just a fueling company, it is a brand ambassador for the Republic of Azerbaijan in many European countries. SOCAR Energy has always focused on cities with over a million inhabitants, namely Kiev. The priority development areas for SOCAR in 2019 continue to be the expansion of services at stations and increasing the share of non-fuel products. The company plans to open up to eight new stations and install liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dispensers in all sites where the legislation allows it.
BVS – 75 sites. The BVS network (formerly 'Nadezhda') is one of the regional leaders in terms of development rates. The chain includes 75 stations, 52 stores and 15 cafes in the 'Drive 88' network. The company is a partner of the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and the International Finance Corporation. Backed by Western financing, from 2017 to 2018 the operator started rebranding its stations, improving the infrastructure of existing and newly acquired sites. Their non-fuel area has a premium offer comparable to that of WOG, OKKO and SOCAR.
KLO – 60 sites. Operator KLO has more than 60 petrol stations with its own restaurants, shops, cafes and car washes in the regions of Kiev, Zhytomyr and Chernihiv. The company develops its own brands, such as the shop 'Podorozhnik' and cafe 'Kawabar', and enters into partnerships with major global brands. On October 2018, the first McDonald's in the fuel retail segment opened at a KLO gas station. In addition, the company is known for its atypical marketing activities. Earlier this year, an area of 560m2 in one of its stations was used as a graffiti mural – the largest of any station in Europe, according to the company. KLO recently placed itself as third in the ranking of "the most delicious" gas stations carried out by Nielsen.
UPG – 60 sites. Today, the network of UPG has some 60 filling stations. Since 2013, the operator 'Ukrpaletsystems' has been actively building its own complexes along busy, main highways. The fuel company also specializes in supplying oil products from Belarus and is a partner of BNK (Belorussian Oil Company). VIVO-cafe is operating together with the petrol stations. Visitors of the cafe can buy a wide range of branded products such as burgers, sandwiches, burritos, snacks, cold and hot drinks.
Parallel – 44 sites. Parallel is a middle class player and one of the leading regional operators in Ukraine's oil wholesale and retail markets in Eastern Ukraine since 1995. Despite the fact the company lost a large number of its network in the Donbas region due to the war, the firm shows rapid growth investing in non-fuel sales and fuel supply business. The company offers a new generation of Eurofuel Perfekt 92, Perfekt 95 and Perfekt Diesel at its sites. The fuels were developed in cooperation with the German chemical company BASF.
Written by Volodymyr Dolnyk, from Ukranian industry publication and partner of PetrolPlaza, Nefterynok.
*This article was updated on 12.03.2019 to include Parallel.


FRIENDS and family took to social media yesterday to share their condolences for Gracemere teenager Revel Ezzy, who was tragically killed in a car accident in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Around 4.30am police were called to Emu Park Rd after reports that a car had rolled and travelled down a steep embankment, coming to rest on Christopher Chapel Rd.
The 19-year-old driver of the car was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Revel's Facebook page was flooded with messages of sadness and love yesterday.
Friends have described Revel as someone "who was always smiling", "a brilliant guy" and "a mate that will be missed".
Initial information suggests the driver of the vehicle, a Ford sedan, failed to negotiate a bend before rolling the car.
Just 24 hours after this tragic accident occurred, a 37-year-old man crashed his car on the same road.
The man was transported to Rockhampton Hospital yesterday at 7am with significant injuries and is in a serious but stable condition at Rockhampton Hospital.
30 fatalities in the Central Region since the start of the year.
The road toll figure has increased by 10 from last year's statistics.
There have been seven fatalities in total in the Capricornia district.


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The Sword Geek
It's all about the swords. Except when it isn't.
What does the 2nd Amendment Mean? Ask the people that wrote it…
Who would know better? OK, they're all dead so we cannot literally ask them- but we can read what they wrote on the subject, specifically in commentaries during the ratification period where they explained and argued for it. Let's have a look, shall we? This list is by no means exhaustive but it is representative of the opinions at the time:
Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of. Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. And it is not certain, that with this aid alone they would not be able to shake off their yokes. But were the people to possess the additional advantages of local governments chosen by themselves, who could collect the national will and direct the national force, and of officers appointed out of the militia, by these governments, and attached both to them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned in spite of the legions which surround it.�
—James Madison,The Federalist Papers, No. 46.
To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, countries or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.
—John Adams, A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States 475 (1787-1788)
Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive.�
—Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution (Philadelphia 1787).
Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man gainst his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American…[T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.��—Tenche Coxe, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788.
[W]hereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it. �—Richard Henry Lee, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788.
[C]onceived it to be the privilege of every citizen, and one of his most essential rights, to bear arms, and to resist every attack upon his liberty or property, by whomsoever made. The particular states, like private citizens, have a right to be armed, and to defend, by force of arms, their rights, when invaded. ���Roger Sherman, during House consideration of a militia bill (1790) 14 Debates in the House of Representatives, ed. Linda Grand De Pauw. (Balt., Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1972), 92-3.
[T]he people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them.
No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
—Thomas Jefferson: Draft Virginia Constitution, 1776.
�I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.� George Mason, co-author of the Second Amendment� Speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 14, 1778
�A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves� and include all men capable of bearing arms. . . To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms� The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle.� Richard Henry Lee�� Letters From the Federal Farmer to the Republican, Letter XVIII, January 25, 1788
�And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms…� � Samuel Adams, Debates of the Massachusetts Convention of February 6, 1788; Debates and Proceedings in the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1788 (Pierce & Hale, eds., Boston, 1850)
�It may be laid down, as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every citizen who enjoys the protection of a free government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency.� George Washington� Sentiments on a Peace Establishment in a letter to Alexander Hamilton, May 2, 1783; The Writings of George Washington [1938], edited by John C. Fitzpatrick, Vol. 26, p. 289
�Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?� Patrick Henry� Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Jonathan Elliot, ed. 1836, vol. 3, p.168
�� but if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in discipline and use of arms, who stand ready to defend their rights and those of their fellow-citizens. This appears to me the only substitute that can be devised for a standing army, and the best possible security against it, if it should exist.� � Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 29, Concerning the Militia, Independent Journal, January 9, 1788; The Federalist (The Gideon Edition), (1818), Edited with an Introduction, Reader�s Guide, Constitutional Cross-reference, Index, and Glossary by George W. Carey and James McClellan (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2001)
�Another source of power in government is a military force. But this, to be efficient, must be superior to any force that exists among the people, or which they can command: for otherwise this force would be annihilated, on the first exercise of acts of oppression. Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive. In spite of all the nominal powers, vested in Congress by the constitution, were the system once adopted in its fullest latitude, still the actual exercise of them would be frequently interrupted by popular jealousy. I am bold to say, that ten just and constitutional measures would be resisted, where one unjust or oppressive law would be enforced. The powers vested in Congress are little more than nominal; nay real power cannot be vested in them, nor in any body, but in the people. The source of power is in the people of this country, and cannot for ages, and probably never will, be removed.� � Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, Philadelphia, October 10, 1787; Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, Published during Its Discussion by the People, 1787�1788, Paul Leicester Ford, editor; Brooklyn, 1888. Reprint, New York: De Capo Press, 1968
Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American � the unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.� � Tenche Coxe, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788
�Whereas civil-rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as military forces, which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms.�� Tench Cotxe, writing as A Pennsylvanian, in Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution; Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789, p. 2 col. 1
�The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them.� Zachariah Johnson� Speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 25, 1788; Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Jonathan Elliot, editor, vol. 3, p. 646 (Philadelphia, 1836)
From these writings it is�plain that the framers of the Constitution intended the ownership of arms to be an individual right, and that by 'militia' they were referring to the people as a whole and as individuals. The current claims that this is not the case are clearly misunderstandings of this intent and self-serving lies at worst.
Note that the words "Well regulated" appear in the text of the 2nd Amendment, and in Heller Vs. DC the Supreme Court stated that this right was 'subject to regulation in the interests of the public good.'
December 5, 2015 - Posted by Michael Tinker Pearce | Podcast
Hello. my name is Michael Tinker Pearce and I am the Swordgeek. I have lived an unquiet life prior to settling down to a life as a sword-maker in the early 1990's. I started studying swords in the late 1970's and may have learned a thing or two over the years and even developed the odd opinion here and there… Overcoming my oft-commented-on 'shy-school-boy-reticence' I have launched this podcast to share that knowledge and those opinions with you. I hope that you will find 'The Sword Geek' both informative and entertaining. You can see my work atTinkerswords.com or if you are not into swords I have Tinkerpearcetactical.com. You can also find these pages on Facebook as well.
Unfortunately due to Russian Bots spamming me to death I've had to disallow comments. Follow me and comment on Facebook and twitter!
Email your questions to:
tinkperpearce@hotmail.com
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Medieval Swords in the Modern World by Michael Tinker Pearce
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Future opera stars get their start on our stages.
School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts
About the Conservatory
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The Brooklyn College Brass Ensemble, directed by Brian Olson, provides experience for both small and large chamber groups in the study and performance of traditional and contemporary music for brass instruments. Emphasis is on developing basic performance musicianship through systematic work on intonation, phrasing, balance and interpretation; and the study of brass instrument history, technique, repertoire and pedagogy. The Brass Ensemble has toured England, Germany, and Switzerland. Special residencies and joint performances with students and faculty of the Royal Academy of Music (London) and Karlsruhe Musikhochschule (Germany) provided unique opportunities for cultural and musical exchange. The Ensemble was the only student group invited to perform at the International Brass Symposium in Basel, Switzerland, and was featured at the New York Brass Conference as well as the International Trumpet Guild Conference. This active group has also performed at the Metropolitan Opera House, the Albany Center for the Performing Arts, Summer Concert Series at Bryant Park and Battery Park, Columbia University, C.W. Post College, Kingsborough Community College and many high schools throughout the New York City metropolitan area. The ensemble was featured on the Telly Award–winning TV documentary, Fanfare. Guests of the ensemble have included Benny Sluchin, Crispian Steele-Perkins, Walmir Vieira, Ole Edvard Andersen, and many others of international repute.
conTEMPO Ensemble
conTEMPO Contemporary Music Ensemble
Under the direction of Distinguished Professor Ursula Oppens and Professor Marianne Gythfeldt, conTEMPO is the Conservatory's contemporary music ensemble. Through performing a diverse repertory of solo, chamber, and orchestral works, students become familiar with the language and performance practices of a wide range of contemporary music. In addition to coaching in standard 20th- and 21th-century repertory, Professors Oppens and Gythfeldt focus on new music, introducing the ensemble to the richly diverse idioms of living composers. conTEMPO has premiered many works, including compositions by Conservatory students.
Under the direction of Frank Cassara, the Brooklyn College Percussion Ensemble has gained an international reputation through its many performances around the world. The ensemble has performed in Korea, Romania, Spain, and Turkey, and participates in an annual percussion festival in Ireland. The ensemble plays the most challenging and ambitious works available for percussion and has premiered many works, including several commissions by such composers as Marta Ptasynzka, David Friedman, Jose Halac, and Bernard Hoffer. Guest soloists have included the American Saxophone Quartet, David Freidman, Ray Marchica, Glen Velez, and Salim Washington.
Conservatory Orchestra
Under the direction of conductor George Rothman, the Conservatory Orchestra presents several concerts each semester—richly varied programs of repertory from the Baroque to New Music, including concertos featuring the winner of the conservatory's annual concerto competition. The ensemble also collaborates with the choruses in performance of large-scale choral works and in fully staged productions by the Brooklyn College Opera Theatre. The orchestra participates in the conservatory's Composer-in-Residence program, through which selected student composers create new works presented in public readings and workshop performances.
Opera Theatre
Each year, the Brooklyn College Opera Theatre, under the direction of Isabel Milenski, presents at least one fully-staged opera. Past productions includes Mozart's Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Der Zauberflöte, and The Abduction from the Seraglio; Puccini's La bohème and Madama Butterfly; Verdi's La Traviata; Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress; Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos; Carlisle Floyd's Susanna; the American fully-staged premiere of Milhaud's Christophe Colomb; and a Telly Award–winning taped-for-TV production of Copland's The Tender Land. Their most recent seasons have presented the New York premiere of Ana Sokolović's Svadba--a 60-minute a cappella opera for six female voices--in a stunning avant-garde production at ShapeShifter Lab, the cutting-edge Gowanus performance space, and a resourceful and vibrantly semi-staged version of Mozart's Lucio Silla, an opera seria gem that forecasts the brilliance of the composer's mature works. These presentations are augmented throughout the year by performances of chamber operas, providing students with extensive experience of repertory of diverse periods and styles.
Symphonic Choir and Conservatory Singers
The Brooklyn College Symphonic Choir is a 65-voice mixed choral ensemble that includes students and staff from throughout the Brooklyn College community. Conducted by Malcolm J. Merriweather, the choir performs a variety of literature representing every musical period and genre in its two major campus concerts per year. Past performances have included Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and Wolfgang A. Mozart's Requiem in collaborations with the Conservatory Orchestra and other Brooklyn area schools.
Conservatory Singers, under the direction of Malcolm J. Merriweather, is a chamber choir composed of anywhere from 12 to 24 singers. Repertoire includes sacred and secular works from all centuries, appropriate for smaller vocal ensembles with an emphasis on works of contemporary composers. Enrollment is by audition with the conductor.
Big Band and Jazz Ensemble
The Brooklyn College Big Band is directed by pianist/composer D.D. Jackson, while the Conservatory Jazz Ensemble, a smaller group, is run by tenor saxophonist Daniel Blake. Much of the ensemble repertoire is shaped by the master's degree program in Global and Contmporary Jazz Studies; students in both ensembles, thus, study the standard jazz repertory of such seminal figures as Mingus, Coltrane, Ellington, and Monk while also presenting their own original compositions and works by global jazz pioneers, among them Latin greats and international artists from more far-flung cultures less often associated with the art form. The Big Band plays dynamic programs, often including an eclectic mix of styles and compositions and featuring illustrious guest artists of diverse backgrounds such as multi-reed player Anat Cohen, alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, and trumpet virtuoso Etienne Charles. Most recently, the Big Band gave the Brooklyn premiere of Arturo O'Farrill's remarkable The Cornel West Concerto featuring the oration of the noted cultural critic and social activist, himself. The Jazz Ensemble emphasizes the skills necessary to the contemporary jazz musician, including technique, theory, oral instruction, philosophy of improvisation, and memorization.
The Brooklyn College Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Marianne Gythfeldt, performs works from a wide assortment of styles and genres. Repertoire consists of compositions written for contemporary concert band as well as orchestral transcriptions, Broadway compilations, and other popular music adapted for concert band. The ensemble normally performs several concerts a year and is open to all CUNY students. Besides being the studio ensemble for wind players, this ensemble provides solid training for band instrumentalists and music educators.
The Brooklyn College Guitar Ensemble, directed by Lars Frandsen, performs a diverse repertory of contemporary works and transcriptions and/or arrangements from works spanning all periods of music. In addition to performing on standard range instruments, the ensemble's repertory is expanded through the ownership of a quartet of specially commissioned guitars with extended note compass, enabling the ensemble to perform repertoire that would otherwise be all but impossible. Several concerts have included the participation of select students from nearby James Madison High School, as well as other students, enabling the ensemble to perform repertory that calls for a significantly expanded ensemble. Each semester, the ensemble works with a composer-in-residence selected from the college's composition students. The Guitar Ensemble has premiered more than 15 new works since forming in 1997. The ensemble performs at many outside venues, including, most recently, at Yale University and the American Institute of Guitar.


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Michael Kors Very Hollywood ~ perfume review
Posted by Robin on 3 September 2009 72 Comments
Very Hollywood is the latest perfume for women from Michael Kors. It's meant to evoke the idea of Hollywood glamour: the bottle (see detail below) recalls the flashbulbs on old-style cameras, and the ad spot features "stars" surrounded by paparazzi on the red carpet. Kors called it the "most glamorous, indulgent scent we've ever done".1
Remember Michael by Michael Kors? It came out in 2000, very nearly eons ago in perfume-land, and for awhile it seemed like women everywhere were wearing it. I still smell it on the street occasionally, and I think it's pretty, although as I said when I reviewed it, I prefer to smell it from afar and not on my own person. Anyway, they've updated it several times: there was Michael Sheer, and then Very Michael Kors, and then Michael Kors Very Pretty. I bring this up only because after smelling Very Hollywood, I'm tempted to think the brief called for "a version of Michael that young girls would wear in 2009", since Michael is, after all, not really the sort of perfume young girls go for these days.
Very Hollywood was developed by perfumers Laurent Le Guernec (who created the original Michael) and Pascal Gaurin, and it's considerably more au courant. The opening is bright, fruity, sparkly and pink: if I were writing the ad copy, I'd call it "watery pink champagne accord garnished with berries" (the notes: mandarin, iced bergamot, wet jasmine, ylang-ylang, raspberry, gardenia, orris, creamy amber, soft white moss and vetiver). After that it's watery florals. There's some strong gardenia for a time, but the heart is mostly pale and nondescript, as is the current fashion: it's nothing like the romantic, heavily floral Michael at all.
I like the far dry down. It's relatively earthy and relatively dry. You will pick up flashes of things vaguely like the listed notes— iris, vetiver, moss. If it were just a bit less pale and a bit less pink, it might qualify as sexy or interesting, but it is pale, and it is pink, and in the end it's still too clean to qualify as sexy.
Say what you will about Michael — Tania Sanchez called it "evil tuberose" and "a hair-singeing horror" in Perfumes: The Guide — but it was a distinctive, memorable scent. Very Hollywood is less so. Kors himself likens Michael to a "the little black dress" and Very Hollywood to "the gold dress",2 but to my nose, Very Hollywood is the more casual, easy-to-wear (and younger) of the two, and it's far less memorable — I predict I will not recognize it if I smell it three weeks from now: there are just too many fruity pinkish vaguely floral scents with pale-ish musky bases out there already. Very Hollywood is well done, and arguably more sophisticated than some other such efforts, but that doesn't seem quite enough. I was interested to read that prestige fragrance launches for women are down some 30% this year — gosh, it sure doesn't seem like it, does it? Maybe the explosion in niche is making up for the loss? Anyway, if it's true, then all I can say is that a 30% drop is not enough: there's still too much new product, and too much of it smells like it's trying to appeal to the same customer.
Michael Kors Very Hollywood is available in 30 ($45), 50 ($65) and 100 ($85) ml Eau de Parfum and 30 ml Parfum ($300). There's also a solid perfume ring ($40) and a scented ink pen ($25), as well as a matching body lotion.
1. via Women's Wear Daily, 4/24/2009.
Michael Kors Starlight Shimmer ~ new fragrance
Michael Kors Wonderlust Sublime ~ new fragrance
Michael Kors Extreme Rush ~ new fragrance
Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: laurent leguernec, michael kors, pascal gaurin, scented jewelry, solid
violetnoir says:
Yep, you got it, babe–too much new product, attempting to capture that same tired 18 to 34 demographic.
I don't think I will be testing Very Hollywood…
R, it is really not a bad scent as these things go, but boy, we really do need less product aimed at the same market.
Perhaps it was "watery" on purpose so they can amp it up for a "Very Intense Michael" in the not too distant future. The possibilities are endless. I'm so bored with watery florals! I love florals that strut around in heels and brazen lipstick, not giggle coyly behind their hand. Off to reassure myself with a dab of Fracas.
You know, it's watery, but the opening florals are strong: I'd predict the opposite, that they'd do a summer or light version. Young women these days do not like full bodied florals, and so cannot see them amping it up.
Fracas would be a much better option with a gold dress though!
monstabunny says:
An ink pen? is this something new I don't know about it? I mean people aren't doing a lot of longhand these days. Mostly they're tapping away on keyboards and phones. Maybe it's something special for the dog to chew on.
boojum says:
I'm having flashbacks to Hello Kitty stationery, scratch-n-sniff stickers, scented crayons….
You know, that was my first, very snarky reaction and I thought of making a snide comment ("you know the quality of anything that comes with a scented pen…"). But then I thought: Well, that could actually be a bit elegant and Old World, you know? If Serge Lutens did it we might be running out to get one.
LOL…but the funny thing is, I didn't exactly *mean* it in a snarky way. I loved all those things when I was a kid, I thought they were fun.
mals86 says:
Thanks for the review, Robin. (Boy, you've been busy today – lots of new stuff on here!) I think the bottle is kind of cute, but as I expected, there's nothing either in your review or that list of notes that really grabs me. And Monsta's right – a scented ink pen??!
I must in the interest of full disclosure admit that I (shhh!) sort of liked Michael, which I bought a mini of early in my sniffage before discovering the classics. It was only after I smelled Fracas, AG Gardenia Passion, and DSH Tubereuse that Michael began to smell bad to me: empty and chemical, the Tuberose Terminator. Gah. (Now where can I ditch this d**n bottle of Michael??)
Hey, I was just dreaming about a pen with ink scented like Donna Karan Black Cashmere — wouldn't that be cool? You could always sign checks with it
But keep the Michael, for old time's sake, why not? I can't tell you how many times I've smelled it on someone else & thought they smelled great.
Tama says:
The romantic in me likes the scented pens – who knows when you might want to write a real love letter?
miss kitty v. says:
Michael Kors Very Pretty sounds like a grammatically awkward attempt at complimenting himself.
I should keep my snark down. I really do love him on Project Runway. My favorite thing was when he checked his notes for what he thought of one person's designs, and he said, "I said it was farty!" Love him, not on board with his frags. (Oh, but interestingly enough for a tuberose hater such as myself, I really didn't mind Michael. On someone else.)
I really ought to watch PR, but I don't, so I don't know much about MK at all….glad to hear he's fun, at least!
I think it was really called Very Pretty Michael Kors, not MKVP as I said above, not that that's any better (?) And this one is officially Very Hollywood Michael Kors.
Very Pretty Michael Kors is even funnier.
Especially because he is Not Very Pretty. That would be Very Schlubby Michael.
Really? You know, I don't even know what he looks like. Will have to Google.
Oh, poor Michael! Schlubby. He does sort of have a Will Ferrel quality about him.
Ojeda says:
I tried this a few days ago and it was stronger and less sugary than I expected; also that musk drydown had some volume on it. But it was still… really pink, and not in a good way.
I was one of those girls who wore original Michael A LOT (god I must have reeked) a few years back, and while I'd never wear it now I still think it's the best of the line. Michael smells like Michael. Every succeeding Michael Kors fragrance, on the other hand, smells like everything else.
gvillecreative says:
I too was one of those girls and agree totally in everything you said: the first was the best, and this flanker just seems too pink. And like Robin said, I don't think I would recognize it if I smelled it in a week.
Robin R. says:
Ditto. Big tester bottle at Holt Renfrew here in Vancouver. Glam bottle. Big display. I'm still too naive to keep my expectations realistic, so I was disappointed. Yep: pink, light, safe, forgettable. Sigh.
The shock was the scrum of young girls surrounding the Marc Jacobs Lola display right beside the Very Hollywood. That stuff is HOT, boy. And I'm just as indifferent to it as the new MK. I'm really seeing that once a woman gets bitten by the niche bug, it's game over for 90% of mainstream releases
Lola is all about the bottle – and the Marc Jacobs cachet. The juice is mondo meh.
I really do think Lola is a perfect fit with its intended audience — and way fun bottle, whereas this one doesn't strike me as nearly so much fun. Plus, this bottle skews a little older, don't you think? So assuming it's geared more towards 20-somethings than teens, or however that all shakes out.
I dig ya, Robin. Lola just nails it, and Very Hollywood misses the mark. (I must say that even I, in my frumpy oldster-ness, was quite smitten with the Lola bottle and joined the admiring scrum of young twenty-somethings around it. Old enough to be their mother, but what the dilly.
> I'm really seeing that once a woman gets bitten by the niche bug, it's game over for 90% of mainstream releases
Tru dat! Though to be honest I think my niche habit means I just fall for a higher class of marketing B.S. But I don't hate it, it's been fun!
Ojeda, I'd agree it's the best of the line…or at least, of what I've smelled. I never got to smell Kors, and I don't think I ever smelled Michael Sheer either.
Lil says:
The Michael Kors boutique at my local mall used to aggressively pump Michael into the air just outside the doorway. They stopped, presumably because it kept people from going inside.
pyramus says:
It would probably have kept me from the mall altogether. "Evil tuberose" is exactly right for Michael (and also Versace Blonde, which seemed to have been created in an attempt to out-tuberose the overwhelming Carolina Herrera, with Michael subsequently launched in an attempt to show the both of them who's boss in the tuberose department). I know some people love it but it always made me recoil in horror.
It really bugs me when it's on skin, but somehow I love it from 3 feet away!
Whew, that would keep me out of the store.
LOL, that's what got me to try Michael in the first place. I was walking through one of those vast Hong Kong supermalls a few years back, some peppy perfume girl was enthusiastically spraying it around and it got me to stop, smell, and buy on the spot!
There you go…it works!
I am genuinely baffled by the corporate decision to market an ounce of perfume but not a quarter-ounce, particularly if the scent skews as young as you say. Are teenagers taking up the elegant ritual of dabbing themselves with perfume rather than applying a couple of quick spritzes of EDP before they dash out the door? I don't see it. You could sell perfume as a slightly more grown-up thing, but not a whole ounce, not at that price.
Well, maybe their market research tells them different. I dunno.
It does seem odd, and the price is awfully high for what this scent is — you can buy a perfume masterpiece for $300. Doubt they're going to distribute it widely though.
I'm happy to read a review of something that I *don't* want to try (I've really gone over-budget on fragrance lately). In defense of Michael, though, I will say that my sister wears it sometimes and I always think she smells great! But when I spray it on myself, I feel like I'm choking in it.
Yeah, it's too much for me too, but I like it on others.
4 September 2009 at 8:28 am
I found it to be one of those "spray and walk through" scents – sprayed directly on skin, it's very chemical.
(How can that matter?? Is it just my perception with the sprayed vs dabbed thing? I always hear lots of stories about how something or other is too quiet dabbed, or too blaring sprayed… and I notice that my own dear darling L'arte di Gucci is lovely dabbed, but contains a plasticky note when sprayed. It shouldn't matter, but somehow it *does.*)
I agree wholeheartedly, it really does matter.
Existentialist says:
I think it must have something to do with aerating the fragrance. I am no chemist, but perhaps the greater exposure to the air as it is sprayed rather than dabbed from a sample tube allows more, or different, chemicals to be smelled? I wish someone like Luca Turin, with a scientific background, would weigh in on this. Or someone who knows why red wine is better decanted, or poured through what I call my "wine spider". I've found that those nice little 1ml samples don't always give me a true scent picture. They're kind of like looking at the index print one gets from a photo lab.
Could be aerating it, could be just the greater quantity you get on your skin with a spray, I don't know. But I'd like to know too.
JeninDC says:
I tried the original Michael years ago and could barely stand it. However, I have recently been sampling it agan and am really enjoying. It seems to be a tuberose that works for me and my boyfriend really, really likes it. That being said, I'll sniff this new one but the bottle is so ghastly looking, I think I'll be biased from the onset.
Might as well give it a shot! I like the original Michael bottle much better though.
Pipeo says:
I adore the original Michael, but this really doesn't sound like it's worth sniffing out from your description.
I can't help but think I must have a faulty nose, every single perfume I love is rubbished in The Guide.
Hey, might as well give it a try! And having different tastes doesn't mean you've got a faulty nose
alotofscents says:
I wear Micheal. I bought a whole bottle just on the description. At first I thought it was very cloying and not enough Moroccan incense in it as it claimed. So I tried experimenting with different samples to layer with it. Then I bought a bunch of Demeter scents, one being Cinnamon Toast, which really brought out the incense. Remember Robin? I even succeeded in rubbing pure cinnamon on my skin and combining it and you chastised me for rubbing it on cause it could cause a skin condition. I was so determined to make it work! Then I found the perfume version and the spicy incense really stands out more and is definitely more lovely.
I do like his Hawaii scent and Bermuda sounds interesting…lots of white notes.
Micheal just works on me-once you get past the heady top notes. My sister hated it when I sprayed it on her, but then complimented me on my fragrance a few days later. She couldn't believe it was the same one she hated.
Maybe it's an altruistic perfume that you only wear for others!
No, I'd forgotten but now I remember! I do need to try the parfum one of these days….with some Cinnamon Toast
I've gotta hand it to you for giving it your best and writing a full-length review for launches like this. Much of the product really does beg for four- to five-sentence LT/TS witty zingers, doesn't it? I mean, not that every review has to be snarky, but I appreciate that you really try to find something there in those vats of pink. And I won't be totally dismissive … as you and others always point out, some fairly boring stuff can be perfectly *nice* to wear. And I'm sure this will find its audience. The bottles are somewhat cool if nothing else.
You know, I adore reading those witty zingers (and can read them over & over), but hope I can describe something well enough here that someone who might like it would be able to tell from the review. Just a different approach.
That's why NST is my primary go-to for straight-up, no-frills, consistently reliable reviews when I'm really needing to know if a particular scent might be worth pursuing. Not that I don't adore the subjective, witty-snarky, vastly entertaining reviews elsewhere, but those serve an entirely different purpose: more entertainment value, less But-will-I-actually-LIKE it value.
I agree Joe. It's easy to be critical – anyone can do that. NST reviews always allow space for people who might like the fragrance and that's why it has such a following.
It's very annoying to have something that gives you pleasure dismissed out of hand. SJP's Lovely is my favourite 'nice' fragrance.
Joe, Robin & Annemarie: ya'll are being very sweet
vickyjane says:
In the "red carpet" photo, it looks like the perfume bottle is attached to the woman's wrist by a red leash, kind of like a levitating puppy…
That's funny!
I didn't notice that, but you're right!
megank4 says:
I absolutely loved Michael. Let's see, I was about 22 at the time. Then I moved, the bottle wasn't wrapped very well and it broke, and everything reeked of it, so it rather turned me off the scent.
Oh, that is not a good perfume to douse your stuff with!
lightgreen22 says:
Its an ok frag, i liked the gardinia but not much more, and why all the berries it just didn't work it was very very screechy and ill put together
Berries are popular, but screechy rarely is!
lydiadrama says:
The flacon is fun but the scent is yet more girly-fruit-fade-to-Glade.
Ack! You hated it more than I did
laken says:
fade to glade! I like that. I've noticed some like that.
RusticDove says:
I've never been a fan of any of the Kors fragrances, but I have a few items of clothing by him and a couple of the tops are 'go to' favorites for me.
I see his clothes at Lord & Taylor, I think? But can't remember the style.
Classic, stylish, understated. Nothing wild or over the top.
Celestia says:
Back in the day when I used to go to Paris every two years, I met a woman named Gigi. She was just a few years older and she showed me around Paris at night. Being alone there, it was the only chance I got. She always smelled wonderful so I asked her what she was wearing. This was before my hardcore perfumista days but I did know something at that point. She took the giant bottle out of her purse…Carolina Herrera! I had never liked it but on her it smelled great. Sadly, by my next trip, she had passed away!
Michael was definitely not for me because of the heavy tuberose and gardenia that reminded me of the eighties. His island scents are better as long as there's no coconut, tiare, plumeria and frangipani.
Today I had the chance to try Very Hollywood. It did remind me of a very light version of Michael but it's okay and wearable. The bottle, to my eye, is very pretty. His first bottle was a genius attempt at minimalism.
I also sampled Lola which I think has a very tacky bottle but was pleasantly surprised that the fragrance recalled old Paris to me. A Scent by Issey Miyake was close by so I tried it too. It was a bit disappointing. I guess I was expecting something iconic like his original.
Nice Paris story, thanks!
And shame about the Issey Miyake…I was really looking forward to that.
HDS1963 says:
It's about time they launched something new for men, I regularly wear Michael for men, which I really love (and so does my gf), so I was wondering if you knew of anything in the pipeline?
It does seem about time. No, don't know of anything, but I often don't so that doesn't mean anything.
Butterscotch says:
I kind of like it but with michael kor in all his parfum it is always frickin gardinia i like the flower but yeah!
Owen says:
I think it sounds better without the "very", just "Hollywood" is fine.
and if they put eau de parfum into the edt bottles then I'd run out and buy it.
ashley718 says:
I LOVE this scent for summer. It's amazing I just bought it today at Sephora!! It is amazing.


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by Tracy McCubbin
648.5 /McCubbin
Many have repeatedly tried to break their clutter's mysterious hold, only to fail. McCubbin explains what she calls the "7 Emotional Clutter Blocks," unconscious obstacles that stand between you and financial freedom, healthy relationships, and positive outlooks. She then offers a realistic approach to managing your belongings, and helps you create an individual strategy that helps you attain your life goals. -- adapted from back cover
At first I thought this book was too many photos and not enough pictures. Then I dove into it a bit more and came to appreciate the lists and checklists. Chapter 10 - Downsizing: the purge of a lifetime - is something I wish I would have seen before our move started. -Kara
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A masterclass and look book in one, The Home Edit is filled with bright photographs and detailed tips, from placing plastic dishware in a drawer where little hands can reach to categorizing pantry items by color (there's nothing like a little ROYGBIV to soothe the soul). Above all, it's like having your best friends at your side to help you turn the chaos into calm.
This book is full of great pictures and ideas that provide inspiration for getting your home organized and keeping it that way. I especially liked the ideas share through photographs. -Kara
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by Debbie (Writer on sewing) Shore
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"Jam-packed with friendly advice and helpful tips, Debbie walks you through every aspect of machine sewing, including deciding which machine to buy, inserting a zip, making bias binding and free-motion embroidery. She guides you through the wonderful array of fabrics, threads, wadding and interfacing available and builds your confidence and skills as you progress through the book with ten gorgeous step-by-step projects. You will turn to this book again and again!"--Page [4] of cover.
I'm excited about creating a new space for sewing. This book has a lot of great ideas. -Kara
Love & lemons every day : more than 100 bright, plant-forward recipes for every meal
by Jeanine Donofrio
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Known for her insanely flavorful vegetable recipes and stunning photography, Jeanine Donofrio celebrates plants at the center of the plate with more than 100 new vegetarian recipes in Love & Lemons Every Day. In this book, Jeanine shows you how to make any meal, from breakfast to dessert, where produce is the star. Butternut squash becomes the best creamy queso you've ever eaten, broccoli transforms into a zesty green "rice" burrito filling, and sweet potato blends into a smooth chocolate frosting. These exciting and approachable recipes will become instant additions to your family's regular meal rotation. This book is a resource, filled with smart tips for happier, healthier eating. You'll find inspiration from Jeanine's signature colorful infographics - such as a giant matrix of five-ingredient salad dressings, a guide to quick weeknight pastas, and a grid to show you how to roast any vegetable. There are also plenty of practical charts, such as a template to make versatile vegetable broth, seasonal produce guides, and clever ideas to use commonly tossed vegetable parts -- you'll never toss those cauliflower cores, corn cobs, or broccoli stalks again! Packed with imaginative every day meals, go-to cooking tips, alternatives for dietary restrictions, and guides for mastering produce-based kitchen staples, Love & Lemons Every Day is a must-have for herbivores and omnivores alike.
I know this isn't a home book ... but I keep picking it up and browsing through it. The photos are great, I dream about the recipes, and love the formatting and all the helpful ideas. -Kara
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I enjoyed this book because of the beautiful photographs and the great ideas it gave me. -Kara
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643.6 /Vandome
"Smart Homes in easy steps takes the mystery out of all of the elements that are required to set up a smart home: it defines a smart home and shows what is needed to make a home smart: digital voice assistants, devices and apps."--
I'm hoping to make my home smart ... but not so smart that I get frustrated with the technology. This books seems like it can help. -Kara
by Kamala D. Harris
BIOGRAPHY Harris, Kamala D.
"From one of America's most inspiring political leaders, a book about the core truths that unite us, and the long struggle to discern what those truths are and how best to act upon them, in her own life and across the life of our country. Senator Kamala Harris's commitment to speaking truth is informed by her upbringing. The daughter of immigrants, she was raised in an Oakland, California community that cared deeply about social justice; her parents--an esteemed economist from Jamaica and an admired cancer researcher from India--met as activists in the civil rights movement when they were graduate students at Berkeley. Growing up, Harris herself never hid her passion for justice, and when she became a prosecutor out of law school, a deputy district attorney, she quickly established herself as one of the most innovative change agents in American law enforcement. She progressed rapidly to become the elected District Attorney for San Francisco, and then the chief law enforcement officer of the state of California as a whole. Known for bringing a voice to the voiceless, she took on the big banks during the foreclosure crisis, winning a historic settlement for California's working families. Her hallmarks were applying a holistic, data-driven approach to many of California's thorniest issues, always eschewing stale "tough on crime" rhetoric as presenting a series of false choices. Neither "tough" nor "soft" but smart on crime became her mantra. Being smart means learning the truths that can make us better as a community, and supporting those truths with all our might. That has been the pole star that guided Harris to a transformational career as the top law enforcement official in California, and it is guiding her now as a transformational United States Senator, grappling with an array of complex issues that affect her state, our country, and the world, from health care and the new economy to immigration, national security, the opioid crisis, and accelerating inequality. By reckoning with the big challenges we face together, drawing on the hard-won wisdom and insight from her own career and the work of those who have most inspired her, Kamala Harris offers in [this book] a master class in problem solving, in crisis management, and leadership in challenging times. Through the arc of her own life, on into the great work of our day, she communicates a vision of shared struggle, shared purpose, and shared values. In a book rich in many home truths, not least is that a relatively small number of people work very hard to convince a great many of us that we have less in common than we actually do, but it falls to us to look past them and get on with the good work of living our common truth. When we do, our shared effort will continue to sustain us and this great nation, now and in the years to come."--Dust jacket.
I don't know what I think about the next presidential election. What I do know is this was a great book and I enjoyed learning more about someone who has been a leader in problem solving and advocacy for people who need help. -Kara
The trial of Lizzie Borden : a true story
by Cara Robertson
364.1523 /Robertson
"The remarkable new account of an essential piece of American mythology--the trial of Lizzie Borden--based on twenty years of research and recently unearthed evidence. The Trial of Lizzie Borden tells the true story of one of the most sensational murder trials in American history. When Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally hacked to death in Fall River, Massachusetts, in August 1892, the arrest of the couple's younger daughter Lizzie turned the case into international news and her trial into a spectacle unparalleled in American history. Reporters flocked to the scene. Well-known columnists took up conspicuous seats in the courtroom. The defendant was relentlessly scrutinized for signs of guilt or innocence. Everyone--rich and poor, suffragists and social conservatives, legal scholars and laypeople--had an opinion about Lizzie Borden's guilt or innocence. Was she a cold-blooded murderess or an unjustly persecuted lady? Did she or didn't she? The popular fascination with the Borden murders and its central enigmatic character has endured for more than one hundred years. Immortalized in rhyme, told and retold in every conceivable genre, the murders have secured a place in the American pantheon of mythic horror, but one typically wrenched from its historical moment. In contrast, Cara Robertson explores the stories Lizzie Borden's culture wanted and expected to hear and how those stories influenced the debate inside and outside of the courtroom. Based on transcripts of the Borden legal proceedings, contemporary newspaper accounts, unpublished local accounts, and recently unearthed letters from Lizzie herself, The Trial of Lizzie Borden offers a window onto America in the Gilded Age, showcasing its most deeply held convictions and its most troubling social anxieties"--
When I put this on hold, I thought it was Biographical Fiction. I soon realized it is Nonfiction. By then I was hooked. It's a great story that's well researched and compelling. -Kara
The Chelsea girls : a novel
FICTION Davis Fiona
From the dramatic redbrick facade to the sweeping staircase dripping with art, the Chelsea Hotel has long been New York City's creative oasis for the many artists, writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and poets who have called it home-a scene playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead are determined to use to their advantage. Yet they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to putting up a show on Broadway has nothing to do with their art, and everything to do with politics. A Red scare is sweeping across America, and Senator Joseph McCarthy has started a witch hunt for Communists, with those in the entertainment industry in the crosshairs. As the pressure builds to name names, it is more than Hazel and Maxine's Broadway dreams that may suffer as they grapple with the terrible consequences, but also their livelihood, their friendship, and even their freedom.
1950's New York comes alive at the Chelsea Hotel when two friends, playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead, try to put on a show on Broadway. They learn their skills and determination are challenged by Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare witch hunt for communists. A great book! -Kara
Olive, again
by Elizabeth Strout
ON ORDER BOOK
"Funny, wicked and remorseful, Mrs. Kitteridge is a compelling life force, a red blooded original. When she's not onstage, we look forward to her return..."* And now, indeed, Olive Kitteridge has returned, as indomitable as ever. "It turns out--I just wasn't done with Olive," said Strout. "It was like she kept poking me in the ribs, so I finally said 'Okay, okay...'" Now Olive returns, this time as a person getting older, navigating her next decade as she comes to terms with the changes--sometimes welcome, sometimes not--in her own life. Here is Olive, strangely content in her second marriage, still in an evolving relationship with her son and his family, encountering a cast of memorable characters in the seaside town of Crosby, Maine. Whether it's a young girl coming to terms with the loss of her father, a young woman about to give birth at a baby shower, or a nurse who confesses a secret high school crush, the irascible Olive improbably touches the lives of others. Elizabeth Strout has achieved greatness by brilliantly laying bare the inner lives of ordinary people, by focusing on the small moments of connection which can dislodge lifelong grief and longing, and unite her characters through moments of transcendent grace. Olive, Again is another lasting work of fiction by this remarkable writer, and a cause for celebration among readers everywhere.
Olive is back and I was fortunate enough to have an advance reader copy. Elizabeth Strout is a master storyteller and I enjoyed spending more time with Olive Kitteridge. -Kara
Romancing Mister Bridgerton
by Julia Quinn
FICTION Quinn, Julia
I really enjoy Julia Quinn books. They are well-written, feature good character development and are just what I need when I have insomnia. The characters all run together for me but I don't care. Quinn's books are entertaining and fun. -Kara
Becoming Mrs. Lewis : a novel : the improbable love story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis
by Patti Callahan Henry
FICTION Henry Patti
"The love story of C.S. Lewis and his wife, Helen Joy Davidman Gresham, was improbable--and seemingly impossible. Their Eros-story led to some of Lewis's greatest works, yet Joy is most commonly known for how she died. Becoming Mrs. Lewis allows us to see how this brilliant and passionate woman lived--and why she stole Jack's heart"--
I love books by C.S. Lewis. This book brought back some nostalgia from my childhood and helped me learn more about someone I admire. -Kara
The lost girls of Paris
by Pam Jenoff
FICTION ON DISC Jenoff, Pam
Inspired by true events, this novel tells a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female secret agents during World War II.
This is a wonderful book for summer listening based on true events. Eleanor Trigg recruits, trains and deploys a group of female secret agents during WWII to help with the French Resistance. The story is engaging, the plot moves quickly and there's excellent character development. Plus the narration is very good. It reminded me of The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. -Kara
The American agent : a Maisie Dobbs novel
by Jacqueline Winspear
FICTION ON DISC Winspear, Jacqueline
When Catherine Saxon, an American correspondent reporting on the war in Europe, is found murdered in her London digs, news of her death is concealed by British authorities. Serving as a linchpin between Scotland Yard and the Secret Service, Robert MacFarlane pays a visit to Maisie Dobbs, seeking her help. He is accompanied by an agent from the US Department of Justice--Mark Scott, the American who helped Maisie get out of Hitler's Munich in 1938. MacFarlane asks Maisie to work with Scott to uncover the truth about Saxon's death. As the Germans unleash the full terror of their blitzkrieg upon the British Isles, raining death and destruction from the skies, Maisie must balance the demands of solving this dangerous case with her need to protect Anna, the young evacuee she has grown to love and wants to adopt. Entangled in an investigation linked to the power of wartime propaganda and American political intrigue being played out in Britain, Maisie will face losing her dearest friend--and the possibility that she might be falling in love again.
The American Agent, the newest in Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series, finds Maisie traveling between London and her country home during the blitzkrieg of WWII. When an American correspondent is murdered and British authorities are concealing the crime, Scotland Yard asks Maisie to investigate. -Kara
The Island of sea women
by Lisa See
"A new novel from Lisa See, the New York Times bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, about female friendship and family secrets on a small Korean island"--
Island of Sea Women is a coming of age novel by Lisa See, who continues her tradition of telling compelling stories about women, relationships, family and home. The story is set in a matriarchal society on a Korean island, beginning in the 1930's, and covers many decades. Jennifer Lim's narration is excellent. -Kara
FICTION ON DISC Owens, Delia
For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She's barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark. But Kya is not what they say. Abandoned at age ten, she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life lessons from the land, learning from the false signals of fireflies the real way of this world. But while she could have lived in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world -- until the unthinkable happens.
Where the Crawdads Sing is a lyrical, coming of age story by Delia Owens about a girl who lives on the North Carolina coast and, as a young child, is abandoned by her family. I listened to the last chapter twice and enjoyed the book so much I wanted to start again at the beginning. Cassandra Campbell's narration is excellent. -Kara
by Melanie Benjamin
FICTION ON DISC/Benjamin, Melanie
In March 1940, the Nazis sweep Paris and immediately take up residence in one of the city's most iconic sites: The Hotel Ritz. There, under a roof legendary for its unprecedented luxury and for its fabled residents--including Coco Chanel, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Cole Porter, Hemingway, Balanchine, Doris Duke, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and now Hermann Göering--the Nazis rule over a paralyzed city. But two residents of the Ritz refuse to be defeated: its director, Claude Auzello, and his beautiful American actress wife, Blanche. They not only oversee the smooth workings of the hotel, but both Blanche and Claude throw themselves fearlessly into the dangerous and clandestine workings of the French Resistance. This is a true-to-life novel of a courageous woman and her husband who put their marriage--and ultimately their lives--in jeopardy to fight for freedom. Intimate, fearless, and moving, it spins a brilliantly and unforgettably vivid human portrait at a time of unimaginable crisis and sacrifice.
Another historical fiction story with a hotel as a backdrop that brings the story of the 1940 Nazi sweep of Paris and the French Resistance to life. -Kara
The library book
by Susan Orlean
COMPACT DISC 027.4794 Orlean
Susan Orlean re-opens the unsolved mystery of the most catastrophic library fire in American history, and delivers a dazzling love letter to the beloved institution of libraries.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean weaves the story of a catastrophic fire at the Los Angeles Public Library with a narrative about the history and purpose of libraries. Orlean reads the audiobook and her narration is perfect. Orlean's book is a testament to the importance of libraries and their service to communities. -Kara
"From the dramatic redbrick facade to the sweeping staircase dripping with art, the Chelsea Hotel has long been New York City's creative oasis for the many artists, writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and poets who have called it home--a scene playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead are determined to use to their advantage. Yet they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to putting up a show on Broadway has nothing to do with their art, and everything to do with politics. A Red scare is sweeping across America, and Senator Joseph McCarthy has started a witch hunt for Communists, with those in the entertainment industry in the crosshairs. As the pressure builds to name names, it is more than Hazel and Maxine's Broadway dreams that may suffer as they grapple with the terrible consequences, but also their livelihood, their friendship, and even their freedom. Spanning from the 1940s to the 1960s, The Chelsea Girls deftly pulls back the curtain on the desperate political pressures of McCarthyism, the complicated bonds of female friendship, and the siren call of the uninhibited Chelsea Hotel"--
Fiona Davis is known for her historical fiction stories that tell the story of iconic buildings and the people who live there. This story focuses on the Chelsea Hotel, Broadway and the age of McCarthyism. -Kara
by Melissa De la Cruz
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Delacruz Melissa
"Alex & Eliza's household continues to expand as they prepare for an arrival of their own, but new developments in their lives bring unforeseen consequences"--
I'm looking forward to reading this final book in the Alex & Eliza biographical fiction trilogy in the Young Adult collection. In this book, Eliza and Alex prepare for their first child with the backdrop of the American Revolution. -Kara
Love & war : an Alex & Eliza story
"As the end of the American Revolution nears, newlyweds Alex and Eliza are faced with new trials and temptations"--
This is the second book in a trilogy about Eliza Schuyler Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton. This book is set at the beginning of their marriage. -Kara
Alex & Eliza : a love story
"Before the world knew them as Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, young Alex and Eliza fell in love amidst the turmoil of the American Revolution"--
This fun story, the first of a trilogy and written for young adults, explores the courtship of Eliza Schuyler and Alexander Hamilton with the American Revolution as a backdrop. -Kara
My dear Hamilton : a novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
by Stephanie Dray
"A general's daughter... Coming of age on the perilous frontier of revolutionary New York, Elizabeth Schuyler champions the fight for independence. And when she meets Alexander Hamilton, Washington's penniless but passionate aide-de-camp, she's captivated by the young officer's charisma and brilliance. They fall in love, despite Hamilton's bastard birth and the uncertainties of war. A Founding Father's wife... But the union they create--in their marriage and the new nation--is far from perfect. From glittering inaugural balls to bloody street riots, the Hamiltons are at the center of it all--including the political treachery of America's first sex scandal, which forces Eliza to struggle through heartbreak and betrayal to find forgiveness. The last surviving light of the Revolution... When a duel destroys Eliza's hard-won peace, the grieving widow fights her husband's enemies to preserve Alexander's legacy. But long-buried secrets threaten everything Eliza believes about her marriage and her own legacy. Questioning her tireless devotion to the man and country that have broken her heart, she's left with one last battle--to understand the flawed man she married and the imperfect union he could never have created without her..."--Dust jacket.
This is the story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton who is a dedicated revolutionist and wife of Alexander Hamilton. This biographical fiction novel brings Eliza's story to life. -Kara
Hamilton : the revolution
by Lin-Manuel Miranda
COMPACT DISC 782.140268 Hamilton
From Tony Award-winning composer-lyricist-star Lin-Manuel Miranda comes a backstage pass to his groundbreaking hit musical.
This book piqued my interest about all things Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda reads part of this book - a backstage pass to the creation of the hit musical. -Kara
The art of mixing textiles in quilts : 14 projects using wool, silk, cotton & home decor fabrics
by Lynn Schmitt
746.46 /Schmitt
The patterns in this book are really complex. I'm not sure if I'm up for tackling these projects but it is fun to look at the photos! -Kara
Simple patchwork projects : 20 animal-themed projects to sew & quilt
by Hayley Smith
746.46 /Smith
Transform fat quarters and fabric scraps into adorable projects for your home. Use templates of your favorite animals to piece shapes in tessellating designs, so the shapes fit together without gaps. There is no stressing over the math--it's all done for you--and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions with accompanying photographs ensure success.
I love the patterns in this book. They are fun and projects can be adapted depending on the animal pattern selected. I especially like the cats, dogs and owls. -Kara
Quick & easy quilts : 20 machine quilting projects
by Lynne Goldsworthy
746.46 /Goldsworthy
"Quick & Easy Quilts is a collection of 20 simple and colorful quilt projects perfect for beginners or quilters who want to start and finish a project in a weekend. The 20 projects include 12 quilts and 8 smaller projects, all featuring straightforward designs focused on time- and money-saving techniques, including working with bundles and precuts, strip piecing, and quilt as you go."--
This book shares ideas for machine quilting projects. I like the bright patterns and information about supplies needed. -Kara
Small art quilts : explorations in paint & stitch
by Deborah O'Hare
746.46 /O'Hare
"Using colour and an intriguing mix of surface techniques, layers, piecing and simple stitching, Deborah O'Hare's beautiful small art quilts capture the magic of her themes and subjects. In her unusual, whimsical interpretations of nature and the landscape, she builds up torn and cut layers of coloured cloth with stitch to create beautiful works of textile art. With her fresh, innovative approach, Deborah provides inspiration and step-by-step instruction on all the techniques she uses and shows the reader how to create moonlit scenes, seas, flowers, meadows, mountains, moors, animals and birds. Using up fabric scraps and threads is an important aspect of the author's work, and throughout the book there are tips on incorporating treasures from your stash into your pieces. From an original idea through to finishing and embellishing - this book will offer a rich source of ideas for experienced art quilters as well as those setting out on their creative journey who are inspired to start small."--Publisher's description.
This book introduces many techniques I am not familiar with. One chapter addresses adapting photos into quilt designs. I am excited to give it a try. -Kara
The handmade quilt : a skill-building sampler
by Carolyn Forster
746.46 /Forster
Skill-building: The handmade quilt features a 21-block sampler that starts with the easiest techniques and progresses to more challenging skills--with no need for a sewing machine! Comprehensive: the book is a complete learning experience for a new quilter and a stunning sampler project for experienced stitchers. Unique: no other book available today covers the how-to of hand-stitching blocks in such a thorough manner. Portable: you can hand-stitch anywhere! Carolyn even shows you color options and how to re-arrange blocks to make the quilt your own. [The book includes]: 21 block designs; templates for every block; how-to finish the sampler from beginning to binding; learn to stitch set-in seams and curves; step-by-step photographs and illustrations; gallery of block color options.
This book offers 21 block designs as well as instructions for curves in patterns. I like the step-by-step instructions and helpful hints. -Kara
FreeSpirit block party : 40 quilt blocks, 5 samplers, 20 modern designers
746.46 /Free
"Modern quilting meets traditional thanks to FreeSpirit designers. Tula Pink, Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Anna Maria Horner, Denyse Schmidt, Kathy Doughty, and more, rose to the occasion when presented with the challenge to put a modern spin on classic blocks. You won't believe what they made! With 40 inspiring quilt blocks from 20 designers working in their own fabrics, this mix-and-match block collection comes with 5 sampler-quilt projects. Sew patchwork, appliqué, and paper-pieced blocks" -- Amazon.com.
I would like to complete a 2019 block challenge - make a quilt block once a week. This book offers a lot of great ideas as well as techniques that I am not familiar with. -Kara
Utility-style : quilts for everyday living
by Sharon Holland
746.46 /Holland
This book includes tweleve well illustrated projects, ranging from table runners to a queen-sized quilts. Each fast-pieced project is great for beginners, with skill-building design tips and suggestions throughout. These lovely patterns are a reason to dig into your stash and make a quilt that will be used and loved for years to come.
The quilts I typically piece together are for every day living. I like the simple lines in the patterns in this book and the helpful hints for cutting and piecing. -Kara
Insulate and weatherize : for energy efficiency at home
by Bruce Harley
693.832 /Harley
Let an expert show you how to: choose the best insulation materials; seal air leaks in an attic; weatherstrip doors and hatches; improve window performance; upgrade heating and cooling equipment; plan a deep energy retrofit.
I spent some time weatherizing my house a few years ago and was amazed at the difference it made keeping the chill out. I have a couple doors that need to be re-weatherized. This book is helpful. -Kara
Leadership in turbulent times
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
973.099 /Goodwin
"In this culmination of five decades of acclaimed studies in presidential history, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin offers an illuminating exploration into the early development, growth, and exercise of leadership. Are leaders born or made? Where does ambition come from? How does adversity affect the growth of leadership? Does the man make the times or do the times make the man? In Leadership in Turbulent Times, Goodwin draws upon four of the presidents she has studied most closely--Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson (in civil rights)--to show how they first recognized leadership qualities within themselves, and were recognized by others as leaders. No common pattern describes the trajectory of leadership. Although set apart in background, abilities, and temperament, these men shared a fierce ambition and a deep-seated resilience that enabled them to surmount uncommon adversity. At their best, all four were guided by a sense of moral purpose. At moments of great challenge, they were able to summon their talents to enlarge the opportunities and lives of others. This seminal work provides an accessible and essential road map for aspiring and established leaders in every field. In today's polarized world, these stories of authentic leadership in times of apprehension and fracture take on a singular urgency."--Provided by publisher.
I saw Doris Kearns Goodwin recently talk about this book and it piqued my interest. I'm listening to the eAudio version and it's very good. I'm looking forward to listening to it in the evening while I work on projects around the house. -Kara
Oh, scrap! : fabulous quilts that make the most of your stash
by Lissa Alexander
746.46 /Alexander
"Want to be a scrap quilter? Great! But if you want to think like a scrap quilter, learn from a master! Lissa Alexander has spent three decades honing her scrap-quilting talents, and in her first solo book, she offers page after page of tips for making dazzling scrap quilts saturated with color, print, and texture. Learn how to make insightful decisions about which fabric combinations work (and understand why others don't). Best of all, discover how to (finally!) use your unique stash to make scrap quilts that sing. Includes a preface by renowned quilt historian Barbara Brackman."--Publisher description.
This is a delightful book with many great ideas. I can't wait to get started! -Kara
Merry makers : patchwork quilts and projects to celebrate the season
746.46 /Merry
Celebrate the season with the Moda All-Stars! They're back with 15+ handmade gifts to give or keep. Choose from speedy stockings, pincushions, and coasters to make in multiples. Or, pick a patchwork project: lap quilts, table runners, and other deck-the-halls designs abound. Complete most projects in a weekend or quicker--no need to fear the holiday time crunch! And just for fun, learn all about the favorite seasonal traditions of the All-Stars in a series of Q&As.
In the winter I love to sew. My sewing machine is out and ready to go! -Kara
Homemade soup recipes : 103 easy recipes for soups, stews, chilis, and chowders everyone will love
by Addie Gundry
641.813 /Gundry
I love soup. There's nothing better on a cold day than fresh, delicious, hot soup! -Kara
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Books I Read on Vacation
Great Books for Listening
Listening to Hamilton
Interests: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Memoir, Travel
Kara started at the Iowa City Public Library at the age of 7 when her mother would drop her off at the Library on Saturday mornings. Both thought this was a better alternative than running errands and grocery shopping. Kara grew up at the Library and benefited from the caring staff and wonderful resources she discovered there.
After graduating from the University of Iowa with an English degree, Kara thought she wanted a career in the business world. She soon discovered a different calling and, through a bit of serendipity, found her way to the UI School of Library and Information Science program where she earned her MA degree in Library and Information Science.
Kara joined the Iowa City Public Library in 1998 and serves as the Community and Access Services Coordinator. Before working at ICPL Kara was the Director of the Patients' Library at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, worked in a bank, managed a big apartment complex in Iowa City, served ice cream at Dane's Dairy, and drove a CAMBUS & school bus during college.
Kara is active in the community and enjoys traveling, reading Historical & Biographical Fiction, and spending time with her family.


The National Centre for Domestic Violence has appointed Full Portion Media to handle its PR.
The NCDV is a national charity which provides a free emergency service for men and women who have been affected by domestic abuse.
The agency will also roll out a PR campaign for charity founder Steve Connor.
The charity works in close conjunction with the police, allowing anyone to apply for a court injunction within 24 hours of first contact. It is open seven days a week via free phone or online.
Full Portion Media will aim to raise Connor's profile and increase awareness of the charity's services.
The account will be headed up by account director Natalie Whitlock.


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Home Protest Iran's oil Workers Protest for the Second Week
Iran's oil Workers Protest for the Second Week
the oil workers in refineries, petrochemicals, and power plants, are protesting against low wages.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran), reported that the second week of an Iranian oil and petrochemical workers' strike has emerged. Workers have been on strike since June 19, the day before the regime's sham presidential elections. They are demanding improved pay and working conditions. Workers are under increasing strain as a result of the government's corruption and the regime's inadequate response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which has resulted in enormous unemployment.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran), reported that the coronavirus death toll in 547 cities surpasses 319,100.
(PMOI / MEK Iran) and (NCRI): announced on Monday, June 28, 2021, that the Coronavirus death toll in 547 cities is more than 319,100.
The worsening economic situation has resulted in widespread inflation, which translates into a rise in prices. Meanwhile, workers' incomes have remained unchanged, and they are struggling to meet their families' most basic needs.
The demonstrators stated that if their demands are not met, they will continue their strike and expand it.
(PMOI / MEK Iran) and (NCRI): Bakers Union Blamed for Price Hikes. the steep rises in prices of commodities, especially bread in Iran.
Since the start of the strike, the movement has grown to include numerous cities and thousands of workers. The strike has attracted workers from more than 60 different companies.
A group of workers from the Bushehr petrochemical company announced their intention to join the strikes on Sunday.
In Abadan, a group of workers from three petrochemical plants proclaimed their support for the movement.
(NCRI) and (PMOI / MEK Iran): A group of workers from the Bushehr petrochemical company announced their intention to join the strikes on Sunday.
One of the workers stated, "We will only return to work after our demands are met." "In the current situation, no one wants to be idle. "Everyone has issues."
Workers at the Shiraz oil refinery staged a protest rally in front of the facility on Saturday, expressing their dissatisfaction with their low salary and poor working conditions.
"We, the contract workers of refineries, petrochemical companies, and powerplants, will resume our strike in protest of low wages, declining purchasing power, and unkept promises [by authorities]," the striking workers said in a statement on Friday. We will hold rallies in front of our workplaces to demand our rights."
(NCRI) and (PMOI / MEK Iran): Workers at the Shiraz oil refinery staged a protest rally in front of the facility on Saturday.
The president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, has declared her solidarity for the striking employees. "I urge all youths in Iran to support the striking workers," she said.
"The continuation of the strikes and protests bespeaks of the Iranian people's general will to overthrow the anti-labor clerical regime."
The oil-sector workers' strike is gradually gaining support from various groups and areas of Iranian society.
(PMOI / MEK Iran) and (NCRI): The continuation of the strikes and protests bespeaks of the Iranian people's general will to overthrow the anti-labor clerical regime.
Two relatives of the victims of the Ukrainian plane shot down by the Revolutionary Guards in 2020 expressed their solidarity for the oil-sector employees' strike in a video message.
"We will stand with you in this nationwide strike, just as you have stood with us in the past year," they said.
(NCRI) and (PMOI / MEK Iran): Thousands of people took to the street in Iran over the downing of a Ukrainian airplane by the IRGC.
Mujahedin-e Khalq


The IMAGILIGHTS champagne cooler 'MIMMO' is designed for functionality as well as flair. With the capacity of holding one bottle, the MIMMO is lightweight and easy to carry around. The MIMMO is often called the little brother of the bigger MIGHT-E because of its comparable design. For those in search of the WOW-factor, our MIMMO is the ideal choice.


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Movies directory (8)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Music, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Family
An eccentric professor invents wacky machinery, but can't seem to make ends meet. When he invents a revolutionary car, a foreign government becomes interested in it, and resorts to skulduggery...
A gang of five diverse oddball criminal types rent a two-room apartment in an old house on a London cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow with three pet parrots. The group's mastermind,...
The Vault of Horror
The sequel to Tales from the Crypt. Five strangers trapped in a basement vault converse about their recurring nightmares. Their stories include vampires, bodily dismemberment, east Indian...
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
A rebellious youth sentenced to a reformatory for robbing a bakery rises through the ranks of the institution through his prowess as a long distance runner. During his solitary runs, reveries...
Holiday on the Buses
Due to a female passenger falling out of her top whilst running for the bus Stan is distracted and crashes the bus resulting in the depot managers car being written off. As a result Stan,...
The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery
Comedy, Crime, Family
The all-girl school foil an attempt by train robbers to recover two and a half million pounds hidden in their school.
Music, Comedy
A pop band and their girlfriends have fun in Spain
Oh... Rosalinda!!
In post-war Vienna, Rosalinda and her husband become embroiled in a series of complicated escapades that puts their marital bliss at risk.