text:
Connecticut Health Investigative Team (https://c-hit.org/2021/08/09/communication-trust-needed-to-reassure-the-vaccine-resistant/)
Communication, Trust Needed To Reassure The Vaccine-Resistant
By Alison Cross | August 9, 2021
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The image on the left shows the unvaccinated population broken down by age. The image on the right shows the racial breakdown of the unvaccinated population in Connecticut.
The Community Health Center Inc. set up shop inside the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury on a Friday in mid-July. Armed with 24 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the team of six staff and volunteers sat ready for patients from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Not one person showed up.
The turnout was not surprising, according to the vaccination site leader and nurses at the mobile clinic. Last month, new vaccinations across Connecticut fell to the lowest numbers since January, a predictable outcome when nearly 65% of the total state population has received at least one vaccine dose. But in Waterbury, only 46% of residents are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Waterbury is not alone. The populations of fully vaccinated residents in Hartford, New Britain, Bridgeport, and New Haven are between 41% and 51%. These five cities share some similarities: a population that is at least 60% minority, a median household income below $47,000 a year, and a rank within the top 10 cities and towns with the highest cases and deaths from COVID-19, according to data from the state Department of Public Health and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Distribution Disparities
While differences in political ideologies have framed much of the vaccine conversation, the data shows that in Connecticut, the populations with the lowest vaccination rates are racial and ethnic minorities.
According to the DPH, 63% of whites and 65% of Asian/Pacific Islanders have received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to 52% of Native Americans, 52% of Hispanics, 43% of Blacks, and only 33% of multiracial residents in the state.
This racial vaccination gap widens among younger demographics. Blacks have a higher percentage of unvaccinated 12- to 34-year-olds than any other racial or ethnic minority in the state. Only 36% of Black residents in this age group have gotten at least one vaccine dose, compared to 62% of whites the same age, according to DPH data.
Dr. Cato T. Laurencin of UConn Health serves as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. He was among the first to identify and publish a study on disproportionate rates of COVID-19-related infections and deaths among Blacks. Laurencin said that fear of side effects, misinformation, the scarcity of Black medical professionals and a lack of trust in the health care community has contributed to the high rate of vaccine hesitancy within Connecticut's Black community.
Laurencin said he met with leaders at Facebook to discuss COVID-19 misinformation campaigns specifically targeted to Black social media users. One myth, which started during the nascent stages of the pandemic in Wuhan, stated that Black people were immune to the coronavirus. Laurencin feels this misinformation campaign had particular staying power and partially contributed to the belief shared by many Black individuals that they do not need to get vaccinated because their immune system will be strong enough to fight off the virus.
Laurencin said that the majority of unvaccinated Blacks have medical concerns about the vaccine and that they are carefully weighing the risks and benefits of vaccination with each piece of information they receive.
Laurencin hopes that full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine will allay fears within the Black community. However, Laurencin said that if the state truly wants to motivate its Black population, Connecticut must bring Black physicians, nurses and health professionals into the vaccination discussion.
"There's a large group of Blacks, about 40%, who are not against getting vaccinated and in fact think at some point they will, but need more time and need more information. Blacks who are not getting the COVID-19 vaccine are in a group of individuals that under the proper circumstances, and with the proper discussion, I believe would, at least in Connecticut, be amenable."
— Dr. Cato T. Laurencin
According to a survey by NRC Health, 40% of Blacks in Connecticut said that they will get the COVID-19 vaccine, but will wait to do so. An additional 10% said they were unsure. Only 9% said they would never get the vaccine, compared to 14% of Hispanics and 17% of Asians.
Laurencin noted that the proportion of Connecticut Blacks who want to wait to get vaccinated is much larger than in other states. For example, NRC Health found that in New York and Massachusetts, only 16% of Black residents said they were waiting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
"If you look across the country at the trend that's taking place in terms of vaccine hesitancy, there is something unique going on in Connecticut with the Black community," Laurencin said. "It's the largest number I've seen, scanning across the other states, 40% who are waiting to get the vaccine. And I think that reflects a sophistication. I think people have been thinking about this, they need to hear from more trusted voices, and I think if they do, they will respond and proceed with the vaccine."
Laurencin said that Connecticut is in a pivotal position to fight racial disparities in vaccine distribution and that discussion with the Black community will be key.
"If we can't address the issue of vaccination disparities in Connecticut, it's going to be very difficult to do it elsewhere," Laurencin said. "What we're finding is we need more than education to take place, we need to have a discussion to take place… There's a tremendous opportunity right now if the state of Connecticut decides to do the right thing and really enlist the trusted voices that can work with the Black community to make it happen."
Delta Variant Fears
The second half of July saw a resurgence in COVID-19 infections as the Delta variant took hold in Connecticut. Between July 1 and Aug. 4, residents under age 40 made up nearly 65% of all new COVID-19 cases in Connecticut, according to data reported by the state DPH.
Across all races and ethnicities, Connecticut's younger population is less likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine; 35% of residents age 12-44 are unvaccinated, compared to just 15% of residents older than 45, according to the DPH.
The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected minorities in Connecticut. Data collected by DPH found that while 6% of Connecticut's white population contracted the disease, 8% of Blacks and 14% of Hispanics became sick with COVID. Ten percent of Hispanics infected with the disease died, compared to 3% of Blacks and 4% of whites.
The population experiencing the greatest rise in new cases in proportion to their population is the Black community. Between July and August, the cases per 100,000 Black individuals increased by more than 1,300, compared to the white case rate, which increased by 970, according to data from DPH.
The lowest-vaccinated cities of Hartford, New Britain, Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven, which were among the hardest hit by COVID-19, now rank among the top 10 cities with the highest increase in COVID cases since July.
The city with the highest case rate and total deaths during the pandemic? Waterbury.
Vaccinating Waterbury
"The influx of a disease like COVID, it pulls the rug out from under you … It hits a community like ours particularly hard because folks are stretched pretty thin," Waterbury Public Health Director Aisling McGuckin said. "I think [Waterbury]'s sort of a perfect storm of populations that are at risk or who may quickly become at risk if circumstances change."
Within the last three weeks McGuckin said that the city has seen a "tremendous" influx of vaccinations as fears of the Delta variant grow.
"It's hitting a little closer to home than it has up until this point," McGuckin said. "Knowing people who are getting sick despite being vaccinated, knowing people who are getting sick who haven't gotten vaccinated and getting sick very quickly and very intensely, I think that's impressing on those who haven't been vaccinated that maybe now's the time."
Since the start of the pandemic, Waterbury has reported more than 17,000 COVID cases and 400 deaths as of Aug. 8, according to the Waterbury DPH. An estimated 16% of the city's population contracted the disease. Now, less than 51% of Waterbury's population has received at least one vaccine dose.
The "Brass City" is the fifth-largest in the state, with a population just above 107,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The racial/ethnic makeup is 38% white, 37% Hispanic, 22% Black, 2% Asian and less than 1% Native American. The median household income is just above $42,000 a year. Twenty percent of Waterbury's adults over age 25 never graduated from high school, and more than 23% of residents live in poverty.
McGuckin said that much of the city's vaccination efforts have focused on targeting the most vulnerable populations. She said that partnerships with cultural centers and churches have strengthened communication and deepened trust within the community.
"We benefited from having existing partners upon which we could rely for those inroads into communities that are highest on the social vulnerability index. We've had partners at Madre Latina, the Hispanic Coalition, the Greater Waterbury Health Partnership, the Grace Baptist Church and others, who have supplied us with trusted messengers to get out into census tracts where we know that there are young people and people of color who are historically, and with COVID, disproportionately impacted by poor health outcomes," McGuckin said.
These partnership efforts include door-to-door canvassing in hard-hit neighborhoods to provide education, information and free transportation to and from vaccination centers. McGuckin explained that the public health department placed vaccination clinics in locations that would generate a lot of foot traffic: within government buildings and next to popular shopping areas. The department also brought pop-up vaccination tents to fairs, festivals and other community events that attract young people.
"We're making ourselves available in the community to ensure that [vaccinations] happen," McGuckin said. "When people are ready and they are comfortable with the vaccine, we're here and ready to help them get it and make it as easy as possible."
"This is a collective responsibility moment in our history, and there's not going to be many of these. But this is your chance to do your part as a citizen and protect children in your community who can't get vaccinated, [and] protect immunocompromised folks in your community who can't get vaccinated," McGuckin said. "You have the opportunity to help people in that very tangible way, just by getting vaccinated yourself."
Connecticut Acts To Help Its Lead-Poisoned Children
After decades of inertia, Connecticut is finally moving to help its thousands of lead-poisoned children and prevent thousands of other young children from being damaged by the widespread neurotoxin. The state will direct most of its efforts — and most of $30 million in federal money — toward its cities, whose children have borne the brunt of this epidemic.


Download new model for Gun Disassembly 2 (Android, iOS, Mac and PC) -'MAC – 10' – famous SMG!
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Thomson Reuters Elite, part of the Legal business of Thomson Reuters, today announced the release of ProLaw® 2017.2, which introduces a number of enhancements that are a direct result of many clients' requests. Most notably, ProLaw 2017.2 offers features that provide the flexibility to work on the go, as well as time saving improvements and increased security.
In ProLaw 2017.2, the Microsoft® Outlook® View has been completely rewritten to take advantage of new technology, making it easier for users to organize work in Outlook. On-the-go access to billing statements and access to files and custom tabs from within Outlook allows lawyers to do more while away from the office. In addition, lawyers have more options when communicating with their clients through the ProLaw Portal, such as adding event notes and matters.
ProLaw 2017.2 also offers time saving improvements like the ability to convert Word documents to PDF on the fly before attaching them to an email. Additions to time entry descriptions make time entry more efficient, and full matter description searching makes it easier to locate matters in Pro Filing. Finally, new security and auditing functionality allows for more control of who can make changes to custom fields and tabs and allows administrators to see the changes made and by whom.
ProLaw from Thomson Reuters Elite is the comprehensive, one office business management solution designed for everyone in your office. Intuitive features simplify, streamline, and coordinate the work of lawyers and staff in small and mid-sized law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. Built entirely on Microsoft® .NET®, ProLaw combines case and matter management as well as time entry, billing, and accounting capabilities within a single integrated solution. ProLaw Mobile provides remote access to ProLaw data via iPad®, iPhone®, and Android™ devices. For more information on Thomson Reuters Elite, visit Elite.


text:
import qualified Data.ByteString.Lazy as L
import System.Environment (getArgs)

import PointerTransformation

main :: IO ()
main = do
  args <- getArgs
  case args of
   [originalPath, relinkedPath] -> rewriteSerialized originalPath relinkedPath "serialized"
   _ -> error "Syntax: <originalPath> <relinkedPath>"

rewriteSerialized :: FilePath -> FilePath -> FilePath -> IO ()
rewriteSerialized originalPath relinkedPath serializedPath = do
  serialized <- L.readFile serializedPath
  transformed <- transform originalPath relinkedPath serialized
  L.writeFile (serializedPath++"_transformed") transformed

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Brilliant Star: Limitless Force
Product Code: BS4906
Home > History > Biographies
Rejoice in My Gladness
The Life of Tahirih
Author: Janet Ruhe-Schoen
Product Code: RMGT
Publisher: Baha'i Publishing
Rejoice in My Gladness is a biography of one of the leading female voices, Tahirih, of the 1800s. The book tells how she began teaching the equality between men and women in largely Muslim Persia and how she was eventually martyred for her outspokenness and courage in the face of the male governing establishment in Persia.
Drawing on extensive research and steeped in the culture of daily life in nineteenth-century Persia, this is the definitive account of the life of Tahirih-- a renowned poetess and one of the leading feminists of her time. Rejoice in My Gladness follows the life of Tahirih from her birth through her adulthood, covering important events such as her marriage, her controversial conversion to the Baha'i Faith, and her execution due to her beliefs and activities. The reader will see how Tahirih changed the face of women's rights forever, as she was the first woman in recorded Middle Eastern history to remove her veil before an assembly of men. At her execution, her last words have been recorded as, "You can kill me as soon as you like, but you will never stop the emancipation of women."
Showing 1 Review:
by J. Tyson
on 7/31/2017
from Mercerville, NJ More than Tahirih
Three things I like especially about this book:
1) It provided a lot of historical/cultural background, which is especially helpful to people of a non-Muslim background, who otherwise tend to feel left in the dark about a lot of aspects of this time and place in history.
2) If the historical record is silent on some aspects of Tahirih's life, the author was not afraid to state what would be the probable situation, based on what was typical in that time and place
3) It is not a strict narrative of Tahirih's life, but provides a wider history of the events that she was directly or indirectly associated with.  For example, there is a whole chapter on events in the West in 1844 and 1848.  This provides a depth of understanding that one would not normally obtain from a strict narrative.
It provides insights and deeper perspectives that not always found in books that are focused strictly on history.
More from Janet Ruhe-Schoen
Five Year Plan 2011-2016 (Persian)
Product Code: P5YP3
Per: Metaphysics of Globalization
Product Code: PMOG
Hand of the Cause of God Furutan
Product Code: HCGF
Mirza Ali-Akbar-i-Nakhjavani
Product Code: MAAN
Arising
Product Code: ARIST
For the Betterment of the World (PDF)
Product Code: FBWP
God's Plan for Planet Earth
Product Code: GPPET

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Live in the pineapple under the sea with these SpongeBob SquarePants Sun-Staches! Sun-Staches provide 100% UV 400 protection and ultimate party fun. These one-size-fits-most sunglasses transform you into the star of the show; whether it's a themed party, pop culture costume, or your favorite character. As seen on Shark Tank, these sunglasses are comfortable and perfect for adults and children of all ages! Sun-Staches can instantly transform anyone into the life of the party or the most interesting person at the supermarket. For the adults, it's the perfect way to bring out your inner kid-at-heart personality. For kids, it's a way to show off a favorite character or just have fun! Would you rather play a game of ultimate Frisbee with some boring guy without glasses or your neighbor who just happens to be wearing a leprechaun mask and having the time of their life? Our thoughts exactly.
Get ready to soak up the sun with these SpongeBob SquarePants Kids Sun-Staches! Sun-Staches provide 100% UV 400 protection and ultimate party fun. These one-size-fits-most sunglasses transform you into the star of the show; whether it's a themed party, pop culture costume, or your favorite character. As seen on Shark Tank, these sunglasses are comfortable and perfect for children! Sun-Staches can instantly transform anyone into the life of the party or the most interesting person at the supermarket. Show off a favorite character or just have fun! Would you rather play a game of ultimate Frisbee with some boring guy without glasses or your neighbor who just happens to be wearing a leprechaun mask and having the time of their life? Our thoughts exactly.
Make sure all of the SpongeBob fans have one of these Spongebob Squarepants Glasses! Features yellow and blue plastic metallic frames with tinted lenses. SpongeBob stickers decorate the side and in the corners of the lenses. One size fits most children. Includes 6 per package.
In today's Rapid Fire, a $180M cocaine bust, a robber wears a SpongeBob mask and a fire erupts in a plane's cockpit.


text:
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Chacon, 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
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McChord Flightline Chatter
62nd Airlift Wing commander's call
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Chacon, 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs on December 1st, 2016
McChord Field is about a legacy of excellence, innovation and respect," said Col. Leonard Kosinski, 62nd Airlift Wing commander, during his opening remarks at the Nov. 22 62nd AW commander's call conducted at the base theater on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Kosinski talked about the 62nd AW missions and priorities, as well
McChord proves mass vaccinations possible
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Chacon, 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs on November 10th, 2016
Every year airmen are required to get vaccinated for the flu virus, but not every year do more than 1,200 airmen get vaccinated by one clinic, in one day. The 62nd Medical Squadron conducted a point of dispensing exercise Oct. 28, at McChord Field to practice providing mass vaccines to the
Candle-light vigil
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Chacon, 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs on August 5th, 2016
During a candle-light vigil in 2009 for slain Washington state police officers, Seattle Police Department Detective Carrie McNally was inspired to do something to bring the first responder community together in a positive way. This idea turned into the "Stand with Those Who Serve" annual public safety appreciation event conducted on
62nd crew chiefs abroad
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Chacon, 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs on July 1st, 2016
LIBERVILLE, Gabon Africa - When a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew takes off for a mission and plans on being in a location without proper maintenance support, they bring along a 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief to ensure the aircraft is taken care of. FCCs are a one-person maintenance crew
62nd Airlift Wing in Africa
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Chacon, 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs on June 30th, 2016
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (Africa) - Delivering a Global Response Force is something the airmen of the 62nd Airlift Wing practice regularly, but up until now that response force has never been brought to the African continent like it was for exercise Central Accord 2016. From June 10-24 in and around Libreville, Gabon,
McChord's first shooting competition hits the mark
For the first time ever at McChord Field an M9 pistol Excellence-In-Competition event was sponsored by the 627th Security Forces Squadron June 2, 2016. The marksmanship competition open to all airmen, had 109 competitors and awarded badges to the top 10% of shooters. Although the EIC is a competition, that is not
62nd AW participates in USASOC exercise
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Chacon, 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs on May 19th, 2016
Starting at Pope Army Air Field, North Carolina, and ending at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing participated in a training exercise May 2-3 sponsored by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The three 62nd AW aircrews flying C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assisted in inserting more
McChord Maintenance Response Team ready on a moments notice
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Chacon, 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs on February 25th, 2016
An inevitable part of flying any aircraft is that they will need maintenance at some point or another. One particular C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 62nd Airlift Wing needed that maintenance, when it broke down at North Island Naval Station, California, Feb. 16. A four-person Maintenance Recovery Team from McChord
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text:
Q: openxml with asynchron structure I am working with MS SQL Server 2012.
I am trying to use the function openxml with the following statement / xml data:
DECLARE @XML AS XML, @hDoc AS INT, @SQL NVARCHAR (MAX)

SET @SQL = '<master>
  <List>
    <Col>
      <DisplayFieldName>Peter</DisplayFieldName>
      <Value>
        <string>Yes</string>
      </Value>
    </Col>
    <Col>
      <DisplayFieldName>Tom</DisplayFieldName>
      <Value>
        <string>No</string>
      </Value>
    </Col>
    <Col>
      <DisplayFieldName>Numerics</DisplayFieldName>
      <Value>
        <string>50          </string>
        <string>100          </string>
        <string>150          </string>
        <string>200          </string>
      </Value>
    </Col>
  </List>
</master>'

SELECT @XML = CONVERT(XML,@SQL)

EXEC sp_xml_preparedocument @hDoc OUTPUT, @XML

SELECT *
FROM OPENXML(@hDoc, '/master/List/Col/Value',3)
WITH
(
string [varchar](max)
)

EXEC sp_xml_removedocument @hDoc

The result is this:
  string
1 Yes
2 No
3 50

I understand why this happens, but actually I would like to display just all numerical values (50,100,150,200) or at least all values in the  field (Yes, No, 50, 100, 150, 200) which also would be sufficient.

A: Make xpath deeper. Filter data. Something like this.
SELECT text string
FROM OPENXML(@hDoc, '/master/List/Col[DisplayFieldName="Numerics"]/Value/string',3)
--WITH
--(
--string [varchar](max)
--)
where text is not null

update
You can also use native xml methods.
select t.v.value('.','varchar(100)') x
from @xml.nodes('master/List/Col[DisplayFieldName="Numerics"]/Value/string') t(v)

In my experience openxml works faster with large texts.

A: You can give this a try, might return more than what you are expecting:
SELECT *
FROM OPENXML(@hDoc, '/master/List/Col/Value/*', 3)
WITH
(
string [varchar](max) '.'
)

A: FROM OPENXML is outdated and should not be used any more (There are some rare exceptions...)
You should rather use the XML-methods like .value(),.nodes(),.query() and .exist().
Give this a try: It is fully inlined (ad-hoc), easier to read and maintain -  and much faster:
DECLARE @XML AS XML;

SET @XML = '<master>
  <List>
    <Col>
      <DisplayFieldName>Peter</DisplayFieldName>
      <Value>
        <string>Yes</string>
      </Value>
    </Col>
    <Col>
      <DisplayFieldName>Tom</DisplayFieldName>
      <Value>
        <string>No</string>
      </Value>
    </Col>
    <Col>
      <DisplayFieldName>Numerics</DisplayFieldName>
      <Value>
        <string>50          </string>
        <string>100          </string>
        <string>150          </string>
        <string>200          </string>
      </Value>
    </Col>
  </List>
</master>';

SELECT C.value('DisplayFieldName[1]','nvarchar(max)') AS DisplayFieldName
      ,V.value('.','nvarchar(max)') AS string

FROM @XML.nodes('/master/List/Col') AS A(C)
CROSS APPLY C.nodes('Value/string') AS B(V);

The result
DisplayFieldName    string
----------------------------
Peter               Yes
Tom                 No
Numerics            50
Numerics            100
Numerics            150
Numerics            200

UPDATE
If you need the numerics only, you could append the same XQuery-filter to the .nodes() XPath, as pointed by Alex: /master/List/Col[DisplayFieldName="Numerics"]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This versatile product from Drive Medical combines a transfer bench and a commode into one. Its comfortable cushioned seat and backrest and 1 in aluminum-frame construction provide comfort and stability. The seat's back adjusts tool-free for your convenience, while extra large suction cups provide added safety. The product comes with a 7.5-quart commode bucket and can withstand a 400-pound capacity. It is protected by a limited lifetime warranty.


text:
Q: Difference between convention and configurational frameworks
Possible Duplicate:
Benefits of the "Convention over Configuration" paradigm

What is the difference between convention and configurational frameworks ? Please list some examples in both cases especially for PHP. Thanks in advance


text:
Should You Buy Aphria Ahead of Earnings?
Jul 27, 2020 (Baystreet.ca via COMTEX) -- Marijuana producer Aphria Inc /zigman2/quotes/205566616/delayed CA:APHA -4.57% /zigman2/quotes/207425803/composite APHA -3.97% is set to release its fourth-quarter results of fiscal 2020 on July 29. The company's coming off a strong third-quarter performance a few months ago when it recorded net revenue of $144.4 million - nearly double the $73.6 million it reported in the prior-year period.
However, Q3 only went up until the end of February - and before companies started to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there initially was strong demand out of the gate in March as consumers were panic buying essentials, including cannabis, that tapered off shortly after.
This quarter is going to be a particularly telling one for the industry, since cannabis investors will see how one of the top Canadian cannabis companies has been performing under such adverse conditions.
Aphria's shares are up more than 7% since the start of the year but the stock's still trading at a modest three times revenue and it's also right around its book value.
Given the challenges that are still facing the industry, investors may want to avoid buying up shares of Aphria just yet. Back in April, when the company released its strong Q3 results, the stock did get a boost initially, only to fall back down in price days later.
There's still a lot of pessimism in the cannabis industry as many companies are struggling to find consistency, growth, profits, and in some cases, all of the above. That's why even if Aphria has a strong earnings result, investors shouldn't expect to see its stock take off. Cannabis investors are better off waiting for a dip in price before buying shares of Aphria


The BMW Group and Daimler AG merger in the field of mobility has been approved by the authorities in the United States. Thus, all antitrust authorities involved have given the green light for the future joint venture that puts rivals on the same team.
The two car companies announced their plans at the beginning of December and were only waiting for the approval of the competent bodies in the field.
The mobility joint venture focuses on the customers' personal freedom, making transportation easy to access, intuitive and oriented towards the needs of the user. CarSharing, Ride-Hailing, Parking, Charging and Multimodality combine to offer a seamlessly connected and sustainable ecosystem that is just a few taps away.
The transaction for the joint venture, which will be owned in equal parts by BMW Group and Daimler AG, is set to take place on January 31st, 2019. Following the contract signing, the future mobility company will make its first steps in the first quarter of next year.
Charging with ChargeNow and Digital Charging Solutions.


text:
Barbara Sinatra
Home/Tag:Barbara Sinatra
By Ozgun Akalin|2017-06-10T00:19:33+03:00April 7th, 2013|Categories: Articles|Tags: 1990, Alright, Barbara Sinatra, Bea Wain, Ella Fitzgerald, Eydie Gorme, Fran Warren, Frances Langford, Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Ginny Mancini, Gretchen Wyler, Harry Connick Jr., Helen Forrest, Helen O'Connell, Henry Mancini, How Do You Keep The Music Playing, I'll Never Smile Again, I'm A Fool To Want You, Jack Jones, Jo Stafford, Joe Williams, Kay Starr, Kitty Kallen, Martha Tilton, O Sole Mio, Okay, Peggy Lee, Pied Pipers, Society Of Singers, Stewe Lawrence, The Sentimentalists, There's No Tomorrow, This Love of Mine, Tony Bennett, Tony Danza, Tony Martin, You Win|
Society of Singers Night, 3 December 1990. A truly magnificent night in the history, though not known by a lot of people. Sinatra was awarded with the Ella award by Society of Singers, but more importantly, legends of music joined this evening to honor Frank Sinatra and sing for him. Those were the singers from the big band era, from different orchestras. 50 years before this night, in the early 1940's, Sinatra and Connie Haines and Jo Stafford had sung together, and this night, both honored him with singing the same songs. It is not common experience for a singer to relive those 50 year old memories, and it is just beautiful. And while you might expect these legends to perform not well at the age of 65 or 75, even 94 year old George Burns is ready to surprise you.
Henry Mancini: The 1940's was known as the era of the big bands. Dorsey, James, Miller, Basie, Ellington, big bands, live music. They also produced a special kind of vocalist. No tricks, no electronics, just singers. Singers who stood in front of the big bands.
Recently, a group known as the Society of Singers gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The event honored one of their own, Frank Sinatra, and the 60 years of music and entertainment he has given people all over the world. The Society of Singers is formed of a popular artist of today, as well as the legendary performers from the era of big bands. They came together on this evening to perform their greatest hits as they honored the chairman of the board.
Ginny Mancini: To celebrate our engagement, we went to the Empire Room of Waldorf Astoria to hear a young singer named Frank Sinatra. He entered from the back of the room to an Axel Stordahl intro with a cup and a saucer in his hand and came in to sing "they've got awful lot of coffee in Brazil", followed by a stunning rendition of Kurt Weill's "Lost In the stars", little stars, big stars, blowing the night and we're lost hearing the stars. Well of course you see, Mr. Wonderful and I were experiencing the wonder of young love, and so you see how Frank Sinatra came in to play, and the memory lingers on… Tonight we honor the Pied Piper Frank Sinatra, with an award inaugurated last year in the name of Ella Fitzgerald. That says something about the integrity for which it stands.
After Ella Fitzgerald sings "There Will Never Be Another You", Frank Sinatra comes to stage with his grandchildren A.J Lambert and her sister Amanda Lambert, to receive his award.
Frank Sinatra: I love you!
Ella Fitzgerald: I love you too for many years!
Frank Sinatra: No mine longer than yours tho.
Ella Fitzgerald: Not that much longer
Frank Sinatra: Yea yea, I am older!
Ella Fitzgerald: Ladies and Gentlemen, what can I say, what can we say about this great wonderful man who has brought so much pleasure in his music to you, but to say we love him. I love you, they love you, and I love you, we just keep on saying we love you.
And Frank Sinatra receives his lifetime achievement award from Society Of Singers.
Frank Sinatra: I have been honored in my lifetime, twice. First time by the police department of Hoboken New Jersey, and a few days later my old man took care of the job. But, it is difficult to find words to tell you how much I appreciate what you've done, all of you, for the organization, which I am very proud to be part of; and to be in this part of the show business, the singing end of show business and I mean I just put (Gene) Kelly down so many times dancing I thought I better stay with singing because it was embarrassing, you know what I mean? I felt badly for him at the time.
And Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald sing "The Lady Is a Tramp" Together. Obviously, Sinatra does not want it to end, and they repeat the last part twice. A moment that will not be relived again. It was American history, at this very special Society Of Singers night…
After the beautiful duet, Jack Jones sings a version of the song "I am a singer" written by Gerard Kenny, lyrics of which was changed to personalize Frank Sinatra for this special Society Of Singers event. When the lyrics hit "He is Sinatra, he sings us songs, he brings the words to life, and he keeps the beat where it belongs", Frank Sinatra gets very emotional and tears fill his eyes.
After these moments, Jack Jones introduces George Burns.
Jack Jones: Ladies and Gentlemen, no show about singers would be complete without a performance for one of the truly great vocal artists, the silver throat of Nathan Birnbaum ladies and gentlemen.
George Burns: Thank you for the standing ovation. Look, if I can stand, you can stand. Frank Sinatra recorded Young At Heart years ago and sold millions and millions and millions. That's the song I'm gonna sing tonight. At my age you can follow anybody.
And we hear George Burns sing "Young At Heart", at the age of 94! During the song, George Burns says: You know, I've been around for a lot of years, and there's one thing I believe, and it works for me, and it'll work for you too. You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old.
Next song is Harry Connick Jr. – More
And Jo Stafford, Frank Sinatra's friend from Tommy Dorsey era, and a member of Pied Pipers of Tommy Dorsey orchestra, comes to stage to sing "I'll never smile again". An amazing moment, just like in 1940's; and we realize that 50 years were not enough to change anything. When you think of it, it is just amazing to see all these legends at Society Of Singers night because it just seems impossible to gather all the legends after 50 years.
After Jo Stafford, Tony Bennett is on the stage.
Tony Bennett: Oh boy, what a beautiful night, what a magnificent night. I've seen many shows in my life but this is the greatest audience and the greatest performers I've ever seen. Frank Sinatra asked me to sing this song and I love it. It is a magnificent, wonderful song.
And "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" starts…
Then Manhattan Transfer and Connie Haines sing "Snootie Little Cutie", full of life.
A special part of the Society Of Singers show awaits us after this great performance, and Peggy Lee shares her memories and sings a song for Sinatra.
Peggy Lee: Hello Frank. I have so many memories, and Barbara, you simply must forgive me; I've been in love with that mean all the years I've known him. But it's OK, it's platonic, I think… I think about those things, you know, one day we built a home. You built yours and I built mine upon a hill, and a lot of wonderful things happened there. I even remember the firecrackers you used to set off about three or something in the morning. First it frightened me but then I realized it was Francis Albert up there. With Jimmy Van Heusen and all the gang. And, we had barbecues, well we had one barbecue I remember, and all those dear things, so many… And a special version of "The Man I Love" starts, for Frank Sinatra.
So emotional, so beautiful. A moment captured in time, reminding us that the world is full of beauties, and nostalgia is a powerful feeling that strike our hearts. And with these videos, it is timeless, it is immortal.
Just after that, Tony Danza and Gretchen Wyler perform a dance show and Herb Jeffries sings Flamingo. Tony Martin follows them with a perfect performance of "There's No Tomorrow – O Sole Mio".
Frances Langford introduces the ladies that sang with the big bands and a marvelous sequence of performances start.
Kay Starr sings "What a difference a day makes" and it is unbelievably amazing. At the age of 68, her voice and how good she looks while singing is wonderful.
Helen Forrest, 73 years old, sings "I Had the Craziest Dream", again an outstanding performance.
Martha Tilton sings "And the Angels Sing".
And we hear Bea Wain perform "Deep Purple".
Kitty Kallen, before starting to sing, says "Will you help me? I am scared to death" and sings "It's been a long, long time", beloved by everyone in the room.
Helen O'Connell sings "Tangerine".
Fran Warren sings "I Want a Sunday Kind of Love", with a very strong voice.
And lastly, The Sentimentalists sing "On the Sunny Side of the Street", followed by Joe Williams performing "Alright, Okay, You Win".
After these, another special part starts, where Eydie Gorme and Stewe Lawrence sings songs written by Frank Sinatra.
Stewe Lawrence: For many years, Frank Sinatra has received many awards for his artistic achievements as a singer, as a performer and as an actor. But there is another creative side of Frank that is generally now too well known. Now besides singing a lot of great songs, he also wrote quite a few of them. And, this evening Eydie and I selected a couple of our favorites composed by Francis Albert, and ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to celebrate Sinatra the Songwriter.
Eydie Gorme sings "This Love Of Mine" and Stewe Lawrence sings "I'm A Fool To Want You", which is performed beautifully. It is not common for this song to be performed live, with Sinatra in the same room, which makes it more special.
This beautiful night by Society Of Singers ends with all people singing "Dream" first, then Sinatra takes the microphone.
Frank Sinatra: May I thank you, fellow singers and performers. I love you. I am kinda hung up a little bit with my throat so I won't say too much, but it was a marvelous evening tonight. I had a great time tonight, I really did.
And everybody sings "Alright, Okay, You Win" together, closing the night for Society Of Singers event, such wonderful moments…
You can browse the Society Of Singers website here. On special events section, you can see the following:
ELLA honorees (most recent listed first):
2014 Mike Love, 2011 Smokey Robinson, 2010 Natalie Cole, 2009 Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, 2008 Andy Williams, 2007 Gladys Knight, 2006 Johnny Mathis, 2005 Elton John, 2004 Celine Dion, 2003 Barry Manilow, 2002 Placido Domingo, 2001 Julie Andrews, 2000 Tony Bennett, 1999 Joe Williams, 1998 Rosemary Clooney, 1997 Lena Horne, 1995 Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, 1994 Peggy Lee, 1992 Tony Martin, 1990 Frank Sinatra, 1989 Ella Fitzgerald.
And on the youtube page of Society of Singers, there are some short videos from certain nights you might find interesting.
And on the shop page of Society of Singers website, you can purchase items to support the Society of Singers group and help their cause.
Frank Sinatra – My Way (Song)
By Ozgun Akalin|2017-06-10T00:19:37+03:00April 17th, 2012|Categories: Songs|Tags: 1968, 1969, Barbara Sinatra, Claude Francois, Comme d'habitude, Frank Sinatra, My Way, Paul Anka, Reprise Records, Strangers In The Night, The National Anthem, What Did Frank Sinatra Say?|
My Way can be considered as the most popular song of Frank Sinatra, just like Strangers In The Night can be. My Way is actually an English version of the French song "Comme d'habitude", the French and English lyrics are not related to each other though.
The earlier English version of "Comme d'habitude" was "Even A Fool Learns To Love" by David Bowie, but he could not record it as it was not accepted.
Months later, this time, Frank Sinatra's "little Arab friend" Paul Anka wrote lyrics of My Way from "Comme d'habitude". Here is a quote of him:
"I had a house in France, which was where I heard the Claude Francois record. I liked the melody, but not the words so much. I knew the French publisher and they gave me the song, and I thought I would re-construct the feel of the song. I met Frank where he was filming Tony Rome, and he said he was retiring. The song became a composite of my life and his, but mostly his. I made a demo with a session singer, called him; I said that I thought I had something pretty sensational. Don saw the worth of it – Frank stayed cool, but I knew he liked it. Three, four, five weeks later, I had a phone call and they said 'listen to this' and played the record over the phone to me. They were very excited! I'd never had a song quite of that substance. It was pressed up. but they threw the first run copies away because they didn't like the mix" (Sinatra, Richard Havers).
Written by Paul Anka, based on the music of French song "Comme d'habitude", Frank Sinatra recorded the song "My Way" on 30Th of December, 1968. It then became the title song for Sinatra's 1969 Reprise Album, My Way.
My Way was not a worldwide hit when it first came out, but as Frank Sinatra got older, and as Sinatra's fans got older, My Way became much more important. Though it was Frank Sinatra's signature song, also called as "the national anthem", Sinatra himself never liked the song, but he also did not hate "My Way" as much as he hated "Strangers In The Night".
Barbara Sinatra: Songs like "Strangers In The Night" or "My Way", which he'd been asked to sing over and over again since 1960s, did absolutely nothing for him. He always said the words were not subtle enough, too "on the nose." Knowing that he'd still have to sing them at every concert, he'd try to lighten the experience by joking with the auidence that those tunes had kept him in pizza for years.
Sinatra sang My Way in many of his concerts. It is hard to think of a concert after 1970's without My Way, as it was probably the most requested song. Here is one of the many great versions.
What Did Frank Sinatra Say About My Way?
Frank Sinatra: This of course was written by Paul Anka, and orchestrated by the late Don Costa, and it was very good to me, the first time we recorded it. ( ?? )
Frank Sinatra: This song represents the best part of Paul Anka's talent. (25 May 1975 Frankfurt)
Frank Sinatra: We can't do a show without this song. Paul Anka wrote it, Don Costa orchestrated it. (21 November 1993, Ledyard)
Frank Sinatra: Now, we are going to do the national anthem, but you needn't get up. Why are you laughing? I am very serious. (13 June 1974, Caesars Palace)
Frank Sinatra: Well, here comes the old chestnut. It is a marvelous piece of music. I wish the hell I knew it. (24 April 1994, RCMH)
Frank Sinatra: This is either getting better or I am getting used to it, I think. (5 October 1991, Frankfurt)
Frank Sinatra: I hate this song, oh I hate this song. Hey you sing it for 8 years, you would hate it too! Don't give me that jazz. Sure I love it, I'd like to get one every week. (5 May 1978, Caesars Palace)
Frank Sinatra: This is a song that has got a great deal for my career, and it was brought to me by my little friend, Mr. Paul Anka. (??)
Frank Sinatra: This is Paul Anka and a much more serious Frank. (27 August 1977, Caesars Palace)
Frank Sinatra: Here's a song we like you to hear, possibly for the first time you have ever heard it. Paul Anka's great song. (12 December 1990, Meadowlands Arena NJ)
Frank Sinatra: You know, I would like to do a song for you that was born in this building. The daddy was Paul Anka, and the mother was a French composer named Jacques Revaux. I would say, of the end of my lifetime, as a performer, as a singer, I've had the fortune of singing wonderful wonderful songs, from great talented people. And this particular song is one of the highlights of my career. (26 March 1975, Caesars Palace)
Frank Sinatra: We have something here that has become a big favorite, in the world as a matter of fact. It's about 7 years old. It was written by young Paul Anka, and arrangement by Don Costa. If you please. (27 November 1975, Israel)
Frank Sinatra: We will now do the national anthem, but you needen't rise. (10-13-1974, Madison Square Garden)*
Frank Sinatra: But I figure, I'll do a request, my own request because you did this evening your way, we're gonna do it my way. (4-8-1974, Carnegie Hall)*
Frank Sinatra: This is a song we can never leave out, written by Paul Anka, and orchestrated by uh … Tom Mix. I don't know who orchestrated the song. Hugiption that did it … Don Costa did the orchestration. (12-10-1993, American West Arena)*
Frank Sinatra: Oh yes, unfortunately … Paul Anka's greatest song, and Don Costa's
marvelous arrangement. (11-13-1975, London Palladium)*
Frank Sinatra: So tonight, it's hats off to the tunesmith! That gallant and immensely talented breed, that has ever given everyone in the world who has ever lived a chance to say, "They're playing my song." Doesn't it get you right there? (?. 1969)*
Frank Sinatra: Something by Paul Anka who is, com quite of a composer, a singer, a lyricist, and also as a great performer. (5-29-1975, Royal Albert Hall)*
Frank Sinatra: I've been doing the song for 7 years! I've had it up to here! I've had it up to hear! (12-31-1975, Chicago Stadium)*
*Thanks to Michael Wind for his contributions for the famous Frank Sinatra song, My Way
Birthday of Frank Sinatra – Happy Birthday
By Ozgun Akalin|2017-06-10T00:19:37+03:00December 12th, 2011|Categories: Articles|Tags: 12.12.1990, 12.12.2011, Barbara Sinatra, Birthday, Birthday Party, Eydie Gorme, Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra's Birthday, Liza Minnelli, Meadowlands, Nancy Sinatra, Steve Lawrence, Tina Sinatra|
On December 12, 1990, Frank Sinatra celebrated his birthday by giving a concert at Meadowlands, and having a party after it. During the concert, Sinatra started with "You Make Me Feel So Young", sang many songs, New York New York with Liza Minnelli, and songs with Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence. At the end of the concert, every single person at the Brendan Byrne Arena shouted "Happy Birthday" to him.
Frank Sinatra: This is without a doubt the finest birthday celebration I think I've ever had in my life. Not think, I know. I just simply want to say I love you all dearly and I thank you for taking part in this wonderful night for me. I should never forget as long as I live. God bless you all, and good night. Thank you.
After the concert, Barbara Sinatra threw a party for Frank at Waldorf Hotel with a hundred people. She rose to her feet, made a toast, and said:
"Darling, All these years you've given the world beautiful, wonderful music, but you have given me the world… One more thought, the fourth time around is really lovely!" said Barbara to Frank Sinatra at the private party after his Meadowlands concert in New Jersey Wednesday on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
Mrs. Sinatra was a dedicated and ravishing hostess at the Waldorf in New York when about 200 of the creme de la creme of the Sinatra world gathered to exude the milk of human kindness together.
The party was fairly low-key and sedate, yet warm and informal. Sinatra did a karate chop at his birthday cake, as if dismissing it, and he seemed overcome with emotion after all the speeches, particularly by his wife and children. So he decided to make a few jokes about the room's sound system. "Charlie Waldorf better get in there and do something about this room; I've lived in this hotel for years and was never in here before. I never want to party here again." This was all jest and comic relief.
Steve Lawrence, as emcee, said: "A lot of people would like to say something to you tonight, Frank, but some of them have day jobs." New York Mayor David Dinkins commented that "the danger with success is that it makes us forget injustice. This is not true of you, Mr. Chairman!"
Alan King: "Mozart and Caruso could not have given me the pleasure Frank Sinatra gave me for 50 years!"
Jule Styne dubbed Sinatra "the only man who phrases the lyric; not music."
Liza Minnelli: "In my whole life, I have never had more pleasure or fun than I have had with you. My sister thanks you, my mother thanks you, my father thanks you and I thank you!"
Robert Wagner: "Your real talent is as a friend."
Phyllis Wagner: "You were always giving."
Robert Marx" "Thanks for giving so much love to my mother and making her happy."
Roger Moore read a rave about Sinatra by the Pulitzer Prizewinning writer William Kennedy.
Jilly Rizzo: "Happy Birthday. I never thought I'd live to see the day. A lot of other people didn't think so either.
Tina Sinatra, weeping: "You are an American treasure. I am so grateful that you're 75 and I expect so much more from you because without you, I'm nothing."
Frank Jr. attributed his father's long life to his eating properly and never letting smoke or alcohol touch his tongue. Sinatra responded: "These few days have been sensational for me. It was 6000 to one that I'd get to be 50 years old, but 75? I love it. I've had some fun in the past weeks and a few tears." (by Liz Smith, 16 December 1990, The Evening Post)
Today, after 21 years of this concert, we are celebrating Frank Sinatra's 96th birthday. Much has changed since then, the whole world has changed. But there are still millions of Sinatra fans out there, and a simple Sinatra song can make their day better.
Thank you Mr. Sinatra, for singing more than a thousand songs during your career, singing perfectly. Thank you for making us cry when we are sad, without your songs "sad" is never really "sad". Thank you for the happy days we get when we listen to your songs. You are love, you are loneliness, you are happiness. You are every feeling there is.
Happy 96th Birthday Frank Sinatra, we miss you. May you rest in piece…
By Ozgun Akalin|2017-06-10T00:19:38+03:00July 9th, 2011|Categories: Songs|Tags: 1966, A Man Could Get Killed, Album, Barbara Sinatra, Bert Kampfert, Charles Singleton, Concert For The Americas 1982, Eddie Snyder, Frank Sinatra, Grammy Award, Jack Jones, Lyrics, My Life With Frank, My Way, Reprise Records, Song, Strangers In The Night, What Did Frank Sinatra Say?|
The worst fucking song I've ever heard. No! It's not my opinion. In fact, i really love Strangers In The Night, but Frank Sinatra himself did not like this song at all, and in his concert in Dominican Republic in 1982 August, also known as "Concert for the Americas", Frank Sinatra said so after he finished singing Strangers In The Night, when the audience was applauding for his great performance.
When Frank Sinatra comes to mind, he brings two great songs with him. One is "My Way" without any doubt, and the other is, most probably, "Strangers In The Night". Though he liked neither, these two songs made him well known all over the world. Strangers In The Night was written by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder, and composed by Bert Kampfert. The song was performed by various singers before Sinatra, but when Frank Sinatra included the song in his album "Strangers In The Night" in 1966, it became a huge hit.
Strangers In The Night was a song written for the movie "A Man Could Get Killed". It was given to both Sinatra and Jack Jones, and when Reprise Records heard that Jack Jones was to release his version in few days, they immediately recorded it and made it ready before Jack Jones's version was on the radio. It reached no 1 on the charts, but then replaced by Beatles's "Yesterday".
The following parts are form Barbara Sinatra's book, Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank.
Barbara Sinatra: .. I could see he was thrown. Even when the crowd settled down a bit and allowed him to go on, he was overwhelmed. So much so that when the time come to sing "Strangers In The Night", he was completely unable to- the first time I'd ever seen that happen. He stood up there on stage, eyes welling, as the music carried on without him. Then the most amazing thing happened. Almost every one of the 175,000 people in that arena, many of whom had learned to speak English by listening to Sinatra records, began to sing the words to him, heavily accented. "Strangers in the night, exchanging glances. Wond'ring in the night, what were the chances…" Their voices welled as one until the night air was filled with melody. Tears slid down my face as well as down Frank's. It was one of the most beautiful sounds I ever heard.
Frank Sinatra won four Grammy Awards including "Record of The Year" and "Best Male Vocal Performance" for recording "Strangers In The Night", and many versions in different languages have been performed till then. This is another reason why the song is known by everyone.
A mistress of Saddam Hussein, Parisula Lampsos, was noted to say that Saddam loved to listen Strangers In The Night and dance to it.
What did Frank Sinatra say about the song?
Frank Sinatra: This is a marvelous song written by Charles Singleton and we would like to do it for you. (28-11-1983, Nassau Coliesum)
Frank Sinatra: Ah here is a song everybody in the world knows, everybody! (20-11-1994, Japan)
Frank Sinatra: Yeah here's a song that I can not stand. I just can not stand this song, but what the hell. (1975-11-27, Jerusalem, Israel)
Frank Sinatra: The worst fucking song I've ever heard. (29-08-1982, Dominican Republic)
Frank Sinatra: This is a song that I absolutely detested the first time I heard it. And strangely enough I keep saying to myself "Why are you still singing this song?" (1993-11-21, Faxwoods Casino, Connecticut)
Frank Sinatra: Oh you know this one (Sinatra 80th Live in Concert)
Frank Sinatra: Here's a song, the first time I heard Don Costa played it for me some years ago. I hated it! I hated this goddamn song the first I've heard it. And I still hate it! So sue me, shoot bullets through me. Shoot. (New York Set, Cd 4)
Strangers In The Night was sung by Frank Sinatra many times during his concerts and among them, I love the 1985 Japan Concert version and the following one at most. The album version is as good as the live ones, but of course it lacks the "Do Be Do Be Do."
Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank
By Ozgun Akalin|2017-06-10T00:19:38+03:00June 7th, 2011|Categories: Books|Tags: Barbara Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, My Life With Frank|
Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank Interview: Here are two interviews with Barbara Sinatra about her recently released book, Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank.
Barbara Sinatra: He says, hey blondie! Come on and join us! I didn't really recognize him. I recognized Dean and Sammy and some of the others. I said, I don't care! I am not dealing with a bunch of drunks.
Chris: That was your future husband!
Barbara Sinatra: But I didn't know that.
We've been playing gin rummy with a group of people. He said Barbara come in here I wanna show you something, we were kissing.
Chris: What did that feel like?
Barbara Sinatra: Wonderful. Wonderful. He was a great kisser. He made me feel special. He treated me like a queen.
He was a guy who took about 12 showers a day. I mean he was neat. And he always smelled of lavender. He just thought of every single little thing to make it romantic.
Chris: What song would he sing to you, Barbara?
He had one the George Harrison wrote, called Something. He said it was a great love song and it never said I love you. He didn't like anything that was right on the nose.
Chris: You said once that he thought that My Way was a little too on the nose.
He did. That wasn't one of his favorite songs.
Chris: Did Frank Sinatra ever apologize?
Barbara Sinatra: Never. Absolutely never.
I kept saying, you have beaten tougher things than this. I think you can beat this, too. Then all of a sudden he just looked at me and he said, "I can't". That was it.
Chris: Why did you and Frank stay in love for so long?
Barbara Sinatra: You know, I don't know why he stayed in love with me. But I think it is obvious why I was in love with him. The blue eyes, the romanticism, the kindness, the generosity. Everything.
Quite interesting pictures can be seen on the videos.
We learn that family matters are not discussed in the book, and Amazon reviews say that "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank" is worth reading.
By Ozgun Akalin|2017-06-10T00:19:38+03:00June 3rd, 2011|Categories: Articles|Tags: Ave Maria, Barbara Sinatra, Beverly Hills, Cathedral City, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Church of the Good Shepherd, Desert Memorial Park, Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr, Funeral, Graveyard, In The Wee Small Hours, Jack Daniels, Moonlight In Vermont, My Father's Daughter, Nancy Sinatra, Put Your Dreams Away, The Best Is Yet To Come, Tina Sinatra|
Following part about Frank Sinatra's Death is from My Father's Daughter by Tina Sinatra.
9th of May, 1998
The new millenium was in sight.
Dad was determined to be a part of it. "How many more months?" he asked me.
Eighteen, I told him, rounding down a bit.
"Oh, I can do that" he said. "Nothin' to it."…
14th of May, 1998
The phone rang at exactly 11:10 pm. It was Rex Kennamer. "I have bad news, we lost him."
"Lost who?" I said.
"Your father. I'm sorry."
13 years ago, Barbara Sinatra was outside for dinner. Frank Sinatra's situation suddenly got worse and he was taken to hospital at around 9pm. The doctors called Barbara immediately, and tried to save Sinatra for like 1,5 hour. Despite how long they tried, they couldn't save him. In the end, at 10:50pm, Frank Sinatra died from a heart attack…
And at 11.10pm, Tina Sinatra was informed that her father had passed away. She called Nancy and in minutes they got to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Tina Sinatra: "…My father lay facing us, eyes closed, hands over his chest; he lay on a lowered gurney, ready to be wheeled away. Barbara was seated in a chair to his left. We entered the cubicle without acknowledgment. I went directly to Dad and knelt beside him. "Oh, Poppa," I said. At the sight of him my tears broke their dam. I wept freely, my forehead pressed against his upper arm. I looked for fear in his face, but saw none. His strain and torment were gone- in death he looked once more to be a figure of command. When i touched him, he was still warm. For an instant, I thought i was him move. I silently prayed for him. Oh God, take him and make him safe and warm, but keep him close to me. And to him: I am so sorry I was not here for you. I was filled with guilt and anger, but kept those feelings contained. I just kept saying to myself that I loved him, over and over again…"
In Sinatra family, Frank Sinatra's death and the funeral arrangements were a total mess due to Barbara Sinatra. Sinatra's children weren't informed about Frank Sinatra's Death neither when he was taken to hospital nor during the 80 minutes when doctors were trying to save him. No doubt Barbara ordered the doctors and hospital not to inform them.
6 days after Frank Sinatra's death, on 20th of May, 1998, the Frank Sinatra's funeral took place at Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills.
In The Wee Small Hours, Moonlight In Vermont, Ave Maria and Put Your Dreams Away were played at the church and during the religious service during Frank Sinatra's funeral, along with some other songs probably.
Here is a video of Tina's, Frankie Jr's and Nancy Sinatra's comments on Put Your Dreams Away and how they explain the moment in the church during Frank Sinatra's funeral.
Nancy Sinatra: When my dad died, it was the only choice when the question came up which song of Frank's should be played at the end of the services and of course it had to be Put Your Dreams Away and there wasn't a dry eye in the church because it's that kind of an emotional song.
Francis Albert Sinatra was born in Hoboken (12th of December, 1915) and died at the age of 82 in Los Angeles, California. Frank Sinatra's death was shock for everyone. His grave is at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City. He was buried with a pack of Camel cigarettes, a bottle of Jack Daniels, a zippo lighter and dimes.
On the grave, it says "The Best Is Yet To Come".
My Life With Frank (Book)
By Ozgun Akalin|2017-06-10T00:19:39+03:00June 3rd, 2011|Categories: Books|Tags: Barbara Sinatra, Books, Frank Sinatra, My Life With Frank|
There are 2 kinds of book about Frank Sinatra. Ones that are written by people who never met Sinatra and collect information from various sources, and ones that are written by people who are from the family or business. The following book, named as "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank", is of the latter kind. It will be released on 31st of May, this month, and i think it could be a nice book if the content is satisfactory.
The author of the book "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank", Barbara Sinatra, is the last wife of Frank Sinatra. Their marriage lasted for 22 years and Barbara had a key role in Sinatra's life. She caused a lot of problems in the Sinatra family and she is also known for being a very disrespectful person to what remained from Sinatra.
These are of course what we know from the news or Tina's and Nancy's books. After 13 years, Barbara Sinatra takes the turn and will hopefully make things more clear and explain why she did so. I expect "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank" to shed light on family matters and similar things.
Below is the cover photo of "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank".
Thirty years after she first heard his voice singing on the jukebox at her local drive-in, Barbara Ann Blakely heard Frank Sinatra take the wedding vows that began his fourth, final, and most enduring marriage.
In Lady Blue Eyes, Barbara Sinatra's first public love letter to the husband she adored, she celebrates the sensational singer, possessive mate, sexy heartthrob, and devoted friend that she found in Frank. For more than two decades, Barbara was always by his side, traveling the globe and hosting glittering events for their famous friends, including presidents, kings, queens, Hollywood royalty, and musical legends. Among them were Sammy Davis, Jr., Princess Grace of Monaco, Bob Dylan, and Ronald Reagan. Each night, as Frank publicly wooed his bride with love songs from a concert stage, she'd fall in love with him all over again.
From her own humble beginnings in a small town in Missouri to her time as a fashion model and her marriage to Zeppo Marx, Barbara Sinatra reveals a life lived with passion, conviction, and grace. A founder of the Miss Universe pageant and a onetime Vegas showgirl, she raised her only son almost single-handedly in often dire circumstances until, after five years of tempestuous courtship, she and Frank committed to each other wholeheartedly. In stories that leap off the page, she takes us behind the scenes of her iconic husband's legendary career and paints an intimate portrait of a man who was variously generous, jealous, witty, and wicked. Coupled with revealing insights about many of Frank's celebrated songs, this is much more than the story of a showbiz marriage.
It is a story of passion and of a deep and lifelong love.
The text above is taken from "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank" page of Amazon.com.


text:
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Patriots vs. Bills Live Stream: How To Watch The Bills-Patriots NFL Playoff Game Live
The Red Sox and Astros meet in Game 4 of the ACLS!
The defending champs are in desperate need of a win as the Red Sox have rallied to win two in a row after their Game 1 loss. Last night, Nathan Eovaldi got the victory as the Boston defeated the Astros 8-2. Tonight, the Astros attempt to avoid going down 3-1 when righty Charlie Morton (15-3, 3.13 ERA) takes the mound. Will Houston even the series or will Boston go up 3-1? Let's find out!
How can you find a Red Sox/Astros live stream? Here's how to watch the ALCS online.
WHAT CHANNEL IS THE RED SOX GAME ON TONIGHT? WHAT TIME IS THE ASTROS GAME? WHAT TIME IS THE RED SOX GAME?
Today's game begins at 8:39 p.m. ET on TBS.
HOW CAN I FIND AN ASTROS/RED SOX LIVE STREAM? HOW CAN I FIND A FREE BOSTON RED SOX LIVE STREAM?
The Astros/Sox game will be available to watch on TBS, which means you can live stream the game on TBS.com as well as the Watch TBS app (available to download on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play). Unfortunately, you'll need to authenticate with a cable provider if you want stream the MLB playoffs via these options, so get your (or your friend's/parent's!) login credentials ready!
Another MLB playoffs live stream option is MLB.TV's Postseason Package. While you can live stream tonight's Astros/Sox game, not every postseason game is available through this service. For $24.99, you'll be able to stream every ALCS matchup, select NLCS games, and every Wold Series game. More information on this MLB live streaming option can be found here.
Additional Red Sox/Astros live stream options below.
HOW CAN I FIND A FREE TBS LIVE STREAM? HOW TO WATCH THE RED SOX GAME LIVE ONLINE FOR FREE:
Depending on your location, you may be able to stream the MLB Playoffs if you're a Sling TV, DIRECTV NOW, Hulu with Live TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV, or PlayStation Vue subscriber. More on these options (and free trials!) below.
CAN I LIVE STREAM THE MLB PLAYOFFS ON FUBOTV? CAN I FIND A HOUSTON ASTROS LIVE STREAM ON FUBOTV?
You bet. FuboTV is a streaming service that bundles live sport and entertainment channels. Starting at $44.99 a month (but $39.99 for the first month), you can stream over 90 channels, including NBC, TBS, FOX, NFL Network, USA, and FX. You can watch anywhere on any device including iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast.
New subscribers can sign up for a 7-day free trial!
HOW CAN I FIND A TBS LIVE STREAM VIA YOUTUBE TV?
YouTube TV allows you to live stream ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, TBS, and more. The service also features unlimited DVR storage space, and your subscription includes six accounts for $40 per month, with each profile getting its own recommendations and other personalized settings. Plus, you can cancel anytime.
YouTube TV is available for Google Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, and Android in select markets — including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco — and is a service that's offered to half of all U.S. households. New subscribers can sample the service with a free trial!
HOW CAN I FIND A FREE MLB LIVE STREAM ON SLING TV?
This is a terrific time to check out Sling TV. The service's Orange package, which includes access to ESPN, ESPN 2, TBS, AMC, Comedy Central, and more, normally costs $25 a month, but the company is currently offering subscribers a free one-week trial of the service. You can then either download the Sling desktop app (if you're watching on a desktop or laptop computer), or download the Sling app for iOS/Apple devices, Android, Roku, Microsoft, Nexus player, ZTE or XBox One.
CAN I LOCATE A RED SOX LIVE STREAM VIA HULU WITH LIVE TV?
With Hulu with Live TV you have the ability to watch live and on demand TV from 50+ top channels (like ESPN or TBS) for $39.99 a month. Plus, you also receive unlimited access to the Hulu Limited Commercials plan! Win/win. The service is available for Apple devices, Xbox One, Android, and other devices. New subscribers can take advantage of a 7-day free trial.
HOW CAN I FIND AN ASTROS GAME LIVE STREAM VIA DIRECTV NOW?
DIRECTV NOW is a streaming service from AT&T that you can enjoy for as little as $35 per month. Available to watch on your TV, computer, or while you're on the go, DIRECTV NOW offers flexible packages like the "Live a Little" package — which features 65+ channels (including ESPN, NBC, ABC, The CW, CBS, and more ) for $40 a month — and the "Gotta Have It" package — which features 125+ channels for $75 a month. You can download the DIRECTV NOW app on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.
Sound interesting? DIRECTV NOW is currently offering a free seven-day trial.
HOW CAN I SIGN UP FOR PLAYSTATION VUE?
Over 100 of your favorite channels — including ESPN, NBC, FOX, TNT, Comedy Central, and FX — are available with PlayStation Vue. The service also allows you to stream a multitude of TV stations on your favorite device without a cable or satellite subscription. From their "Access" package that includes 45+ channels for $44.99 a month to their "Ultra" package that includes 90 channels plus HBO and Showtime for $79.99 a month, the service offers a variety of exciting opportunities for cord-cutters. New subscribers can take advantage of a a 5-day free trial of PlayStation Vue.


Connect Think is looking for a highly driven, results-oriented individual to join our team in Indianapolis, IN. Connect Think is an Indianapolis-based company specializing in developing best-in-class, integrated software solutions for web, mobile, and desktop platforms for small start-ups to Fortune 500 clients. We help clients define, design, and develop a sustainable technology solution that fits your business today and for years to come.
Connect Think is a leader in the web, mobile, and desktop software solutions and is looking for an individual who excels at software development and consulting. If you enjoy the small business/fast-paced environment and love working with clients to solve their business problems using software development methodology, you may be a good fit.
Connect Think is seeking a Senior Software Developer to undertake a variety of software development, software architecture, and consulting tasks. The ideal candidate is a personable, organized, detail-oriented individual who can multitask in a fast-paced environment. Our Senior Development teams plays an integral part in ensuring Connect Think's operations run smoothly, software is designed and developed effectively and solves the issues our clients face. They work directly with Connect Think's business owners to make sure the company is successful.
The ideal candidate will be a self-starter and good communicator. We are looking for someone who can wear multiple hats, strives for excellence, and is looking for a daily opportunity to learn and grow in an exciting and diverse industry.
Is positive and highly service oriented.
Desires to learn and develop new skills.
Interested in working as part of a small team.
Has a strong work ethic.
Thrives in a changing, entrepreneurial environment.
Prefers to over-achieve rather than play it safe and under-deliver.
Is self-motivated and excited to share ideas.
Is a creative problem-solver with a "no task is too big or small" attitude.
Is dependable, responsible, and punctual.
Has a strong sense of discretion and professionalism.
Learns quickly and functions with limited supervision.
Moves quickly between different programming languages and environments effectively.
Takes responsibility and communicates with other team members and clients regarding potential issues and solutions.
Strives to keep projects on time and within budget.


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Series: Chasing an Edge
Speed Bumps: Why It's So Hard to Catch Cheaters in Track and Field
A cache of leaked blood tests showed hundreds of track athletes have recorded results "suggestive of doping." With the 2015 world track championships about to start, a look at why anti-doping tests are so ineffective.
by David Epstein
Aug. 20, 2015, 8 a.m. EDT
Investigating Drug Use in Track and Field
Earlier this month, London's Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD published a joint investigation on doping in track and field that included an analysis of 12,000 leaked blood tests from 5,000 athletes between 2001 and 2012. The tests had been carried out by the IAAF, track and field's international governing body. Two respected experts in doping methods said blood tests of 800 of the athletes were "highly suggestive of doping or at the very least abnormal." Ten runners who won medals in endurance events at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London had suspicious test results. And a startling 80 percent of Russian medalists recorded tests that showed likely doping. The vast majority of athletes with suspicious tests were never sanctioned.
Former Team Members Accuse Famed Coach Alberto Salazar of Breaking Drug Rules
Some top runners and others who've worked with Salazar allege that he experimented with testosterone and pressured athletes to use prescription medications they didn't need to gain a performance benefit. Read the story.
Salazar Disputes Allegations — Some of Which Were Never Made
In a lengthy response to stories by ProPublica and the BBC, Salazar addresses the allegations of former athletes and staff that he broke drug rules. Read the story.
On Saturday, the 2015 track and field world championships kick off and, of course, some athletes who are doping will vie for medals. Most will not be caught; only 1 to 2 percent of tests in international Olympic sports result in sanctions each year. If doping is so rife in track and field, why are athletes penalized so rarely? It's partly because many suspicious tests don't quite reach the high evidence bar to be considered officially positive. But it's also because doping athletes tend to employ methods that make drug testing extremely difficult. As Paul Scott, head of Scott Analytics, which provides testing services in multiple sports has put it: "Drug testing has a public reputation that far exceeds its capabilities."
Here's a look at why drug tests will never snare every cheater.
Looking for a (tiny) edge
Top-tier track and field has become so competitive that the margin of victory is often vanishingly small. In the men's 100 meters at the last Olympics, the difference between gold and silver was .12 seconds, less than the time it would take you to blink if a flashlight were shined in your face. The difference between silver and bronze was less than half that.
The tiny gap between winning and losing has led athletes to look for what they call marginal gains, whether that comes from extra sleep, better equipment or cheating. It also means that athletes needn't take the industrial strength drugs that some baseball players and Soviet Bloc athletes famously took. The most popular doping agents today are synthetic versions of natural hormones: testosterone and human growth hormone — which aid muscle building and workout recovery — and EPO, which causes the body to produce more oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Athletes have learned they can take small amounts — known as "microdosing"— to evade detection and still get the benefits.
Why is it so difficult to detect?
For starters, accurately measuring the presence of tiny concentrations of drugs — particularly synthetic versions of natural hormones — is difficult. For the sake of calling a test positive, it's even more difficult. Consider the ubiquitous anti-doping test known as the T/E ratio. "T" is testosterone and "E" is another hormone called epitestosterone, a natural product of steroid metabolism that provides no benefit. Most people have a T/E ratio of 1-to–1. But there is natural variation among people, so the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) set the T/E ratio limit at 4-to–1. If a test goes above that, it is deemed suspicious and testing for synthetic testosterone ensues. This gives an athlete with a typical T/E ratio room to dope before hitting 4-to–1, and even small amounts of testosterone provide benefit. To make matters worse for drug testers, for many people, an elevated T/E ratio will quickly return to normal, even as the benefits of the drug are just beginning. Christiane Ayotte, director of the WADA-accredited lab in Montreal, knows that athletes are slipping through the porous T/E screen every day. She once said that she "cannot retire until we've found a better probe." This is one reason why it's important that athletes are tested repeatedly and, ideally, outside of competition without advance notice.
Still, athletes focused on cheating can find a way. A clever doper might add epitestosterone to the testosterone they take to keep their ratio within allowable limits. That was what made "the cream" of BALCO-scandal fame so difficult to detect.
Even if the T/E ratio test were perfect, some athletes would slip through simply because their genes alter how testosterone shows up in their urine. In these athletes, their T/E ratio wouldn't rise even if they took testosterone, and for some, it actually falls. In the first study documenting this, two-thirds of Koreans and 10 percent of Swedes tested had the sail-past-drug-testing physiology.
There's a testing method called CIR — carbon isotope ratio testing — that does not rely on the T/E ratio and can distinguish between natural and synthetic testosterone. Ayotte has caught athletes in random testing with CIR even though they had normal T/E ratios. CIR measures the ratio of types of carbon atoms in urine — which differs between natural and synthetic testosterone. Sprinter Justin Gatlin, a favorite to win the 100 at the world championships, was sanctioned based on a CIR test even though he didn't go above a T/E of 4-to–1. But the CIR test is costly and laborious, so it's typically only done to follow up a suspicious T/E ratio. And it's also far from foolproof. An athlete might stick to small doses because the test isn't sensitive enough to detect the synthetic testosterone in urine at low concentrations. It's also likely that kitchen chemists who work in sports doping are engineering synthetic testosterone with just the right ratio to beat the CIR tests. The hope of drug testers is that by combining various testing methods they raise the chances of catching a habitual cheater.
What about the Athlete Biological Passport?
The biological passport is a newer method of doping detection that tracks particular blood variables for individual athletes over time. It debuted in 2009 and has been updated since then. By monitoring things like the percentage of new red blood cells and the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin, the passport documents physiologic trends for each athlete. In this way, a baseline profile is established — basically a minimum and maximum value for each variable for that athlete. The athlete could get in trouble if a future test shows a variable well outside the profile.
Before the passport, testers needed to detect a drug — or the chemicals that the drug breaks down into — in the body. The passport simply documents the effects of the drug. Thus, it has a longer testing window, and can detect previously undetectable doping methods, like when an athlete transfuses their own blood. Known as "blood doping," athletes remove and refrigerate their blood, wait until their bodies regenerate the blood supply, then transfuse the refrigerated blood. The athlete ends up with a significant advantage: a lot more oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Because it's their own blood, none of the older doping tests would pick it up. The passport, though, would document the reaction of the athlete's body. When stored blood is reinjected, the athlete's body would ramp down production of red blood cells. If the opposite occurred — an athlete's body produced an unusually high proportion of new red blood cells — it could indicate the use of injected EPO, which signals the body to make them.
After the biological passport was introduced in cycling, the percentage of tests that showed unusual proportions of new red blood cells was more than cut in half, suggesting the test was having some deterrent effect. Lance Armstrong famously posted a series of his drug tests from 2008 and 2009 to prove that he wasn't doping after his comeback. He didn't fail any single test, but taken as a timeline, the tests look like the signature of blood transfusions. (When Armstrong confessed doping to Oprah in 2013, he still denied doping post-comeback.)
Okay, then why wasn't he sanctioned?
So many devils in so many details. It is highly unlikely that Armstrong's blood profile could've occurred naturally. And yet, it wasn't so conspicuous as to reach the level required for a definitive positive.
In order for such a review to be triggered, the offending test result has to be so unusual that there's a 99.9 percent chance that it's a true positive. So if there's only a 99 percent chance, that's not good enough. This means there's room for athletes who are very likely, but not conclusively, doping to slip through. In one study, for example, when the 99 percent probability was used, 10 of 11 subjects who were transfusing blood as part of the anti-doping research were caught through biological passport testing. But there was also one false positive. When the probability limit was set to 99.9 percent, only eight of 11 doping subjects were caught, but with no false positives. (And these subjects weren't making specific efforts to avoid detection, as pro athletes often do.) Anti-doping is like the criminal justice system in the sense that it is constructed to keep the number of false positives to a minimum at the cost of letting some false negatives slip through what are, in fact, pretty big cracks.
Yikes, so the burden of proof is really on the testers.
Yes, and because the passport constitutes a very indirect form of drug testing — unlike some pre-employment testing which looks for direct metabolites of drugs like cocaine — athletes get the chance to try to explain abnormal results. And there actually are some good explanations. Blood count measurements can vary 10 percent or more just based on how hydrated an athlete is, the time of day, even the athlete's body position during the test, not to mention training at altitude or sleeping in tents that simulate altitude.
And don't forget natural human variation. Populations of elite athletes tend to include at least some people with physiology that is rather extreme compared to most normal people. For example, one recent U.S. gold medalist naturally has a T/E ratio of 11-to–1, and a cross-country skier who won seven Olympic medals famously had 50 percent more red blood cells than his peers due to a rare genetic mutation. The line for a positive test has to be set very conservatively because we know there are natural outliers, particularly among pro competitors. Even athletes with clearly abnormal results sometimes walk away clean, and some of them actually are clean.
What about testing for human growth hormone?
Similar difficulties, only worse. Back in 2013, the NFL and the NFL players' union were bickering over whether to implement HGH testing. Rarely discussed was the fact that the test probably wasn't going to catch anyone anyway. The most common test for HGH is called the "isoform test." The isoform test looks for a ratio of different weights (or isoforms) of growth hormone in the body. One isoform weighs 20 kilodaltons and the other 22 kilodaltons. Synthetic HGH comes only in the 22-kilodalton variety. So if an athlete injects synthetic HGH, the drug throws off the ratio of isoforms in the body, and the test looks for the altered ratio. But the ratio corrects itself in hours. Plus, to account for natural variation, the limit for a positive test is set way beyond normal, which means an athlete using HGH would really have to get unlucky with test timing to get caught. In a study, even the subjects who were intentionally doped with HGH for research did not quite reach positive-test territory.
When the NFL and the players' union were having their spat, nobody mentioned that of 10,000 HGH tests around the world, only a dozen had come back positive. Importantly, one of those tests — a cross-country skier's — was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which handles the final appeal if an athlete contests a doping sanction. The court deemed the "decision limit" for a positive test had not been sufficiently proven as scientifically valid. In its ruling, even the CAS panel seemed to acknowledge the skier—who had a very abnormal test result—was probably cheating. But the court wanted more scientific evidence proving that there was a 99.99 percent chance that the skier's test was a true positive.
For HGH in particular, there is a better test called the "biomarker test," which looks for changes in blood parameters after HGH injection. But that has generally been sparsely used due to the lack of a steady supply of testing kits.
Is there any hope?
Yes and no. As anti-doping authorities collect more biological passport data, they will have a better picture of what abnormal results look like, and can set the bar for a positive test less conservatively. And new biological markers that can be tested for evidence of doping will surely be discovered. But it is unlikely that anti-doping will reach the point where an athlete who is microdosing and carefully engineering their blood profile can't potentially slip through unnoticed.
It helps that anti-doping authorities are constantly adding tests. Last year, biological passport profiling for steroids was added to the system that was already looking for blood doping. They've also employed DNA analysis to determine when athletes have submitted someone else's urine. (Think former Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith and his "Whizzinator.") Plus, samples from major championships are now stored for 10 years so that they can be re-tested with new methods. The IAAF recently suspended 28 athletes after re-testing samples from previous track and field championships. Those suspensions could result in two American athletes — Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan —being upgraded from 10K bronzes in the world championships and Olympics, respectively, to silvers.
Still, even as technology has improved, the proportion of worldwide samples that test positive remains at about 1 to 2 percent year after year. The dopers and anti-dopers may be in technological lockstep. Perhaps the greatest innovation in modern anti-doping is the rise of investigations that lead to "non-analytical positives," as with Lance Armstrong, who liked to note that he'd never failed a test.
If you find the testing situation in Olympic sports depressing, remember that the WADA-approved testing regimen is the absolute gold standard in sports. Major League Baseball comes the closest — but not all that close — among the major pro sports leagues. The reason more athletes in those leagues aren't being sanctioned for doping probably isn't because it isn't occurring.
Michael J. Joyner is a physiologist and expert in human performance at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The views expressed here are his own.
Correction, Aug. 20, 2015: This article originally said blood samples taken at major track championships are stored for eight years. They are stored for 10 years.
David Epstein covered science and medicine issues as well as sports science. Prior to joining ProPublica, he was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated.
@DavidEpstein


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Rotondesi – abitanti di Rotonda (Italia)
Rotondesi – abitanti di Rotondi

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Take A Tour Of Luxurious $900K Victorian That Features Olive Orchard
By Adrianna MacPherson/April 19, 2022 12:58 pm EST
If ornate Queen Anne-style Victorian homes have always been one of your favorite styles, you won't want to miss the chance to check out a California property that recently went on the market. The Victorian-style home in Oroville, California, was built in 1890 and has a classic Queen Anne exterior that offers some stunning curb appeal — although the general color palette is a bit tamer than some of the other Queen Anne homes you may know and love, such as the famous Painted Ladies in San Francisco, according to Curbed.
The home itself is a country estate, with the property located on a 16.42 acre lot, so the eventual owner will be surrounded by natural splendor in the private spot. Though the home itself is well over 100 years old, the Realtor.com listing specifies that fairly extensive renovations were completed in the 1970s, so the house is the perfect blend of Victorian decor details and embellishments paired with some modernized amenities and conveniences.
The home features 3,688 square feet of living space, which includes four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. It went on the market just under two weeks ago for an asking price of $895,000 — read on to learn more about the chic, moody Victorian in sunny California.
Major curb appeal — and scenic grounds
The estate is on some stunning land, and the Realtor.com listing flags that the abundance of flowering shrubs and trees paired with walkways and a perfectly landscaped lawn gives the estate a park-like setting. The home has a gorgeous pale yellow exterior with ornate white trim to incorporate that traditional Queen Anne look, albeit in a less vibrant hue.
There are also a variety of uniquely-shaped windows that add some visual interest, as well as brick detailing along the staircase leading up to the front door. One of the most eye-catching exterior features, however, is the double column wrap-around porch that adds some serious square footage, and would be the perfect spot for a party to spill out onto during the warm California weather. There's also vintage-inspired lighting along the porch, for when the sun dips down but you're not quite ready to come inside.
The property also contains a swimming pool for splashing in the California sunshine, a fountain, a hot tub, a gazebo, and a koi pond, so you can really enjoy the splendor of nature while wandering along the grounds. There's also a historic barn, perfect for individuals who want to take advantage of the bucolic paradise. Finally, environmentalists will love that the property is powered by a solar array, and foodies won't be able to resist the fruit orchard and grove of over 100 olive trees — there truly is something for everyone at this gorgeous California estate.
Entertaining in style
The minute guests enter through the ornate front doors of this Victorian property, they're greeted with a gorgeous foyer with original wood flooring and ornate millwork around the room. The foyer also features a cozy nook with built-in bookshelves, ideal for catching up on your latest reads, as well as eye-catching wallpaper that makes a serious style statement. The foyer's main feature is a breathtaking wood staircase that leads to the second floor, as the Realtor.com photos highlight.
In addition to the foyer, the home has a stunning great room with coffered ceilings that add some visual interest, a brick fireplace that accentuates the home's historic details, as well as unique curved windows, and built-in padded seating that creates the perfect spot to relax, sip tea, read, or just enjoy the views of the lush grounds. Currently, the room features moody dark red paint and darker wood, but you could certainly change up the feel with a different palette or different furnishings.
A formal dining room nearby, complete with another fireplace, is the perfect spot for hosting dinner parties, and a set of stained glass doors lead to the kitchen, which has been revamped to make it a bright, airy space with white cabinetry and butcher block countertops. For more casual gatherings, the kitchen is also open to a breakfast room, which features a few windows that make the room a sunny spot to start the day.
A chic and cozy retreat
The second level of the property is where the bedrooms are located, in addition to a full bathroom (although, as per Realtor.com, there's another full bathroom complete with clawfoot bathtub downstairs, so the second story can remain private). Deep red paint, floral wallpaper, and rich wood doors and trim highlight the Victorian aesthetic in the upper level's halls, although the hardwood flooring has been swapped with a neutral white carpet. Each bedroom features tall ceilings, custom wallpaper, and large windows, including bay windows that create a perfect spot to enjoy the sunshine.
The master bedroom, however, is a true showstopper, with a cozy seating area nestled in front of a set of bay windows, as well as a marble wood-burning fireplace that adds a chic and cozy vibe to the master suite. The master suite has been done in a very neutral color palette, providing a blank slate for any future homeowners to put their own personal twist on.
The renovated upstairs bathroom effortlessly blends modern touches with a vintage influence, creating a serene space. White wainscoting covers the lower portion of the wall while the rest has been painted a soft sage green. The marble-topped vanity looks like a piece of antique furniture, and small details such as metallic gilded frames around a few pictures and the mirror finish off the space. And, of course, there's an incredible clawfoot tub nestled in beneath a small window, the perfect addition to any vintage-inspired bathroom.


Sometimes — even in the most complex of organizations, which software behemoth Microsoft most certainly is — it does come down to a simple choice.
And in the case of the seemingly sudden departure of Windows head Steve Sinofsky yesterday, several high-level sources at the company said that it came down to former CEO and co-founder Bill Gates's backing of current CEO Steve Ballmer in the controversial decision to part ways with the powerful exec.
The goal? To better allow various units to work together more closely going forward.
While Gates — who is now chairman of Microsoft's board — has had a longtime and very close relationship with Sinofsky, he supported the move by Ballmer to promote more integration of Microsoft's other divisions and also involve other top executives more significantly than ever before in the planning and development of the next version of Windows.
This more collegial cross-division effort was different from the closely held, command-and-control and even secretive method for which Sinofsky had been well-known throughout the company. In fact, numerous sources said, it was anathema to him.
In this regard, Sinofsky was not known as someone who played well with others. While considered highly effective and "deeply brilliant" by most for being able to lasso Microsoft's most important unit, he also had a longstanding reputation for being very difficult to work with.
And that includes working with Ballmer, who sources said Sinofsky had clashed with, and who also had been wary of Sinofsky, especially since he had been one of the internal candidates mentioned as a possible CEO successor.
Sources at Microsoft did not waste a moment to point out that the situation was akin to the tension between ousted software exec Scott Forstall at Apple and its new CEO Tim Cook.
A favorite of the late CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs, who protected the prickly Forstall from criticism, his continued challenges after Cook took the reins at Apple ended with a similarly sudden departure.
Except in Sinofsky's case it was not as sudden as it seemed. AllThingsD had gotten wind of preparation for his departure over the last several weeks, from a number of sources inside and outside Microsoft, even as Sinofsky readied the significant launches of both Windows 8 and Surface.
In fact, I had queried Microsoft about Sinofsky's possible plans to leave over the weekend, but company spokesman Frank Shaw had declined to comment.
But even for those who are cheering the move internally, the departure of Sinofsky now leaves a decided leadership void in the upper ranks of the company.
Sinofsky demonstrated the ability to both tame the massive beast that is Windows and to push the operating system in new directions, all while hitting deadlines. Even with his challenging personality, those are significant feats.
Still, that accomplishment was often overshadowed by Sinofsky's willingness to mix it up with other execs.
That included tussles with former chief software architect Ray Ozzie — who left Microsoft in 2010, in part after battling against Sinofsky over how the cloud-based world was shaping up, and how Microsoft should respond.
Sinofsky's departure is not without risk, because it's not clear who at the company now has both the business and technical savvy to predict where the industry is going, and to point the company in that direction.
And it's also uncertain if it is possible for Microsoft to now pull as a team at all, given the company's longtime and decidedly pronounced proclivity for siloed fiefdoms like Sinofsky had built at Windows — an empire that will now, presumably, be disassembled for a new and more cohesive structure.
Of course, but sources said that among the key execs to look at in this regard are Online Services head Qi Lu and Servers & Tools President Satya Nadella.
Both have deep technological talents, as well as being well-liked at Microsoft.
More on what the Sinofsky departure means for them next.