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TBT: John Adams, Episode 6
By Sarah Lorraine on June 18, 2020 in Eighteenth Century
We're recapping the 2008 miniseries John Adams each week because the 18th-century costumes and American history are just that good! Catch up with previous episodes here.
I gotta be honest… Now that the show has moved into the late-1790s I'm less interested in the costumes. Doesn't mean they're not nice, it's just the Regency era is one big "MEH" from me.
Jefferson has a nice outfit, but it's brown and blah. I mean … It's really subdued for him, but maybe that's because he's Vice President and has to look more sober and serious and less … I dunno … French?
I wanted to get a good shot of the ladies in the background, but of course the dreaded shaky cam thwarted me. Also, I'm fairly certain Jefferson was making eyes at them…
Again, another shot of extras in nice/interesting costumes that aren't really visible because it's literally a throw-away scene.
Ugh. What is he still doing here? Captain Smith basically tells Adams that he's ditching his wife and kids with him to go off on some harebrained adventure (and debt-dodging scheme? I was unclear). Of course John is not thrilled. (In reality, of course, it is for a good cause, please don't murder me in the comments.)
Abigail is wearing a really nice navy blue lightweight overgown, while Nabby is wearing a kind of sickly lavender roundgown. Obviously, this color choice is foreshadowing Nabby's illness.
A better look at Abby's gown. From this point forward we will see her wearing a lot of cross-front dresses, WHICH I LOVE. Seriously, I'm a little obsessed with cross-front dresses. It was my longstanding dream to make one from every era.
The Adamses attend the opera. There's a lot of nice Regency outfits to be seen. I liked the stark contrast between the bold red/white/blue of the bunting and the austere fashions of the elite.
I lightened the fuck out of this image so we could see Abby's dark green (?) velvet frock, but obviously it didn't have much of an effect. The difference between how dark and somber the Adamses are dressed compared to the light colors of the women on either side is definitely intentional.
Meanwhile, back at the executive residence, Abby is dressed in a moss green silk drop-front gown. You will see more of this dress in a later scene. The portrait behind her looks very similar to an extant portrait of Abigail, but it isn't the same.
Fast-forward a bunch of plot, Abby and Nabby are working on the farm and discussing Captain Smith's success (or lack there of).
More fast-forward … The new executive mansion (i.e., future White House) is getting underway. It is, of course, being built on a swamp and is VERY … rustic.
The camera lingers over the countless slaves who are toiling away to build the White House. Their clothes are out of date, but well-fitted if not shabby.
Enslaved women carrying various things on their heads turn to watch the carriage arrive with the President and First Lady. Abby is horrified that slave labor is being used to build the nation's capitol: "Half-fed slaves building our nation's capital. What possible good could come from such a place?"
The President and First Lady dine in the unfinished Executive Mansion under the watchful gaze of General Washington: "Is he welcoming us or showing us the way out?"
I was super annoyed that the camera didn't give us enough of a good look at Abby's black striped gown. The best I could do was this back view. Either way, Charles Adams is not doing so well … alcoholism and bad decisions have caught up with him and he's not long for the world.
Back at the Executive Mansion, Abby gets word that Charles has died. Here's that drop-front gown seen earlier.
Abby is PISSED that John won't utter more than a few neutral words about their son's passing. She gets up and walks off, resolving to leave for Peacefield as soon as possible to be there to bury her child.
One of the last shots of the episode is of Abigail, surveying the frigid landscape as slaves are still toiling away to build the White House, waiting for the carriage to take her away and back to Peacefield. She's wearing a wool redingote in a subdued green.
What did you think of Episode 6? Share with us in the comments!
Tags1790s1800sAmerican RevolutionDonna ZakowskaHBOinspired by a true storyJohn AdamsrecapsRegencyTV
Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter: the Frock Flicks Guide
The Great – Recap Episodes 5 & 6
Shashwat June 18th, 2020
Abigail's dresses are very impressive.They give us the idea that she is a warm,caring person but her attires are gorgeous.Jefferson looks a bit too mellowed down,especially after the lavender beauty of the previous episodes.
Is "Adamses" a legit expression?I always fail to use the plural of a surname when it ends with an 's' but 'es' sounds a bit weird.
Roxana. June 18th, 2020
Please. Yes it's true that slaves were rented from their masters to build Washington DC. But it's also true they worked alongside free black laborers, immigrant laborers and white stonemasons. In other words white people should be working on the White house alongside the black laborers, slave and free.
ConsiderTheBees (@Wildfyrewarning) June 18th, 2020
Why would Abigail be worried about free workmen? She is specifically noticing and responding to the moral atrocity of slavery, and the unmitigated hypocrisy of using them to build the capital.
There is the question of how she could tell free blacks from slaves. But what I meant was there should have been white people working on the site too.
M.E. Lawrence June 18th, 2020
Love the lighting, especially when Abigail and John are eating supper and Abigail is standing alone in the drawing room; it always worries me when non-royal households of that era are supposedly spending a fortune on good candles just to give us viewers a better look at the characters.
I see your point about accuracy but I do like to be able to see what I'm watching! 😀
Charity June 19th, 2020
I wonder if they chose colors intentionally to wash Nabby out and make her look more sickly? That lavender doesn't suit her at all (but would look great on me, ha, ha).


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I pull my ankles up to sit cross-legged on a pale yellow cushion in the wrought iron chair with the sea-green tint over grey on the patio. I know magic because I have been here before. I have been deep in magic and go there now. I sit in the warm spring sun and forget about my cup of coffee on the little round green table. A bee circling below my feet crawls across the cement beneath the chair. I know it's there but don't look. I sit in the center of the warm cement slabs on the pale yellow cushion in the iron chair with the sea-green tint over grey surrounded by trees and large leafy plants in the yard scattered with white and yellow and pinkish red flowers against the fence.
Time goes away when I close my eyes and listen. I listen to everything at once. Not one at a time, all at once taking effort at first. I listen to the outside, to the many varieties of bird calls, to the dog after a squirrel, to the wind, the traffic, the voices of passerby and neighbors, to a distant siren, to my friend saying something inside the house, I listen to this chorus and allow myself to drop into it. I listen until finally I almost completely stop hearing. I no longer hear all the different bird calls because now I feel them instead. Feel them all around me and inside myself, feel them in my being, feel the boundaries of my body melt. Until one sound begins to stands out. The sound of one bird's call vibrating deep within in my system like a drum, this call sounds like a blue light.
I don't think about my lost friend, don't think about my lover, don't think about the tears I cried for an entire year, and the years before, don't think about writing, about work, about pressure. I don't think about them but they are all still here. I just feel all of them and feel calm with them. I could stay here much longer in this chair and listen with my whole body. I let my mind travel somewhere else inside myself. So far beyond my thoughts and feelings I can no longer move. My body shuts off. Then disappears. Whatever's left after this, the rest of me absorbs the light and sound and the elements of wind, the pollen. Whatever's left feels so in love with this world, all of it. Whatever's left accepts everything as is. Whatever's left stays forever in this place and doesn't resist. The warm spring sun I forget I am sitting in to enjoy in the chair I no longer feel, is what I become.


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Monkeys and Shakespeare
Submitted by david on Thu, 11/02/2010 - 12:17pm
I was lucky enough to get included in the Horizon programme on Infinity last night, talking about the old monkey-Shakespeare issue. Of course most of my rambling contribution was (rightly) cut, so here's a few background details for anyone interested.
Read more about Monkeys and Shakespeare
The risks of Eggstasy
Submitted by david on Thu, 04/02/2010 - 4:43pm
There has been extensive coverage of a box of 6 eggs found to be all double-yoked:an event that was given odds of a trillion to 1 against. This was based on the British Egg Information Service saying 0.1% ( 1 in 1000) eggs were double-yoked, and so getting six of these required these odds to be multiplied 6 times. In fact this gives 1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000, but which was reported as a trillion (now usually taken as 1,000,000,000,000).
The Daily Mail did a good demolition of this story, and it is a good example of what can go wrong when people try and work out chances.
Read more about The risks of Eggstasy
Darwin College 2010 lecture series on Risk
The Darwin College lecture series this year is on the subject of Risk. The lectures are being filmed and are accessible either through the University Video Server or via a search on iTunes.
Read more about Darwin College 2010 lecture series on Risk
Professor Risk
David Spiegelhalter's proper title is Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk. He is in two minds (literally) about playing it safe or chucking caution to the wind. Decisions, decisions!? Are bacon sandwiches really that dangerous and is it wise to drive when you love cycling? David shows us how to use statistics to face up to life's major risks.
Read more about Professor Risk
Can you rank hospitals like football teams?
Submitted by david on Sun, 06/12/2009 - 4:16pm
Elsewhere on this site we talk about the difficulties in making reliable rankings of footbal teams, but at least people can agree that winning matches is a reasonable way to measure the quality of a team. Hospitals are different - even something 'obvious' such as mortality statistics may not be the best way to asses patient safety. This is an article that appeared in the Times on December 2nd, with suitable links added.
Read more about Can you rank hospitals like football teams?
What are the chances of successful fertility treatment?
Submitted by david on Wed, 21/10/2009 - 5:50pm
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) recently launched their 'Choose a Fertility Clinic' website which provides a huge range of information about each clinic licenced by the HFEA, with a lot of fairly complex statistics. The website carefully avoids direct comparisons and any hint of a 'league table', but here we look at whether we can draw statistically-valid conclusions about whether some clinics, for whatever reason, really do provide higher chances of success than others.
Read more about What are the chances of successful fertility treatment?
Football League Tables
In this video David Spiegelhalter talks about uncertainty in major league football. How much is a team's league position due to luck and how much is due to skill?
Read more about Football League Tables
Chris Jordan: Picturing Excess
Artist Chris Jordan shows us an arresting view of what Western culture looks like. His supersized images picture some almost unimaginable statistics -- like the astonishing number of paper cups we use every single day.
Read more about Chris Jordan: Picturing Excess

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Gay Pulp Fiction
Jesse's Journal
Jesse Monteadudo	on November 1, 2019
The Stonewall National Museum in Wilton Manors is a valuable resource for anyone interested in LGBTQ history and culture. Until Nov. 8, Stonewall features an exhibit, "PULP: Erotic Paperbacks in Gay Male Culture," researched by Skip Moskey and organized by Joe Madura. "From the late 1950s, a robust gay publishing industry produced a steady stream of cheap paperback books exploring homosexuality as a practice and a burgeoning culture. Pulp fiction prompted men to navigate imaginatively their own sexual impulses and curiosities, many for the first time. Gay male pulp fiction, as it is now known, was a key element in the evolution of a diverse gay male identity and self-expression in the U.S. Using Stonewall National Museum America's extensive archival collection, this exhibition highlights several late 20th-century authors and contextualizes their books as cultural artifacts within the rise and fall of pulp fiction." Like physique magazines, gay pulps played an important part in LGBTQ culture of the 20th Century.
The rise and fall of gay pulp fiction is the topic of "The Golden Age of Gay Fiction" and "1960s Gay Pulp Fiction," both edited by Drewey Wayne Gunn. In his introduction to the first book, Gunn wrote about the historical importance of fiction that was "for, by, about and out" gay men. Contrary to popular belief, the gays who populated pre-Stonewall pulps were not always doomed "to suicide, institutionalization or (assumed) celibacy." Rather, gay pulp heroes "never practiced celibacy (quite the contrary!), did not kill themselves and were institutionalized, if at all, only in prisons (in order to have lots of sex with guards and fellow convicts). Even more extraordinary, they often fell in love, and though monogamy was seldom part of their vows, they fully intended to live lives committed to others unto death." Critic David Seubert described the world of gay pulps as a "homotopia … where everything is imbued with sexual content, no one is straight and characters stumble into one sexual encounter after another without danger, fear, or for that matter, without even really trying."
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But gay pulp fiction did more than make gay sex writing possible. According to Gunn, "it is among the pulps that such distinctive genres as gay horror, the gay gothic, the gay mystery, the gay spy story, the gay cop story and the gay western developed." "The Golden Age of Gay Fiction" includes examples of gay science fiction, gay mystery, gay horror, gay western and gay military fiction, genres that were already well-established by the time the militants faced the cops at the Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall Museum exhibit honors such pulp greats as Vin Packer (Marijane Meaker), Samuel Steward and John Preston. Other writers who were prolific in the genre include Victor J. Banis, who wrote pulps using various pen names — Don Holliday, Victor Jay and J. X. Williams, among others — and Larry Townsend, who specialized in SM and leatherfiction.
One of the most important gay books of the 20th century, which set the tone for all gay pulp novels, was Richard Amory's "Song of the Loon: A Gay Pastoral in Five Books and an Interlude" (Greenleaf Classics). While of doubtful literary value, "Song of the Loon" made gay literary history with its explicit depictions of gay male sex, its positive portrayal of male love and its poetic, almost mystical vision of a gay brotherhood that transcends racial and cultural barriers. For this gay western, Amory took characters from the novels of Jorge de Montemayor and Gaspar Gil Polo, painted them gay, and transplanted them to the American wilderness. Angelo d'Arcangelo compared "Song of the Loon" to James Fenimore Cooper's "Last of the Mohicans" and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Hiawatha," while this humble critic described the book's protagonist, Ephraim MacIver, as "Natty Bumppo after Stonewall." "Song of the Loon" was so popular that it inspired a soft-core porn movie of the same title, two sequels — "Song of Aaron" and "Listen, The Loon Sings" — and even a parody, "Fruit of the Loon" by "Ricardo Armory." Long out of print "Song of the Loon" returned to print a few years ago, in a handsome edition published by Vancouver's Arsenal Pulp Press as part of its Little Sister's line of LGBTQ classics.
This article owes its existence to the late Drewey Wayne Gunn, to 'American Gay Erotic Paperbacks: A Bibliography' by Tom Norman, and to the author's collection of pulps.
Alfred Kinsey 'was our Stonewall.' – Samuel Steward
A (Long) History of Physique Magazines
Nearly 25 years on and 'Prayers for Bobby' is still saving lives
The rise of the ballroom scene through the ages
Trial, Terror and Treatment
Tag: Angelo d'Arcangelo, Arsenal Pulp Press, culture, David Seubert, Don Holliday, Ephraim MacIver, erotic, Gaspar Gil Polo, gay, gay gothic, gay male culture, gay mystery, gay spy story, Henry Wadsworth Lonfellow, Hiawatha, homosexuality, homotopoia, J.X. Williams, James Fenimore Cooper, Joe Madura, John Preston, Jorge de Montemayor, Larry Townsend, Last of the Mohicans, lgbtq, Print Edition 2019-11-01, Pulp, pulp fiction, Richard Amory, Samuel Steward, Skip Moskey, SM leatherfiction, Song of the Loon, stonewall inn, Stonewall National Museum, U.S. Drewey Wayne Gunn, Victor J. Banis, Victor Jay, Vin Packer, Wilton Manors
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Published: 22.08.202012:29 Updated: 23.08.202014:00
70X1H
The story of the hero before he became a legend. His name became a symbol of leadership, justice and passion that led him to form an army of soldiers and common people that believed in the ideal of a free land. A fervent man, in the battlefield and in his personal life: the series portrays the details of his stormy love life; his mother's death when he was a child; the death of his first wife a few months after they married; his multiple lovers, when he stopped believing in love; and finally, his passionate love affair with Manuelita Saenz, who played a major role in his revolutionary contend. Bolivar gave his life for his people, crossing borders and leaving an indelible legacy in the hearts of all those who believe in union, fraternity and freedom.
Paloma García Cuesta
International Sales Director Europe and Africa
E-mail: pgarciac@caracoltv.com.co
www.caracolinternacional.com
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Yesterday, I had a little Valentines shoot. Just me. I boondocked in the middle of Death Valley. I woke up for sunrise, a rare event for me, and hiked up to Zabriskie Point. Talk about otherworldly. I'd been hanging in Death Valley for a few days, but I still haven't had enough of all the crazy sand formations. Zabriskie Point, especially when you get down into Badlands Loop, really is like walking on Mars. And when the sun hits the hills in the morning, the shadows change by the minute.
An hour after sunrise all the tourists had left. It was pure magic backlighting her pink dress in front of a labyrinth of gold colored badlands. Soon the sun was up. We hopped in the truck and drove down the road a bit to Furnace Creek Inn. Talk about an awesome wedding venue! This place is smack dab in the middle of Death Valley.
I must have worked up an appetite because afterward I was starving. And so I headed to Furnace Creek Inn and had the most delicious omelets. Then I sat out on the porch drinking our coffee and pinching myself.


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package cl.monsoon.s1next.util;

import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
import java.util.Calendar;
import java.util.Date;
import java.util.Locale;

public final class DateUtil {

    private DateUtil() {}

    /**
     * Used to construct {@link com.bumptech.glide.signature.StringSignature}s
     * to invalidate avatar every day.
     */
    public static String today() {
        return getSimpleDateFormatInstance().format(new Date());
    }

    /**
     * Used to construct {@link com.bumptech.glide.signature.StringSignature}s
     * to invalidate avatar every week.
     */
    public static String dayOfWeek() {
        Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance();
        calendar.setFirstDayOfWeek(Calendar.MONDAY);
        calendar.set(Calendar.DAY_OF_WEEK, calendar.getFirstDayOfWeek());
        return getSimpleDateFormatInstance().format(calendar.getTime());
    }

    /**
     * Used to construct {@link com.bumptech.glide.signature.StringSignature}s
     * to invalidate avatar every month.
     */
    public static String dayOfMonth() {
        Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance();
        calendar.set(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH, 1);
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    }

    private static final class SimpleDateFormatHolder {

        private static final String TEMPLATE = "yyyy-MM-dd";

        private static final SimpleDateFormat INSTANCE = new SimpleDateFormat(TEMPLATE, Locale.getDefault());
    }

    /**
     * Initialization on Demand Holder.
     * <p>
     * See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initialization-on-demand_holder_idiom
     */
    private static synchronized SimpleDateFormat getSimpleDateFormatInstance() {
        return SimpleDateFormatHolder.INSTANCE;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Bolshoi ballerina keeps vow to her mentor
CBS News: A Bolshoi ballerina is headlining this holiday season's performances of "The Nutcracker" at Westside School of Ballet in this California beach community.Joy Womack, the first American woman to be admitted to the Bolshoi Ballet, was fulfilling a promise that she had made to her mentor, Yvonne Mounsey, a co-founder of the ballet school who died in September. Read More
Teen finds perfect balance on stage
Herald Standard: With a passion for dance coupled with hard work and a degree of diligence, the 15-year-old from California honed his skill at a number of dance schools — the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Shirley Dean's School of Ballet and Modern Dance, the Pennsylvania Southern Performing Arts Academy, the Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy and the Fayette School of Ballet. Read More
Bring on the Bolshoi: Preston girl off to study at world-class ballet company in Moscow
Valley Record: Chloe, the daughter of Wade Heninger and Kristin Bennett of Preston, is well on her way toward that goal, since she began her training with the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow last month. She was offered a place in the academy in September, after she unknowingly auditioned for the spot during a three-week camp, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive, in Connecticut last summer. Read More
Armenian Youth Wow Audience at Carnegie Hall
Armenian Weekly: Sat., Oct. 13 was both a revelation and a celebration, as 30 young people, aged 10-18, wowed an appreciative audience, showcasing their individual musical talents. This was the fourth annual "Direct Help for Armenian People" (DHAP) performance, and this year it was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia's membership to the United Nations….Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian, thanked the parents, grandparents, and jury members who had auditioned dozens of young musicians. She introduced Marina Kovalyov, president of the Russian American Foundation, who has been a supporter of DHAP. Read More
Following in the Footsteps of Another's Past
Vancouver Sun: Earlier this year, Shan auditioned for a spot with the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto, which told her that, while she danced well, she was, at 5'2", too short. Her height, however, was not a problem for the Bolshoi, which, after Shan auditioned, awarded her a spot in its annual six-week program in New York this last summer. She did so well there the Bolshoi invited her to continue her studies in Russia. She is the only Canadian among 750 students to be invited to study at the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow this year. Read More
Local Boy to Train at Russian Ballet Academy
NBC DFW: It's the chance of a lifetime for one North Texas ballet dancer. 11-year-old George Chadick of Denton has been invited to train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. In an industry that's dominated by girls, Chadick holds on to a dream of his own. "To become one of the best dancers in the world. Or try to be," Chadick said. Read More
Ballerina Nicole Zadra Chases Dance Dreams
EBONY: In August of this year, Nicole Zadra, of Irvington, New York was offered a traineeship at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. Established in 1773, the institution has trained "a world class of dancers." Zadra, who has been learning ballet since she was four-years-old, has dreamed of being part of this legacy since watching Youtube videos of the Bolshoi when she was younger. Read More
Bolshoi Ballet Gives Students in Middlebury a Six-week Lesson in Dance
Republican-American: The ballerinas wear name tags scrawled in Cyrillic. On the dance floor in a studio at the private Westover School in Middlebury, the action is intense, precise and unrelenting. A pianist pounds out chords in a corner, accompanying wave after wave of twirling and leaping dancers. One crop of lanky, graceful girls swiftly replaces the next. Read More
Tri-City Ballerinas Win Scholarship
Tri-City Herald : Debra Rogo, artistic director of the Mid-Columbia Ballet, is filled with pride and joy as two of her talented ballerinas advance in the dance world. Read More
A Chance to Dance in Russia
THE DAILY RECORD: Seventeen-year-old Allison Lapehn will study harder this summer than she has probably ever worked in her life. But for her, that's just fine because she will spend the next nine weeks dedicating much of her life to what she loves — ballet. Read More
Seiskaya Ballet Phenom Headed to Russia
SMITHTOWN PATCH: Anna Craddock, a principal in the Seiskaya Ballet of St. James, is headed to Russia to study ballet, culture and language for six weeks at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Read More
Local Ballet Phenom Headed to Russia
ThreeVillagePatch: The 16-year-old Ward Melville High School student is headed to Russia to study ballet, culture and language for six weeks at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy, one of only 15 students in the nation selected by the U.S. Department of State to attend its NSLI for Youth Program, in conjunction with the Russian American Foundation. Read More


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Seeking Faith among the (Walking) Dead
Faith and The Walking Dead may not seem like a natural fit but wherever people are they bring their faith with them…even in a zombie apocalypse! Join me in an exploration of faith and what it means to be a flawed but, ultimately, a good man.
When season seven of The Walking Dead came to a close fans heard Negan joyfully proclaim, "We are going to war!" We are now ell into season eight begins and the promised conflict, confusion, and casualties have ensued. The casualties have been and will continue to be listed during the "In Memorium" segment of The Talking Dead.
Not all casualties, however, are created equally. Some are more horrific than others, as in the bludgeoning of Glenn. Some, like the Governor, are more satisfying. None, however, were as upsetting as that of Hershel Greene. The moral anchor of "the group" was murdered by the Governor back in season four and his death sent shockwaves through the fan base. It was Hershel's faith and his faith journey during the zombie apocalypse that made him captivating and beloved.
Defining Faith
Paul Tillich wrote, "There is hardly a word in the religious language, both theological and popular, which is subject to more misunderstandings, distortions, and questionable definitions than the word 'faith'. It belongs to those terms which need healing before they can be used for the healing of men" (1). Psychologist James Fowler accepted the challenge of healing the word 'faith' in his seminal study released in 1981. Fowler's derived his understanding of faith by researching the work of scholars including Tillich, H. Richard Niebur, Judith Guest, Ernest Becker, and Wilfred Smith as well as interviews with 359 people. Fowler's elaborate conclusions can be highlighted by the following points.
Faith is an innate human drive to find meaning and purpose in life.
Faith existed in human beings prior to organized religion. People also possessed intellectual curiosity prior to the existence of schools and artistic impulses prior to museums. Institutions reflect human drives
Faith is placed in an ultimate concern, i.e. something that the individual expects to give them ultimate fulfillment (2). This ultimate concern need not be religious. Faith can be placed in a political party, a team, money, fame, or a nation. There is an almost endless list of targets for our faith.
The United States is, in essence, a henotheistic culture. This means people ultimately choose one ultimate concern (one god) among many options. A person can be a Christian but that need not be where they put their faith. Their faith is on more authentic display on Sunday afternoon when they paint their face various colors in support of their favorite NFL team. The wins and loses resonate deeply, arguments and conversations about the game continue during the week, and next Sunday's game is longed for deeply.
Faith "involves how we make our life wagers. It shapes the ways we invest our deepest loves and our costly loyalties" (3). One of the great tensions of life is caused by seeking ultimate fulfillment in finite places. Pop culture plays with this time and again. In A Christmas Carol Scrooge wagered on wealth as an ultimate concern. The often brooding Oliver Queen in Arrow seeks meaning in the ultimate concern of saving his city. Gatsby's purpose never strayed too far from Daisy Buchanan. Scar coveted power in The Lion King.
Hershel's Farm: The Start of his Journey
When we meet Hershel, he is an older man who has, for the most part, successfully kept his family safe on his farm during the early stages of the zombie apocalypse. He is introduced as a man of faith. He is a Christian, but remembers one can be a Christian and place their faith (their quest for meaning and purpose) elsewhere. Fowler promulgates a six-stage theory of faith development. Hershel's faith reached a state of arrest in stage three: Synthetic-Conventional Faith.
Commitment to one's beliefs is very important at stage three. This commitment is often tacit, and attempts to discuss beliefs or deeply held convictions can feel threatening. As stated, Hershel is presented as a religious man but his faith is placed in his family, both those living and dead. His commitment to protecting his family is noble, but the depth of their importance allows Hershel to live in a state of deep denial. Hershel wholeheartedly believes that walkers are living people infected with a disease not deceased people transformed into flesh-eating creatures. Hershel captures walkers that wander onto his farm and stores them in a barn in the hopes that a cure for their condition can be found. His deceased second wife and stepson also reside in a barn.
The nature of walkers aside, Hershel's commitment is to his family's well-being is on full display. To be clear, Hershel is a kind man. When Rick rushes onto his farm carrying his wounded son Carl in his arms, Hershel takes action. Utilizing his medical skills, Hershel removes bullets from Carl's body and saves his life. He is, however, quite adamant that Rick and his group move on when Carl is healthier. The world is very dangerous and Hershel has no difficulty placing his family (the object of his faith) above the others. He is imbedded in an "us and them" mentality and the "them's" don't belong on the farm. The sooner they leave the better!
Maggie's Challenge
The transition from stage three to stage four of faith can be quite tumultuous. Encounters with perspectives that challenge the tacitly held belief systems and cause critical reflection often acts as the catalyst for the shift. Hershel's conviction regarding the nature of the walkers is shattered by Shane's barnyard massacre. This event, due to its dramatic nature, can be seen as the moment where Hershel's perspective changes. Emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually shattered by being confronted with the depths of his denial, Hershel abandons any sense of leadership on his farm and willingly concedes control to Rick. There is, however, a powerful voice that challenges Hershel as well: his oldest daughter, Maggie Greene.
Prior to Shane's actions, Maggie argues with Hershel on behalf of Rick's group. Hershel attempts to brush her off by accusing her of merely being concerned about "the Asian boy" (Glenn). Maggie, as fans of the show know, is an unrelenting force unto herself. She utilizes Christianity (Hershel's religion) and familial history (where he places his faith) to make her point. "'A new command I give to you: Love one another as I have loved you.' That's what you told me, right? I was mad about mom. Mad about you marrying Annette. I was 14 years old and I was awful, to you more than anybody. All I wanted to do was smoke and shoplift. 'Love one another.' That's what you told me." Hershel attempts to dismiss her by simply stating, "This isn't that" (4). Maggie is unmoved by his response.
To be clear, I am not saying Maggie has a deeper sense of faith or is more religious than Hershel. In fact, certain exchanges on the farm suggest she is unmoved by religion at all. She does know the words of her tradition (Christianity) and when to use them to make an emphatic point. She is quoting a stage six exemplar (Jesus) in an effort to have a specific impact. This brief exchange illuminates two important aspects of faith.
The first quality is the overriding power of faith. Hershel's faith is placed in his family. Like all people there are many facets to his life. He is, as noted, a Christian. He even used his Christian ethics when counseling 14-year-old Maggie to accept her step-mother. His Christian beliefs were strongly adhered to when they supported the object of his faith, his family. Maggie's challenge was to extend his Christian ethics to people outside the family. Faith is more fundamental to an individual than religion.
Maggie's use of Jesus' words opens the door to universalizing faith, the sixth and final stage of Fowler's theory. Stage six people, dubbed 'universalizers,' confront us at a visceral level as they are dedicated to eradicating all vestiges of us/them thinking in their quest for a united human community. Universalizers are, in a very real way, threats to almost everything we hold dear for much human thinking (be it social, political, academic, or economic) involves, even encourages, us/them thinking. Few are ever as inclusive as they claim as exclusivism is a norm of humanity. The "enlarged visions of universal community" presented by universalizers reveals and threatens our parochial standards (5). Maggie's demands that her father embody his religious convictions have long-term ramifications.
Deepening Faith through Doubt
Hershel is dismayed after realizing his conception of reality was merely a form of deep denial. A recovering alcoholic, he seeks refuge in a local bar. He denounces some of his previous thinking to Rick, who has tracked him down and seeks to bring him back to the farm. In particular Hershel speaks with derision of hope and miracles, to concepts he held in high regard for quite some time. He claims that, despite saving Carl's life, he ultimately fell for a "bait and switch." The final, mournful conclusion is he is a fool and there is "no hope." He agrees to return with Rick, but not because Rick has convinced him hope exists. Rather, it is an appeal to familial duty that sways Hershel. He returns to the barn, but he is not the same person he once was.
The fourth stage of faith, individuative-reflective faith, is time of critical reflection. Symbols and concepts once held tacitly but dearly, become the target of critical reflection. It can be a disorienting time as a person finds themselves questioning, even interrogating, long held cognitive, psychological, and spiritual anchors. Reductionist thinking becomes pervasive as the conscious mind claims dominion of the kingdom and either/or thinking dominates most conclusions.
Hershel's proclamation that there is "no hope" is a fine example of his doubt. The evidence of hope's value is in the outcome so he concludes, because the hope he held was dashed that there is, therefore, "no hope." Hershel fades into the background of the group at this time. He concedes control of the farm to Rick and is not deeply involved in decision making. If Hershel had died at this point, his death would have been little more than a blip in the show's history. I wonder sometimes if the character that emerged from this broken moment was even greater than the writers' imagined.
A Little Shakespeare, Please
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy" (6). The transition from Fowler's stage four to stage five is both difficult and rare. A majority of participants in his study (61.2%) were either at stage three, transitioning from stage three to stage four, or stage four of his theory. Only 15.4% of participants had their faith develop beyond stage four. In some regards this makes perfect sense. Most organizations (be they political, religious, schools, athletic teams, etc.) function best when members engage in either/or thinking (stage four) or in a state of tacit approval (stage three).
There are times, however, when limits of the conscious mind are reached. Sometimes a person reaches a point where they must move beyond their own myopia and cease futile attempts to control reality. Either/or designations gives way to the quest for both/and synthesis. A dialectical relationship with reality replaces desires for dominion. When we realize that, despite his indecisiveness, Hamlet was correct about the limits of our own philosophies. Certainty often makes fools of the learned.
Don't mistake stage five (Conjunctive Faith) for some wishy-washy, Pollyannaish position. The use of one line does not mean the stage is Hamlet incarnate. It surely is not! Rather there is a radical openness to truth, even if the truth means one is wrong. We intellectually may agree with this idea (we understand full well there are millions of people who are wrong) but few live it (wait a minute? You mean I might be wrong? The millions of others can be wrong but not those in our group). Stage five people forcefully resist enculturation and seek a patient, wise, truth abiding, and open relationship with reality and others.
The transition to stage five is often brought about by encounters with paradox. In stage four an individual has the world contained neatly in numerous boxes, containers, and containers. Paradox rends asunder these organizational patterns. We find ourselves dared to find the truth hidden in apparent contradictions and to replace rigidity of thought with permeable lucidity.
Back to Hershel
Hershel and the group were forced to flee the farm when a swarm of walkers disrupted their semi-tranquil existence. Life on the road was very difficult. First they found each other, having been dispersed in a chaotic scramble to save their lives. The group then survived on the road for months. Stumbling upon a prison they claimed it for themselves, clearing it of zombies and making it a home. Hershel lost a leg during this process. He counsels Rick through his psychotic break after the loss of his wife and was present when the group achieved victory in their first confrontation with the twisted governor. Hope existed without Hershel's consent. More importantly he allowed it to permeate his life. As his notion of "family" expanded Hershel is an exemplar of the fifth stage of faith and becomes a sage of stage six.
Someone at stage five "suspects that things organically related to each other; {one} "attends to the pattern of interrelatedness in things, trying to avoid force-fitting {our} prior mind set" (7). Hershel, as the show progresses, personifies this concept. He offers quiet wisdom and guidance to the group as they make the prison a home. His impact on those around him, particularly Rick, is evident.
When the first battle with the Governor ends, Rick welcomes a bus load of people who had lived under the Governor's rule into the prison. Rick sees them as victims of the Governor's cruelty just as much as his group had been. Carl objects but Rick informs his son, "They're gonna join us." Carl walks off but Rick is content with his decision. The way of Hershel is taking root in the prison. The roots will run even deeper, in both figurative and literal applications.
After the battle with the Governor, it is evident that Carl has become calloused to the point of psychopathology. Hershel challenges Rick to find another way, for himself and Carl. The war with the Governor over, the prison secure and food now being produced rather than scavenged, Hershel contends Rick must learn to farm. Rick balks at the suggestion. Hershel persists, combining compassion with power. "He needs his father. He needs his father to show him the way. What way are you going to show him? He can shoot, we know that. What's his life going to be? What's yours? All this. I'm just saying everything because I owe you. We all owe you. We can make this better now" (8).
This idea, that there is another way, does not dismiss the realities of life. Rick does argue that the walkers still exists and, in essence, dominate the world. Rather than argue Hershel acknowledges that fact. This does not weaken his resolve as he maintains they do have the power to dictate what transpires inside the prison walls and, by extension, within their minds. As a Christian, Hershel has moved beyond reciting the serenity prayer, he embodies it. The prison flourishes but peace never lasts long and a new threat emerges as an epidemic of swine flu threatens the residents of the prison.
It is in this period that we witness Hershel forcefully reveals his stage six (universalizing faith) disposition. Universalizers are often driven by a unifying, transformative vision that they feel compelled to bring to an untransformed and dualistic world. They will risk much, including their lives, for this vision.
One section of the prison is used to quarantine infected individuals. Members of the group have rushed off to find medicine. Hershel decides to bring an herbal tea to the sick, both to comfort them and to help them hold on. Maggie intercepts him and insists he does not enter the quarantined area, snapping, "I can't let you do this." Hershel, as is his way, calmly explains his position. In some ways his reasoning is simplicity in itself as he states, "Maggie dear, there are people in there suffering." Rick arrives and sides with Maggie leading Hershel, patience exhausted, to deliver a stirring soliloquy:
Listen dammit! You step outside, you risk your life. You take a drink of water, you risk your life. And nowadays you breathe, and you risk your life. Every moment now you don't have a choice. The only thing you can choose is what you're risking it for. Now I can make these people feel better and hang on a little bit longer. I can save lives. That's reason enough to risk mine. And you know that (9).
Maggie tearfully opens the door to the quarantine for her father. She is heartbroken. I also think she is proud. She is proud of her father and proud to be his daughter. The symmetry with their argument on the barn is beautiful. She challenged him to live his Christian beliefs and be a better man to the group on the farm. He is, in ways she never imagined living those beliefs.
He is entering a prison to visit the "inmates." The Christian imagery is hard to dismiss as he helps the sick and the poor. His faith, which always rested in family, has now extended to the point where all around him are members of his family. He has fully embraced her challenge to expand his concept of community and, in doing so, breaks Maggie's heart. Paradoxically, as he breaks her heart he is simultaneously filling it with love. She is hurt by his convictions even as she admires his unrelenting compassion. And, even though it wasn't his goal, where he once dismissed the very existence of hope he has become hope itself.
A Final Goodbye
Unfortunately for Hershel the Governor returns. He captures Hershel and uses him in an attempt to strong arm Rick into relinquishing the prison. Rick, channeling his mentor, offers an alternative. The prison is large enough to be shared. The conflicting groups can unite into a new, larger 'us.' While Rick offers this vision Hershel, on his knees and with a sword to his throat, smiles. The smile does not last long as the Governor's blade beheads him. This horrific scene was made all the more horrible because of the rough waters that viewers watched Hershel navigate with grace and dignity.
I do not know if the writers of The Walking Dead intended Hershel to become the embodiment of a faith journey but he was. Universalizers tend to become inspirational because of their commitment to justice and their expansive vision of community. As they are free of cultural restraints so shall we turn to an unexpected source.
In Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai we are told "nothing is felt quite so deeply as giri." Giri is a word that encapsulates a person's sense of duty, justice, obligations, and honor. People may cry upon hearing the life of someone who died in the distant past "because of a sense of giri" (10).
Now, as we approach The Walking Dead's mid-season finale where death is imminent and suffering will abound let us remember the peaceful warrior Hershel Greene. Your comrades sure could use you. Come to think of it, so could the real world.
(1) Paul Tillich, The Dynamics of Faith (New York, Harper Torch Books, 1957), p. ix.
(2) Ibid., pp. 2-4. Hey…does anyone else read "ibid" and think of Good Will Hunting or is it just me?
(3) James Fowler, Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning (New York, HarperOne, 1981), p 4.
(4) This drama unfolded was back in The Walking Dead, episode 2.7.
(5) James Fowler, Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning, p 200.
(6) Shakespeare, Hamlet (Act 1, Scene 5).
(8) The Walking Dead, episode 4.16.
(9) The Walking Dead, episode 4.3.
(10) William Scott Wilson (translator), Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure (new York, Kodansha International, 1979), p. 95.
Author thinkingpopculturePosted on November 27, 2017 November 27, 2017 1 Comment on Seeking Faith among the (Walking) Dead


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Q: LACP vs manual load sharing I have a file server with multiple NICs  (1Gbps) consumed by some different kinds of client.
Given my switch is configured hash using src and dest ip and port.
By manual load sharing I mean NICs on file server have different IPs and shares are mounted via different IPs.
By reading this ESXi link It seems better to do manual load sharing.
If bandwidth is the only consideration, hence the question, I would like to know which would provide more throughput?
For example, I could have a NFS share with IP 1 dedicated to ESXI server and workstations using SMBA with IP 2.

A: Bandwidth should not be the only consideration - also consider redundancy.
In a single switch environment, LACP will offer redundancy should one of your aggregated NIC's fail. Should this happen while doing manual load sharing then whichever service was bound to the failed NIC will also fail. This redundancy increases if you have multiple stacked switches and connect each LACP link to a different switch.
As for which method will provide more throughput, if I understand your scenario correctly, then link aggregation will only really increase throughput when multiple clients attempt to maximize their bandwidth with the server at the same time, whereas manual load sharing only really increases throughput when there are different clients using each service at the same time.
So which of these two scenarios do you think will be more common in your environment? And there's your answer.
(E.g. with LACP you could have 2 servers accessing an NFS share at 1Gbps each. Whereas with manual load sharing, you'll still only get 0.5Gbps per server, because they both must use the same physical link. But if you want to ensure that your NFS and SMB shares are both guaranteed at least 1Gbps each, then manual load sharing might be the way to go).

A: With your switch being configured to balance based on layers 3+4 (IP and port), you'd likely see a separate interface used for each data stream. Say you've got several connections from a single endpoint using a range of tcp ports. The switch will almost always choose a separate interface for each tcp session. I've only seen it happen once in several hundred different environments.
In this case, LACP is ideal because you won't have to manage all of the separate IPs to be used by the clients. The added redundancy is an added bonus.

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As an artist I've been using photography as my medium for the past 20 years. More recently it has felt like a natural progression to also turn my hand to painting. Using abstraction as my way to communicate, it allows me to get in touch with a different part of myself. Unlike my work as a photographer, where I develop my narrative working alongside a model, painting gives me the freedom to work alone, providing me with a different kind of space in which to express myself.
For me, painting is the letting go of the definite, of trying to control the outcome, but allowing for the unexpected, the joy of new discoveries.
"…live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer" Rainer Maria Rilke from Letters to a Young Poet.


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Black News, Commentary and Culture | The Washington Informer
Posted inBlack Experience, Education, National
NAACP Sues U.S. Education Secretary Over COVID-19 School Money
by Stacy M. Brown July 22, 2020 December 21, 2021
Derrick Johnson (Courtesy photo/The Atlanta Voice)
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The coronavirus pandemic has focused the nation's attention on the essential role public schools play in families and communities' lives.
The NAACP said it's also exposed severe racial inequalities that continue to plague the country's education system and disadvantaged students of color.
Rather than addressing those problems, NAACP President Derrick Johnson declared that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos "exploited the pandemic to promote her personal agenda of funneling taxpayer dollars to private schools and taking resources away from the schools and the students who need it most."
"We simply can't let this happen. So, we're taking her to court," Johnson announced.
The NAACP formally filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., accusing DeVos of illegally changing the rules for allocating $13.2 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) money to benefit wealthy private k-12 schools.
"Recently, Secretary DeVos issued regulations that would force public school districts to divert federal emergency relief funds from public schools and send them to private schools. By one estimate, over $1 billion would be lost to private schools under the rule," Johnson declared.
"So, the NAACP filed a lawsuit along with public school families and school districts across the country, challenging this unfair, unequal, and unjust rule. We'll fight this as hard as it takes – for as long as it takes – to protect our students, schools, and communities."
The NAACP's lawsuit suggests that the CARES Act, which was signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year, says explicitly that local school departments are to distribute the fund based on the number of Title I, or low-wealth students, in a particular school.
Congress allowed CARES funds to go to institutions that depend on tuition and donations because lawmakers said they recognized that some students from low-income families attend private schools.
The lawsuit claims the share going to private schools should have its basis on the number of Title I students attending those schools.
DeVos did not follow that rule, the NAACP contends, spelling out that hundreds of millions of dollars in CARES Act funds would immediately divert from public schools to affluent private schools.
The controversial education secretary reportedly holds a different interpretation of how local school districts should distribute the money.
Her interim final rule allows sharing the money equally with private schools based on the number of students in those schools, regardless of how many are Title I students.
"The Rule is as immoral as it is illegal," NAACP lawyers argue.
The NAACP filed the lawsuit on behalf of a group of parents and their children, who are enrolled in economically disadvantaged public schools. The Pasadena, California, Unified School District, and Stamford, Connecticut, School District, joined the NAACP in the lawsuit asking for an injunction to prevent DeVos from immediately instituting her change to the rule.
"In this moment of crushing need for America's public schools, the Rule directs public school districts to divert desperately needed CARES Act 1 funds to affluent students in private schools or face unlawful limitations on the way that those funds can be spent – both in direct contravention of the Act," the lawsuit reads. "The Rule harms American children and subverts the will of Congress; it cannot stand."
If allowed to proceed, the DeVos' rule would change public schools, including some in which "80, 90 and 99 percent" of the students are from low-income families.
"She's trying to increase allocation disproportionately for private schools over public schools in the midst of the debate over whether or not schools should reopen. It's horrific what she's doing," Johnson told ABC News. "What will happen is you further take money away from children who are financially in need to benefit high-wealth children."
NAACP Sues Education Secretary Over COVID-19 School Money
In "Black Experience"
NAACP Holding Annual Convention in Atlantic City
HBCU Town Hall Lists Education Among Most Critical Civil Rights Issues
Tagged: Betsey DeVos, CARES Act, COVID-19, Derrick Johnson, education, naacp, Public School
Stacy M. Brown is a senior writer for The Washington Informer and the senior national correspondent for the Black Press of America. Stacy has more than 25 years of journalism experience and has authored... More by Stacy M. Brown
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How England Strangled The All Blacks
View Full Rugby World Cup Coverage
Oct 29, 2019Alex Rees
England put in the shift of the tournament on Saturday, ending hopes of an All Blacks three-peat and advancing to their first World Cup final since 2007.
It was a truly remarkable effort, and will be remembered in England for a long time.
So, how did they take down the two-time defending champs?
England 19-7 New Zealand
I can't be sure, but I'd be willing to bet you could count on one hand the number of times in their history that the All Blacks have been throughly dominated in a game. Saturday was one of those occasions.
Not once over the course of 80 minutes did it look like New Zealand would get a sniff of the England try line. Their one score came off an England lineout gaff inside their own 22; other than that they hardly threatened.
It was arguably one of the greatest defensive displays in World Cup history, and it was clear that England out-planned, out-executed, and out-skilled the All Blacks.
Out-skilled? Yes, it may be crazy to think, but England were the crisper, more skilled team on the day from players #1 through #23. Rarely can that be said about a team playing against the All Blacks.
England hit New Zealand in the mouth right away, slicing through with a mixture of brute power and deft skill to stake an early 7-0 lead in the first two minutes.
That would set the tone for England to choke the All Blacks out of the game the rest of the way. They dominated the kicking battle, burying New Zealand deep inside their own half and daring them to play it out.
England's high pressure, heavy hitting defensive line speed was exactly what they needed. New Zealand were forced to play from behind, and as a result they started forcing the issue, making numerous uncharacteristic errors.
On top of that, England's power in the tackle was devastating. Time and time again All Black ballcarriers were smashed backwards, forcing their attack to break down and allowing England to get set early. As a result, England could come off the line quickly and with numbers, never losing shape and never getting overloaded.
You can look at the stats and see that the All Blacks gained 620 meters to England's 392, which might suggest that New Zealand had the edge in territory. However, it was quite the opposite. England won the territorial battle 62% to 38%, indicating that most of the All Blacks meters were earned inside their own half.
Despite completing 21 offloads to England's 10, and beating 32 defenders to England's 20, New Zealand were unable to make much happen because of how deep in their own half they were playing from.
With the talent of England's forward pack across the board, it's only a matter of phases before the ball gets pilfered or jarred loose.
Forcing New Zealand to run a high number of phases just to get out of their own half eventually opened up opportunities for guys like Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, or Maro Itoje to force a turnover.
Just for reference, if you look at the 2019 statistics for the three-time defending Super Rugby champion Crusaders, 30 of their 63 tries in the regular season were scored on first phase. 15 were scored on second or third phase, 9 were scored from phases four through six, and 9 were scored in seven or more phases.
The percentages are similar for the other Kiwi teams in Super Rugby. What that says is England's plan to pin New Zealand in their own end of the field and run through the phases was always going to make it tough on them to score tries.
All in a day's work for @maroitoje 👊#CarryThemHome pic.twitter.com/vwdIAbzeHM
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) October 27, 2019
Another two facets of the game England controlled were discipline and the set piece. Over the course of 80 minutes, they only committed six penalties--compared to New Zealand's eleven--and they completed 18/20 lineouts.
The All Blacks thrive on turnover ball and the counter attack, but England hardly gave them any opportunities. Again, this never allowed the game to played in the England half.
In addition to the work England did on defense, they also got cracking performances from their field generals, George Ford and Owen Farrell.
The two playmakers brought a calm and composure to the game that is hard to find in a World Cup semi-final. Their leadership together throughout the course of the tournament has been inspiring, and on Saturday they were at their best.
In years gone past, panic may have arisen when Owen Farrell appeared to injure his leg, leaving him unable to kick for points. However, George Ford stepped up and drilled every kick he took from the tee, including some long-rangers.
Both players, as well as the rest of the squad, are at the top of their game right now. So long as they can bring the same execution and intensity this weekend as they did last, they will bring home their second World Cup title.
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New England Free Jacks Side For 1st Tune-up
Jan 17, 2020Alex Rees
The New England Free Jacks are one of three new teams set to make their mark on the MLR this year, and they'll get a chance to have their first preseason game this weekend against the New England Independents.
Saracens Staring Automatic Relegation In The Face
Things could go from bad to worse for Saracens, who are now looking automatic relegation from the Gallagher Premiership squarely in the face.
Sexton To Captain 35-Man Ireland Team For Six Nations
Following the retirement of 124-cap captain Rory Best, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has chosen flyhalf Johnny Sexton as the new man for the job, beginning with this year's Six Nations.
Old Glory D.C. Reveals Initial 36-Man MLR Roster
One of Major League Rugby's three new teams, Old Glory D.C., has announced to the public its initial 36-man squad for the upcoming season.
Scotland's Townsend Names Six Nations Squad, Elects Hogg As Captain
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named his squad for the upcoming Six Nations, appointing 72-cap fullback Stuart Hogg as captain.
A Look At Champions Cup Standings & Scenarios
There are major implications across the board this weekend, as the pool stages of the Heineken Champions Cup come to a close.
Wayne Pivac Names First Wales Six Nations Side
Jan 15, 2020FloRugby Staff
Teenager Louis Rees-Zammit's eye-catching season with Premiership side Gloucester has earned him a call-up to defending champion Wales' Six Nations squad, who embark on their first campaign under new coach Wayne Pivac.
Four More Join Leinster In Champions Cup Quarterfinals
Clermont, Toulouse, Racing 92, and Exeter Chiefs joined Leinster in the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup over the weekend, while title holders Saracens kept their hopes of qualifying alive with a 22-15 win over Ospreys.
Club Rugby Weekend Results
It was a slower weekend on the club rugby front, as most conferences are still in winter hibernation. However, the Red River conference was in full swing, with D1 & D2 play getting started, and D3 picking up where it left off after the fall.
Rugby ATL Opens 2020 With A Bang
The anticipation, the hype, the pregame festivities. All were rewarded with a great opening day of rugby from Rugby ATL, one of Major League Rugby's three brand new teams.


Things went really well for me today. School was nice. The kids all behaved and I was able to teach a good lesson. This evening I went to my Kiwanis meeting at Marla's and really enjoyed myself. I'm trying to be good to myself and treat myself alittle better. I think that when I get down it's because I just haven't been paying enough attention to taking care of myself. I do feel like i need to do something different. Break out and just do something. I am too normal and set in my ways.
"Depression is the inability to construct a future."
Doesn't it just make you angry when you work hard for a few days looking foreword to an event, and it's pushed aside by others and completely forgotten about. Like today! I should have known better to expect much. I'll forget about it and just look for something else to do. I should just stop planning and do my own thing. Sorry about the posting, I'm just angry and getting it out.


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Four hot acts to catch this weekend at the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival in PEI
Vishtèn. Photo by Jacinta Bernard Photography.
The Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival is upon us! From July 19 to– 21,, music lovers can flock to the beautiful rural region of Rollo Bay, just minutes outside the coastal town of Souris in eastern Prince Edward Island.
To give you a bit of history on the festival, according to the event's website, "The Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival was created to preserve Prince Edward Island's tradition of music. Every year, during the third weekend of July, our festival continues to feature top world class performers. Over the years musicians like Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, Richard Wood, Troy MacGillivray, Jerry Holland, The Chaisson Family, The East Pointers and many others have performed on our stage. Our festival draws fans both young and old from around the world. July 19 – 21 will mark our 43rd year."
There will be lots to see and do while you're there! If you check out the schedule, you will see the various musician workshops, songwriters circles, barn dances, trivia, even daily yoga and the Friendly Fiddler's 5K run – so there really is something for everyone to enjoy! In addition to that, this year's festival brings with it some of the best artists and groups in traditional music today! Here are some of our picks for some artists you need to check out when you visit the festival!
The Barra MacNeils: From Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, siblings Kyle, Lucy, Sheumas and Boyd MacNeil, along with Jamie Gatti, have been performing together the world over for more than 30 years now. As a group, they are widely regarded as one of the greatest live concert acts in the Celtic world. The family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, dance, language and history. Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal. With over 20 albums and countless awards (including the 2019 ECMA for Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year) to its credit, this group is one you do not want to miss this year.
Vishtèn: The trio comprises multi-instrumentalists Emmanuelle and Pastelle LeBlanc from the Evangeline Region of Prince Edward Island and Magdalen Islands native Pascal Miousse. For over a decade, the Acadian trio has dazzled audiences with its fiery blend of traditional French songs and original instrumentals that fuse Celtic and Acadian genres with a modern rock sensibility and indie-folk influences. Lauded as "traditional but fiercely up-to-the-moment," this band from Canada's east coast has been recognized as an ambassador of Francophone culture around the world. I caught their performance during East Coast Music Week in May and was instantly made a fan, and I know you will be too!
Mairi Rankin: One of the hugely influential Rankin Family – legends on the Canadian music scene – she plays fiddle, sings and also step-dances up a storm. Born in Mabou, NS, Mairi has been influenced by some of the best Cape Breton traditional musicians and instructors on the island. She has developed her own unique style by being immersed in such a rich musical culture. She has toured nationally and internationally as a solo artist and sideman and is a member of the Cape Breton Celtic super group Beolach. She has performed with the Rankin Sisters, Unusual Suspects and Bruce Guthro to name but a few. Mairi has recorded one solo album and two CDs with Beolach and has been featured on numerous compilations and recording.
The East Pointers: If I can tell you anything about The East Pointers, it's that their shows have NEVER disappointed! If you want an idea of how great they really are, there's already a waiting list for their upcoming third album, Yours To Break, out Oct. 25. Redefining the ever-evolving genre of modern folk with Billboard-worthy pop hooks, deep acoustic grooves, trance-like trad breakdowns and three-part harmonies, Tim Chaisson (vocals/fiddle/percussion), Koady Chaisson (banjo/tenor guitar/moog) and Jake Charron (guitar/keyboards), already internationally acknowledged as musical trailblazers, capture the furious energy of their live shows and push the boundaries of East Coast folk while lighting a path for a new generation of music lovers. What you might be interested to know is that, in addition to carrying out their own songwriting and touring, The East Pointers run the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, which was originally founded by Tim and Koady's grandfather in 1976. Jake Charron, now an honorary islander, has been an in-demand touring musician for the majority of his life and met Tim and Koady on tours to Atlantic Canada.
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Sarah MacDonald wraps up the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival


Discussion in '3DS - Homebrew Development and Emulators' started by AntonioND, Feb 17, 2015.
This is the game I've been coding for a few weeks.
It's just a 3D pong, like the one I made years ago for the DS. All graphics are done by software, each CPU core renders one of the top screen images.
I pwned U!, Warft, DoJo_Master and 11 others like this.
It would be great if you could add it to the wiki (http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/List_of_3DS_homebrew) and maybe upload it to https://www.downloadmii.com/apps/.
Yeah, I'll do it tomorrow. I've just fixed a few things so I'll probably upload a different binary.
That looks great! I'll definitely download it and try it. Good work.
thanks for helping with the wiki too.
The reason I did this was that I made a simple soft 3D engine for GBA years ago but I never made a game or anything with it. This game was a good way of finishing it AND doing something for 3DS. And, as the engine doesn't support textures, I had to do a really simple game.
It's nothing. I've also uploaded it to DownloadMii.
I wanted to make a game but the GFX example in libctru is using aemstro and texture, but I don't understand how it really works. I never worked with 3D engine before.
I tried to use aemstro but I couldn't get the python environment to run it so I decided to wait until there is a nice compiled shader assembler. Picasso is a bit outdated I think, and that was the only one I was able to compile.
Well, the functions for drawing filled polygons are the worst part of the code... xD They were awfully boring to code because they are just a lot of comparisons and loops... But sure, take a look at them.
That's strange, in my 3DS it works perfectly. I have a N3DS but I can't load homebrew on it, so I can't test... The problem can be something related to the double buffering or it could be the sound functions that are messing with the graphics. Ninjhax doesn't have access to csnd functions in N3DS, but I check at the start if csnd is inited so it shouldn't be a problem. Does it happen if you disable the 3D?
Then the problem must be something about the buffer swap. I think the function of ctrulib I use schedules the swap to be done after the screen redraw, but maybe it doesn't work fine in N3DS. I started with a ctrulib example and I didn't see flickering even when I was developing the game and the FPS were lower than 60. I did see flickering once when I messed up the buffer swap, and I saw that the screen was basically divided by a vertical line (that changed every frame) and one part of the screen showed the correct scene but the other one was incomplete. Do you see something like that?
Well, it could help. Thanks.


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Leigh Powell
Japan Post Bank hoovers up foreign assets after 2008
Results show it has increased its holding of foreign securities from scratch in March 2008 to over ¥10 trillion as at September 30, adding ¥3 trillion in the past year alone.
Japan Post Bank has increased its proportion of foreign securities to 5.66% of its ¥191.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion) portfolio, from virtually zero in March 2008, notes a Japan Pensions Industry Database blog.
In its results statement to September 30, Japan Post reports a 5% year-on-year drop in holdings of Japan Government Bonds (JGBs) to ¥141.6 trillion, compared with ¥149.3 trillion a year previously, reports www.ijapicap.com.
It is the first time in the past three-and-a-half years that Japan Post has seen its JGB holdings drop below 75% of its overall portfolio. In March 2008 it held ¥156.8 trillion of JGBs, which represented 76.4% of what was then a ¥205.1 trillion portfolio.
It means that over the past three-and-a-half years Japan Post has seen overall AUM in its portfolio decline 6.7% (although over the past year it has risen 0.5%).
But the rise in the Japanese currency has meant that while its portfolio has declined 6.7% in total yen value since March 2008, in US dollar terms it has risen just under 20%.
Quoting the eNikkei, www.ijapicap.com notes that the strength of the yen has led several politicians in Japan to call for Japan Post to expand foreign bond holdings on the understanding that consequent sales of yen would have a beneficial effect on the exchange rate.
What the financial statement also showed was that Japan Post has increased its holdings of foreign securities from ¥500 billion in March 2008 to ¥10.8 trillion as at September 30, or from 0.22% to 5.66% of its total portfolio. In the past year alone it has increased its exposure to foreign securities by ¥3.1 trillion.
By September this year Japan Post held ¥5.7 trillion in local government bonds, a slight rise on a year ago, and ¥12.7 trillion in Japanese corporate bonds, a marginal decline. It also held ¥200 billion in commercial paper.
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text:
Juries to decide if Uber drivers are 'contractors'
Adam Allington Mar 12, 2015
https://www.marketplace.org/2015/03/12/juries-decide-if-uber-drivers-are-contractors/
Uber's new delivery service offers to pick up your toothpaste, allergy medicine and a list of other items from the convenience store for you. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Hosted by Kai Ryssdal
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The ride services Uber and Lyft failed to convince a pair of U.S. judges Wednesday that their drivers are "independent contractors" rather than regular employees.
The class-action lawsuits – brought by drivers of both companies – will now go to jury trial, the results for which could have important consequences for the sharing economy.
By serving as middlemen in a market for surplus labor, or car rides, or whatever, many sharing economy startups have been able to skirt labor regulations such as social security, worker's comp, or sick leave.
In yesterday's ruling, Judge Edward Chen noted that Uber, "would not be a viable business entity without its drivers," and that the company can also fire drivers for a variety of reasons, including low passenger ratings, or for no reason at all. Both of these reasons are cases for the drivers being considered employees.
By cautious estimates Uber has upwards of 160,000 drivers across 61 cities in the United States. If it has to pay out benefits to all those drivers it will affect the profitability of their business model, as well as other gig-economy apps such as TaskRabbit, Wonolo, Instacart or Handy.
Still, given how much money Uber has already raked in from investors, even if a jury rules against them on the issue of independent contractors, they should still be able to adapt.
"I'm sure they have a contingency plan to deal with this," says John Horton, from NYU's Stern School of Business. "It may take some of the shine off them as an investment, but my guess is we're not going to see Uber close up shop if the jury rules against them."
Uber is valued somewhere north of $40 billion, Lyft is around $2.5 Billion. Horton points out that many of the labor regulations that apply to the workforce were written into law before companies like Uber were part of the marketplace. Still, he cautions against re-writing laws too quickly.
"One of the things you worry about when crafting policy before the contours of the industry are already apparent," Horton says. "It can happen where the people who seem to be already out in front, can use regulation to squash new entrants."
Horton notes this frontrunner position could be leveraged by other companies in the surplus economy, not just Uber. He also says it would likely result in increased costs being passed on to consumers.
If Uber or Lyft drivers are ultimately ruled to be employees, they'll be entitled to reimbursement for gas and vehicle maintenance, among other expenses, according to Reuters.
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Bangladeshi schoolchildren, just like most children worldwide, want to get connected. In a country that is largely comprised of rural populations that survive on subsistence farming, internet access and computer skills aren't necessarily always high on the priority list in schools and small communities. Yet poor Bangladeshis realise that that being up to speed with technology is an important part of pulling themselves out of poverty. In a country where only one out of every two men and only three women out of every hundred can read, access to information (via ICTs especially) can mean access to job opportunities or new farming techniques.
D.Net, a non-profit organisation that focuses on technology for economic development saw the need for content in Bangla to cater to rural people's information needs. In an effort to help underprivileged rural youth build their computer skills, they developed a programme to teach them how to use computers – the Computer Literacy Programme (CLP). By June 2009 D.Net was operating 107 computer literacy centres in 39 districts across the country, and a total of 18,556 students had successfully completed the CLP course. To improve the training, D.Net wanted to learn more about what types of information the students, their parents and teachers need and how they view technology. Using the APC's Gender Evaluation Methodology to conduct the study, they uncovered some views about technology that surprised them and which they believe would not have surfaced if the study had not included a gender focus.
The GEM study found that cultural factors play a bigger role in whether or not a girl attended the training than lack of money or resources. Co-founder of D.Net and CLP lead Mahmud Hasan explains that girls are often denied the chance to even participate in any sort of computer training because it is considered socially inappropriate.
"Computer classes in schools are extra-curricular and usually held before or after regular classes. The biggest problem is that girls have to stay after school when it is dark out. So despite their interest, they are not allowed to attend the course," he says.
But girls are not left in the dark for this reason alone, it seems the entire community often favours computer access for boys over girls. Mahmud explains that not only do fathers encourage their sons over their daughters, but teachers also generally push for boys to access the internet over girls – and this mentality can be found through the community at large.
"If a boy is attending a computer course, community members encourage him to continue, but opinions are mixed where girls are concerned. Elders and community members ask her why she wants to complicate her life, especially when she already spends so much time at school and has so many chores at home," explains Mahmud.
Even D.Net's sponsors seem to favour boys. One of D.NET's core fund-raising strategies is to seek funds from Bangladeshis living overseas. These migrants generally sponsor a school in the villages where they were born and brought up. "We noticed that few girls schools got sponsored, unless the particular donor was female," says Mahmud.
The GEM evaluation encouraged Mahmud's team to reconsider their fund-raising policy which asked sponsors to select the schools they wished to support. Instead, backed by the GEM results, D.Net encouraged their sponsors to give D.Net the flexibility to choose the schools most in need. As a consequence, now D.Net equally favours boys and girls schools and of the almost 20,000 students who had completed their training in June 2009 52% were girls.
The GEM study revealed that girls saw the utility of ICTs for domestic income generation through handicrafts and textiles by accessing designs from CDs and the internet – something none of the boys mentioned.
As a methodology developed to identify gender gaps in technology projects, GEM helps measure the not-so-tangible qualitative issues related to cultural beliefs, subtle (and not so subtle) gender differences and other factors that may not be visible or concrete but can have a huge impact on the success or failure of a project.
Initially somewhat skeptical about the value of using a gender-focused methodology, D.Net has now come to realise that technology is socially constructed, meaning that culture and social norms have a direct impact on gender roles and therefore affects to what extent it is socially acceptable and appropriate for boys and girls to access ICTs (for instance in Bangladesh this can be expressed through the willingness of a parent to send their girl children as opposed to their boy children to computer classes). While D.Net staff realises that a rural ICT for development project cannot automatically address gender gaps related to access, GEM gives them the tools they need to consciously plan for and ensure that women and girls are given equal and accessible opportunities throughout the project's life-cycle.
Applying the GEM "gender lens" (a gender analytical perspective) during planning, data collection and analysis D.Net was able to build breakthrough opportunities for girls into the project in direct consultation with mothers, female teachers and the girls themselves. D.Net intends to expand the CLP project to 1,000 schools by the year 2011 and will place special emphasis on girls schools.
Now convinced that to change social conditions in Bangladesh women and girls unequal status and opportunities need to be addressed, D.Net recently (13-14 February, 2010) organised the first ever national GEM training with ten participating organisations including development groups such as Action Aid Bangladesh.
"The objective was to introduce GEM to development practitioners in Bangladesh," Mahmud states. "The enthusiasm among participants showed us the possibility of engaging them on a sustained basis." He explains that it was encouraging to see that people who underwent the training felt committed to incorporating GEM into their own monitoring and evaluation strategies, and that they wanted more in-depth training, as well as additional support to introduce the methodology to their partners. "This will create an opportunity to bring gender equality to tens and hopefully even hundreds of initiatives in Bangladesh," says Mahmud.


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HOUMA � Aimed at encouraging literacy and revealing the local library system�s full range of offerings, the Terrebonne Parish Library System has begun a second installment of its family reading series.
Prime Time Family Reading Time brings families together for readings and discussions of children�s books. Organizers say they are still looking for families to fill the program, which runs for six weeks.
During the series, the library provides families with children�s books. And, each Thursday in April, the families convene at the library to hear the stories read aloud and discuss the books� major themes.
This round of readings will be hosted at the East Houma Branch Library, 778 Grand Caillou Road. Organizers say they will register families until Thursday, the day of the group�s first meeting. For information, call the library at 876-7072.
Each meeting focuses on a specific concept. Next week�s focus will be fairness, said Rhonda Madison, the East Houma Branch Library�s manager. Families will read �The True Story of The Three Little Pigs� and �Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People�s Ears,� as well as other titles that illustrate the theme.
Last year, families enjoyed the program, she said, and grew closer because of the experience.
Organizers chose the East Houma Branch Library as the host site because of its size, Madison said. The building also underwent extensive renovations for more than a year. It reopened in June.
During the course of nearly $1.2 million in renovations, the building was gutted, making room for an entirely new interior.
The series is paid for with grants by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, which developed the program during the 1990s. Prime Time has since spread to nearly all parishes in Louisiana, as well as more than 30 other states.
Organizers say they hope to encourage families to return to the library after the program ends.