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Meet The Palestinian Frank Sinatra
Omar Kamal Tells Us About His Journey to Hollywood Fame
Like many children, Omar Kamal learned to play piano as a child. But for him, it was the start of his journey from his home in Nablus all the way to Hollywood. We caught up with the handsome crooner, popularly known as "The Palestinian Frank Sinatra," to talk about what it's like to hit the big time.
You've been called "The Palestinian Frank Sinatra." What do you think about that title?
Omar Kamal: I think that this is a great honor especially at this early stage in my career. I've spent years listening to Sinatra and closely observing the Sinatra 'way' of singing, story-telling, phrasing. And for me, not having had any coaching, I do believe that I've learnt from one of the best. Having said that, this title will soon diminish as I start working on my own music and sharing with the world different aspects of my act I've been exploring recently.
What was it like to record your first album?
OK: The recording process was such a unique experience that changed many perspectives for me and widened my horizons. I was fortunate enough to work with celebrated producers Dave Pierce and Bob Rock (who have worked with greats like Michael Buble and Aerosmith). They are two people who absolutely adore music for what it is and love making records and I could relate to that a lot. It was a great journey that started in London and ended at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, and between that, work on this album took place in Las Vegas, Vancouver, and Nablus!
2016 was a big year for you – what is like to suddenly have so much recognition?
OK: Being recognized is the artist's glory. I don't mean fame or money, but recognition for their true art. I'm very thankful for this opportunity and will never take it for granted.
How has your Arab heritage influenced your singing?
OK: Being from an Arabic/Palestinian background made me subconsciously bring a different feel and emotion to some of these great Western songs that I've been fortunate enough to come across. The singing techniques and the musical patterns are admittedly different between the East and West but the spontaneous crossover in the emotion when performing both Arabic and Western songs creates a new fresh sound, which -with time- would develop into an 'artistic identity'.
Would you like to perform in the Gulf?
OK: I would love to perform in the Gulf. We're already in talks about shows in Bahrain, Kuwait and UAE, which is very exciting.
What do you think about music taste in Arab countries?
OK: We're constantly finding out about new music styles in the Middle East and it's always refreshing to experience something new. Saad Lamjarred and his band are delivering a great style that is influenced by their North African heritage as well as Western music.
What advice would you give to Arab youth who want to become singers?
OK: Recognize your strengths and potential and work hard on that, stay true and do it for the love of music, and believe, believe, believe!
What can your fans expect from you in 2017?
OK: We're working on many live opportunities to perform to our audiences in different places and I'm really looking forward to sharing this album journey with everyone. Also we will start working on next steps including some original material both in English and Arabic.
By Carla Sertin
Palestinian Frank SinatraOmar KamalArab Singer
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USS Pensions dispute: FAQ for Students' Unions
Thursday 08-02-2018 - 08:14
The University and College Union (UCU), the trade union representing academic staff in Further and Higher Education, has announced industrial action over the future of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) after negotiations ended without an agreement between representatives from UCU and Universities UK (UUK).
Why is the strike taking place?
The dispute is over proposed changes to the USS scheme. USS is the main pension scheme for academic and related staff in the pre-92 institutions and, since its foundation, has provided a decent income in retirement for hundreds of thousands of people. In a sector where many would earn more working in the private sector, the USS pension has provided compensation for relatively modest salaries and has acted as a magnet for talented overseas staff. First Actuarial estimates that a typical lecturer will receive £208,000 less under the proposals than presently.
In a ballot, on the proposals, 88% of UCU members voted in favour of strike action.
When will it happen?
The strike will one of the largest ever strikes of academic staff on UK campuses. Strikes will begin on the 22nd February 2018. 61 Universities will be taking part in the action over a four-week period that will begin with a five-day walkout either side of a weekend. There will then be four days of strikes from Monday 5 - Thursday 8 March and a full five-day walkout the following week (12 - 16 March).
List of participating institutions: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/9242/UCU-announces-14-strike-dates-at-61-universities-in-pensions-row
Note: Due to their academic calendar four universities - King's, Queen Mary, Edinburgh and Stirling - will not take action in week one. They will start their action in week two on Monday 26 February. They will then walk out for two days on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 March.
What is NUS' position?
We believe that fairly rewarded staff are the cornerstone of the university experience and that the proposal by Universities UK to substantially cut the pensions of members of the USS pension scheme will be hugely damaging if implemented.
We stand in full solidarity with UCU throughout this dispute, and are calling on university negotiators to return to the table. See the joint UCU/NUS statement.
What can students' unions do?
We will be encouraging students' unions to take part in solidarity actions in support of the strike. We are asking you to:
Continue to call for the university employers to recognise the seriousness of the situation and agree to meaningful negotiations either directly with the union or via ACAS;
Write to your institution head to complain about the impact the strike will have on students' learning and to, therefore, return to negotiations.
Participate in local demonstrative solidarity action during the strikes in support of UCU members.
Will NUS be providing resources?
NUS has released a campaigns guide for unions, posters, leaflets, and digital resources. You can find them at the USS pensions dispute campaigns hub.
How can you find your local UCU contact?
It is important that your first step is to make contact with your local UCU representatives to discuss their plans for the strike. You can find the contact details for your representative here.
What can students' unions do or not do as per charity law?
Well paid, well-supported academics are integral to the student experience – it is therefore in the student interest that academic staff are treated fairly.
If there are concerns about the legalities of any course of action, NUS recommends that legal advice is sought and we refer you to the attached on campaigning as a good place to start. Read more about it here: Guidance on Political Activity
Some students may be concerned that missing key parts of their course will affect their assessment. What will recourse is available to those students?
We are asking students to complain to their institution head if they believe their learning has been disrupted by the strike, urging universities to seek to re-enter negotiations with UCU. UCU have created this online tool for students to write letters to their vice-chancellor, it may also be useful for unions' to prepare guidance for students submitting these complaints.
Students' unions should expect a likely increase in students seeking to submit academic appeals/complaints as a result of the strike. It may be worth preparing guidance for students based on your institution's appeals and complaints procedures. In particular, students should be prepared to log and evidence any disruption as a possible mitigating circumstance for assessment. In some instances, aspects of the industrial action may not be accepted as mitigating circumstances. Unions may wish to identify these circumstances ahead of the industrial action, and secure the strongest protections possible for their members under these circumstances.
What about postgraduate students currently on graduate teaching contracts?
Some postgraduate students are also on teaching contracts, and will often carry status as both a student and a member of academic staff. Graduate teaching contracts are usually not part of USS, and are therefore not part of this dispute. Postgraduate students who wish to act in solidarity with colleagues during this dispute should, in the first instance, seek guidance from their UCU representatives.
For postgraduate teachers not currently members of UCU, membership is available for free throughout the duration of their studies. You can find more details here.
We are also providing resources and guidance for students' unions to campaign in support of UCU. See our Campaign Hub for more.
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More NUS Connect Articles

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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First Horizon Nat'l profit doubles on sale of business
Published: Apr 19, 2006 6:02 p.m. ET
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- First Horizon National Corp. FHN, +4.29% after Wednesday's closing bell reported first-quarter net earnings of $215 million, or $1.67 a share, vs. $105.8 million, or 83 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The first-quarter results included earnings from discontinued operations of $210.3 million, or $1.63 a share, related to the sale of the company's merchant processing business. Net interest income increased 8% to $245.7 million from $227.4 million.
FHN
First Horizon National Corp. U.S.: NYSE: FHN


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«Портрет матері у 63 роки» (Дюрер) — відомий малюнок Альбрехта Дюрера з зображенням його матері. Нині зберігається в Гравюрному кабінеті (Берлін). У своїй похмурості малюнок порівнювали з двома великими гравюрами 1514, Меленколією I та Мадонною біля стіни. Це другий портрет Дюрера; його c. 1490 Масло на дубовій панелі. Зараз у Нюрнберзі сьогодні загальновизнано або оригінальним, або копією загубленого її портрету. Малюнок був придбаний у c. 1877 р. Купферістхкабінеттом з аукціонного будинку з фірміном у Парижі протягом періоду придбання понад 35 малюнків Дюрера галереєю.

Мати Дюрера — Барбара
Батько Альбрехта Дюрера походив з Угорщини, де працював в майстерні Ієронумуса Хольфера, ювеліра. Майже сорокарічним батько Альбрехта узяв шлюб з донькою Ієронумуса Хольфера — Барбарою, якій виповнилося п'ятнадцять. Про почуття чи прихильність дівчини з глушини — не йшлося. Чоловік мав прибутковий фах, а долю доньки вирішували батьки. (Дорослого Альбрехта одружили так само — наречену сину підбирав батько, заклопотаний матеріальним станом синової родини і багатим приданим Агнес, яку син не знав до шлюбу. Чемний син теж підкорився непохитній волі батька).

Альбрехт був третьою дитиною подружжя. Після нього мати Дюрера народила ще п'ятадцятеро дітей. Але її життя важко вважати вдалим. Вона вагітніла, народжувала дітей, шістнадцять з яких померли за її життя. Мати пройшла через відчай, поховання дітей і страшні хвороби. Дюрер згадував, що мати перехворіла навіть на чуму, але доля дарувала їй видужання.

Ймовірно, сина Альбрехта пов'язували з нею ніжні, теплі стосунки, які він ховав від сторонніх. Дослідники знають портрет батька олійними фарбами (музей Уффіці, Флоренція), але подібного портрету матері не мали. Віднайдений портрет жінки пензля Альбрехта з датою 1490 р., можливо, не матір митця, а жінка, схожа на неї.

Дюрер отямився, коли сам подорослішав і коли мати в черговий раз занедужала. За свідоцтвом художника, їй виповнилося шістдесят три роки. Страждання матері і загроза втратити її назавжди — спонукали сина і митця швидко створити її портрет.

Опис твору
На малюнку, створеному вугільним олівцем, перед глядачем важко хвора, виснажена жінка, майже інвалід. Часті вагітності і хвороби спотворили її обличчя, виснажили і висушили її тіло. Дюрер точно відтворює її тонку шкіру, зморшки на чолі і косоокість, якою страждав і сам. Але спотворене хворобами і стажданнями обличчя старої жінки не викликає відрази, бо син палко співчував матері і спромігся передати співчуття своїм твором.

Зі спогадів Альбрехта
Гіркотою втрати і співчуття просякнути і спогади самого Альбрехта, де викладені єдині достовірні звістки про її важку, нещасну долю : " Моя побожна матір народила і виховала вісімнадцять дітей. Вона часто хворіла важкими і незрозумілими хворобами, також і на чуму, знала злидні, страхи, знущання й образи. Але не робила зла іншим. Вона боялася смерті, але казала, що не боїться предстати перед Богом. Помирала вона тяжко, і я помітив, що їй бачилося щось страшне, тому вона просила свячену воду… Я повторював їй молитви. Моє серце краяло таке горе, що не можу відтворити це словами. Боже, будь милостивим до неї ".

Дві загадкові гравюри Дюрера

Роком смерті матері датовані дві гравюри майстра. Це усміхнена «Мадонна біля муру». Звертання до образу Богородиці логічне, бо вона — ходатай перед Богом за душу померлої матері.

Ще більше питань викликає гравюра «Меланхолія», віртуозне виконання якої подарувало їй титул «Майстерська гравюра». Дивна за сюжетом гравюра — насправді є алегорією. Це алегорія творчості, творчого темпераменту за уявою майстрів Відродження, який пов'язували саме з меланхолійним темпераментом людини. Тому молода і засмучена жінка у Дюрера має в руці циркуль, як вчений-геометр або архітектор . Біля неї розкидані теслярські інструменти, утаємничена таблиця на стіні, терези, маленький янгол з крилами. Та й сама жінка крилата, як і людська думка. В небі веселка і кажан з написом — поясненням, що це алегорія Меланхолії, алегорія творчості.

Дюрер награвіював дивну «Меланхолію» після смерті матері, яку любив і цінував. Натяком на це є розрита могила в гравюрі. Є відомості, що його Меланхолія — це додаткова персоніфікація його горя, його туги за померлою матір'ю і того відчаю, того бажання все покинути, яке він тоді відчував. Адже в обличчі Меланхолії є справжнє горе і неможливість примирення з чимось. З чим — загадка Дюрера, бо це сучасне тлумачення змісту твору. Але й воно може бути неточним, невідповідним.

Джерела
 Marcel Brion. Dürer. London: Thames and Hudson, 1960
 Price, David. Albrecht Dürer's Renaissance: Humanism, Reformation and the Art of Faith. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2003. ISBN 0-472-11343-7
 Sturge Moore, Thomas. Albert Dürer. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-4191-0533-7
 Tatlock, Lynne. «Enduring Loss in Early Modern Germany». Brill Academic Publishers, 2010. 116. ISBN 90-04-18454-6

Див. також

 Північне Відродження
 Малюнок
 Графіка
 Портрети батьків (картина Дюрера)

Картини за алфавітом
Картини 1514
Картини Альбрехта Дюрера
Портрети жінок

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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UI researchers express concern about COVID-19 spread in deer populations
Sebastian Holt
By Vivian La, Assistant Daytime Editor
White-tailed deer in Illinois and other states can be infected with COVID-19, and Illinois researchers have concerns about how humans passed on the virus and what it means for the future of pandemic.
"The concern is that white-tailed deer are pretty much everywhere in the country," said Rebecca Lee Smith, epidemiologist and veterinary researcher at the University. "And once the infection is established in that population, we will never be rid of it."
There are also concerns that the virus, using deer as a reservoir, can be transmitted to humans, though Smith said scientists haven't found any evidence suggesting this.
"If deer become a reservoir, there is another place for the virus to evolve," Smith said.
This can mean new variants or mutations that allow the virus to adapt to different environments, she said.
In November, hundreds of white-tailed deer in Iowa tested positive for COVID-19, suggesting that humans are spreading the virus to animal populations and among one another.
This came after the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a study in August stating that COVID-19 antibodies were found in deer populations in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. These antibodies suggested that deer were exposed but potentially not infected.
It's not just deer that have become infected, but other animals like hippos and minks, Smith said.
"This particular virus, we'd say it's very promiscuous," Smith said. "It gets into a lot of different species."
She said researchers in Illinois are now interested in conducting Illinois-specific studies to determine how widespread infection is in white-tailed deer.
"We have a combination of a really well-monitored deer population and really good testing in Illinois, so we know where the human cases are," Smith said.
The research will involve working with the Illinois Natural History Survey, where some scientists study disease in wild animals.
Eric Schauber, director of the Illinois Natural History Survey, said human disease isn't isolated from animal disease.
"We know that interactions between wild animals and domestic animals is often a place where we can get, kind of a bridging event to humans," he said.
For Schauber, the primary concern is how humans transmitted the virus to deer in the first place.
He said it's the first time researchers are able to observe this transmission in real time.
"Our ability to really track that give-and-take of pathogens is dramatically better now than it ever has been in human history," he said.
While it's an exciting time in terms of research, Schauber said it's another reminder that human health isn't isolated from animal health.
One such researcher working on deer and COVID-19 is Nohra Mateus-Pinilla, wildlife veterinary epidemiologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey.
Mateus-Pinilla's studies diseases in deer, and said she is concerned about how to prevent spreading COVID-19 to animals. She emphasized how there isn't any evidence that deer are infecting humans.
"We are the ones that are creating spaces for the virus to change and to reach our animals and other people," Mateus-Pinilla said.
She said it's our responsibility to protect both wildlife and humans.
"I think our relationship with animals continues to be extremely important in the sense that we need to be respectful of their spaces," she said. "Understand that in the case of wildlife, wildlife needs some natural resources, and we need to preserve those natural resources."
For all the interest in COVID-19 and deer, Smith said it's even more important for humans to continue safe health practices. This means getting tested, social distancing and getting COVID-19 booster shots.
"The situation in deer, that's interesting and it's worth studying," she said.
"But really, for most people right now, what they need to be concerned about is protecting themselves from infection from other humans."
New Illinois football offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. brings new vision, style to Champaign
Opinion | Timothée Chalamet replaces Leonardo DiCaprio as new heartthrob
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UI officials hold COVID-19 briefing, discuss return to campus
University requires COVID-19 booster shots
University launches new catering program
Winter shelters open in downtown Champaign
OSF HealthCare pauses asymptomatic testing
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Our review of the concluding chapter in director Christopher Nolan's Bat-trilogy. What began as an unassuming, relatively-inoffensive "prequel" ends in a massive, sprawling, epic re-telling of A Tale of Two Cities…but with Batman. And Catwoman. And Bane. It's awesome.
I felt Dark Knight Rises was better than Dark Knight, though I can see why some would disagree. Rises is an emotionally draining movie and far more concerned with telling a powerful story than with being "fun". Bane was an extremely compelling villain and I love how his theme music (or would you call it a sound effect?) was worked into the plot.
It's refreshing to see such a positive review of the movie. I've got my complaints but I expect they'll fade with time. RISES does a good job of finishing the story that BEGINS started. That's gold right there.
Daniel: At this point all three of them have achieved a decent level of homeostasis and I really can see why people would prefer one over the other two. Begins is still the tightest origin story we've had in the last decade. Dark Knight is the first Standard Batman Adventure (and I don't mean that pejoratively at all) to make it all the way through the Hollywood grist mill unscathed by neon, stunt casting, or self-conscious pseudo-camp. Rises is the first good second sequel a superhero movie's had since…um….yeah…maybe forever (as in forever-forever, not Batman Forever…obviously).
I, on the other hand, have no problem whatsoever with Catwoman.
She was called Catwoman ? I thought her name was "Rebel against the oppressive upper-class" woman.
I just got back from TDK Rises and I was seriously under whelmed. More explosions, more bloated self importance, and more obvious social and political commentary. Nolan continued not to understand Batman or comic book movies. Now that he's gone, I hope someone can repair the damage.
I didn't see very much of the two Christian Bale films, and frankly, what I did see sort of left me a little disappointed (Heath Ledger's excellence excluded, natch). The Tim Burton films, I thought, treated Batman the way they really should be treated: with a certain balance of seriousness and humor. Unfortunately, it seems like every superhero has to have some dark past or something these days. I shudder to think what Hollywood would do if someone pitched bringing The Greatest American Hero to the big screen.
Michael: That's not old, so long as you're young at heart. And while I'm as sick as anyone of studios treating Batman Begins as a mold and insist on hammering every superhero they own into it (see also, The Amazing Spider-Man…when it gets to video…if you really have to…) I maintain an appreciation for it and its sequels due to their actually being about Batman, rather than stunt-cast villains and/or ugly production design.
Ricardo: You're reboot is already in the works and might get here sooner rather than later, depending on how Man of Steel does. Be careful what you wish for.
I admit it is just wishful thinking. DC has pretty much set in stone it's tone for these movies and I don't think we'll see a real "comic book" Batman for sometime. As for the early films, I really think Tim Burton got Batman to a tee despite the fact that the films themselves are a bit of a mess. Hell, I much rather see Burton's Batman and Catwoman go off into the sunset instead of Nolan's Vigilante man and Femme Fatale woman.
So which "real" "comic book" Batman are we talking about here? Bob Kane's? Bill Finger's? Julius Schwartz's? Denny O'Neil's? Early Frank Miller's? Steve Englehart's? Alan Moore's? Alan Grant's? Doug Moench's? Jeph Loeb's? Chuck Dixon's? Paul Dini's? Brian Augustyn's? Ed Brubaker's? Grant Morrison's? As long as it's not Latter Day Frank Miller's "Goddamn Batman." Then there might be some difficulty.
I wasn't thinking about who's Batman but more like a film that isn't ashamed to be colorful in nature. I don't care if a filmmaker follows the comic book character or not just as long as he adds something instead of taking away just to make things "realistic".
I felt the movie was bloated, contained one too many plot twists (you know which one I mean I suspect), and really took on too much at once (there was more than enough room for two films). I also felt the movie didn't flow naturally from the second movie's ending, basically retconning the events of Harvey Dent's death to Batman's retirement as opposed to his new role as a vigilante on the run. The injuries Bruce suffered were also central to the early plot, came out of nowhere, and then were as quickly discarded. It didn't help that I felt Bane and his partner's plan didn't flow as naturally from the characters as established either. I get revenge for Ra's Al Ghul but the suicidal nature of it didn't really strike me as appropriate and all the populism being a smokescreen was weird too.


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RCS Coming To Android To Compete With Apple's iMessage
01 Sep 2020 by Damon Sivitilli in Tech/Sci, Vibe
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Google has pushed out many innovative features over the years that Apple followed later. However, there's one thing that the Android platform has failed to offer, and that's the equivalent of Apple's iMessage.
Now, Android is rolling its Rich Communication Service (RCS), much like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger in several countries.
Apple's iMessage was a trailblazer in messaging, taking the boring old SMS a few notches higher with GIFs, images, stickers, etc. WhatsApp and Messenger also offer these additions to the regular text messages.
However, it's the security that takes precedence for many users, as these RCS platforms are more secure than the traditional SMS most GSM phones offer.
Finally, Google has caught up and is introducing its RCS in the Android Messages app. It's already rolled out in several countries in different geographical regions such as Argentina, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, and Singapore.
Security Flaw
While this is a great leap for Android to finally level its messaging app with that of Apple's, there is still some work left.
It offers all the standard GIFs, stickers, and animations that iMessage and the likes offer, but it's failing to live up to the high security the major messaging platforms have developed over the years.
When you send a message on this new RCS version of the Android Messages app, it's encrypted by very basic network encryption. The message is encrypted as it travels from your phone to the network tower. But that's about it, and you don't know if it's encrypted all the way through the path of the message.
This type of internet-reliant message may be sent across several networks and several countries, which makes security complex. This means that the message is not totally secure throughout its path.
WhatsApp solved this problem a few years ago with end-to-end encryption. This allowed the messages to be fully encrypted throughout their journey. Only the sender and receiver have the decryption code.
This feature may seem unimportant to the average Android user, but on a bigger scale, it's a bigger flaw. With cyber-attacks becoming all the more prevalent and powerful these days, security is the number one priority when it comes to any form of communication.
Another problem is that Google is working with network providers for this new RCS roll-out. It's not an overhaul of Android's native messaging app like that of iMessage. This reliance on cellular providers is what makes the new system's security a little questionable.
Less Flexible
iMessage offers the flexibility of switching between iMessage and SMS swiftly. You can set it in the settings to send a message via SMS when Wifi or cellular data isn't connected or working. Similarly, you can also manually send a message as an SMS, directly in the chat.
The new Android RCS seems to be missing this flexibility too. It's one or the other, not a seamless combination of the two. That's fine if you're always connected to the internet, but it's not the same for everyone.
More Work Needed
Since they've just rolled this feature out, it's safe to assume they'll address these issues sooner or later. Despite the flaws, this is groundbreaking for Android. This will also enable messaging on Android emulators that run on PCs without needing a cellular network as you do for SMS.
Android emulators are becoming popular in the gaming community, so this new feature will change the dependency of gamers on emulators for communication.
Apparently, Google is working on end-to-end encryption already, so you won't have to wait too long for a more comprehensive Android's answer to both iMessage and WhatsApp.
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Tuesday Morning Spice →


Forget about best film or best album. And that Avatar versus The Hurt Locker saga seems so two-thousand-and-late already.
Janeen Mansour's mission is not to honour musicians, actors or directors – this lady is set on recognising those regular folk who work terribly hard to make a difference to thousands, but adding a splash of glitz and glamour into the mix at the same time. She is the founder of The Noble Humanitarian Awards, an annual event that recognises the achievements of philanthropic organisations in the US.
This year, the Arab-American media personality is bringing the event to the UAE, where eight regional charities will be honoured at a star-studded gathering on April 24 at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.
Asked about why she decided to bring the awards' to the UAE, Mansour tells Emirates Business: "I am Arab-American, so my roots are in the Middle East. I was raised in the States, and I work in the entertainment and media business, but I also do a lot of charity work, creating awareness of all sorts of different causes.
"We set up the inaugural Noble Humanitarian Awards last year in Los Angeles, and being that I am Middle Eastern and live in Dubai part-time, I decided to host one here as well, which will then happen every year.
"It is all about raising awareness, but maintaining a celebrity aspect to it, because at the end of the day, celebrity drives attention."
Those who are familiar with Mansour will know that she is no stranger to the celebrity world (we'd love to see her Blackberry's address book).
As well as freelancing for popular American shows such as Entertainment Tonight, the half-Lebanese, half-Palestinian presenter made a name for herself in the region as the face of Dubai.tv, the regional version of founder Sheeraz Hasan's multi-million dollar empire, Hollywood.tv.
As part of Dubai.tv, she appeared at numerous events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, seen rubbing shoulders with everyone from Adrien Brody to Paris Hilton.
Despite Dubai.tv being on hold for the time being ("After the economic crisis hit, it was hard for Sheeraz to keep it running without proper backing," she says), having those kind of contacts have definitely come in handy for Mansour's charity events.
"The Noble Awards is much like the Oscars," she continues.
"In the forthcoming event, there will be a full red carpet, it will be a formal event by invitation only. It is not a fundraiser by any means; it is an awareness raiser.
"With the one in the US, there was a method to our madness… We had the charity choose the celebrity they wanted to honour. They honour the celebrity who has done a lot of work for the charity, for example. In the Middle East, a lot of Middle Eastern celebrities do not do charity work, unfortunately. We found that out doing our homework and research.
"So for the Middle Eastern version, we have chosen to honour the charity and have the celebrity give them the award. The reason there is a celebrity attached to it is that celebrity attracts attention. If I have an awards' ceremony and I ask Bob Smith to come, nobody's going to show up on my red carpet… but if I invite Brad Pitt to come, it will bring awareness to the whole charity."
Despite the fact Mansoor isn't ready to share details of confirmed guests, she does tell us some of the names that have been invited.
"Middle Eastern-wise we've invited Ragheb Alama, Kazem El Saher, Nancy Ajram, Hussein Al Jasmi, and Yusra – the invitations have been sent out to these names already.
"We've also invited Charlize Theron and Morgan Freeman so we're waiting on a reply from them, so I cannot confirm that they are attending. Morgan Freeman was our lifetime achievement recipient at our Los Angeles event, and he was amazing – a wonderful person. I hope he'll come back."
Representatives from the chosen organisations – which will be confirmed soon – will receive an award sculpture designed by Hollywood star and philanthropist Antonio Banderas, with personal touches to the award added by children. "There is not a selection process. However, every year, eight charities will be honoured, and they will change annually. We do try and target different types, however in order to diversify: education, cancer, environment, children…"
The event is set to feature live performances by regional as well as international artists, and will be broadcast by Abu Dhabi TV, which is apparently helping with the corporate side of things.
"We've been doing business here since 2003, so we know who to call, who not to call, and we know how it works, and when it is a charity, people are eager to help out – we're not making any money out of it.
"It's great to have someone on board who is helping out with the corporate sponsorship side of things."
Mansoor is keen for more individuals and businesses to get involved.
"You can visit the website Thenobleawards.org and contact me if you want to get involved. There has been a study done by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and 90 per cent of co-operations are not practicing their corporate social responsibility in the Middle East. It is a very high number and very sad.
"So it's about time companies wake up and do this – whether on a small level or high level. We're hoping this awards show creates a campaign to get involved."
Mansoor is also keen to bring another initiative to the region, in the form of 'Cup with a Cause'.
"In the US, we partnered with 7 Eleven for Cup with a Cause. Basically, we bring them a celebrity and that celebrity designs a paper coffee cup for them. In the US, 7 Eleven sells more cups of coffee than the likes of Starbucks – they are the number one coffee seller in the US.
"In return, a minimum of $250,000 (918,375) goes to the celebrity's cause of choice. Our first cup was designed by Nicole Richie and Joel and Benji Madden for the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation," she adds.
"We definitely want to partner with any type of retail outlet in the Middle East, where they get recognition and the charity also gets recognition, thus a win-win situation."
Mansoor said: "My ultimate aim is to have the Noble Humanitarian Awards go down in history like the Oscars; I'd like this to be a legacy I can leave for my children."


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No, There Is Not An "Anti-Semitic Crisis" In New York City
After the main-stream media realized they were unable to divide us through previous means (race, sex, and sexual orientation), they've been trying like hell to bring us back to those days. They've done this through a few means, most notably convincing us we're already divided on politics (isn't that an improvement?) and by writing stories talking about how they've succeeded anyway so this should continue. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. When Republicans spent six years saying we were one Obama comment away from a race war, they knew something like the Black Lives Matter riots would occur. That's why they did it. The older among my readers may remember Republicans holding up "A vote for Kerry is a vote for gay marriage" signs back in 2004. Again, if they can convince us homosexuals and Christians are enemies, they're more likely to hate each other. Then the media can run stories with headlines "why does everyone hate each other?" while playing innocent.
They are currently doing this with Jewish-Americans, a group Americans are especially sensitive towards considering we helped save them from German genocide. Did you know it's anti-Semitic to say Israel has a lobby? That's what Rep. Omar said, and she's a Muslim woman so everything she says about the Jewish is anti-Semitic. It doesn't matter every group under the sun has a lobby these days, Jews are just too stupid to form one. And that's somehow less anti-Semitic than saying they're the same as everyone else. No, this isn't me saying 89 Senators have citizenship in Israel (a conspiracy theory that was made up by anti-Semites), I'm just pointing out basic facts.
I bring this up because according to New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (who has previously tried banning smokeless tobacco products across the city and has been arrested for civil disobedience) believes the city has " an anti-Semitism crisis in New York."
According to The Wall Street Journal, the NYPD has " had 176 complaints of hate crimes from Jan. 1 to May 19 . . . an 83% increase in hate-crime complaints across all categories, compared with the same period in 2018."
Of course, the man who said that was an openly gay HIV positive Democrat, so if it was made about any other minority group Republicans would just brush it off and call it "playing the victim." Here are instead some comments from Josh Hammer's article on the subject over at The Daily Wire (which is run by a man who thinks being homosexual should still be considered a mental illness):
Trump has Jewish grand children, supports Jews and Israel and so attacks on Jews are up. It's not complicated.
Wake up Jews, leave Democrat Party for eternity! If you are a Democrat today, you are a member of Fascist Party USA
Can we for the record pin that on liberals? It's NYC, so I don't think MAGA (sic) supporters are behind that. If a few rednecks can paint all conservatives as "racist", it's more than fair to say that the Left is anti-Semitic.
ANTISEMITISM is a CREATURE of the LEFT and the NAZIS of course were the National SOCIALIST German WORKERS Party'
Imagine that with the Dem Party partnering with the Islam and their dynamic duo of hate Ilhan and the other ugly one.
So, in the words of the new Dim icon and raging anti-Semite Omar, 'some people did some things'. Jewish people, leave the Dim plantation, it's your only hope.
This remarkable Hammer "forgot" to mention that most of attackers are black. I never saw anything worthwhile written by this guy.
We see, daily from the democrat trolls here, their anti-Semitic hate in their posts. We see the attacks by democrats on Jews and Synagogues. Democrats, the party of hatred and communism.
And that's just the first page. Although Josh is clearly grooming this. In this article, he calls a New York Times comic showing a man who brags about making Trump work do what he wants leading a blind president " Third Reich-reminiscent."
In order to debunk this myth, we simply need to do a little bit of math. For the sake of argument, we'll pretend all of these "complaints" are different crimes and that "complaints" are the same as convictions. They're not, but I'll be generous. I'll even assume all these attacks were done simply because the person in question was Jewish (something that is highly unlikely). The math still does not add up.
As of 2012, there are 1.1 million Jewish-Americans in New York City. This means 0.016% of them have been the victim of a hate crime (again, using my highly generous figures). Meanwhile, the average New Yorker has a 0.4662% chance of being a victim of a crime as of 2016. This means the Jewish in New York actually have a lower chance of being the victim of crime than do the average citizen.
But that doesn't stop Hammer and his Daily Wire buddies from trying to divide a nation so they can complain it's divided. Here are some more comments, and remember this article was released yesterday:
the reason the increase in anti-semitic (sic) hate crimes is getting no attention it because 99% of the crimes are being carried out by black teens and young adults. simple as that. the moment a white guy attacks an orthodox jew, it'll be headlining the news for weeks and weeks.
The mere fact this current anti-semitism isn't broadcast by major media underlines all the anti-semitism is coming from the left. But to combat that, MSNBC has gone as far as to label Louis Farrakhan as a far right instigator. LOL
Not surprising that AOC was elected there.
America has two problems. One is Black, and the other is muslim. Both of these 'problem' people are supported and enabled by the Democrat Party. Both of these 'problem' people are known for attacking Jews. Jews also support the Democrat Party in huge numbers. Seems to me they are getting what they voted for.
Gee, it almost sounds like some group is fomenting hatred.
People have convinced themselves of this lie, it's honestly sad. I just want a world where the only thing that divides us is our ideas, and we aren't too far off of that. However, these MSM pundits would prefer you be distracted hating each other because then you can't hate them.
Twitter: @EphromJosine1
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Insurers drop almost 350,000 California…
Insurers drop almost 350,000 California homeowners in high-fire risk areas
Data stretching back to 2015 shows the downward trend in coverage
FILE – In this Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 file photo, a firefighter holds a water hose while fighting a wildfire, in Santa Rosa, Calif. New California data shows insurance companies declined to renew nearly 350,000 home insurance policies in areas at high risk for wildfire since the state began collecting data in 2015. Insurance officials say many people likely found coverage elsewhere, though potentially at higher cost. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
PUBLISHED: August 22, 2019 at 11:15 am | UPDATED: August 22, 2019 at 11:19 am
By KATHLEEN RONAYNE
SACRAMENTO (AP) — New California data shows insurance companies declined to renew nearly 350,000 home insurance policies in areas at high risk for wildfire since the state began collecting data in 2015.
The data released this week did not say how many people who lost their insurance were able to purchase it elsewhere or how much more it cost. It also showed total new and renewed insurance policies increased in fire risk areas during the same period.
Loss of home insurance or spiking policy prices are one consequence of California's deadly and destructive wildfires in recent years. The state did not collect the same data before 2015, making it difficult to get a wide view of changes in the state's home insurance market. Still, lawmakers, regulators and homeowners alike say they're concerned about the effect of devastating wildfires on homeowners.
Joel Laucher, an insurance department consultant, told lawmakers Wednesday that insurers are requesting premium hikes "in record numbers." The department received 25 requests for rate increases in 2015, compared with 69 in 2018, with even more requests likely this year.
But the insurance industry noted the number of non-renewed policies remained fairly steady year-over-year and said many insurers are still offering policies in high-risk fire areas.
"Insurers remain committed to covering homes in rural and urban zones, despite paying out more than $26 billion in claims from the 2017 and 2018 wildfires. Those claims payments will rebuild and revitalize these communities," Rex Frazier, president of the Personal Insurance Federal of California, and Mark Sektnan, vice president for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said in a joint statement.
The data also shows 33,000 policies were not renewed by insurers in zip codes affected by major wildfires in Calaveras and Lake Counties in 2015, in Santa Rosa in 2017, and mudslides in Southern California in early 2018.
The data does not include non-renewals resulting from destructive fires in Redding and Paradise last year, leading insurance regulators to warn non-renewals could climb even more next year. Total new and renewed policies fell in the 10 counties with the most homes in high-risk fire areas over the four-year period, the data showed.
"This data should be a wake-up call for state and local policymakers that without action to reduce the risk from extreme wildfires and preserve the insurance market, we could see communities unraveling," state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said he's working with Lara's office on short- and long-term solutions to combat the problem.
"This has been a trend line as you know for the last four, five years. Last year was accelerated," he told reporters. "We've got to address it."
The data also shows that more non-renewals were initiated by policy holders than by insurance companies, but the insurance department does not have data on why people choose not to renew their policies, spokesman Michael Soller said.
More people in high-risk fire areas are now buying insurance through the FAIR Plan, a state-created program that guarantees insurance access even to people in high fire-risk areas. But coverage non-renewals are also slightly up for people on those plans.
Associated Press journalist Rich Pedroncelli contributed from Paradise, California.


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Eurail Train Travel Options Explode for Families
Article By: Kyle McCarthy
The new Eurail campaign promotes free travel for kids on trains in 28 European countries.
Eurail Travel's multi-country train passes are welcoming families to Europe with discounts, kids free deals, more flexibility and new perks that totally refresh the Eurail Pass concept. Born in 1959 and now the lovechild of 28 different countries, it's great to see Eurail Travel expand their offerings in response to travelers' changing needs.
And since family travelers are venturing farther this year, and returning to Europe in the highest volume seen since the Recession, Eurail's news for the 2015 travel season could not be better or more timely for parents.
Children Under 12 Travel Free – Under 4s Are Always Free
With the launch of the new Children Travel Free initiative, Eurail is allowing adults to bring one or two children ages 4-11 along at no cost. What a great way to introduce the next generation to the joys of train travel. Minipackers from newborn to age 11 can ride for free with a family member or friend over 18 who is traveling on an Adult Eurail Pass. Since up to two children can travel free for each adult ticket purchased, this is a real boon for families whose teens want to bring along a best friend — and for single parents, too.
In more news, Rail Europe, one of the official Eurail Pass brokers, is offering a few other country specific Kids Discounts, as follows. According to their sales staff, families traveling with kids under 16 in Switzerland can book a Swiss Travel Pass and save with the Swiss Family Card, which allows ages 6-15 to travel free when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The free card should be requested when you purchase your Swiss Travel Pass. The German Rail Pass offers a free child discount, with up to two children ages 6-11 traveling free of charge with each adult. For families touring the UK, there are several BritRail Pass options where 1 child ages 5-15 may be able to travel free with an adult on a BritRail Family Pass. Additional kids 5-15 will receive a special reduced rate; check with their sales rep to be sure it's available.
Millennials and Their Kids Treated like 1st Class Citizens
From their 2014 research, Eurail discovered that the majority of riders were not European citizens (North America accounts for 35.5% of all sales), were using the rail pass to try train travel for the very first time, were older than 26 and were often seniors. These travelers focused their trips on the major European capitals, preferred to travel in First Class, and usually didn't travel alone. Given the data and huge increase in multigenerational travel cited by the TMS Family Travel Summit and others, it made sense that one cohort of rail passengers would be grandparents interested in travel with their grandchildren.
A significant innovation for Eurail is the new 1st Class Youth Pass, available to children or friends in the 12-to-25 age group and priced 20% less than the adult pass. Previously only available in second class, the new first-class Youth Pass stops penalizing adults who want to spoil themselves and their kids with the most comfortable transport options. Great idea, and especially well suited to fussy Millennial parents and their vocal kids.
Eurail Global Pass Expanding to Add More Countries
The rail network has gotten larger. Four Eastern European countries joined Eurail's Global Pass offer this year. We know Croatia has been very popular, so adding service in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia will make regional travel a breeze. Adding Poland will smooth the way for families exploring Germany and the Czech Republic, since the best train service between Prague and Berlin runs through Poland.
Eurail Global Flexi Pass Becomes More Flexible
Considering that not all travelers will have time to visit all 28 countries, and that many would prefer to skip over some but continue to use the rail pass, Eurail has made their Global Pass into a more flexible Eurail Global Flexi Pass. For 2015, families can buy a 10-Day Global Pass and use it on any five days during that period, and in any country. Find a better deal on Ryanair? Fly to your destination, visit, then continue from there by rail. Want to visit Belgium, Italy and Spain but skip parts in between? You can do that too because within that 10-day period, travelers can stop in non-bordering countries of their choice.
History Buffs Can Sail or Rail Their Way around Greece
The new Eurail Attica Pass makes it easier for travelers to take advantage of increased travel to Greece, where tourist prices have dropped due to the debt crisis and Eurozone restrictions. It's essentially like the One Country Pass available to the most popular European countries, which has a validity of 3, 4, 5 and 8 days of travel within one month depending on country; however, the Attica Pass starts the journey in Italy so travelers can ferry to Greece at no extra charge. You can use up to six ferry crossings within one month (two might be international trips between Italy and Greece and four domestic trips for island hopping.) Unlike the train passes, overnight journeys only count as one ticket use. This pass includes the rail and bus transfer from the international port of Patras (where Italy ferries make port) to the domestic port of Piraeus (outside Athens) to catch the inter-island ferries. For kids who love trains, planes and automobiles, adding in ferries is sure to be a hit.
Special Offers for 2015 & Beyond include Expo Milano
The newest World's Fair, Expo Milano 2015, will run this year from May 1 to October 31 and Eurail is making it easy to get there with the Italy One Country Pass. This season, it's discounted to $167 for three days of unlimited travel in the country. Additionally, a number of Italian High Speed trains (such as the Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca and EuroCity trains) will make a special stop in RhoFiera Milano to bring passengers directly to the EXPO 2015 event, beginning April 26.
In other offers, the Spring Sale for the Regional and One-Country Passes means that travelers will get one additional travel day for free on their passes, between the period March 1–April 30, 2015.
For more information on Eurail Travel, pass options, rules of use and which trains need advance reservations, you can visit the Eurail Group site. Once you make the decision to ride the rails, invest the time to study the materials that come with your ticket. The Pass Guide explains in detail how to travel with Eurail and is translated into six different languages. The Eurail map shows the main train network in Europe, as well as all discounted ferry routes. We also have some tips to make family travel by train a bit easier.
And this program is not only for American families; European families have similar benefits under a sister program called Interrail. To purchase a Eurail Pass, you'll have to get in touch with a ticket agent such as ACP Rail International, Eurail.com B.V., Rail Europe Group, or STA Travel.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
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Riske Business: Underrated February Releases I Love (Part Two)
by Adam Riske
What better way to celebrate Valentine's Week than with movies I love? Probably many.
Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior (2005) – I saw this movie in theaters as a total fluke. My cousin and I were looking for anything to see back in February 2005 and we were like "What is Ong Bak?" We watched the trailer and by the time it was over I was all "Put your fucking coat on and meet me. I'm already at the theater." This is peak Tony Jaa and an absolute showcase for his kick-assery (The Protector is also fun) with some of the best fight scenes I had seen until I saw The Raid. Nevertheless, Ong Bak is a total blast. You know how Patrick says "John Wick will kick your dick?" Well, "Ong Bak will block your cock." Put that on a t-shirt. And wear it as an undershirt so no one sees it.
Breach (2007) – This is a great, based-on-a-true-story thriller from writer/director Billy Ray, whose previous movie was the incredible Shattered Glass. You should see both if you haven't already. Or don't, it's up to you. Breach shares some similarities to Shattered Glass, as both are about a pair of coworkers where one must take down their craftier and duplicitous associate. The movie has predictably great work from Chris Cooper and Laura Linney and a surprisingly good turn from Wish Upon favorite Ryan Phillippe. I wonder how this movie will play now, being that it's about a government employee selling out the United States to Russia. It would be intriguing to revisit.
Jumper (2008) – Here's where the list starts to get weird. I know Jumper is basically YA-ish crap, but I bought into its bullshit and had a great time watching it back in 2008. By the end when they are like "Your mama's a Paladin!" I was all "WOOOOAAAHHH! This changes everything for our Jumper protagonist! Let's watch what happens!!" I also love Jumper because it's such a relic of its time – by that I mean a theatrical movie where Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson have lead roles. This would be rented by Rob at Redbox in 2018, but in 2008 it opened #1 at the box office. The execution of this movie is not great (it's pretty thrown together for Doug Liman) and Jamie Bell is a chore, but the premise is cool and I wish they would have made more films in this universe. As the kids say, don't @ me.
Fanboys (2009) – I was expecting this movie to be dead on arrival, but I liked it so much I ended up seeing it theatrically twice and now revisit it once every couple of years at home. Fanboys coasts on being a fun road trip movie with a game ensemble and I like that it's a feature about a pop culture event. You usually see that more in documentaries. Fanboys does a good job capturing the mood leading up to the release of The Phantom Menace, and now feels like a whimsical time capsule as fandom has changed into an uglier thing since the era (era) this movie portrays (I have wondered what these guys would have thought of The Last Jedi). I've mentioned before that part of being a fan is to look back with fondness even on the bad entries of your properties because it allowed for hours of venting and joking about it with your friends. I wouldn't necessarily trade those experiences for a better Blade: Trinity, for example. Fanboys is a movie that celebrates friendship through fandom. I think us genre fans complained just as much back then as we do now, but we did it more in good humor, with pals at someone's house and not anonymously and angrily to strangers online. I would love to see a follow-up with these characters but in present day. It could be like a Before Sunrise series.
Two Lovers (2009) – I saw this one on VOD back when VOD was basically only for movies from IFC Films and Magnolia Pictures and it's stuck with me over the years. Two Lovers is a romantic drama about a love triangle between a Jewish man (played by Joaquin Phoenix), a Jewish woman (Vinessa Shaw) and a "Shiksa Goddess" (Gwyneth Paltrow). The performances carry the movie and make it compelling. Phoenix is kind of an unremarkable guy in this movie and he should be thanking his lucky stars Vinessa Shaw is in love with him, but his eyes keep wandering to Paltrow. I think we've all been in a similar situation where a perfectly good romantic partner is right there and waiting but you hedge your bets because it's too easy and you want a challenge in winning over the other, less available person. It's demented. Two Lovers captures that dilemma very well. This is my favorite James Gray movie.
The Good Guy (2010) – I spoke about this Alexis Bledel romantic drama on the podcast last year after stumbling upon it again on cable. For years, I thought this was the one movie that "got dating." Now I realize it's not that extraordinary, but The Good Guy still is super watchable and the best Bledel movie I've seen (I have not watched the Traveling Pants pictures). It's funny that I used to think Rory Gilmore was this ideal woman, but as evidenced by the continuing run of Gilmore Girls and pretty much every romance Alexis Bledel has had on the big or small screen, she's kind of a terrible romantic partner. It's all obscured by her workaday Audrey-ness. If you, like me, are bummed that you can't have all the episodes of the Amanda Bynes sitcom What I Like About You on DVD (when are they going to release season 3???!!!), then The Good Guy could provide you with a "we're young, going to the bars, hooking up, dime-store philosophizing, millennial entitlement, Gavin DeGraw, fabulous apartment, let's open a cupcake store, I was offered a promotion but of course it means I have to move to San Francisco, I want to apologize but only in the rain, DVR One Tree Hill" fix. How do you tell the good guys from the bad? The truth from the lies? The ONE from all the others? By watching The Good Guy. Co-starring Anna Chlumsky at her most beguiling. I'm not kidding. She's beautiful. I'd knock over ten Bledels for one Chlumsky.
The Illusionist (2010) – Not the Edward Norton movie. I'm talking about the Academy Award nominated animated feature from director Sylvain Chomet. It tells the story of a downtrodden, remorseful illusionist who has one last chance at redemption/happiness/self-worth when he meets a girl who still sees him as an awe-inspiring artist. This is a very sad movie and I wouldn't recommend it if you're depressed, but it also contains evocative 2D animation, a great score and some inspired comedy set pieces. The Illusionist has stuck with me for years. It's from a script by the late, great Jacques Tati that was the subject of some controversy at the time of this movie's release. The whole thing is very complicated, so I won't get into it here. Speaking just as a person who watched the movie without a personal stake in it, I'm glad The Illusionist exists because it's a terrific story partly about our capacity to live with regret.
Love and Air Sex (2013) – I am not crazy about the air sex portions of this film, but the love of the title is worth watching. Love and Air Sex is one of those SXSW movies that sort of never found an audience (except me and I think Patrick watched it and didn't like it), but I dig it because it takes place in Austin, TX and I love Austin, TX and this is a little travelogue for me to re-watch when I don't have money to go to Austin, TX. Love and Air Sex has some interesting and honest observations about romance and long-distance relationships, a fun energy, a great closing scene, a grungy/punky Sara Paxton and the Addison Timlin performance that made me fall in crush with Addison Timlin. If you're a hipster or a sad bastard romantic, you'll like this. If you don't, I don't know what to tell you other than that happens sometimes when you watch a movie.
Deli Man (2015) – Oy, I love this movie! I had no idea this documentary existed until one day I discovered it as I was reading movie reviews in the Chicago Sun-Times. I thought "DELI MAN! That sounds amazing. Where's it playing?" Of course, it was only at the theaters in Jewish neighborhoods, so I paid my check, grabbed some gelt and went to the first show I could. It's so Jewish and it's so deli. I loved it. It tells not only the history of Jewish deli in the United States but also follows a gregarious third-generation deli man named Ziggy Gruber. He's the best! This movie will make you hungry. This movie will make you happy. And this movie might even make you Jewish if you watch it more than once. P.S. There's one "Deli Man" (in quotes, because he sucks) who's a deli owner in Canada and he drives around a truck that says "Sometimes you gotta Jew it up!" or something stupid like that. Yeah, I don't like him or those new wave hippy dippy Jewish fusion deli guys. Fuck them. Real deli is real deli. Have these mashuganas forgotten everything about tradition? If I don't watch Deli Man again soon, I'll plotz!
What are other underrated February movies from 2005 to today? I left some good ones out intentionally for you all to bring up. Leave a comment below, yo.
Posted by Patrick Bromley at 5:00 AM
Labels: billy ray, breach, deli man, doug liman, fanboys, jumper, love and air sex, ong bak, riske business, the good guy, underrated movies
Rob DiCristino February 16, 2018 at 8:56 AM
"Hey, guys. What if the movie sucks?" Fanboys is awesome.
Adam Riske February 16, 2018 at 9:15 AM
It might partly be because he reminds me of a friend from work but I really like Dan Fogler in this movie. Until Fantastic Beasts, I feel like I was the only one on Team Fogler. Yeah, I get why people didn't like him but he is always giving 110% which I find endearing. E.G. There's a simple joke in Fanboys where Fogler humps Christopher Marquette's foot and Fogler knows it's not just the humping that's the joke, it's also the amount of time the joke goes on and the facial expressions he makes. Great acting isn't about the method, it's about how long you hump the foot and the face you make when you do it.
Paul Calvert February 16, 2018 at 2:26 PM
His IMDB Bio introduces him as "Cherubic actor and singer Dan Fogler.."
I had to Google what was a Cherub.
Kunider February 16, 2018 at 10:11 AM
i loooove Fanboys. i rewatch it at least once a year. it's so well made, and genuine, and fun, and the actors are good, tons of cameo. all that stuff. the cancer angle is perfect. i wish somebody would do a podcast on it (wink wink), because it has an interesting production and distribution history and it could've gone to another direction that didn't sound very interesting.
i've been wanting to watch The Illusionist for years, but for some reason i never did. i'm a big fan of the movies of Jacques Tati, so it's kind of wrong of me to have never watched it. i will remedy that this weekend if i can find a dvd or a blu-ray, since i'm pretty sure it's not streaming anywhere
I love these columns! Jumper was great & I really wanted a Jumper 2. There has to be more in the closet Jumper fans.
I'd like to add Running Scared 2006, Paul Walker's best movie.
Fired Up! 2009 A really funny, sweet movie that totally bombed at the box office.
Dark Skies 2013 A good alien abduction movie with some really good scares. Totally surprised me how much I like it.
Gaith February 16, 2018 at 8:05 PM
Any day is a good day to praise Running Scared ('06) and Fired Up!.
Leo Logan February 16, 2018 at 1:11 PM
I would also make a case for:
2006: Eight Below
2007: Music and Lyrics
2008: Charlie Bartlett
2012: Wanderlust
2013: Side Effects
2015: The DUFF
Anonymous02 February 16, 2018 at 4:50 PM
Some of these, I'll have to check out. Of the three I've seen, "Breach" is the only one I saw in theaters when it was originally released. It was one of my five 2007 to 2017 February releases I held back in my comment for the Part I column. When I originally saw "Breach", I was familiar with the true story (Robert Hanssen was arrested on February 18, 2001), and I had already seen the more comprehensive 2-part TV mini-series based on the life of Robert Hanssen, staring William Hurt as Hanssen (2002's "Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story). "Breach" is very good, but it only covers the final stage of Hanssen getting caught. Regarding "Jumper", I had high hopes for it, but didn't think it was more than watchable after the initial setup. Regarding "Fanboys", I thought it's heart was in the right place, but just wasn't very well made. The other four movies I left off of my Part I column comment are:
The Other Boleyn Girl (2009) – February 29 – A leap day release about the much-told true story of King Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn, with additional attention to Ann's sister Mary, whose involvement with Henry VIII preceded Ann's. Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana.
Goon (2012) – February 24 – A better than expected hockey movie, about a minor league player who can't actually play hockey, but who can fight on the ice. More "Raging Bull" than a comedy. Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Liev Schreiber.
Focus (2015) – February 27 – A romance, heist movie involving professional con artists. Got a lot of negative reviews, but I didn't agree. Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Gerald McRaney, Rodrigo Santoro.
John Wick: Chapter Two (2017) – February 10 – All other things being the same, I feel like if this had been "Marvel's John Wick: Chapter Two", it would've made at least twice as much at the box office (even with the R-rating), just based on how mass movie audiences decide to see movies these days. Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Ruby Rose, Common, Laurence Fishburne.
I also agree with Leo Logan about "Side Effects" (February 8). I saw that in a theater during its general release. I thought it was very good, and I don't know why I missed remembering that one.
Edit: "The Other Boleyn Girl" was a 2008 release.
Will Benson February 17, 2018 at 7:56 PM
I specifically remember "The Vow" coming out because I took a date to it on Valentines day. I could not understand how Rachel McAdams could go from Ryan Gosling in The Notebook to Channing Tatum. When she gets amnesia in The Vow and doesn't remember Tatum, I wanted to yell out, "Because you're looking for Gosling"! So that isn't an underated February movie, but a memorable one for me.
Aside from that off the top of my head I think I saw Constantine in February, which is batshit and extremely up and down in quality but I enjoy it.
I also think I saw Vantage Point in February. Which is not a good movie. I think I'm playing wrong. I'd need to look at a list. Sorry.


text:
Philippine envoy to US receives Moderna vaccine
Jan 20, 2021 12:17 PM PHT
Sofia Tomacruz
DIPLOMAT. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez at a forum in Makati City on February 28, 2020.
File photo by Carmela Fonbuena
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel 'Babe' Romualdez is among key officials facilitating talks between US drug maker Moderna and the Philippine government
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez received his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Washington, making him the first Philippine diplomat to publicly announce getting vaccinated against the disease.
"I received the first dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine as part of the continuous rollout of Washington DC's phase-based vaccination program days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris," Romualdez said in statement on Tuesday night, January 19 (Manila time).
The Moderna vaccine is one of the two granted emergency use approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines. The Moderna vaccine was co-developed by the pharmaceutical company and the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, led by Dr Anthony Fauci.
Romualdez is a key official facilitating talks between the Philippine government and Moderna for the possible purchase of its vaccine for Filipinos. Negotiations were said to be in their "final stages," as Philippine vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr said the Philippines may secure about 20 million doses of the Moderna vaccine.
Like Pfizer, Moderna announced promising results for its vaccine, saying it was almost 95% effective. Preliminary phase 3 trial data has also shown the vaccine to be 100% effective against preventing severe COVID-19.
If secured by the Philippines, the Moderna vaccine will be easier to roll out compared to the Pfizer vaccine as it is compatible with the Department of Health's storage facilities. The vaccine can remain stable at standard refrigerator temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) for 30 days and up to 6 months at standard freezer temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Moderna has yet to apply for emergency use approval with the FDA in the Philippines, but has inquired about requirements for the authorization. It has secured similar emergency authorization from the US FDA, Canada, and European Union. – Rappler.com
@sofiatomacruz
Sofia Tomacruz covers foreign affairs and is the lead reporter on the coronavirus pandemic. She also writes stories on the treatment of women and children. Follow her on Twitter via @sofiatomacruz. Email her at sofia.tomacruz@rappler.com.
More from Sofia Tomacruz


text:
Problem 1090. Create a random logical vector of N elements of which M are true.
Submitted on 17 Oct 2019
n = 10; m = 4; y = random_binary(n,m); assert(islogical(y) && isequal(sum(y),m) && abs(std(diff(y)>0)-0.45)<0.2)
y = 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Assertion failed.
n = 1000; m = 500; y = random_binary(n,m); assert(islogical(y) && isequal(sum(y),m) && abs(std(diff(y)>0)-0.45)<0.05)
y = Columns 1 through 30 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Columns 31 through 60 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 Columns 61 through 90 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 Columns 91 through 120 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 Columns 121 through 150 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 Columns 151 through 180 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 Columns 181 through 210 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 Columns 211 through 240 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Columns 241 through 270 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Columns 271 through 300 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 Columns 301 through 330 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 Columns 331 through 360 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 Columns 361 through 390 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Columns 391 through 420 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Columns 421 through 450 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Columns 451 through 480 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 Columns 481 through 510 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Columns 511 through 540 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 Columns 541 through 570 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 Columns 571 through 600 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 Columns 601 through 630 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 Columns 631 through 660 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 Columns 661 through 690 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 Columns 691 through 720 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 Columns 721 through 750 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 Columns 751 through 780 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 Columns 781 through 810 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 Columns 811 through 840 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 Columns 841 through 870 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Columns 871 through 900 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 Columns 901 through 930 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 Columns 931 through 960 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 Columns 961 through 990 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 Columns 991 through 1000 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
n = 500; m = 20; y = random_binary(n,m); assert(islogical(y) && isequal(sum(y),m) && abs(std(diff(y)>0)-0.18)<0.05)
y = Columns 1 through 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 31 through 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 61 through 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 91 through 120 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 121 through 150 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Columns 151 through 180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 181 through 210 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 211 through 240 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 241 through 270 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Columns 271 through 300 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 301 through 330 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 331 through 360 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 361 through 390 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 391 through 420 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 421 through 450 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 451 through 480 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Columns 481 through 500 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Better bullseye matrix
Relative ratio of "1" in binary number
Power supply: 230V to 115V
Operate on matrices of unequal, yet similar, size
Order of things - 4
Only once: cleaning up your columns
Insert structure in a parameter-cell array.


text:
Roofing contractor fined for not providing fall protection
October 23, 2015 Reprints
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a Houston-based roofing contractor for exposing workers to fall hazards and has proposed a nearly $54,000 fine.
Peak Roofing Inc. was cited on Wednesday for one willful violation for exposing workers at an Abilene, Texas, jobsite to falls from heights greater than 6 feet without providing fall protection, according to an agency news release issued on Thursday. The company has been cited for exposing workers to fall hazards at three different workplace locations in Texas since 2011, the agency said.
OSHA is seeking to raise awareness among workers and employers about the hazards of falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs.
"Falls in construction are preventable," Elizabeth Linda Routh, OSHA's area director in Lubbock, Texas, said in the statement. "It is the employer's responsibility to plan ahead to provide the right equipment and train everyone to use the equipment safely."
A company spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.
Employers wary of OSHA's pursuit of electronic injury reporting rule
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is sticking to its guns by moving forward with a new regulatory rule that would expand electronic recordkeeping requirements for workplace injuries and illnesses and make such records publicly available, despite consistent objections from employers and their advocates.
Program encourages workplace safety for older workers
Ashley Furniture challenges latest OSHA citations


text:
Bernie Sanders introduces anti-pharma-patent bill, aims to replace drug monopolies with prizes
Cory Doctorow 8:31 am Fri May 27, 2011
Jamie Love sez, "Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has introduced legislation in the US Senate that would use prizes to reward medical R&D, and eliminate all drug monopolies. It includes an open source dividend of $4 billion per year."
Both bills would eliminate all legal barriers to the manufacture and sale of generic versions of drugs and vaccines. The more ambitious bill is the Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act, which would apply to all prescription drugs. The narrower proposal is the Prize Fund for HIV/AIDS Act, which would only apply to treatments for HIV/AIDS. The Medical Innovation Prize Fund would create a prize fund equal of .55 percent of US GDP, which is more than $80 billion per year at current levels of U.S. GDP. The HIV/AID Prize Fund would be funded at .02 percent of U.S. GDP, which is equal to more than $3 billion per year at current levels of U.S. GDP.
The federal government and private health insurance companies would co-fund the prizes, according to formulas set out in the bills. The cost of the prize funds would be more than offset by the savings from the introduction of generic competition for products.
Both bills have some similar features to Senator Sanders' earlier prize fund bills, but there are also a number of changes. Among those changes are the introduction of an open source dividend element to the bills, which would have at least 5 percent of the prize money going to persons or communities that put knowledge, data, materials or technology into the public domain, or provide royalty free and non-discriminatory access to patents and other intellectual property rights. Annually, this would be more than $4 billion for S. 1137, and $147 million for S. 1138, at 2010 levels of GDP, as an incentive to open source research.
Senator Sanders introduces two medical innovation prize bills in U.S. Senate to de-link R&D costs from drug prices
(Thanks, jamielove!)
A new drug claims to treat dwarfism. Not everyone thinks it needs treatment.
A recent study published in the Lancet and funded by BioMarin Pharmaceutical claims to have found a way to successfully treat — but not cure — achondroplasia, a common form… READ THE REST
After Trump touts chloroquine + hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 cure, India pharma co to get reprieve from U.S. ban over quality concerns
• Three manufacturing plants of Ipca Laboratories get exemption • Agency had cited 'systematic data manipulation' at one plant READ THE REST
Doctors who take pharma industry freebies prescribe more of their benefactors' drugs
Doctors who accept pharma industry gifts (which can range from free coffees to lavish dinners to six-figure speaking fees) claim that they're not influenced by these bribes/gifts, which is possibly… READ THE REST


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text:
Snowy Days and Hot Soup
Snow can be magical anywhere, but because it's rarest in Paris, I think it's most special. Early one morning, when the snow had just started (and wouldn't last long), I walked over to the Marche Saint-Germain, the covered market, to bring a batch of chocolate-chip cookies to Twiggy Saunders, who, with her husband, Michel, and his mother, tends the cheese stand and decided to take a round-about walk back home, circling the Luxembourg Gardens on the way. It was there that I came upon this woman (above), mittened and booted, backpack over her shoulders, stopping in front of the Senate to practice the standing tree, a yoga pose in which balance is key. Having stood for a moment on one foot, then the other, she brought her hands together in the symbol of prayer, hefted her backpack to a more comfortable spot and marched off.
I, too, marched off, to finish my circuit and to marvel at the quietness of the empty petanque fields. Petanque is a kind of lawn bowling and the courts in the park are generally filled with men — there aren't many women who play this — who usually look as though they came straight from central casting. When the weather's cool, these racks are heavy with coats and sweaters carelessly hung.
The last thing to catch my eye on my way home was this pooch on the side of the historic Cafe Tournon
I did a triple-take before I realized that the pup was a prop. The water bowl's real, as is the welcome — dogs almost always get the royal treatment in Parisian cafes.
I got home and after thawing out, put up a pot of soup for lunch.
The soup's made with leeks, potimarron, a squash, and equal parts milk and water. Potimarron is a compound noun made up by the name for pumpkin, potiron, and that for chestnut, marron, and, happily and deliciously, the potimaron tastes of both. Even better, it's a squash with a hard shell that doesn't have to be removed when you cook it.
It took me longer than I'd like to admit to discover that potimarron has an American relative: Red Kuri Squash. If you can't find this squash, you can use another squash or even pumpkin, but you'll have to peel it and you'll miss out on the chestnut flavor. Of course, there's nothing to stop you from adding a handful of cooked chestnuts to the mix. (I use dry-packed bottled chestnuts all the time.)
I don't really have a recipe for this soup — but you don't really need one. Just scrub the shell of a smallish red kuri squash, split it, scrap out the seeds and strings, and cut it into chunks. Clean 2 or 3 leeks, cut off the dark green parts (save them for making stock) and slice the leeks crosswise. Cover the squash and leeks with milk and water (3 cups of each should do it), season with salt and pepper and bubble away until the squash is tender enough to mash with the back of a spoon. Puree the soup and slurp away.
Make this soup once and I think you'll not only be hooked, you'll want to play around with it. Try adding an apple to the pot or topping the soup with grated cheese, a spoonful of creme fraiche or a little raft of toasted country bread spread with blue cheese.
I love this soup — and I hope you will, too. If you play around with the recipe — and I bet you will — let me know what you do.
PS: It's snowing again in New York. Looks like I'll have to brave the elements to forage for squash — at least I know the soup will be worth it.


Jérôme Anthony, the host and Emmanuel Layan, the auctioneer, help some families, since 2010, to find hidden treasures in their houses, so that they can sell them at auction.
As years go by, we pile up objects at home; they get dusty until we totally forget about them. According to the BVA institute: there would be 12 billion euros sleeping in French closets.
Since 2015, auctioneers formed a duo, with Elsa Gody who joined the team and helps Emmanuel Layan.
At 14 years old, Jérôme Anthony made his first steps as a radio host in Bleu Citron on a local radio Radio Rockin'Chair. He then stopped his studies to dedicate himself to his passion: the radio.
Fun Radio Nancy signed him then and he stayed in this radio for a few years. He started to make a name for himself when he participated in the famous show "Sacré Soirée", with Jean Pierre Foucault, during the young talents competition. Those appearances allowed him to record an EP with his title "Quelque part, quelqu'un" written by Didier Barbelivien.
In 1997, he started a career as a TV host with "Zapping Zone" on Disney Channel. M6 spotted him and he presented "Drole de Réveil" in 2008, with Zumeo. He also got a part in "la Nouvelle Star", and "Nouvelle Star ça continue" on W9 and M6.
The channel then gave him "Absolument Stars", and at the end of 2009, "La France a un "Incroyable Talent ça continue", in the second part of the evening.
A year later, he adapted the English show "Un Trésor dans votre Maison", still on M6. In 2011, Jerome Anthony co-hosted with Sandrine Corman, "Zero de Conduite". He was also present in "X-Factor", on M6.
In January 2015, he hosted a new show with Guillaume Pley called: "Tout peut arriver".
Emmanuel Layan graduated in 2007, through the Voluntary Sales Council. He defines art as "the best way to understand and decode the world we live in".
His role in the show " a treasure in your house" is to discover the history of the found objects. He gives, whenever he can, an estimated value of the item with a view to sale. He wishes to "democratise and remove the dusty image of auction rooms".
Elsa Gody is the last of the team to join the show. Since her childhood, she has been living in the world of Art. But she decided to pursue a career in law. She is the feminine touch of the show and a new breath for 2015.
Coulissesmédia: After hosting "Generation Hit" with Sandra Lou or "La France a un incroyable talent, ça continue", you host, still on M6, since 2010 "Un trésor dans votre maison". Are you proud to finally have your own show?
It's not the right word. Sure, having a show that is going to last is nice. During my career, I did a bit of everything. Everything worked and lasted but it's the brand that works best. I'm proud because we found the right tone but my greatest pride is to still be there after all these years.
You had to wait three years before M6 did a prime with "A treasure in your house" when Valérie Damidot only had to wait 6 months with "D&Co" in 2006. How do you explain this long wait?
"D&Co" imposed itself really quickly because she was alone on the field and Valérie has a strong personality. For "a treasure in your house", it was more complicated because the slot was less open than home design. The brand imposed itself more slowly.
What was the shooting of this special show like ?
We had to find a different way of writing it. We kept our main profile to find hidden treasures. Simply, instead of going from room to room, we went from town to town. They called us and we arrived. We travelled over 4000km in 15 days with a small team. Sometimes people had treasures, sometimes not. Everything was streamlined compared to the weekly show. We moved a lot and got to see some really beautiful objects. Our goal was to show as many as possible.
There will soon be the first prime time of the show on M6. Could it be the first of a long series?
Jérôme Anthony: In our state of mind, it was nice to make one. If it works, in any case people who've seen it, loved it, the show could come back in prime time.
Before "A treasure in your house", you were known to host musical shows. Why did M6 offer you this project?
Actually, I really like to work with strangers. Like in "France has an amazing talent", I like to put the spotlight on people, artists, professional or not. I have a kind of empathy and I'm used to making them feel comfortable, so for me, this new show was kind of the same thing. I think that the work of a host is to put people in the limelight. I always have the same way of doing things, and it seems to work. I'm kind of candid and I like it.
How do you explain the success of the show?
The success is not because of me but rather because of Emmanuel's knowledge (the auctioneer) whose profession was revealed and because of our teamwork. People know the way we work and they enjoy it. I think the first ingredient to success, is the object, the journey and the sale. Without any fake modesty, I'm not a host who takes pride of place in a show. For me it's just a fun transition. We can always work on the concept but it's dangerous to be too much of a host, so I'd rather give value to the people.
It's a really instructive programme. Did you learn everything in the field?
I was astounded! I wasn't a really good student at school, but now, my mind is available to learn new things. I can't remember everything so I often ask Emmanuel for details in the car, like a lesson. What you should know is that he is really like he is on television, even if sometimes he checks Internet to confirm his estimations or to verify that he was right.
Do you like antique hunting?
I've always liked it, I love the atmosphere and I used to go to junk shops with friends. I like to walk around in those shops, finding objects from my childhood. It's always nice but unfortunately I hate having too many things at home! Things I use the most are my phone and my piano.
No, I'm not afraid. The more, the merrier. It's nice to see that we've done a good job. I hope it will work for everybody.
The viewer knows you for your funny and relaxed side. Are you really like this every day or is it only a mean to create a familiarity with the audience?
I often ask myself but I'm more of a funny guy in life. I feel even better with myself when I'm shooting, it gives me adrenaline, and you want to give even more. I don't bet everything on humour but more on the mood, but if people feel more like it, I'm happy too.
Did you receive interesting offers?
Yes, for every new game on TF1. I'm often on a short-list and big production companies have called me for variety shows.
I want to say yes, but Plaza is doing really great and they never left him alone. He was with Karine (Lemarchand). He played the turbulent one and she was the serious one. I don't think it was more at the expense of a host whose job it was, as it would be for a reality TV candidate.
I'm not bothered that M6 puts Stéphane Plaza forward. In "Séduis-moi si tu peux", we work hard. I'm telling myself I'm on a great set with a beautiful production and it can give ideas to the channel. My goal was to create games from the beginning, a bit like Nagui who was able to create a game but my models were more like Drucker or Foucault who are able to last. I admire Nagui's energy who is a model in behaviour. We have to behave in a good way because we are playing with shareholders 'money.
When you came on M6, did you imagine having a prime time on junk hunting one day?
Not at all. I never even imagined hosting a prime so even less on junk.
What kind of topics did you think you would host?
I rather thought I was going to do some entertaining, game or variety show but "A treasure in your house" is a really great surprise because I was able to add something to my repertoire that I never knew I could. It's a new show, smart and funny that interest upmarket people and it's something I never dreamt of, but it won't stop me from doing variety, entertainment or game shows.
Your show is broadcasted at 6:40pm, a really competitive slot during the week. Would you like to host a show in prime time access? e?
There is a kind of worry that exists since last Autumn with the new war for access. I really don't want to take part in it. If I had the idea of the century, maybe I would ask myself about this slot, but I don't have this pretention, I'm great where I am.


Get ready for a fresh and fantastic adventure that will keep you engaged through the entire book!
Maisie Dobbs is a woman who is not afraid to buck convention. As she and her team work through different cases, each one builds upon the other, in ways of information and reputation. When Maisie is approached about a murder that happened a few months earlier, she is eager to learn more, but dismayed to find that the police do not have much to go on. As she begins to dig into the young woman's past, she finds a picture that is disturbing. At the same time, they are trying to solve the disappearance of a young boy who is believed to have run away from home.
Usha Pramal is a young Indian woman who had been working as a governess. After leaving the employ of the Allison's she took rooms at an Ayah hotel, where she began to keep houses to earn money to pay for her passage back to India. Before she can realize her dream of returning home and opening a school for young girls, she is murdered and her body found floating in a canal close to where she lived. As Maisie begins to prod into the young woman's life, she finds a few surprises along the way. But this is no open and shut case. As she begins to make headway with a few of the people who knew Usha, another young woman is killed. Maisie believes that she was killed to keep her from telling what she knew. Knowing that there is something deeper going on, Maisie and her team keep looking for answers.
This book is a fantastic read! Beware that you may suffer from a book hangover, because you will be unable to set it down until you finish it! You will be drawn in from page one, but this is one adventure that you will not want to miss! Join Maisie and her team as they work to solve the murder of Usha Pramel and bring some closure to her family. Not only will you be enthralled with this delightful story, you might just learn a few new facts about a culture that many of us are unfamiliar with! Grab your favorite beverage and settle down for a delightful and enchanting book!


text:
Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey is an organization that advocates for the educational interests of twelve Mi'kmaw communities in Nova Scotia. It is a corporation without share capital established for the purpose of supporting the delivery of educational programs and services by the Mi'kmaq Education Act of 1998 of the Government of Canada.

By 2002 a curriculum had been developed to teach the Miꞌkmaq language. In 2013, 88% of students who started Grade 12 on reserve graduated. Teaching of the Mi'kmaq language has been promoted by the translation by the board of seven titles by Robert Munsch and it was hoped to do the same with other authors.

References

Indigenous organizations in Nova Scotia
Educational organizations based in Nova Scotia
Mi'kmaq in Canada