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Creative Scotland and regular Funding
With 2 appearances on BBC Radio Scotland, press coverage, the attention of Members of the Scottish Parliament and forthcoming coverage on Scottish Television, we are, at least, making some noise about the company's plight !
If you would like to send a message of support, please email dogstartheatre@blueyonder.co.uk. It would be great if you could also send it to laura.mackenzie-stuart@creativescotland.com, janet.archer@creativescotland.com and to the Culture Secretary - Fiona.Hyslop.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
PRESS RELEASE NOVEMBER 2014
The future of Dogstar was said to be "hanging by a thread" on Tuesday night (November 11th) following a board meeting of the company at which the refusal of arts agency Creative Scotland to support Dogstar with 3-year regular funding was discussed.
Dogstar is well known in the Highlands and Islands as one of the few organisations which produces and tours professional theatre in the area. The company is also known internationally and one of the few Scottish Theatre companies which works with a range of European and International co-producers, promoters and Arts Organisations. Their award winning play "The Tailor of Inverness" has been seen by over ten thousand people in Scotland and has toured to Scandinavia, America, Eastern Europe, Ireland, Wales and Australia, playing to 14,000 people. More recently Dogstar's "Factor 9", a hard hitting contemporary piece of theatre addressing the scandal of infected blood products during and following the AIDS epidemic, opened at this year's European Capital of Culture in Umea, Sweden, then toured in Denmark, Wales and throughout Scotland to rave reviews, playing to large audiences during the Edinburgh festival and will shortly be performed in the Scottish Parliament.
Dogstar director Hamish MacDonald said "Dogstar has been successfully creating, producing and touring theatre in this country and abroad for fifteen years. As of today, we have offers to stage "The Tailor of Inverness" for three weeks in April 2015 in New York as part of the "Brits Off Broadway" theatre festival; are in discussion with Mungo Park Arts Centre in Denmark for a joint production of a new play on the life of Scottish explorer Mungo Park, which would tour Scotland, Scandinavia, Germany & Ireland during 2015; are developing a stage adaptation of James Robertson's modern Scottish classic 'The Testament of Gideon Mack' with Eden Court Theatre, Inverness; have a provisional agreement to commission a new play by the outstanding Scottish writer Jackie Kay; have a provisional agreement to create a new co-production on the global environmental crisis with Profilteatern of Sweden; and are exploring the potential of staging our new play Factor 9 in the United States".
"Dogstar has been developing and touring work of this quality for many years and this is the third time an application for more assured regular funding from Creative Scotland, has been refused". Said Mr MacDonald, "without a more sustainable financial basis for the company, it is difficult to see how we can continue". This year alone, Dogstar has been refused funding for individual projects twice in addition to the major blow of the company's Regular Funding application being rejected. A fourth application for support for the company's Edinburgh Fringe run of 'Factor 9" was also refused and this was only realised through the financial donations of 180 individuals and four Haemophilia Charities.
Expressions of support and concern for the company's plight have been received from a wide range of Scottish, UK and international promoters, Arts Centres and associated Artists. Terry Hands, Artistic Director of Wales's biggest producing theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, and a former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakepeare Company said of Dogstar in his message of support to the company 'Companies like Dogstar are few and far between and should be treasured. I wish they were Welsh"'.
A representative of the company's board of directors said "After years of demonstrating our ability to create, produce and tour high quality contemporary theatre to international audiences, as well as those across Scotland, it is difficult to understand what exactly Creative Scotland are looking for; if Dogstar do not exemplify a successful company with exciting future plans and the ability to showcase Scottish theatre around the world, who does?"
On receiving our assessment from Creative Scotland outlining reasons for the rejection of our Regular Funding application, we were astonished in the first instance, in view of the importance of this decision, that it was largely assessed by only one individual with 'Assessor Knowledge', supported by only a brief section giving 'Second officer comment.' We were greatly surprised that the examples given of qualitative assessment were selected from 3 productions in a period between 2007-2010, when in fact since the period 2010-14, Dogstar Theatre Company has undertaken 4 national tours and 2 Eastern European tours supported by Creative Scotland, in addition to 4 unsubsidised international tours in Scandinavia and Ireland, a residency in America, attendance at several other international theatre festivals supported by the British Council and a collaboration with Leev Theatre Company in Iran. To give some example of the company's prodigious development and output - as clearly outlined in our application's supporting business plan - in an 18 month period from February 2013-August 2014, the company carried out 130 performances with a generated revenue of £304,000. And yet this clearly demonstrated example of commitment and management capability – an outstanding achievement for a company with no core support – appears to instil very little trust in Creative Scotland with a view to Dogstar Theatre Company's ability to develop and sustain its operation on a more regularly funded basis. We are greatly struck as to how at variance Creative Scotland's assessment of our track record and future plans stands against what promoters, artists, industry professionals and many ordinary audience members both in Scotland and internationally, are communicating to us. On reading through the assessment, while it does acknowledge our established international partners and history of touring theatre in Scotland and abroad, one would be forgiven for assuming that the report is written in relation to at best an average or even failing company. Worryingly, it does not inspire belief that Dogstar Theatre Company, despite its recent history of achievement, commitment, belief and financial sacrifice, has much of a future, even as a project funded company in Scotland.
Dogstar Artistic Directors Matthew Zajac and Hamish MacDonald have a meeting with Creative Scotland on 19 November to discuss the agency's repeated refusal to support the company through more regular funding. "While we understand that Creative Scotland have a limited budget and cannot meet every need for financial support", said Hamish MacDonald, "We don't see what more we can do, and offer for the future, to receive the regular support we need. Unfortunately it looks likely that this will be the end of the road for Dogstar, unless some kind of lifeline can be agreed".
Statements in support of Dogstar
"It is hugely disappointing and frustrating that Creative Scotland should, yet again, fail to provide one of Scotland's most dynamic independent theatre companies with a regular funding package to give it the sustainable future it needs and deserves. The reason given – that Dogstar 'did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate' that it 'met the ambition for Accessing and Enjoying Creative Experiences overall' – is hard to accept, given the company's proven track record of commissioning, creating and producing new plays and performing them to both critical and popular acclaim throughout Scotland and indeed internationally. The decision is all the more incomprehensible given the range of themes that Dogstar has addressed and the quality of the company's productions on the basis of what has been, effectively, a shoestring budget and a massive amount of unpaid work.
A further question arises in the light of Creative Scotland's continued and substantial support for performance venues in Scotland from Aberdeen to Ayr and from Greenock to Edinburgh. If touring companies like Dogstar cease to exist, who will be left to bring challenging, high-quality new work to these venues?"
James Robertson, Writer
"I was introduced to the work of Dogstar Theatre Company in 2013, when The Tailor of Inverness was presented at Clwyd Theatr Cymru's first Celtic Festival. The company was also included in this year's Celtic Festival with its new production Factor 9. Both of these productions were of an exceptional standard, in performance, design and direction. I was impressed by the commitment, passion and energy of the company and its dedication in telling stories which deal with vital issues in a highly theatrical style, unafraid to expose the rawest of emotions, to focus on the experience of the individual set against the sweep of historical and economic forces. Companies like Dogstar are few and far between and should be treasured. I wish they were Welsh. We will certainly continue to offer Dogstar our support at Clwyd Theatr Cymru."
Terry Hands, Artistic Director Clwyd Theatr Cymru
"I am absolutely shocked by this news. When I toured last year in The Baroness, to some of the most remote places of Scotland N S E & W of the country I was thrilled by the response of all the audiences. We did it in church halls, tiny arts centres, and people would travel miles to see our show, as I'm sure they do for all your shows. Their comments afterwards and their enthusiasm was fantastic. I came back to England after the tour and told everyone down here how the arts in Scotland is so much more about the work, the real work and not about bloody west end musicals. Those people far away from the bright lights of cities, who pay their taxes just like the city folk, will now be deprived of your brilliant company. A company I was so proud to be part of."
Roberta Taylor, Actress & Author
"I have witnessed at first hand the passion, dedication and above all connectedness with its audience that Dogstar has achieved over the years, with my experience directing two major shows for the company, The Tailor of Inverness (which has played over 200 times and across three continents) and Factor 9. Matthew and Hamish work incredibly hard and subsidise the work of the company with energy and goodwill. However clearly this is unsustainable. For a company with this global reach and rootedness in the Scottish community it seems extraordinary that no investment was made in its core, especially with its successful leveraging of very large sums of co-investment from Scandinavia. At the very least I hope some stabilisation funding will be made available otherwise we are in great danger of losing a very real and very valuable Scottish treasure." Ben Harrison, Co-Artistic Director, Grid Iron
"Dogstar have proven to be clear leaders in highlighting an issue for those of us in a highly disadvantaged position. We have often found that otherwise, we have little or no voice. Dogstar's professionalism, sensitive interpretation and exhaustive research in their production Factor 9 has proven to be an inspiring catalyst for all of us infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV through NHS blood products. Vulnerable groups like ours need Dogstar to draw wider attention and understanding toward our plight." Bill Wright, Chairman Haemophilia Scotland
Profilteatern first came in contact with Dogstar Theatre in 2004. Since then we have had regular meetings, worked together in different ways and we have had the opportunity to see their shows played here in Sweden as well as in Edinburgh. At close range we have experienced the discipline and diligence, the professionalism and the creativity of Dogstar Theatre. We at Profilteatern have always found our collaborations rewarding and we have always been impressed by the quality produced and the level of commitment in the making of the art.
We are, to say the least, surprised by the way cultural politics and funding works in a region that in many ways resembles ours - the northern periphery. One imagines that the necessity of presenting high quality art in the region is obvious. Considering previous successes and the impact of their shows we are eager to see what Dogstar Theatre could offer working under more positive circumstances. We would expect Creative Scotland to be the same.
Profilteatern - touring company in the north of Sweden
I am so very sorry to hear this depressing news. The Tailor of Inverness and Factor 9 are some of the best things I've seen in theatre.
Gerda Stevenson, Actor, Writer, Musician & Producer
I am very sorry to hear this news. Clearly these will be worrying times for the company and those who have followed its progress.
Patricia Ferguson MSP, Labour Culture Spokeswoman
We protest! Dogstar are brilliant. We have enjoyed every performance they have ever done. Everything about their performances is of a high stand, the writing, the sets, the acting, the costumes etc etc. we should treasure them! Lily Byron, Former Promoter, Rosehall Sutherland
Dogstar has frequently demonstrated that Scottish theatre can be informative and politicized while still being engaging and highly emotional. As a society we need Dogstar to continue putting on plays which give voice to the voiceless and challenge us all to think differently. I believe that with a more secure financial foundation Dogstar would take even more risks and produce even more important work. It is rare national asset to have a theatre company prepared to make the emotional, physical and financial investment needed to put on a play like Factor 9. The importance of the work to those affected by the contaminated blood disaster all around the world is hard to overstate. Dan Farthing-Sykes, Haemophilia Scotland
I am desperately sad to hear that, once again, Dogstar have not received core funding from Creative Scotland. I cannot understand how a theatre company that have been such a positive creative force in the Highlands and across Scotland and who have promoted Scottish creativity across the world so very effectively can be forced into this situation.
For many years I have been so hugely impressed with the power and emotional impact of the work that Dogstar have created. There has always been tremendous benefit and added value gained by inviting Dogstar into my schools to work with my students and to perform your outstanding shows. Whether watching Hamish work with my students at Culloden Academy in the process of writing new and interesting theatre for them to perform, or seeing the effect of The Baroness on my students here at Gordonstoun as they realised just how much could be achieved by a touring company and a small cast.
Your work is always a treat to watch. I remember a colleague of mine saying that I had to see The Tailor of Inverness, her words were, "It's literally the best piece of theatre I've ever seen!" As well as being enthralling and entertaining, as well as being intense and powerful, as well as always being exceptionally directed and acted, every Dogstar production I have been fortunate enough to see has effected me on a powerful emotional level.
Carl Sagan said: "If we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We're no longer interested in finding out the truth." Your productions remind us not to allow ourselves to become bamboozled, they urge us to search for truths. Thought provoking and always beautifully written, the work always stays in the mind for a long time after the productions are over. Through the process of discussion, review and writing that my students all undertake, I'm very aware of the positive effect of your work on young people in terms of them questioning and exploring issues and themes. This is a profoundly useful and important role that Dogstar play in our culture and in our society (from the Highlands, into the rest of Scotland and internationally), it is one that you should both be supported in, praised for and asked to continue with for as long as you possibly ever can.
Jack Hoskins, Director of Drama, Gordonstoun.
I am gobsmacked at the prospect of Dogstar Theatre Company 'winding up'. The news is a total shock and has left me lost for words. I do not understand how anyone who has seen your work could fail to rate it highly and encourage you to continue. I sincerely hope your meeting with Creative Scotland next week goes well and ends positively and that we see you back at Lyth in the not too distant future. Jane Bing Bremner, Programmer Lyth Arts Centre
I am sorry to hear about your difficulties with funding. Please keep me posted and I will give you whatever support I can. Mike Mackenzie MSP
I find this to be an absolute disgrace on Creative Scotland's part. When we toured the Highlands & Islands last year, people at every venue talked with massive fondness and excitement about Dogstar - such is the reputation you have built up with audiences.
As a company getting started, we look to you at Dogstar for inspiration of how to make this work, and to see you not properly supported this far down the road, when you're so successful (!) is heartily depressing. Indeed there is not one company out there who can boast your body of high-quality work, and who makes the effort consistently to take said work to remote places.
Why should talented, brilliant artists like you guys have to re-apply for your jobs with every project application? I hope enough people keep reminding you of the huge value in the work you've been creating and touring all these years.
I very much hope the company is somehow given what it needs to keep going, not least proper salaries for you, the people running it day to day. It would be a tragic loss not just for Scottish theatre, but for world theatre, if Dogstar no longer existed. Elspeth Turner, Actor & Writer, stoirm-og.com
Makes no sense to lose another proven successful company Keith Fleming, Actor
I am so gutted to hear about the funding decision for Dogstar. It doesn't make any sense to me. You and Hamish have worked so long and so hard for the company, but it seems that none of that has any bearing when there's a 'Jobsworth' ready with his red pen to draw a line through years of touring, building a reputation and staging some exceptional shows. Annie Grace, Musician and Actor
We must not lose Dogstar. Gary Morgan
If ever a company deserved the support of 'Creative Scotland' then surely Dogstar is that company! Andrew Wilson, Lighting Designer
Too many important theatre groups lose their funding and yet provide such education, inspiration and entertainment. Leah McGilp
I'd like to add my support for Dogstar. A very necessary Scottish company that is present, tuned in and relevant both home and internationally. A necessary company that would be tragic to lose from a scene that needs more risk-taker, out-of-the-box thinker, committed artists. Not less.
Itxaso Moreno, Actor
As Project Administrator contracted for Dogstar's inaugural tour of The Tailor of Inverness, I witnessed the immense dedication of Matthew Zajac and his company to producing and touring a play that has delighted and moved thousands of people across the world. That Dogstar's plays, most recently Hamish MacDonald 's incredibly powerful Factor 9, can attract directors of the innovative calibre of Ben Harrison says so much. It was a privilege to work on Tailor, and I learned a great deal about touring theatre in this role, which helped me develop personally as well as professionally. Opportunities like this come up rarely in the Highlands. If Dogstar's bright light is extinguished at a point where the company seems to be gathering momentum both at home and internationally, it will be a huge loss for touring theatre and audiences in Scotland, as well as those eager to work in this field. More feedback from Creative Scotland on its decision-making process is essential. Angela Cran
It would be a disaster to lose Dogstar. Peter Stott
Don't know what more you guys have to do to get support you deserve from Creative Scotland. Where is the commitment to Highland Theatre – in terms of geographical spread and the theatre output in the area I think support to Highland theatre is disproportionally low…Scottish (not just Highland) theatre will be the poorer if there is no Dogstar Nick Fearne, Former Arts Officer & Writer
I can't express how horrified that such a hard working touring company has found itself scrapping for funds… Please be assured that your work this year on Factor 9, over the 40 plus shows, has provided focus for Haemophilia's beleaguered viral survivors, and the families of the living, and the dead. To see so many victims come out of the woodwork and talk openly, some for the first time, about their experiences as a result of NHS treatment acquired Hepatitis C and HIV, AID's, was an experience I will value to my last breath. To have the focus as a result of such a fine piece of art, as Factor 9, should not have surprised me as you produced the quality synonymous with, Dogstar. I hope we can find another way. Bruce Norval, Campaigner
We've had great responses to Dogstar productions that have been staged at the Eastgate over the last few years; and would certainly love to see some of the work proposed in your application. Caroline Adam, Eastgate Theatre Peebles
Dogstar Theatre has been a valuable source of income and experience not just for myself but for many traditional musicians over the years. It would be tragic if such an internationally renowned Scottish company, originators of work such as The Tailor of Inverness and Factor 9, should be allowed to collapse, particularly when they still have so much to offer and are still in such demand at home and abroad to audiences both old and new.Gavin Marwick, musician
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Work comes in many flavours and for people post retirement defined in terms of obligations and accountabilities, work seems to fall into one of five categories.
Many in later-life still work for pay, earning a salary, wages, or fees. Employees work for salaries and wages; professionals, craftspeople, consultants, and freelancers typically earn fees.
For many, paid work in later life will often mean continuing to work as a lawyer, accountant, or pharmacist but often on a reduced-time basis. For others, it may involve work totally different from earlier career-related activities.
For example, after retiring from a well paid middle management job a retiree found that after a few months in retirement, he was bored to tears. His wife felt as though someone had intruded on her home life, a place she controlled for over 40 years of their marriage. Rather than doing nothing, he took up a part-time job stacking groceries shelves at a local supermarket.
Outcome: The job provided a schedule, a chance to work with others, and an opportunity to provide a needed service. The additional income, in his case, didn't change his standard of living but was icing on the cake, along with the restoration of a more normal relationship with his wife.
Post-careerists trade their time for in-kind benefits, such as managing a apartment complex or house-sitting in return for living quarters, serving as an usher at sporting events in return for watching the game, working on a cruise ship (e.g., as a lecturer or child-care provider) in return for passage, or providing clean-up services at a performing arts centre in return for free tickets.
In some cases, like managing an apartment complex, you are on-call 24/7 with many obligations and accountabilities. In others, such as clean-up services, there is a lot more flexibility, where you may work only two to three times a week for four to five months a year, but the activity is scheduled and obligatory and involves accountabilities to others. It is work.
Many later-lifers "gift work" i.e., provide a benefit to another on a regular basis without pay or other consideration, usually through a non-profit organization. Volunteers may create products, such as knitting sweaters for the less-advantaged, casting pottery for sale at fund-raisers for the church, building a house for Habitat for Humanity, or manufacturing benches for a neighborhood park.
Volunteers more typically provide services, such as reception services (meeting, greeting, answering phones), helping out at church, delivering meals on wheels for a local nonprofit, coaching a youngsters sports teams, or providing free management assistance to a small-business owner or entrepreneur as a volunteer counselor.
In these cases, charities, community institutions, or other nonprofits get the benefit of your time and talent, and you get the many benefits of social engagement, especially the opportunity to use your gifts to help others and to work to repair the world or make it a better place.
Person-to-person care-giving or assistance arranged informally is something growing numbers of later-lifers are doing for relatives, friends, or other loved ones. Samaritan work includes care-giving for infirm or frail parents, an ailing spouse, dependent neighbor or good friend – or when grandparents provide child care for grandchildren of working parents.
It also includes personal services, such as rehabilitation assistance or assisting with the activities of daily living, including food preparation, shopping, or transportation to appointments. It may be maintenance services, such as lawn care, gardening, shoveling snow for home-bound neighbors, or home maintenance assistance to later-life friends and neighbors who still live at home but can't do the heavy lifting to maintain and repair buildings and grounds.
Some may be surprised that enrichment is considered work. However many later-lifers take a highly disciplined approach to self-improvement.
The important issue here is that "enrichment work" is not just messing around, pursuing a pastime, or something you do when you don't have anything else to do. If you go out to the courts a couple of times a week just to bat the ball around or read a book now and then – that is what we call a pastime or leisure-time activity. There is nothing wrong with leisure-time activity, but it does not qualify as enrichment work. Activities qualifying as enrichment work are planned and purposeful (e.g., improving knowledge or performance, or applying skills to creating something or helping others) and involve obligating yourself to the process and making yourself accountable to someone (e.g., your spouse, partner, friend, or co-worker who knows of your commitment) who will help and encourage you to be true to your undertaking.
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Penn State Field Hockey's Sophia Gladieux Named NFHCA Mideast Region Player of the Year, First Team All American
December 3, 2021 midwestsports
University Park, PA. – The state of Pennsylvania has always been home to some of the greatest field hockey legends the game has ever produced and Penn State University's field hockey 19-year-old sophomore phenom Sophia "Phia" Gladieux is keeping that tradition going. She was recently named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Mideast Region Player of the Year. She was also named a first-team All American. The honor is the latest in a long list of accolades for the young forward.
Gladieux becomes the first Penn State player to win the award. She also recently earned first-team NFHCA All-Region honors for the second straight season. Gladieux ended the season with a team-best 38 points off 18 goals and two assists. The Nittany Lion earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the second time this season and was named to the 2021 Big Ten All-Tournament Team. Gladieux was a second-team NFHCA All-American last year as well.
Gladieux is no stranger to sports as she has been playing field hockey starting 12 years ago in the 3rd grade. And sports have been a big part of her life as her father played football, lacrosse, and soccer for his whole childhood as well as her sister Sarah who played field hockey until twelfth grade and her brother Scott wrestled for most of his childhood. Gladieux also played soccer and softball up until the seventh grade.
"I actually really enjoyed softball because I didn't take it so seriously, it was more of a fun hobby, but I actually ended up doing really well and I was able to play alongside my best friends for many years," Gladieux said.
Gladieux started receiving scholarship offers for field hockey as far back as the sixth grade. It started with Division 2 and 3 schools but soon the offers started coming in from the big Division 1 schools. A few of the big-name field hockey programs that gave her offers, besides Penn State, and showed much interest were Duke, Maryland, and Syracuse to name a few. But Gladieux decided in her sophomore year at her high school, Oley Valley High School, to commit to the Nittany Lions!
It was a very tough decision for her to decide her field hockey college future but she decided on Penn State because she really loved the atmosphere. It was like nothing she had ever experienced. She also loved the coaching staff and how the team culture is so strong, and she felt the athletic and academic programs were one of the most elite in the country.
"I fell in love with the school the moment I stepped on campus," Gladieux stated. "My sister also went to Penn State so I was able to get a good taste of it early on."
The young Gladieux has had many great memorable moments in her short field hockey career at Penn state but the one that sticks out the most so far is beating the University of Michigan in overtime. With 3 minutes left to get into overtime, she scored the tying goal.
"Being able to finish in overtime was just so thrilling, I'll never forget it," Gladieux happily stated. "I remember sprinting over to the rest of my teammates and just thinking, Man I love this team, these are my girls forever."
Gladieux is very honored to be the first Nittany Lion to win the prestigious Mideast Region player of the year and has the potential to even achieve more. She is really focused on her team and wants to bring home a championship to Penn State.
"It is such an honor, especially to be the first Penn State Field Hockey player to ever receive that award," Gladieux said. "It really is humbling, but I would never be able to get to where I am without the help of my teammates and coaching staff. "
She is very inspired throughout her life on a daily basis by so many people in her life from her family to her teammates, and her coaches, all in their own ways.
" I also would say younger Phia inspires me every single time I pick up a stick… my 11-year-old self would be so proud of me, considering how much work I put in from the moment I first picked up a field hockey stick," Gladieux stated. "I always think about the struggles I had to face at such a young age, and the times I was nearly burnt out from field hockey. I think that is my biggest inspiration, making a comeback from that."
Gladieux is studying Early Childhood Education. She plans on playing on the national team, and then eventually finding some sort of teaching job working with early elementary students. She also is very passionate about social justice and tries to lead in a very positive image not just on the field but off it as well. She is a strong fighter for equality for all and believes it is an ongoing problem in the country.
She is the daughter of very proud parents Bernard "Bunky" and Lynn Gladieuex.
Posted in: field hockey, penn state, sports Filed under: field hockey, MFHCA, Mideast region player of year, nittany lions, penn state field hockey, penn state university, pennsylvania, phia, poty, sophia gladieux
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From: gaycitynews.nyc
Randi Weingarten, the out lesbian president of the American Federation of Teachers, is critical of the Human Rights Campaign for its refusal to sign a letter in support of African-American workers in Mississippi trying to organize at a Nissan plant. | DONNA ACETO
BY ANDY HUMM | Labor leaders and progressive activists are taking the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to task for being one of two major civil rights organizations to refuse to support African-American workers in Mississippi trying to organize at a Nissan plant.
Seventeen members of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights were asked to sign on to a letter to Nissan North America citing the National Labor Relations Board's finding that Nissan has "threatened its employees with termination because of their union activities" and accusing the automaker of opposing "civil rights at the Canton plant and of this majority African-American workforce. We urge you to accord these workers the same dignity and respect that Nissan workers are provided everywhere else in the world."
Only the Human Rights Campaign and the National Urban League declined to sign on to the letter that was signed by the NAACP, the National Organization for Women, Unidos USA, the National Council of Churches, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice, among others.
Fellow members of Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights call out leading LGBTQ lobby
Lee A. Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and treasurer of the Leadership Conference, told Gay City that HRC's snub was "disconcerting."
"We're not asking people to walk a picket line," Saunders said, "just sign off on a letter that said the workers should be the given the opportunity to make the decision of whether they wanted to be a part of the UAW without coercion threats."
Saunders added, "These are predominately African-American workers fighting every single day to get by, precisely the people that HRC should be working with — minority communities across the country. It would have been a show of solidarity with communities of color. But they thought their relationship with Nissan was more important. I expressed the disappointment of the 1.6 million members of AFSCME. Their comment was that they have a good relationship with Nissan and that Nissan has a strong record on LGBT issues. But you not only have to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk."
Randi Weingarten, the out lesbian leader of the American Federation of Teachers, said, "It's deeply disappointing that HRC would not stand for the workers' rights and affirm that human rights and civil rights are synonymous with workers' rights, particularly at a time when there is an assault on those we represent. We need to stand to together on behalf of all of us. Unions like my own and so many other labor unions have been soldiers in the fights for LGBTQ priorities for decades. And when it comes to LGBTQ issues, we don't shy away from championing them regardless of what other feathers it might ruffle. I weighed in strongly with Mary Beth Maxwell of HRC [who served in the Obama administration as the principal deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Labor]… who refused to acknowledge the seriousness of this situation."
All this criticism and more was conveyed to the Human Rights Campaign and its response was a statement on which the group would not elaborate. Chris Sgro, communications director, said, "We strongly believe workers have a right to unionize and organize. This is something HRC has affirmed strongly in filings with the Supreme Court and we support the Employee Free Choice Act. We are proud to stand with workers and will continue to do."
The Urban League did not return a call for comment.
Jerame Davis, longtime executive director of Pride at Work at the AFL-CIO, said, "We've been documenting HRC's less than friendly labor policies for a while. HRC gets most of their money from corporations, and they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them. This wasn't a big ask. This was almost pro forma — to voluntarily recognize the union after a vote and not to fight it."
Davis criticized HRC's Corporate Equality Index, which purports to document how pro-LGBTQ a company is.
"We've tried to highlight it is not what they present it as," Davis said, saying of some companies who garner high ratings that their attitude is: "'We treat our workers like shit across the board, whether they're LGBT or not.' It just measures whether or not they have certain policies in place." Davis said the index "doesn't look at how the policies are implemented or whether they are implemented or at union-busting activity or active lawsuits" against the company as there were against Walmart when HRC rated it highly.
Davis emphasized, "You can still be fired in 28 states for being LGBT. Union-busting is an LGBT issues because the union contract [with a clause banning anti-LGBTQ discrimination] is the only thing that can protect LGBT workers" in many places.
Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, which has a close, reciprocal working relationship with labor in New York, said, "HRC has never been in the forefront of the civil rights movement. When other civil rights movements embraced the LGBT rights agenda, HRC acted as if they have it coming but they are not there for other civil rights organizations."
This snub of an African-American cause reminded Roskoff that when Chuck Schumer ran against Al D'Amato for US Senate in 1998, "HRC supported Al D'Amato, who said in 1991 that David Dinkins should 'go back to Africa and stay there' and referred to people in the housing projects as 'animals.'"
Roskoff said, "We're not supporting the constitutional convention in New York on the ballot this fall because our friends in labor think it can roll back the rights of workers. We are not going to second- guess progressive labor."
Kenneth Sherrill, an out gay professor emeritus of political science at Hunter College, said, "I should never be shocked by things HRC does or doesn't do. My sense is they've invested an awful lot of time in building relationships with labor and industry. Have we really reached the point where they are more afraid of offending industry than they are labor? This is one of those issues where not signing isn't staying neutral."
[Editor's note: In the original posting of this story, the AFSCME membership was incorrectly stated as 1.1 million. It should have read 1.6 million.]


After a sun soaked weekend of magic in 2018, Arcadia returns to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to kick the summer off in epic style next May Day Bank Holiday. Arcadia London is a uniquely immersive festival where monumental experiences, spellbinding spectacle and high octane dancefloors bring tens of thousands from all walks of life together on a giant wave of celebration.
Hi there. I'm looking forward to the new show. If you are in the need of transportation of equipment and the new set, please take a look at some wonderful friends of mine.
Just found this on Fb.
Not sure if you guys have seen this..


They felt out of place. Characters are not well established. Please send it to us. He slaves you to look at herself in every frame. . Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela movie is a romantic-drama said to be an adaptation of Shakespeare's epic love story Romeo and Juliet, set in violent times. Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela was initially titled Ram-Leela but was changed to Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela in response to an order by the Delhi High Court.
When Ram and Leela see each other for the first time, their worlds collide, wars are fought and destinies are written in blood, forever. Deepika is breathless and in prime type. Since the plot is Shakespeare, the maker has the arduous task of telling you this story on associate degree deluxe scale. Deepika Padukone is a fearless and fierce Juliet against Ranveer Singh's romantic and emotion charged Romeo - great chemistry! The only thing that messed me up was : the tone of the film felt traditional, not a today modern film; yet, they had modern smart cell phones. At times it got confusing as to who belonged to which family but it did not take away from the story. Vintage palaces and discouraging deserts area unit fitted in with exactitude.
Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela Full Movie Download. Even , he can intrude with the help of a tree trunk. Guns are the most common things between them but in pre climax they fight with swords! No tissues needed for this one. Movie is slow at places even belonging to the action drama romantic genre. Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela Full Movie Trailer So bullets fly, blood flows and bahus become victims of evil style. Director has given his 200% to conceiving the visuals that he couldn't give his 100% to the emotions. Would you like to share the story of the movie Ram Leela with us? I would consider this a Classic.
In between this war-fare Deepika and Ranveer bit, feel kiss and cuddle and make sure you will feel their stirring. This film was emotionally draining and very entertaining, The singing, dancing, costumes and music were perfect. Climax is forced because of adaptation. Love scenes are best as usual. Their clans are at war for five hundred years and therefore the hyperbolically trigger happy ton clearly underline that despite what one Ram or Leela feel, the remainder of the kinship group solely believes in mutiny.
Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela Full Movie. Will their families relent or will Ram and Leela carve their own destiny? He is also master of portraying emotions but this movie lacks his masterstroke. Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela 2013 Movie Free Download 720p BluRay, Free Movie Download Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela Film, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela 2013 Download Free Movie from MovieZoon Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela Full Movie Download Link. A women, who is able to remove bullet from her most loved one person's dead body, possess soft heart!! Ram, the local village Romeo, is a colorful, charming yet dramatic vagabond whereas Leela is an unbridled and passionate village Juliet. What will happen when they declare their love to the world? Main male lead body is deliberately over exposed, which doesn't go well with the premise of the movie, where rest of the person prefers to cover themselves. Romantic tragedy done in Bollywood style. A person goes to the deadly enemy's house without proper disguise or any other precautions.
Set in a land of guns, vengeance against a magnificent musical backdrop, Ram and Leela fight the world to live their own dreams. The pathos within the relationships was missing and therefore the last shot wherever Ram and Leela fall in slow-motion into the water, on straight backs, is contrived. Indians do the Romeo and Juliet story better than anyone else and this is one of the better Indian versions! Sanjay Leela Bhansali ,is known for taking the scenes far more ahead from screenplay by adding visual magic and he succeeds to create the magic again. Other than that a wonderful theatrical drama. The two communities have been sworn enemies since the past 500 years and their own kin falling in love with each other is worse than any storm that could have ever come.
Ranveer displays his six packs and histrionics with truthful ease. . . . . . .


text:
by Pearl Jam
181.FM 90s Alternative
1994 - Vitalogy
1995-09-17: Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans, LA, USA
1995-11-01: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
1998.01.08, Self Pollution Radio
1998-09-11: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
2000-05-26: 3: Velodromo de Anoeta, San Sebastian, Spain
2000-06-16: Spodek, Katowice, Poland (disc 2) (#16)
2000-06-20. Verona, Solcito, Italy
2000-08-07: Atlanta, GA, USA (#29)
2000-08-25, Jones Beach Music Theatre, Wantagh, NY, USA
2000-11-06: Seattle, WA, USA (#72)
2003-10-22: Benaroya Hall
2003-10-22: Benaroya Hall Disc 1
2003-10-22: Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA, USA (disc 1)
2010-05-18: The Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, USA
20/6/00 - Arena, Verona, Italy
23-5-00 Estádio Do Restelo, Li
23/5/2000 - Estadio Do Restelo
26/5/00 - Velodromo Anoeta, San Sebastian, Spain
492 # Vitalogy
Act Of Love Disc One
Arena di Verona (Live 20-06-2000)
Benaroya Hall
Benaroya Hall - 2003-10-22 - Disc 1
Benaroya Hall (CD1)
Benaroya Hall Oct.22 2003
Benaroya Hall (Oct.22 2003)
Benaroya Hall - OCT.22 2003
Benaroya Hall: oct 22 2003 d1
Benaroya Hall (Oct.22 2003) Disc 1
Benaroya Hall- October 22nd 2003
Billboard: 1995 Rock History
Bridge Benefit - An Acoustic Evening
Busted Stuff
Columbia, South Carolina - 04/21/16
DGC Rarities Vol. 1
Down Side
From The Fires
Gigantor Why Not...
Greatest Hits 1991-2003
Greatest Hits 1991-2003 CD Down Side
Green Habit Disc 5
Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida 08-12-2000 Disc 2
Immortality [AU CDS]
Immortality / Rear View Mirror
In Rock We Trust
Jewel Box 5
Jul 02/2003 [Mansfield N1]
Live at Benaroya Hall
Live at Benaroya Hall 10/22/03
Live At Benaroya Hall (22-Oct-2003)
Live At Benaroya Hall (22-Oct-2003) [Disc 1]
Live at Benaroya Hall CD1
Live At Benaroya Hall - CD 1
Live At Benaroya Hall - Disc 1
Live At Benaroya Hall Disc 1
Live at Benaroya Hall (Oct.22 2003) [CD1]
Live At Benaroya Hall - Seattle, WA - Oct. 22, 2003 [Disc 1]
Live at the Garden 1998
Live At The Orpheum Theater
Live at the Orpheum Theatre Boston
Live at the Orpheum Theatre - Boston, April 12, 1994
Live At The Orpheum Theatre [Deluxe Edition] (Disc 3)
Live: Benaroya Hall
London UK 08/18/2009
MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MB. Canada 09/08/05
Oslo 7-9-12 Disc 1
Pearl Jam in Chile
Pearl_Jam_Rio_De_Janeiro_11-6-11M
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Rearviewmirror (Disc 2)
Rearview Mirror Disc 2
Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits
rearviewmirror (greatest hits 1991-2003)
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003)
Rearviewmirror: (Greatest Hits 1991-2003)
Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003
Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991–2003
Rearview Mirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003)
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) [CD2]
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003), CD 2
Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 CD Down Side
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) (disc 2)
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) [Disc 2]
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) Disc 2
Rearviewmirror Greatest Hits 1991-2003 (Disc 2)
Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 (Disc 2)
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) (disc 2: Down Side)
Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 (disc 2: Down Side)
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) disco 2
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) (Disc Two · Down Side)
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) (down side)
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) Down Side
rearviewmirror (greatest hits 1991-2003) [Explicit]
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) vol.2
rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003) - Disc 2
Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 91-03) CD02
Salt Lake City USA 09-28-2009
Self Pollution Radio
Self Pollution Radio Broadcast
Spectrum Oslo Norway (29-6-2000) (side a)
Spin the Black Circle: Live at Soldier Field July 11, 1995 (disc 2)
Spin The Black Circle Live In Seattle '95
Studio Albums II
Suede (25th Anniversary Edition)
Superunknown (Deluxe Edition)
The Best Of Pearl Jam
The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam
The Early Years Vol. 2
The Ultimate Best Of Pearl Jam
Variado 5.6
Vitalogy [16/44.1]
Vitalogy (1994)
Vitalogy (2011 Remaster)
Vitalogy (2011 Remastered Expanded)
Vitalogy [Deluxe Edition] (Disc 2)
Vitalogy (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered]
Vitalogy (Expanded Edition)
Vitalogy Expanded Edition
Vitalogy Expanded Edition (3 Bonus Tracks)
Vitalogy [Legacy Edition]
Vitalogy (Minimax)
Vitalogy (Remaster)
Vitalogy (Remastered)
Vitalogy (Remastered Deluxe Edition)
Vitalogy (SRCS-7525)
Vitalogy [USA, Epic-Legacy, 88697843122]
Vs. & Vitalogy (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered]
Wembley Arena London
Playcount 2684
Listeners 569


text:
News NOC NOC of Ukraine and OC of China will continue their Cooperation
NOC of Ukraine and OC of China will continue their Cooperation
24 April 2013 Share
During his working visit to the People's Republic of China, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine Sergey Bubka and his colleague Liu Peng signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
According to the Memorandum the NOC of Ukraine and Olympic Committee of China will strengthen friendly relations between two countries in the field of sports. In particular, it is envisaged the exchange of experts and research in the field of sports science and medicine, books on physical education, as well as information, knowledge and experience in sports events organization. Both sides will cooperate in the fight against doping and unsportsmanlike behavior.
The key point is joint training of the Ukrainian and Chinese athletes in preparation for the second Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014 and other events. Memorandum is valid for four years.
It should be noted that the Olympic Committees of Ukraine and China have had a similar experience, having signed the Memorandum in 2005. At that time the Ukrainian athletes preparing for the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, participated in the training camps and test events that took place in China.
"I am very pleased that we are continuing our cooperation", Sergei Bubka said during the signing. "A new, confident, more successful era comes in our cooperation. Ukraine and China as a powerful sporting nations of the world have much for mutual action to promote the Olympic movement. Both countries can share their rich experience and skills. China has given the world a fantastic Olympic Games, which will remain forever in our memory. There is no doubt that the second Youth Olympic Games will be successful as well."
"The Memorandum will further strengthen our cooperation", the head of the Olympic Movement in China Liu Peng stated. "Both countries have much to learn from each other in the field of sport. Ukraine has a glorious sports tradition in athletics, aquatic sports, handball, fencing and others. I am grateful to the International Olympic Committee and Sergey Bubka, who is a legend for our residents, for supporting the sport in China."
During his visit to China Sergey Bubka also took part in the opening ceremony of the Juan Antonio Samaranch Memorial in the megapolis of Tianjin, located 200 km from Beijing.
bubka, noc, china, memorandum


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We're proud to announce that all packages for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 Service Pack 1.1 (on-premises) were released on May 17th, 2017 to the Microsoft Download Center and are available for download! Appropriate packages will appear on Microsoft Update shortly.
Here's the "Master" Microsoft Dynamics Knowledge Base article for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 Service Pack 1.1 (on-premises): (KB 3203310). Going forward, the plan is to continue publishing Master Knowledge Base articles for CRM Updates a bit in advance of release to aid planning.
during their Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Update 2.1 and CRM 2016 Update 1.1 podcast.
Consider using the Performance Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM to simulate your production user load in your testing environment to shake out any performance-related issues early. The link above points to a recently-released version of the Toolkit reworked to support CRM 2016! Talk to your TAM (Technical Account Manager) if you want Premier Field Engineering to help your team install and configure it!
The MailboxQueueManager.GetExecutingOperationsMapping() email connector throws the "System.ArgumentException: An item with the same key has already been added"
Allows a flush of the metadata cache if a new option set value is added Alerts"
I applied it quite well on our on-premise CRM2016 Update 1 installation, so now I'm on 8.2.1.176. You speak about 8.1.1.1005 and Dynamics 360 and again CRM2016.
Jiri, Did you ever got an answer? I applied 8.1.1.1005 to my on-premise installation and now im reading about this. Can i apply SP2 to that?


text:
Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP's new stalking bill will give more support to victims
Published: 09:58 Tuesday 30 April 2019
Strathkelvin and Bearsden SNP MSP Rona Mackay has submitted a proposal for a Bill to give police the power to apply for a stalking protection order on behalf of victims.
The Stalking Protection (Scotland) Bill goes out to public consultation on Monday for a period of three months.
It is widely recognised that stalkers can have a profound effect on their victims, both mentally and physically, and that stalking behaviour can culminate in serious violence.
A survey by the Scottish Government in 2017/18 found 27% of women aged 16-24 had experienced at least one incident of stalking in the previous year.
"Overall 11% of adults experienced at least one type of stalking and harassment in 12 months.
Commenting, Rona Mackay said: "My proposal aims to give victims greater protection, and access to justice, by allowing the police to apply directly to the court for a Stalking Protection Order (SPO).
"The police will have to show that there is evidence of stalking behaviour and that they believe that there is a risk to the victim.
"An Order would then prohibit the stalker from continuing this behaviour.
"This proposal goes further than recently introduced legislation in England and ensures that no matter the relationship between the victim and stalker, that an SPO could be granted.
"I welcome submissions to my consultation that will help shape the bill going forward."
It is 20 years since the Scottish Parliament's first sitting on May 12, 1999
Council cut opening hours at local hubs
Investigation continues into death of eight-week-old baby boy at Kirkintilloch


Steve over at the "What Do I Know" blog has a great piece today about Frank Murkowski's motivation for returning to Alaska. Why Did Frank Murkowski Leave the US Senate to Become Governor? Steve hints at what we all assume, Murkowski is getting a payoff somewhere to stick his nose in the gas pipeline debate.
I wonder if the FBI is still taping Murky's calls? They recorded over 8,500 of Bill Allen's cellphone calls. Frank must have been on a few of those. Allen and Frank were drinking buddies. And with rampant rumors that Murkowski's right-hand man, Jim Clark, is singing to the feds to save his skin, maybe we will find out.


text:
Coolidge's Tree
The White House tree symbolizes not just the holiday but faith as well.
There's always debate around Christmas. One topic is church's intrusion upon state. People scan the details of the lighting of the National Christmas Tree for symbols of "Christmas" rather than "holiday." There's controversy over the White House Christmas card as well. President Obama's first card, in 2009, for example, read "Season's Greetings," not "Merry Christmas," a fact that so irritated Representative Henry Brown (R., S.C.) that he introduced a resolution defending the sacredness of Christmas: "I believe that sending a Christmas card without referencing a holiday and its purpose limits the Christmas celebration in favor of a more politically correct holiday."
Another Christmas topic, however, is the material bounty of the holiday. The Los Angeles Times, for example, recently reprinted a defensive column by Dinah Lenney, a Jewish writer and actress. Lenney, married to a non-Jew, portrays Christmas as an American force so darling and powerful it overwhelmed her family. Failing to buy wreaths, erect a tree, or leave a carrot for Rudolph forced her into the role of the Grinch. So Lenney, clearly a caring mother, bought a tree and gave her children a chance to celebrate Christmas. But she herself chose not to celebrate, to remain the "bristly, conflicted, slightly sheepish American Jew that I am." Such arguments are usually framed as "Christmas versus the Rest."
The questions of Christmas and state, and of its bounty, were actually addressed by the president who inaugurated both the outdoor-tree tradition and the presidential Christmas message: Calvin Coolidge. Our 30th president, who served from 1923 to 1929, loved Christmas. But he loved it carefully. The president's actions in regard to the holiday reflect insights that shine like the Christmas candles – but also like Hanukkah lights.
In the autumn of 1923, the new president and other Washingtonians had a new idea: an outdoor White House Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve, Coolidge and his wife Grace walked over to the Ellipse. There a magnificent 48-foot fir awaited them, decorated with 2,500 green, red, and white bulbs donated by the Electric League. Coolidge pressed a button that lit up the tree, yielding a sort of fireworks effect that Americans love to this day.
It is unlikely that either the president or the first lady initially saw the Christmas tree as a tree of the national government. It was to the District of Columbia Public Schools that Grace Coolidge gave permission to erect the Christmas tree in the autumn of 1923. As the planning proceeded, people referred to the tree as a "community Christmas tree." The tree's provenance also mattered: The fir came not from a "national" place but from a place associated with Coolidge's home state, Vermont – the forests around Middlebury College.
Even in that first year, some stakeholders in the tree project liked the idea of going national, marketing the tree as a "National Christmas Tree." But someone, probably the White House, pushed back. The label given the tree the following year represented a compromise: "National Community Christmas Tree." In 1927 newspapers were still labeling the tree "the Washington community tree." The element of locality abided, even through the years of the activist Franklin Roosevelt: In 1942, for example, Washington schoolchildren took the lead in decorating the tree, collecting ornaments around the region.
What was going on? Coolidge was such a ferocious federalist that he spoke of the United States in plural. The point here was simple: The United States had no national faith, and Washington was not all-powerful. He, a Christian from Vermont, was a guest in a largely Christian place, the District of Columbia. It was important for local authorities to keep Washington out of their realm. Coolidge restrained the federal government not because he was an early presidential iteration of Ayn Rand but because he feared state would intrude upon church. Protecting churches, or states' rights, or town government, was what low-tax, small-government politicians like him restrained government for.
Eventually the small-government types lost their Christmas-tree battle. The lighting of the White House tree is today rated a "national" or "federal" event, as per the beginning of this story. For fans there is even a website, nationaltree.org. But Coolidge's point is still there in the record for us to consider if we choose.
Coolidge's philosophy was likewise evident in the presidential Christmas card. In 1927 the president wrote out a personal Yuletide letter to the nation, the first such greeting. His message was one of charity and good will. "If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope throughout the world."
Some will clearly deem such a phrase "too Christian." They will not, however, be considering the rest of the presidential message. Coolidge meticulously placed his Christian imagery of star and savior in an ecumenical frame. "Christmas is not a time or season but a state of mind," he wrote. "To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy is to have the real spirit of Christmas." Elsewhere, when speaking of faith, Coolidge departed from Christianity altogether, speaking of "the spiritual insight of people." "The things of spirit come first," Coolidge wrote. "Unless we cling to that all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp." The government was built on faith, and not the other way around.
What Coolidge understood was that the absence of faith can create a vacuum. Into that vacuum fly the trappings of holidays – the material gifts that parents like the author in the Los Angeles Times find it impossible not to supply. To Coolidge's mind, this could lead to "pagan materialism." When you shared a faith, it was not the trappings that mattered, but the faith itself.
In other words, the true contest is not "Church versus State," "Christmas versus the Rest," or even "Christians versus the Rest." The tension can be found between people who respect (or try to respect) "things of the spirit" —i.e., faith – and those who do not. You can stand for secular humanism on principle, and many admirable souls do. But it is important to recognize that secular humanism rules at a cost, that materialism does not have all the answers, and that faith is not always dangerous. Indeed, faith can protect individual freedom and selflessness in a way that has nothing to do with Santa, dreidels, or Christmas-tree ornaments.
Amity Shlaes chairs the board of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation and serves as presidential scholar at King's College.
© Copyright 2014 National Review


text:
Miami officials seek end to celebratory gunfire
MIAMI — Miami city officials are urging residents not to add celebratory gunfire to their Fourth of July fireworks.
Mayor Tomas Regalado, Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa and other city officials held a news conference Tuesday to ask the public to abandon the unofficial tradition of firing guns into the air to celebrate the holiday. It's the same plea they made just before New Year's Eve.
When the bullets fall back to earth, they sometimes strike innocent bystanders.
A 12-year-old boy watching fireworks outside his Ruskin home was critically injured when a bullet falling from the sky pierced his skull just after midnight on New Year's Eve. His family on Wednesday told The Tampa Tribune that he still suffers from short-term memory loss. No arrests have been made in his shooting.
© 2023 www.ocala.com. All rights reserved.


If you're stumped about how to deal with that small, unoccupied space in your backyard, The Deck Store has a solution for you: turn it into a patio. You take your home's patio design to the next level with these four style tips and tricks.
Think comfortable, visually striking seats made of materials of your choice. You may also use cushioned swing seats for a fun, leisurely vibe. Choose stylish yet practical decor. Pay special attention to multipurpose furnishings, such as ottomans that can serve as a cocktail table, a seat or as storage.
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text:
Torra urges Spain to follow UK example and allow referendum
Ahead of meeting with Scottish First Minister next week, President highlights "peaceful and democratic agreement" between London and Edinburgh on independence vote
ACN | Barcelona
Catalan president Quim Torra urged the Spanish government on Thursday to follow the United Kingdom's example and allow a Catalan vote on independence such as the one held in Scotland in 2014.
Ahead of his meeting next week in Edinburgh with the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, Torra highlighted that the UK and Scottish governments were able to reach a "peaceful and democratic agreement" to settle the independence question in the ballot boxes.
Torra urged the new Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, to follow the example of former British Prime Minister David Cameron and allow a similar independence vote.
"Why should we settle for lesser democratic standards than other Europeans? Are we less European or do we have less rights than the Scottish?" said Torra during a speech in Parliament.
The Catalan president also compared the reaction of London to the Scottish independence movement to that of Madrid and the Catalan vote.
"Could you imagine the British police raiding polling stations to beat Scottish citizens trying to vote? Could you imagine Scottish politicians in prison or in exile for organizing a referendum? Could you imagine the Queen of England making a speech such as the one that King Felipe VI gave on October 3?" he said.
The Spanish government sent thousands of police officers to stop an independence vote in Catalonia on October 1. The vote had been deemed illegal by Spain.
The Spanish King condoned the police operation during a speech two days later and made no reference to those injured, or to engaging in dialogue, something that sparked criticism in Catalonia, even amongst parties not in favour of independence.
Images of police officers hitting people caused outraged and condemnation from the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, the Council of Europe and NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Nine Catalan leaders are currently in prison and seven others are in exile for their role during the independence process.
Catalonia's self-government was suspended by Madrid for over seven months, until a new government, led by Quim Torra, who is also favorable to independence, was elected.
Catalan government Pedro Sánchez Quim Torra referendum Scotland Spain UK
Catalan president Quim Torra in Parliament (by ACN)


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How Does Going into Space Affect Your Brain?
Volume changes in the brain tissues have been found to occur in astronauts those who had stayed in the space for a long time, finds a new study. Even though these changes occur, it has been found that the brain tissue return to normal volume after 6- 7 months. The findings of this study are published in the journal of BMC Public Health.
Spending long periods in space not only leads to muscle atrophy and reductions in bone density, but it also has lasting effects on the brain. However, little is known about how different tissues of the brain react to exposure to microgravity, and it remains unclear whether and to what extent the neuroanatomical changes so far observed persist following return to normal gravity.
In cooperation with Russian colleagues and with neuroscientists based at the University of Antwerp led by Floris L. Wuyts, LMU neurologist Professor Peter zu Eulenburg has completed the first long-term study in Russian cosmonauts.
In this study, which appears in the New England Journal of Medicine, they show that differential changes in the three main tissue volumes of the brain remain detectable for at least half a year after the end of their last mission.
The study was carried out on ten cosmonauts, each of whom had spent an average of 189 days on board the International Space Station (ISS). The authors used magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) to image the brains of the subjects both before and shortly after the conclusion of their long-term missions. In addition, seven members of the cohort were re-examined seven months after their return from space. "This is actually the first study in which it has been possible to objectively quantify changes in brain structures following a space mission also including an extended follow-up period," zu Eulenburg points out.
The MRT scans performed in the days after the return to Earth revealed that the volume of the grey matter (the part of the cerebral cortex that mainly consists of the cell bodies of the neurons) was reduced compared to the baseline measurement before launch.
In the follow-up scans done seven months later, this effect was partly reversed, but nevertheless still detectable.
In contrast, the volume of the cerebrospinal fluid, which fills the inner and outer cavities of the brain, increased within the cortex during long-term exposure to microgravity. Moreover, this process was also observable in the outside spaces that cover the brain after the return to Earth, while the cerebrospinal fluid spaces within returned to near normal size.
The white matter tissue volume (those parts of the brain that are primarily made up of nerve fibers) appeared to be unchanged upon investigation immediately after landing. However, the subsequent examination six months later showed a widespread reduction in volume relative to both earlier measurements.
In this case, the researchers postulate that over the course of a longer stint in space, the volume of the white matter may slowly be replaced by an influx of cerebrospinal fluid. Upon return to Earth, this process is then gradually reversed, which then results in a relative reduction of white matter volume.
"Taken together, our results point to prolonged changes in the pattern of cerebrospinal fluid circulation over a period of at least seven months following the return to Earth," says zu Eulenburg. "However, whether or not the extensive alterations are shown in the grey and the white matter lead to any changes in cognition remains unclear at present," he adds.
So far the only clinical indication for detrimental effects is a reduction in visual acuity that was demonstrated in several long-term space travelers. These changes may very well be attributable to the increased pressure exerted by the cerebrospinal fluid on the retina and the optic nerve.
The governing cause for the widespread structural changes in the brain following long spaceflights might lie in minimal pressure changes within the body's various water columns under conditions of microgravity that have a cumulative effect over time.
According to the authors, to minimize the risks associated with long-term missions and to characterize any clinical significance of their structural findings, further studies using a wider range of diagnostic methods are deemed essential.
Nearly one in 10 people are affected by social anxiety disorder -- defined as when fears and anxiety in social situations significantly impair everyday life.


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We suggest to travel during the day. Day journeys are safer, are touristically more interesting, and last but not least, both passengers and driver have had a normal night's sleep and start their journey, stay and return journey well rested.
Through the Ardens (Aarlen, Luxembourg), Lotharingen (Metz, Nancy), the Vosges (Epinal, Remiremont), Franche-Comté (Besançon), the Jura (Pontarlier, Vallorbe), the Easthern side of the Lac Leman (Lausanne, Montreux), the Rhône valley ( Martigny), the climb through the valley of Grand St. Bernard (road without toll), through the Tunnel of the Grand St. Bernard (5,5 km with toll), the descent via the Combe Froide until the fork Variney to go to Valpelline . After climbing 1 more kilometer, you reach the Val d'Ollomont on your left side, to the village with the same name, and finally Gran Baita at 1400 m altitude.
Depending on the point of departure, the duration of the journey (including stops) ranges between 13 to 15 hours. This is also influenced by weather conditions, the amount of traffic, etc.


We have been learning all about Remembrance Day. In class we have been thinking all about the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for our country and their families. We think it is very important to show respect to the soldiers and decided to make our own poppies to wear. We all tried our very best to make beautiful red poppies. We wore them around school and when we took part in our 2 minute silence.


text:
William Shatner To Star In 'Shit My Dad Says' Pilot
William Shatner, Star Trek's original Captain Kirk, may be headed back to series television. Shatner has been cast as titular lead in the comedy pilot "Shit My Dad Says", which is actually based on the popular Twitter account of the same name, more details below.
Shit Shatner Says
29 year-old Justin Halpern became an Internet star when he launched the Twitter account ShitMyDadSays last year. The account description was "I'm 29. I live with my 74-year-old dad. He is awesome. I just write down shit that he says." In less than a year he picked up over 1.1 million followers, who are entertained by the colorful things his dad has to say. Warner Bros. TV began developing "Shit My Dad Says" into a multi-camera comedy for CBS last year with a script commitment.
Today The Hollywood Reporter revealed that William Shatner will be starring as the dad and it has been greenlit for a pilot. The pilot is being executive produced by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, the creators of Will & Grace. Halpern co-penned the script with Patrick Schumacker and the pair will also co-exec produce. Regarding the profane title, the THR story notes the "title is expected to change if it goes to series."
William Shatner is no stranger to comedy as he has appeared in a number of comedy films, including the two Miss Congeniality movies and Free Enterprise. However, this would be his first time starring in a sitcom. Shatner has starred in a number of TV series since Star Trek, with the latest being Boston Legal, where Shatner picked up five Emmy nominations (with one win). Shatner did have a recurring role on the sitcom Third Rock from the Sun, which also garnered him an Emmy nomination.
UPDATE: Bill Tweets about new show
Willliam Shatner also happens to be on Twitter, you can follow him at twitter.com/WilliamShatner. He has posted some tweets today about this
WilliamShatner: #FF @shitmydadsays These are exciting times! Thanks for all your support. My best, Bill
WilliamShatner: Boy, am I going to be busy. That's an issue I have in my life right now: priorities. How to balance my time? My best, Bill.
Note FF is Twitter shorthand for 'Follow Friday' where many Twitters recommend people to follow
pacimage
Move it to HBO, and keep the title! At least it's not on NBC ;)
Blake Powers
Sybok's Secret Brother
Shat my Bill says…
Has Shat watched Star Trek 09 yet?
Shouldn't it be: "Shit My Grandad Says"? : D
Granddad.
AnotherQ
Well, David Letterman was 56 or 57
when he had his son, and he talks
sh** every night.
Fadeyr
"OLLEY OLLEY OLLEY – February 19, 2010
No. And I don't blame him.
ryanhuyton
I think I'm going to have to check this out when it airs.
Sheesh!! Have we really sunk this low? A show about "tweets"?
I'm now thoroughly convinced that Shatner will do ANYTHING for a buck!
PASS!!
Conversely, I admire Shatner's work ethic. How many almost-79 year olds are trying their luck during pilot season?
Dennis Bailey
Oh, Shatner could be *great* in this.
#12: I agree… XD
Esatrekker
#3: LOL!
Green-Blooded-Bastard
They could make "Shit Bill Shatner Sings"
Popular culture is going right down the toilet.
It should be called "Shit My Shat Dad Says". I get the feeling there might be two versions of this show. A family-friendly version for t.v and an "unrated" version for dvd. Assuming it doesn't get cancelled. Hearing the Shat say shit and other explitives would be hilarious.
#16 "Pop culture is going right down the toilet."
True, but you can't blame it on this. The blame should be put on the likes of jackasses getting their own reality shows (**cough Jersey Shore**blegghhh), tabloids, and networks being too cheap to pay for actual talent( NBC, MTV etc.).
Capt. Roykirk
Lame…..
I can see the lousy-review headlines now:
"Shit" Shats the Bed
The Shat Hits the Fan
Shit + Shat = Still Shit
And so on!
#16: "Popular culture is going right down the toilet."
It's been there since at least 1592 though, hasn't it? If not longer …
Fortunately, it remains selectively ignorable.
On the other hand, Shat is God.
This is… well, frankly, I just think William Shatner could do better than this. He was absolutely wonderful in Boston Legal! That was awesome! (Frankly, I think it's one of his best performances EVER.)
It would be so neat if he could get another really good show, not this kind of.. well, junk.
Shatner has great comedic timing. If it sucks, it won't be because of him!
Wow,…. a show with that title and I'm teaching school still.
Sybok's Secret Brother – February 19, 2010
That's funnier.
what an unpleasant title for a tv show. I must be getting old.
Shit, the Shat strikes again.
Oregon Trek Geek
I wonder if this has anything to do with the "Shit My Dad Says" on Facebook that I check out from time to time…. funny stuff….
DonDonP1
If that program is airing on CBS, then may I suggest changing the title to either 'Shat, My Dad Says' or 'Shoot, My Dad Says' or 'Darn, My Dad Says'?
Harry Ballz
Great, if this show has a 7 year run, the Shat will be 85 when it wraps up!
(and still won't have gotten around to watching Star Trek 09!)
#27 read the aricle again- lol!
*article! damn I wish you could edit on this Forum!
Iowagirl
I don't know the Twitter account, but if the pilot/series will have one or two moments remotedly coming up to Boston Legal, it's worth it.
And why change the title – it's perfect! :)
Shit Shat Says
What I've always wondered was why some people are offended by the word "shit"? Its considered a "swear" word. But poo, poop, feces and crap aren't. Technically, those words are similar in definition to "shit". Unless its a matter of context. But then again, crap and shit are interchangeble, i.e "holy shit" and "holy crap". If you were to go on a stage in front of a general audience and you use the word "crap", nobody blinks an eye. However, if you use the word "shit", you get a lot of "gasps" and shocked looks from people. If CBS put a show with "crap" in the title, or if someone on the show says it, nobody cares. However, for some reason "shit" is off limits. And there is a gambling game called "Craps". If you called it "Shits", would you be wrong? Especially if you lose?
Brett Campbell
Go, Shat, go!
@34: Yeah, the whole concept of "bad words" is just one of those creepy things our culture keeps around for no clear reason. It's bothered me since I was a kid that "crap" is okay and "shit" is bad and they're more or less synonyms. But lots of cultures have taboos; it's just part of the planetary nonsense.
Kevin Rubio
Will Shat hit the fans? (come on, someone had to say it)
Will Shat hit the fans (come on, someone had to say it)
fansince66
#20 Don't worry about it. Critics are waaay over-rated anyway. Just enjoy the good shit shat will say.
Al Levi
I can't seem to access the tip line. Please use if interesting:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35485900
Mr Levi
Chicago.
This will hinge on the script of course, but I've no doubt that Bill could be hilarious in this.
I pray they keep the title as is.
The actual twitter thread is hilariously funny. Shatner is great casting. His comic timing is peerless.
I give Shatner a lot of credit. His age is not a factor in his life. He's energetic, he's sharp, he's got a great sense of humor. All the power to him… He is not likely to wither away.
Miscellaneous opinions:
1. Shatner rocks.
2. A TV show based on Twitter?
3. You may also be interested in, "Crap My Relations Espouse: The Movie."
Shit yeah!
Shat-tastic!
Bill could eat his lunch in front of a camera and it would be glorious.
People People! This is going to be a Sanford & Son remake, and I predict it will be a smashing success!
BTW Has Shat watched the original Sanford & Son?
Locke for President
Not sure if I'll tune in to see "Shit My Shat Says." But I do know there's no way they are going to be able to keep that title. It's one of the seven official words that are banned by the FCC.
Lord garth, Formerly of Izar
The King!!!


text:
Game Chat
Genre: Comedy, Talk-Show
Genre: Drama, Short
Broken Trail is a 2006 Western miniseries directed by Walter Hill and starring Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church. Written by Alan Geoffrion, who also wrote the novel, the story is about an aging cowboy and his nephew who transport 500 horses from Oregon to Wyoming to sell them to the British Army. Along the way, their simple horse drive is complicated when they rescue five Chinese girls from a slave trader, saving them from a life of prostitution and indentured servitude. Compelled to do the right thing, they take the girls with them as they continue their perilous trek across the frontier, followed by a vicious gang of killers sent by the whorehouse madam who originally paid for the girls.
Nina is totally heartbroken at the death of her boyfriend Jamie, but is even more unprepared for his return as a ghost. At first it's almost as good as it used to be – hey, even the rats that infested her house have disappeared. But Jamie starts bringing ghostly friends home and behaving more and more oddly.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Music, Romance
The true story of a young woman named Sybil, whose childhood was so harrowing to her that she developed at least 13 different personalities.
Relive the origin of the legendary Master Chief and the Spartan program in this three-part animated adaptation of one of Halo's most beloved stories. Kidnapped as children and conscripted into a brutal military training and augmentation program, the Spartans were designed to be the ultimate weapon against chaos and insurgency – but when a dangerous alien alliance known as the Covenant declares war on humanity, the Spartans might be our only hope.
Genre: Action, Animation, Sci-Fi
The Comedians
The Villain Chronicles
Genre: Sci-Fi
Halo: Nightfall
Taking place between the events of Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians, Halo: Nightfall follows the origin story of legendary manhunter Jameson Locke (Mike Colter) and his team as they are caught in a horrific terrorist attack while investigating terrorist activity on the distant colony world of Sedra. Led by Locke, the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) agents are forced to coordinate with a Sedran commander with a remarkable history and deep-rooted mistrust of ONI. As the plot unravels, they're drawn to an ancient, hellish artifact where they're forced to fight for their survival, question everything, and ultimately choose between their loyalties and their lives.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
King Kong vs Godzilla
Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A mobster named Jimmy the Tulip agrees to cooperate with an FBI investigation in order to stay out of prison; he's relocated by the authorities to a life of suburban anonymity as part of a witness protection program. It's not long before a couple of his new neighbors figure out his true identity and come knocking to see if he'd be up for one more hit, suburban style.


I've been contributing to Mozilla projects for 2 years now and it's been a wonderful journey.
It all started sometime in June/July of 2012. I sent an email to one of the Mozilla mailing lists requesting to volunteer and a day or so later, I got a response. I went through an intense hand-holding period for the next two months or so. I learnt more in those two months than I did the entire year I was at college.
I joined the Web Quality Assurance Team as one of the community testers. As the year progressed, I learnt how to test websites, how to use tools such as bugzilla(for reporting bugs)and moztrap (testcase management system). I got a feel of what its like to work in a collaborative environment with fellow contributors that are spread across the globe.
I was honoured to be invited and accepted into the Mozilla Reps program after a few months. If I thought I knew Mozilla, I was wrong, I had a lot more learning to do. The Mozilla Reps program is an initiative that empowers volunteer Mozilla contributors to be official representatives of Mozilla in their region.
Being a Rep meant I had the job of attending and organising Mozilla events. While I've not organised a big event, I've had the priviledge to work with with awesome and passionate people.I've helped recruit contributors into different functional areas such as Localisation and the Students Ambassadors program.
Two translation projects have been started in Zimbabwe, into Shona and Ndebele. There are about 5 contributors working on localisation.
In October 2013, I was invited to attend the Mozilla Summit held in Toronto, Canada. The Summit was a great experience for me as I got to meet a lot of the people I've only ever seen online.
While at the Summit, I was voted "Person with the most positive impact" on the summit attendees(about 600) and I was awarded artwork designed by the designer who made the original Mozilla Logo(the dino).
In addition to that I was given the opportunity to visit any Mozilla Office of my choice(all expenses paid). It took me a long time to make up my mind, but I decided to visit the Mozilla Japan space. I'm due to travel in a few weeks and I'm excited(and nervous) about the trip.
I've met a lot of talented, skilled, crazy, fun, awesome and kind people at Mozilla. I'd like to thank everyone who has made my short time at Mozilla an awesome experience. I appreciate all the Mozillians who have helped me get this far.
, Andrew Williamson for buying me lunch after the Summit(that was some good chicken we had ) and members of the Mozilla Hispano community for tolerating my beginners Spanish at the Summit. Thank you to any and all who I didn't mention here.
Thanks my bro, feel free to ask me an questions you may have and I will help if I can.


Ryan Snow is the owner of Western Heating & Air Conditioning in Orem, UT and the co-founder of Snow Business Coaching.
Ryan currently spends most of his time as President, CEO and General Manager of Western Heating and Air Conditioning. In his spare time, Ryan and his wife Angie, enjoy delivering presentations to youth to help them prepare for college and careers.
Ryan is also a great father of four beautiful children and loves spending time with his family.
-Has quadrupled Western Heating and Air's business since purchasing the company in 2007.
-Ryan has been an Advisory Board Mentor for Service Nation Alliance for 6 years.
-He also won the Emerging Entrepreneur Award for Service Agreements Grown and Service Agreements Leader in 2012 from Service Nation Alliance.
-Received "Ron Smith Trailblazing Award" from Service Nation Alliance for innovative business practices.
-Their HVAC company received recognition as the "Best in Utah Valley" in 2016 and 2017.


I connected with Annie at the beginning of the year based on the recommendation of a good friend, and I cannot say enough positive things about my experience working with her. I have both bought and sold a property with Annie, and have experienced first-hand her ability to advocate on behalf of her clients and close deals to their advantage. She has a deep understanding of the current market, and knows how to position her clients for success. When I put my condo on the market, we had our first showing scheduled within an hour of the listing going live, and we had an all-cash offer in two days. I closed less than a month from the date of listing.
Concurrently, I unexpectedly decided to pursue the purchase of an investment property while I was preparing to move to Turkey for a 2-year posting. Annie not only made time to show me the property at 0745 in the morning the day it listed (as I awaited the movers coming to pack my household effects), but she also had the connections necessary to work with the selling agent to schedule a showing at such an early hour. Within 24 hours, we were crafting an offer on a very competitively priced townhouse. In a multiple offer situation, Annie's sound advice and her relationship with the seller's agent gave me the edge, and the sellers accepted my offer. The townhouse ultimately appraised at $10,000 over the sales price, giving me instant equity, and I closed three weeks from the date I submitted my offer.
Because I move back and forth from the DC area to various overseas postings, my personal situation requires a great deal of flexibility and ability to cope with ambiguous situations. Annie clearly thrives in both areas. She worked with my very complicated timeline and requirements without skipping a beat, executing both a sale and a purchase for me, ail the way through closing, in a five-week span of time. Her business sawy and her dedication to her clients is second to none.
In addition to her real estate acumen, Annie is a true pleasure to work with. She is the perfect combination of professional, aggressive, and personable. Her positive attitude is infectious, and is clearly the key to her ability to build and maintain relationships she can leverage on behalf of her clients' interests.
I look forward to my next opportunity to work with Annie, and I recommend her without hesitation to anyone who is looking to either buy or sell a property.


The Great Smoky Mountains on the border with North Carolina are part of the Blue Ridge mountain range (Appalachian Mountains).
Where in the United States is Tennessee? Location map of Tennessee in the US.
The landlocked US state is situated in the central southeastern United States. Tennessee borders eight other US states, Kentucky and Virginia to the north, North Carolina to the east, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia in south, Arkansas and Missouri along the Mississippi River in west. The states nickname is "The Volunteer State". Tennessee consists of 95 counties.
The area of Tennessee was originally part of North Carolina. In 1790 North Carolina ceded the area to the United States. Admission to the Union on 1st June 1796, it was admitted as the 16th state.
Tennessee was the site of many Civil War battles, including those at Shiloh and Chattanooga.
Tennessee occupies an area of 109,152 km² (42,144 sq mi) , compared it is about the size of Bulgaria or Cuba. Compared with other US states, Tennessee would fit into Texas more than six times.
The state has its own special geographical and cultural feature, its called the "Grand Divisions of Tennessee". The three grand divisions are East, Middle, and West Tennessee.
Nickajack Lake Tennessee is a reservoir created by Nickajack Dam on the Tennessee River.
I. East Tennessee is dominated by the Cumberland Plateau, the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau, within this mountainous area there are East Tennessee's principal cities Knoxville, Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities (Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol).
East Tennessee is almost entirely in the Eastern Time Zone (see: US Time Zone Map) while the rest of the state uses Central Time.
II. Middle Tennessee lies west of the Cumberland Plateau, it features rolling hills and fertile river valleys and the state capital Nashville as well as Tennessee's largest metro, the Nashville Metropolitan Area with 1.6 million people.
III: Between Tennessee River and the Mississippi lies West Tennessee, a mostly agricultural region except for the state's second largest city Memphis.
Highest elevation in the state is Clingmans Dome 2,025 m (6,643 ft), a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains (part of the Blue Ridge) on the border with North Carolina in east.
Tennessee shares one UNESCO World Heritage Site with North Carolina.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a major North American refuge of temperate zone flora and fauna that survived the Pleistocene glaciations. The park covers an area of over more than 200,000 ha centered on the ridge line of the Great Smoky Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountain chain.
The main park entrance in Tennessee is at Gatlinburg, and in North Carolina at Cherokee.
Rendered image of Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. The National Historic Landmark building is home of the General Assembly of Tennessee.
Tennessee has a population of 6.7 million people (2018 est.) . Capital and largest city is Nashville, largest metro area is Nashville metropolitan area. The city is located on the Cumberland River in northern Middle Tennessee.
Other major cities are Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro.
Busiest airports are Memphis International Airport (IATA code: MEM), and Nashville International Airport (Berry Field; IATA code: BNA).
The Delta Queen, a famous sternwheel steamboat and a National Historic Landmark. The riverboat was moored in Chattanooga, Tennessee serving as a floating hotel.
Athens, Bolivar, Bristol, Brownsville, Cleveland, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Fayetteville, Franklin, Gallatin, Gatlinburg, Germantown, Greeneville, Hendersonville, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, Lawrenceburg, Lebanon, Lexington, Linden, Livingston, Martin, Maryville, McMinnville, Milan, Millington, Morristown, Newport, Oak Ridge, Oneida, Paris, Portland, Pulaski, Savannah, Selmer, Shelbyville, Smyrna, Tullahoma, Union City, and Waverly.
Skyline of Downtown Nashville at the Cumberland River during blue-hour, seen from the Korean War Memorial Bridge.
The detailed map below is showing the US state of Tennessee with boundaries, the location of the state capital Nashville, major cities and populated places, rivers, streams and lakes, interstate highways, principal highways, and railroads.


Either people from Taiwan are REALLY small or that is one BIG phone. Still really nice though!
Are the menus in English? If yes I could use it here in the US.
I was lucky enough to play with one last night, and yes, it is quite large ("hefty" is the word that immediately came to mind). But I still fell instantly in love. The screen is absolutely gorgeous. The keys are also quite large and easy to press and have a funky blue backlight. Its rather heavy too, not like your typical tiny clamshell, and it feels rather plasticky. But the screen, the SCREEN! Pictures and videos taken with the integrated camera were also really good. I couldn't put it down - I definitely want to get one of these when they come out. I was able to take some picitures, but unfortunately the circumstances weren't too good - I only had my stupid Zire 71 camera on me, it was in poor lighting conditions, and we were late for dinner. But I'll post what pics I do have on my website soon.
I was lucky enough to play with one last night, and yes, it is quite large ("hefty" is the word that immediately came to mind).
Are we talking bigger than the original Handspring Treo's? Which device would you say it is closest to in size?
I'll post what pics I do have on my website soon.
Please let us know when you post the pictures! I would love to check the out.