text:
Homelessness - It Isn't Just for Christmas
You see, homelessness isn't just for Christmas. That man outside your railway station with a cardboard sign, that you are suspicious about, will still be there in the New Year. But then so will the faith groups, silently, below the surface. Homelessness isn't just for Christmas, neither is caring about it.
Evangelical Christian, Libertarian Conservative, PR Guy
16/12/2015 09:52am GMT | Updated December 16, 2016
I read today that the average life expectancy of a homeless person in the UK is as low as 47, compared to the average of 81 for the rest of the UK . To look at it another way, if we took homeless people as a 'state' then they would be jostling with Sierra Leone near the bottom of the world table .
This is a shocking statistic, and when paired with the figure of 6508 people sleeping rough in my city of London last year, you are left with a very sour taste in your mouth.
Over this festive period you are going to be inundated with reminders of the homelessness crisis we have here in the UK. You'll see adverts on the train, people begging will sit outside the shops you dive into on Christmas Eve, and superstores will take collections of food.
This will be coupled with almost romanticised images of poverty. Oliver Twist will appear on your TV, there will no doubt be a homeless man and his dog featured in the backgrounds of films, and you're guaranteed to see an image of a hungry child watching a Christmas dinner through the window of a beautiful candle-lit family home. This bizarre mixture of fundraising and 'poverty porn' will serve to highlight to us the scale and plight of the homeless population of the UK and we will be driven to give and support in huge numbers.
A recent study by the Institute of Fundraising found that online giving in November and December accounted for almost two-fifths of the average UK charity's incoming donations. Millions of pounds are raised and a lot of fantastic organisations provide a lifeline to many.
However there is another side to this story of festive cheer and charitable giving.
Come the New Year and a lot of the temporary shelters will have to ask people to move out. The over filled hostels that have shown generosity will begin to open for tourists again. The Oliver Twist heartbreak stories will fade from your screen. The season of excess will end as we stand in the cold exploding expensive coloured powder into the night sky to the bongs of Big Ben.
The homelessness crisis, however, won't end
But as the rest of the nation begins to pack away its stockings and throw away unwanted gifts there will be groups of people across the nation silently carrying on their work. There will be people working beneath the surface, unnoticed and touching lives.
These are the faith groups, motivated and united in their common cause to support the 'orphan and the widow'. The Sikh organisations who hand out hot and tasty food outside Charing Cross will continue to do so, the Church run medical van 'Greenlight' will still be doing the rounds on London's streets. People of faith up and down the country will be quietly beavering away.
Muslims across the UK will pay their Zakat and Christians their Tithes, as nearly 2 million volunteers from faith communities head out across the UK to help those in need, with tackling homelessness being a massive part of what they do.
You see, homelessness isn't just for Christmas. That man outside your railway station with a cardboard sign, that you are suspicious about, will still be there in the New Year. But then so will the faith groups, silently, below the surface.
Homelessness isn't just for Christmas, neither is caring about it.
HomelessnessfaithCharityChristmasuk


text:
Home / About / News / INDABA 2015 Bid Parties welcome the world to Tourism INDABA
INDABA 2015 Bid Parties welcome the world to Tourism INDABA
The Tourism INDABA hosts, South African Tourism, and the show's Bid Parties (KwaZulu-Natal Province, Tourism Kwa Zulu- Natal, City of Durban and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre) welcome media and trade delegates to Durban for what is set to be an exceptionally productive Tourism INDABA, in celebration of the thriving Pan - African travel and tourism industry.
Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism, Mr Thulani Nzima, says the organisation's objective of growing the tourism INDABA to a Pan - African show is gradually being realised. Including South Africa, 24 destinations across Africa will be represented on the tradeshow floor at INDABA 2015.
"South African Tourism welcomes all delegates to INDABA. It is great to have each of them on board as part of the rich and wonderful celebration of a thriving tourism sector. Our intention to make Tourism INDABA a tradeshow that is fully representative and accessible to the continent is coming to fruition. I am grateful to the greater African tourism industry for their tremendous support for this show," Nzima says.
"The tourism INDABA is poised, now more than ever, to give buyers from around the world access to the widest diversity of African leisure travel products and experiences. Through our various media events, journalists attending INDABA will also have access to the people and the stories that are shaping the Pan - African travel sector. INDABA is the very engine room of tourism growth in Africa and in South Africa.
Mr Ndabo Khoza, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal Chief Executive Officer says they are looking forward to a successful tourism INDABA, where the Province will continue to forge stronger relations with their partners both locally and internationally.
"As the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, we are delighted to host the tourism fraternity at our exceptional destination. We are confident that they will once again find the tourism INDABA to be an outstanding business platform to forge relationships that will bear huge dividends for their businesses. We trust that in between their business deals they will take time and explore the province and discover some of the hidden gems that the destination has to offer.
Once again, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal will be hosting its Annual Tourism INDABA breakfast where the organisation will be updating the international media and trade on some of its key developments in the Province," Khoza says.
Mr Philip Sithole, Chief Executive Officer at Durban Tourism says the tourism INDABA 2015 will contribute an estimated R144 million to the city whilst supporting about 500 jobs .
"We look forward to welcoming no less than 9 000 influential tourism leaders, decision makers and global media to Durban. INDABA is Durban's opportunity to show the world exceptional tourism infrastructure and capability," says Mr Sithole.
"In just two years the city has won many international accolades. Our focus now is to restore stability in the hospitality industry, regain our visitor confidence and continue with our exciting marketing plans of taking Durban to the World," he adds.
Mr Sithole invites all delegates to make use of the opportunity the city affords them this year by visiting the Kwa Muhle Gallery housing an INDABA exhibition, Through the Eyes of National Geographic, showing the city as it is today, and as it was generations ago. Pictures of Durban today were taken by acclaimed National Geographic photographer, Krista Rossow.
Ms Lindiwe Rakharebe, Chief Executive Officer of the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban says, "the ICC looks forward to INDABA 2015, and to delivering an unforgettable experience to the host of international and domestic tourism buyers, journalists, visitors and exhibitors from around the world."
Tourism INDABA 2015 has been planned with delegate feedback from previous installations of the tourism INDABA in mind for an even better tradeshow. A new feature this year is the Calabash (a typically African social environment for informal meetings and networking).
The return of the Business Buyers Lounge is a direct response to interest from exhibitors and South African Tourism's determination to put exhibitors first at INDABA through offering optimised business opportunities.
The Business Buyers Lounge at INDABA 2015 will give exhibitors an exclusive area, perfectly equipped to accommodate deal-making meetings with buyers. There are two categories of Business Buyers Lounge; exhibitors and non-exhibitors. Non-exhibitors have an option of conducting all their INDABA appointments from their bespoke Business Buyers Lounge hub.
Two days of robust and engaging speed marketing sessions are on offer at this year's INDABA trade show. The highly regarded INDABA speed marketing sessions connect local trade and international hosted buyers in a fast paced controlled, yet impactful environment. The Speed Marketing sessions give buyers easy access to South African SMME's, who are already established in the South African Domestic market. The Speed Marketing sessions have been moved from the "usual"12h30 time slot to 08h30 to give buyers the opportunity to schedule additional meetings with exhibitors.
Instead of the regular annual Global Media Face Off, this year there will be four distinct media briefings that will examine tourism's contribution to the South African economy; the importance of small tourism businesses; the growing importance of inter-continental partnerships and collaboration for the growth of the total African tourism sector; and an INDABA bid party media briefing that will take a look at INDABA 2015's successes and highlights.
INDABA 2015 takes place at the Inkosi Albert International Convention Centre in Durban from May 9 to 11 2015. For more information, follow #INDABA2015 on Twitter.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Between ideology, a fundamental belief system, and recognition of reality there has always been a huge intellectual gap. History is full of instances when all too many people have refused to recognize the disastrous consequences of adhering to an ideology, usually based on myth, regardless of a reality that contradicts their firm beliefs.
The key problem is that individuals espousing some ideological point of view may have invested so much emotional attachment to it that they not only abandon objectivity but also are incapable of renouncing a viewpoint, a myth, or a false political religion that has been discredited or may be irrelevant. They do not want to disavow the part of themselves that has accepted falsity.
This is now true of the ideological believers in the Palestinian ideological narrative of victimhood. Almost everyone now recognizes the mistakes of "true believers" in refusing to admit the horrors of the Stalinist era in the Soviet Union and the Mao Zedong years in China.
Supporters of and apologists for those regimes persisted in ignoring the reality they were totalitarian, savagely cruel, responsible for systematic terror, engaged in the slaughter of tens of millions of their innocent citizens held to be enemies.
Adherence to the ideology of Communism meant both condoning the horrors and cruelty as inevitable, and refusing to accept any possible compromise or qualification of that ideology. Nor could adherents accept that this ideological view, though partly rational, was largely a myth, albeit one capable of mobilizing people to action.
Today, that mixture of reason and myth is present in a Palestinian ideology of victimhood, an ideology that seeks to mobilize political support by insistence that Palestinians are being persecuted by Israel, a state which must be rejected. Supporters of the Palestinian cause can argue as part of that ideology for Israeli withdrawal from disputed or occupied territory captured in 1967, for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and for a solution of the Palestinian refugee question by a Palestinian right of return.
But the ideology departs from objectivity in referring to Israel as a colonial power from which Palestinians must be liberated. That power is said to oppress Palestinians and to engage in terror against them. The reality is that it is Palestinian terrorism that has accounted for the murder of more than 1,500 Israelis over the last twenty years.
It is true that this argument was made by a relatively small group of the Likud party in1977. But it is not the policy of Israeli governments as has been shown by the various offers of a compromise solution on territory shown by Prime Minister Ehud Barak in 2000, and by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in 2008.
The Palestinian ideology has formulated the concept of Nakba, catastrophe, resulting from the Arab defeat in their war against Israel in 1948-49. Left unsaid is the crucial reality that it was Arab armies that had invaded Israel on its creation and caused the catastrophe.
The Palestinian state, because of Arab refusal, never came into existence 66 years ago, as proposed by the UN resolution of November 1947, but the refugee problem did. Moreover, it was the threat reiterated by President Nasser among others to eliminate the Jewish State of Israel and his actions producing a casus belli that led to the 1967 war and the capture of Arab territory., the now disputed West Bank and East Jerusalem.
It was this threat and consequent actions that has prevented a Palestinian state from being established.
The Palestinian ideology and activists on behalf of that ideology or apologists for Palestinian terrorism refuse to recognize benefits that arise from employment of Palestinians by Israeli enterprises. Rather, they insist on the self-defeating policy of boycott, divestment, and sanctions in so many areas of life against Israel. Or they maintain the image of Israeli/Jewish conspiracy eager to rule over an oppressed people.
Even more, the ideologists refuse to recognize both the security problem of Israel and the reality of the continuing attacks by Hamas from Gaza and Hezbollah from Lebanon on Israeli civilians.
Rather they concentrate on a number of issues: an uncompromising view of territory in the area; a solution of the refugee problem that would eliminate the Jewish State of Israel; the insistence on Jerusalem as a capital of any Palestinian state; and anti-imperialism which means hostility towards the United States as well as Israel. Hatred and venom are more noticeable in these arguments than overtures of conciliation.
No conciliation is likely if the starting premise of Palestinian ideology is insistence on a state that must consist of the whole area of Palestine as defined in the British Mandate, thus eliminating the existing State of Israel.
Equally, the Palestinian refugee problem remains unresolved if Palestinians, and previously other Arabs who also used it as a propaganda device, persist in holding that all refugees, and now their descendants including grandchildren, have the right to return to places where they lived before the war in 1948, and most of which no longer exist. The demographic impact of this would clearly mean the end of the Jewish State of Israel.
The issue of the future of Jerusalem is also related to the fallacious Palestinian ideological narrative of victimhood. This asserts that Jews have no historic right to any area of Mandated Palestine since they lived there for only a short time, if at all. This assertion means there is no connection between Jews and their ancient homeland and their historic holy places.
Rather, the ideology identifies "Palestinians" with the Canaanites of several thousand years ago and asserts that because there have been Islamist conquests of the area since the 7th century, they are another Islamic group having a right to the land. In this absurd distortion of history Israel has no legal right to Jerusalem or anywhere else in Palestine.
The Palestinian ideology has incorporated what is now the politically correct mantra of opposition to colonialism and imperialism. Not only is Palestinian self-determination an end in itself, it also implies the end of Israeli colonization.
An ideology of this kind can hardly be the basis of peace negotiations when it, above all in the version of Hamas and other radical Islamists, calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. Nor can it be useful if Palestinians insist on preconditions or concessions by Israel before any negotiations start.
If Berlin and Vienna are trying, with considerable success, to come to terms with their infamous past of Nazism, why can't Palestinians do the same in recognition of the Jewish past in Palestine?
That recognition is not near at hand. Instead, Hamas's answer is building a very large, well-constructed and sophisticated tunnel from Khan Younis in the south part of the Gaza Strip into Israel in order to attack civilians in Israeli border towns and villages. Hamas, the Islamist expression of Palestinian ideology, prefers to waste resources of its subjects and to invest in terror not peace.


text:
Social Work Policy Practice
Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World (Third Edition)
Jessica A. Ritter
Paperback list price: $ 88.95
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The third edition of Social Work Policy Practice: Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World demystifies policymaking for social work students and demonstrates why policy practice is a critical dimension of social work. The text provides a comprehensive introduction to political advocacy and the political process to inspire social work students to enter the field with a mind for advocacy and social justice.
The book is divided into three parts. In Part I, students learn a brief history of social welfare legislation in the United States and the role of social workers in policy development. Part II includes an overview of the levels and branches of government, in-depth descriptions of the policy change process, and various strategies advocates employ to enact change. Part III consists of real-world stories of advocates and advocacy organizations that have attempted to change policies on behalf of vulnerable populations in a wide range of social work fields such as healthcare, mental health, children and families, aging, immigration, and civil rights.
This edition features updated policy changes throughout all chapters including fresh material on social movements, such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, and the impacts of the Trump presidency and the coronavirus pandemic on social welfare policy.
Engaging and accessible, Social Work Policy Practice is an ideal resource for courses that introduce policymaking to undergraduate and graduate students of social work.
Jessica A. Ritter is a professor of social work at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she teaches undergraduate- and graduate-level social work courses. Dr. Ritter earned her doctoral and master's degrees in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. As a practicing social worker, she is committed to improving and protecting children's rights in the United States and around the world. Dr. Ritter is a Fulbright scholar and has authored and coauthored numerous books, book chapters, and articles within the field.
Cognella Active Learning is available for this title! Adopting instructors can provide students with dynamic online learning activities that reinforce key concepts from the text, provide engaging educational experiences, and support various learning styles.
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Adopting instructors will receive a sample syllabus, discussion questions, class competencies, chapter quizzes and chapter PowerPoints.
"Professor Ritter, I wanted to drop a quick note to thank you for such an amazing social policy class this semester. Admittedly, I was dreading the class just a little bit, but I think it was mainly because I expected the material to be dry and intimidating. However, your engaging textbook with real-life examples brought concepts to life, and your passion for inviting in-class discussion was contagious. I never considered policy work as something I would be interested in, but after taking this class, I realize now that policy work combines so many parts of myself that are important to me: working for larger changes, advocating, and research. Because of this class, I am seriously considering working towards macro work and hope to get much more involved in policy even throughout the rest of my BSSW. I learned so much, and I appreciate your grace and flexibility in supporting our learning process even in the midst of such a strange semester. Thank you for your enthusiasm; I hope I'm able to take more classes taught by you!"
Abigail, BSSW student, Metropolitan State University Denver
"Excellent social welfare policy text for undergraduate social work majors: up-to-date, readable, and includes valuable information on social welfare history, values, diversity, advocacy, and fields of practice."
John C. Rife, MSW, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
"Social Work Policy Practice by Jessica Ritter is a timely, relevant, and applied social welfare policy practice textbook which will help train future social workers in the important work of social change."
LeaAnne DeRigne, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, Florida Atlantic University
"Dr. Ritter has a way of making social work policy come alive. Her quality of writing and ease of reading makes students feel an increased confidence and understanding while gaining valuable insight to multiple aspects of policy practice."
Scott W. Gaffney, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Southeastern University
"Ritter provides an engaging, thorough, and passionate look at social welfare policy, with an emphasis on advocacy efforts. This is truly a text devoted to policy as it relates to social and economic justice."
John Quinton Hodges, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, University of North Alabama
"A contemporary analysis of important issues and policies impacting social workers that can easily be adopted for many other fields including human development, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and education."
Mary H. Garcia, Instructor of Human Development, Washington State University


When I think of Easter desserts for some reason angel food cake with fresh fruit comes to mind. I know, I know, for some of you it might be chocolate covered peanut butter eggs, but remember, I'm a nut-free kind of gal. When thinking about how to adjust traditional angel food cake recipes (or even worse, the store-bought box version) for a healthier, Paleo friendly recipe, I immediately took to the internet. I'm not quite bake-savvy yet to just whip up cake recipes from memory or scratch. I came across this awesome grain-free and nut-free version from Deliciously Organic. Kudos to Carrie Vitt on creating this delicious Paleo friendly recipe!
This might just be the dessert I bring for Easter dinner this weekend. I mean, it's not some crazy, healthy recipe everyone will turn up their nose to. It actually tastes JUST LIKE regular angel food cake. This recipe calls for coconut sugar so the coloring of the cake is a bit darker than regular angel food cake, but still spongy and delicious none the less. It did require me to have to borrow an angel food cake pan from my mom. I'm slowly stocking up my kitchen with the necessary items I need but did not have this type of cake pan just yet. Thanks to my mom, she had an extra and (I think) I get to keep this one!! Score! One extra note about angel food cake pans if you've never used one. Many of the newer cake pans have little legs on them because you have to cool the angel food cake upside down. If your angel food cake pan does not have legs to keep it up off the ground, you can turn it over and rest it on top of a small canned good.
Do me one favor though…don't ruin this beautiful grain-free, nut-free angel food cake by piling on cool whip (can you say toxic?! Skip the high fructose corn syrup, PLEASE!) or douse your fruit in sugar. You can whip up a fresh, homemade coconut cream to use and use organic berries, no extra sugar or chemicals needed! I could have literally ate this homemade cream by the spoonful!
Impress your family by bringing in this homemade dessert that you can brag about making yourself AND it's much healthier than any store-bought version.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit). Make sure your oven rack is in the middle position so the cake pan fits.
Add egg whites and lemon juice in medium sized bowl. Beat the egg mixture on medium-high speed until foamy. Add in the salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla and beat again on medium until soft peaks form.
If you are using a hand mixer, this part can be tricky, but you'll want to keep the mixer on medium-high and slowly add in the coconut sugar, about one tablespoon at a time. Continue until all sugar has been mixed in. Sift the remaining 1/4 cup coconut sugar and arrowroot flour into a small bowl. With your mixer on medium, slowly add in the arrowroot flour mixture, then turn up the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth.
Pour your batter into the angel food cake pan, no oil needed. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Remove cake pan from oven and carefully turn the cake pan upside down. (Remember my note above, if your cake pan does not have legs you'll want to rest to cake on top of a canned good.) Let cool for at least 1 hour.
To remove the cake from the pan, run a knife around the outside and inside edges and invert onto a cake platter. Top with homemade cream and berries of your choice.


It comes with pre installed Office 365 suite, which I need to activate in case I want to use it, and Win 10 OS.
I removed it and installed Office 2013 Standard (we have license for it), and everything worked fine for a while, until one of Office applications crashed, and it won't start (only in safe mode).
I've tried every possible suggestion on Microsoft community forums, and nothing helped.
This issue is happening on 2 laptops in my organization, both are X1 Yoga, same model, same pre installed image.
Is this a known issue with this laptop's image?
I am desperate to find a solution.
Sorry if I missed any existing topic with this issue, I've searched the forums here and didn't find anything.


text:
Q: Colorbox under graphix hasn't the same width In my document I want the fcolorbox the same width as the graphics, but I can't get it right. The left side is aligned (wich is good) but the right side is not (which is bad ...)
What is going wrong here?
\documentclass[11pt,landscape,twoside]{article}
\usepackage[english,dutch]{babel}
\usepackage{multicol}
\usepackage{xcolor}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\graphicspath{{../graph/}{../tek/}}

\begin{document}
\begin{multicols}{3}

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    \includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{joec.jpg}\hfill
    \vspace{-5.0pt}
    \fcolorbox{gray}{gray}{\parbox{1.0\linewidth-2\fboxsep-2\fboxrule}{
                        \color{white}
                        \raggedleft{\small{text text text} }
                    }
                }
}
\end{multicols}
\end{document}

A: Spurious blank spaces (I removed them in my code by deleting some and some others using %); you were missing \dimexpr in the calculation of the \parbox width:
\documentclass[11pt,landscape,twoside]{article}
\usepackage[english,dutch]{babel}
\usepackage{multicol}
\usepackage{xcolor}
\usepackage[demo]{graphicx}
\graphicspath{{../graph/}{../tek/}}

\begin{document}
\begin{multicols}{3}
\noindent\parbox[t]{1.0\linewidth}{%
\includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{joec.jpg}\hfill\par\nointerlineskip
\fcolorbox{gray}{gray}{%
  \parbox{\dimexpr\linewidth-2\fboxsep-2\fboxrule\relax}{\color{white}%
  \raggedleft{\small text text text}
  }%
}%
}
\end{multicols}
\end{document}

The demo option for graphicx simply replaces actual figures with black rectangles; do not use that option in your actual document.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Afghanistan has half a million widows, and the number is increasing, says government
Afghanistan has half a million widows, and the number is increasing, says government /node/1327171/world
File photo from the "hill of widows," some 15 kilometers south-east of the capital. It is also known as "Zanabad," the city of women. (AFP photo – March 20, 2017)
Masooma, left, working at Kabul's municipality cleaning roads. She lost her husband in a rocket attack 17 years ago in Kabul and since then has been feeding and raising her five children and doing random jobs. (Sayed Salahuddin — AN photo)
A common scene in Kabul, a widow begging from a car passenger. (Sayed Salahuddin — AN photo)
Habiba, in the picture, working with her mother Ferooza as a roadside sweeper. Ferooza, the mother, lost her husband 20 years ago during a clash with the Taliban in northern Baghlan province (Sayed Salahuddin — AN photo)
Updated 24 June 2018
Sayed Salahuddin
Some 15 kilometers southeast of the capital is the "zanabad," or city of women, built completely by widows
Widows are the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan
KABUL: The burden of life has made Masooma look twice her age. Her life story in many ways is similar to those of several hundred thousand other Afghan women who have become widows since the latest conflict began here more than 40 years ago.
She lost her husband in a rocket attack 17 years ago in Kabul and since then has been feeding and raising her five children, doing jobs such as cleaning and laundry.
Looking frail and exhausted, Masooma is now part of the army of Kabul's municipality and cleans roads in the city where the gap between the rich and poor is widening, thanks to the flow of foreign aid that has largely ended up in the pockets of commanders and those with links either to the government or foreign troops, as Masooma laments.
"I hate to beg and am proud of my job. I'm happy to earn a livelihood in a legitimate way," Masooma told Arab News, sweeping a road and wearing an orange gown and a tight headscarf.
Like the rest of her female colleagues, she cleans the streets by braving the attacks, the rising heat in summer and extreme cold in winter.
Her eldest child is a young man now and he is a bus conductor, helping her to pay the rent for the house and sharing other responsibilities.
But her life has been a long struggle in a male-dominated society where women are perceived largely as owned by their father before becoming their husband's property and widows are often rejected or regarded as burdens.
"You cannot imagine the hardships I have gone through. It is not easy to raise five children without a father, without money and a house," Masooma said.
Widows are the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan. They suffer violence, expulsion, ostracism and sometimes forced remarriage, often with a brother-in-law, as reported by the UN Mission in Afghanistan in a study in 2014.
Ferooza, another widow, lost her husband 20 years ago during a clash with the Taliban in northern Baghlan province. She moved to Kabul along with her daughter, Habiba. They have similar jobs to Masooma, with no health or life insurance in a country in the middle of war that relies on foreign aid.
"Life is very tough for widows. It is not easy for women to clean the streets day after day, for months and years, but we do not have an alternative. We are content and feel happy that we are working rather than being a burden on others," Habiba told Arab News with a mild smile.
According to the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled, there are more than 500,000 widows in Afghanistan, most of them war widows. Of these, 70,000 are breadwinners for their families, the ministry said in recent statistics given to the media last week.
Some 15 kilometers southeast of the capital is the "zanabad," or city of women, built completely by widows. The first women settled on this stony-slope location outside Kabul in the 1990s, hoping to escape the stigma they are forced to endure.
Today it is known as Afghanistan's "hill of widows," home to a cluster of women who have eked out independence in a society that shuns them.
Ninety percent of them are illiterate, some even taking care of as many as eight children, Hashratullah Ahmadzai, spokesman for the ministry, told Arab News.
"We are in a state of war. The number of women who become widows is increasing. Those who fight on the government side and those on the side of the Taliban and the miltants have wives and mothers too. People on both sides suffer and women on all sides are affected more than anyone in this war," Ahmadzai said.
War widows who are registered by the government receive some meagre annual help from the ministry, but that does not meet the need of the victims, he said.
Gul Ghotai, head of the statistics department at the Ministry of Women Affairs, said the government lacks any strategy on creating vocational or short-term jobs for the widows.
"The ministry of women has done nothing on this. The government as a whole has failed to address the widows' problems because it does not have the capacity. It has not even come up with a plan as to how to tackle the problem," she told Arab News.
Topics: Afghanistan Afghan women Kabul Widow
Afghan war widows pay heavy price for husband's sacrifice
Most Afghan women do jail time as unpaid home servants


text:
lemur Package
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:mod:`lemur` Package
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.. automodule:: lemur.__init__
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.. automodule:: lemur.constants
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.. automodule:: lemur.database
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.. automodule:: lemur.manage
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:mod:`models` Module
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.. automodule:: lemur.models
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Note: The "Underwater" Movie Amazon Content was not available. We used a "Kristen Stewart" (lead actress) poster instead.
When an earthquake ruins a subterranean laboratory, a group of underwater researchers have to find safety. The talented cast includes: Kristen Stewart as Norah, T.J. Miller as Untitled, Jessica Henwick as Emily, Vincent Cassel as Untitled, John Gallagher Jr. as Untitled, Mamoudou Athie as Untitled and Gunner Wright as Lee.


text:
13 January 2022 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment
It is not that far into the new year and we already have some exciting D23 news about the upcoming D23 Expo in September of 2022. D23 is kicking off the new year right, giving us info on ticket pricing and sales, the Mousequerade event, merchandise, and (most exciting to me) the restoration and display of Walt Disney's plane, used, among other things, to scout the land purchased for the Walt Disney World Resort in the 1960's.
I am so happy to see that this historic plane has been restored since its removal from the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios. D23 has also announced that there will be even more Walt Disney Archives presentations than ever before. I cannot wait for the Expo this year. I wasn't able to attend last year and had to send my trusty reporter out, but this year I'm READY for all the Expo action. Let's keep reading below for the official announcements from D23 and info on when and how to purchase your tickets!
TICKETS FOR D23 EXPO: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT PRESENTED BY VISA® GO ON SALE JANUARY 20, 2022
The Biggest Disney Fan Event Will Take Place September 9th through 11th in Anaheim, Calif.
Returning Events Include the Disney Legends Awards, Mousequerade Costume Contest, and Much More; D23 Gold Members Receive Special Discounts
BURBANK, Calif. – January 13, 2022 – Tickets for D23 Expo 2022 presented by Visa go on sale at 12 p.m. PT, Thursday, January 20 with an exclusive presale for Visa cardholders who are also D23 Members starting on January 19, at 10 a.m. PT. "The Ultimate Disney Fan Event," hosted by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center September 9th through the 11th, celebrating the magic and excitement of Disney entertainment past, present, and future and kicking off Disney100, the centennial celebration of The Walt Disney Company. All of Disney's wonderful worlds—including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars—will unite under one roof to showcase what's new and what's on the horizon from Disney theme parks, streaming, television, music, products, and films. Complete details are available at D23Expo.com.
D23 Expo 2022 will feature more than 50 shows, presentations, and panels, including the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which honors the talented individuals who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy, as well as an all-new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives highlighting the 100th anniversary of Disney.
The popular Mousequerade costume contest will return, hosted by Nina West and featuring a star-studded panel of judges including Yvette Nicole Brown (Big Shot, Disenchanted), Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano and creator of Her Universe), and Ally Maki (Toy Story 4, Home Sweet Home Alone). The contest will feature new categories including "Off the Screen," "Imagine That!," "Magical Mashups," and "Cast of Characters," as well as a fan-favorite award voted on by the audience and a "Best in Show" prize of $2,300. Complete rules for entry and details are available at D23Expo.com.
Presenting Sponsor Visa will be the "Official Way to Pay at D23 Expo," and Visa cardholders will have access to additional benefits and one-of-a-kind Disney experiences.
Plus, D23 and the Walt Disney Archives, working with new D23 Expo Platinum sponsor Amazon, are restoring Walt Disney's Grumman Gulfstream I company airplane, currently housed backstage at Walt Disney World Resort, and transporting it to Anaheim. The iconic aircraft was seen for years as part of the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios and will be on display at D23 Expo 2022 for guests to see in an exhibit called Mickey Mouse One: Walt's Plane presented by Amazon.
Returning to D23 Expo 2022 will be the massive show floor full of immersive experiences and special opportunities for guests to see what's next for Disney around the world—and they may even run into their favorite Disney stars, characters, Imagineers, animators, and filmmakers. Guests can also enjoy numerous shopping opportunities, many featuring D23 Expo-exclusive collectibles, at an assortment of Disney and partner pop-up shops including the D23 Expo Emporium, where the ultimate Disney fans can find their ultimate treasures. The 7,000-seat Hall D23 returns and will be joined this year by the 3,000-seat Premiere Stage, the 1,200-seat Backlot Stage, and the expanded, 700-seat Walt Disney Archives Stage for more presentations curated by the staff of the Archives. On the main show floor, the D23 Expo Live! Stage will feature performances, appearances, demonstrations, and more all weekend long, many of which will be livestreamed to guests at home.
D23's seventh Expo in Anaheim follows the success of D23 Expo 2019, which drew tens of thousands of Disney fans for three star-studded days and nights. Guests were treated to appearances by celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr., Christina Aguilera, Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Angelina Jolie, Robin Roberts, Salma Hayek, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, and the casts of The Mandalorian and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Guests immersed themselves in the one-of-a-kind exhibit Inside the World of Avatar, saw models and artwork from the new experiences and attractions coming to EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort, and admired iconic costumes on display from Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They also enjoyed a look back at Disney's rich history through extraordinary panels, presentations, and exhibits and discovered the newest entertainment, technology, and products coming from Disney.
Tickets for D23 Expo 2022 presented by Visa will go on sale at D23Expo.com beginning January 20, 2022, at noon PT. Guests must be members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club—either at the complimentary General Member level or at the Gold Member level—to purchase tickets. Discounted single-day ($89) and three-day tickets ($229) will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members. Regularly priced single-day tickets are $99 for a one-day adult admission and $79 for children, and money-saving three-day tickets are also available. This year, a limited number of Hall D23 Preferred Seating tickets (which include admission for all three days and a reserved seating section for all Hall D23 presentations) will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members. D23 Members who are also Visa cardholders, and who pay with their Visa, will have pre-sale access to a limited number of one-day and three-day tickets for 24 hours beginning January 19, 2022, at 10 a.m. PT, while supplies last. Discounted hotel and Disneyland Resort park tickets are available to all D23 Expo ticket purchasers.
In addition to an exclusive discount on tickets, D23 Gold Members will enjoy special benefits at the Expo, including on-site discounts from select retail locations and a complimentary gift. And guests will be able to visit the D23 Ultimate Fan Lounge presented by Amazon on the show floor. For more information on tickets, ticket prices, and D23 Expo, visit D23Expo.com.
Schedule and talent are subject to change.
About D23 Expo 2022
D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, streaming, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2022 news, visit D23Expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.
About D23
The name "D23" pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney's 99-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com, with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. Will you be purchasing D23 Expo tickets for 2022?
You can also see other D23 updates here on Zannaland as well as our Disney D23 Expo Retrospective episode of our Up the Waterfall podcast where we talk about all the fun of D23 Expos past:
Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney News, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disney Special Events, Latest News, Official Disney Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2022, D23 Expo 2022 tickets, D23 Expo ticket prices, D23 Mousequerade, Disney D23, Walt Disney's plane
19 November 2021 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment
Destination D is happening right now about 5 minutes down the street from my house, but sadly I am not there enjoying the Disney D23 fun. However the updates are still coming in from D23 and of course I wanted to share them here with you. D23 today announced the return of many fan-favorite, in-person events along with keeping some virtual events as well. Here's the rundown of all the D23: The Official Disney Fan Club events for 2022:
D23 EXPO 2022: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event returns September 9th through the 11th. Fans will see the latest from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel including a first look at the incredible plans for the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. Plus, more panels and presentations than ever will be livestreamed for fans across the globe. D23 Expo is the largest Disney fan event in the world, with all the wonderful worlds of The Walt Disney Company under one roof across film, television, streaming, theme parks, products, digital, music, live entertainment, and more. Tickets go on sale January 20.
WALT'S MARCELINE: Walt Disney frequently cited this charming Missouri town where he spent his early childhood as one of his greatest influences. In fact, its lovely main thoroughfare was an inspiration for Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A. D23 Members will have a chance to explore Marceline's Walt Disney Hometown Museum, enjoy local treats, and mingle with special guests during this limited-capacity, full-day event.
DAVE SMITH WINDOW DEDICATION: On January 24, celebrate the life and legacy of Walt Disney Archives founder and Disney Legend Dave Smith on the day of his Disneyland window ceremony with a special presentation for Gold Members during park hours.
BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY: On January 29, D23 celebrates the 50th anniversary of Bedknobs and Broomsticks at the very place it was made—The Walt Disney Studios lot—with special screenings and the chance to see items on display from the Walt Disney Archives.
GALACTIC MEMBER MIXER: D23 heads to a galaxy not-so-far-away for a special Member Mixer during Star Wars Celebration in May at the Anaheim Convention Center.
THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS OFFICIAL TOUR – PRESENTED BY D23: D23 looks forward to welcoming guests back to The Walt Disney Studios lot soon, giving members the opportunity to visit the world-famous studio. These tours offer fans a unique perspective on historic moments from Disney films, television shows, and theme parks—along with the chance to look inside The Walt Disney Archives and draw inspiration from Walt's office suite.
FAN-FAVORITE MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES: D23 will celebrate milestone anniversaries for popular films with virtual and in-person events, including favorites such as Lilo & Stitch (20th), Hercules (25th), Aladdin (30th), and The Muppet Christmas Carol (30th).
D23 NIGHTS WITH DISNEY THEATRICAL: The fan club returns with more special D23 nights than ever before at two spectacular musical productions. The North American tours of Disney's The Lion King and Disney's Frozen are offering members special ticket packages and post-show Q&As with members of the cast. The first locations for these special events are Austin and St. Louis for The Lion King, and Atlanta and Orlando for Frozen.
MORE MAGIC WITH WALT DISNEY IMAGINEERING: D23 will continue its rich collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering, giving fans a direct connection to the creative minds behind favorite Disney Parks. The D23 x Walt Disney Imagineering Magical Milestones virtual event series celebrates the past and future of parks around the world. This year, D23 x WDI celebrated Disney California Adventure, Shanghai Disney Resort, and Walt Disney World Resort, and next year, members can look forward to a special in honor of the 30th anniversary of Disneyland Paris!
SIGNATURE EVENTS: Following incredible events at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana and Graceland in Memphis, fans can look forward to Gold Member Previews of Walt Disney Archives traveling exhibitions across the country. D23 Gold Members will enjoy advance and opening night screenings at locations such as the El Capitan, AMC Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, and more theaters across the country. Walt Disney Imagineering's exclusive merchandise store, Mickey's of Glendale, will open its doors to members. And as always, D23 will celebrate the holidays in style with a special Halloween event (with a Hocus Pocus twist) and—as part of D23 Season of Magic—the return of the holiday favorite Light Up the Season in December 2022!
Dates, ticketing information, and more D23 events for 2022 will be announced throughout the year. Full details on D23's lineup of 2019 special events can be found on the Fan Club's website at D23.com/Events. Additional dates will be posted soon. All events and dates are subject to change.
Will you be attending any of these Disney D23 events in 2022? We sure hope we can!
Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney News, Official Disney, Top Stories
Back in 2020 – the last media event I attended before everything shut down, we were given about a 20 minute preview of Cirque du Soleil's newest show at Disney Springs – Drawn to Life. The media event was for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway's debut, but it also combined other upcoming events around Walt Disney World. The first link above is to my instagram story for what we saw of Drawn to Life back in March of 2020. Last night, thanks to a cast member-exclusive invite-only dress rehearsal, I was able to see the full Drawn to Life show from Cirque du Soleil. I was completely blown away and knew I had to write a Drawn to Life review here, because EVERYONE needs to see this show.
Cirque du Soleil Drawn to Life Review
Cirque du Soleil Theatre
A little background, as you may know and may have seen, the Cirque du Soleil theatre was built to house the original show here, La Nouba. A fan and family favorite, La Nouba ran from December 23, 1998 until December 31, 2017. At the time, fans were unsure if a new show would premiere, but Cirque du Soleil did announce that a new show would replace La Nouba in the future.
Drawn to Life is Born
In November of 2018, casting calls for Drawn to Life were posted. Two years later, at the above mentioned March 2020 event, everyone was very excited to welcome the new show. Then, the world turned upside-down. We all wondered if the pandemic would mean the end of Drawn to Life and even Cirque du Soleil in general. Luckily, they made it through and now Drawn to Life will debut on November 18, 2021. The first 3 nights are already sold out, which is a great sign for the success of the show.
Drawn to Life Storyline
Something that La Nouba was missing was a Disney connection. La Nouba was amazing, the Cirque performers are the best of the best, and the costumes, makeup, and staging are beyond compare. But, there was no Disney in the show. Honestly, I liked that, as a fan of live theatre and performance, I loved that La Nouba opened that world to people that may not have ever seen it otherwise. I was a little worried that the Disney addition would make it too commercial-looking or comparable to a Disney On Ice performance (not that there's anything wrong with Disney on Ice, but Cirque du Soleil is known for its incredible creativity and pushing of boundaries). My fears were quashed when I saw the preview in March of 2020. My mind was then completely blown last night when I saw the full show.
My one sentence Drawn to Life review: the show is a love letter to the art and artistry of Disney animation. This is what I thought throughout the show, and then when I went on the website today to look for images to use here, I realized, they had used almost the exact wording in their description of the show. It truly lives up to that statement. Here is how the Drawn to Life storyline is described on the site:
Drawn to Life invites you into an astounding world where the art of Walt Disney Animation is experienced like never before. Gather your whole family for an unforgettable leap into this amazing new show—a live acrobatic journey where the stage is transformed into a giant animation table. The art of classic Disney animation is reinterpreted through Cirque du Soleil's innovative design, acrobatic performances, dazzling choreography, and eclectic costuming alongside all-new Disney animation and an original score inspired by timeless Disney music. The show is absolutely alive with all the high-flying, mind-blowing exuberance that Cirque du Soleil is famous for.
This love letter to the art of Disney Animation celebrates life in all of its motions and emotions. The show tells the story of a determined girl [named Julie] who discovers one last gift left by her animator father: a sequence of unfinished drawings. Guided by a magical pencil and a quirky troupe of imaginative muses, she embarks on an inspiring quest filled with her childhood Disney memories. We'll follow her as she leaps into a whimsical world of animation and discovers new possibilities that animate the story of her future. Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney.
What the description and the short preview we saw in March didn't prepare me for was the emotional journey that starts pretty much immediately when the show begins. It really pulls you in and you are invested in Julie's adventures. The story weaves itself expertly between the cirque performances so nothing seems out of place or interfering with the flow. Every character highlights and celebrates some portion of the animation process, including mistakes. Speaking of characters, there are several sets of performances where my jaw was hanging open (thankfully masks are required so no one could see that), others where I audibly gasped, and still others where my mask hid the tears streaming down my cheeks. It is a journey.
After more than a year of waiting, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products are excited to announce that Drawn to Life is scheduled to open on Nov. 18, 2021. The new family-friendly show coming to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering and will take residency at Disney Springs (Matt Beard, Photographer).
In recent times, hardcore Disney fans have been complaining of a lack of major celebration by Walt Disney World for the 50th anniversary and a focus more on current movie characters, merchandise, and food rather than the storied nostalgia of the company. Drawn to Life has put all of that history and nostalgia, combined it with Disney storytelling and heart, and incredible artistic performances to create a must-see event that every Disney fan will appreciate. It is the most "Disney" show I have seen in recent years, and it's not even technically a Disney show. The creators have concentrated down the essence of the history and the process of creating the magic that we all know and love as "Disney."
Drawn to Life Technical Feats
The theater was originally designed for La Nouba, but the stage area has now been completely redone to fit Drawn to Life. The stage design and technical effects for Drawn to Life are mind-blowing. You will probably spend a good portion of the show wondering "how did they DO that??" but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how, it just looks spectacular. We were seated four rows back on the right of the stage and there were many (most) times I could not see how things were being accomplished. I can only imagine how it looks from slightly further back. The entire tech crew is to be commended for the magic they have created here.
All above photos by photographer Matt Beard and courtesy of Disney. Since you can't take photos or video of the show, and I don't want to spoil any of the surprises for you, you'll have to take my word that it is worth a viewing and a must-see show. I don't think I can give a Drawn to Life review without mentioning the costumes and makeup; a major part of the show which should not be ignored.
Each character is made to look like some part of the animation process, either the faces animators make to replicate in their designs, or an implement itself like a pencil or paintbrush. The costume are bright and memorable, making each group or individual performance stand out.
Drawn to Life Acts
Here is a little more about the creation of the show and two recently announced acts that are featured in Drawn to Life:
Drawn to Life, written and directed by Michel Laprise with Fabrice Becker as Director of Creation. Developed in partnership with Michael Jung, Executive Theatrical Development, Walt Disney Imagineering along with Walt Disney Animation Studios, the story is driven by 10 unique acrobatic acts alongside animation from beloved Disney films. In addition, the show features all-new animation created by Disney artists led by Animation Director Eric Goldberg, best known for characters such as the Genie in the Disney Animation classic "Aladdin."
In the "Garden of Lines" unicycle act, Julie is swept into a wonderland of familiar shadows, shapes and outlines in an homage to cherished tales that inspire an animator. Julie's whimsical mood fixates on a mischievous marionette from a time-honored Italian fairytale. Five playful unicyclists representing the Blue Fairy of the classic Disney Animation film "Pinocchio" appear to effortlessly float across the stage, performing synchronized stunts and individual tricks with pinpoint precision.
"The Old Mill" double wheel act is inspired by Walt Disney's groundbreaking 1937 animated short of the same name, which is seen in projections throughout. In a display of tenacity, perseverance and rise-and-fall motion, owls dreamed up by Julie's imagination weather a storm using teamwork and courage to carry them through the powerful wind and rain that threaten their windmill home. The windmill of the film is represented in a spectacular, churning, fast-moving double wheel structure. Gravity-defying acrobats are in constant motion with the turning wheels—at times airborne—with astonishing balance and agility.
Drawn to Life is the 50th production created by Cirque du Soleil and its premiere coincides with the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration. With an international cast of 62 artists, Drawn to Life will perform Tuesday through Saturday at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.
I will note that "The Old Mill" double wheel act is one of the moments where I audibly gasped and my jaw hung open for most of the performance. The unicycles were mesmerizing and even though there were no technical effects there, I still wondered "how did they DO that??"
Final Drawn to Life Review Thoughts
Almost 24 hours later, I'm still thinking about how incredible Drawn to Life is. I highly recommend it and I can't wait to bring my entire family back so they can experience the wonder and magic themselves. Congratulations to everyone involved in Drawn to Life for an amazing success. I can't wait for word to get out about this amazing Cirque du Soleil experience.
If you want a sneak peek at some of the designs used in the show or just to get some nice merchandise, the Cirque du Soleil Store at Disney Springs West Side is now open.
For more information on show tickets, dates and pricing, visit cirquedusoleil.com/drawntolife.
If you see the show, I'd love to hear what your thoughts were!
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Filed Under: Disney News, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Things to Do, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Cirque, Cirque du Soleil, Cirque du Soleil Drawn to Life, Cirque du Soleil Drawn to Life review, Cirque du Soleil Walt Disney World, Disney Drawn to Life, Disney Springs, Drawn to Life, Drawn to Life 2021, Drawn to Life review, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World entertainment
SeaWorld Orlando hosts a delightful array of offerings to celebrate the holiday season. SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration for 2021 takes place on select dates from November 12th through January 2nd with lights and decorations, holiday foods and treats and entertainment the whole family can enjoy together. This is one of the best values when it comes to seasonal events in Orlando. SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration is included with the purchase of a regular ticket or annual pass. Let's take a look at some highlights of SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration 2021 event.
SeaWorld Orlando Christmas 2021
The Sesame Street Christmas Parade will delight kids from one to ninety two with classic characters like Big Bird and Elmo. The floats in this parade are colorful, creative and entertaining too. This parade is the kind that rolls through, pauses and puts on a stationary show. The performers are high energy and the original music is extra festive. Sesame Street provides an entertaining and inviting atmosphere for all on television and in the park.
Rudolph's ChristmasTown offers more family fun with photo ops featuring some of your favorite Christmas characters. Here you can meet Rudolph from the 1964 Rankin Bass stop motion, classic film Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. You may also find the Bumble in this storybook setting! If you love jolly attire and accessories, this is the place to look for merchandise.
New to SeaWorld Orlando Christmas 2021 is The Sounds of the Seasons Concert featuring musical acts in the indoor Nautilus Theater. Check the schedule as the featured talent rotates through the duration of the event. If you enjoy live music, SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration has lovely atmospheric shows you should add to your plans. There is an a cappella group that sings favorites from classic holiday movies and a reindeer band alternating on the small stage at Rudolph's ChristmasTown. This little venue is outdoors and on the water with lights and decorations all around.
Sea of Trees is a nighttime wonder with lit Christmas trees floating, twinkling and reflecting on the water to music. You can see this dazzle throughout the night. One of the best viewing places is on the bridge in the middle of the water with the trees all around you.
Winter Wonderland on Ice is an ice skating show featuring songs of the season and glitzy costumes. Guests can enjoy the work of these talented artists as they dance on ice in this beautifully crafted show. It's truly a spectacle as the water behind the stage is illuminated with the Sea of Trees and colorful, gushing fountains.
You can also experience wintery fun like snow flurries and ice skating at SeaWorld for the holidays. Ice skating is an additional charge and has a couple of requirements so look into it before you go if that is of interest to you.
Finish your night at SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration with a sky full of sparkles. Holiday Reflections Fireworks can be seen from many places around the park but the best viewing is from the Winter Wonderland On Ice venue or around the lake where Sea of Trees floats. If you've enjoyed Halloween at SeaWorld you've seen the unique tie in of SeaWorld's aquatic theme with the spooky season. As fun as that may be, SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration takes a more familiar approach celebrating with classic characters, decor and music, and food.
HOLIDAY FLAVORS TO SAVOR
The Christmas Market, nestled along Bayside Pathway, features festive entertainment and delicious culinary delights. At this bustling market, guests will discover one-of-a-kind gifts and snack on scrumptious holiday treats. Relax near the warm glow of the fire pit with a holiday craft brew and experience a wonderful view of the vibrant Sea of Trees or sing along to musicians who bring the sounds of the season to life on the gazebo stage. Find the tastes of the season throughout the park with the return of fan-favorite beverages, including the decadent Butterscotch Hot Chocolate or try something new like the Peppermint Berry Julep or the Mistletoe Margarita.
MORE TO CELEBRATE
Take note of this additional events added to celebrate other holidays during the season:
Hanukkah Celebration Celebrate the festival of lights at SeaWorld! From November 28 through December 6, gather with your friends and family to view the traditional lighting of the menorah in Sesame Street Land™ throughout Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa Festivities Join SeaWorld's celebration of Kwanzaa! Taking place December 26 through January 1, guests can enjoy a joyous time of reflection and celebration of African heritage with the nightly lighting of the kinara in Sesame Street Land™.
New Year's Eve Spend the final day of 2021 enjoying SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration then ring in the New Year as vibrant fireworks fill the night sky at midnight on December 31.
Best Way to Enjoy the Holiday Cheer for SeaWorld Christmas 2021
The best way to experience SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration and New Year's with family and friends is with a SeaWorld Orlando Annual Pass. For a limited time, Florida residents can become a Pass Member for as low as $12.75 per month. Pass Members can receive park benefits and rewards like priority access to new attractions, FREE parking, in-park discounts and much more.
For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com.
Thank you SparklyNicole of SparklyEverAfter.com for providing us with this review and guide for SeaWorld Orlando Christmas in 2021. We'll have a video coming out soon that will showcase the food and other fun from the event, so be sure you're subscribed to Zannaland on YouTube!
Disclaimer: Zannaland.com was provided with free tickets to SeaWorld.
Filed Under: Florida Theme Parks & Attractions, Guest Authors, Parks, Sea World Orlando, Things to Do Tagged With: guest blog, SeaWorld, SeaWorld Christmas, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando Christmas, SeaWorld Orlando Christmas 2021, SparklyEverAfter, SparklyNicole
27 October 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment
Earlier this year, Disney/Pixar announced the new pseudo-prequel to the beloved Toy Story character, LIGHTYEAR. Today, we get our first look at the film in this exciting teaser!
The sci-fi action-adventure presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans.
The film – which stars Chris Evans in the titular role – is scheduled to release June 17, 2022. No word yet on whether the film will debut on Disney+ Premier Access – something that Disney's most recent releases have not been doing.
We know we're excited to see what this story has in store, so be sure to stick around here for more updates on the film!
Filed Under: Disney News, Latest News, Movies & Books Tagged With: animated disney movie, Buzz Lightyear, Disney Animation, Disney movie, Disney Pixar, lightyear, lightyear movie, lightyear trailer, Pixar, Pixar animation, pixar movie, pixar news, pixar trailer, Toy Story
27 October 2021 by Scott Otis Leave a Comment
A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of the Most Magical Place On Earth
By Kevin Kern, Tim O'Day & Steven Vagnini
"The boys and girls of the world regard a visit to Walt Disney World … as a must in their lives. It's a magnet, it's a mecca for the dreams of youth and for the inspiration of mature people." Herb Ryman, Disney Legend, Imagineer and artist
When famed Disney artist and then-retired Imagineer Herb Ryman spoke these profound words in 1982, just after the opening of the brand new masterpiece EPCOT Center, little did he know just how prophetic he was, with Walt Disney World since growing to gargantuan proportions, with four full-fledged theme parks, two epic water parks, a massive shopping and dining district, more than two dozen themed hotels, a campground, and more leisure and recreational activities than one can possibly imagine.
It was right around this time, with the shiny futuristic Spaceship Earth beckoning me, that this Orange County California boy of 12, then fully devoted to the only thing he possibly knew or cared about, Disneyland, became fully aware of the wonders of Walt Disney World, and set his mind on getting his family, some way, somehow, to take a summer family vacation to the Most Magical Place on Earth. I finally got that trip in May and June of 1984, and my life changed forevermore, and I knew I'd spend the rest of my life here, in the other Orange County, in the shadows of the very Cinderella Castle that Herb Ryman so beautifully designed years before.
For its 25th Anniversary in 1996, noted Disney historian and author Jeff Kurtti graced the world with his amazing quintessential history of Walt Disney World up to that point, Since the World Began: Walt Disney World – The First 25 Years, and it has held a prominent place on the center bookshelf of my vast Disney book collection, and I've turned to that book time and time again in my never ending research of Walt Disney World.
As the 50th Anniversary was growing closer, I was hoping the Company would once again turn to Jeff to write a Part Two, the 2nd 25 Years of Walt Disney World. Alas, that did not happen. But instead, we Disney fans were in for a treat! Not one, not two, but THREE!! fully qualified Disney historians were tapped to author the companion book of Disney World's Golden Anniversary. When I saw the names attached to this project, I knew it was in the right hands.
Kevin Kern is a longtime Walt Disney Archivist and an accomplished Disney historian and writer; Tim O'Day is one of the foremost experts on Disney history and an amazing idea man who has worked on countless Disney special events; and my dear friend Steven Vagnini has been a constant champion of Disney heritage and history in his vast career with the Disney Archives, the official Disney fan club D23 and his current role in Walt Disney Imagineering.
And boy, oh boy… they did not disappoint.
This enormous 320-page volume is chock full of stories, nuggets, facts, quotes, photographs, captions, drawings, detailed renderings and top secret blueprints, current and historical, of all things Walt Disney World. Rather than the usual chronological format, the authors chose to organize the proceedings almost by using the famous Disneyland plaque "Here You Leave Today and Enter the World of Yesterday, Tomorrow and Fantasy" as their guide.
Before they get into that, though, the authors begin the book with a look at Disney's history with the State of Florida, and the inner workings of the Company that led them to build their Resort destination there, as well as the purchase of the land tracts, and the massive construction project that turned the vast square mileage of swampland into The Most Magical Place on Earth. They detail the master plans of Project Florida, including the idea of EPCOT, the progress city of the future, that was initially planned for this land. There are extensive amounts of rare and never-before-seen photographs of the early planning stages and construction, with Walt surveying the Florida landscape just before his untimely passing in December 1966.
This section is followed by three short essays from some very important people, remembering their role in all of this, including: Dick Nunis, the former Chairman of Walt Disney Attractions and Disney Legend looking back at the vast job the Company had ahead of them to build and open this stupendous project; Debby Dane Browne, Walt Disney World's first Ambassador, fondly recalling her early days at the Preview Center, becoming the first Ambassador and her memories of the Grand Opening of the Magic Kingdom and all of Walt Disney World; and Roy Patrick Disney, the grandson of Roy O. Disney, telling stories of his grandfather, who selflessly delayed his own retirement, literally spending the rest of his life to foresee and lead the Company to opening Walt's greatest legacy, dying mere weeks after its Grand Opening.
This is where the meat and potatoes of the book begins, separating all the different Park areas, lands, attractions, shows and other bits of all of Walt Disney World into the four categories of Nostalgia (An Idealized Yesteryear), Fantasy (The Art of Make Believe), Discovery (Adventure and Exploration) and Tomorrow (A Step into the Future).
Nostalgia includes examinations of such things as Main Street U.S.A., Liberty Square, Frontierland, Hollywood Boulevard and the Grand Floridian Resort. The Fantasy chapter is where you'll find Fantasyland (of course), Pandora: The World of Avatar, Galaxy's Edge and Blizzard Beach.
Adventureland, Harambe, The Living Seas, major portions of World Showcase, Wilderness Lodge and much more can be found in the Discovery section. The pages of Tomorrow are where you'll find stories on Tomorrowland, Spaceship Earth, Mission: SPACE, Contemporary Resort, and such unique concepts as transportation, solar energy, the utilidors and much more.
This is such a fun way to categorize all the distinctive individual ideas that make up the entire 50 year history of Walt Disney World, all with comprehensive quotes, captions and researched and notated footnotes (there are separate bibliographic and endnotes listings for the text, the captions and the quotes found throughout the chapters).
I very much enjoyed reading this incredible historical volume, and inspecting all the amazing images found within, examining the details of things I thought I knew so well. I recommend you take a closer look at this book by clicking the image below, or stopping by your local independent bookseller to pick up your own personal copy!
What a way to celebrate 50 years of the Most Magical Place on Earth! Thank you, Kevin, Tim and Steven! Also thank you to Disney Publishing for providing us this book for review. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.
There are quite a few other books that Disney has released for the Walt Disney World 50th celebration. I'll link them here: (these are Amazon affiliate links, with a very small portion of the purchase going back to the site – we appreciate your support!)
You can see Scott's previous reviews here, and we also discuss and review A Portrait of Walt Disney World and others on one of our Up the Waterfall weekly LIVE shows (we have quite a few book discussions there so check them out and subscribe for more!):
Filed Under: Books, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Guest Authors, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney book collection, Disney book review, Disney books, Disney history, Disney history books, Disney Publishing, Kevin Kern, Portrait of Walt Disney World, Scott Otis, Steven Vagnini, Tim O'Day, Walt Disney World 50th, Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary, WDW 50th book
22 September 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment
As with all of my reviews, I want to make sure people are aware that I won't be spoiling any of the plot here. That being said, the Dear Evan Hansen stage production premiered in 2016, and it's been a moderately well known story since. Even if you've never heard a song off the soundtrack, you likely understand the concept of the story – which is so simple conceptually that you'll be able to guess exactly how it ends.
Even if the film was good, the story would've been a hard sell on its own. To describe the film, the word that kept coming to mind was 'cringe-worthy.' Not 'cringe' in a modern 'uncouth' or 'out of touch' way, but cringe-worthy in the way you would describe watching someone's marriage proposal get rejected. It's just genuinely hard to watch Evan's actions in the film – it's not an enjoyable experience.
Evan Hansen is not a character that anyone is rooting for (and I don't think by the end anyone will be), but the movie expects us to listen to this character who is so self-centered and sociopathic that he ruins the lives of people around him. I do believe that a large part of this is due to Evan's casting – and we'll get to that in a moment.
Dear Benj Pasek and Justin Paul,
Ben Platt as Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Stephen Chbosky.
I'd like to take a brief pause to talk about the music. It's a big musical, so surely the music is good right? Well, not necessarily.
I personally have never been a fan of the songwriting duo behind Dear Evan Hansen. The only work of theirs I particularly enjoy is 2016's La La Land – and that's entirely because the soundtrack is primarily the work of Justin Hurwitz.
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who's previous work also includes The Greatest Showman and two original songs for the 2019 Aladdin remake, have a particular style to their music – pop songs pretending to be musical theatre songs. And I definitely understand that some people are very big fans of their work – The Greatest Showman's soundtrack is very popular to this day, and Dear Evan Hansen's stage production won just about every Tony imaginable. It's just not the best that the musical theatre genre has to offer, despite now making up its most popular tracks in decades.
Still, I would be lying if I said 'Waving Through A Window' didn't make a frequent appearance in my musical theatre playlist. Before watching the film, I deliberately avoided listening to the original soundtrack again to enter bias-free. As a result, when the film began, I was really enjoying the first three tracks – and I thought to myself 'Wow, this is way better than I remember!' But after 'Sincerely Me,' the track list takes quite a dip.
The issue with Pasek and Paul's work is that – with a few exceptions – most of their songs sound pretty identical. If you were to randomly assign a singer four songs from the duo's discography, I don't know if you'd be able to identify what songs came from what production.
Needless to say, there's nothing in the film version that adds musically to the original version. If you're curious at all about the show, I really recommend just listening to the Broadway recording instead, it'll save you some money and about 137 minutes of boredom.
Dear DEH Cast,
(from left) Larry Mora (Danny Pino), Cynthia Murphy (Amy Adams) and Zoe Murphy (Kaitlyn Dever) in Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Stephen Chbosky.
Okay, so the story's bad, the music's bad, surely the cast has to be good right? You'd think that would be the case. Before I get too into the weeds here, I'll begin with what I enjoyed. I didn't know that Amy Adams was here, and she was a nice surprise. It's not her most phenomenal role (she didn't have very much to work with after all), but she's still one of the more watchable characters of the film.
The MOST watchable performance goes to Colton Ryan (no relation), who played Connor Murphy. It goes without saying that he doesn't have very much screen time, but he truly makes the most of what he does have. He actually served as an understudy for the role in the original Broadway production, and it shows that he has experience with the character.
The last highlight goes to Kaitlyn Dever – who you may have previously seen in 2019's Booksmart, one of my favorite films of all time. Her character isn't the best written, but she does bring a lot of realism to Ben Platt's scenes, which is extremely necessary.
Dear Ben Platt,
(from left) Evan Hansen (Ben Platt) and Jared Kalwani (Nik Dodani) in Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Stephen Chbosky.
Ben Platt may very well be the worst part of this film. As mentioned before, he also played the titular role in the original Broadway production. Now, I didn't see his Broadway performance myself, but the Tony's and clout he earned seem to speak to how good it was.
He's not the only person who played the role. The stage production cast a new lead 4 different times, not including the national tour of the show, which featured a different actor altogether. Many people have taken the helm of the lonely high schooler who takes a lie too far. As a result, many people were confused when Platt was announced to play the character in the film adaptation.
Sure, he's the most well known portrayer of the role, but that doesn't mean he's the only person who can play it for the rest of time. Take for example, the recent film adaptation of In the Heights: the character of Usnavi was initially played by Lin Manuel Miranda, someone who's already become stereotyped with casting himself as a major role in whatever he writes. And yet, the role was instead taken by Anthony Ramos. LMM was older than he was in the initial production, and it was time to give it to someone else who deserved the spotlight.
It seems like a weird thing to be up-in-arms about, but Platt's casting in the film seems even weirder when you learn that his father is a producer for the film, likely playing a big part in giving his son the lead role. Platt later responded to the cases against him by saying,
…were I not to do the movie, it probably wouldn't get made. And so I think, you know, my defensive response is to want to like, go onto twitter and be like, you know 'F you guys, like you don't even know that like this wouldn't exist without me.'
Never in my life have I seen something so disrespectful and egocentric from someone who was very publicly handed a lead role in a major film by his father. It does such a disservice to everyone else who has played the role on stage – one of whom I should point out is Platt's current boyfriend – all of whom are equally as qualified to play the character again.
All of this to say, Platt's performance is very difficult to watch. I had read that Platt would be digitally altered to appear younger (ideally to make a 27 year old appear 17). Either that article was fake, or it was done so subtly that it didn't make a difference at all, because Platt still appears significantly older than any of the other high school students in the film.
Evan Hansen seeming like a creepy guy hanging around at a school severely changes the tone of the film. Rather than being a quirky misunderstood guy who gets caught up in wanting a life that he doesn't have, Platt's performance in the film instead gives us a hunched and awkward sociopath who is too egocentric to understand when he's severely upheaving the familial lives of people who he doesn't know at all.
I won't even go into the issues now present Hansen's romantic side plot with the character played by Kaitlyn Dever, an actress who just naturally looks young in general. Platt sadistically reciting all of the absurd minute details of Dever's character who he obsessed over – of course, under the guise that these were actually the thoughts of her dead brother – is just something no one should ever be forced to sit through.
It really changes how Evan Hansen as a character will be interpreted by audiences, and it's entirely because Platt got Daddy on the phone and decided he needed more attention.
As a whole, this movie is not good. It's absolutely minimalist stance on 'mental health' boils down to about as progressive someone tweeting 'I just learned eating yogurt is a trauma response.'
I just truly cannot advise you enough to not see this. It's not even entertaining in a "Oh I just want to see the train wreck" kind of way, it's just not watchable at all. By the end of my screening, the audience, which was made up of the target demographic for this film, were simply laughing in embarrassment at Platt's asinine emotional breakdown.
I assume studios were clamoring for the chance to bring this to the silver screen, but all of the negative press and negative reviews pretty much guarantee this version will be unmemorable in about 6 months.
Just go listen to the Broadway soundtrack instead.
Filed Under: Movie Reviews, Reviews Tagged With: ben platt, benj pasek, broadway, dear evan hansen, evan hansen, justin paul, movie musical, movie review, musical, review, tony award nominee, tony awards
OH BOTHER: Tickets Available for Disney's WINNIE THE POOH Stage Adaptation
26 August 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment
Want to visit Winnie The Pooh in the Hundred Acre Wood? Just book a ticket to Broadway! Featuring songs by the Sherman Brothers' and by A.A. Milne, this beautifully crafted musical stage adaptation of the classic characters opens on Time Square's Theatre Row beginning October 21, 2021.
WINNIE THE POOH: THE NEW MUSICAL ADAPTATION is developed and presented by renowned family entertainment creator Jonathan Rockefeller – whose spectacular puppetry was previously seen in productions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Paddington Gets in a Jam.
Tickets to the show are now available here.
Due to an overwhelming response, Rockefeller Productions is opening a new block of weekend tickets for the highly anticipated show.
Jonathan Rockefeller and Rockefeller Productions [in association with Disney Theatrical Productions] embraced the challenge of re-imaging Disney's Winnie the Pooh for a new audience by bringing it to life on stage in puppet form.
I know that I personally wish I could book a flight to New York just to catch a performance of this show, so stay tuned here for more updates on the production as we receive them!
Filed Under: Disney News, Disney on Broadway, Latest News Tagged With: aa milne, broadway, broadway show, broadway tickets, Disney Broadway, Disney on Broadway, disney show, Disney trailer, rockafeller, sherman brothers, Winnie the Pooh, winnie the pooh braodway, winnie the pooh musical
New Featurette Released for DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Musical fans rejoice! The film adaptation of the Tony phenomenon DEAR EVAN HANSEN is practically here! Today, Universal released a new featurette of the film. In the featurette, the cast talks about the meaning and impact of the track "You Will Be Found."
The breathtaking, generation-defining Broadway phenomenon becomes a soaring cinematic event as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age.
In addition to the featurette, Universal also released two singles from the film's soundtrack on music streaming services. "Waving Through A Window" and "You Will Be Found," as well as the preorder for the film's soundtrack are available here.
The film is in theaters September 24, and you can bet we "Will Be Found" first in line to see it. Stay tuned here for our review!
Filed Under: Latest News, Movies & Books Tagged With: broadway, broadway show, dear evan hansen, dear evan hansen featurette, dear evan hansen trailer, featurette, musical, musical movie, musicals, soundtrack, tony award
DIS Family Reunion to Benefit Give Kids the World Ticket Giveaway!
26 August 2021 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment
Before we get to the DIS Family Reunion ticket Giveaway, lets talk about Give Kids the World. GKTW is such a special and amazing place, which we love to support here at Zannaland. If you've been following along from the start, you know we've donated, toured, run with, and explored Give Kids the World many times over the years. Most recently we attended the grand re-opening of Henri's Starlight Scoops ice cream shop, where guests of GKTW can have ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also announced the return of last year's incredible event, Night of a Million Lights, where proceeds benefit the Village directly.
Now, another event to benefit GKTW is happening and you can win tickets to attend! The "DIS Family Reunion" (unaffiliated with Disney) is a huge Expo-style event happening over two days, bringing together some of your favorites in the world of Disney parks, with some very special exclusive experiences too.
The event is taking place September 9 & 10, at Disney's Contemporary Resort. We're holding a ticket GIVEAWAY to the DIS Family Reunion event! Take a look at the incredible schedule of sessions below:
Disney's Contemporary Resort – Complimentary parking will be provided
Thursday, September 9 (For more details, visit www.gktw.org/disfam.)
Main Stage in Fantasia Ballroom
10:00 am Event Kick-Off: WDW Resort President Jeff Vahle and Give Kids The World President
& CEO Pamela Landwirth
12:00 pm Celebrity chef Art Smith
2:30 pm Attractions Actor Panel with Ron Schneider, David Danipour, Kat Cressida and more
4:30 pm Actress Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid
The Lost Bros Stage
11:00 am Stories from Disneyland's Opening with Tom Nabbe, Bill Hoelscher and Bill Sullivan
1:00 pm Actress Linda Larkin, the original voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin, and John Morris, the original voice of Andy from Pixar Animation Studios' Toy Story
3:30 pm Common Sense Leadership with Lee Cockerell and Dan Cockerell
5:30 pm Performance by Palm Beach Society Orchestra (formerly the Grand Floridian Society)
6:45 pm Serveur Amusant
7:00 pm Off Kilter
7:45 pm Sergio
8:00 pm Yehaa Bob
9:00 pm American Martian (formerly known as Mulch, Sweat and Shears)
Friday, September 10 (For more details, visit www.gktw.org/disfam.)
10:00 am Wheel of Fortunate Wisdom with iconic host Pat Sajak
12:00 pm Bear in the Big Blue House Reunion Panel
2:00 pm Mickey Mouse Club Reunion Panel
4:30 pm Tony Baxter discusses 50 years of theme park design with Walt Disney Imagineering
11:00 am Themed entertainment expert Jason Surrell, Universal Creative
1:00 pm New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson (The Kingdom Keepers)
8:00 pm Mickey Mouse Club Reunion (until 10:00 pm)
Action-packed, right? Should be an exciting couple of days of Disney fun. I'll be there and you can be too! I'm giving away 2 sets of two tickets for both days of events during the day and night on September 9th and 10th.
DIS Family Reunion Ticket Giveaway Details:
To enter the giveaway, head to my Zannaland instagram and Zannaland Facebook page to enter the DIS Family Reunion Giveaway. (See instructions at each location.) Two random winners will be drawn, one from Facebook entries, one from Instagram on Sunday, August 29. Winner will be announced at those places and updated here on this post.
For an extra DIS Family Reunion Giveaway entry, subscribe to our YouTube channel and comment here letting me know you did.
Filed Under: Disney Special Events, Fundraising and Charities, Giveaways, Top Stories Tagged With: American Martian, DIS Family Reunion, DIS Family Reunion Giveaway, Give Kids the World, Give Kids the World benefit, Give Kids the World Village, Giveaway, GKTW, GKTW benefit, GKTW Village, Jason Surrell, Jim Doyle, Jodi Benson, Kat Cressida, Off Kilter, Ridley Pearson, The DIS, tony baxter, Yehaa Bob


Charles Dance's Who Do You Think You Are? appearance was one of the best yet. In a thrilling hour of television, we watched as he discovered family scandal, secret siblings and even got to meet living relatives he had no prior knowledge of. It wasn't all about vicarious thrills, though. Around halfway through the episode we realised it was the perfect blueprint for how all of us should go about discovering our ancestors.
Here's how to have your very own Who Do You Think You Are? family history journey.
A chat with Charles' half-brother only really revealed one thing: neither of them had much of a clue about their mother's relationships with their mysterious fathers. You may have a similar outcome, but chatting with relatives (the older, the better) can often reveal interesting titbits of information to help kick off your research. And even if you don't learn much more about your family, having a chinwag with elderly relatives is always a good thing.
They're the cornerstone of all family history research with census records, in particular, providing all sorts of fascinating information about your ancestors, from their professions to what their handwriting looks like. Charles was lucky enough to have a historian dig out a relevant census record for him, but it's super easy to do by yourself. Simply click the image below, and then enter the name of the person you are looking for into the search field. Too much to wade through? Narrow down your results by introducing other things you know, such as location.
We have a shedload of historical records dating back hundreds of years, but sometimes a trip to an archive can turn up things you simply can't find elsewhere. Charles was lucky enough to find a branch of his family tree already researched by one of his ancestors. You might not be so fortunate, but visiting somewhere that holds physical records is, if nothing else, a fantastic day out.
When presented with a portrait of his great-great-great-grandmother, Charles commented that she looked a bit like himself, but in drag. The look on his face said it all: there's nothing quite like being able to see what your ancestors looked like. Again, we can't all be as lucky as Charles to have painter ancestors, but we have plenty of record sets that do contain pictures. From historic newspapers (more on these below) to Victorian prisoner mugshots and military service records, there are a few different opportunities for you to be able to stare your ancestors in the eye.
Some peculiar discrepancies with Charles' ancestor's surname led to him unearthing a scandalous relationship. Your surname might not lead to such a juicy discovery, but knowing more about the origin of your family name and the kind of naming patterns your ancestors may have favored – Irish families traditionally named their first born son after his father's father, for example – can give you a fantastic advantage.
A newspaper clipping relating to one of Charles' ancestors showed he worked with the royal family. Newspapers are a fantastic, yet often overlooked, genealogical resource and you should definitely search for your ancestors in them. Back then, someone didn't have to be famous or involved in crime to get a mention in print, with news stories on everything from community events to births, marriages and deaths.
There's something special about knowing you are walking down the exact street as your ancestors did. Charles' visit to an ancestral home was tinged with sadness due to it being the place where a 5-year old from his family tree tragically died, but regardless of the events that took place wherever you visit, you would have to have a heart of stone to not feel the gravitas of seeing the world as your forebears once did.
Once Charles had a better understanding of the current events – in this case, the Boar war - that affected his ancestors, he discovered a branch of his family residing in South Africa. Brushing up on your knowledge of historical events makes life as a genealogist so much easier, explaining everything from reasons for migration to gaps in the census.
As per usual, Charles had a huge amount of help on his family history journey. Now, we can't all afford one-to-one services like that, but there are still ways of getting expert advice without spending a penny. We run regular webinars (like the one above with historian and genealogist, Michala Hulme), for example, which always have a live Q&A; session, while every Friday afternoon sees us streaming live on Facebook from our London office, offering a unique opportunity to get bespoke help from industry experts.
Now you've done all these initial steps, it's time, like Charles did, to hop on the computer and search for your ancestors in our wide variety of record sets covering everything from passenger lists to parish records and pretty much everything else in between. Good luck, and remember: have fun!
TAGS who do you think you are?


Jian Tzu-chieh is an Taiwanese independent curator and art critic. He is currently a lecturer at the Taipei National University of the Arts. He graduated from the doctoral program in Art Creation and Theory at Tainan National University of the Arts. He is an editor and feature writer for ARTCO Monthly. He has also curated a number of international exchange exhibitions between Taipei, Korea and Paris.
SUPPORT: Tzu-chieh Jian's curatorial residency is supported by the Taipei National University of the Arts as well as the Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts (kdMofa, Taipei).


Police are appealing for help to find a 14-year-old boy who is missing from Carnforth.
Guss Goulding was last seen at an address in Carnforth at around 8.15pm on February 2.
He is described as white, 5ft 6in tall, slim build with short dark brown hair.
He was last seen wearing a dark grey Adidas jacket with light grey shoulders, grey Adidas tracksuit bottoms with black stripes and black trainers.
He is thought to be in the Doncaster area.
If anyone has seen Guss or has any information on his whereabouts contact Lancashire Police on 101 quoting log 1532 of February 2.