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My strongest memory is not a memory. It is something I imagined, then came to remember as if it had… - Tara Westover, Educated: A Memoir.
People in Publishing
January 19-26, 2006 Edition PEOPLE IN PUBLISHING Powers Joins DK as Marketing Director
NEW YORK, NY/1/4/06—Judi Powers has been named director of marketing and publicity for DK Publishing, Inc. She was formerly with Viking Penguin, as associate director of publicity. Earlier in her career, she was marketing director at Walker & Company. At Viking, she recently worked on promotion for bestselling authors Sue Monk Kidd, Andrea Mitchell, and Dava Sobel.
J.K. Rowling Reveals Her Post–Harry Potter Plans
NEW YORK, NY/1/19/06—J.K. Rowling, the wildly successful author of the Harry Potter series, told the London Telegraph in an interview last week that her next book will be a "political fairy story" aimed at younger children. Rowling said the book is already completed, but gave no other details other than the fact that it features a monster. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince sold more than 7 million copies in the U.S. last year.
Rowling has already completed the final chapter of the final book in the Potter series, and has locked it in a safe. The remainder of the book she says she will finish this year.
Ted Kennedy Become Kids' Book Author
NEW YORK, NY/1/17/06—US Senator Ted Kennedy has written a children's book, My Senator and Me: A Dogs-Eye View of Washington, D.C., featuring his Portuguese water dog Splash as his co-protagonist. The book will be released in May by Scholastic, Inc.
"I am excited about the opportunity to create a book for young readers and their families that will deepen their understanding of how our American government works," Kennedy said in a statement issued by Scholastic.
According to Scholastic, Kennedy's book "not only takes readers through a full day in the Senator's life, but also explains how a bill becomes a law." Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, was inspired to write the book from his work with a Washington-based reading program, "Everybody Wins!"
Kennedy's net proceeds will be donated to charity. Ted Kennedy's book is 56 pages and includes illustrations by David Small, winner of the 2001 Caldecott Medal for his pictures in Judith St. George's So You Want to Be President?
Digital Book World at Frankfurt Book Fair
RealClearPolitics Joins Powerhouse Digital Book World 2019 Program
Books International's David Hetherington on print challenges

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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In music, the tonic is also called the "home" or "root" of a specific piece of music. The key of the piece uses the scale of the same name (e.g. the key of C major uses the C major scale, and the key of F♯ minor uses the F♯ minor scale). The tonic is the first step of that scale (so C in C Major and F♯ in F♯ minor).
The tonic is important because it defines resting points. It feels odd to finish the song not on the tonic or the chord built from stacking thirds on top of the tonic (called the tonic triad).
We often use Roman numerals to talk about the chords built from each scale step. The tonic is I when it's major and i when it's minor (capital = major chord and augmented chords, lowercase = minor and diminished chords).
Other scale steps or the chords built from them in a piece of music are usually discussed in relation to the tonic. In Western tonal music, the most important is the dominant (V or v but usually V), as the notes in this chord pull strongly toward the tonic. We call this instability, meaning, we don't feel settled on a dominant triad in a key. Instead, we have a desire to hear the tonic after we hear the dominant. Many theorists argue that you only need a dominant and tonic triad to be in a key, which comes into play when you come across pieces that change keys.
There's a little more to it than that, but having a basic understanding of the tonic and dominant relationship is extremely helpful in understanding most Western tonal music.
The Power of Chopin's Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28 No. 4
How to Learn a Song by Ear
How to Make Your Chord Progressions More Interesting
Be Your Own Chord Progression Generator
Debussy's Arabesque No. 1: Creating Magic:
Topics Select Category Announcements Book Reviews Composers Beethoven Chopin Debussy Mozart Palestrina Ravel Tchaikovsky Essays guide Learn Piano Meaning of Music Music Analysis Music Humor Musician Life Musicians and Mindset Piano Technique Recordings Resource Reviews Short Stories
The Selection: How to Pick Piano Repertoire to Increase Momentum and Avoid Frustration
Beethoven: Bagatelle, Op. 119 No. 1
Chopin Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1: Analysis and Interpretation


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Book Launch: Meet Me on the Other Side of Wonder
December 3, 2020 Book Publishing2020, Author, Bold Coast Books, Book, Book Launch, Cover Design, Fine Art, Loretta Boyer McClellan, Mary Oliver, Meet Me on the Other Side of Wonder, Nature, Poems, Poet, Poetry, Publishing, WriterLoretta Boyer McClellan Leave a comment
For Immediate Release—Downeast, Maine. Bold Coast Books announces publishing the latest work of Author, Artist, and Poet, Loretta Boyer McClellan, on December 2, 2020. Synopsis to follow.
Join Loretta Boyer McClellan in her field of forget-me-not poems, where the butterfly abides and leads us to meet ourselves through wonder. For in wonder, we see.
In her sixth book and second volume of poetry, Meet Me on the Other Side of Wonder: Selected Poems, Loretta lyrically bridges the gap between the moment and the observation, bringing us to an ideal vantage point. Returning to her roots as a writer, with words charged to take notice, this collection of poems and prose, organized sequentially as written, establishes the author as not just a committed poet, but as a herald of transformative awareness.
This special edition offers cover art designed by the
author-artist, including her original watercolor.
Author, Artist, and Poet, Loretta Boyer McClellan, sees the art of writing as an exciting medium and source of abundant joy. Her multilayered career as a writer of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; graphic design and communications; and as an Arts instructor, journalist, lyricist, and artist, "sized the canvas," so to speak, for a fruitful life of expression. Visit LorettaBoyerMcClellan.com for more information.
Bold Coast Books: We're a small-but-mighty, artisanal publishing group birthed on the spectacular Bold Coast of Downeast Maine. Titles include Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction, including Memoir and Self-help. Our apologies—currently we do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Visit BoldCoastBooks.com for more information.
Coming Soon: The Little Book of Everlasting Joy
June 26, 2018 Author Interview, Book Publishing, Coming Soon, Loretta Boyer McClellan, The Little Book of Everlasting Joy, Writing ProcessAuthor, Book, Book Launch, Coming Soon, Faith, Happiness, Joy, Loretta Boyer McClellan, Nonfiction, Poetry, Publishing, Self-help, Spiritual, Spirituality, wisdomLoretta Boyer McClellan Leave a comment
COMING SOON: The Little Book of Everlasting Joy: 16 Pieces of Wisdom for Our Time
What is joy? Joy is a multifaceted, precious gem of infinite worth and Divine origin, attainable and sustainable by everyone. This is both premise and promise of The Little Book of Everlasting Joy.
Whether one considers this a volume of poetry, a philosophical work, or a primer for living our truth—as that is the foundation of joy—these 16 insightful pieces of wisdom speak to the masses of the sanctity of a life worth living. This is a guidebook for our time to living our work in progress, to progress in this life of magnificent abundance.
Joy is the celebration of the begotten.
On writing The Little Book of Everlasting Joy: 16 Pieces of Wisdom for Our Time
"Joy is a topic that I have been ruminating on for some time now. In my last book and memoir, The Nature of Being: A Healing Journey, I reflected on joy as the outcome of living my true nature, and that by doing so, I AM Joy. Going forward, that experience of introspection affected me deeply, particularly as a writer. To BE Joy, I needed to write not just from the heart, as I always have, but to also write with an open authenticity of absolute fearlessness, one of the 16 topics in my latest work, The Little Book of Everlasting Joy. This courage opened myself up for a gift, a writer's prompt that I share in the preface of my new book.
"Society has changed as of late, bringing about an amplification of this inner dialogue on the subject of Joy as not just something we can aspire to as a quality to become and maintain, but a lens to observe all things through, to embrace as our Divine right. With the escalation of troubled times and equally troubled souls, things fell into place for a self-help book to emerge, an inspirational work that unlocks the hidden treasure of joy as not just a lasting state of being, but a primary reason for our existence, despite the suffering of mind, body and/or spirit. As are all my writing endeavors, The Little Book of Everlasting Joy: 16 Pieces of Wisdom for Our Time was a lesson to ponder and apply for myself, first and foremost.
"I wish readers joy on their journey, and joy everlasting." —Loretta Boyer McClellan
American Author, Artist and Poet, Loretta Boyer McClellan, sees the art of writing as an exciting medium and source of abundant joy in the creative process. Her multilayered career as a writer of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry;conscious PR, brand, graphic design, and communications; and as an Arts instructor, journalist, and artist, "sized the canvas," so to speak, for a fruitful life of expression. Author of The Nature of BEing: A Healing Journey, The Misthaven of Maine Series, and Dodging Raindrops: Poems and Prose of Beauty, Peace and Healing, Loretta creates from the heart.
Text and cover art © 2018 Loretta McClellan; all rights reserved.
Author headshot by Frank Leonard; used with permission.


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assume in the following only a single-level structure.
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for that domain are prepared to make the requisite transformations.
Mills.COMSAT-DLM@COMSAT from anywhere in the internet system.
outside the COMSAT domain (but it could be).
copy in the NIC data base.
such duplicates are not forbidden.
the same time for the duration of the transfer.
perform all name-address translations required.
regulatory economic or security constraints.
same lower-level transport protocol (e.g.  TCP and NCP).
fully connected, but the relays may not.
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Shadow of the Giant
By: Orson Scott Card
Narrated by: David Birney, Scott Brick, Full Cast
Series: The Enderverse, Book 9, Ender's Shadow, Book 4
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
4.6 out of 5 stars 4.6 (5,760 ratings)
Narrated by: David Birney,Scott Brick,Full Cast
Narrated by: David Birney, Stefan Rudnicki
Best selling SF author Orson Scott Card brings to life a new chapter in the saga of Ender's Earth.
Earth and its society have been changed irrevocably in the aftermath of Ender Wiggin's victory over the Formics. The unity forced upon the warring nations by an alien enemy has shattered. Nations are rising again, seeking territory and influence, and most of all, seeking to control the skills and loyalty of the children from the Battle School.
I hate those little muscial interlueds
By James on 07-23-13
Shadows in Flight
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Emily Janice Card, Scott Brick, and others
At the end of Shadow of the Giant, Bean flees to the stars with three of his children--the three who share the engineered genes that gave him both hyper-intelligence and a short, cruel physical life. The time dilation granted by the speed of their travel gives Earth's scientists generations to seek a cure, to no avail. In time, they are forgotten - a fading ansible signal speaking of events lost to Earth's history. But the Delphikis are about to make a discovery that will let them save themselves, and perhaps all of humanity in days to come.
Great Build Up, and then Just Ends
By Brittani on 01-21-13
Shadow of the Hegemon
Narrated by: David Birney, Scott Brick, Gabrielle de Cuir
Orson Scott Card tells a tale long awaited by millions of fans: the story of how Bean turned away from his first friend, Ender, and became the tactical genius who won the Earth for Ender's brother, Peter, who became the Hegemon.
Great Story with the worst Audio ever recorded!
By Bowlie on 07-21-12
Ender's Shadow
Narrated by: Scott Brick, Gabrielle de Cuir, full cast
Andrew "Ender" Wiggin was not the only child in the Battle School; he was just the best of the best. In this book, Card tells the story of another of those precocious generals, the one they called Bean, the one who became Ender's right hand, part of his team, in the final battle against the Buggers. Bean's past was a battle just to survive. His success brought him to the attention of the Battle School's recruiters.
Totally Card
By L. on 10-10-05
Ender in Exile
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, David Birney, Cassandra Campbell, and others
Andrew Wiggin is told that he can no longer live on Earth, and he realizes that this is the truth. He has become far more than just a boy who won a game: he is the Savior of Earth, a hero, a military genius whose allegiance is sought by every nation of the newly shattered Earth Hegemony. He is offered the choice of living in isolation on Eros, at one of the Hegemony's training facilities, but instead the 12-year-old chooses to leave his home world and begin the long relativistic journey out to the colonies.
A Change of Perspective
By Joshua on 11-14-08
Children of the Mind
Narrated by: Gabrielle de Cuir, John Rubinstein
The planet Lusitania is home to three sentient species: a large colony of humans; the Pequeninos; and the Hive Queen, who was brought there by Ender Wiggin. Once again, the enemy (the Starways Congress) has gathered a fleet and is threatening to destroy Lusitania. Ender's oldest friend, Jane, an evolved computer intelligence, is trying to save the three sentient species of Lusitania, but the Starways Congress is destroying the computer world she lives in.
2 Clear Schools of thought.
By EFH52 on 01-03-05
Xenocide
Volume Three of the Ender Saga
Narrated by: Scott Brick, Gabrielle de Cuir, Amanda Karr, and others
Xenocide is the third installment of the Ender series. On Lusitania, Ender found a world where humans and pequeninos and the Hive Queen could all live together; where three very different intelligent species could find common ground at last. Or so he thought. But Lusitania also harbors the descolada, a virus which kills all humans it infects, but which the pequeninos require in order to transform into adults.
full of passion
By David on 06-13-04
In the Enderverse
Narrated by: Gabrielle De Cuir, Amanda Karr, Stefan Rudnicki
First Meetings is a collection of three novellas (plus the original "Ender's Game") that journey into the origins and the destiny of one Ender Wiggin.
Great for fans (please stop the music)
By Erik N on 05-21-07
Speaker for the Dead
In the aftermath of his terrible war, Ender Wiggin disappeared, and a powerful voice arose: the Speaker for the Dead, who told the true story of the Bugger War. Now, long years later, a second alien race has been discovered by Portuguese colonists on the planet Lusitania. But again the aliens' ways are strange and frightening...again, humans die. And it is only the Speaker for the Dead, who is also Ender Wiggin the Xenocide, who has the courage to confront the mystery...and the truth.
By Joe on 06-13-05
Earth Afire
By: Orson Scott Card, Aaron Johnston
Narrated by: Stephen Hoye, Arthur Morey, Stefan Rudnicki, and others
One hundred years before Ender's Game, the aliens arrived on Earth with fire and death. Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston is the story of the First Formic War. Victor Delgado beat the alien ship to Earth, but just barely. Not soon enough to convince skeptical governments that there was a threat. They didn't believe that until space stations and ships and colonies went up in sudden flame. And when that happened, only Mazer Rackham and the Mobile Operations Police could move fast enough to meet the threat.
This is why I enjoy Orson Scott Card's work
By SAMA on 07-17-13
By: Orson Scott Card, and others
The Last Shadow
Other Tales from the Ender Universe
Narrated by: Emily Rankin, Gabrielle de Cuir, John Rubinstein, and others
One planet. Three sapient species living peacefully together. And one deadly virus that could wipe out every world in the Starways Congress, killing billions. Is the only answer another great Xenocide?
Orson Scott card should be ashamed of himself.
By Abraham Kinne on 11-18-21
Earth Awakens
The First Formic War, Book 3
By: Aaron Johnston, Orson Scott Card
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Stephen Hoye, Arthur Morey, and others
Nearly 100 years before the events of Orson Scott Card's best-selling novel Ender's Game, humans were just beginning to step off Earth and out into the Solar System. A thin web of ships in both asteroid belts; a few stations; a corporate settlement on Luna. No one had seen any sign of other space-faring races; everyone expected that First Contact, if it came, would happen in the future, in the empty reaches between the stars. Then a young navigator on a distant mining ship saw something moving too fast, heading directly for our sun.
Sets the Stage for Ender's Game
By Chuck on 06-23-14
By: Aaron Johnston, and others
A War of Gifts
An Ender Story
Narrated by: Scott Brick, Stefan Rudnicki
At Battle School, there is only one purpose, only one curriculum: the strategy and tactics of war. The children are drawn from all nations, all races, all religions. There is no room for cultural differences, no room for religious observances, and certainly no room for Santa Claus.
dialogue is great and hysterical at times
Earth Unaware
The mining ship El Cavador is far out from Earth, in the deeps of the Kuiper Belt, beyond Pluto. Other mining ships, and the families that live on them, are few and far between this far out. So when El Cavador's telescopes pick up a fast-moving object coming in-system, it's hard to know what to make of it. It's massive and moving at a significant fraction of the speed of light.
El Cavador has other problems. Their systems are old and failing. The family is getting too big for the ship. There are claim-jumping corporate ships bringing Asteroid Belt tactics to the Kuiper Belt.
A worthy prequel
Children of the Fleet
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
Ender Wiggin won the Third Formic war, ending the alien threat to Earth. Afterwards, all the terraformed Formic worlds were open to settlement by humans, and the International Fleet became the arm of the Ministry of Colonization, run by Hirum Graff. MinCol now runs Fleet School on the old Battle School station, and still recruits very smart kids to train as leaders of colony ships, and colonies.
Solid voice acting saves mediocre story.
By William R on 11-27-17
The Second Formic War, Book 2
Narrated by: full cast
A coalition of Earth's nations barely fought off the Formics' first scout ship. Now, it's clear there's a mothership out on edge of the system and that the aliens are prepared to take Earth by force. Can Earth's warring nations and corporations put aside their differences and mount an effective defense?
not the end of the story
By michael on 06-17-19
The Second Formic War (Volume 1)
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Vikas Adam, Stephen Hoye, and others
The first invasion of Earth was beaten back by a coalition of corporate and international military forces and the Chinese army. China has been devastated by the Formic's initial efforts to eradicate Earth life forms and prepare the ground for their own settlement. The Scouring of China struck fear into the other nations of the planet; that fear blossomed into drastic action when scientists determined that the single ship that wreaked such damage was merely a scout ship. There is a mothership out beyond the solar system's Kuiper Belt, and it's heading into the system.
Great for a theoretical physics geek
By EngineerDAD on 09-20-16
Special 20th Anniversary Edition
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Harlan Ellison, Gabrielle de Cuir
Why we think it's a great listen: It's easy to say that when it comes to sci-fi you either love it or you hate it. But with Ender's Game, it seems to be you either love it or you love it.... The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Enter Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, the result of decades of genetic experimentation.
The Ender Saga continues with Shadow of the Giant, which parallels the events of Ender's Game from a different character's point of view.
Bean's past was a battle just to survive. He first appeared on the streets of Rotterdam, a tiny child with a mind leagues beyond anyone else. He knew he could not survive through strength; he used his tactical genius to gain acceptance into a children's gang, and then to help make that gang a template for success for all the others. He civilized them, and lived to grow older. Then he was discovered by the recruiters for the Battle School.
For Earth was at war - a terrible war with an inscrutable alien enemy. A war that humanity was near to losing. But the long distances of interstellar space has given hope to the defenders of Earth - they had time to train military geniuses up from childhood, forging them into an irresistible force in the high-orbital facility called the Battle School. That story is told in two books, Orson Scott Card's beloved classic Ender's Game, and its parallel, Ender's Shadow. Now, in Shadow of the Giant, Bean's story continues.
Bean was the smallest student at the Battle School, but he became Ender Wiggins' right hand. Since then he has grown to be a power on Earth. He served the Hegemon as strategist and general in the terrible wars that followed Ender's defeat of the alien empire attacking Earth. Now he and his wife Petra yearn for a safe place to build a family - something he has never known - but there is nowhere on Earth that does not harbor his enemies - old enemies from the days in Ender's Jeesh, new enemies from the wars on Earth. To find security, Bean and Petra must once again follow in Ender's footsteps. They must leave Earth behind, in the control of the Hegemon, and look to the stars.
Browse more titles in the Ender Wiggin series.
©2005 Orson Scott Card (P)2005 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC
Adventure Military Space Opera
2005 Audie Award Nominee, Science-Fiction
"The novels of Orson Scott Card's Ender series are an intriguing combination of action, military and political strategy, elaborate war games, and psychology." (USA Today)
What listeners say about Shadow of the Giant
Audible.com.au reviews
Enderverse
This is my favorite science fiction series. The characters are easy to identify with, and you will find yourself sucked into this imaginary universe, nick named the Enderverse by fans.
Recommended order of reading (in my opinion): Ender?s Game, Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, Shadow of the Giant, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind. Reading the books in this order will keep you interested and keep the story moving more naturally.
If after reading all of these wonderful books you are still itching for an Enderverse fix then read First Meetings. The list above is sorted by the Enderverse timeline. Meaning that the flow of events in the stories are uninterrupted. If you were to read the books in the order they were published, you would bounce back and forth in between time and few of the plot twists in future books would be revealed before you wanted them to be known. First Meetings, however contains short stories that occur both before and in between the list above within the Enderverse.
Another Good Story in the Series
Continues the adventures of Petra and Bean along with closure to the Hegemon story. Excellent performance by all the voices. Leaves the door open to more stories.
Kept me glued to it the whole way through. Very good.
Excellent - Important part of the saga
Having read Ender's Game, Enders Shadow, Shadow of the Hegman, Shadow of the Puppets (not great)and now Shadow of the Giant in that order, I recomend this as an important and touching part of the series. There are some relegious parts that might not appeal to some;however, this should be read. You will not be disapointed.Am now off to Speaker for the Dead,Zenocide and finaly Children of the Mind. Will miss some of our friends however.
Again, Totally Card
I usually hate "Companion Series" books, they usually seem to decline in entertainment value after the original book (Enders Game, in this case), especially when the original book seems to neatly end with no loose ends to warrant another book.
The Ender series is MUCH different, the "follow-up" books just keep getting better... The characters are well fleshed out (sometimes it seems a little too much time is wasted fleshing out a character, but it ends up being just the right amount of information you needed to know to keep up with the character's motivations further along in the book, or series).
If you liked Ender's Game, then the follow-up books are a "Must have", even if you think "How could they be better than the original"?
The unabridged versions are a bit long winded at times, but you get details that you NEED to have to keep up with the complex stories being woven.
Card says, "hearing" the books are the way he wanted them presented, and having several narrators in each book makes the audio books MUCH better.
What can I say that hasn't been said about Uncle Orson's ability to capture the soul of his characters? In my opinion, that is the best thing about his work. They are so human and real and often tragic. It is apparent that Card really cares about these characters and lives in their world with them. He deftly brings the reader along for the ride.
This is a grand and beautiful story that stands on it's own even though it is a sequel. The plot is excellent. It is intricate, exciting and very well paced. For fans of the series, this will justify their devotion. But, this volume can be enjoyed by everyone for it's own sake. I couldn't put it down. The narration is excellent too. It adds immensely to the feeling of the story.
R. Moore
Another solid title in the Enderverse
I came back to this series after a four-year break, and I'm glad I did. Not overwhelmingly brilliant like a couple of the books have been, but it was solid -- and left more to tell.
Good story, clumsy narration
The story is fun, a great continuation of the Ender saga. Unfortunately, there are something like 84 narrarators (okay, only 5 or 6). The story jumps clumsly between them. Everything is told third person, but different chapters have different narrators without any rhyme or reason.
Josh Alwitt
Last gasp
The cast of characters in the Bean saga starts to get a little tired in this one. It's entertaining but my least favorite of this series. Card leaves room for another one after this so I hope he takes a fresh approach to it. He's an amazingly talented writer but the ideas in this installment are worn out.
Card does it again
I just finished listening and had to voice my opinion. Orson Scott Card has another winner in the Ender series. Giant continues with the characters that we have grown to know and love from the previous books and continues to build possibilities for future novels. The narration is fantastic and keeps you in the story from beginning to end. Worthwhile reading!
Let's me forgive the last two in the series.
This book redeems the previous two books in the series and I am now happy that I finished the "Shadow" series. The storyline speeds up and improves in this book compared to the previous two offerings and the whole saga is nicely rounded off.
I still hold that by writing these Shadow books, OSC has undermined the original four "Ender" books, mainly eroding the strength of character and actions of Ender and Peter Wiggin. This is a shame, as these two characters had been so well worked on and developed by OSC in the original series that they each had a magically unique aura by the series end.
Nevertheless, reading the eight books has been a great experience and I would strongly recommend reading the first seven to reach this brilliant book. I will probably continue with the other 3 books in what has been termed the "Enderverse".
GhostMuppet
Slightly better, but still a shadow on Enders Game
Finally, the series of Bean has been completed. The series started off so well, but really trailed off. The conclusion was pretty predictable and took some time to reach that conclusion.
The audio itself is not too bad, nothing to write home about. If you have read to this book, you may as well continue and complete the series.
Michal Starek
Babies babies
don't get me wrong, I am a parent, but this is way too mormon-centric for an atheist to enjoy :(
Absolutely Capitivating
Probably my favourite book of the series. Highly interesting and engaging. An excellent ending to the series.
callum wilson
Just amazing!!
Scott is such a great writer that I genuinely care about all the characters he creates as if they are real people in my life and that's the first time I'm experiencing this kind of connection to a collection of stories 10/10 👌
Pigmanrocker
Amazing simply amazing
This entire series is great. If you can read it all and not be blown away, hapoy and sad at the end I will be amazed.
Rayid
The most religious intolerant book I ever read.
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
One of the most raciest and religious intolerant things I have ever read. Although I knew before lessoning that Mr. Scott was a Christian missionary and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but the amount venom written in this book against Islam made me feel sick. I could not imagine that a Christian can carry so much hatred in his heart but then maybe Mr. Scott think by being religious intolerant that he will be continuing his missionary work as a writer but I don't think that this process is effective.
Could you see Shadow of the Giant being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?
I hope not
The Bean story is loosing steam
This third Bean book is not as good as the first two, but still a good story. If you have enjoyed the first two, keep going. Temper your expectations and you will enjoy it, no doubt.
great ending, very satisfying. some parts were a bit boring but overall it was enjoyable.
A nice listen
It's just a story about politics in the main. The story flow is ok and it is an easy listen. It's not a gripping story though.
Some editing errors.
Good story gained by editing errors towards the end with narrators voice crossover not edited out. I could hear two voices crossjng over.
A nice finish to the series
Less stuff happens in this wrap up of the series as the story focuses more on relationships. It's like a fond farewell to these characters we've known since they were 6.


Yucca Mountain Radiation Standards — The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop standards specifically for the Yucca Mountain site. EPA's standards are designed to protect the public and the environment from exposure to the radioactive wastes that would be stored in the repository. In 1992 the U.S. Congress directed EPA to develop standards for a Yucca Mountain facility, based on the scientific findings and recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). EPA subsequently issued these standards in 2001.
In July 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the compliance period of 10,000 years in the 2001 EPA standards was inconsistent with the recommendations of the NAS, which stated that the compliance period should cover the time of peak dose. According to NAS, peak dose might occur several hundred thousand years into the future.
In August 2005, EPA unveiled its new rule, which includes a two-part standard. Under the new rule, the surrounding population cannot be exposed to more than 15 millirems of radiation for up to 10,000 years. After 10,000 years and up to the one million year mark, the exposure limit is raised to 350 millirems.
In October 2005 the EPA held several public hearingsi in order to collect public comments on its revised Yucca Mountain radiation standard. Both supporters and critics of the radiation standard turned out to voice their concerns at a series of five hearings held in Amargosa Valley (NV), Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C.
The final standards and related information are now posted on EPA'a website. Of note, Eureka County, Nevada (i.e. YuccaMountain.org) submitted written comments on the draft rule stating that, "The (EPA) rule should be written to protect public health and safety rather than to accommodate the many flaws [at Yucca Mountain] and the site's inability to contain the radiation."EPA subsequently amended its final standards on September 30, 2008.
Individual-Protection Standard — The individual-protection standard sets an overall dose limit of 15 millirem per year for residents living in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain during and up to 10,000 years after the repository closes. The overall annual dose limit takes into account exposure through all pathways. After 10,000 years through the period of geologic stability (out to 1 million years) the individual-protection standard is set at 100 mrem/yr.
Human-Intrusion Standard — The human-intrusion standard sets a dose limit of 15 millirem per year during and up to 10,000 years after the repository closes. It takes into account releases caused by a borehole going through a waste container and into the underlying ground water. After 10,000 years through the period of geologic stability (out to 1 million years) the standard is set at 100 mrem/yr.
Groundwater Protection Standard — The original groundwater protection standards provide the same dose and concentration limits as EPA's drinking water standards. EPA included this standard to protect the aquifer underlying Yucca Mountain as a resource for future generations. It was also included so that the standards would be consistent with the Agency's national policy for the protection of ground-water resources.


VR or digital actuality is the new innovation by the tech world that has grow to be an integral part of virtually all types of video games online. As your app growth progresses, you will want to use Parse's safety features so as to safeguard information. One very common use case for Cloud Code is sending push notifications to explicit customers. Whereas this section will cover different ways to instrument your app to best benefit from Parse's analytics backend, developers utilizing Parse to retailer and retrieve knowledge can already benefit from metrics on Parse.
Automatic loading and administration of the Parse objects array. In case you are utilizing Parse to handle customers in your cell app, you're already familiar with the ParseUser class. This will display a notification middle alert to iOS customers and a system tray notification to Android users.
When you get to Step 6, cease after linking the Fb SDK undertaking and configuring the Facebook app ID. You need to use our information to attach your Parse users to Fb accounts when logging in. All ParseObjects in that class are then fetched and displayed in order of their createdAt timestamps.
The one difference is asking the fromLocalDatastore technique to tell the ParseQuery the place to search for its results. Parse supplies a lot of ways so that you can secure information in your app. Learn how to identify and repair bottlenecks in your Android functions, and guarantee a smooth person expertise.
Merely add knowledge to the Parse Object, and it will be saved accurately. Delivery of notifications is a finest effort", not guaranteed It's not supposed to deliver knowledge to your app, solely to notify the person that there's new data out there. As your app grows in scope and consumer-base, you might end up needing extra coarse-grained management over entry to pieces of your data than person-linked ACLs can present.


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Серебря́нское нефтяно́е месторожде́ние () — нефтяное месторождение, расположенное на территории Раздольненского района (Крым). Относится к Причерноморско-Крымской нефтегазоносной области.

Характеристика
Приурочено к Серебрянской (Срібнянской-укр)впадине депрессии Каркинитско-Северо-Крымского прогиба. Серебрянское локальное поднятие (структурный нос северного и северно-западного простирания 3х3 км высотой 50 м) обнаружено в 1961 году. Притоки нефти и газа получены в 1971 году из нефтегазовых залежей отложений верхнемелового возраста в интервале 1766—1814 м, кроме того, притоки нефти — из залежей коньякских (верхнемеловых) образований в интервале 1747—1820 м. Нефтеносны карбонатные породы. Залежь массивная, связанная с участком повышенной трещиноватости и развития коллекторов комплексного каверново-порово-трещинного типа. Режим залежи — упруговодонапорный. Начальные разведанные запасы категории А+В+С1 — 133 тыс. тонн. Плотность дегазированной нефти 765 кг/м³, пластовой — 688 кг/м³. Разрабатывается с 1990 года. Добыча нефти — 4 тыс. тонн. Залежи по данным ГДС и полевой геофизики имеет признаки значительной тектонической раздробленности.

Ссылки и источники
 Шахтёрский энциклопедический словарь, т. 3. / Под ред. В. С. Билецкого. — Донецк: Восточный издательский дом, 2004. — 752 с. ISBN 966-7804-78-X (укр.)

Нефтяные и конденсатные месторождения Крыма

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Epidemic: Theresa May has launched a week-long summit to tackle knife crime.
Theresa May has warned that the UK "cannot simply arrest itself" out of its knife crime epidemic so will need a "multi-agency, whole community" response to tackle the problem.
The prime minister made her comments yesterday at a meeting of 100 experts from criminal justice, health and youth work backgrounds at the opening of a Downing Street summit prompted by the number of fatal stabbings rising last year to the highest since records began more than 70 years ago.
Police numbers are at their lowest level since the early 1980s, but the number of police cannot be directly related to the amount of crime.
Between 2005 and 2010 police numbers were at a record high, yet in 2008 there were 775 murders in England and Wales — 49 more than there were in 2018.
Many experts say cuts to youth services are having the worst impact.
Council youth funding has been halved since 2010.
Nope. Violent crime is rising four times faster outside of London.
In Yorkshire, knife crime has jumped by 77% since 2010.
Today, Inverclyde, just west of Glasgow, has the highest murder rate in the UK. Its population is 98% white.
The mass media tends to link knife crime to black communities. However, Glasgow was known as the "murder capital of Europe" in 2005 for its high rate of violence among white men.
On Sunday, police received extra powers to stop and search people in the street. However, the College of Policing says that stop and search had no impact on violent crime between 2004 and 2014.
And more forceful policing may be the wrong approach. In Glasgow, the murder rate has more than halved since a Violence Reduction Unit started treating violent crime as a public health problem, focusing on rehabilitation.
Sajid Javid, the UK's Home Secretary, has suggested that it should be a "public health duty" to spot early signs that a young person could be in danger, "such as presenting in A&E with a suspicious injury, to worrying behaviour at school or issues at home".
But Enver Solomon, chief executive of the charity Just for Kids Law, said there was a "real risk" that this could lead to "unfairly labelling and targeting young people and seeing them as offenders first and victims second".
Should knife crime be treated as a public health problem, like obesity or smoking?
Do you have a duty to help society?
Think of another myth about knife crime or another social issue and fact-check it like we have done in this article.
Create a "public health" leaflet explaining the work of the Violence Reduction Unit in Scotland. Use the link in Become An Expert to help you.
After a series of stabbings at the weekend, Prime Minister Theresa May has launched an emergency consultation on youth violence at Downing Street. Over the week, more than 100 experts including police, politicians and health experts will give evidence. It is part of a new "public health" strategy under which hospitals and schools could be sanctioned for failing to report knife crime warning signs in young people to the police.
Whether rising knife crime is linked to the so-called "county lines" drug trade, where city gangs trick or force vulnerable children into supplying drugs to rural areas. Politicians, including May, have blamed drugs, but others like writer Max Daly say most fights that lead to stabbings have nothing to do with drug crime.
According to Home Office figures.
There have not been as many homicides in England and Wales in any year since.
According to analysis by The Times . Outside London, violent and sexual offences increased by 51% on average over the past two years, compared with an increase of 12% in the capital.
It worked on projects that emphasised positive role models and offered young people an alternative to gang membership, such as youth clubs, as well as the opportunity for training and work.


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A Real-Life Superhero and the Other Race to Watch
Also: How Pharma Weaponizes Our Patent System
The Abstract
> By Stephanie DiCapua Getman, Arnold Ventures
Today, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg becomes the first woman and the first Jewish person to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol, a fitting honor for a feminist icon who spent her life advocating for equal protection under the law. She passed away a week ago as Rosh Hashanah began, timing that in the Jewish faith is seen as a symbol of her place as a tzaddik, or "righteous person." And by all accounts she was just that — in law and in life. The barriers she encountered along the way became the catalyst for her work to end legal discrimination. She spent her early career with the ACLU pursuing change one case at a time — peppering her arguments before the court she would later sit on with elegant and simple statements that may seem obvious to us now but were radical notions at the time. ("Men and women are persons of equal dignity, and they should count equally before the law," and "The gender line helps to keep women not on a pedestal but in a cage.") Her ascent to the high court led to groundbreaking cases and later blistering dissents, earning her the moniker "The Great Dissenter" — as well as the celebrity-making "Notorious RBG."
Ginsburg gave people across the country a real-life superhero to admire and emulate, and she is the reason so many of us — men and women — have been able to pursue the lives and careers we wish. Even her 56-year marriage was an inspiring model for equality. Ginsburg said during her confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court: "I think generally in our society, real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." And so we march on, perhaps keeping in mind another sage nugget of RBG wisdom: "Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you."
Related: Read Arnold Ventures' statement on the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Related: AV's Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice Jeremy Travis developed a friendship with Ginsburg when he clerked for her during her time on the U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit. It was a connection that sustained through the years. In the video above, he reflects on their friendship, the gravity of her work, and what she meant to the country.
The Other Race to Watch
By Evan Mintz, Communications Manager
While the presidency may dominate the election headlines, California is on the verge of approving perhaps the single largest criminal justice reform ever put up for a popular vote. We're talking about Proposition 25.
What it does: If it passes, Prop. 25 will officially replace California's cash bail with a risk-based system in order to shrink jail populations and better protect individual liberty. The referendum actually began as a 2018 state law, SB 10, but the bail bond industry worked to repeal the new law at the ballot box.
Who's for it: So far Prop. 25 has earned the support of major newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle and Orange County Register, and also Gov. Gavin Newsom. A bipartisan coalition is lining up behind the referendum because they recognize the core problem with cash bail — it punishes people simply for being poor while also freeing wealthy people who may pose a legitimate danger to the public or of skipping court. "Poverty is not a crime, but for people who are arrested and can't afford bail, it is punished as if it were," the Register said in its endorsement.
Why it matters: The question isn't just about criminal justice reform in California. A victory for Prop. 25 would be a sign that pretrial reform is a winning issue and potentially inspire similar efforts across the country. It would also undercut the cash bail industry, which funds opposition to criminal justice reform efforts nationwide.
Read the story >
Related: A report from the ACLU of Ohio finds bail reform measures could save the state more than $200 million per year.
Related: The Wisconsin Law Journal details arguments for bail reform from AV grantee APPR versus the bail industry. "What [reform] is really about is releasing people, not detaining people," says APPR's Alison Shames.
Related: Read an excellent op-ed by a high school student in Los Angeles calling for the passage of Prop. 25.
How Pharma 'Weaponizes'
Our Patent System
By Rhiannon Meyers Collette, Communications Manager
Through the manipulation of intellectual property laws and regulators, Big Pharma has been able to artificially sustain monopolies and keep drug prices high. Now, a new database exposes just how often this tactic — called "evergreening" — has been used by drug makers to block competition. Of the roughly 100 top-selling drugs, more than 70 percent have extended their protection from competition at least once (with more than half extending protection multiple times).
Why it matters: Evergreening is a known key driver of high drug prices, but this new comprehensive database — released by the Center for Innovation at the University of California Hastings College of Law (and supported by Arnold Ventures) — is the first of its kind to reveal the true scope of the practice. When companies engage in evergreening, they block generic competition, leaving consumers and taxpayers paying more for drugs. The database shows that this practice is common even among widely prescribed drugs, such as medicines for heartburn, HIV, and opioid addiction.
What's next: The database's lead creator, Professor Robin Feldman, said that it's clear from the data that pharma is weaponizing the U.S. patent and regulatory system; however, there are steps Congress can take to restore balance, including imposing restrictions on the number of patents drug manufacturers can defend in court, limiting the patentability of so-called secondary patents, and reforming the 180-day generic exclusivity.
Related: The latest Tradeoffs podcast breaks down where Trump and Biden stand on health policy, including Trump's record on drug pricing.
When Congress took swift action this year to help business owners and employees survive the economic fallout from COVID-19, it left out hundreds of thousands of people simply because they had prior criminal records.
Arnold Ventures' VP of Criminal Justice Amy Solomon called on Congress to fix this mistake in an op-ed published this week in the Washington Examiner. "At a time when the nation is grappling with the reality of structural racism, this policy only works to perpetuate inequality."
A bipartisan group of senators has lined up behind a bill to open the Paycheck Protection Program to people who had been involved with the criminal justice system, and the House already passed similar language in its latest COVID relief package. While all action in the Senate is currently focused on the Supreme Court, there's still hope — however fleeting — that Congress can do the right thing.
The grand jury decision not to charge officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor — and like so many others, we're struggling to reconcile this decision with the concept of justice. "It is important to take action on broad reforms so tragedies like this are not repeated," says Kentuckian Holly Harris of the Justice Action Network. We agree.
Related: More polling data showing that Americans are not as divided on issues related to policing and law and order as you might think. "Voters have emerged after months of social unrest with a clear sense of what they want: to maintain police funding but overhaul police practices."
A court ruling this week that would make Maine the first state to allow ranked-choice voting in a presidential election.
Important research from RAND's Gun Policy in America, including a data viz on three firearm restrictions that could help reduce gun deaths in your state and a gun policy unit plan for teachers.
A long read in the Texas Observer on the decades-long trend to criminalize homelessness. It's focused on Austin, Texas, which sparked a firestorm when it tried to reverse the trend.
Related: Five charts that explain the homelessness-jail cycle — and how to break it — via Urban Institute.
Houston-area companies that purchase health insurance for their employees are paying more than twice the rate of Medicare for the same medical treatments, according to a new RAND Corporation study in the Houston Chronicle.
A new data viz from Reason on the all-time low 10-year Treasury rate yield, a reminder of the "new normal" in institutional investing. Public pensions could feel the squeeze.
How Families Against Mandatory Minimums is giving federal inmates some hope with petitions for the seldom-used compassionate release in the time of COVID-19, via CBS News.
A lobbying strategy to target Black and Hispanic lawmakers whose constituencies are among those preyed upon by disreputable for-profit colleges, via U.S. News & World Report.
The New York Times reporting on a Data Collaborative for Justice's report showing Black neighborhoods in New York City continue to be policed at a higher rate than white ones. "Despite significant efforts to shrink the footprint of the criminal justice system, we still see these racial disparities," said Erica Bond, the center's Policy Director.
What We're Watching
"A Love Song for Latasha," a brief but powerful tribute to the life of Latasha Harlins, who was 15 when she was shot and killed by convenience store owner Soon Ja Du as she tried to pay for a $1.79 bottle of orange juice. Du was later convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served no prison time, sparking outrage that laid the foundation for the 1992 Los Angeles riots. But this quiet film by director Sophia Nahli Allison is about Latasha's life and the generational trauma that remains today, weaving together thoughtful narratives from her loved ones and ethereal imagery that evokes the time and space in which she existed. It leaves you wanting more of Latasha and her story — wanting desperately to know where her young life would have led.
What we will be watching: Six pharmaceutical executives testifying next week before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on pricing and competition in the drug industry. Drug pricing is unsustainable; we look forward to learning more about the Committee's ongoing investigation.
Slate's Amicus podcast, to learn about the other nine women in Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Harvard Law class of '59. Hear from them and feel like you're in the room with RBG as she recalls memories of her trailblazing peers and what they were up against (including a cooking contest and that famous dinner, which is not identically retold). And this is just Part 1.
Some Final Inspiration
This uplifting story of second chances that led a woman from sleeping in her car outside a grocery story to working in that store.
Three cheers for this hero teenager in Connecticut who saved a mother and her three children from a burning car.
This story will give any former college newspaper nerd all the fuzzies.
For parents, a very accurate depiction of remote learning, in comic form. I take comfort in knowing I'm not alone. (H/T to my colleague Stuart Buck.)
Oh, and take some time his weekend to watch (or rewatch) the "RBG" documentary if you really want to get inspired.
We're Seeking Proposals
The Criminal Justice and Evidence-Based Policy teams at Arnold Ventures are teaming up to learn more about what works in criminal justice reform in an ongoing request for proposals for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that will test programs and practices. There is no deadline for submissions.
The Evidence-Based Policy team invites grant applications to conduct randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of social programs in any area of U.S. policy. Details are here.
View all RFPS here.
Have an evidence-based week,
– Stephanie
Stephanie DiCapua Getman develops and executes Arnold Ventures' digital communications strategy with a focus on multimedia storytelling and audience engagement and oversees daily editorial operations and design.
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Accueil > Revue de presse > Archives 2010 > 02 - Articles de février 2010 > Turkey : Memory of murdered journalist raises awareness of hate (...)
Turkey : Memory of murdered journalist raises awareness of hate crime
jeudi 11 février 2010, par Vercihan Ziflioglu
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Commemoration events will be organized in İzmir for young Turkish writer Baki Koşar, who was murdered because of his homosexual identity in February 2006. The Siyah Pembe Üçgen (Black Pink Triangle) Association, which organizes the event, invites everyone to gather against inequality and discrimination around the slogan 'more equal and freer world'
Baki Koşar was killed at the age of 37 in 2006.
In remembrance of a writer murdered for his sexual preferences, supporters and loved ones of Baki Koşar are holding their second campaign to raise awareness of hate crime in Turkey.
Four years ago, a homosexual murder brought an end to the life of Turkish literature's promising writer and journalist, Koşar, at the age of 37. The murderer, who violently stabbed Koşar 20 times in his own house and offered the concept of "honor" as an excuse for the murder, claimed that Koşar had proposed a homosexual affair and took advantage of unjust provocation. His claims won him a reduced sentence and he will be freed a few years from now.
After years, the body of the young writer, who came to Istanbul from the southeastern city of Batman with big hopes, returned to his homeland, where he was met with a big love. His friends have never accepted the death of Koşar and the İzmir-based Siyah Pembe Üçgen (Black Pink Triangle) Association is organizing for the second time the "Baki Koşar Struggle Against Hate Crime Days" through Feb. 22. The event began Feb. 6. The goal is to raise public awareness against unjust provocation in homosexual or transsexual murders and highlight Koşar's writer identity once again.
'Do not close our association, arrest murderers'
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, one of the founders of the association, Hülya Sur said : "This is a challenge against inequality and discrimination. Considering the memory of Koşar, we invite everyone to be with us during the week for a more equal and freer world. The only thing you have to do is to get in touch with us through siyahpembe.org or kaosgl.org."
Sur said during preparations for the activity, the İzmir Governor's Office made a decision to close their association. "We have also added 'Do not close our association, arrest murderers' to our slogan 'Baki Koşar Struggle Against Hate Crime Days.'"
Sexual preference shadows talent
Koşar was not only an award-winning novelist, but also a reporter who produced news that marked the agenda. He started working as a journalist in the 1990s for Turkey's legendary magazine Nokta. In the early 90s his story about the involvement of the National Intelligence Organization, or MİT, in the death of a girl named Vildan caused the MİT to make an official public statement for the first time in Turkish history.
Another important story he covered was about the ancient city of Zeugma in the southern city of Gaziantep. His reporting on Zeugma molded public opinion and carried the issue from Turkey's agenda to the world agenda. For this, sometimes Koşar is called "Mr. Zeugma."
Through all of his success, Koşar always had a handicap ; his sexual identity that he never hid. Only his 80-year-old mother, living in Batman, did not know his identity. She learned the truth only after his death.
"Koşar's sexual desires shadowed his talents and he faced a lot of discrimination," said Sur. "Unfortunately, our social mentality is based on male dominance. The concept of 'honor' is a tool in our country for men to control women's bodies. Homosexuals are included in this perception and seen as a threat. The perception of sexuality is very problematic in Turkey."
During the "Baki Koşar Struggle Against Hate Crime Days," the concept of hatred will be highlighted. There will be exhibitions, panel discussions and conferences. Also, jurists and journalists who fight against hate crimes will be given Hate Crime awards.
Source : Hurriyet Daily News, le 05.02.10
Turkish state choir to perform Armenian work for first time
Istanbul, bazar occidental
Turquie : la « loi sur le chapeau » a violé la liberté de religion
Turquie : nouvelle vague d'arrestations dans l'armée
Des cellules du PKK démantelées en Italie et en France
« La Turquie est un pays incontournable pour la France et l'Europe »
Heuliez : nouvel investisseur turc ?
Turquie-Cinéma : L'Ours de Berlin apprécie le « Miel » de Semih Kaplanoğlu
Turquie : sept officiers inculpés de complot contre le gouvernement ont été écroués
En Turquie, l'armée résiste à sa perte d'influence
01 - Articles de janvier 2010
10 - Articles d'octobre 2010


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India – Beyond Individuals
Posted in Current Affairs, History, Uncategorized by Anuraag Sanghi on January 26, 2008
"Whenever and wherever there is a decline in righteousness, O descendant of Bharata, and a rise of evil — at that time I manifest myself. To deliver all those who believe in goodness and to annihilate the evil, to reestablish righteousness, I will appear, in millennium after millennium." Bhagwad Geetha IV, 7-8.
Who was Kalidasa? No one quite knows. After composing some of the best lyrical poetry ever, (in Sanskrit), little is known about him. His life lives in his works. Who was Ved Vyasa – the writer of Mahabharata? Or for that matter Valmiki! No one knows. About any one of these people.
Yet, whenever, India had needed, inspirations have come. To lead us … असतो मा सद्गमय From untruth to the truth … तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय … From darkness to light … मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय … from termination, to eternity …
Tipu Sultan unceasing opposition for more than 30 years (The Mysore Wars – 1767-1799) to the foreign rule before the 1857 War made the British rulers cautious about waging war in India. Immediately thereafter was the challenge of the Sikh qaum – led by Ranjit Singh. The death of Ranjit Singh in (1839) gave them another opportunity. Then followed the Afghan wars and the Sikh Wars (between 1839-1850). In 1857 was the India's first war of Independence.
From 1857 to the 1900, the British colonial government decimated Indian leadership. Bahadur Shah Zafar was sent to Rangoon. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. Ahalyabai Holkar. Tantia Tope. Leader after leader came to the fore. And India continued to redefine itself.
From feudal and hereditary leaders, the leadership slowly changed. From political to social. In parallel. In 1828, Raja Ram Mohan Roy formed the Brahmo Samaj. In 1875, Swami Dayanand formed the Arya Samaj. On 24th December 1892, Swami Vivekananda reached Kanyakumari – after travelling across India. He was entertained by rajas and the रंक (commoners) of his day.
Then followed the political leadership. Dadabhai Naoroji's (Congress President in 1886, 1893 1906) research and quantification of the British Loot from India started a new set of leaders against colonial rule – and a new definition of India. Tilak's demand for 'swaraj' and 'swadeshi' goods unnerved the colonialists. The colonial British Government deported Balgangadhar Tilak to Rangoon. He came back stronger than before. In other countries, when old leaders and rulers were removed or replaced, those countries descended into dictatorship, confusion, poverty. In India, we had wave after wave of leaders – and each time India moved forward. In a direction which has no precedents in world history.
What Happened In Other Countries
Why do Australia and Canada still acknowledge the British Queen as the head of the state? Spain has Juan Carlos I as its king! Did you know that Belgium has Albert II as it King? And Queen Beatrix rules over Holland (The Netherlands). King Akihito is venerated by the Japanese – and is the head of the state. Sweden is ruled by King Carl XVI Gustaf. Luxembourg has the Grand Duke Henri as its equivalent to a King! King Harald V lords over Norway! Queen Margrethe II rules over Denmark. The world still has quite a few monarchies – especially in the OECD. Why?
France removed and guillotined the monarchs – and they got Napoleon Bonaparte, as dictator! Russia tried – and they got 70 years of communist dictatorship. Italy asked King Victor Emmanuel III to go – and got Mussolini. The British exiled the Kaiser of Germany – and the Germans had to put up with Hitler thereafter.
Britain terminated the Turkish Ottoman Empire – and Turkey got a benign dictator, Mustafa Kemal Attaturk, and then not so benign dictators – and is yet to recover! East Europe (Romania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Albania, etc) promptly started fighting with each other, within and without – after the kings were removed. China became communist after the last emperor – and still has a communist dictatorship. Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, most of Africa, South America – same or similar story.
This history is why Canada and Australia cling to the skirts of British Monarchy.
Republican Democracy
America became one of the first successful Republican democracies – from 1789, when George Washington became the first elected President of USA. (70 years later there was a Civil War). America survived.
Israel, (propped up by massive US aid) is another country which has been a republican democracy for more than 50 years. Switzerland (with guaranteed neutrality from the European powers) is another in modern history to survive 50 years of republican democracy. Srilanka has been another country which has survived 50 years as republican democracy – but just about.
India is the youngest Republican democracy – and we have completed a historic 50 years as republican democracy – Jan 26th 1950, till date.
Gandhiji's Conquest
But before the republic, came the unification of India – the crowning achievement of Gandhiji. Not the political union (achieved by Sardar Patel) – but the ideological union!
Garibaldi (united Italy), Bismarck (united Germany), Simon Bolivar (liberated and united South American countries) were unifiers who succeeded with the help of armies.
Gandhiji (armed with a walking stick) unified a larger India (and Pakistan) without an army. An India and a Pakistan – bigger than what the largest empire in the history of the world, the British Empire could not conquer with its armies.
One Clean Break
To make a one clean break from the feudal-colonial past – and succeed! That is a dream – never before in the history of the world. India made history – by surviving for 50 years with a republican democracy.
In 1947, India was a feudal society with more than 500 Kings and (some) Queens at the time of Independence. (No, the British did not rule over all of modern India). Large parts of India also had to change from a colonial mindset.
How Is India Unique
However, no other country has 15 official languages.
Switzerland has only 4. Sri Lanka's Sinhalas do not want to accept Sri Lankan Tamils as full and equal citizens – hence the 20 year old civil war.
The liberation of Blacks in the USA is a 1970s phenomenon. It took non-violent protests (Martin Luther King) and violent threats (Malcolm X) for some kind of real emancipation and equity to come in.
Blacks in the USA legally got full and equal liberty only in 1964 after President Kennedy's Civil Rights Act of 1964. Earlier in 1954, President Eisenhower had to send in the army (the National Guard). In the Cold War scenario, under international media glare, during the Little Rock School stand-off, Eisenhower (a Southerner himself) reacted. The Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas closed down the school rather than de-segregate. De-segregation (between the Blacks and Whites) happened clearly and fully only by 1970-75. Non-violent protests by Martin Luther King (inspired by Gandhiji's) till 1968 and violent threats by Malcolm X thereafter, made desegregation a reality. Not to forget Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968. The eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation during the Kennedy years produced the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
But, Gandhiji's first step, after coming back from South Africa, (many decades before India's Independence, Unification and the creation of the Republic) was to start social reform against untouchability.
Enforcement – or Help
India and America, created their own constitutions without external enforcement. Republican democracy in Germany was imposed by the Allied Powers – hence their record is blemished.
In most countries, religion divides. In India, we are different. India has the world's second /third largest Muslim population. The Indian Christian population is equal to that of most majority-Christian countries – excluding just a few big one like USA, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, etc. Buddhists number nearly 50 lakhs. Sikhs, Parsis (Zoorastrians), Bahais, follows their own religion. Iranians, Armenians, Jews, Chinese have come to India – when persecuted in their homelands.
Racism! Anyone?
India has the Caucasoid stock – spread over the North and West India; Australoid stock spread over South India and the Mongoloid stock spread over of East and North East. There is also a very small sprinkling of the Negroid stock – less than 1%.
The challenges ahead are defence and economics.
India's defence unpreparedness is beyond comprehension. Worse, is the lack of threat perception. Indians (sadly and truly) limit their threat perception to the Pakistanis – and the Chinese. with the world's largest private reserves of gold India becomes a target. The resultant global and emerging threats are unrealised. We spend billions of dollars on buying arms all over the world – but our domestic arms industry is starving.
The second is economics. The world trade systems, financial agreements, currency management continue to drag down India – and many other countries. Navigating these uncharted waters successfully is the other.
And I am sure that another set of new leaders will arrive and take India forward to another level.
Sooner – not later.
Tagged with: 1857 War, Afghan wars, Ahalyabai Holkar, Ahead, Albania, Albert II, Allied Powers, America, annihilate, appear, armed with a walking stick, Armenians, army, Arya Samaj, Australia, Australoid, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Bahais, Belgium, believe, benign dictator, Bhagwad Geetha, Bharata, Bismarck, Blacks, Blacks and Whites, Brahmo Samaj, Brazil, Britain, British, British colonial government, British Loot, British Queen, Buddhists, Canada, caucasoid, cautious, Challenges, China, Chinese, citizens, civil war, colonial British Government, colonial rule, colonialists, communist, communist dictatorship, compose, comprehension, confusion, Congress President, conquest, countries, country, Creation, currency management, Czechoslovakia, Dadabhai Naoroji, darkness, De-segregation, death of Martin Luther King, decimated, decline, defence, Denmark, descendant, dictator, dictators, dictatorship, direction, domestic arms industry, dream, East, East Europe, economics, Egypt, elect, emerging threats, emperor, enforcement, equal, equivalent, eternity, European powers, evil, external enforcement, feudal, feudal-colonial past, financial agreements, fore, foreign rule, forward, France, Gandhi, Garibaldi, George Washington, Germans, Germany, global, goodness, Grand Duke Henri, guaranteed neutrality, guillotined, head of the state, hereditary, Hitler, Holland, homeland, ideological union, Independence, India, India war of Independence, Indian Christian population, Indian leadership, inspiration, Iran, Iranians, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japanese, Jews, Juan Carlos I, Kaiser of Germany, Kalidasa, Kanyakumari, king, King Akihito, King Carl XVI Gustaf, King Harald V, King Victor Emmanuel III, largest empire in the history of the world, largest Muslim population, largest private reserves of gold, leader, leaders, liberated and united South America, liberty, Libya, light, Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, lords, Luxembourg, lyrical poetry, Mahabharata, majority-Christian countries, manifest, matter, Mexico, millennium, mindset, modern history, monarchies, monarchs, Mongoloid stock, most of Africa, Mussolini, Mustafa Kemal Attaturk, Mysore Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte, National Guard, need, Negroid, North, North East, Norway, OECD, official languages, One Clean Break, opportunity, opposition, Ottoman Empire, Pakistan, parallel, Parsis, persecuted, Poland, Political, political union, Portrait, poverty, precedents, President, President Kennedy, qaum, quantification, Queen Beatrix, Queen Margrethe II, Queens, Racism, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, rajas, Rangoon, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Ranjit Singh, redefine, reestablish, Religion, religions, Republican Democracy, research, resultant, righteousness, rise of evil, Romania, rulers, russia, Sanskrit, Sardar Patel, Sikh, Sikhs, Simon Bolivar, Sinhala, skirts of British Monarchy, social, Social Equality, social reform, south africa, south america, South India, spain, Srilanka, stock, succeed, successful Republican democracies, swadeshi, Swami Dayanand, Swami Vivekananda, swaraj, Sweden, Switzerland, Tamils, Tantia Tope, target, termination, The Netherlands, threat perception, Tilak, Tipu Sultan, truth, Turkish, unceasing, unification, unifiers, united Germany, united Italy, untouchability, untruth, US aid, USA, Valmiki, Ved Vyasa, venerate, War, West India, works, world history, world trade systems, writer, Zoorastrians
Republican Democracy – The Mirage!?
Posted in America, History, India, politics by Anuraag Sanghi on January 22, 2008
Post-British Raj India had a difficult choice - which political system to choose! (Cartoon by RK Laxman; courtesy - timesofindia.com).
Is monarchy dead?
Why do Australia and Canada still acknowledge the British Queen as the head of the state? Even as Britain declined from a super-power at the end of WWII, to bankruptcy today.
Are there any real life monarchs left in any other 'advanced' countries?
Spain has Juan Carlos I as its king! Did you know that Belgium has Albert II as it King? And Queen Beatrix rules over Holland (The Netherlands). King Akihito is venerated by the Japanese – and is the head of the state. Sweden is ruled by King Carl XVI Gustaf. Luxembourg has the Grand Duke Henri as its equivalent to a King! King Harald V lords over Norway! Queen Margrethe II rules over Denmark
What role do these monarchs play? Will a modern country follow these monarchs? Surprisingly, Europe has not removed any monarchs in the last 50 years.
The world still has quite a few monarchies – especially in the OECD.
Why so many monarchs
After all monarchy is relic – an institution that should be dead! Right?
Monarchy is not cheap. Monarchs are expensive to maintain. Monarch's can also be embarrassing – especially the family. Just look at Princess Diana! Her saga of bedroom romps and adultery became a reality show – before reality shows were born (Endemol, the Diana estate is coming after you!).
If they are figure heads, why waste time – and money!
The Difficulty Of Removing Monarchs
France removed and guillotined the monarchs – and they got Napoleon Bonaparte, as dictator! Russia tried – and they got 70 years of communist dictatorship. Italy asked King Victor Emmanuel III to go – and got Mussolini. The British exiled the Kaiser of Germany – and the Germans had to put up with Hitler afterwards. Spain reverted to monarchy after the end of Franco's dictatorship.
After WWI, the Anglo-French alliance terminated the Turkish Ottoman Empire – and Turkey got a benign dictator, Mustafa Kemal Attaturk, and then not so benign dictators – and is yet to recover! After the demise of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, the Middle East was saddled with artificial kingdoms which have hot-spots of terror and instability.
East Europe (Romania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Albania, etc) promptly started fighting with each other, within and without – after the kings were removed. China became communist after the last emperor – and still has a communist dictatorship. Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, most of Africa, South America – same or similar story. The Nepalese have got their history wrong. Just look at Afghanistan next door – after the King Zahir Shah was removed.
RK Laxman on the New Republic ...
The modern desirable is Republican democracy – and every country wishes for one! Very few succeeded. A republican democracy does not have a titular king – hereditary or otherwise. The head of the state is elected – directly or indirectly.
In the last 250 years, just 6 countries succeeded with Republican democracy without a significant breakdown in the first 50 years. Of the six, Sri Lanka (pop. 200 lakhs) Switzerland (pop. 80 lakhs), Israel (pop. 75 lakhs) and Singapore (pop. 50 lakhs) are tiny countries to generate any valuable data, models, norms or precedents. In any other day, age and society, the republican-democracy model would have been laughed off – and not studied by millions.
America became one of the first successful republican democracies – from 1789, when George Washington became the first elected President of USA. 70 years later, the strains were showing – North versus South. America was on the verge of Civil War – the main cause of which was the desire of the Southern states to remain independent (due to tariff issues) or at best as a loose confederation – not a federal union (actually slavery was a side issue).
Israel, (propped up by massive US aid) is another country which has been a republican democracy for more than 50 years. Switzerland (with guaranteed neutrality from the European powers) is another in modern history to survive 50 years of republican democracy.
Sri Lanka has been another country which has survived 50 years as republican democracy – but just about. With a civil war for the last nearly 20 years, with a changeover from parliamentary democracy to presidential, has struggled along.
Gandhiji (Photo courtesy - Hindustan Times) Click for image.
Gandhiji (armed with just his walking stick) unified a larger India (and Pakistan) without an army. An India and a Pakistan – bigger than what the largest empire in the history of the world, the British Empire could not conquer with its armies. It is unclear what exactly was Gandhiji's country model for India. Though he talked of village-based Ram-Rajya, was it unique and different भारत-तंत्र Bharat-tantra or like the sanitised Western country model that India under Nehru finally adopted.
To make a one clean break from the feudal-colonial past – and succeed! That is a dream – never in the history of the world. India made history – by surviving for 50 years with a republican democracy.
Famine, War, Religion, Language - Could India survive? Cartoon by Illingworth; source and courtesy - cairsweb.llgc.org.uk). Click for larger image.
In 1947, India was a 'feudal' society with more than 500 Kings and (some) Queens at the time of Independence. (No, the British did not rule over all of modern India). Large parts of India also had to change from a colonial mindset.
The language conundrum
However, no other country has 15 official languages. No other countries even had the courage to think of that.
Various US state governments outlawed all languages – except English. This was finally set aside after the matter reached the US Supreme Court (read Meyer vs Nebraska). The USA gathered some courage to start timidly with more than English only after seeing India's success with 15 languages.
Switzerland has only four. Sri Lanka's Sinhalas do not want to accept Sri Lankan Tamils as full and equal citizens – hence the 20-year-old civil war.
The British Colonial administration tried to take control of India by removing an entire generation of royalty – Bahadur Shah Zafar, Tipu Sultan, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tatiya Tope, Rani Ahalyabai et al. This should have left India rudderless, with a vacuum at the top – based on European history.
But what was unprecedented in the modern world history, was a new band of first-generation political leaders who cut their against the British. Balagangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, Subhash Chandra Bose – and of course, Gandhiji.
And after 1947. After the departure of the British. Gandhiji was assassinated in 1948. Sardar Patel was no more by the end of 1950. Ambedkar in 1956 and in 1958, Maulana Azad passed away. Thus apart from Nehru, the entire leadership of India was no more, 10 years after Mountbatten's departure.
Universal Suffrage
In India, universal suffrage in 1950 started from the very first election in sovereign India.
Universal suffrage came to the USA, Britain, France, Belgium, Canada, Australia after a long struggle. The USA had to pass the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920; Italy in 1945; Canada in 1940; France gave women the right to vote in 1945; Switzerland in 1971 gave its women the right to vote in all elections. These "advanced" countries, gave women the right to vote after a long struggle. India's respect for its female citizenry is best demonstrated by universal adult franchise from the very first day – without any feminist activism.
Black emancipation in the USA is a 1970s phenomenon, 30+ years ago event – and not 200 years ago as this article in New York Times seems to make out.
It took non-violent protests (Martin Luther King, inspired by Gandhiji) and violent threats (Malcolm X) for some kind of real emancipation and equity to come in. In the Cold War scenario, under international media glare, during the Little Rock School stand-off, Eisenhower (a Southerner himself) reacted.
Reluctantly,in 1954, he sent in the National Guard to Little Rock, Arkansas for some kind of de-segregation. The Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas closed down the school rather than de-segregate. The eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation during the Kennedy years produced the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For a 100 years after the American Civil War, the Black people in the USA were still subject to 2nd grade treatment – any measure of liberty came only after 1964.
But Gandhijis' first step, after his return from South Africa, (many decades before Independence, Unification and creation of the Republic) was to undo the social calcification (resulting in untouchability) due to 200 years of colonialism .
India and America, created their own constitutions without external enforcement. Republican democracy in Germany was externally imposed – by the Allied Powers. Singapore has used extreme laws to disallow any other party and leaders to pose a challenge to the ruling party and get elected. When Japan took the first step away from LDP rule, with a non-LDP government, after 45 years of LDP rule – it took Japan 20 years to recover.
How long would India last ...?
Religious Divide …
India has the world's second /third largest Muslim population. The Indian Christian population is equal to that of most majority-Christian countries – excluding just a few big one like USA, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, etc. Buddhists number nearly 50 lakhs. Sikhs, Parsis (Zoroastrians), Baha'is, follows their own religion. Iranians, Armenians, Jews, Chinese have come to India – when persecuted in their homelands.
Racism, anyone?
Hence, to have a functioning republican democracy without a break for more than 50 years puts India in a different league.
The Challenge Ahead
India's defence unpreparedness is beyond comprehension. Worse, is the lack of threat perception. Indians (sadly and truly) limit their threat perception to the Pakistanis – and the Chinese. With the world's largest private reserves of gold India is a target – all over again. The resultant global and emerging threats are unrealised.
Does India have the intellectual leadership and strategic intent to create solutions?
Divide et impera (Cartoonist - Paresh). Click for larger image.
The disturbing thought is fact that the Western 'nation' model has been such a huge failure. How many countries have been successful in this quest for 'nationhood'?
Vietnam suffered from a prolonged war (1956-1976) – and finally peace had a chance after 20 years of war. Korea remains divided. The Cyprus problem between Turkey, Greece and the Cypriots has been simmering for nearly 100 years.
The role of the Anglo-Saxon Bloc, in Indonesia, the overthrow of Sukarno, installation of Suharto and finally the secession of East Timor is another excellent example. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict (1935 onwards) will soon enter its 75th year. The entire Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a creation of the Anglo-French-American axis. The many other issues in the West Asia and Africa are living testimony of the Western gift to the modern world.
The track record
Closer home is the Kashmir problem. After 60 years of negotiations, India-Pakistan relations have remained hostage to the Kashmir issue. Similarly, between China and India, the border issues remain 60 years after the eviction of Britain from India.
The Anglo-Saxon habit of partitioning countries is a disaster!
Cyprus between Greece and Turkey
Israel between Palestine, Jordan and Syria
Chinese Singapore in Malaysia
Northern Ireland out of Ireland
Two Koreas
and of course a Pakistan out of India.
With a benign, 'democratic' dictator like Lee Kuan Yew, in the frame, the Singapore out of Malaysia is too small and too short-term a success to make any impact.
Interestingly, Arun Maira, wrote in Times of India, on 20 Feb 2008, one month after this post, " Our Constitution gave the right to all adults, regardless of race, religion, sex or income to vote. It was a very bold step. Blacks in America got their rights later, and women in India got the right to vote even before women in some Western European countries did." He continues, "Therefore, we must give thanks to those who brought us safely from independence to 1991 and built our foundations."
Unfortunately, he goes on further to say, "The only inclusive national party we have perhaps is the Congress party, which helped create the country we now celebrate." His advice is that one party, the Congress, should give India a vision. It does not matter, which party he selects. India's vision, my dear, Mr.Maira I thought was made by all of us.
8 months after this post, another writer, whose usual inclination is Westward, Jaithirth Rao, an MNC-banker, examines, the entire monarchy and republican debate – without once talking about modern India's success. As above, he talks about the Afghan history. Further, he says,
"societies which have multiple fissures and fractures along ethnic, religious and social lines are far better off with a constitutional monarchy where the sovereign is a convenient and comfortable symbol transcending different groups within the country and providing a unifying symbol. "
So, Mr.Rao, would you like to examine, question and understand how India is the longest surviving republican democracy – with its fissures and fractures.
Gurcharan Das, comically asserts, that India's democracy and the Republic "is a British legacy. Before that we were a collection of communities and kingdoms." The concept of Bharatvarsha in the Ramayana and Mahabharata are also British. Chanakya's 'aryadhwaja', Shankaracharya's 'chaar dhaam', are all a British legacy.
While Britain has been unsuccessful in creating a national identity for itself, (it may break into Scotland and England) is of no relevance to Shri Das. The fact that no other British colony was successful in becoming a republican democracy is also irrelevant for Monsieur Das. But, for Shrimaan Das, banging his head at the altar of British Greatness is an act of faith. Your multinational roots show, Das Mahoday!
Tagged with: dictatorship, feudal, monarchy, Racism, Republican Democracy, slavery


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Proceedings of Machine Learning Research, PMLR 89:2261-2270, 2019.
Semantic inpainting is the task of inferring missing pixels in an image given surrounding pixels and high level image semantics. Most semantic inpainting algorithms are deterministic: given an image with missing regions, a single inpainted image is generated. However, there are often several plausible inpaintings for a given missing region. In this paper, we propose a method to perform probabilistic semantic inpainting by building a model, based on PixelCNNs, that learns a distribution of images conditioned on a subset of visible pixels. Experiments on the MNIST and CelebA datasets show that our method produces diverse and realistic inpaintings.
%X Semantic inpainting is the task of inferring missing pixels in an image given surrounding pixels and high level image semantics. Most semantic inpainting algorithms are deterministic: given an image with missing regions, a single inpainted image is generated. However, there are often several plausible inpaintings for a given missing region. In this paper, we propose a method to perform probabilistic semantic inpainting by building a model, based on PixelCNNs, that learns a distribution of images conditioned on a subset of visible pixels. Experiments on the MNIST and CelebA datasets show that our method produces diverse and realistic inpaintings.


Karima Kanani and Meg Spevak will be presenting on "Are You Ready? New Amendments to Non-Profit Governance in Ontario" to members of the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario in Toronto, ON on May 11, 2018.
Susan Manwaring will be speaking as part of the "Serving Indigenous-Led Organizations & Reconciliation" Panel along with Kris Archie, The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada and Jennifer Partridge, The Winnipeg Foundation at the 2018 CBA Charity Law Symposium in Toronto, ON on May 11, 2018.
Kristina Shaw participated in Pillar Nonprofit Network's Socialpreneur discussion group in London, ON on April 20, 2018.


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Use Magmas SUP Arms in combination with straight arms to hold all your water toys safely in place.
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There's a very easy joke to be made here about one's 15 minutes of fame.
It's hard not to think about that when you're watching Netflix's The Comedy Lineup, each episode of which features a different stand-up for only 15 minutes. And I'm not using Warhol's phrase in its slightly dystopic meaning. Limiting these specials to a quarter of an hour immediately solves Netflix's two main problems when it comes to its comedy specials: the shows are often too long and the streaming service is still attempting to hash out its diversity issues. Each mini-special features a distinct voice, making the series a bingeable option for stand-up—which is fresh territory for Netflix. Each special also generally feels like a full-length special in miniature, creating a kind of mini-arc out of just a few comic beats. Unfortunately, sometimes this irons out the little creases and odd angles that make full-length specials so enjoyable.
For instance, Emma Willman packs her 15 minutes with observations about growing up in the closet, realizing her sexuality after discovering an attraction to Nala instead of Simba. Her episode feels like it has the most complete arc as a special, and holds together the most cohesively, but you can also feel the time crunch as a result. Normally, these specials clock out a few minutes before you clock that they've even started-Willman's is one that you wish had more room to breathe.
The brief time limit also creates a situation where a comic needs to get across a worldview in like two seconds, which generally does each special a favor. Take Josh Johnson, who, in a quick anecdote that misdirects you towards an observation about the casual racism of an old lady, abruptly shifts into melancholy head-shaking over her inability to use an elevator. If that doesn't make much sense in summary, that's only a testament to Johnson's nuanced approach. In any case, we get who he is immediately, without hitting us over the head with the kind of thesis statements some comics employ at the tops of their sets.
Not that those thesis statements aren't always effective. They are when the comic is Janelle James or Kate Willett. In general, whenever a set fails to make a strong impression or falls a little flat, it still scores major points for offering a concise portrait of its performer. No doubt these 15 minutes of fame will lead to longer timelines of success for many comics featured here. Netflix has created a commendable stepping stone, allowing both the network and the comedians to take risks. That should be applauded.


text:
HGTV Reportedly Gives 'Flip Or Flop' Five Spinoffs
Published on March 1, 2017.
Telisa Carter
Amid all the drama currently surrounding HGTV stars Christina and Tarek El Moussa, it seems their series Flip or Flop is doing just fine.
According to a report from Us Weekly, the original hit series that is based in Southern California has been given five spin-offs and will be expanded to Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Texas and Las Vegas in 2017 and 2018.
Allison Page who is the general manager for U.S. programming and development for HGTV, Food Network and Travel Channel, stated, "Because every market is unique, there was an opportunity to highlight what works in various regions by featuring successful people in different locations who had mastered the art of flipping in their town."
Of course, original stars Tarek and Christina El Moussa will not be starring in the spin-offs, instead each city will have its own real-estate pros who will host for their city. Flip or Flop Las Vegas will have Bristol and Aubrey Marunde as the hosts. "I bring in a lot of chandeliers and lighting and hardware and things that take the properties over the top," Aubrey stated of "glamming" up the Sin City homes. "She loves crystals," her husband Bristol adds. The Marundes have been flippers over a decade say that they never have big conflicts despite not always having the same taste. "We don't have disagreements. In our relationship, it's pretty happy!" Aubrey stated." Aubrey lets me do construction and I let her do the design," Bristol explained.
As for the original Flip or Flop, despite their dramatic split, Tarek and Christina are currently filming season seven which is set to air this summer, but there are no plans for any seasons beyond that. Allison Page did explain that the plans for the spin-offs was in the works before the El Moussas' split. "We've been building this franchise for over a year and a half, and we're thrilled to bring new chapters, new stories and new talent to complement a series that's been a big success."
Flip or Flop Las Vegas premieres on HGTV on April 6 at 9 p.m. Flip or Flop Atlanta is scheduled for a summer premiere. Flip or Flop Nashville and Flip or Flop Texas are set for premieres in early 2018 and no date has been set for Flip or Flop Chicago.
Bristol and Aubrey Source: HGTV DeRon Jenkins and Page Turner Flip or Flop Nashville Source: HGTV
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text:
MotoGP / French GP / Breaking news
Rossi: Yamaha has "very big" power deficit in 2019
David Gruz
Valentino Rossi says he "suffered very much" on the straights in the 2019 French Grand Prix at Le Mans, with his Yamaha lacking top speed compared to rival bikes.
Rossi had recorded the lowest top speed among the point-scorers in the French Grand Prix, which he ended fifth behind Marc Marquez and the three Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller.
The Yamaha rider was not far from the Ducati trio for most of the race but couldn't get past them, with the Desmosedici bikes enjoying an advantage on the straights.
While Rossi said that Yamaha has improved tyre life and made the bike better to ride than in recent years, he admitted he is now losing out too much on power.
"I wasn't fast enough, I lose too much in the straight and acceleration from the low-speed corners," he said.
"All the race I try to start there, don't lose the slipstream to try to fight for the podium. The podium was my target but unfortunately was not enough for the Ducati.
"The good thing is that at the end I was good, I was able to come back, looks like that in the last laps we have fewer problems compared to last year, this is very positive but is not enough for try for the podium.
"It's like this. We improve tyre life with some different things on the bike, the bike is very good to ride.
"Looks like the others make another step, especially Honda, and now the difference is very big in the straight.
"Is enough that you check the speed in the sheet. In all the race we suffer very much."
While all four Yamaha riders were towards the bottom in the French GP top speed rankings, Rossi pointed out that he was, and usually tends to be, trailing the other M1s in this aspect.
"Unfortunately, what we can improve is that also I am the slower of the Yamahas for some reason so we need to make better.
"But I am always last, second or third to last, very far form the top. It is difficult. In history, from a long time, 2004, never is the Yamaha fantastic in the straight but this year looks like we lose very much."
As engines are sealed for the rest of the season, Rossi fears Yamaha make big top-speed gains but hopes that acceleration, the other traditional weak point of the M1, could still get better.
"The problem is that the engine is this. I don't think that we can improve a lot but this is the situation, we have to give the maximum.
"We can fight to stay on the podium and the bike is good to ride, we have some good things so it depends very much from track to track but this is the reality now.
"Maybe we can find something in acceleration because we lose also in acceleration but we will see."
Additional reporting by Lena Buffa
Espargaro: Aprilia's Le Mans pace "really painful"
Aggressive Petrucci has "different view of racing" - Espargaro
Series MotoGP
Event French GP
Sub-event Race
Drivers Valentino Rossi Shop Now
Teams Yamaha Factory Racing
Author David Gruz
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