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Hidden gem in the middle of bustling Hanoi
Located in a small dark alley on Hang Gai Street, Cà Phê Phố Cổ is a hidden cafe in the middle of the capital. Visitors come here for the famous egg coffee and the exotic architecture preserved from a century ago.
Located inside a small dark alley on Hang Gai Street, Cà Phê Phố Cổ is a hidden gem in the middle of the city. VNS Photo Bao Ngoc
Around Hoan Kiem Lake, there are quite a few "hidden cafes', which are difficult for even connoisseurs to find. The way to these shops can be mysterious, usually located in the small attics of old buildings, or in the middle of busy businesses that obscure them.
Tucked away deep inside a small alley on Hang Gai Street, Cà Phê Phố Cổ (Old Quarter Cafe) is a strange place for first-timers.
Visiting this hidden gem on an autumn Monday morning, leaving behind all the hustle and bustle of Hanoi's streets, I was surprised by this quiet space, isolated from the outside world.
The courtyard inside is spacious, originally the yard of an old villa with many details such as stairs, columns, and ancient mossy terraces.
According to the staff, the cafe is owned by the family of painter Nguyen Tuan and has been built for nearly 100 years.
While the first floor is an open space for people to admire the owners' ancient statues, paintings and ceramics, the second floor is a closed space with wooden tables and chairs for those who love the cosy atmosphere. As a place to have coffee and drinks, the ancient family shrine on the second floor is a highlight where visitors like to pose for photos.
The interior of the cafe has been kept intact from the last century. VNS Photo Bao Ngoc
The cafe offers more seating on the upper floors. Guided by the staff, I followed the curved bridge that looks a bit like The Huc Bridge on Hoan Kiem Lake on the third floor and discovered a green space with many trees and paintings by the cafe owner, an artist.
"The secret of the cafe is located on the top floor," a waiter told me. She then led me up a small spiral staircase to the terrace that, according to The New York Times gives "a sweeping view over thousands of motorbikes on their circumambulation around Hoan Kiem Lake."
Most of the cafe's customers are elderly locals. They come here to hang out with friends and enjoy the famous egg coffee.
Vietnamese diners are familiar with famous coffee brands around the lake and Nguyen Huu Huan Street that serve egg coffee. Once a luxury drink, this speciality is appearing more and more in coffee shops around Hanoi.
A standard cup of egg coffee will have a thick yellow egg layer on top, and below is pure coffee to neutralize the greasy taste. Though the same drink, each store has its own way of preparing it.
At Old Quarter Cafe, egg coffee is made from ground coffee beans and egg yolks. This famous drink of the shop has a shiny golden colour and comes in a small cup. Diners are always provided with an extra spoon to enjoy the creamy foam on top as an "appetizer" before drinking the coffee below.
A standard cup of egg coffee will have a thick yellow egg layer on top, and pure coffee below to neutralize the greasy taste. — Photo courtesy of Cà Phê Phố Cổ
To keep the drink hot, the waiter will place your coffee in a bowl of warm water. After being poured through the whipped cream foam from the egg, the solid coffee flavour that remains at the bottom of the cup is somewhat stronger.
Inspired by the traditional cappuccino, egg coffee was created in the 1950s. Stemming from the scarcity of fresh milk at that time, the inventor of this drink devised a way to use egg yolks as an alternative. Later, egg coffee became a speciality of Hanoi.
In addition to traditional egg coffee, the Old Quarter Cafe also has egg cocoa. Made from beaten eggs and coated with cocoa powder on top, this fluffy drink is perfect for cold weather and those who cannot drink coffee but still want to try the delicious custardy cream.
Different from the creamy-bitter taste of egg coffee, egg cocoa offers a sweet-smooth taste and the typical aroma of cocoa.
Drink prices here are quite reasonable, VND45,000 for a cup of egg coffee and VND30-50,000 for smoothies, shakes, sundaes and beer.
With the interior still intact from the last century and the menu mainly featuring traditional drinks, this Hanoi Old Quarter cafe is an ideal destination for those who love to explore Hanoi's culture and tranquillity.
Come here in winter, and do not forget to order a cup of the famous egg coffee and enjoy the ancient atmosphere of this wonderful hidden gem.
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My Reiki sessions with Tara were very beneficial. I was very relaxed and the pain of arthritis in my back were relieved. It was just like a wave of peace and tranquility washing over my body. As she worked over me from head to toe, I gradually felt like a different person. The tension and stress left my body and I was able to sleep rest fully and peacefully.


Lloyd George's Ambulance Wagon: Being the Memoirs of William J. Braithwaite, 1911- 1912. Edited with an introduction by Sir Henry Bunbury, KCB, and with a commen- tary by Professor R. M. Taws. (Methuen, 30s.) W. J. BRAITHWAITE, the old Wykehamist son of a Suffolk parson, was a high-minded civil ser- vant who was employed by Lloyd George to help him draft the National Health Insurance Act of 1912. It is clear from the story that Braithwaite did a great deal of work during that and the previous years. It is not clear how his contribution was to be compared with that of other helpers. With some naiveté he quotes as evidence certain remarks of Lloyd George in which Lloyd George introduced him to colleagues as his principal helper. It never seems to have occurred to him that such phrases were doubt- less used about other helpers when it was con- venient to flatter them and when Braithwaite was not there to hear. Pathetically Braithwaite took them as considered judgments and confi- dently expected that as a reward he would be entrusted with the administration of the Act. He Was bitterly disappointed when that task was en- trusted to Sir Robert Morant, whom he detested (he himself was fobbed off with a secretaryship), and still more disappointed when shortly after- wards he was transferred to the Inland Revenue, where he spent the rest of his days. Twenty-five Years afterwards Braithwaite wrote his account of the story and now twenty years later it has been published.
Human nature being what it is, it was perhaps natural that Braithwaite should have felt griev- ance at first when he did not get the job on which he had set his heart, nor do we find it difficult to believe that thaj job was given to Morant for reasons of political convenience—to keep quiet the Webbs. But the list of men who were first flattered and then let down by Lloyd George is of so enormous a length that it is indeed odd that Braithwaite should imagine that there would be an interest in the story twenty-five years later and odder still that the editor should think that the public will still be interested today. It is as if a man were to write a book to explain how fifty-three years ago he was once caught in the rain.
What makes the pubilcation of these memoirs at this time doubly ode. is Sir Henry Bunbury's introduction. Had Sir Henry imagined that Braithwaite was wholly in the right and in- famously treated, the publication would at any rate have been intelligible. But in his introduc- tion he explicitly tells us that he does not think that Nor is there any pretence that the memoirs have any enlivening light touch of their own. 'The lesser virtues of ,tact and humour were per- haps not his strong cards,' writes Sir Henry Burt- bury, and it can only be a very limited and specialising public which at this date can be deeply' interested in the principles that were accepted or rejected in drafting the Act of 1912.


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WH Smith to close stores after fall in yearly profits
The company has not yet revealed which stores are at risk of closure
WH Smiths is set to close six stores
High street favourite WH Smith is to close a number of stores as they prepare to become the latest retailer to report a fall in yearly profits.
The stationery, books and gifts chain has launched an overhaul of its business, which will also see the trial of smaller local stores and online trading gaming marketplace CardMarket end.
As part of this, the business plans to close six stores, although it has not yet been revealed which stores will be shut or how many jobs will be affected.
WH Smith currently has 610 high street stores and 839 travel outlets around the UK, meaning only 0.9 per cent of their businesses will close.
Chelmsford's derelict BHS store is turning into an enchanted Christmas village
The company have 39 stores in Essex at present, including Chelmsford, Brentwood, Southend, Basildon, Colchester, Billericay, Braintree, Maldon and Romford.
As reported by Devon Live, one-off costs of the review sent group pre-tax profits down 4 per cent to £134 million for the year to August 31.
With these costs stripped out, underlying pre-tax profits rose 4 per cent to £145 million.
WH Smith saw trading profits in its high street stores fall 3 per cent to £60 million, but this was offset by a 7 per cent rise in profits at its travel arm to £103 million.
The retailer said it is now focusing on its travel stores, which is what it calls its shops located at airports, train stations, service stations, universities and workplaces.
WH Smith opened 20 new stores in the last year, and sales rose 3 per cent across its outlets based in airports and train stations.
These Essex shops and restaurants set to open by Christmas
Stephen Clarke, group chief executive of WH Smith, said: "We had a good year in high street despite the well-documented challenges of the UK high street.
"During an encouraging second half, the business traded well and we quickly identified the latest trend in the market, becoming a one-stop-shop for all slime-related products.
"Despite this good performance, we are not ignoring the broader challenges on the UK high street and, during the second half, we conducted a business review to ensure our high street business is fit for purpose now and for the future."
Rescue centre hits back at Stacey Solomon's trolls claiming unfair celebrity advantages in puppy adoption
Stacey SolomonRescue centre used by Stacey Solomon in adoption of cocker spaniel Teddy is forced to break their silence on harsh critics

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We accept all major credit cards as well as PayPal and National Gallery gift cards. Gift cards cannot be used if your basket contains exhibition tickets.
Q: Where do I enter my gift card number?
A: When paying by gift card, you will be prompted to enter card number in the payment section of the checkout process.


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Why I'm NOT Ready for Hillary
Lest we forget: EVERY presidential ticket that the Green Party has offered this country has had a woman on it The last two had ONLY women. Since the beginning we, Greens, have been ready for a woman. We are certainly ready for a woman president alright, but not THIS woman!
If you, like me, ever sent a donation to help any of the few (less than 10 – really) fairly decent Democrats you have probably gotten the mailings asking if you are ready for Hillary. Or maybe, as a political woman, you've heard from Angie's List with the same unimaginative Disappointingacrat backed feminine push for Hillary. It's only fair to have female leadership for the USA, after over 200 plus years of male rule. I'm sure that we would see a better direction with a woman's heart. However, with a hawk like Hillary, we will see only superficial change and the reality won't be better. Women will feel like they have "arrived". Greens will feel that, while a milestone for women, it's really a millstone around our necks as we drop further into the greedy sea of corporate rule.
If you get past her blah personality and idolize her as "a strong woman who has been successful", I counter with the fact there are a lot of strong women out there and women with much better moral compasses. That list is way long and includes many women of color and certainly includes every woman that Greens have run on a presidential ticket. Again, this is the 2 party system telling us that we have to settle. They pat their loyal constituents on the head like little pets. After the winning political move of presenting the first token black president, the lesser evil is throwing out a woman this time. But where is her passion? Her ideas are worn old slogans that seem to ring radical to her supporters ears, even as Greens have better ones and have never had to come to any sort of epiphany about human rights, justice or peace.
It's what Greens do, it's who we are.
Many blacks have caught on to the familiar Obama fake left move right continuance of the Disappoiintingacrats formula to appear as the liberal side. Hillary is great at being fake! Women will secretly suffer, but like Stockholm Syndrome victims, lots will still cling to the hope that Hillary will be their champion — just as she claims to be.
As young as age 13, Hillary worked the South Side of Chicago for Republicans. She became a Goldwater Girl, volunteering to campaign for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater in the U.S. presidential election of 1964. Then when future Greens (like me) were trying hard to get the Disappointingacrats to support Eugene McCarthy, who was the progressive peace candidate for president, she attended the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami in support of Nelson Rockefeller! Arguably, her first rubbing of elbows with the multi-millionaires.
She then went on to be a lawyer who would end up defending a child rapist — as a favor to a powerful person and a chance to move up in her field. Now I understand that someone has to defend these individuals, but there are times when a lawyer can refuse to take a case. Most true feminists would turn that down cold. Hillary calculated otherwise. As a partner at Rose Law firm she ran into conflict of interest issues, since her husband Bill was the governor of Arkansas, and appointed judges to hear the case of her firm Whitewater. As the Secretary of State she was cozy with Monsanto and Wall Street. She's another Teflon political figure that seems to be able to have a long history of unsavory dealings in her past and yet emerge in a clean freshly pressed pantsuit.
Hillary was on the corporate board of TCBY, LaFarge and (of course Arkansas own) Walmart. In fact, Hillary was one of the legal advisers that got Walmart's anti-union system in place. Are we now to believe that she identifies with the working poor?
While she stood by her man to retain their combined fame, wealth and power, she's had her share of scandals such as: Travelgate and the Whitewater investment where the Clintons got their losses subsidized, leaving others to suffer the financial repercussions.
She pulled the old fame card strategy out to win the Senate seat for New York, even though she was just barely a resident. Once in, she preceded to cast aside civil liberties for us regular folks and voted yes (twice) for the Patriot Act. To show that she was as tough as the guys (among these "guys" were GW Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney) she supported military action in Afghanistan and the Iraq invasion. She voted for the Wall Street bailouts, that used taxpayer money giving the banksters a break that they never deserved. Greens were the very first to speak out against these bailouts. Supporting a woman who voted in favor is out of the question.
Greens never miss the fact that Democrats have some of the very same Wall Street operators in their cabinets or as Fed reserve chairs. Bill Clinton had Robert Rubin from Citicorp who was instrumental in setting the stage for a financial coups de tat transfer of wealth from the middle class that Hillary claims she is siding with. Every day Hillary lives and thrives on being part of the less than one percent. Bill's' moral compass never did seem to bother her, once again, as she witnessed the Glass-Steagal Act being dismantled, NAFTA being signed into law and their supposed pet project of single payer healthcare never even remotely happening. At what point do you separate your moral and political views from what your husband is perpetrating?
While she was Obama's secretary of state, husband Bill raked in $200,000.00 in a speaking engagement at Goldmann Sachs. A bargain as his going rate is $500 K to $700 K. The funds go to "The Clinton Foundation". Rostrum, a Russian atomic energy agency, gave a booster donation of 2.3 million dollars to the Clinton Foundation. Then they acquired over 20% of US uranium mines during that period. Oh yes, a Moscow bank paid Hillary's husband (AKA Slick Willy) a $500K fee for speaking. Other top donors? Not your grandma ! How about $40 million from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman!
Now we are liberated enough to separate a husband's actions from the wife, but Hillary is clearly benefiting from all of Bill's smoozing and liking it. It does not take a genius to see that Bill is game to go down in history as the first "first man" of the White House. He lies and she lies right along with him. The question is: which one is really the better liar? She plays naive about having a personal e mail handling national business while being the tax payer pay-rolled top diplomat of this nation. A little space out reminiscent of the banksters who "could never recall" how their derivatives became so toxic..
As women, we know about betrayal. It's even more bitter when done by one of our own. There is no track record here for any belief in a change of pattern, once she reaches her goal. Hillary is a master tactician and has inspired a new term superPACalitical – that means that she takes money from anywhere. She has worked hard for this goal and made all of the right moves to play this role (and I do mean right). She knows the people who can put her there and Hillary will put on a performance to seduce women so eager to vote for and attach their dreams to this likely winning wagon. Yes, I think that we are all hungry for our rightful place at the top, but we can not lose the moral compass on the journey. I get so frustrated with this repetitive pattern that I just want to shout out to them in a voice reminiscence of my childhood: Liar liar pantsuit on fire!
We do know that she is smart, but please don't let her out smart you. Vote clean and vote Green.
Jennifer Sullivan
Florida Green
WHY SUPPORT THE GREEN PARTY OVER BERNIE SANDERS – THE SOCIALIST RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT
The 12 & 12 Days of Christmas


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Q: Implementing Comparator from an abstract class public abstract class SomeClass<Sometype extends OtherClass> extends Something   implements   Comparator<??>{

//code

How can I replace ?? in Comparator such that it is any class that extends SomeClass?

A: It's not clear if you want to carry the type-bounds or simply allow any subclass of SomeClass.
By definition, the compare method you implement will allow comparison with any subtype (because any subtype can be cast to the more general parent type when passed to the method).
To allow any parameterized type instead of the restrictive Sometype, you can write:
public abstract class SomeClass<Sometype extends OtherClass> extends Something
   implements Comparator<SomeClass<?>>

It's also legal to write this with explicit type bounds:
public abstract class SomeClass<Sometype extends OtherClass> extends Something
   implements Comparator<SomeClass<Sometype>>

A: you cant use something like ? extends SomeClass , but you can use just Comparator<SomeClass> and cast to what you need

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We all have our own struggles and challenges in life that we have to work through in order to reach the goals that we have set for ourselves.
The ability to stick with something, even when challenges arise and it is tough, is called perseverance.
I am sure that you, as a reader have persevered through some kind of challenge prior to now. It is a skill that we have all used and heard of, but one that isn't often explicitly taught. Today, I want to provide you with some helpful tips that you can practice either yourself, or with your child/students to help get through life's challenges.
Keep the bigger picture in mind. Remembering your goal and why you started in the first place can help motivate you to finish the task at hand.
Listen to yourself. If you are feeling like you are becoming burnt out, you may need a break or a day off. Be honest with yourself and take a break if needed.
Remember that you have already made it through every challenge life has given you, and you can make it through this one too.
Talk to a trusted source. Are you struggling at work? Talk to a mentor. Is your child struggling at school? Talk to a teacher or a counselor. Talking to someone can allow new insights that you might not have thought of. If the challenge seems far too big to handle on your own, a professional can help guide you through it.
It is important to remember that each challenge is a learning opportunity. Regardless of the outcome you can learn from your triumphs, your struggles and even your failures. Goals in life my change, but it is important to work hard to get to where you want to be.
Perseverance is a critical Executive Functioning Skill. To read more about Executive Functioning, click here.


Reed Exhibitions Africa and ReedPOP today announced that leading comic book writer, Donny Cates, will be a guest at this year's Comic Con Africa to be held in September.
Cates is best known for Thanos, Doctor Strange, Damnation, God Country, Buzzkill, The Ghost Fleet, The Paybacks, Interceptor, Star Trek, and Atomahawk. He is also currently working on titles such as Venom, Cosmic Ghost Rider, Death of the Inhumans, Redneck, Guardians of the Galaxy and Babyteeth.
Cates joins other prominent comic book writer and artist, Will Sliney, who is best known for his work on Marvel comics such as Spider-Man and Star Wars. Some of the other titles he has drawn include Solo: A Star Wars Story, Scarlet Spider, Spider-Man 2099, Superior Spider-Man, Amazing Spider-man and Fearless Defenders.
Also appearing at Comic Con Africa is cosplayer model, actress and producer LeeAnna Vamp. Some of her own projects include the frightfully fun show for all ages! The Fiends present Best Fiends Forever, Let's Get Spooky Podcast to name a few. Vamp is also a paranormal investigator, delving into the spiritual world in her own ghost hunting travel show called Ghosted. She was also a judge on SyFy's Cosplay Melee which features some of the world's most innovative cosplayers as they transform themselves into sensational creations. Vamp will also be one of the judges of the Comic Con Africa Championship of Cosplay which will be held at this year's event.
Comic Con Africa will be held from 21 – 24 September 2019, at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. Comic Con Africa is a multi-genre entertainment and comic convention that features comic books, games, arts, movies, pop culture elements and so much more.
KIDS' COMIC CON: "KCC TEAM TITANS" APRIL 20TH) IS ONLY A FEW DAYS AWAY!
KIDS COMIC CON 2019: TEAM TITANS!


We've Come to Take You Home has made it to the NetGalley top 10 books of the month for March! Many thanks to Ben Cameron at Cameron PR and Marketing for nominating this, my debut novel.
My warmest congratulations on your magnificent novel, 'We've Come to Take You Home'. Being a maid in 1914, the hours and the salary, must have been terrible. It is so deeply moving that I could not put it down.
Many congratulations to Susan Gandar for creating such a moving and spiritual story. It is no mean achievement to intertwine the lives of Jess and Sam in such different times without confusion. I loved it.
This isnt the sort of book I would usually read, but it captured me from page 1. Its a beautifully crafted story balancing two related but wildly different stories occuring nearly a century apart. Written with economy, grace and a lovely visual sensibility, it carried me along and into the minds and emotions of its two teenage protagonists. Ultimately very moving, this is a wonderful piece of storytelling and a very enjoyable read.
Congratulations Susan, a most enjoyable and captivating book.It is an elegantly written imaginative story with great insight and empathy for the characters. The reader cannot avoid a deep emotional involvement with the lives of Sam and Jess, it is a wonderful depiction of the power of love and family bonds that transcend the boundaries of time. An excellent first publication and looking forward to the next one soon.
Compelling, heart-wrenching and insightful. This book brought to life the hardship of the past but also the confusion of being a teenage girl in the here and now. I found myself transported between two worlds whilst also remaining connected to the characters and their plights. I hope for another story which I can immerse myself in, like this one!
Two young lives lived in different times. Both blown apart by events that threaten everything they've ever known and loved. We've Come to Take You Home is a compelling piece of storytelling that weaves together two tales set in separate centuries but somehow mysteriously linked. War, love, hardship and teenage angst...the story shifts from one young life to the other without missing a beat, gathering pace until finally the mystery is solved. Susan Gandar is as comfortable exploring the hardships of Britain at War and the rarely remembered privations endured by those left at home as she is in an intensive care unit of a 21st-century hospital. A clever and thought-provoking piece of storytelling.
Punchy, concise and graphic. I've never read a book that conveyed so much but without elaborate, lengthy wording. This, for me, is its greatest triumph.
This is such a good story fusing the lives of two young women separated by time but brought together by the shared experience of adolescence - the drama of everyday life, love, loss and growing up.
Many congratulations, Susan, on your first published book - what a feat! It was a very interesting and original concept - clearly told and with a lot of passion - well done.
Susan Gandar's powerful novel kept me turning the page. How and when would Jess and Sam's lives come together? Their individual stories in different centuries brilliantly intertwined. I admit to shedding a few tears and couldn't put it down. Congratulations Susan on an exceptional debut novel.
The strong character depiction and interesting parallel storyline between past and future kept us all gripped. We especially enjoyed the really vivid description of the relationship between Jess and Ellie. The story would be a super introduction to life on the home front, during the First World War, particularly for a teenage audience. However, it is equally appealing to other ages – a crossover novel?
Being a fan of novels that deal with 'echoes in time' I was keen to read this book and was NOT disappointed. It is beautifully written and cleverly constructed, thoroughly engaging the reader in the lives of the two young girls - hence the lump in my throat at the end! A triumph of a first novel.
I grew up surrounded by stories and storytelling.
My father, John Box, was a film production designer, working on 'Lawrence of Arabia', 'Dr. Zhivago', 'The Great Gatsby', 'A Man For All Seasons' and the musical 'Oliver'. Our house was always filled with people, usually eccentric, always talented, invariably stroppy, discussing stories. My mother put my father's four Oscars to good use as toilet roll holders, doorstops and hat stands.


Hey! I realize this is kind of off-topic however I needed to ask. Does running a well-established blog like yours require a massive amount work? I am completely new to blogging however I do write in my journal everyday. I'd like to start a blog so I can easily share my own experience and views online. Please let me know if you have any kind of ideas or tips for brand new aspiring blog owners. Appreciate it!


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Lost Futures presents ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU at The Prince Charles (10 NOV 2021).
27th October 2021 11th November 2021
Matt Lloyd Turner's Lost Futures series continues with a 20th Anniversary screening of Shunji Iwai's film as part of Japan 2020, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery & BFI Film Audience Network.
Submitted by Lost Futures.
ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU d. Shunji Iwai, 2001
10 NOV 2021 // 20:20 // The Prince Charles Cinema // London WC2H
Tickets: £10 – £12.50 // Booking now!
Made by the acclaimed director of LOVE LETTER and APRIL STORY, Shunji Iwai's ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU is told through the eyes of Yuichi (Hayato Ichihara), an eighth-grader obsessed with the ethereal J-Pop idol Lily Chou-Chou, a character inspired by Canto-pop artist and actress Faye Wong and compared often to Bjork. Creating a fan-site through which a loyal coterie of 'Lilyphiles' trade gossip, information, and speculation, Yuichi takes increasing solace in this fictional world, using the strength of the community to overcome his crippling shyness and the harsh realities of the outside world, before meeting up with other devotees for real at a mega-concert.
ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU began life first as a uncompleted novel before transforming into an interactive text maintained by Iwai on the lily-holic.com website and the interactive development of the project was crucial, enhancing the parallel narratives at play in a project that expands beyond the screen and blurs boundaries between the real and the imaginary.
Incorporating a hyperreal display of early digital video and an extraordinary use of rapturous music, ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU offers sensory pleasure in abundance, whilst still intelligently addressing prescient themes of violence, bullying, and alienated adolescence, creating a vivid portrait of the disaffected Japanese youth that remains current and resonant long past its post-millennial context due to its innovative, formal experimentation and its ahead-of-its-time vision of the explosive, sometimes frightening power of online communities.
Preceded by a video introduction by Joanne McNeil, author of Lurking.
Lost Futures presents ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU d. Shunji Iwai, 2001 at The Prince Charles, booking now (10 NOV 2021)!
Post Tags: #Lost Futures#Prince Charles Cinema


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HomeAttractionsJordan prepares for a landmark 2009
Including a papal visit and a centennial of Amman
Jordan prepares for a landmark 2009
Theodore Koumelis
The Jordan Tourism Board has said it was looking forward to a landmark year, which will witness a series of anniversaries, celebrations and events. The Kingdom is putting the final touches on the centennial celebrations of the capital Amman, which is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. It is also celebrating a decade of the rule of His Majesty King Abdullah II, who ascended to the Throne after the demise of the late King Hussein Bin Talal. Jordan is also getting ready to host many important events, including a Papal visit, and the annual meetings of the World Economic Forum.
JTB Managing Director Nayef al-Fayez has expressed great hope for 2009 saying it will be a landmark year. He said planned events and upcoming attractions will deliver a memorable experience to Jordan's people and its visitors.
Al-Fayez said "Jordan's uniqueness and strongest selling point is its diversity, and the combination of a strategic geographical position, mild climate, diverse landscape, rich history and culture, holy sites, historical and archaeological locations, a cosmopolitan capital, and reasonable cost."
"Such unique diversity and unmatched attractions" he added, "will combine with landmark events such as the Amman centennial, the Dead Sea and the Petra marathons, the World Economic Forum, and a historic Papal visit to compliment a distinctive Jordan experience."
Pope Benedict XVI is expected to visit Jordan on May 8th, where he will lay the corner stone for the Latin Church at the Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan). He will be the second pope, after John Paul II, to visit the Holy Site since it was discovered in 1996.
The site, where Jesus Christ has been baptized by John the Baptist, is a leading attraction for thousands of tourists from around the world. It has drawn 280,000 visitors and pilgrims (mostly European) in 2008, which represents a rise of 86% over 2007.
The Pontiff's 3-day visit will include an audience with His Majesty King Abdullah II, and a meeting with prominent Islamic figures, diplomatic corps and other officials including presidents of universities in an effort to further promote interfaith dialogue. The Pope will hold a mass at the Amman Stadium at Al-Hussein Sport City and another at the Holy See Embassy Church. His itinerary also includes a visit to Al-Hussein Ben Talal Mosque, and the Madaba University which is being built by the Roman Catholic Church.
The Greater Amman Municipality is putting the final touches on preparations to celebrate 100 years since the establishment of "modern Amman". The Capital, known historically as Rabbath Ammon, is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities, and was an important crossroads connecting the Arabian Peninsula in the south to Damascus in the north, and the "Syrian desert" in the east to Palestine and the Mediterranean in the west.
The Dead Sea, another biblical and historic location will host the meetings of the World Economic Forum for the 5th time at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center, which has become an increasingly popular choice for conferences and large events. The World Economic Forum on the Middle East is the region's foremost gathering of government, business, and civil society leaders.
The 2009 meetings will be held 15-17th May under the theme "Home-grown Strategies for Global Success" and will focus on the role of the Middle East in addressing critical global challenges, ranging from systemic financial risk to resource management and political extremism.
The lowest spot on earth will also be the destination for participants in the Dead Sea Ultra Marathon which will take place on April 10th, taking runners from Amman down to more than 340 meters below sea level. The marathon is the main fundraising event for the Society for the Care of Neurological Patients (SCNP) and is held in cooperation with the Amman Road Runners. The SCNP, which provides neurological patients with medical aid and covers the cost of necessary surgeries for the needy. has contributed to the treatment of 940 cases at a value of nearly 600 thousand Jordanian Dinars (almost $850,000).
Another landmark marathon will take runners to another spectacular location: Petra. A world heritage site and a world wonder, Petra's spectacular setting will be the backdrop for the September 26 marathon, which will take participants through the 1.2 km gorge known as the Siq, across the site of the Treasury, and along other ancient attractions.
The Petra Marathon is the latest marathon in the "Adventure Marathon" family which includes the Great Wall of China, the Big Five, the Polar Circle, and the Great Tibetan Marathons.
Jordan has already hosted the 37th International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Cross Country Championships on March 28th, which has witnessed the crowning of Ethiopia's Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam as champion of the senior men's race and Kenya's Florence Jebet Kiplagat as champion of the senior women's race. The junior men's race was won by Ethiopian Ayele Abshero, while the junior women's race was won by defending champion Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba.
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Piazza Hospitality's Healdsburg Collection announces return of Meaningful Meetings Program
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NextGen travelers insist on airline flight displays and boarding pass printing
SCTA foresees investment opportunities in Health Tourism


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Houston 'perfect' to host 2026 World Cup games
By Joe Prince-WrightMar 24, 2022, 6:10 AM EDT
Houston is one of 17 cities across the United States of America who are currently bidding to host games at the 2026 World Cup, and they're bullish about their chances.
10 of those 17 U.S. cities will succeed and Houston, the fourth largest city in the USA, believes it has plenty of advantages over its rivals.
USMNT legend DaMarcus Beasley is on the board of directors for Houston's 2026 bid and he told ProSoccerTalk that Houston is the 'perfect' place to host World Cup games.
"The city is vibrant, it is diverse and the culture, well, it bleeds football," Beasley said. "If you look at any of the international matches that have been played here they are always a sell out, the crowd is electric… The hospitality of everyone here is incredible.
"As I said, the vibrancy of the stadium, that culture, we bleed football here in Houston. Anybody who comes here will see that and everyone will walk away from World Cup matches in Houston thinking 'this was the best atmosphere I've ever been in.'"
From a stadium with a roof to keep out the summer storms, plus having facilities close together downtown and a long history of hosting the biggest events in the sporting world, the biggest city in Texas is going all-in on hosting 2026 World Cup games.
[ MORE: Latest in World Cup qualifying ]
Ahead of the official site visit from FIFA to Houston in late October, ProSoccerTalk spoke to Chris Canetti, the president of Houston's 2026 World Cup bid.
What gives Houston an edge?
Canetti is one of the leading soccer executives in the country and was president of the Houston Dynamo from 2010 to 2019, before taking this unique role to lead Houston's World Cup bid.
That means that Canetti wakes up every single day with one goal: to bring 2026 World Cup games to Houston.
Asked about what gives Houston the edge over other U.S. cities to host games, Canetti highlighted its international feel and innovative heart as being integral to the 'Spirit of Houston' they want to showcase to the world.
"Houston is the fourth-largest city in the USA and the largest in Texas, so we are a big city of 7 million people and also considered to be the most diverse city in all of North America," Canetti explained. "That is something very important when you're bringing the world's game into a city. You want to have an internationally diverse culture that exists, and that is something very strong here in Houston."
"As a result of being an international and diverse city, it is a football loving city," Canetti continued. "The passion for the game is incredible and so is the passion to bring a World Cup here. I feel like I have the full weight of community behind me in this effort…
We are thrilled to announce the #SpiritofHouston campaign to celebrate our city's united, community-driven and innovative approach to hosting the #WorldCup!
Help us spread the world by sharing the video!
#Houston2026 🚀 pic.twitter.com/8YpuZVAOrN
— Houston 2026 WorldCup (@Hou2026WorldCup) October 6, 2021
"With our bid, everything is in our city. Everything takes place in Houston. From the airports, to the stadium, to the hotels, to the training sites. It is all under one jurisdiction and there is a united front and everyone is working in sync. We've got the key officials all behind this. Everybody is aligned.
"And if you look at history, over the last decade or slightly longer, any time promoters are bringing major football events to this country, Houston has been a designated stop. It is because this city rises to the occasion."
From NASA and the huge energy companies that call Houston home, innovation is at its core and that's also true with this 2026 World Cup bid.
How will Houston stand out from its competitors?
As Canetti said, Houston is no stranger to these big games, as it has hosted more major sporting events than any other U.S. city since 2004.
Be it Super Bowl's, NCAA Final Four's, All Star Game's, Gold Cup's and Copa America Centenario games, Houston has been there, done it and got the t-shirt.
But the jewel in Houston's crown for this bid is NRG Stadium.
It sits at the heart of NRG Park, a campus which has training facilities, a convention center and an indoor arena all connected, and there are also five separate training facilities for teams within 15 minutes of the stadium, which act perfectly as a base.
As for the stadium itself, NRG has a 70,000 capacity and a fully retractable roof.
Why is that fact about the roof so important?
Well, that gives Houston a huge advantage over its competitors as it can guarantee games will take place regardless of summer storms which are commonplace across the USA in June and July when World Cup games will take place.
Of the 17 host venues in the running in the USA, Houston is one of just three (Atlanta and Dallas the others) to have a retractable roof.
Having games in Houston will give FIFA certainty that no issues will arise when it comes to planning and logistics. Don't underestimate that.
"I think the retractable roof is a unique feature and brings huge value to the event," Canetti said. "190 million people worldwide watch these games on average. To be able to protect the integrity of that broadcast window and stay on time via a retractable roof, I think that is very valuable in this country with the climate being the way it is… It is fantastic to have climate controlled protection and only a small number of us that have that and it provides value."
Beasley also pointed to the huge Hispanic population in Houston and hoped that the USMNT could face Mexico, in Houston, during the World Cup. Think about how incredible that would be?
What will the legacy be?
Every single World Cup city wants the tournament to leave behind a legacy.
Houston is no different and Canetti believes the impact this World Cup will have is going to be off the charts, across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
"If you look at how much the game has grown in this country from 1994 to 2026, it is massive," Canetti continued. "Now there's more attention to it. More acceptance to it. More connection and involvement. What the impact will be, well, it almost seems immeasurable at this point. It is going to be so grand."
It is estimated that Houston will benefit economically by over $1 billion from hosting World Cup games, but Canetti is also focused on how local youngsters will benefit, long-term, from seeing the best national teams in the world heading to Texas.
The host bid have set up the Houston Soccer Innovation Institute, which is already helping youngsters in underserved communities get access to the Houston Dynamo in MLS and the Houston Dash in the NWSL, among other initiatives.
"Legacy has been at the forefront of everything we've been doing since day one," Canetti said. "We've launched the Houston Soccer Innovation Institute and it is a truly one of a kind program which our host committee will manage. This institute will handle the legacy portion of this bid. Our legacy is based around growing the game, fan experience and social and environmental responsibility. And we will focus on how all of those things can make the community better.
"Houston is an innovative place. We have NASA here, we have the largest medical center in the world here and we are the energy capital of the world. We are using these innovative pieces of our community and resources to help the growth and impact of the game."
Well, if FIFA wants help in how to reduce head injuries in the game, create more energy efficient stadiums, help with ideas on how to improved human rights globally and wants anything from NASA, this institute will get leaders from across Houston together in one place to come up with answers.
Where does Houston rank among potential host cities?
Houston wants to host knockout games as well as group stage games, and they know they can host clashes up to the quarterfinal stage with the size of their stadium.
How does Canetti rank their chances of being successful in bringing the World Cup to Texas' biggest city?
"That is the magical question," Canetti said. "I know rationally and in my heart that Houston is among the top 10. Does that mean we are guaranteed a spot? No. I don't approach it that way whatsoever. I know there are lots of things that go into this. Lots of moving parts."
With the likes of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Atlanta and Washington D.C. all expected as locks to be six of the 10 host cities in the USA for the 2026 World Cup, it looks like Houston is in a straight battle with the likes of Denver, Philadelphia, Boston, Orlando and Kansas City to host games.
Canetti is up for the battle to bring the world's game to Houston.
"It is hard for me to predict where we stand. Lots of people like to ask me 'who is your competition?' but it is hard to state that. We know we have a strong package and the experience of what it takes to do this but we aren't going to take anything for granted. We've been working hard since day one to create points of differentiation from the competition and we are going to fight for this and put everything we have behind it."


This war is little known in European history but none the less bloody for that: the battles in the Low Country, such as Laffeld, involved on at least two occasions armies of more than 100,000 men on both sides. Casualty rates could often be 33% or more, as at Assietta where the French attacked the Piedmontese up a steep hillside which was preprepared for defence.
Some calamitous naval battles were fought as well, such as Toulon, Cape Ortegal, and Ouessant off Brest, ending in the virtual destruction of the French navy. This enabled British acquisitions at the expense of the French, both in India and, notably, the conquest of Louisburg in Nova Scotia, guarding the river route into Canada down the St. Lawrence.
Support their offspring and other family - eg. the Spanish royal couples desire to obtain Milan for their feckless son Don Philip, and King Louis of France's desire to support this his son-in-law and his Bourbon Spanish relatives too.
The consequent war spread itself across the Low Countries, Italy, Bavaria, Bohemia, Silesia and Moravia and involved many of the powers of Europe with the notable exception of the Turks and the Russians.
Much of the war saw Bourbon France, Spain and Naples allied with Frederick II the Great of Prussia against the Hapsburgs of Austria - Hungary, the Netherlands, and their paymaster Britain; with Piedmont- Sardinia playing a dangerous middle game playing one alliance off against the other. Prussia made a separate peace on two occasions, and Saxony also changed sides. There was constant intrigue in Russia and the French and Prussian party succeeded in involving Russia in a war with Sweden, to prevent it interfering in the main European war.
Memorable land battles included Assietta, Laffeld, Mollwitz, Chotusitz, Soor, Fontenoy, Dettingen and the storming of Asti and Bergen-op-Zoom.
Sieges included those of Alessandria, Genoa and the fortress of Cuneo in the Alps. There were many sieges in the Low Countries, usually quick French gains because of the poor quality both of the old Vauban fortresses and of the Dutch troops defending the Hapsburg forts under the "Barrier Treaty".
There was a memorable breakout of the French defenders of Prague followed by a winter march across the Sudeten mountains of Bohemia back to the relative safety of the French-occupied Rhineland.
The great Generals on display included not only Frederick II the Great of Prussia but also Belle-Isle and the great Maurice of Saxony on the French side who later published his autobiography "Mes Reveilles". Apart from Frederick II the Great of Prussia, King George also led his troops personally in the field, at the Battle of Dettingen, as did his son Cumberland, and certain other European monarchs. Indeed Cumberland narrowly escaped death or capture.
Revolts caused by warweariness in Genoa, Corsica and the Netherlands provided the ruling classes with a nasty pretaste of the French Revolution which would crash over them at the end of the century.
Contributory factors to the end of the war were the French realisation that they were beaten on the high seas and that conquering any more land in central Europe would cause all the powers of that region to unite their forces in resistance.


A 19-year-old SIUC student who was arrested for making fake driver's licenses in Boomer I started scanning the ID's about a month ago on his computer, Secretary of State police said.
University police discovered the driver's licenses were being made when they arrested another SIUC woman who lives in Boomer I.
A University police officer was making a traffic stop early Friday morning in Carbondale when he heard a loud crash. The officer drove to the 100 block of East College Street toward the sound of the crash.
Michelle P. Baker, an 18-year-old Palatine woman was involved in the crash. She showed the officer her SIUC identification and driver's license. But when the officer noticed another form of identification in her possession, police said, the officer questioned her about it.
The identification did not have her name on it and appeared to be fraudulently manufactured, police said.
"I would say that's some pretty astute work on the part of the SIU officer," SIU Police Lt. Todd Sigler said of the officer's observation.
Baker was charged with possession of false identification and taken to the Jackson County Jail.
Meantime, SIU police notified the Secretary of State police.
Authorities said Baker got her identification from Phillip M. Moats, a 19-year-old SIUC student from Peoria. Moats and Baker live two floors apart in the residence hall.
Secretary of State police Friday went to Moats room where he allegedly made about six fake IDs, based on Illinois new digital design. He sold one of them for $30, two for $20 and gave some away.
Moats allegedly sold one of those ID's to 18-year-old Mundeline man, Crosiar Lafollette, who was subsequently charged with possession of a fraudulent identification.
Though Moats only just began making the fake driver's licenses with his computer, the production of "one or 100 is a serious offense" to the Secretary of State, said Randy Nehrt, a state spokesman.
When police searched Moats' room in Boomer I, they confiscated a computer, printer, scanner and false driver's licenses along with marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Justin Rutland, a 19-year-old Schaumburg man, was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in connection with the marijuana and paraphernalia in Moats' room, police said. Rutland lives a floor above Moats.
Secretary of State police said they have leads on the other remaining fake IDs Moats allegedly made.
Moats faces up to three years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine.


It is quite normal to feel sad and miserable at times, but if you feel really down for more than a few weeks and notice that your mood is affecting your everyday life, you are probably suffering from depression. The following well-known acronym, FESTIVAL describes common signs of depression. It is recognised that if you suffer with 5 or more of the symptoms for more than 2 weeks, you should visit your doctor for help.
It's not hard to understand why so many carers suffer from back problems. If your loved one has mobility problems, you probably have to help them out of bed, in and out of chairs, into the bath and onto the loo or commode. These are tasks which no professional is allowed to do without a colleague to share the load.
If the person you care for has had a care assessment, where it has been noticed that help is required for mobility, you should be provided with a mechanical hoist. This doesn't remove all strain from your back but is a great help. Unfortunately, using a hoist is fiddly, unwieldy and time-consuming so carers often resort to moving their loved one manually. Although you may think this is quicker and more pleasant for your loved one, eventually you will harm your back. It makes far more sense to get into the habit of using the hoist. If you do suffer a serious back injury, it will stop you caring for your loved one at all.
Anxiety and stress are other common problems for carers. If you are no longer working, you may be worried about financial problems (the carer's allowance is no compensation for a full-time salary) and if your loved one's condition is deteriorating, you will probably be worrying about the future. You may also be concerned that if your health failed, what would happen to your loved one. Anxiety is an emotion that cannot easily be remedied, but you need to remember that you can only do your best and worrying about the future will not change it.
In our society, we are often labelled and judged by what we do for a living. Although being a carer is a very worthwhile occupation, it is not generally valued or even fully recognised by those who have never experienced it. In addition, it is not a job that you have chosen – you have simply accepted that your loved one needs to be looked after and got on with it. But looking after someone day in, day out is a lonely experience and it is important that you maintain a life for yourself. You may find it rewarding to meet with other carers to discuss common problems and offer support to each other. There are many different carer support groups, some allied to specific illnesses like alzheimers or MS; your doctor or social worker should have details of local groups.
Your health is vital for your loved one's welfare. It is important that you eat a good diet, get exercise and keep your spirits up as much as you can. If you need a break, involve the doctor and social services and make it clear that you need some respite care for your loved one. You are performing a fantastic public duty in devoting your life to caring for another person, but you cannot do it alone. Make sure that to some extent at least, the care is shared and that you can maintain your own health and some outside interests.


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David Borough: "Cool!" by Alex Walsh
David in 1980. Photo: Don Day
David Borough is a songwriter, guitarist, fiddle player, devoted Dead Head, radio DJ, and Local 6 Member. He joined Local 153 (San Jose) in 1979 and continues to play around the Bay Area and beyond.
David Borough decided to become a songwriter under a peppercorn tree in front of the Music Department building at San Jose State University in 1967. He was just coming out of the business school and was on his way to get his motorcycle when he heard a musician named Bing Jensen singing the Phil Ochs song 'Crucifixion'. Transfixed, he sat for hours and talked with Bing about songs and songwriting. Up until that time he had dabbled with folk music, but now he was hooked.
David migrated west from South Bend, Indiana, after seeing a photo of the Grateful Dead playing in Golden Gate Park in a Time magazine article. His older brother had already made the move to San Jose so David thought, "Why not?" His plan was to crash with his brother for a little while and then return home. After a few weeks in San Jose, David borrowed his brother's car and headed for San Francisco's Haight Ashbury district, picking up a few hitchhikers along the way. When they asked him where he was going he said he didn't know exactly. "I had short hair and I was driving my brother's '65 Thunderbird. They said, 'Why don't you come with us?' They brought me to Marx Meadow in Golden Gate Park where the Sons of Champlin were playing. There were hundreds of people just hanging out and having a good time. I thought it was amazing. I knew right then I wasn't going home."
A few weeks later, David saw his first Grateful Dead show at the Fillmore in San Francisco. After that he became a dedicated Dead Head. "Where would I be without that band and what they did? They replaced my birth family. When my dad died in 1972 the Grateful Dead community was my emotional support network. It was very nurturing."
"My first time in the Fillmore, I walk up to the top of the steps and there's Bill Graham. Everybody's walking by and he's looking at people–I'm sure just to see who's going to be a troublemaker. I walked up to him, shook his hand and said, 'Hey Bill, thanks for all the music!' He looked at me and said, 'You're…welcome?' Like no one had ever thanked him for it! It was so cool. I went in to see the Dead and I was blown away."
After college, David worked as a letter carrier for the post office and as a surveyor for the Federal Highway Administration. He says it never occurred to him that he could pursue music as a profession. "Musicians were people you saw on TV or heard on the radio. There was this insane process to get there that I didn't know anything about. For me it just happened organically which I think happens to a lot of us. We're drawn to music and then somebody offers us money to play a wedding."
David at 11
Music was part of everyday life when David was growing up. His grandfather played the fiddle and his father, a doctor in the army, played piano and organ. His mother was a dancer. She passed away when he was nine.
In grade school David played trumpet. In high school he played the accordion but switched to guitar when he went to college. He started at community college in Corpus Christi, Texas, and in 1965 returned home where he enrolled in Indiana University, South Bend.
For the next two years he put music aside and devoted all of his spare time to Go Kart racing. David bought a Go Kart from a local builder and began racing three nights a week on local Go Kart tracks. "Eventually the Go Kart scene developed to where we were racing on sports car tracks at 100mph. I left racing because someone stole my Go Kart, and I was going to California."
When he transferred to San Jose State in 1967, David was studying marketing at the Business School, but after his musical epiphany under the peppercorn tree he switched to the Art Department and eventually graduated with an Art degree. During the 1970s he immersed himself in the counter culture and worked on his music.
In December 1979, David was hired to play his first New Year's Eve gig. He needed a bass player so he called Local 153 where he was encouraged to join by then President Don Houge. "I was already a union man, working on private crews in the South Bay with Operating Engineers Local 3, so it made sense to join." Don referred him to a bass player named Tito dal Porto. They hit it off and decided to form a country band called Maker's Mark. "The scene in San Jose was really jumping. There were a lot of dance halls, bars, and malls that had country music."
In the early 1980s David joined the South Bay Songwriters Association (which later became the West Coast Songwriters Association). He won free studio time at a song competition and was able to make a few recordings. The studio owner, Hewlett Crist, was also a DJ on the now defunct KFAT radio station. He liked David's music and asked him to come by the station to play a few songs. Through this experience, David became interested in radio and began volunteering at KKUP. "Someone asked me to sit in, I think it was a jazz show, at some ungodly hour, like 3:00 in the morning. The program director liked what I was playing and offered me a shift. That started my radio career."
During this time David released two 45s and a cassette of his music. A few years later he made a trek to Nashville to see if anyone would be interested in his songs. "My family invited me to join them at the Kentucky Derby so I went back and as part of my trip I got on a bus and went to Nashville. I walked up and down Music Row knocking on doors. I finally met a publisher who told me what they were looking for–early Eagles. So I spent a good amount of time trying to write songs like the early Eagles."
David felt enlightened a few years later when another publisher told him point blank that he was not a country songwriter; that he wrote folk songs. "That's when I realized I had to get my music out there by myself rather than trying to pitch my songs to other people."
In the late 1980s David started a folk duo with a singer named Lisa Burns. They called themselves BurnsBorough and played folk clubs and retirement homes. He also pursued performing as a solo artist. During this time he developed his photography skills and took promo pictures for local musicians. For a few years he was able to supplement his income by providing photos for corporate newsletters. This work dried up with the advent of digital cameras.
David Borough and Jackie Loken
In the mid-90s David formed a folk/country band with bassist Jackie Loken called Radio Rail. They came up with the name because they were hired by the CA State Railroad Museum to play for their Railfest. "We were riding up and down the Sacramento River on trains. It was lots of fun. Then we got this idea to commemorate the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. We put together a program at the Eagle Theater in Sacramento and Jackie and I opened the show. We sold out the theater for a couple nights."
Radio Rail released a CD in 1997.For the next 15 years, in various forms, David and Jackie performed with Radio Rail every Labor Day in Sacramento for Gold Rush Days. "They took all the cars out of Old Town and everyone dressed in costume. They hired musicians to play in the street and on sidewalks. Originally it was great. They'd give us hotels. That went on for quite a while, up until 2013. Now they don't have a budget for music so we don't do it anymore."
In the late 90s David took a staff position at Local 153 and was soon elected as Secretary of the Local. "I learned so much about the symphonic world, working under CBAs and how different it was from working in a bar. I loved the conventions, Western Conferences, and regional meetings where we worked to better the lives of all working musicians. I was especially interested in helping those in the freelance scene."
Though he voted for the merger with Local 6, David was heartbroken when Local 153 closed. "It was a big change and took a lot of adjustment. I found myself with an abrupt end to my daily structure." David was pleasantly suprised when members continued to call him with questions about contracts, scales, and benefits. "It felt great to still be in the loop. I would always refer calls to the Local 6 office, or to the website. Because Local 6 is so large geographically, I think it would be useful if there was a satellite office or something in the South Bay."
For many years David has been a member of AFM Local 1000, the traveling musicians union which helps singles, duos, and small folk ensembles tour the country. "Over the years I've used Local 1000 contracts and scales for working up in Gold Country with a group called Wind Horse. We play benefits for causes such as saving wild horses and honoring those who lost their lives working in gold mines."
In 2001, David formed Cassady's Hammer, a rock trio where he plays guitar and sings. Inspired by beat icon Neal Cassady and his twirling hammer, they play roadhouses and bars, doing long extended jams and then breaking down to read Jack Kerouac excerpts. David was honored when Neal Cassady's son, John Allen Cassady, joined them for a few gigs.
The O'Davey's Irish Band: David Borough and David Winters. They released a CD, "Raw", in 2005
In 2004, David formed an Irish duo with Local 153 Treasurer David Winters called The O'Davey's Irish Band. They mainly played Irish Pubs in San Francisco. One St. Patrick's Day David recalls playing at Harrington's Pub at the corner of Turk & Larkin during the parade. "It was packed. We loaded in and started our usual set. People were really drunk and falling out. The bartender walks across the bar, fighting the crowd, and comes up to us and tells us to play reels. In other words, 'Stop fooling around with these ballads and hit it!' We start pounding out reels and all of a sudden the crowd parts and we see these teenage girls, about nine of them in rows, in their dance costumes. One of them looks around and smiles at us, waits for the downbeat and then says 'Go!' And they start stepdancing. It was amazing."
Sadly, David Winters passed away unexpectedly in 2014. "I was devastated. We had all these gigs booked. I gave away the work as I simply couldn't bring myself to do it without him. We worked together at Local 153 for fifteen years and played in the O'Davey's for ten years. David was a great friend and a wonderful human being."
Up until recently, David played electric fiddle with O'Craven, a Celtic/ Pirate punk band based in San Jose. It was David's first exposure to the punk scene. "It was a revival of 90s punk. O'Craven drove the scene along with a few other bands. It was very cooperative. If somebody needed an amp you gave them an amp. I remember one time a fellow was playing string bass in a rockabilly band and the bridge popped out. He kept singing and our guys ran in the back, grabbed an electric bass, strapped it on him, plugged it in and he finished the song. That kind of community spirit is fantastic."
Now past age 70, David continues to perform and write songs. He sits on the Board of KKUP and fills in as a DJ on occasion. Every December he produces the Grateful Dead Marathon which helps raise money for KKUP. Even in this current political climate, David is hopeful about the future. As a proud AFM Member, he believes that now is the time for musicians to work together and organize.
"What gets me up in the morning is live performing, collaborating with other musicians, and making that musical connection with the audience. When I'm performing at a farmer's market or some other venue and someone stops to listen and smiles because they get it—that makes it all worth it."
In 2013, David helped form the group Son Patricio: David Borough, fiddle, Jackie Loken, bass, Isidro Jimenez, guitar, Tomas Montoya, Jarana Jarocha "When the Irish came to America in the mid part of the 19th century, pre-civil war, they were often pressed to serve in the army where the officers were of English descent. During the Mexican American war, when the Irish soldiers would get into battle with the Mexican army, they felt they had more in common with the Mexican soldiers, who were Catholic, than with the English officers, who were Protestant. So they changed sides and became the San Patricio's (Saint Patrick's Battalion). When they lost the war, many of the San Patricio soldiers were executed for treason. Today there are commemorative statues in Mexico City and Dublin.
My interest in Irish music led to the formation of a project called Son Patricio which highlights the connection between Ireland and Mexico. With our group Son Patricio we do Mexican and Irish songs. We do a few events around St. Patrick's Day and Cinco De Mayo. The Irish Mexican association hires us for their annual dinner. We wear costumes for that. A lot of things have gotten theatrical where you bring more to it than just the music. It's more work but it pays off with the audience."
"As a participant in our amazing downtown San Jose music scene, I feel that organizing Freelance musicians will prove to be a fruitful area for Local 6 activity. Such organizing will mobilize progressive thinking and activity, create an air of solidarity, and build community. I believe such outreach is imperative, and we simply must undertake this."


text:
Cyber Me A Better World
Without fear and hate: Educate. Be who you are, and share what you know, and help the world open up and GROW!!
Ding Dong the Wicked Terrorist Is Dead..?
When I heard the news, that Osama Bin Laden was killed in a Navy Seals Mission, the music from The Wizard of Oz came unbidden into my head. Some eerie lyrics just started to play there as I listened to the news of people rejoicing in the streets of NYC, at Ground Zero. In my mind's eye, I saw the munchkins, as US citizens, dancing and singing and hugging each other; and it felt surreal. Even as reports came in that he was buried at sea, I almost felt like, this is usually something we haven't had closure to: a public enemy number 1, actually getting caught. It seems strange to celebrate the death of anyone, but there are a few leaders, both dead, alive or fictitious ( Hitler, Omar Al Basir, Darth Vader, for example) which jump readily to mind, that would cause frolicking in the streets. I know that many of my friends, and fellow New Yorkers, who survived the 9/11 attack, are finally able to have closure, but knowing he lived in the lap of luxury in Pakistan, for close to the last 10 years, is disturbing to say the least. There is more to this story, I'm sure, and I hope the last 10 years have not given him the freedom to build his Al-Queda empire with new "Bin Ladens".
In any case, this is a feather in the president's cap. On his watch, our elite forces were able to find him, and that is encouraging.
Posted by Cyber Me If You Can at 7:36 AM
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To celebrate the death of anyone is, to me, very odd. Dancing in the streets, hugging and kissing is a bit much of a reaction but for the death of someone who had a hand in the murders of hundreds of people, justice has been served. Celebrating can be expected as well as paranoia among U.S citizens, especially New Yorkers. On KRON4 this morning it was reported that there is a number of undercover security in airports in New York and even here at SFO.
Brandon P/2 May 3, 2011 at 12:21 AM
Although Osama did horrifying things to our country I feel that celebrating over ones death is disrespectful, it's kind of like a slap in the face to those who actually cared about him. I think this celebrating can create a more likely chance for Osama's supporters to retaliate against us. It would be similar to another country celebrating because they killed our President or someone of that sort. I think Osama's death has also caused a false sense of security for America. Sure there he is dead now, but he has a lot of supporters that have helped him carry out his plans and still have the same beliefs and motives as they did before he died.
Nick U1 May 3, 2011 at 8:07 AM
Celebrating Osama Bin Laden's death among the American nation is insulting to the Al-Qaeda. This death could result in a retaliation from Al-Qaeda. Who knows what Al-Qaeda is capable of doing next from 9/11 to another disaster to our nation which would result for us in a downfall. To be dancing over someone's death and mocking his nation is child's play. For example when a child wins at something against his friend he'll mock his friend saying how he won and he lost. But hopefully in the future Al-Qaeda won't do anything to jeopardize our nation.
1 kelly c May 3, 2011 at 8:17 AM
Celebrating the death of a person is extremely disrespectful. Although we see that Osama has damaged the security of the United States, we still should respectfully celebrate in his culture. This way, we would not offend the people that had cared for him previously. Although people now feel some sense of security, there are still many terrorists out there. We cannot just focus on the one person that caused damage to our nation ten years ago, but we must focus on the people that will damage our nation in the future. There are many people out there that can potentially terrorize our country and a war out in the middle east; so I don't think the death of Osama should be the reason to start celebrating, or to celebrate at all, considering we have many more problems to worry about as a nation.
Mike R/1 May 3, 2011 at 8:27 AM
I personally think it is okay to celebrate the death of a terrorist that caused so many deaths of americans but there has to be a limit to our celebration. Just because one terrorist is dead that doesn't mean that every single terrorist going to stop trying to harm people. Yes it is true that many of family members that lost someone in 9/11 can have some closure finally. But I guarantee that most of them will still be on alert because they know that there are still things to worry about. It was said that people were dancing in the street for the death os Osama but what happened to worrying about our economy problems, wars and more. I do not think we have time to celebrate one persons death. Another subject I want to shine my light on is that it is still shocking that we let him live in Pakistan for the last 10 years. In the end we just ended up charging in there with guns blazing and did not even want capture him. I completely agree that killing him was the best thing to do because if we kept him alive and brought him back to America. What would we do with him, a trail, jail, or just keep him a alive for a while. We had no reason to bring him back but it took us 10 years to do that. We don't know how many terrorist organizations that we could of stopped if we just killed him earlier so he would have no time to contribute money to other terrorist groups.
Brenda1 May 3, 2011 at 8:32 AM
I also think that celebrate the death of anyone is disrespectful and ridiculous, even though Osama did so many horrible things. I understand that he was the blamer for many deaths but also we don't have to be like his way, how? To celebrate the death of others. Also I think if that we don't have to be happy about it it is on the contrary because as we know he has many supporters and after his death there is another one after him so now his supporters has another leader, not only one so many people. We have to be worry because now may be his supporters are thinking about a new bad thing against U.S.A.
Another good point is that we are not yet if he is death or alive. I won't be sure until I see his remains.
Melissa 1,2 May 3, 2011 at 8:44 AM
After the death of Osama Bin Laden, people were dancing in the streets, celebrating as if we had won the war. But in my opinion, the war is still far from over. Americans should hold off celebrating just yet since Bin Laden's followers could potentially retaliate against us. I understand why 9/11 victims and their families would feel relief and closure from the death of Bin Laden, however, celebrating anyone's death is just very strange to me. Don't get me wrong, the death of Bin Laden was necessary, but he had many supporters who are probably in mourning over his death, and to be celebrating over it is very disrespectful.
Monique/1 May 6, 2011 at 12:30 AM
It is true that the fact that Osama Bin Laden is now out of the way and is no longer one of many problems of the United States. Our country's reaction to his death was ver disrespectful because even though he has caused great pain to our country, he is still loved by someone in his country. By acting out upon happiness of his death, may stir up angry feelings within the Al Qaeda. The United States does not need any more enemies. I think that just because Osama Bin Laden is now dead, it doesn't change the fact that our troops are still over seas. This man that we have been looking for, has now been found, but this war isn't over. Our country has been celebrating prematurely, there are still many outcomes that could come of his death. Until the war is over and our troops are back home, there is not a reason to be dancing in the streets just because one terrorist is dead. There are many more out there who have their reasons for being against each other and they ALL have the potential to hurt another.
Ricky1 May 6, 2011 at 12:07 PM
I agree with some comments above me. I really don't think it is disrespectful that we are celebrating his death, after all he never thought of "respect" when he decided to plan the 9/11 attack. Of course, just because he is dead does not mean that the war is over. This is barely starting and it is good that this country is taking on the initiative of thinking ahead and securing the airports, trains etc. Many people think that he might not be dead and that it is fake because no pictures have been put out there, but thats just gross. If he wasn't dead I think that Al-Qaeda would have already spoken out against that, especially since he was their main leader.
Noe/2 May 13, 2011 at 9:42 AM
I think being relieved that one of the people on the most wanted list has been found. I don't think that we should be happy and celebrating his death. I heard in the news people took the day off to go party and celebrate. I get that a lot of families are happy that he is gone and justice has been served to those who lost family and friends on 9/11. But we shouldn't be out parading the streets, it feels pretty disrespectful to do so.
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Evan Horowitz
Exploring the tunnels in Gaza
By Evan Horowitz Globe Staff,August 15, 2014, 2:10 p.m.
A series of fragile cease-fires has replaced the month-long battle between Israel and Hamas. If a more permanent truce now seems within reach, that is partly because Israel has achieved one of its major strategic objectives. It controls the network of underground tunnels that Hamas has been using to stage surprise attacks on military personnel inside Israel.
From the beginning, these tunnels have been at the center of the renewed violence in Gaza. But what kind of tunnels are we talking about?
If you're imagining narrow passages of hollowed-out earth, think again. These are deep, concrete structures that took years to build. They are both difficult to detect and difficult to destroy.
What do these tunnels look like? And how many are there?
The tunnels go as deep as 75 feet below the surface. From there, they can extend for upwards of one mile and are often wide enough for people to move past each other in opposite directions. They carry electricity and include adjoining rooms. And for concealment, entrances and exits tend to be located inside homes and other structures.
The Israelis claim to have located over 30 tunnels since the fighting began. To date, roughly half of these have been destroyed, and the rest have been effectively neutralized.
How did Hamas build these tunnels?
Hamas fighters seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 after a struggle with Fatah, the other major Palestinian faction. At that time, Egypt -- which also shares a boundary with Gaza -- sealed its side of the border, partly to show support for Fatah but also to prevent violence from spilling into its territory.
The closing of the Gaza-Egypt border severely restricted the movement of people and goods. Hamas responded by building a series of smuggling tunnels to bring goods into Gaza from the Egyptian side. By one estimate, roughly $700 million of materials moves through the tunnels each year, which would amount to nearly 10 percent of the Gaza economy.
The expertise Hamas developed building and maintaining these smuggling tunnels helped them construct the offensive tunnels into Israel.
When did Israel learn about the tunnels
Although Israel seems to have underestimated the size and sophistication of the offensive tunnels that now run under its border, it has known about the existence of some of these tunnels since 2006. That's the year an Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas militants who had entered Israel through an underground tunnel.
Shalit was eventually returned to Israel as part of a prisoner exchange in 2011. Destroying the tunnels didn't become a top military priority until the recent fighting, when their full scope and tactical value became clear.
Has Hamas used the tunnels for other attacks?
Over the course of the last month, Hamas fighters have used the tunnels to stage a series of raids against Israeli military outposts and personnel, killing roughly 10 Israeli soldiers.
To date, the tunnels have not been used in terrorist attacks against civilians, but that remains a pressing concern among Israelis.
Are the tunnels easy to destroy?
Not at all. Egypt has tried repeatedly to destroy the less-sophisticated smuggling tunnels running under its border, without much success. In 2013, it even tried flooding the tunnels with raw sewage.
The offensive tunnels that cross into Israel are too deep to detect or destroy from the air. To tragger a collapse, they have to be mined with explosives. Sometimes this is done by having Israeli soldiers and engineers go through the tunnels and place charges. In other cases, holes can be drilled from the surface and explosives lowered into place, which helps limit risks and avoid boobytraps.
Even if they can be destroyed, though, there's a question about whether Hamas will rebuild the tunnels as soon as Israeli troops depart. To prevent that, Israel is considering a variety of approaches, including an underground system of fiber-optic cables and microphones.
For years now, Israel and Hamas have been playing a kind of cat and mouse game. When Israel built a wall to stop suicide bombers from entering Israel, Hamas increased its investment in rocket technology. As Israel's "Iron Dome" anti-missile system got more effective, Hamas went underground and built a robust tunnel network. If Israel now succeeds in cutting off all tunnel attacks, Hamas may shift its tactics yet again.
Source: Haaretz.com>
More from Evan Horowitz:
Is it time for President Mike Bloomberg?
What if the polls are wrong?
How far can the stock market fall?
With opioids, can you fight addiction without causing pain?
Will the GE move really make a difference?
Evan Horowitz digs through data to find information that illuminates the policy issues facing Massachusetts and the U.S. He can be reached at evan.horowitz@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeHorowitz.
Moving on from last year's dysfunction, Wyc Grousbeck energized by Celtics' newest additions


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text:
Q: How can I detect mobile devices (and/or mobile cookie) without scripting (PHP) or server configuration (Nginx)? We are launching a mobile version of our website very soon. Our full website and mobile website are different only in theme, i.e. URLs are the same, only difference is on the front-end.
We need to be able to do the following when a user visits our site:
1. Check a cookie (mobile == true OR false) to determine if full vs. mobile preference has already been defined (by user manually or by detection on our end).
2. If no mobile cookie is set, detect user's device on first page view and set mobile cookie to true or false.
3. Serve the appropriate experience, full or mobile, based on results of #1 and/or #2.
Initially I was using PHP to detect devices which works fine. However, our site utilizes extreme full HTML caching on the home page and some other pages (.html files are written to a folder in our web root and if Nginx finds them they are served instead of the request going through PHP - cache is cleared every 15 minutes) so I cannot rely on PHP to detect a mobile device from our main point of user entry (as far as I know at this point...).
Not being able to rely on PHP, I then put the mobile cookie check and device detection into the Nginx configuration file (Apache locally for me while developing, translated by our server guy for Nginx). However, our server management folks got back to us saying the performance hit from the new Nginx configuration file would be large (and "performance hit" is a 4-letter word in our office).
Basically I'm being told full HTML caching of the home page has to stay in place and that I can't change the Nginx configuration file at all. Is there another method for cookie/device detection I could utilize given the restrictions in place from above?

A: You could use javascript.
Try this: http://detectmobilebrowsers.com/

A: I've used this neat trick with CSS media queries and JavaScript in the past...
Right before your site's closing  tag:

In your CSS file:
@media screen and (max-device-width: 768px) {
  #mobiledetect {
    text-transform: uppercase;
  }
}

In your JavaScript file (depends on jQuery, but you could modify it):
$(function() {
  $is_mobile = false;
  if($('#mobiledetect').css('text-transform') == 'uppercase') {
    $is_mobile = true;
  }
});


text:
Last week I married the woman I met by email just two years ago. She's Australian, and most of our friendship was established in cyberspace before we actually met. I still remember the strange tension of seeing Cathy for the first time after months of correspondence; virtual presence suddenly become incarnate. Not exactly a theophany, but there was a shepherd there (a Baptist pastor, to be honest).
Less than two years later, in the midst of a Dunedin summer, I married her. It was a small wedding down by the sea. We wanted to avoid the fuss and expense of a huge ceremony in order to make it more meaningful. We climbed the cliffs at the end of St Clair beach, and there with the wind ruffling our hair and the waves crashing in against the rocks, certain words were exchanged.
Yes, I married Cathy. To Andrew, who is her new husband. My wife was present. It's handy to be a celebrant, and available to help out your friends. This is not the story of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, manufactured by the dream factories of Hollywood. On the other hand, it is a very fin de siecle story. I think it says something about being human at this end of the century. Let me tell you how it happened.
Andrew is something of a retro-hippie. He wears bare feet wherever possible. Cathy describes him as a pirate, partly because of his long beard, and partly because of his bucacneering character. He changed his surname to Lorien, a la The Lord of the Rings, and his signature is a delightful elfin combination of squiggles and dots. He rides a bicycle through inner-city Sydney.
Although he works in the Customs service, that tells you little about Andrew's life. He enjoys the work, but his real passions are food and computer programming and theatre and improvised music and alternative worship. For many years now he has been a part of Plunge, a community of mostly Christian people seeking to be church in a way that makes sense to them. He suggests that in these times, perhaps we should be of the church but not in it.
Cathy is/was a Christian cyberpunk. When I first encountered her, she had bright green hair. In earlier years she stomped angrily around the world, preserving her fragile insights by creating a protective force-field of antagonism. For a while she encamped in a cave on the remote mountains of cyberia. And then, like a techno-prophet, she came down from the hills to spread dreams of a different way of Christian gathering.
Now she is a central part of Café Church, a weekly community with the byline 'Life's too short to drink instant.' It is like no church you've ever seen before. The broken moth it with their dusty wings. Cathy is an artist and a photographer, who earns money by free-lancing in graphic design. But the real story of her life is glimpsed in the tribe of tropical fish she cares for, the films she watches over and over, and the late-morning breakfasts at the Craven café across the road.
WORDS BY MIKE
DESIGN BY CATHY
PROGRAMMING BY ANDREW
After they fell in love, which took the best part of two days, Cathy and Andrew didn't know what to do. They found themselves in a pulsating flux of expectation, the name of which was marriage. For months and months they wrestled with it. They talked to friends, consulted their communities, talked long into the night. They turned the idea over, held up to the light, and looked in vain for a way to make it fit.
Here was the nub of the problem: how to live together with each other and God, and yet avoid all the sub-scripted agenda which goes with being married. They'd watched friends marry and move out to occupy isolated encampments distant from the tribe that once sustained them. Both had experienced the horror of observing the 'big wedding', where a couple became passive actors in a grand drama circling about them. This was to be avoided more than an early-morning session with Benny Hinn.
So it was that we set out from home on a Friday morning on the ten minute walk to the beach. There were six of us in total. On the way to our destination, we passed a road sign which said 'Extreme Care', and another that advised 'No Exit'. Undeterred, we clambered our way up to a rocky crag above the wild southern ocean. It felt very much as if we were on the edge of the world, and of course, we were.
We took a moment to acknowledge the presence of God. I spoke of some of the reasons we were there, and acknowledged the crowd of unseen witnesses. All their friends and family had been told the day before (by email) that this was to be the day. Then Cathy and Andrew spoke to each other. Not the prescribed and rehearsed words common on such occasions. They spoke from their hearts.
Cathy told of her journey toward Andrew, and of some of the painful experiences along the way. She spoke of her generation walking on the shards of broken promises, and how difficult it was to hope, let alone promise her life to another. Andrew had been married before. He reflected on how it was now to be committing himself again after one set of promises had proved impossible. With a tenderness tinged with realism, he retraced the way in which his life had led him to Cathy.
The wind tugged, the sea churned, the gulls cried. We cried. I told them they were now married. We prayed for the help of God in meeting the demands of an unknown future. It was one of those times when the present nuzzles up to eternity. Afterwards we went to a café called 'The Church' which is located in a very fine building which was once a church. At least you could now get good coffee there. It's a sign of the times, as someone may have once said.


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There are 357 rooms and suites located in low rise, single-story buildings set in tropical gardens.
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Premium One Bedroom Suite (previously One Bedroom Garden View Suite) – Offer a spacious bedroom with an adjoining living room, some separated with louvered French doors. The bedroom flows into a large vanity area. Bathrooms with walk-in showers can be requested. Accommodates max 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children 0-16yrs sharing 1 kings size double and a double sofa bed, or 2 adults and 3 children with the 3rd child on a single rollaway bed.
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Seven freshwater swimming pools, including two adult-only and one with a 100ft waterslide.
The Cove – International all day restaurant offering buffet-style dining, with themed buffet dinners. British-style high tea is served every afternoon.
Waterside Creole Grill – Offers a selection of classic Creole cuisine, overlooking the Caribbean Sea; open for breakfast and dinner.
Cafe Asia – Authentic Asian cuisine, including Thai, Japanese and Chinese flavors. This restaurant is open for dinner only and exclusively for guests over 16yrs old.
La Trattoria – A casual and relaxed Italian restaurant serving pizzas, handmade pastas and salads; open for lunch and dinner.
In addition there is a weekly traditional Caribbean Beach Barbeque.
When dining, closed in shoes must be worn, bathing suits must be covered and men must not wear tank tops or sleeveless shirts. For dinner, after 6.30pm men have to wear pants and women have to wear dresses, pants or culottes (no shorts or short outfits) at the 3 a la carte restaurants, and closed in shoes must also be worn. The Cove restaurant offers a more relaxed and informal dining experience and dress shorts are permitted for dinner.
Please note that as of 1st August 2014 the resort is managed by Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts.


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