text:
\section{Introduction}

During the largest solar flare, of a few minutes duration, the particle flux escaping the corona eruption, and hitting later on the Earth, is of 3-4 order of magnitude above the common atmospheric CR  background. If the flare particle interactions on the Sun corona is taking place as efficiently as they do in our terrestrial atmosphere, than their earliest proton-proton scattering, their pion  secondaries  and their muons decays ejected in solar corona are leading to a prompt neutrino fluency on Earth comparable to one day integral terrestrial atmospheric
neutrino activity (upper Bound).
One therefore may expect a prompt increase of the neutrino signals of the order of one day integral events (of atmospheric neutrinos)
made by such rarest solar flare neutrinos. Therefore there may exist a prompt solar flare neutrino astronomy.
\cite{Fargion_2003, Fargion_2004, Fargion_2006}.
In present neutrino detectors the signal is just on the edge, but as long as the authors know, it has been never revealed
\cite{Fargion_2004, Fargion_2006}. Sun density at the flare corona might be diluted and pion production maybe consequently suppressed by a factor 0.1-0.05 with respect to terrestrial atmosphere, leading to a signal at few percent the expected one under the
above considerations. This may be the reason for the SK null detection. Indeed the low Gamma signals recently reported
\cite{Grechnev 2008} confirm this suppressed signal, but just at the detection edge. Unfortunately the neutrino
signal at hundred MeV energies is rare while the one at ten MeV or below is polluted by Solar Hep neutrinos. The expected
signal is dominated by 10-30~MeV neutrinos, that might be greatly improved by anti-neutrino component via
Gadolinium presence in next SK detectors \cite{Fargion_2006}. Our earliest (2006) upper limit estimate for October - November 2003
solar flares and the recent January 20th 2005 exceptional flare were leading to signal near unity for Super-
Kamiokande and to several events well above unity for any future Megaton detector.

\begin{figure}[!t]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[scale=0.27]{Fig1b.eps}
\caption{The whole electron anti neutrino spectra without the main solar neutrino noise. The different flavor energy threshold is also marked by the arrows.} \label{Fig1b}
\end{center}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[!t
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=12cm]{Fig2.eps}
\caption{The whole muon anti.neutrino spectra with the main solar neutrino component almost absent. The different flavor energy threshold is also marked by arrows. The absence of solar neutrino noise makes antineutrino detection an  ideal tool to disentangle the solar flare signal} \label{Fig2}
\end{center}
\end{figure}
\section{Why it is so relevant for us}

One of the basic reason to have a neutrino solar flare astronomy is to discover in an independent way the
solar neutrino flavor oscillation and mix, even taking into account the MSW effect in peculiar configuration.
However, the social argument in favor of a solar neutrino detection is the possibility to have a prompt alarm system
both for any robotic, in orbit satellite (for communication, military, scientific detection) but in particular for the
human pilot or astronaut in flight. The Earth magnetic field may partially screen such a huge solar flare, but an astronaut in flight, for instance, just to our Moon are at life risk. The possibility to have a very rapid  alarm may allow the astronauts, for example, to immerse themselves immediately inside an inner large water reserve container, able to screen them from the intense GeVs energy solar wind that would strike half an hour later. The Martial mission may deeply depend on the ability to foresee, inform and protect the astronauts flight by a fast and prompt solar neutrino detection \cite{Fargion_2011}.

\begin{figure}[!t
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[scale=0.49]{Fig3.eps}
\caption{The observed gamma spectra in brightest solar flare offering a lower bound in neutral pion production and consequently the lower bound for solar flare neutrino} \label{Fig3}
\end{center}
\end{figure}
\section{Where and why solar neutrino flare may be soon observed}

Indeed large size neutrino detectors (1, 2, 10 Megaton) at GeVs up to ten GeV (HK, PINGU, DeepCore) are just
recording data or are under construction; ten GeV is a moderate high energy but hardest solar
flare have been observed up to tens GeV gamma energy. Moreover, even a few GeV  detectors, may soon be born (HK japan, HK Korea). Our recent estimate based on a lower (gamma) bound of neutrino signal, while below the upper ones, still confirms the order
of magnitude and the near edge discovery. The recent peculiar solar flares as the October-November
2003 and January 2005  \cite{Fargion_2006}  were source of high energetic charged particles: large fraction of these primary particles,
became a source of both neutrons \cite{Fargion_2004} and secondary kaons, $K$, pions, $\pi^{\pm}$ by their particle-particle spallation
on the Sun surface. Consequently,  final secondaries muon and electronic neutrinos and anti-neutrinos, are released by the chain reactions
occurring on the sun atmosphere. There are two different sites for these decays: 1) A brief and sharp solar
flare, originated within the solar corona itself and 2) a diluted and delayed terrestrial neutrino flux, produced by late flare particles hitting the Earth's atmosphere. This latter
delayed signal is of poor physical interest, like an inverse missing signal during the Forbush phase. The
main and first solar flare neutrinos reach the Earth with a well defined directionality and within a narrow time range.
Their corresponding average energies  suffer negligible energy loss. The opposite occur to downward flare. In the
simplest approach, the main source of pion production is the common scattering
$p+p$ making a $\Delta^+$ mostly at its center of mass (of the resonance) whose mass value is
$m_{\Delta^+}=1232$~MeV. As a first approximation and as a useful simplification after the needed boost of the secondaries
energies one may assume that the total pion Delta energy is equally distributed, in average, in all its four final remnants each at an average 30~MeV energy. The consequent spectra for largest solar flare  are described with the corresponding future detector mass (1, 5, 10 Megaton) threshold  respectively for HK in Japan, HK in Korea, PINGU and DeepCore in IceCube, see Fig.\ref{Fig1}.

\subsection{Solar neutrino flares above GeV energy: the muon track amplifier}

The near future and the present Megaton neutrino detector might be able to reveal the
solar neutrino flare; as shown in Fig.\ref{Fig1}. one may note that the imprint of the anti neutrino electron
 is much clean because of the silent solar thermonuclear emission or noise Fig.\ref{Fig1b}. This imply that also Gadolinium enhanced Megaton detector may play a role in Solar Flare and possibly in Relic SN neutrinos signals.  Above the GeV energy the appearance of the first solar flare muon neutrinos will be revolutionary: it has never been observed the second lepton signal, the muon neutrino, by any star, yet. Moreover there is a remarkable enhanced effect for muons.  The muon track in water extend nearly 5 meters for each GeV of energy, almost in linear growth. The possibility to observe along the edges of the SK or HK container external muon (through going muons) that are pointing to the sun during the flare may increase the effective volume by a significant factor. For instance at 10 GeV the eventual solar flare may double the SK volume and (because of the 2.5 rock density), it may even make three times a larger detection volume. The same amplify effect in HK is less remarkable because of the wider HK container sizes; nevertheless at several GeV muon tracks may amplify solar neutrino flare detection even twice the nominal detector mass. See Figg.\ref{Fig2}, \ref{Fig3}; in comparison note the observed  large gamma flare in Fig.\ref{Fig3}

 \section{Conclusions}
The solar flare neutrino is at hand. Its detection is well within Deep Core, Pingu, HK, detector system.
The absence of detection in SK may be due to a low mass density in the outer flare propagation mass ejection.
However there is also a prompt gamma signal that imply a neutrino one that it may or better say must be observed in largest Megaton neutrino detector. Its discover will offer the first nearest neutrino hadronic imprint in modern neutrino Astronomy.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


If you could accomplish one big goal or create one new habit in the next year, what would it be?
What important aspirations do you have to improve your life, your career, or your health?
For me, it's to continue writing and publishing more books on Kindle.
Also, I'd like to lose some weight and increase my running speed and distance.
Big goals can feel overwhelming, especially when they're physically or mentally taxing and require a lot of time to complete.
If you think about losing 20 pounds, for example, you know you have weeks or months of dieting and exercise ahead of you. Just beginning the goal drains your energy when you think about the sacrifices and hard work ahead of you.
In my Sticky Habits Course, I teach students to break these big goals into small, manageable habits — and then to begin their habit work with very small increments of time (only 5 minutes in the first week). By starting small and increasing your time slowly, your odds of creating a sustainable habit are dramatically improved.
There are many other skills involved in successfully creating a new habit, but today I want to talk about the importance of some keystone habits.
Keystone habits are foundational behaviors that you can build on to create a cluster of good habits. Once you establish these core habits you will see a domino effect that will start a cascade of new and positive changes in your life.
This phenomenon is real and was first outlined by bestselling author Charles Duhigg who wrote The Power of Habits: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business.
In his book, Duhigg discusses the concept of keystone habits to your life to actually streamline all of the other goals you want to achieve.
Keystone habits are big or small changes that make success in many aspects of life far easier, regardless of the circumstances you face.
These habits unlock a cascade of other positive behavior changes with far less effort than establishing a single habit from the ground up. If you have big goals you want to achieve or even small habits you are considering, first consider tackling some keystone habits to simplify your endeavors.
What if you work on a particular small, positive change and suddenly you find yourself making other positive life changes?
How can keystone habits help you succeed with habit formation?
Exercise is an obvious keystone habit, but it's good to know research backs this up. A landmark study has shown that exercise facilitates the desire to make a variety of other positive changes like eating better, being more productive, smoking less, spending less, and feeling less stressed.
And it doesn't have to be much exercise. Even as little as once a week is enough to kickstart these other changes.
However, a better way to approach the exercise habit is starting with just 5 minutes a day, every day, until the habit is established.
Taking just a few minutes to write down everything you've eaten during the day has many unexpected positive consequences.
You begin to notice patterns in your eating and see with clarity exactly how much you're eating. In studies, those who journaled their food intake began to eat less, make healthier choices, and begin a weight loss program.
Some keystone habits have a positive effect on the habits of your family members. Eating family meals has been shown to give children a leg up with homework skills, better grades, confidence, and emotional control.
Do you make your bed in the morning? If not this very brief and simple habit has been correlated to more productivity, a sense of well-being, and budgeting skills.
Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimmer who is the most decorated Olympian in history with 19 Olympic medals, credits his focus and success on the power of visualizing a perfect swim before he jumps in the pool. Says Phelps in a 2012 interview with The Telegraph, "Now I have gotten back into the rhythm of it, of seeing what I want to see, seeing what I don't want to see, seeing what I possibly could see.
I'm trying to picture it all, everything I possibly can so that I'm ready for anything that happens." Visualization has been shown to support increased performance in all areas of your life when applied to the desired outcome.
Actively changing your mindset to view your life and circumstances from a negative to a positive point of view creates an attitude of confidence and energy that promotes many other positive habits.
If you practice the habit of positive thinking, even when you don't feel positive, you will eventually change your mood and outlook — and this impacts your desire to perform a variety of other behaviors that improve your life.
When you get in the habit of planning your goals and priorities for the following day, you commit to specific actions that are productive and positive. When you write down these daily goals, you are far more likely to complete them.
These are certainly not the only keystone habits that impact positive change. In fact, you can probably think of many behaviors in your life that impacted a waterfall of new behaviors.
When you're ready to undertake a big goal or a new habit, consider choosing a keystone habit first. Once you accomplish this keystone habit, you may find you easily and naturally follow suit with the original goal. You'll expend far less mental energy and have several habits and goals under your belt as a result.
Did you find this keystone habits list helpful?
Would you like to help others learn about creating new habits?
Would you be willing to send out some love to your friends and family? Please share this post on your preferred social media platform.
Absolutely loved all of your tips. The one about exercise motivating you to make other positive changes was particularly interesting to me. One of my biggest pieces of advice to people who ask my thoughts on improving their lives is making stress management a top priority. When we feel good, we want to make decisions that keep us feeling good; the changes we need to make don't seem so hard, or we don't seem as resistant to them because we have a stronger desire to get whatever lies on the other other side of these choices. The idea of breaking things down into smaller bits is important. When something seems too big, we make that interesting decision to do absolutely nothing. And smaller goals allow for a steady stream of progress, which is a huge motivator. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! The bed making thing…guess my mom really did know what she was talking about! And oh yes, the family that eats together, ritual, routine, daily we ate dinner together and sometimes breakfast. Yep mom, smart, smart, smart.


Phuket is the largest and most visited island in Thailand and easily lives up to its flashy nickname – The Pearl of the Andamans, with its fine weather, beautiful sandy beaches and pumping nightlife. Most tourists head for the west coast beaches, in particular buzzing Patong, which is loaded with hotels, restaurants and bars. Karon, Kata and Kamala are other well-known beaches where entertainment options are numerous day or night.
Phuket also has plenty of stunning natural attractions, such as the colourful reef systems just offshore, and you'll find all the water sports action you can handle. The best thing about Phuket is that it is large enough to accommodate thousands of tourists at any one time, as well as being petite enough to explore on a motorbike in a day.
Despite what you may have heard, there is a beach for everyone on Phuket; from noisy, hedonistic Patong to the easier going climes of Kata Noi and Surin beaches, south and north respectively.
Karon beach, just south of Patong, is slightly more laid-back than its bustling neighbour yet is a bit nondescript as far as beaches go, while Kata (heading south again) has a gorgeous beach, bags of charm and just the right amount of entertainment.
All the beaches south of Kata are nice and quiet, while north of Patong and Kamala are quieter beaches still, such as exclusive Surin, sweeping lagoon-backed Bang Tao, and sleepy Nai Yang.
Another highlight in Phuket is the capital city, Phuket Town. Located towards the south of the island, directly east of Patong, Phuket Town is one of bustling markets and a genuine old Thai character with its Sino-Portuguese architecture and Chinese herbal clinics.
Family attractions in Phuket: those with kids might like to head to Phuket Fantasea in Kamala beach, an extravaganza that is part Thai culure, part Vegas show, but certainly well done, with its themed venue.
On the other side of the island is the slightly overrated Phuket Zoo near Chalong, alterantively the Phuket Aquarium in Cape Panwa is far better value. For culture vultures Wat Chalong, in the middle of the island, is the most striking Buddhist temple and pagoda on Phuket.
Those who venture out and decide to hire a car or scooter should check out some of Phuket's many viewpoints.
Promthep Cape at the extreme south of the island is the main one, and although a little on the crowded side the sunsets here are great.
The viewpoint from above Kata Noi beach of Kata and Karon, before you reach Promthep Cape (heading south), is particularly beautiful.
The Big Buddha offers one of Phuket most beautiful views the island. It has 360 panorama of south Phuket and one can see Phuket Town, Kata, Karon beaches, Chalong Bay from here.
There are also some stunning destinations within easy reach of Phuket and tours go from all major beach resort areas.
Boat tours run regularly to the Phi Phi Islands, to the southwest, while just north is the otherworldly seascape of Pha Nga Bay, with its karst pillars.
A slew of national parks and pretty countryside is also open to the discerning tourist in and around Phuket.
Phuket has some decent shopping although those familiar with northern Thailand's amazing handicraft markets may be slightly disappointed.
That said you can always pick up some good swimwear products and cheap clothing, as well as the obligatory silk and cottons.
Seafood is naturally big in Phuket, especially within the main resorts of Patong, Karon and Kata, while traditional Thai noodles and a myriad of markets offer cheap single-dish meals.
The cuisine of Phuket is typically southern and there are some fantastic specialised fish dishes and curries to be had.
Restaurant prices along the beach in Patong are relatively steep.
Phuket is known throughout Thailand for its legendary nightlife and you can thank Patong for that. There are literally hundreds of bars along a few central streets in Patong as well as a huge number of go-go bars and pumping nightclubs. Girlie bars exist in just about every corner of Phuket, but if it's cultured dining and drinking you want, head to Phuket Town.
Phuket is one of the most expensive places in Thailand, close behind Bangkok and Ko Samui. Average room prices in Phuket generally run into the thousands of baht while restaurants are also expensive, due to catering mainly to foreigners. By all means tip in Thailand but don't feel obliged, and don't tip for bad quality or bad service.
Phuket has an international airport, which receives direct flights from some long haul cities, as well as from throughout Thailand and other Southeast Asian cities. Transport options to hotels and resorts from Phuket International Airport include buses, minivans, and meter taxis. Hire cars are also readily available and can be booked online ahead of time to boot.
Songthaew are red, glorified pick-up trucks that provide inter-resort travel around Phuket, while tuk-tuk (motorised rickshaws) are the main mode of transport within resorts. Always haggle the latter. Alternatively renting a scooter is practical and easy but drive carefully!
December to April is the least humid and driest time in Phuket and is thus the busiest, and if you plan on arriving during the peak season make sure you book flights and hotels way in advance. The rains hit from May onwards and this is when you will find better deals on hotels, and it doesn't always rain.
Although a major tourist destination, Phuket is a safe place yet there are obvious dangers to be aware of as well as annoyances to avoid. Be very careful with kids in the sea if visiting Phuket between May and October, as this is the monsoon season when strong currents and heavy surf hit. Phuket has a high road traffic accident rate, mainly owing to careless drivers and steep roads, while pickpockets, touts and flower sellers are an issue in Patong.


text:
Sign Up Free Start Here Skills Gear Preparedness Food Off-Grid About Us
Survival For Modern Society
Search The Survival Journal
Home / Survival Skills
How To Build a Dugout Shelter
Last Updated August 12, 2020 by Editorial Staff
One of the core pillars of Bushcraft is being able to build shelters in the wilderness. In this post, you're going to learn how to build a dugout shelter.
One of the oldest types of housing, dugout shelters, or sniper holes is the key to survival when you are stuck in the wild. Dugout houses work as a shield to wild animals and the cold of the night by stabilizing the temperature and hiding you from the sight of dangerous creatures.
Whether it's adventure lovers or tough soldiers of war, dugout houses have helped millions of them survive from various risky scenarios. The right structure, design, and components will help you survive in case you find yourself stuck in a hostile environment in the wild. Having a safe shelter is surely the most essential element of survival, and that's why it's great to learn how to build a dugout shelter for yourself.
A sharp object (The most important item you need to get started with the process is something sharp that breaks the ground).
A shovel to get the digging going.
An ax or another sharp tool to cut branches or scout for already scattered ones.
Leaves for working up the roof.
Look Out For The Right Spot
Make Bedding
Retain The Walls
It's easy to build a dugout shelter, especially if you are planning to work up a temporary one. In fact, you can create your dugout house while you are actually on the move, or simply while you are preparing for the same. It might not feel too comfortable, but it surely works as a safe-spot when needed.
Once you search for the right spot to build your shelter, the whole idea is to make a big hole in the ground and transform it into the dugout house. The digging is followed by reinforcing the walls, lastly, building a roof over the burrow. Below is a detailed description of each of the steps that go into the making of a dugout shelter.
Step 1) Look Out for the Right Spot
First and foremost, you need to find a spot where the soil is not too sandy. The idea is to settle for an area where you can easily break apart the soil or ground. The process requires lots of digging and you need to look for a spot where the soil seems to holds together firmly. Make sure you don't start building the dugout shelter around a water body as it can allow water to flow in your shelter if you accidentally create a hole.
Step 2) Digging
Working up a dugout shelter calls for a lot of digging to allow enough space for you and your companions. The idea is to dig a furrow that's around 8-10 feet deep while leaving a slope to use as the pathway for entrance and exit. Once you are done with the digging, remove the soil from the area so that no one learns that someone built a dugout. Set the top layer soil or dirt aside.
Step 3) Make Bedding
You can't sleep on the cold hard floor in the dugout, and that's why it's necessary to make bedding using debris and leaves inside the shelter. Depending on your comfort, build a nest-like crib, which will also serve the purpose of keeping your body warm. Make sure you don't alter the surrounding vegetation to make the shelter blend with the environment naturally.
Step 4) Retain The Walls
It's essential to retain the walls of the dugout using properly stacked sandbags. You can use the soil that you just dig up, or simply go for broken branches or dead trees, rocks, or similar things that you find around.
Step 5) Roofing
The last step is to do the roofing over the furrow using branches or logs. To cover it thoroughly, make sure to add enough debris and leaves which creates a camouflage for the shelter. Laying soil across the rood of the structure will help everything blend in and keep you protected from unwanted elements.
Avoid using the same route to the shelter every time to prevent an evident trail from developing. Additionally, keep the exit and entrance pathway uncovered to ensure a quick escape in an emergency or risky situation.
Dugout homes can be a boon when it comes to survival in harsh weather, a pressing situation, or an emergency in the wilderness. Although building this temporary housing can be tiring, it's not a tough task to get it done. If you are prepared to make that effort and dig for a dugout shelter, the end results are going to be worth all the time and effort as it will keep you protected and warm at the same time.
I hope you liked this post on how to build a dugout shelter. If you did, you may also like our guide on bushcraft survival skills.
Editorial Staff at The Survival Journal is a team of survival experts in a range of survival expertise from wilderness survival, disaster preparedness, to preparing for the next financial collapse.
Must Read Survival Resources
Survival LibraryWild Animal Attacks Paracord Knots Survival Gear Survival Garden Disaster Preparedness
Gray Man: How To Be Invisible In a Crowd
B.O.B Mastery: The Ultimate Bug-Out Bag Guide
Bushcraft Survival Skills To Survive In The Wilderness
How To Invest In Gold (and should you?)
Paracord Projects: Ultimate Guide
How To Protect Your Online Reputation
How To Tie Knots With Paracord
Best Campgrounds In All 50 States
Survival Hacks: Over 100 Hacks Using Simple Household Items
Military Survival Guide: 8 Skills From Navy Seals, Special Forces, and Elite Military Units
Quicksand Survivsal Guide: How to survive falling in Quicksand
Holiday Survival Guide: How To Survive The Holidays
Winter is Coming. Prepare With The Winter Survival Guide
Prepper Projects To Perfect Your Prepping
Join The Best Online Survival Communities For Prepping Support
The Best Survival eBooks To Prepare For The Next Crisis
Subscribe To The Premiere Survival Newsletter
Join the movement and help bring survival skills and self-reliance back to modern society. Zero Spam.
About TSJ
The Survival Journal is the premier survival and preparedness newsletter. Our mission is to bring survival skills and self-reliance back to the modern man as they seem like they were lost decades ago.
© 2020 Copyright - The Survival Journal - All Rights Reserved

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


WalkUP Roslindale is looking to organize a collaborative group of neighbors who will help us clear snow from a handful of our neighborhood's key bus stops whenever we have more than 4″ of snow this winter.
As we all know, snow clearance is often an issue at bus stops throughout the region. That doesn't mean we should ignore it and hope that our seniors, young people, and everyone in between miraculously manage to safely board their buses at stops rendered unsafe by snow and ice.
That breaks down geographically into 2 collaborative teams – one in Roslindale Square and one at the intersection of Hyde Park Avenue and Cummins Highway. Rob Guptill (email: rguptill2000@nullyahoo.com) has volunteered to be the team coordinator for the Roslindale Square group and Matt Lawlor (your correspondent, email: matthew.j.lawlor@nullgmail.com) has volunteered to be the team coordinator for HP/Cummins. The plan is to blast a call to snowshoveling arms over our email list and social media accounts whenever we make the call for the collaborative teams to shovel the following morning. That said, both Rob and I would love to hear directly at the email addresses above from anyone who is interested in helping us provide this important service to our neighbors so we can be sure of a core group of ready and willing collaborators. We would love your support for this effort!!
Big numbers, without question, that reflect that access to the MBTA, despite its shortcomings, is viewed as an indispensible amenity and driver of locational decisions among a very large cohort in our population (and, by extension, the companies that want to employ them and the developers who want to build their housing). As someone a bit older who would fall into the very important category on transit access myself, I hope this and similar information on the importance of the T to our region's livability and economy will spur all of us to advocate for and support new initiatives, funding, and service in the days ahead. Among the other things we all need to do, it's time to help the T work better.


text:
Review: Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley
Publisher: Graydon House
Kara Sullivan's life is full of love—albeit fictional. As a bestselling romance novelist and influential Bookstagrammer, she's fine with getting her happily-ever-after fix between the covers of a book.
But right now? Not only is Kara's best friend getting married next week—which means big wedding stress—but the deadline for her next novel is looming, and she hasn't written a single word. The last thing she needs is for her infuriating first love, Ryan Thompson, to suddenly appear in the wedding party. But Ryan's unexpected arrival sparks a creative awakening in Kara that inspires the steamy historical romance she desperately needs to deliver.
With her wedding duties intensifying, her deadline getting closer by the second and her bills not paying themselves, Kara knows there's only one way for her to finish her book and to give her characters the ever-after they deserve. But can she embrace the unlikely, ruggedly handsome muse—who pushes every one of her buttons—to save the wedding, her career and, just maybe, write her own happy ending?
After reading the description of this book I knew it was one I had to read as soon as I got my hands on it. I love reading books where an author is the main character and the fact that she's also a bookstagrammer made it all the more fun for me! Add in some romance and I was sold in a major way.
Kara and Ryan had the whole enemies to lovers thing going on with a side of second chance romance since they have a history. Kara can only seem to be inspired to work on her book after she spends time with Ryan, and while it's doing wondering for her historical romances and is a wonder source of inspiration for her, it's aggravating her in her personal life. I loved getting glimpses into Kate's work in progress, it had the whole book within a book thing which is always fun. Their banter and chemistry was pure fire and I was rooting for them SO hard. This one was perfect for me with one minor exception that'll I try to explain without spoiling it completely. Ryan has a huge secret that's revealed about halfway in and it seriously pissed me off. I found it a little difficult to be team Ryan after it was revealed, but by the end he did redeem himself for me for the most part. I have to knock off some points because it irritated me quite a bit. Other than that small complaint it was such a charming, funny and sexy read. I think this will be huge this summer and I will definitely be following the authors work closely, super impressive debut!
Overall rating: 4.5/5
The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery
Review: Much Ado About You by Samantha Young


I expect a book on communication—which is what storytelling is—to teach me something new or remind me of truths I had better not forget. Rob Biesenbach's Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results surpassed my expectations, and I am happy to recommend it to you.
As I read the book, I thought about a speech I will give in May, one I had already drafted. I wanted to see whether any of Biesenbach's storytelling advice would help me make that speech better. It did.
The best stories trigger an emotional response, which is key to provoking empathy in our audience and unlocking decision-making. Research suggests that 'emotionally charged events' carry far more weight and persistence in our memory than ordinary, neutral events.
This point—and the author's elaboration on it in Chapter 4, "Emotion Fuels Stories"—made me realize that in the opening story of my upcoming speech I hadn't revealed what the situation meant to me emotionally. By adding one simple sentence, I could take the story from charming to profound.
Among the book's many great reminders is this: Not all stories have happy endings. This point is obvious in life, but it may not be obvious in corporate storytelling, where we typically want to look good. It came to life in Chapter 2, "How to Create a Story," where Biesenbach illustrates the beginning, middle, and end structure of a story about an entrepreneur who had forgotten to ship an important package to her biggest customer. Perhaps the story would end happily: the customer appreciates that the entrepreneur took an overnight flight to deliver the package on time. But maybe the ending would be more sobering: the customer is not impressed with the last-minute superhero gesture and ends the relationship. The first is a story about crack customer service; the second version tells of a lesson learned.
That point reminded me to add a helpful blemish I had been thinking about to tone down the sunny sweetness of one of my stories. When I took the story a shade darker, a truthful shade that was available to me, it added a deeper meaning. Thank you, Rob Biesenbach!
1. Is the character real and relatable? Bring your story down to the human level. If a problem exists, it must surely affect actual people!
2. Is there sufficient conflict? When everything goes well or as planned, there's no drama to hold the audience's attention.
4. Is there clear cause and effect? Causality is more meaningful to us than mere coincidence. . . . A sure sign of a weak story is when you find yourself saying "and then" over and over again.
5. Is there an emotional core? When your audience feels something, they are more likely to do something (to act in the way you want them to act).
I found many wise gems and practical tips in Unleash the Power of Story. I like the way Biesenbach hammers home the point that you must recognize and gather new stories. A last-minute Google search for a moving tale will not yield fresh results.
Dates tend to trip people up. Was it a Tuesday or a Wednesday? The 12th or the 14th? July or August? It rarely matters. Instead of saying, "the deal that was signed on March 22, 2005," you can just call it the 2005 deal. . . .
Just about anything in capital letters is ripe for trimming, starting with names. Minor characters in your story don't need to be named, especially if they make a one-time appearance. You can just call them "the bank manager" or "the CEO". . . . A good rule of thumb is "name the known and omit the obscure." So if you're talking about a company nobody's ever heard of, just refer to it by what it does: "a small venture capital firm." If it's Google or Kraft, go ahead and name them.
A valuable point that comes through in Biesenbach's book is that many situations and communications involve stories—not just presentations but interviews, introductions, eulogies, toasts, resumes, articles, and application essays. I like the idea of developing one's personal brand story and using it to understand oneself better and to assess the potential fit of jobs and opportunities. I also like the book's generosity in sharing so many sample stories.
If you would like to refresh your ideas about storytelling (or think about the topic for the first time), I recommend this book. At 165 pages, Unleashing the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results isn't the most comprehensive book I've read on storytelling, but it is the most practical and fun. Published by Eastlawn Media and retailing for USD$17.95, the book is available at Amazon and other booksellers. Visit the author's website.
I hope you're having a good time in Central America!
"2. Is there sufficient conflict? When everything goes well or as planned, there's no drama to hold the audience's attention."
This made me think of a lot of movies and TV Series where, in my opinion, they have absolutely exceeded the amount of conflict and unnecessary drama to hold the audience's attention, to the point that the story becomes ridiculous and far-fetched and loses credibility.
I'm just saying, don't overdo this thing!
Deborah, I agree. Your comment made me think of the TV series "How to Get Away With Murder," with a compelling, disastrous twist every few minutes.
Deborah, your comment made me think about Walking Dead. Talk about dragging a plot line out with endless, needless obstacles!
Lynn, I hope you're enjoying your travels! Thank you for your thoughtful comments about the book.
You are very welcome. Thanks for creating such a useful, well-written guide.
Guatemala is wonderful--a surprise around every corner.


text:
circa 1963-1965[remove]17
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified man and woman.3
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. and Congressman Harley O. Staggers standing on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified group of veterans.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified family of five.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. shaking hands with an unidentified man. They are standing on the steps of the Capitol.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with a group of Boy Scouts from Troop 10. Some of the Boys Scouts are holding a American Flag.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with a group of Girl Scouts from Troops 260, and 241. Some of the girls are holding a American Flag.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with a large unidentified group of students.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with a small unidentified group, potentially a family.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified group of children.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified group of people. The photograph is signed " Best wishes from Arch A. Moore, Jr. M.C."1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified group of women. They are wearing uniforms.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with four unidentified women.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with students from St. John's School, in Wellsburg, W.V.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing on the steps of the Capitol with two unidentified women, an unidentified man, and child.1
Congressman Arch A. Moore, Jr. standing with a unidentified man and woman. The Capitol Building can be seen in the background.1
Moore, Arch A., Jr. (Arch Alfred), 1923-201517
Staggers, Harley O. (Harley Orrin), 1951-1
United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.)[remove]17
Flags--United States2
Autographs1
Handshaking1
High school students1
Uniforms1
United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)17
You searched for: Date circa 1963-1965 Remove constraint Date: circa 1963-1965 Publisher West Virginia & Regional History Center Remove constraint Publisher: West Virginia & Regional History Center Rights Copyright Not Evaluated Remove constraint Rights: Copyright Not Evaluated Subject Topical United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.) Remove constraint Subject Topical: United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.)
1. Photograph of Congressmen Moore and Staggers with an unidentified group of veterans
Photograph of Congressmen Moore and Staggers with an unidentified group of veterans
Staggers, Harley O. (Harley Orrin), 1951- and Moore, Arch A., Jr. (Arch Alfred), 1923-2015
Legislative bodies--Officials and employees, Veterans, Veterans--United States, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Legislators--United States, Men, and Governors--West Virginia
2. Photograph of Congressman Moore with students from St. John's School
Photograph of Congressman Moore with students from St. John's School
High school students, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Legislators--United States, Classes (Groups of students), Governors--West Virginia , and Portraits, Group
St. John's School (Wellsburg, W.V.)
3. Photograph of Congressman Moore with four unidentified men on the steps of the Capitol
Photograph of Congressman Moore with four unidentified men on the steps of the Capitol
Legislative bodies--Officials and employees, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Legislators--United States, Governors--West Virginia , and Women
4. Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified man and woman on the steps of the Capitol
Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified man and woman on the steps of the Capitol
Legislative bodies--Officials and employees, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Legislators--United States, Men, Governors--West Virginia , and Women
5. Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified man and woman
Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified man and woman
Legislative bodies--Officials and employees, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Men, Governors--West Virginia , and Women
6. Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified group on the steps of the Capitol
Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified group on the steps of the Capitol
Autographs, Legislators--United States, Governors--West Virginia , Portraits, Group, and United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.)
Children, Legislators--United States, Governors--West Virginia , Youth, Portraits, Group, and United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.)
8. Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified family of five
Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified family of five
Legislative bodies--Officials and employees, Children, Family, Legislators--United States, Governors--West Virginia , and United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.)
9. Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified couple
Photograph of Congressman Moore with an unidentified couple
10. Photograph of Congressman Moore with a small unidentified group on the steps of the Capitol
Photograph of Congressman Moore with a small unidentified group on the steps of the Capitol
Small groups, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Family, Legislators--United States, Governors--West Virginia , and Youth
11. Photograph of Congressman Moore with a group of Boy Scouts
Photograph of Congressman Moore with a group of Boy Scouts
Boys, Boy Scouts, Flags--United States, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Youth--Societies and clubs, Legislators--United States, Governors--West Virginia , and Youth
Boy Scouts of America and Boy Scouts of America. Troop 10
12. Photograph of Congressman Moore standing with two unidentified people
Photograph of Congressman Moore standing with two unidentified people
United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Legislators--United States, and Governors--West Virginia
13. Photograph of Congressman Moore standing on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified group of women
Photograph of Congressman Moore standing on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified group of women
Clubs, Uniforms, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Legislators--United States, Governors--West Virginia , and Women
14. Photograph of Congressman Moore standing on the steps of the Capitol with a small group of people
Photograph of Congressman Moore standing on the steps of the Capitol with a small group of people
Children, Legislators--United States, Men, Governors--West Virginia , Women, and United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.)
15. Photograph of Congressman Moore standing on the steps of the Capitol with a group of Girl Scouts
Photograph of Congressman Moore standing on the steps of the Capitol with a group of Girl Scouts
Flags--United States, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Youth--Societies and clubs, Legislators--United States, Governors--West Virginia , Girl Scouts, and Youth
Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Troop 241, Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Troop 260, and Girl Scouts of the United States of America
16. Photograph of Congressman Moore shaking hands with an unidentified man
Photograph of Congressman Moore shaking hands with an unidentified man
Handshaking, United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Legislators--United States, Men, and Governors--West Virginia
17. Photograph of Congressman Moore on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified group of students
Photograph of Congressman Moore on the steps of the Capitol with an unidentified group of students
United States Capitol Complex (Washington, D.C.), Legislators--United States, Students, Classes (Groups of students), and Governors--West Virginia


LAS CRUCES – What started out as a 10-year business plan has turned into nearly three decades of fulfilling the smoky desires of Las Cruces tobacco aficionados.
Lucas Catoggio opened Lucas Pipe and Tobacco in an out-of-the-way shop 28 years ago. Now, the small space is forever infused with the sweet smell of cigars and pipe tobacco, and Catoggio is now offering a place for smokers to put their feet up and relax while enjoying his wares.
The shop, located in the Ramada Las Cruces Hotel and Conference Center, 201 E. University Ave.,has opened up a patio area, complete with shade and misters to beat the heat. The move allows patrons to enjoy a leisurely cigar in a relaxed atmosphere. It also means custom ers can take advantage of the hotel's bar and kitchen to round out the experience with a drink in hand or savor a smoke and a snack.


For Sale: Company with plans to build a resort on a 80,000 Sq. Ft. land.
Reason: Investing in our other business.
- We are primarily from the automation industry with 15 years of experience. We recently ventured into hospitality by constructing a resort in Ahmedabad, but were unable to complete the project.
- Have invested close to Rs. 4.5 Crore for purchasing a land of 80,000 Sq. Ft. and for branding and marketing purposes. The land is located next to a six lane highway, which ensures visibility to travelers.
- We are unable to continue investing further on construction of this resort as we have financial and management priorities in our automation business, which is one of our core and established business.
- Offering the resort land, with plans of the resort, the brand and operational leads generated for this project. The buyer can continue to invest and construct the resort, or use the land for their own commercial purpose.
Commercial land and a resort brand for sale.


text:
Iberia Sheriff's Office & NAACP Issue Statements about Homicide Investigation of Quawan Charles
Brandon Comeaux Published: November 14, 2020
Scott Olson, Getty Images
The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office has released updates on the homicide investigation of Quawan "Bobby" Charles, a day after the Louisiana NAACP called on "the Louisiana State Police, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to work with local law enforcement officials as we seek to find answers."
"I want to assure the public that I, and my team, are doing everything we can, and following every lead, to gather evidence into what happened in the untimely death of Quawan "Bobby" Charles," says Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero in a press release. "Any loss of life is a tragedy and that is especially true when it is a young person. Although we believe it is important not to compromise any part of our investigation, we are prepared to release some details so that the public can be assured we are not resting in our effort to find the truth," said Sheriff Romero.
On Friday, the Louisiana NAACP extended its condolences to Quawan "Bobby" Charles' family and friends. They also "demand(ed) accountability and transparency with regards to the processes and procedures followed by law enforcement officials in the unusual circumstances surrounding in his death."
The letter - which was signed by LA State Conference President Michael McClanahan, State Vice President Marja Broussard, St. Mary Parish NAACP President District D Reginald Weary, and Iberia Parish NAACP President Gerri Brown - went on to say that the NAACP would "continue to provide our resources and support" to the family.
Here are the "facts" released by the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office in the press release:
Just as we do in any case involving someone found deceased in this manner, we immediately began treating this as a homicide investigation at the very moment we found Quawan "Bobby" Charles.
This is an active, ongoing homicide investigation.
Quawan "Bobby" Charles was not residing in Iberia Parish before, or at the time of, his death. Our investigation indicates that a parent of Quawan "Bobby" Charles notified their local police department in Baldwin, Louisiana on October 30th of a potential disappearance. Further, that local department notified their local Sheriff's office in St. Mary Parish of the potential disappearance. However, our office in Iberia Parish was not notified of the potential that we had a missing person in our area until November 3rd when we were contacted by a parent of Quawan "Bobby" Charles.
On November 3rd, with amazing speed and through the great work of the team at the Iberia Parish Sheriff's office, we were able to locate Quawan "Bobby" Charles within a matter of hours after being notified he might be missing.
Since the time we launched a homicide investigation we have been actively and aggressively gathering evidence.
We have conducted multiple in-person interviews with those who knew Quawan "Bobby" Charles and those who may have interacted with Quawan "Bobby" Charles before his death.
We gathered evidence at the home of individuals who reportedly were with Quawan "Bobby" Charles just before his disappearance. We interviewed these same individuals and are actively tracking their whereabouts.
We have spoken with at least one eye witness who reportedly saw Quawan "Bobby" Charles before his death in the area near where he was later found deceased.
We have obtained and reviewed video evidence showing Quawan "Bobby" Charles near that area. Video evidence indicates no other individuals present with Quawan "Bobby" Charles or anyone else present for some time before, or after, he is seen on the recording.
We are awaiting a toxicology report as part of our efforts to gain additional evidence related to this investigation.
An autopsy report was issued and those findings have already been made public.
Those autopsy findings from the Iberia Parish Coroner's Office say Charles likely died from drowning, according to our news partners at KATC. The family has requested an independent autopsy.
"We want to remind the public that this is an active, ongoing homicide investigation," says Sheriff Romero. "We urge anyone who has any additional information which might aid our investigation to come forward and contact the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office at 337-369-3711."
On Saturday, Charles' family and the Stand Back organization held a protest at the Baldwin Police Department to protest the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office and Baldwin Police Department's "obvious mishandling of the situation," according to our news partners at KATC.
15-year-old Quawan Charles of Baldwin was found dead by Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office Patrol Deputies and a law enforcement drone on November 3 near Loreauville in a sugarcane field and his family is waiting for answers on who killed him.
#JusticeforQuawan is calling attention to the gruesome pictures following his death. Out of respect to him and his family, we won't put that picture on our site but allow you to follow this link if you choose. On Twitter, many people are comparing his death to Emmitt Till, an African American boy who was lynched in the 1950's.
His family held a vigil for him last week, according to our news partners at KATC. They say he was last seen leaving his home in Baldwin with a friend and his friend's mom.
The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office says they continue to investigate the "suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a male juvenile" they do not identify as Charles but that the person was reported missing to Baldwin Police on October 30, according to our news partners at KATC.
His mother, Roxanne Nelson, told KATC that she "want(s) the lady who came to get my son without my permission, his dad's permission, to be held accountable...She took them to her house, he was alive and well when he was here, and now he is dead when he went to Loreauville to her house."
According to a press release obtained from the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, investigators have interviewed multiple people and collected physical evidence which is being processed. The press release says they updated the parents on how the investigation was going and that they would continue to do so.
The family says they were told Charles drowned and now they're working for an independent autopsy.
KPEL News called the number of the Iberia Parish Detective assigned to the case, Detective Jarred Spurlock (337-369-3711), around around 7:40 p.m. We were told by someone else who answered the phone that we would have to call back during normal business hours, which does not include Veteran's Day on Wednesday.
Gary Chambers, Co-Owner/Publisher at The Rouge Collection, has released information from a conversation with Eugene Weatherspoon Collins president of the Baton Rouge NAACP, that leads him to believe that Charles was lynched and a conversation that alleges that the Baldwin Police Department "did nothing" and "If they would have taken action, Quawan might still be alive today." KPEL News called Baldwin Police for comment but was told by dispatch that we would have to call back during normal business hours, which does not include Veteran's Day on Wednesday.
Source: Iberia Sheriff's Office & NAACP Issue Statements about Homicide Investigation of Quawan Charles
Filed Under: Iberia Parish, new iberia, quawan charles
Armed Robber in New Iberia Gets Away with Cash, Lottery Tickets
New Iberia Man Dies after Being Submerged in a Canal in His Truck
Speed Cameras Coming to New Iberia – Here's the Timetable
Victim Attacked While Answering the Door, New Iberia Police Looking For Suspect
Severe Damage Caused by Tornadoes in New Iberia
New Iberia Senior High Locked Down, Weapon Recovered During Incident
New Iberia Bicyclist Killed in Late Night Crash
Two Iberia Parish Churches Among Dozens Leaving United Methodist Church Over LGBT Issues
Young Girl Dies After Trying to Cross Street in New Iberia


text:
Talking Paris is Burning with Rayceen Pendarvis
BYGays September 22, 2015
Giving BackLGBTQStyle & Shopping 010 min read
When the documentary Paris is Burning debuted 25 years ago, it began a cultural impact still relevant today. Following a group of queer ball scene kids in Harlem, 'Paris' introduced the world to voguing, the plight of poor LGBT youth, and words such as "shade," "realness," and "tea" that still color gay language today.
The Friday, Reel Affirmations presents a special screening of Paris is Burning at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters. The event includes a mini-ball competition as well as a panel on the film moderated by Rayceen Pendarvis of The Ask Rayceen Show. We talked with Pendarvis about the continued impact of the film, and asked him to break it down as to why it continues to electrify everyone – whether they are a mother of a house or a butch queen: first time in drag at a ball.
Rayceen Pendarvis
Brightest Young Things: It has been 25 years since the release of Paris is Burning, yet that film – perhaps more than any other LGBT documentary – continues to electrify people. Why do you think that 'Paris' continues to have such a hold on viewers, especially queer ones?
Rayceen Pendarvis: The film continues to electrify because of the people it profiled. Their personalities shine through and their candor allows viewers to see beyond one-dimensional stereotypes.
BYT: Although the film is primarily about Black queer people, white LGBT people often intimately relate to the film. This is a documentary about a scene in Harlem in the early 1990's. Yet, in talking with people about this film it seems just as likely that a newly-out white farm kid in Nebraska embraces this documentary as their own history as well. What would you attribute that to? Is it the narrative of the film maker, the lives of the individuals portrayed, or something else?
Rayceen: Paris is Burning is relatable to a diverse audience because people everywhere face oppression, discrimination, and isolation. The film shows the determination of people who have not had the opportunity to reach their full potential who create spaces where they are free to express the unlimited possibilities of what and who they can be. It gives people hope. It's a combination of all the elements that bring the film together and make it accessible and relatable for people of diverse backgrounds.
BYT: People who see Paris is Burning may incorrectly associate the ball scene as something unique to New York City. But, you're a native Washingtonian and places like D.C. have a heavy history with the ball scene. Did you ever interact with it here and, if so, do you have any memories or history to share?
Rayceen: The ball scene is definitely not exclusive to New York City. It's now beyond New York and D.C. and other US cities, and is worldwide. I've attended and taken part in many balls in D.C. I have many fond memories from over the years. I've had the pleasure of getting to know people from the scene such as Kevin Aviance (from DC's own House of Aviance) and Lowell Khan, plus the legendary trio of Monica Allure, Tracey Ebony, and Puffy Ebony, who put the D.C. ball scene on the map.
BYT: One place the ball scene seems to be vibrant today is with teenagers in Baltimore. Have you seen any of the kids there? If so, how do you think they use ball culture as oppose to how its been utilized by older generations?
Rayceen: The Baltimore ball scene is indeed vibrant. They children in Baltimore have a level of creativity and enthusiasm which should be celebrated. The biggest generational difference is the advent of social media. This has changed many aspects of society, including ball culture.
BYT: You recently moderated a panel at the Smithsonian Institution for the 25th Anniversary of Paris is Burning. With that, there is a recognition there that this documentary – and ball culture in general – is a part of American history. What are your thoughts on that queer culture – particularly that Black queer culture – being embraced in that way?
Rayceen: Having the Smithsonian present a screening of Paris Is Burning and then having a panel discussion about the film was certainly a milestone. I hope it will open the door to future projects, including museum exhibits and installations. I think Black queer culture being embraced and celebrated is a wonderful thing. Our stories matter and they need to be told, shared, and preserved for future generations.
BYT: The language of Paris is Burning eventually seeped into larger drag culture, and then – popularized by performers like RuPaul – began to shape the everyday slang and language of our larger LGBT culture. Many young people these days throw around words like "realness" and "butch queen" perhaps without understanding their roots. Regarding this, what would you teach the children?
Rayceen: Know your history: before mainstream America heard RuPaul or anyone on The Real Housewives of Atlanta or Married to Medicine talk about "tea" or "shade" – those terms were commonplace in ball culture generations before. I tell young people that they need to know their history; that's why 'Paris' is required viewing for everyone, but especially LGBT community, and even more so for LGBTQ people of color. Film is an important medium for conveying messages; iconic and informative films such as The Boys in the Band, The Celluloid Closet, Tongues Untied, and Pariah are films that tell our stories.
BYT: You are moderating the panel that goes along with the film. What deeper understanding of 'Paris' do you hope to explore with that?
Rayceen: After 25 years, there are many rumors and allegations about the making of the film, the release of it, and everything that followed. For those who feel the film exploited people, we hope to dispel myths giving them the opportunity to hear from individuals who were part of the film and learning about their experiences with the filming process.
BYT: The screening on Friday features a ball and a red carpet, so you know that people will be bringing their best. Any advice on how to stand out?
Rayceen: We look forward to seeing what everyone wears for the red carpet and the mini-ball. The great event photographer Ron Simms Jr. will be there to capture everyone as they strike a pose. One sure way to stand out would be to wear nothing except body paint and glitter so that you can have your moment to shine.
BYT: You've called yourself the "Queen of the Shameless Plug", so tell us a little bit more about The Ask Rayceen Show. What are you hoping to accomplish with this talk show?
Rayceen: I wear the crown of "Queen of the Shameless Plug" proudly! I encourage everyone to plug and promote not just their own events, but those of others as well. It's important that we support each other; more co-operation and collaboration would benefit everyone in the LGBTQ community. That's part of what I hope to accomplish at The Ask Rayceen Show by casting a wide net to include artists and activists, performers and politicians, entertainers and entrepreneurs. I aim to uplift, liberate, inspire and foster a sense of community that brings people together regardless of color, ethnicity, religion, age, ability, size, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, educational achievement, or socio-economic status. Our final two shows of 2015 are fast approaching: October 7 is our annual talent competition and November 4 is our Extra Sexy Season Finalé featuring Chocolate City Burlesque and Cabaret. Get you some!
BYT: We've had members of Chocolate City perform at past BYT events, including our pride party. They are outstanding. One last thing, you were recently honored by the DC Center at their Fall Reception. Can you tell us what that experience was like?
Rayceen: Being honored at The DC Center's Fall Reception was a very humbling experience. I know that the work I do would not be possible without the efforts of all those who came before me and laid the foundation. It was truly an honor to be recognized for my work in the community.
Reel Affirmations will present a special screening of Paris Is Burning this Friday evening at the Human Rights Campaign. The event will feature red carpet photos, a screening of the film, a book signing of the companion book Paris is Burning with author Lucas Hildebrand, a mini-ball competition, and a panel discussion moderated by Rayceen Pendarvis.
Reel Affirmations presents Paris is Burning
This Friday, September 25, 2015
Film Screening at 7:00pm
Location: Human Rights Campaign
paris is burning
Previous ArticleNightmare Gig: Josh Androsky
Next ArticleGiveaway: The Mautner Project 25th Anniversary Celebration!
10 Movies and TV Shows ft. Black LGBTQ+ Characters to Stream for Pride
BYT at large June 11, 2020
The Hit List: Things To Do Tonight in D.C.
Brandon Wetherbee June 19, 2017
October 20, 2015 Josiah Reply
Yes! Look what I managed to learn after reiadng Wikipedia for 2 minutes and half of a Victor Sperandeo book once!BTW I actually like Blodget and Wiesenthal. Josh Brown points out that Blodget was only doing what the entire rest of Wall Street did, and he was the sacrificial lamb for the industry. The 999 other Blodgets out there are still working on Wall Street, still issuing buy calls, and still doing weekly chats on CNBC.As for Wiesenthal – well, there are so darn many right-wing neo-Nazi ZeroHedgers who post comments at BI attacking him. There's so much venom directed against him, I think that must mean he's worth listening to.But yes, almost all the rest of BI is filler. Mostly crap about what people "think". Why should anyone care what Shedlock and Mauldin and Cashin and all the other losers "think"? I don't subscribe to their blogs so I don't need to read about them on BI.
Cool Kids Table:
VIDEO OF THE DAY: BEYONCE'S SINGLE LADIES W/ ILLUMINATI MESSAGE
Gay Icon of the Week: Judge Judy


text:
Ms. Arnstein's Garden
Noelle Wang, Freelance Editor|May 14, 2019
Ms. Arnstein prepping her potato bed.
As I sat in Ms. Arnstein's classroom, surrounded by literary paraphernalia, I could vividly imagine the scene that she was depicting to me. About a week before I had met with her for our interview, Ms. Arnstein had planted the seeds for her garden in small containers at home—holding up her fingers to approximate the size and depth—under the grow lights in her basement, where she had allocated a special space, specifically for that purpose. Her seedlings even had special heat mats. She had ordered her seeds from a seed catalog around President's Day — for her, the first beckoning of spring even before the snow melts. Ms. Arnstein then explained how, after the seeds sprouted, she would transfer the seedlings to larger pots and eventually introduce them outside in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day in a process called "hardening." Her enthusiasm was radiant and somewhat contagious; I kept smiling throughout our whole interview.
When I had walked into her classroom that day, I really had no idea of the extent of Ms. Arnstein's gardening. Some Juniors had offhandedly mentioned that she talks about her garden "a lot," but this didn't do justice to the eagerness with which she avidly described the process. My family and I have a small herb garden, with a handful of tomato plants and maybe a pepper or two, but Ms. Arnstein's covers a significant section of her backyard, as she showed me in her pictures. As she flipped through pictures on her computer, she had to pause and think about how many garden beds she had. "Four were already there when we moved in," she said, "but now we have nine, as well as the pumpkin patch and the raspberries."
The house's previous owner had a beautiful flower garden, she explained. Her family's move was what had really sparked the beginnings of her larger-scale agricultural pursuits; before then, she and her husband had participated in a community garden. With just under half an acre of property in the new house, however, they were able to expand—and incredibly so. Throughout our interview, Ms. Arnstein kept recalling different vegetables that she had forgotten about when I'd asked about her garden initially: bok choy, escarole (a leafy green somewhat similar to kale and lettuce, but related to endives), tomatoes, potatoes, kale, squash, carrots, black beans… the list goes on. She even grows pumpkins, which grow huge in a small section she pointed out to me in the back of the picture. But, she noted, the apples, are a finicky endeavor that have yet to be brought to fruition. Last year, they planted brussels sprouts for the first time, but the sprouts ended up tiny, since they were too close together. It's a running joke, now, with her husband. Although, I remember her declaring, "No zucchini!" with a laugh. Apparently they grew too big, and you didn't know what to do with all of them. I'm really not sure how many vegetables it's even possible to grow in Minnesota's unforgiving climate, but some part of me suspects that Ms. Arnstein has at least tried to grow most of them.
In her own words, gardening is a learning experience. Upon my inquiry, Ms. Arnstein recalled that most of her knowledge came from years of experimentation by trial-and-error. Others at the community garden aided her and her husband, as well, as does a friendly neighbor today. In the first year in their new house they started with tomatoes and basil. She and her husband then expanded their garden beds and started growing their harvest from seed. I supposed that such a switch would have been hard, but Ms. Arnstein just shook her head and admitted that the switch actually went smoothly. Now, her own family and friends ask her to start seedlings for them.
The joy is in the whole process, from starting the seedlings to reaping the harvest and cooking. "You get to nurture new life; watch it grow," Ms. Arnstein said. Sometimes it goes well, and sometimes—perhaps harkening back to the miniature brussels sprouts or the zucchini—it doesn't. And that's okay; gardening is a continually evolving process; every season has different weather, perhaps different plants. Ms. Arnstein notes her observations of what went well and what did not, and she keeps a gardening journal with grid maps of her garden's layout and produce. Every year is a new chance to experiment. The end result notwithstanding, the process itself has a lot to teach anyone.
It almost seemed redundant to bring up the benefits of gardening; I could clearly see Ms. Arnstein's passion for it. Besides the obvious benefit of fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables and the joy of knowing that winter is almost over, she reflected that growing her own food taught her how to cook with whole ingredients. Ms. Arnstein admitted that she actually prefers reading cookbooks to gardening books. She simmers tomatoes and cans them, and her family has pesto throughout the year since she freezes it. Ms. Arnstein said that you can really add anything into a pesto.
So how does one start a garden? Obviously you don't have to have nine beds and ten different crops in your first year, but you can start with a few tomato plants, maybe some herbs. Basil and cilantro are easy and fairly versatile. You'll need a huge pot, bigger than you might think, for the tomato plant, as well as a cage to support it as it grows. Even a large hardware store bucket would probably do. A long, thin planter is good for lettuce as well. And then, you'll need to either plant seeds, which isn't actually too difficult, or buy seedlings. Ms. Arnstein recommended going to a local farmer's market. Talk to people, look for vendors who seem knowledgeable and whose plants seem healthy. And then, you'll need to plant them (weather permitting, of course). Like a chef will alter the recipe for a certain dish, the "recipe" for a garden varies depending on what the gardener wants. I was already coming up with ideas for my own garden this season.
"Gardening is so delightful," said Ms. Arnstein, "a great summer-oriented activity." Unlike other summer pleasures, though, this one sticks around longer than a melting popsicle. The experience of growing your own produce, from farm to table, will surely alter the way you think about food.
The Magic of Midsummer: VISTA's 2019 Fall Show
Visitation Tennis – one of the largest teams in the state
School and Work Life Balance
Inside the Coffee Shop with the Creators of Bean There Done That
Team Mutomo: More than a Mission Trip
2019 SENIOR WILLINGS & ADVICE
Finding Mindfulness at Vis
Ghar گھر
Meet Your Winter Week Court!
Onto the Varsity Courts


A nutrition researcher, a spa director, and a yoga instructor take us into their kitchens.
By Jamie Ducharme·	 10/1/2015, 8:33 a.m.
We don't need to tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In this series, we're asking some of Boston's top doctors, fitness pros, and dietitians for a sneak peek into their kitchens, so they can show us what to eat for breakfast.
Claim to fame: She is a nutrition researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
What she ate: Greek yogurt with homemade maple walnut granola and grapefruit, whole wheat pumpkin bread with almond butter, and black coffee.
Claim to fame: Haddad is spa director for G2O Spa and Salon.
What she ate: Scrambled eggs, a rice cake topped with natural peanut butter, strawberries, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Claim to fame: Hill is a yoga instructor who teaches around the city and in corporate offices.
What she ate: Two pieces of pumpkin seed toast with organic peanut butter and cinnamon, and cottage cheese with strawberries, papaya, and pineapple.


text:
NFV Strategies
Alcatel-Lucent Teams With Red Hat, Advantech & 6WIND for vRAN
News Wire Feed Light Reading 12/15/2015
PARIS -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) has signed collaboration agreements with the industry-leading cloud software and hardware companies, Red Hat, Advantech and 6WIND, to accelerate the delivery of commercial virtualized radio access network (vRAN) products.
Collaboration with these companies will enhance Alcatel-Lucent's vRAN technology, working on the CloudBand™ NFV platform, ensuring that it will meet service providers' large-scale performance and reliability requirements.
With ever-growing consumer demand for video data applications, the expected growth of the Internet-of-Things and the advent of 5G wireless technology, service providers are looking to optimize their networks and enable new cost and operational efficiencies. Leveraging its expanded global collaboration with Intel and working with Red Hat, Advantech and 6WIND, Alcatel-Lucent will deliver a fully NFV-compliant virtualized radio access network that meets their stringent high-performance, high-availability cloud needs.
Alcatel-Lucent is trialling its near-commercial vRAN with leading service providers in North America, Asia and Europe using a platform that consists of 6WIND, Advantech and Red Hat hardware and software. In 2016 Alcatel-Lucent will expand these trials using the CloudBand NFV™ platform to onboard and manage applications.
Glenn Booth, vice-president of Wireless Portfolio Management and Strategy at Alcatel-Lucent, said: "We are leaders in vRAN technology and use a strategy of collaboration to integrate leading third-party technologies and deliver world-class products that meet the unique needs of our service provider customers. Working with Red Hat, Advantech and 6WIND we are accelerating the availability of our vRAN, giving operators the flexibility and efficiency they require on a large-scale to meet subscriber data demand into the future."
About the agreements:
Alcatel-Lucent and Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions, are expanding their existing collaboration on CloudBand and Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform to jointly enhance NFV-based features and better address the needs of the telecommunications market with open source. This includes the integration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform, and Red Hat Ceph Storage within Alcatel-Lucent's vRAN offering.
Advantech, based in Taiwan, is an industry-leading developer and manufacturer of service provider communications systems. Advantech is supplying its Packetarium XLc PAC-6009, a high-density carrier-grade blade server with switching infrastructure that supports all processing, storage and switching elements in a compact size. Advantech's PAC-6009 server is 'NEBS compliant' for the North American market and fits in a standard rack to simplify network introduction.
6WIND is a recognized leader in high performance software using its fast path architecture on standard Linux and industry processors. The company will supply its 6WINDGate product offering a variety of networking and security protocols and features to allow Alcatel-Lucent to optimize the performance of its vRAN technology. Alcatel-Lucent is also working with a number of service providers to develop innovative NFV-based radio access network technologies. Additionally the company demonstrated its progress with China Mobile, Telefónica and Intel at Mobile World Congress in 2015 and announced the industry's first live field trial of vRAN technology with China Mobile in July.
Radhesh Balakrishan, general manager, OpenStack, Red Hat said: "Red Hat has been delighted to work with Alcatel-Lucent to enable communications service providers to move their applications and services to OpenStack-powered telco clouds in order to take advantage of NFV. Now, we're pleased to bring OpenStack and open source innovation to Alcatel-Lucent's vRAN solutions which are delivered to mobile operators through the CloudBand NFV platform."
Ween Niu, VP and General Manager of Advantech Networks and Communications Group said "On the road to 5G and the realization of IoT, collaborations will be essential to accelerate product innovation, speed deployment and deliver greater value to customers. We believe that the complementary technologies brought together in the Alcatel-Lucent vRAN ecosystem will enable a robust and reliable NFV-Infrastructure upon which service providers can truly innovate."
Eric Carmès, Founder and CEO of 6WIND said: "We are proud to collaborate with Alcatel-Lucent to enable critical large scale vRAN deployments for Mobile Operators. We are leading the migration to NFV deployments such as vRAN with our high performance software that ensures cost-effective virtual networking. Our integrated solution delivers large-scale performance and reliability with a future proofed investment."
Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)
Like what we have to say? Click here to sign up to our daily newsletter
sponsor supplied content
Datasheet: nGeniusONE- Service Assurance Platform for Service Providers
Educational Resources Archive


text:
A just democracy is an antiracist democracy.
Generation Citizen strongly condemns the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor,Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others before them. We stand in solidarity with the protesters and strongly support the #BlackLivesMatter movement. We demand an end to the structures that systematically threaten Black lives.
While many are feeling anxiety, anger, and grief right now, the Black members of our direct and wider GC community bear the brunt of the weight of these moments. Those of us who are not Black must therefore do more: we must work to uncover and address the ways in which white supremacy and privilege pervade our organization, our community, the philanthropic sector, and our society at large.
These painful events, and the young voices responding to it, remind us that we need to do better. We need to make changes in order to move forward in an anti-racist way — by actively working to combat the racism we see in our systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes. Power must be redistributed, and shared equitably. The program and policy work we engage in — in every classroom and community — must be facilitated with full recognition of the deep and structural inequities in which the focus issues selected by our students, like police brutality, are rooted. We also must examine how those injustices show up in our work, in our everyday routines, and in ourselves.
The work of building a truly just, representative, and responsive democracy starts with acknowledging that racism has always been part of this country's history and democracy, and that we all, irrespective of our lot in life, have an obligation to fight that racism and laws that guard inequity. This is not as a matter of virtue-signaling, but in recognition that everyone benefits from a society where the policy legacies of racism are both undone and unlearned.
We also recognize the need to do much more than make statements — we need to take action. Our GC team will be taking a Day of Action on Thursday, June 4 in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives. We will be stepping away from the status quo in recognition that every person in our organization is on their own personal journey and we want to create space for each of us to take action in whatever ways needed. We also will be listening to our young people, and their thoughts on this movement, at our National Community Summit next Thursday. We invite you to listen to them as well.
Please click here to read about the additional specific action steps we're taking as an organization and the resources we've found helpful as we work to to become better informed so we can act in meaningful, effective ways.
Finally, if you or someone you know needs to speak to a professional about the impact of this trauma, know that there are resources. Call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at: 800-950-NAMI or in a crisis text "NAMI" to 741741.


text:
Tom Fitzpatrick
Impact of Brexit on the Media, Sport and Entertainment industries
European Union, United Kingdom - January 21 2021 On 1 January 2021, the Brexit transition period came to an end and the UK is now no longer subject to the rules of the EU. In this article, we take a…
Duncan Calow, Sam Churney, John Cloke, Lisa Roberts, Emma Stockman, Sam Szlezinger, John Wilks
Hello festivals, my old friend: DCMS launches inquiry to examine the future of UK music festivals
United Kingdom - November 12 2020 With the vast majority of UK music festivals having been cancelled in light of COVID-19, and the industry having seen a 90% reduction in its revenues…
Regulatory investigations of misleading environmental claims in the UK and beyond
United Kingdom - November 10 2020 UK consumer regulator the Competition and Markets Authority ("CMA") has recently opened an investigation into false and misleading environmental…
France takes steps to protect "kid influencers"
France - October 22 2020 The French parliament has recently passed legislation to protect the interests of so-called "kid influencers" (Law No. 2020-1266 dated 19 October…
Floriane Gaumerais, Gregory Tulquois
EUROPE: CJEU rules mass surveillance must be brought in line with EU law
European Union - October 9 2020 The Court of Justice of the European Union ("CJEU") has handed down its judgment in two landmark decisions (case C-623/17, Privacy International, and…