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Q: How to make a model appear in front of AR Camera after the session starts using ARFoundation? I was looking to update the ARcamera position.I am doing ImageTracking project.It detects an image and a corresponding prefab is shown in front of the camera.It starts playing an animation.After the animation I want the prefab to come really close towards the camera.When I give the code prefab.position=ARcamera.position; after animation code,I think the prefab goes to the initial position where the ARCamera was when the app had started that is (0,0,0).
How to make the prefab come really close towards the front camera.
  speed = 10f;
  float step = speed * Time.deltaTime;
  Showprefabs.transform.GetChild(0).position = Vector3.MoveTowards(Showprefabs.transform.GetChild(0).position,
                                             new Vector3(Arcam.transform.position.x, Arcam.transform.position.y + 0.2f,
                                             Arcam.transform.position.z + 6.3f), step);

//The values 0.2f and 6.3f I added using the Editor to make the prefab come near the camera(But in world position it is different.)

A: First of all I hope by "prefab" you mean already Instantiated GameObject. It makes no sense to move a prefab ;)

You tried to calculate the target position but did it with World-Space coordinates.
You probably want to do something like
var targetObject = Showprefabs.transform.GetChild(0);
var currentPosition = targetObject.position;

var targetPosition = Arcam.transform.position
    // Place it 60cm in front of the camera
    + Arcam.transform.forward * 0.6f
    // additionally move it "up" 20cm perpendicular to the view direction
    + Arcam.transform.up * 0.2f;

targetObject.position = Vector3.MoveTowards(currentPosition, targetPosition, step * Time.deltaTime);

If you want that movement a bit smoother so it moves slower if already close and faster if further away you might be interested in rather using Vector3.Lerp here
public float smoothFactor = 0.5f;

targetObject.position = Vector3.Lerp(currentPosition, targetPosition, smoothFactor);

Where a smoothFactor of 0.5 reads: Every frame set the object to a position in the center of the currentPosition and targetPosition. A value closer to 0 results in slower movement, closer to 1 in faster reaching the targetPosition.
Note that actually this approach will never really fully arrive at the targetPosition but only come very very close but usually this doesn't matter in AR where the Camera constantly moves a bit anyway.


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Snow Park Addresses Front Yard's Campaign to Distract and Mislead Stockholders with Erroneous Claims
Sends Letter to Stockholders Laying Out the Facts and Indisputable Realities Regarding the Incumbent Board's Record of Value Destruction, Strategic Lapses, and Governance Failings
Highlights That the Board has Failed to Assume Any Accountability for ~$500 Million in Wealth Destruction Since 2015 and Continues to Devote Stockholder Resources to Mischaracterizing the Company's Dire State and Deliberately Misleading Stockholders Regarding Snow Park's Interests
Believes That Unlike the Incumbent Directors, the Snow Park Slate Possesses Public REIT Sector Experience, Single-Family Residential Market Expertise, and Ownership Perspectives
Urges Front Yard Stockholders to Focus on a Central Question: Are We Better Off With the Current Board That Has Failed to Develop a Viable Strategy and Deliver Returns OR a Reconstituted Board with Fresh Expertise, Impartiality, and a Vision to Realize NAV?
Reinforces That ALL THREE Proxy Advisory Firms Support Snow Park's Campaign for Change and Recommend Stockholders Vote the BLUE Proxy Card
May 16, 2019 04:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Snow Park Capital Partners, LP (together with its affiliates, "Snow Park" or "we"), a significant long-term stockholder of Front Yard Residential Corporation (NYSE: RESI) ("Front Yard" or the "Company"), today sent a letter to stockholders in connection with its nomination of three highly-qualified, independent director candidates – Leland Abrams, Lazar Nikolic, and Jeffrey Pierce – for election to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") at the upcoming annual meeting on May 23, 2019.
Snow Park reminds stockholders that all three proxy advisory firms – Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC and Egan-Jones Proxy Services – have supported its case for change. All three proxy advisory firms recommend that stockholders vote on the BLUE proxy card to elect Snow Park's nominees, who each possess distinct expertise and relevant qualifications that would enhance Front Yard's Board. We urge all stockholders to vote the BLUE proxy card today FOR Leland Abrams, Lazar Nikolic and Jeffrey Pierce.
For more information and voting resources, please visit www.RenewRESI.com.
Below is the full text of the letter.
Dear Fellow Stockholders,
Snow Park Capital Partners, LP (together with its affiliates, "Snow Park" or "we") finds it extremely troubling that stockholders of Front Yard Residential Corporation ("Front Yard" or the "Company") continue to receive inaccurate and misleading communications from the Company's management and Board of Directors (the "Board"). We also believe it is egregious that a Board that has presided over approximately $500 million in value destruction in recent years is unwilling to assume any accountability or exhibit some level of humility. In our view, this poor conduct – which has been further punctuated by Front Yard's recent willingness to criticize leading proxy advisory firms and disparage major stockholders – only reinforces that meaningful change is needed in the boardroom. It is confounding to Snow Park that Front Yard would go to such great lengths and impugn the Company's own credibility to prevent additive expertise and helpful ownership perspectives from entering the boardroom.
We firmly believe that Front Yard's baseless campaign to misrepresent Snow Park's interests and mischaracterize its slate's superior director nominees is nothing more than a smokescreen – one designed to distract stockholders from the incumbent Board's track record of value destruction and the Company's current poor position. This unfortunately makes sense, in our view, when considering that the defining question in this election contest has a clear answer: are stockholders better off with the incumbent Board that has sat by as the Company's share price declined nearly 50% in recent years OR with a reconstituted Board that includes highly-qualified, independent directors committed to acting in stockholders' best interests by properly overseeing the conflicted chief executive and pursuing a strategy to realize management's stated Net Asset Value ("NAV")? We contend that when stockholders are able to objectively assess Front Yard's history of failures and current structural issues, they will conclude that our case for immediate Board-level change is valid and warranted.
In recent days, all three proxy advisory firms – Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ("ISS"), Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC ("Glass Lewis") and Egan-Jones Proxy Services ("Egan-Jones") – endorsed our case for change following their independent and impartial assessments of Front Yard. We are very pleased that these proxy advisory firms agreed with Snow Park that the incumbent Board has endorsed and supported a poorly-executed strategy that has left the Company saddled with an excessively-leveraged balance sheet, needlessly-bloated operating expenses, and an inability to generate sufficient income. In addition, we feel it was extremely important that the Company's poor governance policies and Board-level conflicts were each highlighted by these respected, trusted sources.
Between now and the date of Front Yard's annual meeting, Snow Park is committed to ensuring that all of our fellow stockholders have the unfiltered information necessary to make an informed decision regarding the future of the Board. The Company is at a crossroads – one that cannot be concealed by half-truths and misrepresentations.
DESPITE ITS BEST EFFORTS, THE BOARD CANNOT ESCAPE ITS OWN RECORD OF VALUE DESTRUCTION, STRATEGIC LAPSES AND GOVERNANCE FAILURES
To illustrate the extent to which Snow Park believes Front Yard is misleading stockholders about its past and present failings, we have highlighted a sampling of the Company's recent misstatements and added our own data-centric, facts-based responses. We hope this will provide you with a sense of how our nominees would work to challenge the status quo and instill accountability at Front Yard henceforth.
Misleading Claim #1: Front Yard Has an Accountable and Stockholder-Friendly Board
The Company recently declared that is has an "accountable Board of Directors […] which is committed to strong corporate governance practices, ensuring proper oversight and acting in the best interests of all stockholders."1
We believe the facts and recent history tell a different story:
Lack of Independent Directors – Despite stockholders clamoring for change (including via multiple proxy contests initiated), the Board still lacks independent stockholder representatives. Instead, Rochelle Dobbs and George McDowell were appointed to the Board, as "independent directors", though they were George Ellison's former colleagues at Bank of America for many years.
Dismal Governance Policies – Stockholders do not have the power to amend bylaws and the Company does not have a majority vote standard or director resignation policy in uncontested elections. Further, the Board has not opted out of the Maryland Unsolicited Takeovers Act ("MUTA"), which allows it to take various stockholder-unfriendly actions that include classifying the Board without stockholder approval. Both ISS and Glass Lewis highlighted these significant governance failings.
Divergent Interests – Front Yard's officers and directors have actually seen their compensation steadily increase in recent years as the Company has delivered negative returns. While insiders have made more than $12 million since 2015, stockholders cumulatively lost more than $500 million – underscoring the lack of accountability in the boardroom. 2
Excessive Compensation for Chief Executive George Ellison – Mr. Ellison currently receives nearly $2 million per year in compensation from Frond Yard, in addition to the millions that he is paid by the external manager the Company pays for management services. We believe such "double dipping" in compensation is not only unseemly, but it is tone deaf given that stockholders have seen approximately $500 million of value destroyed under the Ellison regime.
History of Broken Promises – Front Yard consistently overpromises before ultimately underdelivering, including telling stockholders it would add independent expertise – not associates of George Ellison – to the Board in 2017-2018 and to expect "distributable income of 9-11% on equity."3 Today, stockholders are still waiting for a truly independent Board and to realize the real estate value trapped within Front Yard's shares.
Misleading Claim #2: Snow Park Has Poor Alignment With Front Yard's Stockholders
The Company has decided to baselessly attack Snow Park by claiming it is "a highly conflicted hedge fund composed of short-term traders and is not a 'true owner' of Front Yard."4
We believe the facts tell a different story:
Snow Park is "Long" Front Yard – Snow Park, which has been a sizable stockholder of Front Yard for multiple years, is net "long" Front Yard. Although we sought to partially hedge against sector-worst governance while the incumbent Board – which has presided over $500 million of value destruction – continues embracing Maryland's anti-stockholder protections and adding George Ellison's long-term associates, our intent has always been to unwind this position upon installing independent and qualified directors on the Board. To be clear, like every other stockholder, Snow Park will make money on its Front Yard position if shares rise and will lose money if shares depreciate. This has been true since we started the campaign, but the Company is deliberately misleading its stockholders to distract from its own poor track record and our slate's superior qualifications.
Snow Park's Goals Are Completely Aligned with Those of Fellow Stockholders – Snow Park's substantial investment in a capital-intensive proxy contest that is focused on adding ownership perspectives and strategic vision to the Board should make clear that it has the same goals as its fellow stockholders. Snow Park is singularly focused on seeing Front Yard's shares appreciate in value.
Snow Park's Diminishing AAMC Position Poses No Issue – Snow Park continues to reduce its holdings in Altisource Asset Management Corporation ("AAMC"), which were amassed years ago, while George Ellison has grown his holdings in AAMC (where he is also chief executive and chairman). Moreover, Snow Park's critiques of Mr. Ellison's performance and Front Yard's poorly-constructed amended agreement with AAMC should reinforce it is completely focused on maximizing value for Front Yard's stockholders.
The Front Yard Board is Not Aligned – The Board barely owns any stock. The three directors we seek to replace own less than 45,000 shares, nearly all of which was awarded by the Company rather than purchased.
Misleading Claim #3: Front Yard's Director Nominees Have More Relevant Experience and Qualifications
The Company has apparently concluded that ISS, Glass Lewis and Egan-Jones erred in their recommendations to vote FOR Snow Park's nominees, as evidenced by its assertion that our "nominees have little to no experience in the ownership and management of SFR homes and possess repetitive, finance-related backgrounds."5
The Snow Park Slate Has Significant SFR Market Experience – Leland Abrams' firm, Wynkoop, was an early player in the single-family residential ("SFR") market that has acquired and sold more than 1,000 homes similar in profile to the assets in Front Yard's portfolio. Lazar Nikolic founded MVC Real Estate, an SFR property investment vehicle that acquired and managed rentals in Atlanta for six years until the portfolio was sold. Jeffrey Pierce, outside of his role at Snow Park, owns and operates a portfolio of SFR and multi-family properties that has achieved significant appreciation since inception.
The Snow Park Slate Possess the REIT Experience the Board Lacks – Jeffrey Pierce, who founded one of the alternative asset management industry's only firms dedicated to public real estate, has been analyzing and investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs") for nearly 15 years. He has a long track record of securing outcomes for shareholders while working with public REIT management teams to enhance corporate governance, improve strategic execution, and optimize portfolios. He has also helped notable REITs close significant NAV discounts through alternative strategies and transactions.
The Snow Park Slate Brings Valuable Relationships – While most of the incumbent directors come from mortgage and financial services backgrounds, like George Ellison, our nominees bring years of SFR market and REIT industry relationships that can support future financing efforts and transactions. Moreover, our nominees' backgrounds investing in REITs have afforded them visibility into strategic review processes and connections to the types of advisors that excel at helping REITs maximize value.
Misleading Claim #4: Front Yard is a Market Leader
The Company touts that "[u]nder the stewardship of our current Board, Front Yard has established its position as a market leader in this attractive, growing space."6
Negative Total Returns – Despite operating during a bull market in the SFR space and a period of tremendous economic growth, Front Yard has dramatically underperformed all relevant industry benchmarks and its two public company peers: American Homes 4 Rent and Invitation Homes. The Company's shares are down approximately 50% over the past four years.
One of the REIT Sector's Worst Valuation Gaps – Although REITs often trade at modest discounts to their NAV calculations, Front Yard's shares trade at a consistent 45-60% discount to the Company's own stated NAV.7 It recently had the second largest discount to NAV out of all publicly-traded REITs in the United States.8
Peer-Worst General & Administrative Expenses – Front Yard's incumbent Board has sat idle while the Company's General & Administrative ("G&A") expenses remain at levels that far exceed more profitable peers – despite the fact that the portfolio has grown. This dichotomy is concerning for stockholders when considering that management seems unable to curb costs yet has stated its desire to scale further.
Misleading Claim #5: Front Yard Has Achieved Critical Mass at the 15,000 Home Level
The Company highlights that it is well-positioned after acquiring "11,000 additional revenue-generating SFRs since March 31, 2016 without raising additional equity capital, allowing the Company to achieve scale in several key target markets."9
No Cash Flows or Profits – Despite claiming to be set up for success at the 15,000-home level, particularly now that property management is internalized, Front Yard still has generated no material cash flows or profits – and still does not even cover its dividend. There is no reason to believe the future will be different if this Board that has failed to embrace checks and balances remains in place.
NAV Has Actually Declined During the Period of Purchasing 15,000 Homes – Front Yard's leverage-fueled acquisition spree has both eroded its balance sheet and resulted in a $4.50 depreciation in management's stated NAV as the portfolio has increased from approximately 3,500 homes to roughly 15,000 homes. Given the commensurate rise in housing prices during the same period of time, we find this unacceptable.
Contradictions Regarding Scale – Front Yard's assertion that it has achieved scale in any markets runs counter to its own statements from earlier this year regarding reaching the 50,000-home level as a way to bring its sector-worst G&A expense ratio in line with peers.10 We are only left to conclude that management is willing to say and do whatever it has to in order to try to garner support for Front Yard this proxy season.
Misleading Claim #6: Stockholders Should Take Solace in Revenue Growth
The Company implies stockholders should be hopeful about the future because it grew "first quarter rental revenues from $6.1 million as of March 31, 2016 to $52.6 million as of March 31, 2019."11
Lingering Structural Issues Mitigate Revenue Growth – Front Yard's share price actually declined more than 22% during the specific three-year period it cited revenue growth, reflecting the Company's inability to generate sufficient income to offset its increasing debt levels, poor external management structure, and needlessly high G&A expenses.
Negative Returns Continue as NOI Increases – To be clear, NOI has increased as a result of reckless leverage-fueled acquisitions and in no way reflects any value-add or progress. To try to conflate reckless growth with progress is just another way for the Company to dodge accountability for the poor decisions that have led to stockholder value destruction over the years.
Misleading Claim #7: The Amended Agreement with AAMC Reflects the Board's Commitment to Value Creation
The Company contends that its amended agreement with AAMC is the "most recent example of the current Board's proactivity, strategic vision, independence and focus on providing long-term stockholder value."12
No Accountability for Stockholder Returns – Rather than mirror many external management agreements that contemplate Total Shareholder Returns ("TSR") as a performance metric, Front Yard has crystalized a flawed structure and a perverse incentive package with its external manager that offers zero accountability for stockholder returns. AAMC's fee stream remains intact regardless of the depreciation in Front Yard's shares – just like the previous agreement. Moreover, the new external agreement – which uses leveraged cash flows to determine performance incentives – promotes the further leveraging of the balance sheet and actually disincentivizes any capital strategy that could de-leverage or return capital at NAV to stockholders. This shows that the Board clearly did not learn any lessons from the reckless leverage-fueled acquisition spree that caused stockholder value destruction to begin with.
Concerning Incentives – The amended agreement eliminates Front Yard's optionality to terminate the contract for performance default while giving AAMC another five years of strong fees with limited accountability. This is particularly troubling – as leading proxy advisory firms have noted – given that George Ellison is not only the chief executive at both Front Yard and AAMC, but also a director on Front Yard's Board and the Chairman at AAMC (where he is a large stockholder).
Misleading Claim #8: Front Yard's Balance Sheet is Not in Shambles
The Company expects stockholders to believe its balance sheet is not decimated because it has "[o]ptimized financing arrangements by transitioning away from repurchase facilities into term loan facilities with significantly longer maturities, lower interest rates and less interest rate volatility."13
Peer-Worst Balance Sheet – Front Yard's debt-fueled acquisition spree in recent years has left the Company with a balance sheet that remains significantly more leveraged than its two public REIT peers.
More Debt on the Horizon – Given that Front Yard has stated it intended to scale to 50,000 homes and cannot access the public markets for growth capital, we are left to assume the Company currently intends to use debt financing to pursue future acquisitions. To be clear, without the stock trading at NAV, any sort of equity issuance would be highly dilutive and actually perversely increase fees to the external manager when used to purchase more homes. In our view, stockholder oversight is clearly needed to prevent Front Yard's conflicted management team from placing its own economic incentives ahead of real owners' interests.
WE INVITE STOCKHOLDERS TO CLOSELY ASSESS OUR NOMINEES' SUPERIOR BACKGROUNDS, EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATIONS
We believe it should be a telling sign to all stockholders that Front Yard would rather spend time besmirching Snow Park and mischaracterizing our nominees' backgrounds, expertise, and qualifications than debating us on the facts or producing a credible plan for realizing NAV. The truth is this process should not be marred by the Board's fear-mongering and rancor, but instead should be focused on providing stockholders with the opportunity to assess both slates' ideas and qualifications. It is very regrettable, in our view, that Front Yard is committing stockholders' resources to a campaign that consciously attempts to shift focus away from the Company's performance, strategy, governance, and officers and directors. We are only left to conclude that Front Yard simply lacks either the ability or willingness to acknowledge the failures that have led to years of negative returns. Regardless, the facts make clear that Board-level change is desperately needed.
Looking ahead, Snow Park urges stockholders to not only focus on the facts pertaining to Front Yard, but to also examine the respective director nominees' qualifications. We are very confident that given Front Yard is a highly-leveraged, unprofitable and poorly-run REIT operating in the SFR market, our nominees bring the ideal backgrounds and relevant experiences needed to help the Company get on an accelerated path to stability and value creation. Below is an overview of the distinct skillsets and perspectives that each of Snow Park's nominees would bring to the Board:
Leland Abrams, Principal of Wynkoop
Unique SFR market acquisitions background along with highly additive financing experience and relationships
Significant SFR Market Acquisition and Transaction Experience – Wynkoop has bought and sold more than 1,000 homes similar in profile to the assets in Front Yard's portfolio.
Unique Knowledge of SFR Market Fundamentals – Years of experience investing in residential market securities has led to distinct knowledge of SFR market financing practices, portfolio management and operational efficiencies.
Proven Track Record Realizing Value in the SFR Space – Recently helped Wynkoop execute the sale of a $50 million block of SFR homes to another large institutional entity.
Strong Alignment with Stockholders – Front Yard is one of the largest equity positions in Wynkoop's portfolio.
Lazar Nikolic, Founder of JPL Advisors
Robust SFR market expertise based on experience constructing and managing portfolios of residential homes, including via his own property investment business
Significant SFR Market Investing Experience – Previously founded MVC Real Estate, an SFR market investment vehicle that acquired and managed rentals in one the country's largest home markets.
Deep Understanding of SFR Market Fundamentals – Oversaw investments in some of the earliest institutional-level private funds that deployed capital to the SFR space in 2010 and 2011.
More Than a Decade of Real Estate and REIT Investing Knowledge – Years of experience analyzing real estate securities and investing in public REITs on behalf of limited partners.
Strong Alignment with Stockholders – Front Yard is one of the largest positions in JPL's portfolio.
Jeffrey Pierce, Managing Partner of Snow Park Capital Partners
Nearly 15 years of dedicated public REIT knowledge and expertise, including with respect to effective governance practices and helping management teams realize NAV
Significant Public REIT Experience – Brings 15 years of experience analyzing and investing in public REITs across SFR, apartment, lodging, and office markets. Possesses a long history of working with management teams and achieving great outcomes for REIT shareholders. This experience would be additive to a Board that has zero years of dedicated REIT investment experience.
Unique Knowledge of REIT Operations and Strategy – Years of engaging with REIT management teams in private and public manners to help enhance their business plans.
Proven Track Record Realizing Value in the REIT Space – Has helped realize value for stockholders and bridge significant valuation gaps at REITs that include Monogram Residential Trust and FelCor Lodging Trust.
Strong Alignment with Stockholders – Front Yard is one of the largest equity positions in Snow Park's portfolio.
STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT BE DISTRACTED OR MISLED BY ANY OF FRONT YARD'S LAST-DITCH EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THE STATUS QUO
In the preceding sections of this letter, Snow Park has attempted to summarize four years of underperformance, strategic blunders, and governance failings that have collectively cost Front Yard's stockholders hundreds of millions of dollars. We also sought to convey that the Company's claims of being at an "inflection point" or reaching "critical mass" are not evidenced by any cash flows or returns – either currently or on the horizon. Our view is that nothing that Front Yard says over the next week should materially change stockholders' views on the Company. If you believe management and the incumbent Board bear responsibility for Front Yard's legacy of missteps and presently dire state, then Snow Park's case for change in the boardroom should garner your support.
While it is conceivable that the spotlight Snow Park has placed on Front Yard's failings may compel it to opt out of MUTA or promise superficial governance and operational improvements, these types of reactive moves in the lead-up to an annual meeting do not address years of underperformance or change the fact that the Company remains wed to a flawed business plan. We urge stockholders to not be enticed by last-ditch efforts or more promises from the Board that are likely to be broken, unless there are finally credible ownership perspectives in the boardroom to serve as checks and balances.
In our view, the time for change is right now. If elected, Snow Park's nominees are ready to immediately begin working alongside the incumbent directors to ensure accountability is increased, governance is dramatically improved, and a credible strategy for realizing NAV is finally articulated. These are just a few of the critical improvements that Front Yard's long-suffering stockholders deserve.
We urge Front Yard stockholders to vote FOR all three of Snow Park's highly-qualified, independent nominees on the BLUE proxy card and to return it in your postage-paid envelope provided. If you have already voted Front Yard's proxy card, you can change your vote by providing a later dated BLUE proxy card.
Should you have any questions or need assistance with voting, please contact Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC at (888) 368-0379 or (212) 257-1311 or by email at info@saratogaproxy.com.
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT. PLEASE SIGN, DATE, AND MAIL THE BLUE PROXY CARD TODAY!
Jeffrey Pierce
About Snow Park
Snow Park Capital Partners, LP is a privately-held investment manager that specializes in investing in publicly-traded real estate securities across the capital structure. Based in New York City and founded by Jeffrey Pierce, the firm focuses on producing strong risk-adjusted returns for a diverse investor base of public institutions, private entities and qualified individual clients.
1 Front Yard Residential Sends Letter to Stockholders, May 15, 2019.
2 Front Yard proxy statements.
3 Front Yard's earnings call transcripts from May 2016 through November 2018.
7 A NAV of $17.50 was set forth in Front Yard's February 2019 earnings call transcript.
8 S&P Market Intelligence, "NAV Monitor: REITs trade at 6.0% discount to NAV at March-end," April 2, 2019
10 Front Yard's February 2019 earnings call transcript.
11 Front Yard Residential Sends Letter to Stockholders, May 15, 2019.
For Investors:
Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC
John Ferguson / Joe Mills, 212-257-1311
jferguson@saratogaproxy.com / jmills@saratogaproxy.com
For Media:
Greg Marose / Charlotte Kiaie, 347-343-2999
gmarose@profileadvisors.com / ckiaie@profileadvisors.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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New York City | Aladdin on Broadway
I have always loved going to the theatre, but living an hour away from London, it becomes a pretty pricey trip. Whilst in New York we decided to book tickets to a show on Broadway, and we were lucky enough to get tickets to Aladdin at The Amsterdam Theatre during our stay. Our seats were located on the Mezzanine which was the second out of three tiers, and I have to say we were both very impressed. We only paid $62.50 dollars each for the tickets and we could see the whole show perfectly! For obvious reasons I wasn't able to take any photographs of the performance, so I'll have to leave that part up to your imagination...
The Amsterdam Theatre was a great venue; it was a decent size so there was a good enough atmosphere, without there being too many people because there is nothing worse than places being too crowded. There were two halves of the show with a small interval between these two halves and it was the perfect length. I only wished it had lasted a bit longer because it was that good - I loved it! You were really drawn into the story of Aladdin which was altered as little as possible to be able to adapt it into a show.
I am no theatre critic, but I have to say that the cast was excellent. They all suited their roles extremely well, and they were all incredibly talented at singing, dancing and acting. My favourite character was the Genie, who was absolutely hilarious. I was laughing out loud for a vast majority of this musical, and it really added to the original story which isn't necessarily focused on humour. As huge Disney fans, it was also pretty spectacular to know that Jafar was being played by the man who voiced Jafar in the original film!
The outfits of the cast were unbelievable and it was clear that a lot of thought and work had gone into making them authentic and original! I was a woman obsessed with the amount of sequin glam the cast wore throughout the show; the costume designer was absolutely fantastic. It truly felt like we were watching real scenes in Agrabah because of the excellence of the costumes, and of the set design as well. I was really impressed by the set, but the costumes really were incredible. They stole the show for me!
Of course, it wouldn't be Disney without some incredible music! I am still humming the songs now over a week after seeing the show. All of the originals were included which was great, as sometimes you find your favourite songs being missed out of remakes and theatre. Luckily, they had managed to fit them all in, and some! There were new renditions of classic favourites, and some new tunes too which were very catchy. They finished with some of my favourites from the film and it was just great music overall! The band were actually underneath the stage and it was great to have them playing live whilst the cast sang.
If you are heading to New York and are hoping to see a show on Broadway I would definitely recommend Aladdin - both of us were still in shock about how good it was the next morning. We both knew it would be good, but it definitely exceeded even our expectations. You can get reasonably priced tickets, and it is worth entering the digital lottery which you can find more information about here as you never know, you could be successful!
Have you ever seen Aladdin on Broadway? Or have you seen it in London?
Labels: aladdin, disney theatre, disneybloggers, lbloggers, new york city, theatre bloggers, travel bloggers
Lauren 23 October 2016 at 09:49
Just stumbled across your blog - it's lovely :) I REALLY want to see Aladdin...what an amazing opportunity to go and see it on broadway! Lauren - www.theyoproedit.com
Hannah 28 October 2016 at 07:25
Thank you very much! It was incredible, if you ever get the chance you should definitely go for it! It wasn't even AS pricey as I thought it might be. Obviously, it costs a fair amount but it was so worth it! xxx
Canterbury | Clarins Skincare Consultation
New York City | Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan/Ce...
New York City | El Mitote Upper West Side


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The limits of advice column living
Heather King May 17, 2019
Natalie Woolams-Torres (left) as "Letter Writer #2," Nia Vardalos (center) as "Sugar," and Giovanni Adams as "Letter Writer #3" in the stage adaptation of "Tiny Beautiful Things" at the Pasadena Playhouse. (IMAGE VIA PASADENA PLAYHOUSE)
The first thing I turned to in the newspaper as a kid was Ann Landers' advice column.
I couldn't get enough — still can't — of human dysfunction. The letters were longish but Ann's advice was always succinct, practical, and to the point.
"You have every right to tell your in-laws that they cannot smoke in your home."
"That child needs to be seen by a professional for evaluation."
"Give Gloria notice — either she stops seeing that married man, or she will have to move out at the end of the month."
My favorite was when Ann hit some prying busybody with the familiar zinger, MYOB: Mind Your Own Business.
Enter "Tiny Beautiful Things," a book by mega-popular author Cheryl Strayed and now a play that was recently staged at the Pasadena Playhouse. Strayed wrote an anonymous advice column for a time under the pen name Sugar and, after revealing her identity, collected the letters into "Tiny Beautiful Things."
Steve Almond, the writer who originally passed on the column to Strayed, calls her approach "radical empathy."
That's one way to put it: padding around her suburban kitchen in a hoodie and pajama bottoms, to my mind Sugar (played here by Nia Vardalos) makes every problem about herself: her grief over her mother's death, her fling with heroin, the risks she's so bravely taken (and that worked out, because look, here she is, the best-selling author of "Wild," writing an advice column that will also be a bestseller!).
The play consists of three characters who take turns reading their letters aloud. Then within 1 ½ seconds Sugar responds with a TED Talk-like answer. "Don't surrender all your joy for an idea you used to have about yourself that isn't true anymore." "Nobody will protect you from your suffering." "You cannot convince people to love you."
I'm probably just jealous. But I kept thinking of Christ on the cross, and Sugar padding up in her pajamas to hand him a couple of purple balloons, pat him on the head (oh wait, the Crown of Thorns would have been in the way), and remind him that he, too, could find healing through Tiny Beautiful Things.
In fact, the Romans offered him such cheap anesthesia: sour wine mixed with gall. He refused it.
The audience, however, seemed to love the play. So MYOB I told myself. And on the way home, I mentally composed my own letter.
"Hey Sugar, I'm almost 67 years old and have worked steadily since the age of 14. I'm divorced, childless, collect $1,417 a month in Social Security, and make approximately the salary of a fast food worker in faithful service to my vocation of writing. I pay $1,450 for a teeny one-bedroom apartment which, due to on-site construction noise, I've had to vacate for the last five months, six days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in favor of working in the library.
I'm tired and I feel like a worldly failure. I'm afraid of becoming so debilitated I can't work, then dying of Alzheimer's as my mother and maternal grandmother did. Sometimes I feel as if I've done my entire life wrong, missed some essential lesson or tenet or turn. On the other hand, I'm appalled by my self-obsession. Why should I have a roof over my head when so many of my brothers and sisters don't? Have I ever for a second truly loved my neighbor as myself? How, on this next leg of the journey, can I try to love God with all my soul, all my heart, all my mind, all my strength?"
"Reach!" "Breathe in — breathe out!" and "Tackle your life!" don't quite cut it here. So I went to Mass the next morning on behalf of both myself and a world in anxiety, conflict, and pain.
Afterwards, I fell into conversation with a fellow parishioner. She's a wife and mother from an upscale neighborhood who, turns out, has also been going through a "rough patch" (we cracked up at the euphemism): childhood wounds, family wounds, wounds in the Church.
"I'm starting to think that this struggle, this poverty of spirit, this longing, this sense of exile and that our lives aren't bearing fruit — this is it!" she said at one point. "This is the Way to Mt. Calvary! We're never going to find a true resting place, here on earth."
"But the Eucharist!" I added. "We're so hungry for it. We just come and throw ourselves upon the Eucharist each day."
We exchanged numbers, embraced, and parted sisters.
Afterward I thought about how this woman and I had seen each other many times at Mass, smiled, acknowledged each other, waved, but never talked — so why this particular day? Who knows. It was a Tiny Beautiful Thing.
Heather King is a blogger, speaker and the author of several books. For more, visit heather-king.com.
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Sunday readings for July 13 & 14
Archbishop Gomez: Statement on SB 360 failing to be presented in committee
Arzobispo Gomez: Declaración sobre la propuesta de ley SB 360 que se retiró del Comité, y que no se aprobó en 2019


Top Comcast Corp. engineering executives provided a sweeping overview of the MSO's technological initiatives — including a connected national backbone, reference designs for future set-top boxes, channel bonding and digital simulcast — during a lengthy briefing for analysts on May 10.
The message for Wall Street: Comcast is building a platform not only to match the competition but provide services that exceed what others can do. Think, for example, 100-Mbps high-speed Internet access.
Over the past several years, Comcast has been moving more and more services to its Internet protocol platform, paving the way for such innovations, said chief technology officer David Fellows.
Having one infrastructure also helps with cost control and bundling of services, such as voice and advanced Internet applications.
Through its deal with Level 3 Communications Inc., Comcast is building a nationwide 10-gigabit backbone. The Boston to Washington, D.C., link has already been activated, Fellows said. And the Philadelphia to Boston link has been upgraded to 40 Gbps. "It's wicked fast," Fellows said.
Comcast also is working towards deployment of Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification 3.0, which will allow the MSO to bundle 6-MH channels together to supply higher speed data services, as high as 100 Mbps or more.
Fellows said Comcast has created a middleware/operational support systems layer, called Bedrock, that brings together back office capabilities. It includes a Global Directory System, with entitlement information about all subscribers and their respective service levels for video, voice and data services. Bedrock also helps power Comcast's instant-messaging system to customers and provides unified provisioning for voice and data services, he said.
Fellows said Comcast also plans to roll out session initiation protocol (SIP) phone services alongside PacketCable-based voice-over-IP service. SIP will allow the MSO to offer video instant messaging and video phone service.
"They will work together to provide a better platform than any of our competitors," he said.
The MSO also is aggressively rolling out digital simulcast, replicating analog channels on digital so digital subscribers only see digital pictures.
The day Comcast can go all digital, it will effectively triple its capacity, as two-thirds of the transport plant is dedicated to analog signals, he said.
Stephen Silva, executive vice president of business development at Comcast Cable Communications Inc., discussed a core reference design for future digital set-top boxes. "We're going from buyer to builder," he said.
Discussing the MSO's digital gateway program, Silva outlined three Motorola Inc. set-tops. The RG 100 is a basic level set-top box. The RG 218 is a dual-tuner digital video recorder, while the RG 1000 is the soup-to-nuts set-top designed for whole house connectivity.
Mark Hess, senior vice president of digital television at Comcast, said all three boxes will have enough memory and processing power to handle OpenCable Applications Platform applications functions, as well as DOCSIS modems that will be used as the signaling return path.
It's contemplated all three boxes will be capable of managing downloadable security functions. The two advanced boxes will have advanced codec capabilities.
Silva said Comcast has 60 visiting engineers — including ones from other MSOs — in its labs to work on the digital gateway. Final specifications should be done this year.
"We've started to create a platform for innovation," Silva said, starting with the set-top. The top of the setup will run conditional access, firmware and set-top box instruction software.
Silva said the Motorola joint venture — including the conditional-access licensing program and the support and development program — addresses that layer. Comcast owns 51% of the conditional-access layer program and will license DigiCipher to the industry.
The support program is a 50-50 joint venture that will support third party set-top makers and develop CableCARDs and downloadable security, Silva said.
The next layer in the design is the OCAP/middleware stack. Silva said 130 engineers from Double C Technologies, the joint venture with Cox Communications Inc. that bought Liberate Technologies assets, are working on OCAP applications and extensions.
Comcast's GuideWorks joint venture with TV Guide-Gemstar International Inc. is handling the next layer, the user interface/navigation layer, riding just below the top application layer, he said.


Grandmother is a semi-modular analog synthesizer with a built-in arpeggiator, sequencer and spring reverb tank. Start playing immediately with "no patching required", and then explore an infinite sonic playground with Grandmother's reconfigurable front panel. Grandmother's circuits, spring reverb, and spirit are inspired by the classic Moog Modular Synthesizers, making this instrument a powerful addition to a Mother-32, DFAM or any Eurorack modular system.
41 x 3.5mm front and rear panels, 21 Inputs, 16 Outputs, 4 Parallel-wired Mults.
Be the first to review "Moog Grandmother" Click here to cancel reply.
Moog Grandmother	Overall rating:	5	out of 5 based on 3	reviews.


Users of Apple TV will be able to download the The Journal, Mr Porter's weekly digital publication which will offer shoppable content such as apparel, accessories and lifestyle items.
Weekly content will include short videos and films such as how-to videos and tutorials as well as behind-the-scenes footage.
Consumers can connect the TV app to their mobile or tablet device allowing for a multi-screen experience.


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'Climate-Ready' Great Bay Culvert Shows Possibility, Challenge of Coastal Resilience
By Annie Ropeik • Sep 25, 2019
Joanne Glode / Nature Conservancy
New Hampshire's coastal towns are beginning to think about adapting to climate change. It'll mean finding new ways to protect critical pieces of infrastructure from rising seas, heavier rains and stronger storms.
NHPR's Annie Ropeik has this story of the lessons from a major road project in Newmarket that's one of the first in the state to focus on climate resilience.
Listen to a broadcast version of this story.
Town Meeting: Traditional Vs. SB2 And Big Issues This Year
By The Exchange • Mar 5, 2019
Britta Greene for NHPR
About twenty years ago, New Hampshire adopted a new option, known as SB2, for local government involving a two-part process: a deliberative session and ballot voting. We ask how this has affected town governance, in terms of citizen participation, the issues that come up, and how they're resolved.
Art Of The Deal: N.H. Company Offers New App To Price That Picasso
Online tools like Zillow's 'Zestimate' can help potential buyers estimate a fair price for a house. Kelley Blue Book does the same thing for buying a used car.
Fine art, though, has always been more subjective, and more subject to huge price swings, making price valuations difficult.
Foodstuffs: In Newmarket, a Coffee Shop Chases the Perfect Cup
By Todd Bookman • Jun 28, 2018
Nori and Sarah Kozuma opened up the Horseshoe Cafe on Newmarket's main drag last year.
The Bay Area-transplants, married and heavily tattooed, divide the duties: Sarah handles the baking, including fresh breads, spreads, and a few pastries. Nori is the one-man coffee department, doing everything from importing to roasting.
"So I'm still baby roaster. We normally say about 10 years to be called a roast master," Nori says with a laugh.
While he may classify a novice, Kozuma knows more about coffee than he's letting on.
Shortage Forces Newmarket to Limit Water Use
By Jacob Carozza • Aug 4, 2015
kurtschwehr/Flickr Creative Commons / http://bit.ly/1IKHpiL
Lower than average rainfall is prompting officials in Newmarket to limit water use for the first time in a decade.
Residents and businesses who use the town's municipal water system may only water their lawns twice a week: odd numbered addresses on Mondays and Wednesdays, and even numbered addresses on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Health Center Receives Grant For Mental Health, Substance Abuse Programs
By Associated Press • Nov 7, 2014
The Lamprey Health Care center in Newmarket is getting a $242,000 grant through the Affordable Care Act to create or expand its mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.
The grant is part of $51 million in grants announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The money is going to 210 health centers to expand services to 440,000 people around the country.
At Lamprey, the grant means the number of people in New Hampshire with access to mental health or substance abuse treatment will increase by just over 200.
No New School For Newmarket
By Emily Corwin • Mar 11, 2014
Emily Corwin / NHPR
Voters in the town of Newmarket have turned down a controversial new school building. The $45 million dollar new school would have replaced the existing junior and senior high school, part of which is 90 years old.
Newmarket Principal Christopher Andriski says the building isn't modern enough to accomodate what he calls "twenty-first century learning." It also violates fire and safety codes, as well as requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Andriski says he's disappointed with the results:


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8000 sq ft Contiguous Furnished Office Space for Lease in Green Park
For rentFor sale
₹ 1,000,000.00
Green Park Metro Station, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Block A, Green Park, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Location: Green Park
Rent period: 3 + 3 + 3
Work Days: All Days of Week
Located only about 500 mts from Green Park metro station, the space is part of an independent commercial complex, this is a fully furnished space on single floor level with over 100 fully fitted out work stations, 3 cabins, 6 small and big meeting rooms for collaborative work, a small pantry with seating of around 10-15 Pax at a time and washrooms for ladies and gents. Office is connected by 2 high speed elevator, has it own centralized air conditioning unit and a complete power backup. Office has its own 20 dedicated car parks with the space. Its rare to find an office more than 4000 sq ft on single floor level and also with so many dedicated parking spots in the bustling in Green Park and Hauz khas area. Its an excellent option for any company looking to consolidate office on multiple floors or location under one roof and also get enough parking space for employees and visitors.
Green park has been a favorite of companies looking for office because of its opportune location as it is close to government machinery of South block and north block and on the other hand corporate headquarters of MNc's in Gurgaon and Noida are equally easily accessible through all modes of transportation.
Bearing a posh South Delhi address the locality is brimming with night life and has great overall sense of security, as a lot of restaurants thronged by families and party goers operate in nearby areas, making it a safe location for your employees with availability of modes of commute 24 hours a day.
Space also available for outright purchase.
For more details and site visit, feel free to call us.
This Office Space is located in Sri Aurobindo Marg is currently available For rent For sale and has been listed on Office Space in Delhi. This property is listed at ₹ 1,000,000.00. It may or may not be available for lease or sale. Sometimes listing pictures are for illustrative purposes only, and are provided merely as an exemplary representation of the types of spaces in a given neighborhood for a given price.


In my opinion this essence combination is one of the more overlooked. Everyone is used to taking Emergency Essence because it is the most well known and I am finding a lot of people who take the Emergency for when they are stressed or want to be calm. It is THIS essence which is best for when you are in need of finding a calmness within yourself amongst stressful or emotional times – but it also brings you clarity and helps you see through the emotions of the situation you are in.
Emergency is more for shock, panic, fear, distress. I do believe Emergency Essence will help most situations because it is so powerful and contains so many flowers, however if you are needing relaxation then this Calm and Clear Combination is more suited.
Bush Flower Essences: Black-eyed Susan, Boronia, Bottlebrush, Bush Fuchsia, Crowea, Jacaranda, Little Flannel Flower and Paw Paw.


Baby Food in Indonesia by Mintel Market Sizes provides you with annual year-end market size data, most recently updated in 2018.
Market size for Baby Food in Indonesia is given in IDR and tonne with a minimum of five years' historical data. Market Forecast is provided for five years.
Baby Food in Indonesia (2018) is included in a number of subscription packages.


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May 11, 2015 August 24, 2017 2010s Reviews, Film Reviews 1 Comment Amy Adams'BatmanBig EyesBig Eyes film reviewBig FishChristoph WaltzEd WoodMargaret KeaneQuentin TarantinoScott Alexander and Larry KarazewskiSleepy HollowTim Burton
Film Review: Big Eyes (2014)
Over the past 30 years it has often been difficult to determine who Tim Burton is. He ain't no screenwriter, that much is certain. Any Burton film where he has received story credit has largely been a mood piece, with a barely perceptible narrative drive. He also has shown himself to occasionally be a dubious director, with style trumping substance on more than one occasion (and perhaps every occasion of late).
However, the amazing thing is that, of his 17 features, there are far more hits than misses. Even less than perfect films (such as Sleepy Hollow, Batman, Big Fish and Sweeney Todd) have largely forgivable flaws. Their evocative imagery, searing music and potent emotional cores more than compensate for various narrative faults.
Like any filmmaker, Burton's greatest works succeed on a thematic, aesthetic and character-building level. 1994's Ed Wood, for example, is a towering achievement, although it bombed upon its initial release. Sine then the film has steadily gained a devoted cult following. It is now fondly remembered for its terrific script, direction and performances.
The director's latest, last year's Big Eyes, functions as a companion piece to that earlier classic. Not only does it reteam Burton with his Ed Wood screenwriters (Scott Alexander and Larry Karazewski), but Big Eyes again features the director parsing the complexities of artistic expression. While nowhere near as memorable as Ed Wood, Big Eyes is a restrained, mature work that forgoes Burton's axiomatic quirks. Alas, the film doesn't necessarily delve deeply into the psyche of Margaret Keane, and ultimately it is only a mildly engaging look at an artist at odds with her time.
Burton's work has often taken on a painterly feel, with imagery and emotion dominating the viewer's experience. Ironically, his take on Keane's story utilizes none of these expressionistic proclivities. Not only is Big Eyes far more lucid than other Burton productions, it is definitively rooted in the real world. The post-war atmosphere of the 1950s-60s factors almost as predominately into the story as Walter or Margaret, and Keane's struggles function (perhaps simplistically) as a microcosmic portrait of the period's gender relations.
Big Eyes begins with the voice-over narration of Danny Huston (playing smarmy gossip reporter Dick Nolan), who humorously comments that the 1950s were a great time… if you were a man. This is certainly reflected in Margaret's journey as she leaves her first husband with her young daughter in tow in 1958. This pointed social commentary, evoked through Alexander and Karazewski's script and Burton's directorial decisions, is certainly appreciated, not to mention serves as a catalyst for Keane's character arc. It does has a fatal flaw though: the viewer never feels Margaret's struggle to forge a path in a male-dominated world.
While Margaret eventually does come under the thumb of her second husband Walter (who psychologically browbeats her until she allows him to take credit for work), Burton and his scripters fail to explain Margaret's state of mind. More specifically, they fail to explain why Margaret feels that she must capitulate to Walter's fiendish showmanship and fraudulent instincts. But capitulate she does, and the script traces the couple's torturous life together until the mid-60s, when Margaret would finally separate from Walter and eventually sue him for libel and slander.
Burton and his department heads are able to deftly suggest Margaret's increasing despondency, particularly when Walter begins to slowly wrestle artistic credit away from her. Color and camerawork are essential in conveying the character's emotional state, with a hellish red (for example) being predominately featured in a subterranean club where Margaret first finds out about Walter's fabrications.
The actors are also integral in suggesting the toxicity of film's central relationship, even if the characterizations offered by Waltz or Adams aren't exactly memorable. Waltz in particular is playing a character that holds few surprises. While perhaps no living actor is his equal when it comes to portraying gregarious darkness, Waltz has been mining this juxtaposition for several years now, most spectacularly in his work with Quentin Tarantino. Thus, the character of Walter, while capricious and loud, remains fairly uninspired. We've all seen this pony do this trick before.
Adams, although quite good in the film, also doesn't successfully transcend the script's limitations. As mentioned, the film's script doesn't help an audience understand Margaret's epochal constraints. Too many statements in the film seem designed to offer insight, yet go uncorroborated. For example, near the end of the film Margaret explains that she felt dominated in her relationship, and that the fear of being unable to provide for herself was what paved the way for Walter's fabrications. The film doesn't lend this fear credence however, brushing over any period in Margaret's life where she was single and struggling. This feels like a missed opportunity, as the film clearly has an interest in parsing the hostile, testosterone-addled environment likely faced by 50s women unwilling to submit to the era's gender roles.
Unsurprisingly, Big Eyes is far more adept at evoking raw emotion, particularly when grappling with the incalculable power of art. In several scenes Margaret speaks passionately about what her art means to her, about how the big eyed waifs she paints are "a part of her being." These moments are enormously powerful, and Adams is able to sell them effortlessly. It almost makes other moments designed to offer psychological insight, such as when Margaret begins seeing big eyes on real people, feel superfluous.
It also brings one back to Burton's Ed Wood, whose titular character feels like a kindred spirit to Big Eyes' Margaret Keane. In that earlier film there are moments of pure, startling beauty, where Depp's earnest performance, paired with Alexander and Karazewski's script, produces something touchingly poetic about how art can transform, heal and save. What is especially notable about these scenes is that Burton, at least briefly, is able to get out of his own way and let the material speak for itself.
These scenes are few and far between in Burton's filmography. Yet, when they emerge in Ed Wood (and to a lesser degree in Big Eyes) one understands that Burton is something far more than ornate set-design and goth, monochromatic fetishes. He is a filmmaker who believes in celebrating artists. And while his grasp on narrative may be shoddy, his compassionate focus on humanity remains consistent and profound.
One thought on "Film Review: Big Eyes (2014)"
I know I'm late to the party but I only recently found this little gem of a film. Amy Adams is excellent in the role; Waltz is an overcooked caricature of all his former evil personas; and its a fascinating story too. Sometimes we just expect too much. This achieves what a good bio-pic should do: tell an interesting story that people want to hear and produce it with a strong cast. Tick the boxes.
CineMuseFilms , April 10, 2017 at 3:28


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Madeleine Caulier Goes to War
By Pamela | July 12, 2013 | 2
(In case it's not clear, this is NOT a picture of Madeleine Caulier. It is a generic picture of a dragoon.)
I've been fascinated for a long time by real-life stories of women who disguised themselves as men and went to war at times when women didn't go to war. * About ten years ago, I began to collect examples, thinking I could write a book, or at least an article, about the subject. I quickly gave up the idea. There were too many examples, from the medieval period through World War I.
What's more, their stories all sounded the same. For one reason or another** our heroine disguises herself as a man*** and enlists. She makes it to the front, where she serves valiantly. She is only discovered to be a woman when she is wounded or dies in battle.**** Presumably more served who were not discovered.
I recently stumbled across an example with a different twist: Madeleine Caulier.
Caulier worked at an inn outside the city of Lille during the War of the Spanish Succession. As in most all-out European wars, the Low Countries were hotly contested territory. In August, 1708, Lille became the site of a long, hungry siege. The French were desperate to get supplies and information in and out of the city.*****
Caulier's brother served in the French garrison. For reasons that are not clear to me, she was allowed to cross the lines to visit him. (For those of you who are always alert to the passive voice, let me assure you I deliberately chose it in this case because I don't know who was fool enough to allow her to go in and out of the city. Did she get permission from an officer? Talk her way through a checkpoint? Did someone assume she was harmless? Was bribery involved? This is one of those times when the documents leave the juice out of the story.) When they learned she had access to the city, French officers asked Caulier to smuggle messages to the commander of the garrison. (In some versions of the story, she overheard them talking and volunteered.) She agreed, on the condition that she be allowed to enlist in a dragoon regiment as a man. I would say she had balls–but the whole point of the story is that she didn't.
The count d'Évreux granted her request–making her the only example I've seen of a woman who was officially allowed to disguise herself as a man and enlist. She remained in the army until her death at the battle of Denain in 1712.
Today a street in Lille bears her name. Anyone know of another woman soldier in disguise who's been honored in some way?
* I'm not the only one fascinated by this historical trope. Terry Pratchett wrote a hysterical novel based on it: Monstrous Regiment. I won't say more for fear of spoiling the fun. Besides, trying to explain a Terry Pratchett novel is a fool's game.
** Popular reasons include following/searching for her husband, lover or brother, heartbreak, patriotism, revenge for losses incurred, and just because.
*** How on earth did they pull it off? I realize that a not-particularly curvy woman could bind her breasts and stuff a rolled-up sock in her breeches and pass as a teenage boy for an evening, assuming no one noticed the lack of an Adam's apple. A recent book on the subject argues that once the Mongols introduced the concept of trousers to the world the total separation of male and female dress helped: the eye saw pants and thought male. But surely the lack of privacy in an army camp would lead to rapid exposure?
****One of my favorite examples from the American Civil War simply suited up again, changed her name and re-enlisted after she was discovered and sent home.
*****At one point, 2000 cavalrymen disguised themselves as Dutch soldiers and tried to carry 50-pound bags of gunpowder through the lines to the besieged city. That's a story for another day, but the short version is: BOOM!
Posted in Cross-cultural "Stuff", Odd Bits, The Long Eighteenth Century and tagged cross-cultural stuff, cross-dressing, the long eighteenth century, war of the spanish succession, women warriors
Jessica @ Quirky Bookworm on July 12, 2013 at 10:36 pm
Your third footnote is what has always seemed so unlikely to me! The only thing I can think of is that the men didn't expect to see a woman around at war… so they didn't??
(Although I love that in Elswyth Thane's Dawn's Early Light, Lafayette discovers the deception in about 5.2 seconds. Then when the Americans are like, "How did you know she was really a girl?!" He says, "I looked at her." Hahaha.)
pamela on July 12, 2013 at 11:28 pm
That Lafayette line is great!


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Taylor Madechadt2021-02-02T16:33:14+00:00
What is Taylor Made
You've had your eye on a new car for months, but you're avoiding the dealership. After all, everyone knows the frustrations that come with buying a car. You spend hours waiting for the salesperson to crunch numbers and check with their manager, only to leave feeling that they "won" and wondering whether you truly made a good decision.
Just because this could be your experience buying a car doesn't mean it has to be.
As the owner and operator of seven successful car dealerships, Steve Taylor has worked for twenty years to change the negative connotations of his industry and the car-buying experience. In Taylor Made, Steve walks you step-by-step through the process of buying a car. He gives you insider tips on how to choose a dealer, get top dollar for your trade-in, negotiate a fair price, and select the products that will truly protect you in the long run. By answering all the questions you were too apprehensive to ask, this book will make buying a car enjoyable again—as it should be.
Steve Taylor owns and operates seven of northwestern Ohio's leading car dealerships, including the previous #1 selling Kia dealership in the country. An eight-time winner of the prestigious Kia Presidents Club, Taylor Kia has also been honored as the International Kia Dealer of the Year.
A recipient of the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist Award, the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for business ethics, and the 20 Under 40 distinction from Leadership Toledo, Steve has also been a finalist for the Jefferson Award in public service. Steve calls Perrysburg, Ohio home with his lovely bride of more than twenty years and their three wonderful children.
"I have been very fortunate to be an undefeated quarterback at the University of Toledo. I met Steve and after a few minutes, I recognized his undefeated spirit in dealing with people. Similarly, this book is all about supporting and helping people win in their next car buying experience! It's all about supporting and winning for people. Thanks for all you do, Steve."
Chuck Ealey, former University of Toledo Undefeated 35-0 Quarterback and Founder, Undefeated Spirit Foundation
Steve is honest, straightforward, and a natural mentor–now, first-time car buyers can benefit from his knowledge and insight after years in the car business. Taylor Made is a must-read instruction book on how to make your first automobile purchase enjoyable and successful."
Dale Critz, Critz Buick, GMC, BMW, Mercedes, Savannah, GA, Time Dealer of the Year Award Winner
"Steve is the kind of guy you're lucky to know. If you don't have the pleasure of knowing him, the next best thing is to get advice from him about buying a car. If you're a first-time buyer or are credit challenged, Taylor Made will make the car-buying process easy! We also recommend this book to our credit repair clients who need help buying a car."
Jason White, President & CEO, 700 Club Credit Repair
"Steve Taylor has been a great friend to our schools and our community. His passion and dedication to being a man for others is seen in all he does in our community. With this book, Steve gives us the keys to unlock the car-buying process like only a true insider can."
Tom Hosler, Superintendent of Perrysburg Schools
"Let's face it, buying a car can be difficult! But Taylor Made by Steve Taylor makes it easy! This book will be extremely helpful to all of those who are uninformed about the car-buying process and will give them the confidence they need to make a smart buying decision all while having fun! A home run for all car buyers!"
Mike Bell, Former Mayor, Toledo, Ohio
"The car-buying process can be frustrating and filled with uncertainty and questions. What should I do to get the best price on the vehicle I want? What should I avoid? Who should I talk to? How much is my trade-in worth? Is this the best time to buy? Should I purchase or lease? Steve Taylor's incredible book Taylor Made shares with you the answers to these questions. Shopping should be easy, safe, and fun so that you get the best deal for your family. Great gift idea for friends or family to help remove the risk of a bad car-buying experience. Great book, Steve!"
Ali Reda, #1 Auto Salesperson in the world
"Taylor Made by Steve Taylor will help you WIN when you go into a dealership to buy a car. Steve, through his car-buying experience and expertise is on your side. He wants to make buying a car fun! Taylor Made…a must-read for anyone buying a car."
Tom Cole , The Coach, Teacher, Coach, TV Personality, Broadcaster, and Community Ambassador
The very first time I received an email from Steve, I could tell he was different.
Here he was, the owner of a car dealership, telling me he was driven by two things: to be different from the competition and to stand out by being a fun place for his employees to work.
I was intrigued. I learned more about the crazy marketing stunts he attempted with his dealerships.
I heard about the giveaways: the bobbleheads, chia pets, and two-dollar bills. I heard about his crazy ads featuring a Bill Clinton impersonator and about how he stayed on his roof until a certain number of cars sold.
He definitely thought differently, but what about his team? Did they share his unique thinking style? Did they have fun at work?
I had to meet Steve and his team and see it first-hand.
When I arrived in Toledo, I was blown away. I was welcomed with open arms and treated like I was part of the Taylor family.
At dinner my first night in town, I was inspired by how hungry he and his team were to learn about delivering a better experience. It wasn't about how to sell more cars. It was about how to take care of people, with the focus on making customers feel better about their car-buying experience.
I believe you can tell a lot from a business by the happiness levels of the employees. I spent two days speaking and connecting with his team. They were engaged the entire time and brought more energy than I've seen from a group of colleagues. They were laughing and sharing ideas. It was obvious how much they cared.
When you think about car dealerships, the word "caring" isn't usually the first word that comes to mind.
This wasn't by accident. It was intentional, and it started at the top.
Steve Taylor is different. This book, Taylor Made, is different. A car dealer sharing everything about the industry is different. From how to get a better deal, to how to negotiate, and how to have a better experience.
This is the blueprint on how to eliminate stress and anxiety when buying a car. In Taylor Made, Steve puts his customers first. In the car industry, that's different and practically unheard of.
Buying a car should be fun. It should be exciting. You shouldn't walk up to the lot, dreading the experience. You should be informed and prepared.
All you need is this book.
I wasn't expecting to learn as much as I did about the entire car buying experience.
Going the extra mile is what Steve Taylor and Taylor Automotive are all about.
His life motto is, "Be a difference maker and try to make a positive difference in someone's life every single day."
He is hungry to make a difference. For his team, his customers, and his community, and it shows.
He cares. He is a lifelong learner. He's not your typical car salesperson. He's a friend and a family man.
In Taylor Made, he brings you into the family.
This is a book about transparency, authenticity, and how you make people feel. We can all learn from Steve and his dealerships, whether we're buying cars or building relationships.
Steve is different. Taylor Automotive is different. This book makes a difference.
Read. Take notes. Take action. You'll be better off because of it.
Jesse Cole
Owner, Savannah Bananas
Author, Find Your Yellow Tux
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I have a very regular cycle..averages 28 days .. But lately has been 26 to 28.. I got my AF feb 14 till 19 then two day break.. Then brown light spotting for 9 days ..
Is it possible to get pregnant if I'm spotting so much ?


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925. Believe Me! Baby Ma
deepa jayakumar, Jayalalitha, tamilnadu politics No comments
I was jobless this afternoon. I decided to while away the time by searching for keywords on google. I put on my thinking cap to decide on the all-important keyword that will have the privilege of being searched on google. When my brain was doing all the thinking, I could hear my colleague's wife calling him an "Echa Kala" over the phone. Echa Kala is a Tamil word used to praise people. It means Spit Art. Immediately I found my keyword - "Deepa".
When I searched for Deepa, I was astonished to find that she even had a Wikipedia page dedicated to her name.
It is a shame that Deepa did not get a chance to contest from RK Nagar. She would have definitely defeated BJP at least. I also checked the wiki-blurb that appears on the search results. Two things caught my attention and stand at ease.
1) Her Education Qualification: She is a Cardiff University product. I was utterly shocked and even checked the spelling to make sure that it was not some university from the suburbs of Chengalpettu. What she studied there remains a mystery.
2) Her Spouse: The same K Madhavan has married her twice. Once in the year 2014 and the second time in an undisclosed date to confuse time travellers. This was one of the main reasons why her nomination was rejected.
People from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madras University can return their degrees as a sign of respect for Baby Ma (That is how our people fondly call her).
I should have stopped right there. But I took the risk of clicking that Wikipedia page with an eagerness to know more about her educational qualification and also to understand about her childhood.
I should not have done that. But they say champions are made of iron and steel and I being a champion material, could not back down from the bait that was dangling in front of me
The content that I read gave me dysentery. She was an editor in the New Indian Express it seems. My respect for that newspaper vanished into thin air in just one second. All my journalist friends who are working in Indian express are requested to immediately hide their current work location in LinkedIn.
Deepa has also completed MA in International Journalism from Cardiff University in Wales. (Enna da idhu Cardiff Universitykku vandha sodhanai?). Though I almost started reading everything with a sarcastic tone, the last paragraph in that page literally broke my heart. That was the respect-sprouting moment in my heart for Deepa.
She has literally fought a battle with her brother and Sasikala's members (according to Wikipedia) singlehandedly and was victorious. This will go down in history books as the Battle of Poes Garden.
Note: While I was typing this post, someone made some edits in her Wikipedia page by adding an MBA degree to her husband's name. I think, he just graduated from Cambridge University.
- Chronicwriter
0 Smiles:
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