In August 1958 the average high temperature in Homestead, FL was 91.3°F, and this was 2.3°F warmer than the average of 88.9°F. The hottest day in August 1958 was 21 August when the temperature reached 94.3°F. Overnight the average temperature in August is 77.1°F and in 1958 the average overnight temperature was 1.6°F cooler at 75.5°F.
In August the average monthly rainfall in Homestead, FL is 5.58 inches with rain usually falling on 8 days. In August 1958 there was a total of 0.00 inches of rain, that fell on 0 days.


At a North Frontenac Council meeting in Snow Road last Thursday (October 25), Councilors Wayne Cole and Bob Olmstead expressed their frustration with the fact that an emergency council meeting had not been convened to deal with the construction of a cabin on the road allowance at the Robertsville mine.
The cabin was constructed by members of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation in the days following their decision to vacate the Robertsville mine site. In addition to the cabin, there is a tent trailer on the site, as well as a large construction trailer.
Mayor Ron Maguire made a verbal report to council in which he outlined the actions he had taken on the matter.
Council was informed of the circumstances by email late in the week and it was eventually determined that the bylaw officer would deliver an order to vacate the township property. The request was undated, which is different than is normal in such cases, where five days are given.
"Council should be included," said Councilor Wayne Cole.
"How would you have handled it differently," Councilor Fred Perry asked Bob Olmstead.
"I'd have called a special meeting," Olmstead answered.
"Bylaw enforcement, OPP. I'm saying it should have been a full Council decision, and it should have been acted upon smartly," Olmstead said.
"My reason for acting was to deliver the message that the township would not be liable, and in retrospect I wouldn't have acted any differently than I did," said Mayor Maguire.
Hydro Lane ATV problem This past summer the residents of Hydro Lane, a Crown Land road that is no longer covered in a maintenance agreement between North Frontenac Township and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), asked the township if they could use some gravel that has been piled near the road for a number of years to improve the road.
The residents were committed to paying a contractor to spread the gravel and the township decided to allow the gravel to be used.
The work was subsequently done, but at last week's North Frontenac Council meeting Deputy Mayor Jim Beam reported that he has been informed by Hydro Lane resident Bob Buskie that over the Thanksgiving weekend the road had been heavily run by ATVs, and was now full of ruts. He said the gravel is mostly gone.
"The responsibility, because it is Crown Land, falls to the MNR. That being said, the taxpayers on that road pay maybe $100,000 in municipal taxes," said Deputy Mayor Jim Beam.
"If we start doing work on that road, are we going to do other roads?" asked Councilor Wayne Good.
Councilor Fred Perry looked at the issue differently.
"ATVs are a problem, but the people knew they were on Crown Land when they bought their property. About 75% of the properties sold on those Crown roads were originally sold as water access only," he said.
Tappin's Bay – Councilor Fred Perry, who in the past chaired a township task force that worked on a plan to repair the boat launch at Tappin's Bay on Mazinaw Lake near Cloyne, proposed that the township refrain from asking Addigton Highlands Township to pay for half of this year's maintenance bill of $434.50 for Tappin's Bay. The bill covers hydro costs, minor dock repairs, and snow-plowing.
"The point is, it's been very easy for Addington Highlands to say 'well, we continue to support Tappin's Bay'. It's time they did something about boat access in Addington Highlands, because Tappin's Bay has become more of a parking lot than a boat launch," Perry said.
Many of the properties on Mazinaw Lake are located in Addington Highlands (AH), and there is no public boat launch on the portion of the lake that is located in AH.
A proposal to establish a boat launch was brought to AH Council this past summer, but has been stalled because of the concerns raised by a neighbouring property owner who would be affected.
North Frontenac Council decided to pay the entire maintenance bill and encourage Addington Highlands to establish their own boat launch.
JEPP Grant application – Township Fire Chief Steve Riddell sent a letter requesting that council select some specific projects for a grant application from the Federal Joint Emergency Preparedness Program, which pays 50% of the cost for approved expenditures.
He suggested making a generator to power the present Township Administration building and the Fire Hall Evacuation Centre. Secondly, he suggested applying for funds to replace the current Base radios in the three township fire halls, which would cost $850.
If the township receives one of the grants, there will be budgetary implications for the township portion of the projects.
Fire Chief Riddell's proposals were accepted.
Lions want to collect glass from waste sites – James Wilson, from the Land O' Lakes Lions Club, wrote a letter to council, requesting permission to gather returnable glass wine, liquor, and beer bottles from the dump site in order to return them for refund. All monies would be used to fund Lions' projects.
"I'm in favour of it, it's a way to divert from landfill," said Wayne Good.
"We'll have to look into the insurance issue, and check our certificate of approval for the waste site as well," said Chief Administrative Officer Cheryl Robson.


What a game, our prayers at each of the Masses were answered! I'll leave it at that since it is the Monday after the game the excitement is still in the air as we prepare the Duck Boats for the parade tomorrow. I don't think the weather will dampen any spirits!
A word of thanks and appreciation to your very generous support of the Youth Ministry bake sale for the 2 chapel and main church roofs at St. Gerard's. Thanks to the bakers and your donations, we collected $668.00 to assist in this need. From the giving tree we received $270.00 toward the roofs for a total of $938.00 almost $1,000.00. Some people mentioned that they didn't have any cash to assist in this effort and wanted to; so I am thinking, since this weekend is the last weekend before our Mission Team visits Haiti, I'll put a basket in the middle aisle and as you come up for communion you can make a donation toward relief effort.
At the 10:30 Mass this weekend we will offer a special blessing for the parishioners going to Haiti February 17-25. Again accompanying me will be: Taylor Andolina, Belinda Lee, Elli and Carrie Maurais, Cathy Stickney, and Kendall Zonghi. Following Mass if anyone wants to assist us in packing the supplies we are taking please join us in the parish center.
I am pleased that Msgr. John Doran is available to replace me the two weekends we are gone. I know you are happy to have him here, and he is equally happy about seeing you all again. While away I will even try to keep you posted on our journey by Facebook!


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Governments Keep Public Informed on Modern Broadcast Infrastructure
Public demand for access to government video content to keep them informed and educated has grown, a trend that is seen especially among the younger generation who are showing a fresh interest in political events. In response, governments are interested in using broadcast-grade equipment and systems to deliver content ranging from new information on Covid-19, to updates on the ongoing Brexit process over the course of the last few years.
At the same time, viewers have adapted to consuming content on-demand through streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and a growing list of OTT and VOD competitors. Many now expect content to be available just by clicking a button. Viewer demand and the amount of video being created are increasing in parallel. Furthermore, as younger viewers are now consuming content in smaller chunks, producers are in turn favouring short form video production.
Government to Public
With these developing trends in mind, governments are keen to adapt their video content sharing strategies to meet the change in audience demand and keep pace with technological developments.
VUALTO has watched the government-to-public relationship evolve from the point of view of the company's field of expertise – cloud based OTT video delivery and orchestration. Their two main products, VUALTO CONTROL HUB video orchestration platform and VUDRM Digital Rights Management application, are developed as adaptable, scalable, intelligent video delivery software, taking content from camera through to targeted viewers on multiple devices.
VUALTO's systems address industries ranging from broadcasters, OTT service providers and telecoms and operators to sports, governments and media & entertainment. In this article, VUALTO'S CEO and Co-founder Camilla Young talks about the government use case, in which scalability, reach and use of metadata are especially important.
Searchable VOD Libraries
"For on-demand content, many government bodies are already supplying pre-recorded content in an intuitive searchable library, with basic video player capabilities. For example, the UK Parliament makes a library of video content available that is searchable by keywords or date," Camilla said.
"However, governments operating a similar provision should also be aware that public tolerance for rudimentary search functions is low. Many viewers are now used to the slick interfaces and ease-of-use experienced on the subscription services. Expanding search functions is paramount, and allows end users to take better advantage of intelligent metadata that accurately tags content for easier searching and less frustration."
Another factor in governmental content is the languages in which it is recorded, and in which it is available for access. In multi-cultural societies in any location, playing content in different languages, or turning on subtitles in a language of the user's choice, is necessary. For events with wider implications that may have global audiences, it enables governments to deliver content worldwide. A greater audience has continued to consume and share content related to European politics, following the peak in interest the UK's departure from the European Union, for example.
Changing viewing habits include the fact that many people now consume video content via social media channels, especially in the younger demographic. Camilla said, "In the way that global brands use social media to maintain a level of communication with their followers, governments can also promote short clips on prominent channels and encourage engagement from their followers."
She noted that the ability to clip relevant sections of longer pieces of content for sharing on social media is now regarded as an essential skill for up-to-date government bodies, as it immediately shares important messages with the public. Timely sharing is useful in instances where speeches may still be in progress, but a government needs to quickly clip and share highlights. "As an example, members of the European Parliament will soon be able to clip live feeds, such as prominent speeches, and make them accessible through their own website or social media channels. From there, end users can share or download clips for their own use," she said.
Managing Spikes
Like other event-based services, governments need to monitor fluctuations in demand for their content. The spikes resulting from major events, if they are not planned for, can cause video services to slow down or crash. Referring back to viewing statistics for previous similar events assist governments to predict and plan ahead for changes in demand.
"One example was the critical voting sessions on Brexit in the UK Parliament," said Camilla. "Not only did the sessions attract greater numbers of viewers compared to a standard day, but more people wanted to access the content both live and on demand. With the correct infrastructure in place, governments can adapt their systems to manage increased numbers, freeing bandwidth through methods such as disabling embed codes for third parties to ease the pressure during high-traffic events.
"Certain incidents or events can also resonate with specific areas or countries, meaning governments need to be aware of the potential location of a demand spike and its audience. For instance, when a German newspaper included a UK Parliamentary video player in their news covering one of the key Brexit votes, large amounts of traffic followed due to widespread interest there in the result."
VUALTO's video control hub
While broadcast developments have changed the way people consume content and inspired a technological change in how governments share relevant information, the challenge for government bodies has been to find engaging ways to disseminate content. One is capturing and sharing their own video. As transparency becomes more important to the general public, the ability to source video recordings of government updates and events will help maintain public trust and prevent the spread of misinformation.
"This is of real importance in the context of parliamentary content, where it is vital to remain neutral and unbiased," Camilla said. "Live streaming facilities show parliamentary footage in its original form, without editing, which is basic for absolute transparency and means the end user receives the content as it actually happened.
"Streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime use algorithms to present recommended titles to their users based on watch history and previous genre preferences. Through the same techniques, governments can direct relevant video content to the most appropriate audience. For example, video updates explaining new child benefits could be directed towards users who have searched for this kind of content previously. Recommendations also give niche content, held in large content archives, regular exposure among narrower, focussed audiences."
Through systems and methods similar to those broadcasters use, governments are able to share video content to anyone with an internet connection. If governments ensure that content is readily available to viewers and easily searchable, and consider the user experience, they can spread messages across a wider reach of people, in an authentic and transparent way. www.vualto.com
Category: Disrupt

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Earlier this week we made a Costco run, and you know what that means: BOXES! It also means a little bit of drama in our house. Phoebe is usually the first one to snag the box, and Saffy or Cosmo better not come near it. Well, that's what initially happened, and then Phoebe walked in to find Saffy had jacked the giant box. They looked to my husband to intervene. He wasn't about to get involved.
Then Phoebe gave Saff the smelliest stink-eye ever. I mean, I'm sure the neighbors could smell the stink. It was a total standoff. Saffy held Phoebe's gaze for about a half a minute, then I think the stink got to her.
And here's how the story ends. Of course. Like always. Phoebe is the reigning queen of the Costco box. But don't worry about Saffy -- there's no shortage of boxes at my house.


text:
How to disable Share App suggestions in Windows 10
Windows 10 v1703 has brought several new features and enhanced a couple of old features. Microsoft previously introduced the Share menu that used to pop up on the right-hand side. However, now you can find a dedicated Share button in different apps such as Microsoft Edge. This Share menu shows various apps installed on your computer as well as some which you can use them without installation. Apart from this, you can find some app links as a suggestion. If you find no use for this feature and would like to disable the Share App suggestions, you can do so easily.
Disable Share App suggestions in Windows 10
Some people love the app suggestions in the Share menu since it lets them download more useful apps. For instance, if you go to share a web page link using Microsoft Edge browser, you will find some apps like Twitter, Mail, OneNote along with some suggestions like Dropbox, LINE, etc. When you click on the Install button, it will redirect you to the Windows Store so that you can download them to your machine. While some people like this feature, there some, who may not like it at all because it creates a mess in the share menu.
The simple solution of removing Share suggestions is to uninstall the corresponding app. For example, if you do not want OneNote, you can uninstall the OneNote app from your Windows 10 machine. However, that is probably not the best solution since it doesn't remove the "suggestions" at all and you may not want to save a link in OneNote – but you want to use OneNote for other purposes. Therefore, you can open the Share menu pane, right-click on the space, and remove the tick from
So the better option is to simply disable all the Share suggestions. To do this, all you need to do is click on the Share button to open the Share menu pane, right-click in an empty space, and remove the mark from Show app suggestions option.
It will disable Share App suggestions in Windows 10 Share menu. This is as simple as said. However, if you are using an older version of Windows 10 and want to turn off Share suggestions, you can use the Registry editor since you won't get this option.
Open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Control Panel
On the right-hand side, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value and name it as EnableShareSettings. Give it a value to 1 and exit.
Your Share App suggestions will be removed from the Share menu.
Date: April 10, 2017 Tags: Edge, Tips
Things you can do with Alexa on Windows PC
How to use Alexa on Windows 11/10 PC
Block Edge from sending your Search data to Microsoft
Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, a 10-year Microsoft MVP (2006-16) & a Windows Insider MVP. Please read the entire post & the comments first, create a System Restore Point before making any changes to your system & be careful about any 3rd-party offers while installing freeware.


text:
In Flanders Fields by Jess Lederman
Writing about WWI, Writing Historical Fiction
I'm welcoming Jess Lederman to the blog today. After his wife's was diagnosed with ALS, Jess left the business world behind and moved with her to Alaska. "There we looked out on the glory of God's creation and read to our heart's content during the last two years of her life." This tragedy led to Hearts Set Free which opens in the Alaska Territory in 1925.
We writers of historical fiction have wonderful opportunities to incorporate settings that provide instant drama and to feature fascinating real-life characters. I love to see the ways in which writers use those opportunities and I try to make the most of them in my own writing. For example, a horrific historical event on the killing fields of the First World War provides a dramatic backdrop to introduce and explore important themes in my novel Hearts Set Free.
One of the story's historical characters, Georges Lemaître, who was both a physicist and a Roman Catholic priest, is not very well known to the general public (even though, as the father of the Big Bang theory, he was one of the greatest scientists of all time!). What would be the most compelling way to introduce him to readers?
Well, it so happens that Lemaître fought on the front lines of Flanders Fields during World War I and witnessed one of the first uses of poison gas in combat. What's more dramatic than that? I employed some literary license to have the young Lemaître injure his leg, so that he needs to be rescued by one of my fictional heroes, Bible-school dropout David Gold. We get to know the two characters as they talk in an abandoned trench, waiting for the cover of darkness to rejoin their unit and hoping that the Germans will not again unleash their dreaded chlorine gas.
The horror of chemical warfare provides an opportunity for the characters to discuss matters close to both of their hearts—God's sovereignty, and how His goodness can be reconciled with the existence of abject evil—important topics in the novel:
We came to reinforce the French position after the slaughter," said Lemaître. "They say over five thousand French and Canadian died; I think closer to ten. You could see that men had clawed their own faces, trying to breathe; some had shot themselves to escape the agony. Nothing had survived; not the horses, chickens, rabbits, or rats. Everywhere I looked there was only death. And the strange scent of the chlorine gas, like pineapple and pepper, lingering on the few bushes that were left.
"What drives me to my wits end," said David, "is how to reconcile something so evil with the sovereignty of God. Those men who were gassed—did He dream their tortured deaths before the beginning of the world?
"Nothing evil is of God. He gave us the gift of free will, that we might love—love each other and love Him. This gift came with an incalculable cost; for it allowed sin, our sin, and that could be dealt with only by the Cross. Yet will He bring about good from every act of evil, even from all of this—" Lemaître gestured to the devastated landscape that lay beyond their trench— "and there, David, you find the sovereignty of God. Most of all, He is Emmanuel, He is with us; He is the fourth in the furnace. He is right here, with you and me, even now.
I always look for first-person accounts when I'm doing historical research, and the passage above is a good example of how useful this can be. It's the details which Lemaître provides about the aftermath of the gas attack—details I found from the tales of soldiers who had witnessed this infamous episode–that make this passage particularly compelling.
One of the themes of Hearts Set Free is how passages from Scripture—especially the Psalms–can be used as prayer in response to life's challenges, great and small. In Flanders Fields, while they're waiting for nightfall, David and Georges at first deal with stress by fantasizing about their favorite foods. But after they discover their shared passion for Scripture, the two begin exchanging passages from the Psalms:
"The cords of the grave entangled me, the snares of death confronted me."David felt himself filling with a strange joy as he gave voice to the ancient words. "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him, reached his ears."
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?"Lemaître, too, seemed joyful. "The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
"Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." How grateful he was, David thought, that the Lord has led him to commit these words to his memory, to his heart. "Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge."
"Indeed, our lives are hidden with Christ in God," said Lemaître. "But listen. Something has changed."
From the French and Belgian lines came the sounds of distant shouting. David peered over the top of the trench; from the German lines, against the clear blue April sky, were coming billowing clouds of green-gray death.
The intensity of trench warfare and the drama of a poison gas attack are captivating in and of themselves, but in this case also serve the purpose of introducing two of the novel's themes in what I hope is a convincing and compelling manner.
Many thanks, Jess. World War One is a topic of great importance to me. I'm sure many, many soldiers drew strength from their faiths during that horrific war.
Hearts Set Free by Jess Lederman weaves together three tales of men and women who journey from the darkness of doubt to triumphant faith and from the ache of loneliness to everlasting love.
In 1930, the rag-tag riffraff of a railway stop called Las Vegas need a fighting man to shepherd their tiny church after their pastor is murdered. Might David Gold, a washed-up boxer and Bible-school dropout who fights as the Pummelin' Preacher, be the answer to their prayers?
At the same time, Luke, a native Alaskan boy, is on a quest to find his father, who has abandoned his family for a beautiful woman his mother vows to kill. Little do mother or son imagine that their journey will take them to a small town in Nevada where demons and angels walk among men.
In 2011,Science Cable T.V. producer Tim Faber is determined to prove that mankind has no need of God, while his lover, Joan Reed, strives to regain the faith of her youth. They're bound for Las Vegas to meet with 99-year-old Luke,who holds the key to a mystery they must solve–and answers that will forever change their lives.
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text:
Shanghai Ghetto
Talk to Her
Manic
Magdalene Sisters
Dirty Pretty Things
Barbarian Invasions
Fog of War
The Corporation
Station Agent
The Agronomist
Maria Full of Grace
Man Without a Past
In This World
Buffalo Boy
Shake Hands with the Devil
Born into Brothels
Head-On
The Edukators
Big Sugar
C.R.A.Z.Y.
A Long Walk
Sisters In Law
Send a Bullet
Banking on Heaven
Chinese Botanist's Daugher
Ben X
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
XXY
Poor Boys Game
Finn's Girl
Leaving the Fold
The Mourning Forest
Zift
Beneath the Rooftops of Paris
Paraiso Travel
Necessities of Life
For a Moment of Freedom
Blood River
CINEMANIA FILM FESTIVAL
http://www.cinemaniafestival.com
THE RATINGS
So far, A & O film critics Sylvain Richard and Robert Lewis have seen the following films. Here are their ratings and comments, always out of 4, reserving 2.5 or more for a noteworthy film, 3.5 for an exceptional film, 4 for a classic.
Among Sylvain Richard's best ever films = (The Legacy, The Diving Bell & the Butterfly, 13 Tzameti, Sauf le Respect que je vous Dois, Live & Become, 36 Quai des Orfevres, Corsica, From Heaven, Hell in Tangier, Camaron, Who Are You, King of the World).
3.8 -- THE CONCERT, Radu Mihaileanu
An intelligently mixed blend of comedy and drama that is emotionally charged on all levels: music, performances and script. Thirty years ago, legendary conductor of the Bolshoi Orchestra, Andrei Filipov was fired and publicly humiliated for refusing to get rid of the Jewish musicians. Currently he is still at the Bolshoi as an alcoholic janitor. One day he intercepts a fax inviting the orchestra to perform at a prestigious Parisian theatre. He embarks on a wild scheme to round up all of the former musicians and pose as the real orchestra. Powerful conclusion.
1.7 -- A REAL LIFE, Sarah Leonor
Petty thief and a German language teacher fall for each other. Lacked direction, form and purpose; performances were on the verge of being silly; inappropriate music.
2.6 -- HOME SWEET HOME, Didier Le Pêcheur
Equal mix of comedy and detective flick serving as France's answer to the "Odd Couple/Grumpy Old Men." A daughter/ niece, and Parisian detective investigating the death of a local photographer and a secret from the past. Humorous with a touch of melodrama..
3.5 -- Z, Costa-Gavras
Socially conscious political thriller based on the assassination of a progressive politician; the complicity of the authorities in dismissing it as an accident and the thorough investigation by the magistrate. Well acted and constructed film that has stood the test of time (made in 1969). Interrogation scenes are among the best in the genre.
2.6 -- HE'S MY GIRL, Jean-Jacques Zilbermann
Relational comedy about the loves of clarinetist Simon Eskenazy and the complications that arise when his bedridden mother moves in and his ex-wife and son re-enter his life -- not to mention that he is on the verge of a breakthrough. Mehti Dehbi, in only his second major role, nearly steals the spotlight with an amazingly credible performance as Simon`s much younger transvestite lover. Appropriate inclusion of klezmer soundtrack.
2.6 -- LOVEBIRDS, Christine Dory
Boris and Sandra -- two very distinct individuals, like night and day; but it's 'love at first sight.' She is in real estate, highly intelligent; he is a talented artist but addicted to drugs. So begins a co-dependent roller coaster relationship. Good performances from both leads but editing and script were left a lot of loose ends.
2.4 -- ERREUR DE LA BANQUE EN VOTRE FAVEUR, Michel Munz, Gérard Bitton
Sparkling irreverent comedy about a maître d' at a Parisian bank's private dining room who, with his best friend (a cook), decides to leave after 17 years; they want to open their own restaurant. Maître d' goes to his employers to get a loan but is turned down. He overhears his bosses discussing some insider information and decides to turn the tables on them. Common treatment of a common subject yet a joy to watch.
2.3 -- EDEN IS WEST, Costa-Gavras
Drama about a young man travelling to Paris with no papers. Despite the personal aspect and touch of humour the protagonist lacked credibility.
3.1 -- THE OTHER ONE, Patrick Mario Bernard, Pierre Trividic
Psychological drama about a fiercely independent woman who has recently split from former lover. Things are going amicably until she learns that he has met someone new, precipitating a descent into a self-imposed hell of paranoia and obsessive jealousy. A chameleon and brilliant performance from the lead -- Dominique Blanc. Haunting contemporary soundtrack. Original editing and camera work. Disturbing and powerful dissection of 'lost love.'
2.6 -- WELCOME HOME, Jean-Xavier De L'Estrade
Julien has just been paroled after 13 years in the penitentiary. Upon his return home he searches for and finds Emilie. What is the bond that ties them together? Well acted but somewhat lukewarm script; suspense is effectively restrained/understated.
2.7 -- STELLA, Sylvie Verheyde
An authentic socio-economic study about an 11-year old girl living in a blue collar neighbourhood while attending an upper class school. Discreet and touching performance from Leora Barbara as Stella. Some loose ends in script and editing.
3.6 -- ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD, Phillipe Godeau
Adaptation of journalist Herve Chabalier's memoirs regarding his struggle to overcome alcoholism. Insightful and at times touching; tragedy and humour in just the right proportions. A mix of Billy Wilder's "Lost Weekend" and Mary McGuckian's "Intervention."
2.8 -- A NO-HIT, NO-RUN SUMMER, Francis Leclerc
The second annual school program screening that aims to introduce young audiences (grades five to eight -- pre-adolescents.) to the world of cinema. Like last year's "Winter Tales" this year's entry played to an attentive and cheering crowd (seven schools represented) and the Q&A afterward with novelist and screenwriter Marc Robitaille was distinguished by very incisive questions. The summer is 1969, when man first walked on the moon and the Montreal Expos played their first game. Twelve year old Martin and his friends want desperately to play on the local team yet its strict and rigid coach rejects them. Martin's father, who has never shown an interest in baseball, decides to organize his son an friends into a farm team. Light hearted family comedy destined to become a classic little gem.
2.6 -- FRANCAISE, Souad El Bouhati
Drama about a young girl (Sophia) born in France of Moroccan parents facing an identity crisis ten years after the family returned 'home' to Morocco. Rest of the family has adjusted except for Sophia -- who questions her identity -- Moroccan or French? Moroccan landscape is breathtaking. Editing and script a little loose.
3.4 -- FAREWELL, Christian Carion
Espionage thriller about Soviet spy Colonel Grigoriev (code name: Farewell) who changed the course of history by passing critical and highly classified material to the West via a French engineer stationed in Moscow. Superb and credible performances. Powerful and riveting. Well scripted and seamless editing.
2.4 -- BE GOOD, Juliette Garcias
A young, beautiful yet mysterious woman arrives in a remote mountainous village. She is hired by local bakery to deliver bread to the villagers. Why is she there and what is her agenda? A forbidden former lover? Strong premise yet takes too long and too slow to develop.
2.5 -- YOU'LL MISS ME, Amanda Sthers
Comedy that explores the concept that destiny hovers over all of us. The lives of six individuals converge in an airport. Complex and rapid fire dialogue. Weak ending.
3.0 -- SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS, Frédéric Auburtin
A riotous and satirical farce about media manipulation. Two radio correspondents are assigned to cover the situation in Iraq but they lose both their expense money and airline tickets. So they hideout in a Parisian multi-ethnic suburb and fake their daily reports. The result is a laugh-filled fest from opening frame to final. Two leads would easily rival the best of comedy duos (Laurel and Hardy, Lemmon and Matthau, Lewis and Martin etc.)
1.9 -- A DAY AT THE MUSEUM, Jean-Michel Ribes
Absurd and zany send up of the millions who visit museums each year. Cameos abound from who's who in French cinema. Some very funny situations that become repetitious and tacky to the point of being irritating.
2.2 -- BABY BLUES, Diane Bertrand
Relational comedy addressing a common modern dilemma facing today's women -- career vs baby -- especially if her biological clock is ticking. Not as engaging, effective and humorous as Richard Trogi's "Horloge Biologique."
2.5 -- SECRETS OF STATE, Philippe Haim
Complex counter terrorist thriller that holds the premise that "an agent is not a human being but a weapon." A little over the top plot-wise despite excellent performances.
2.1 -- PARDON MY FRENCH, Sophie Fillières
Offbeat comedy about an author with neurotic tendencies (Woody Allen owns the genre), suffering through writer's block. Unengaged and somewhat irritating characters.
2.5 -- INCOGNITO, Eric Lavaine
Laugh-filled and amusing comedy about a successful musician trying to hide that detail from a long-vanished but reappearing former band mate. Not an original concept (Bollywood's "All the Best") but well executed. Zany characters and situations keep one engaged.
2.6 -- MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON, Stéphane Brizé
Emotional drama about a successful mason, happy and contented with his wife and son. Picking up his son from school one day, he meets son's teacher, who is from a completely different strata of society. This engenders revelatory feelings within him. Very slow paced with feelings communicated through gesture. Excellent chemistry between the leads.
3.2 -- THE ARMY OF CRIME, Robert Guediguian
Historical drama of an international group resisting and fighting for France's liberation from Nazi Germany in Paris circa 1941. All were communist and recent immigrants. Superb ensemble cast. Powerful dialogues. Authenticity and tone of the times masterfully enhanced by set and costume design as well as by A. Desplat's moving score. A notable facet of this film is how, despite the difficult times, the majority population (even the loved ones of resistance fighters) hang on to their day to day routines as if nothing is happening and that it will get better.
2.6 -- PLEASE PLEASE ME, Emmanuel Mouret
Physical gag-induced comedy recalling classic Peter Sellars, Woody Allen and Jerry Lewis. Mouret's deadpan reactions to the sundry situations his character finds himself in is a joy and a delight to watch. A guaranteed fun time at the movies.
2.4 -- WELCOME, Philippe Lioret
Seventeen year old illegal immigrant wants to swim across the English Channel to join his girl friend in London. He enlists the help of a local swimming instructor. Reluctant at first but gradually the instructor develops a kind of father to son type of relationship -- at tremendous risk. The two main aforementioned subjects received less than noteworthy treatment.
2.3 -- I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A GANGSTER, Samuel Benchetrit
Screwball comedy involving four separate tales with one common element -- a road side cafe. Lacked balance. Unclear, often rubbed out subtitles, and grainy images with somewhat obscured, zany characterizations.
2.7 -- LA TRES TRES GRANDE ENTREPRISE, Pierre Jolivet
A David versus Goliath conflict deftly handled in a light-hearted comedic way. A group of four (like Musketeers) attempts to infiltrate the HQ of a multi-national, agro-chemical corporation to unearth evidence that it was negligent and responsible for the loss of a small community's livelihood and health. A serious undertone pervades film and brings home an all too real truth in today`s world.
2.7 -- COCO CHANEL & IGOR STRAVINSKY, Jan Kounen
An account of the tumultuous relationship between two of the 20th century`s artistic geniuses -- Chanel and Stravinsky. Begins at the riotous premiere of his Rite of Spring and includes the development of her famous perfume. Elegance and beauty reign in this film. Good performances by entire cast. Audrey Tautou`s portrayal of Chanel ("Coco Avant Chanel") was more convincing than that of Anna Mouglalisis. Character development somewhat weak.
Among Robert Lewis' best ever films = (Fitzcarraldo, Life Is Beautiful, Death In Venice, Babel, Days of Heaven, A Long Walk, Wings of Desire, The Immigrants, Babette's Feast,Pele the Conqueror, Mulholland Drive).
Four workers, missing incriminating data for an upcoming court case, volunteer to infiltrate a highly securitized chemical conglomerate. Entertaining, cleverly scripted; its brisk pacing a function of both suspense and the engaging, up-close relationship dynamics. Slick jazz sound track by Mano Katché.
2.5 -- SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS (ENVOYES TRES SPECIAL), Frédéric Auburtin
Two journalists, hiding out in Paris, fake direct radio broadcasts from Iraq. A riotously funny film that doesn't pretend to be anything other than light and entertaining: the cinematic equivalent of happy hour.
The Stravinsky effect: his avant-garde music on the polite society of his time, and the force of his personality on, the first to wear pants, designer Coca Chanel -- and her E-sharp major effect on him. The film wisely does not try to explain genius. Films that do fail miserably ("Amadeus" and "Round Midnight" are two notable exceptions). Instead, Kounen explores the intense and passionate relationship between Igor & Coco, and how it informed their creative life. Sumptuous, Chanelesque period sets, designs and 'fragrances,' and electrifying, script-equivalent music from the master. A rite of film not to be missed.
An initially intelligent romantic comedy (first 15 min.) that reverts to the formulaic what can go wrong will go wrong. Nonetheless, often inventive, at times hilarious, with engaging mix of Fernandel and Boris Vian typecast characters.
Small in scale, large in effects, Brize's 4th film is an homage to that very deliberate and precious method of filmmaking (not yet under seige) that is specific to Europe. A happily married man (housebuilder) meets the refined school teacher (violinist) of his young son. Small things happen cumulatively, changing their lives in a big way. Emotional impact benefits from note-perfect pacing, excellent casting, and a laconic script that is wisely delegated to the stirrings of the heart. The ending will not satisfy everyone.
2.7 -- BE GOOD (SOIS SAGE), Juliette Garcias
An enigmatic young woman is coping poorly after being let go by an older, married man with whom she was having a relationship. Her behaviour becomes increasingly remote and bizarre as she follows him at a distance before revealing to him that she knows he's her father. A suspenseful, brooding, moody film that turns on the stillness and depths of summer imagery supplied by small town life in France.
Set in France during WWII, about an ethnically mixed group of heroic resistance fighters and the varied response of the general population during the Nazi occupation. Film doesn't allow for much grey in its portrayal of good and evil, but at 140 minutes, it's gripping from beginning to end.
2.4 -- A DAY AT THE MUSEUM (MUSEE HAUT, MUSEE BAS), Jean-Michel Ribes
A highly original satire on the art world and museum culture; the arbitrariness of the values and meanings we assign to art. Despite the all-star cast and several brilliantly conceived scenes, the serious questions this film asks of art are undermined by an over-indulgence in farce and low brow humour.
2.8 -- THE OTHER ONE (L'AUTRE), Pierre Trividic & Patrick Mario Bernard
An older woman, for no apparent reason? or pre-emptively? or in fantasy? breaks up with her younger boyfriend -- but can't let him go, and obsesses over his new girl-friend. Thus begins her decent into madness. A disturbing film with a pacing and mood all of its own. That no explanations are offered for anything could be viewed as an affectation. Powerful opening isolation shots of the city of lights (Paris) at night. A cumulatively, complex performance by Dominique Blanc.
2.6 -- WELCOME HOME (SUR TA JOUE ENNEMIE), Jean-Xavier de Lestrade
A disturbed adolescent, after murdering his parents, returns home after 13 years in prison, looking for forgiveness from his sexually reckless sister. But can he forgive himself? A crime and punishment drama that does not rise to the occasion of Dostoievsky.
A slick but formulaic counter terrorist film that explodes the dirty business of training (brain washing) agents and terrorists, who count for nothing next to their respective causes. Not enough emphasis on the fascinating agent/terrorist symmetries; too much plot manipulation.
Unable to make ends meet, an Arab and his family move back to Morocco. His French-born daughter revolts against the decision and vows to return to France. Will family and tradition allow for it? A subtly conceived clash of cultures film not helped by an uneven script and thinly drawn secondary characters. Making a strong case for staying put is the hypnotically gorgeous, sun-kissed landscape in the olive growing region of Meknes.
3.0 -- ONE FOR THE ROAD (LE DERNIER POUR LA ROUTE), Philippe Godeau
Gritty, affecting, instructive drama about a successful journalist who checks into a rehab center for alcoholics. Wonderfully nuanced performance from Francois Cluzet (and entire cast). A well researched script that does not hold back in its sometimes unbearable baring of the alcoholic soul on ice.
2.9 -- FAREWELL (L'AFFAIRE FAREWELL), Christian Carion
Refreshingly unglamourized account of the sometimes mundane (but always lethal) aspects of spying (moles) in the Soviet Union just prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall. The tension of the film is owed to the juggling of family life and commitment to an ideal. Juggler beware.
Forced to jump ship and swim to safety, an immigrant ends up in a nudist resort, and thus begins his many misadventures in his new country. His dream is to get to Paris. Without papers, without money, his plight divides the world into two camps: those that want to help and those that want to help themselves. Film couldn't decide if it wanted to be a drama or comedy, meaning the Chaplinesque approach to the very serious problem of immigration will not be to everyone's liking. From one of the great director's of his time who gave us the masterpiece "Z," his latest gets a C minus.
2.5 -- LOVEBIRDS (LES INSEPARABLES), Christine Dory
Love & Addiction. Boris and Sandra are a new couple. Sandra, saddled with a double-digit IQ, is addicted to Boris (a talented artist, of course); Boris is addicted to hard drugs. We already know Boris loves drugs more than any human being, which is why Sandra's addiction and Marie Vialle's mature performance is what carries (almost recommends) the film.
2.2 -- A REAL LIFE (AU VOLEUR), Sarah Leonor
Contrived drama about a thief and the school teacher who is fatally attracted to him. Sharing a blitheful disregard for the future, the 'two for the road' end up as fugitives (not unlike Bonnie & Clyde) on a boat on river, but we suspect their pastoral is not the stuff of eternity. An unsatisfying, rudderless film that yields few surprises.
Fifteen minutes into this comedy drama, you already know how it's going to end, that it's a feel good film, that the undisciplined, unpracticed Bolshoi Orchestra will make it to the podium (in Paris) on time. Inbetween, you'll be (mis)treated to lots of gags, slapstick and craziness as well as the plight of the Bolshoi's Jewish musicians under the Soviets. But the last 15 minutes are so joyous and uplifiting and madly inspired, you'll leave the theatre convinced you've attended a very good film. And whatever are your views of the composer Tchaikovsky, there is absolutely no denying his great moments, which in this film belong to his celebrated violin concerto (Opus 35).
For the ratings of 2008 Cinemania Film Festival, HERE.


The Prison, c. 1760 by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Various Collections.
Piranesi was always very interested in architecture as his etchings prove. He set about recording the many great monuments and the architecture of Rome.


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The Country Music Babies of 2017: More Than 20 Stars Welcomed Babies Over the Past Year [Gallery]
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Year in Review: 2016 Babies
2016 was the Year of the Baby in country music. Country stars sure were getting busy bringing new life into the world. In January, LOCASH's Preston Brust and wife Kristen welcomed daughter Love Lily, making her the first country music baby of the year—but not the last. From Jana Kramer and Charles Kelly to the…… MORE
Thompson Square Talks the Joys of Parenthood, New Single, Motorcycle Wrecks and More
Lisa and Jim talk with Shawna and Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square about the joys and challenges of new parenthood, their son Rigney Cooper, letting go of trivial things, writing songs for kids, their next album and more! Show Participants Thompson Square Keifer Thompson Shawna Thompson Lisa Konicki, NCD Editor in Chief Jim Casey, NCD Managing Editor…… MORE
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Southend … The 'Smart City'
by alex | Oct 26, 2017 | newsletter
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Caregiving, care burden and awareness of caregivers and patients with dementia in Asian locations: a secondary analysis
Yong S. Shim1,
Kee Hyung Park2,
Christopher Chen3,
Jacqueline C. Dominguez4,
Kyunghun Kang5,
Hee-Jin Kim6,
Zhen Hong7,
Yu-Te Lin8,
Leung-Wing Chu9,
San Jung10 &
SangYun Kim11
This study investigated the differences in caregiver activity, caregiver burden, and awareness of both caregivers and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) across different Asian locations.
This was a secondary analysis of a multi-national cohort study that aimed to assess caregiver activity and caregiver burden using the Caregiver Activity Scale (CAS) and Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), respectively. Patients' awareness of their dementia diagnosis was assessed by asking the following yes/no question: "Do you have dementia?" Caregivers' awareness of the patient's dementia diagnosis was assessed by asking the following yes/no question: "Does your patient have dementia?"
In total, 524 caregivers of patients with AD from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan participated. The CAS and ZBI score were significantly different across most locations (p < 0.001 and p = 0.033, respectively). Overall, 56.6% of caregivers and 37.5% of patients had awareness of the dementia diagnosis, and the proportion of patients and caregivers with awareness were also different between each location (all, p < 0.001).
Caregiving, caregiver burden, and the awareness of caregivers and patients were different across many Asian locations. With understanding of cultural differences, further public education on dementia could help increase the awareness of patients and caregivers and reduce caregiver burden.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02262975. Registered 13 October 2014,
According to the World Alzheimer Report 2015, dementia currently affects more than 46 million people worldwide and this number is estimated to increase to 131.5 million by 2050 [1]. In comparison to 2009 estimates, the estimated prevalence of dementia has increased in Asia and Africa but decreased in Europe and in the United States [1]. In 2005, the Delphi Consensus Report estimated that 48% of dementia patients live in Asia and that this percentage is estimated to grow to 59% by 2050 [2]. Therefore, countries in Asia face a greater proportion of the global burden.
The World Alzheimer Report also reported that the majority of patients with dementia are still living at home, and that 94% of people living with dementia in low- and middle-income countries are cared for at home [1]. Therefore, those often directly involved in the care of dementia patients are their families, and as a result, dementia has a strong impact on the wellbeing, functioning and quality of life of not only home-dwelling dementia patients but also their family caregivers [1]. Efforts should be made to determine what factors affect caregiving activity and caregiver burden and what measures are necessary to reduce them.
A large proportion of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have anosognosia (i.e., denial, impaired awareness or a lack of awareness of their cognitive deficits, functional limitations, and disease-related behavioral changes) [3,4,5]. The prevalence of anosognosia in AD varies between 20 and 80%, although this is dependent on factors such as the assessment method used, sample characteristics, and the severity of dementia [5]. In addition to the poor awareness of patients themselves, the awareness of caregivers can also affect the prognosis of patients with dementia as well as caregiver burden [6]. For example, Boise et al. found that caregivers delayed seeking a diagnosis because they lacked information about dementia; caregivers believed symptoms were signs of normal aging [7]. Caregivers were also generally overwhelmed by the situation and did not know which physician to ask [7]. Therefore, poor awareness of both the patient and caregiver may significantly affect the prognosis and caregiving of dementia patients.
Caregiver burden, caregiver awareness, and patient awareness are also influenced by cultural and socioeconomic factors [8, 9]. In Asia, there is a cultural diversity that is likely to significantly affect caregiver burden and the awareness of dementia patients and their family caregivers. During the original study, the Caregiver Activity Scale (CAS), the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and simple questions about awareness of the disease were conducted at baseline. A secondary analysis of the results of these surveys was conducted to investigate caregiver burden, caregiver awareness, and patient awareness in seven Asian locations, and whether cultural diversity had any effect.
Original study design and cohort
The original cohort study was a multi-national trial to identify treatment discontinuation rates in de novo Alzheimer's disease patients who have been newly prescribed with DOnepezil in ASia (ADOS) (NCT02262975). In brief, the original study was conducted on patients who met the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria [10] for probable AD and were aged between 50 and 90 years. Inclusion criteria included patients who were prescribed donepezil monotherapy for the first time and who had a caregiver who could accompany them to the hospital. In total, 527 patients from 38 institutions across seven countries in Asia (see Appendix) were included in the original study. Among them, three caregivers did not assess the caregiver questionnaire. Therefore, in this analysis, data from 524 caregivers were analyzed.
The original study was performed between July 2014 and August 2016 and conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the Declaration of Helsinki as well as with the regulations of the International Conference on Harmonisation. The Institutional Review Board guidelines of each center were adhered to in all research centers, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients and caregivers who participated in the study.
Survey assessments
In the current analysis we investigated caregivers and patients with AD dementia from seven Asian geographic locations (China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand). General demographic and background characteristics including caregiving activities, social support, and social activities of the caregiver were recorded at the first visit. The clinical characteristics of patients were also recorded including a mini-mental state exam (MMSE) score [11] and clinical dementia rating (CDR) [12].
This analysis used the CAS [13] and the ZBI [14] to assess caregivers of patients who participated in the ADOS study. The ZBI is one of the most commonly used scales for assessing the burden of caregivers who provide care for dementia patients, with a higher score indicating a greater burden [15]. The ZBI is a 22-item questionnaire measuring subjective burden, which has demonstrated high consistency and validity. The CAS was used to collect information regarding the time caregivers spent providing care during a typical 24-h period, with increased time indicative of greater burden. The clinical characteristics of the patients and caregivers were then used to determine the presence of any national or cultural differences in CAS and ZBI survey data. Survey information was collected at baseline and was not affected by whether or not participants completed a follow-up visit.
Additionally, patients' awareness of their dementia diagnosis was assessed by asking the following yes/no question: "Do you have dementia?" Caregivers' awareness of the patient's dementia diagnosis was assessed by asking the following yes/no question: "Does your patient have dementia?" The CAS and ZBI scores and patient and caregiver awareness were compared between Asian locations to determine which demographic and clinical characteristics of the caregivers and patients affected caregiver burden. These assessments were performed before the initial prescription of donepezil.
A two-sample t-test and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used as parametric hypothesis tests while analyzing differences between two and three groups, respectively. For non-parametric hypothesis testing, a Wilcoxon's rank sum test and a Kruskal–Wallis test were used to test differences between two and three or more groups, respectively. A Fisher's exact test with Monte Carlo simulation and Pearson's Chi-square test (χ2) were used to compare percentages. To analyze the association between patients, caregiver awareness, ZBI, and CDR scores, linear regression and logistic regression methods were used. The statistical significance threshold was set to α = 0.05 with a 95% confidence level. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS® software (version 9.3; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).
Background characteristics of caregivers and patients
In the original study, 524 caregivers of patients with AD were recruited from China (n = 101), Hong Kong (n = 10), South Korea (n = 259), the Philippines (n = 23), Singapore (n = 52), Thailand (n = 6), and Taiwan (n = 73) (Table 1). The overall mean age of caregivers was 59.17 ± 15.35 years with the oldest age in Hong Kong (80.20 ± 6.88 years) and the lowest age in the Philippines (46.30 ± 14.23 years). In total, 61.3% of caregivers were female; however, there were more male caregivers in China (53.5%) and Taiwan (52.1%). The mean duration of education of caregivers was 11.58 ± 5.20 years, with longer durations of education in the Philippines (15.17 ± 2.87 years) and shorter durations of education in Hong Kong (3.00 ± 4.55 years) and Thailand (3.00 ± 1.73 years). There were significant differences across all seven locations for mean age, sex, marriage status, duration of education, employment status, and relationship to the patient (all, p < 0.001). In general, caregivers were the spouse (35.3%), daughter (29.4%), or son (21.5%). The percentage of children as caregivers was 58.9%, if son, daughter, or son- or daughter-in-law were included; however, there were significant differences between locations (p = 0.005).
Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of caregivers
Table 2 describes the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients. Overall, patients mean age was 75.68 ± 7.07 years. The mean MMSE score was 18.66 ± 5.45 (n = 504), and the mean CDR (global) was 0.94 ± 0.53 (n = 522; range 0.5–3) in the overall population.
Table 2 Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with dementia
Caregiver activity scale and Zarit burden interview score
Figure 1 illustrates the CAS and ZBI scores obtained in each location. The CAS score (p < 0.001) and ZBI score (p = 0.033) were significantly different between each location.
Mean caregiver activity scale (CAS) and Zarit burden interview (ZBI) scores
Linear regression analysis showed that in all studied locations, the CAS score was generally higher for patients who were male, overweight, and/or tall and who were cared for by an older caregiver, unemployed caregiver, poorly educated caregiver, non-child caregiver, or a caregiver who resided with them (Table 3). Additionally, in China, the CAS score was high if the patient had a severe CDR (n = 96; estimate 137.96 ± 58.37, p = 0.02). In Singapore, the CAS score was high if the caregiver was unmarried (n = 49; estimate 392.76 ± 110.21, p = 0.001), or if the patient was aware of their illness (n = 49; estimate 209.15 ± 93.88, p = 0.031). In the Philippines, the CAS score was higher according to the lower MMSE score (n = 23; estimate − 62.60 ± 14.81, p < 0.001) and the more severe CDR (n = 23; estimate 678.90 ± 183.87, p = 0.001) of the patients.
Table 3 Caregiver activity scale (CAS) and Zarit burden interview (ZBI) scores
Generally, in all studied locations, the ZBI score was high if the patient was male or old, with a low MMSE score and a high CDR, and if the caregiver was female or cohabiting with the patient (Table 3). The patient's awareness of the illness was unrelated, but the ZBI score was high if the caregiver was aware of the patient's dementia. Specifically, in South Korea, the ZBI score was high if the caregiver's duration of education was short (n = 247; estimate − 0.51 ± 0.19, p = 0.008), and the caregiver was unemployed (n = 256; estimate 4.71 ± 2.05, p = 0.023). In Singapore, the ZBI score was high if the patient was unaware of the illness (n = 52; estimate 16.08 ± 3.61, p < 0.001). In Hong Kong, the ZBI score was high if the caregiver was spouse of the patients, not the child (n = 8; estimate − 33.50 ± 12.58, p = 0.037).
Awareness of caregivers and patients
The awareness of patients and caregivers of the patients' dementia diagnosis differed by location (Fig. 2). Overall, 56.5% of caregivers and 37.4% of patients had awareness; however, in Hong Kong and the Philippines, 100.0% of caregivers had awareness. In contrast, 49.0 and 41.7% of caregivers in China and South Korea had awareness, respectively. The proportion of patients with awareness were 80.0 and 78.3% in Hong Kong and the Philippines, respectively, followed by Thailand (66.7%), Singapore (57.7%), Taiwan (52.8%), China (35.7%), and South Korea (23.6%), in descending order (p < 0.001).
Proportion of caregivers and patients with awareness
Logistic regression analysis showed that, in general, patients were likely to have awareness if they were female and if their caregiver was young, educated or their child (Table 4). Furthermore, patients had awareness if their caregiver also had awareness. Specifically, in Taiwan and Singapore, patients had awareness if there was a high MMSE score (n = 73; estimate 0.10 ± 0.05, odds ratio [OR] 1.102 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002–1.213, p = 0.046] and n = 51; estimate ± SE, 0.22 ± 0.08, OR 1.245 [95% CI: 1.064–1.456, p = 0.006], respectively), and not so severe CDR_SOB (n = 73; estimate − 0.17 ± 0.08, OR 0.847 [95% CI: 0.726–0.988, p = 0.035 and n = 52; estimate − 0.44 ± 0.16, OR 0.642 [95% CI: 0.470–0.877, p = 0.005], respectively). In addition, in Singapore, the lower the CDR (n = 52; estimate − 2.28 ± 0.85, OR 0.102 [95% CI: 0.019–0.543, p = 0.007]) and the lower the ZBI (n = 52; estimate − 0.09 ± 0.26, OR 0.915 [95% CI: 0.870–0.962, p = 0.001]), the more likely the patients were to have awareness. In China and South Korea, patients' awareness was inversely proportional to caregivers' awareness (n = 98; estimate − 0.88 ± 0.43, OR 0.415 [95% CI: 0.178–0.971, p = 0.042] and n = 258; estimate − 2.06 ± 0.35, OR 0.128 [95% CI: 0.064–0.254, p < 0.001], respectively).
Table 4 Factors that influence the awareness of caregivers and patients
Caregivers were more likely to have awareness if the patient was female, older, and severely demented and if the caregiver was young, had a longer duration of education, and had a high ZBI score (Table 4). Caregivers' awareness was inversely proportional to patients' awareness (Table 5), and caregivers were more likely to have awareness if they were the patient's children rather than spouse. Specifically, in China, caregivers' awareness was high if the CDR was high (n = 101; estimate ± SE, 1.47 ± 0.39, OR 4.329 [95% CI: 2.005–9.349, p < 0.001]), and this was inversely proportional to patients' awareness (n = 98; estimate − 0.88 ± 0.43, OR 0.415 [95% CI: 0.178–0.971, p = 0.043]).
Table 5 Lack of awareness stratified by baseline clinical dementia rating (CDR)
The present study showed that 56.6% of caregivers had awareness of their patient's dementia and 37.4% of patients were aware of their dementia, and that patients' and caregivers' awareness were mutually influential. Patients were more likely to be aware of their dementia if they were female and the caregiver was young, highly educated, and one of the patient's children. From the caregivers' perspective, high awareness was achieved if they were young, female, highly educated, and one of the patient's children, and if the patient was highly demented.
The CAS score was more likely to be high if the patient was male, overweight, and tall and if the caregiver was old, poorly educated, unemployed, the spouse, the primary caregiver, or cohabiting with the patient. The ZBI score was more likely to be high if the patient was male, old, severely demented, or with dysfunctional cognitive skills and if the caregiver was female, cohabiting with the patient, the primary caregiver, and if the caregiver was aware of the patient's illness. Interestingly, patients' awareness of their illness did not significantly influence caregiver CAS and ZBI scores; however, the ZBI score was high when the caregiver was aware of the patient's illness.
The factors that influence CAS and ZBI scores were similar to what has been previously published in other studies. Caregivers who are of an advanced age [16, 17], are female [18,19,20], and are cohabiting with the patient, are more likely to experience a greater burden [21]. Several studies have also reported that spousal caregivers experience the highest level of burden [16, 21, 22]. Furthermore, some studies have also suggested that moderate-to-severe disability, which affects a patient's ability to perform basic daily activities, is related to a higher caregiver burden [16, 21, 23, 24].
However, care burden about dementia patients in Asia is somewhat different, compared to the Western countries. Ikels followed a sample of 200 elders from 1987 to 1991 in Canton, China and reported that the experience of giving care to patients with dementia was psychologically less threatening than for people in the United States [25, 26]. This is possibly because in China there are cultural concepts that preserve the patients' sense of self for longer and caregiving offers a greater intrinsic reward to the family caregiver.
Caregiver burden has previously been defined as "a multidimensional response to physical, psychological, emotional, social, and financial stressors associated with the caregiving experience" [27]. This description differs from caregiving, which is referred to as the "activities and experiences involved in providing help and assistance to relatives who are unable to provide for themselves", which does not include the psychological distress that may come from the act of caregiving [28]. In this study we used both CAS and ZBI to distinguish caregiving activity from caregiver burden in each location.
The factors influencing awareness also differed by location. The patients' and caregivers' awareness were low, below 50%, in South Korea and China compared to other locations. This is presumably because South Korea and China have a relatively more traditional Confucian culture, which might prevent dementia from being recognized as an illness [29]. In previous studies, there have been reports that there is a paucity of information on dementia in South Korea and China [30, 31]. One longitudinal prospective study of cognitive impairment among elderly adults showed that the prevalence rate of dementia in persons aged 65 years and older was 4.6% in Shanghai [32]. This is much lower than reports from Western countries where researchers have reported difficulty in recruiting Asian caregivers who perceive a sense of shame for having a relative with AD [33,34,35]. Furthermore, Asian caregivers have been shown to delay seeking an AD diagnosis because they lacked information about dementia and believed the symptoms were signs of normal aging [7]. A large proportion of patients with AD have anosognosia [5, 6], and in our study the greater the severity of dementia the more their awareness deteriorated. With higher MMSE scores observed in South Korea and China, it might also be considered that anti-dementia medications could be prescribed earlier before patients and their family recognize their cognitive dysfunction. Interestingly, in this study, the awareness in patients was 20–30% lower than the awareness in caregivers, even though each country has differences in culture and education. When exploring the emotional impact of an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, although the majority of patients display signs of an emotional crisis, a range of responses including lack of insight, active denial, and positive coping responses have been reported [36]. In addition, a lack of awareness of cognitive functioning deficits is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that is also related to a lack of awareness of functional activity impairments, age, and caregiver burden [37]. Further analysis of our findings would be helpful for understanding and developing strategies to lessen caregiver burden in different Asian countries.
A caregiver's awareness is strongly influenced by personal preferences and practicality does not seem to play a substantive role when making a decision related to caregiving. Strong family-related emotions can also often overwhelm rational decision-making, and therefore, in the case of dementia, medical professionals are required to play a more explicit role in the decision-making process by anticipating transitions in care and outlining options for care and treatment in advance. The assessment of awareness has a high clinical relevance in cases of dementia, particularly when considering the impact this has on patients and their family as well as the social implications of their increased need for medical, social, legal, and financial support [38, 39].
One of the limitations of this study was the differences in both patient and caregiver sample sizes in each country, which is likely to affect the accuracy of any national comparisons. In particular, the number of South Korean patients was considerably higher than that of other locations, which may have influenced our findings. In addition, the differences in sample sizes from each country could be due to differences in refusal rate, which could impart selection bias; however, we were unable to analyze the refusal rate because of differences between the sample sizes of each country. Finally, although we aimed to assess awareness of dementia before the initial prescription of donepezil, it is possible that some patients were diagnosed with dementia and provided with information on their disease before our assessment. Therefore, these patients are likely to have a higher level of awareness of their dementia diagnosis at baseline.
This study examined factors that affect caregiver burden as well as patient and caregiver awareness of dementia across seven Asian locations. This analysis offers a unique perspective on patients with dementia and caregiver management. Ultimately, these data may be useful when planning future multinational studies by incorporating the location and cultural diversity that can influence the care of patients with dementia.
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
CAS:
Caregiver activity scale
CDR:
Clinical dementia rating
MMSE:
Mini-mental state exam
NHP:
Nursing home placement
ZBI:
Zarit Burden Interview
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Rinaldi P, Spazzafumo L, Mastriforti R, Mattioli P, Marvardi M, Polidori MC, et al. Predictors of high level of burden and distress in caregivers of demented patients: results of an Italian multicenter study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;20(2):168–74. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.1267.
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Thommessen B, Aarsland D, Braekhus A, Oksengaard AR, Engedal K, Laake K. The psychosocial burden on spouses of the elderly with stroke, dementia and Parkinson's disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002;17(1):78–84. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.524.
Papastavrou E, Kalokerinou A, Papacostas SS, Tsangari H, Sourtzi P. Caring for a relative with dementia: family caregiver burden. J Adv Nurs. 2007;58(5):446–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04250.x.
Campbell P, Wright J, Oyebode J, Job D, Crome P, Bentham P, et al. Determinants of burden in those who care for someone with dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008;23(10):1078–85. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.2071.
Conde-Sala JL, Garre-Olmo J, Turro-Garriga O, Vilalta-Franch J, Lopez-Pouza S. Differential features of burden between spouse and adult-child caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease: an exploratory comparative design. Int J Nurs Stud. 2010;47(10):1262–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.03.001.
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Molyneux GJ, McCarthy GM, McEniff S, Cryan M, Conroy RM. Prevalence and predictors of carer burden and depression in carers of patients referred to an old age psychiatric service. Int Psychogeriatr. 2008;20(06):1193–202. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610208007515.
Sussman T, Regehr C. The influence of community-based services on the burden of spouses caring for their partners with dementia. Health Soc Work. 2009;34(1):29–39. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/34.1.29.
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Ikels C. Constructing and deconstructing the self: dementia in China. J Cross-Cult Gerontol. 2002;17(3):233–51. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021260611243.
Kasuya RT, Polgar-Bailey P, Takeuchi R. Caregiver burden and burnout. A guide for primary care physicians. Postgrad Med. 2000;108(7):119–23. https://doi.org/10.3810/pgm.2000.12.1324.
Pearlin LI, Mullan JT, Semple SJ, Skaff MM. Caregiving and the stress process: an overview of concepts and their measures. Gerontologist. 1990;30:583–94.
Chen Z, Yang X, Song Y, Song B, Zhang Y, Liu J, et al. Challenges of dementia care in China. Geriatrics (Basel). 2017;2:7.
Seo HJ, Lee DY, Sung MR. Public knowledge about dementia in South Korea: a community-based cross-sectional survey. Int Psychogeriatr. 2015;27(3):463–9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610214001896.
Liu D, Cheng G, An L, Gan X, Wu Y, Zhang B, et al. Public knowledge about dementia in China: a national WeChat-based survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(21):4231. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214231.
Zhang MY, Katzman R, Salmon D, Jin H, Cai GJ, Wang ZY, et al. The prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Shanghai, China: impact of age, gender, and education. Ann Neurol. 1990;27(4):428–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410270412.
Elliott KS, DiMinno M, Lam D, Tu AM. Working with Chinese families in the context of dementia. In: Yeo G, Gallagher-Thompson D, editors. Ethnicity and the dementias. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis; 1996. p. 89–108.
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The authors would like to thank James Graham, PhD, of Edanz Pharma for providing medical writing services.
This study was supported by Eisai Korea. The funding body had a role in study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of data, and in writing the manuscript.
Department of Neurology, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Yong S. Shim
Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea
Kee Hyung Park
Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Christopher Chen
Institute for Neurosciences, St. Luke's Medical Center, Taguig, Philippines
Jacqueline C. Dominguez
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
Kyunghun Kang
Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Hee-Jin Kim
Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Zhen Hong
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Yu-Te Lin
Queen Mary Hospital, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
Leung-Wing Chu
Department of Neurology, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
San Jung
Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine & Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 582, Gumi-ro 173 Beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, Seoul, Republic of Korea
SangYun Kim
YSS, SYK, KHP, and HJK contributed to study concept, study design, data analysis and data interpretation, and drafting of the manuscript. SJ commented and edited the manuscript for journal publication. All authors collected the data, have read and approved the manuscript, and assume responsibility for the research.
Correspondence to SangYun Kim.
The original study was conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the Declaration of Helsinki as well as with the regulations of the International Conference on Harmonisation. The Institutional Review Board guidelines of each center were adhered to in all research centers, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients and caregivers who participated in the study.
There are no competing interests.
The following 38 institutions participated in this study: Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Republic of Korea; Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, Republic of Korea; Gachon Gil Medical Center, Republic of Korea; Hanyang University Seoul Hospital, Republic of Korea; Korea University Anam Hospital, Republic of Korea; Pusan National University Hospital, Republic of Korea; Eulji University Hospital, Republic of Korea; Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Republic of Korea; Inha University Hospital, Republic of Korea; Chonbuk National University Hospital, Republic of Korea; Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Republic of Korea; VHS Medical Center, Republic of Korea; Hallym University Medical Center, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Republic of Korea; Kangwon National University Hospital, Republic of Korea; First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; Shanghai Huashan Hospital, affiliated to Fudan University, China; Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China; Peking University Sixth Hospital, China; Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, China; Peking University Third Hospital, China; Changhua Christian Hospital, Taiwan; Chi Mei Hospital, Liouying, Taiwan; Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Taiwan; Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan; Taipei Medical University Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taiwan; Chi Mei Medical Center, Taiwan; Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taiwan; King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH), Thailand; Phramongkutklao Hospital, Thailand; Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand; Siriraj Hospital, Thailand; National University Hospital, Singapore; National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; St. Luke's Medical Center, Philippines; Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Shim, Y.S., Park, K.H., Chen, C. et al. Caregiving, care burden and awareness of caregivers and patients with dementia in Asian locations: a secondary analysis. BMC Geriatr 21, 230 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02178-x


text:
Q: Delivering Business Intelligence with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Package Error I'm currently in Chapter 8 of Larson's work Delivering Business Intelligence with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
The book instructs me to build a SQL server 2012 Integration Services Package with a Data source based in SQL Server 2012 (ADO.NET, a database named MaxMinAccounting)  and another De-Normalized Data mart database named MaxMinManufacturingDM, being populated with the SQL Server Destination task.
Although I realize that the Import wizard offered in SQL Server 2012 could create this task for me, I think the book is trying to build the foundation for creating packages in the future as they become more complex. So I want to complete this task in SSIS.
In the Source ADO.NET task, I have a query that looks like this:
SELECT LocationCode As PlantNumber,
              LocationName as PlantName,
              CAST(CountryCode AS varchar(2)) AS CountryCode
FROM Locations
WHERE LOCATIONTYPE = 'Plant Site'

It appears that LocationCode is an INT, LocationName is a varchar(50) and countrycode is listed as an nchar(2)
In my destination table, DimPlant, I have three columns.
PlantNumber as an int, PlantName as a nvarchar(30) and countrycode as nvarchar(2)
At first I thought that the data types might not be mapping correctly since they are different. So I decided to use a cast statement to change the data types. Now when I run the package the entire thing errors out and SSIS doesn't give me any explanation at all about what is wrong. I'm frustrated and would appreciate any advice.

A: I elected to make the target DIM table a 50 character field. I also found that SSIS has this nasty habit of not cleaning up after itself if a table errors out. I find each Data Step I create usually has a corresponding DELETE FROM (table Name) associated with it in SSMS.
Thank you for your responses.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Dr. Creely, Associate Professor of Ethics, is Director of Ethics & Emerging Military Technology Graduate Program. Serves on NATO Science and Technology Organization Technical Team. At Brown University Executive Master of Cybersecurity, he is lead for leadership and ethics. Serves The Conference Board Global Business Conduct Council, Association for Practical & Professional Ethics Business Ethics Chair, and Robert S. Hartmann Institute Board.
The Ethics and Emerging Military Technology Graduate Certificate Program is designed to deepen expertise in the ethical complexities imposed by new technology.
Examine best practices, learning methodologies, ethical culture research, and emerging trends across cultures and industry domains.
EL730 Ethics and Technology: Warfare, Society and the Third Offset Strategy and EL593 Ethics in the Military: A Multidisciplinary Approach.
Assessed Navy-wide ethics training and developed new education methodologies.
Ethics and Technology: A Component to the Third Offset Strategy.
The Impact of Ambient Intelligence Technologies on Individuals, Society and Warfare.


text:
WOW! Names Rose Jerez as Vice President of Customer Success
[December 29, 2020]
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Dec. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone (NYSE: WOW), a leading broadband services provider, today announced the appointment of Rose Jerez as WOW!'s vice president, customer success. Jerez's appointment highlights WOW!'s dedication and commitment to its customers, ensuring customer advocacy and the complete satisfaction of its subscribers.
"Customers are the heart of WOW!. We have a passion and rich legacy for putting customers first," said Amy Bell, senior vice president of marketing. "In listening to our customers, we know we must continue to learn and further define the overall customer journey to improve the customer experience. Rose has the expertise needed to lead the next phases of our customer-centric approach. We are eager to see her take on this role and show our customers how we WOW!."
Jerez brings 2 years of sales and marketing experience in the media and entertainment industry to WOW!. She previously served as a consultant of digital growth and delivery, marketing and customer care operations at FOX. Prior to that role, she held leadership positions at DIRECTV/AT&T, most recently as associate vice president of retention marketing operations, where she consistently met annual churn goals for approximately 40 million premium video and broadband customers.
"This is the perfect time to join such an innovative and customer-centric company as the broadband industry continues to evolve and expand," said Jerez. "It's undeniable that customer success is a part of WOW!'s culture and I look forward to helping improve the customer experience in this role."
To learn more about WOW!, visit www.wowway.com
About WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone
WOW! is one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient, high-performing network that passes three million residential, business and wholesale consumers. WOW! provides services in 19 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. With an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed Internet services, cable TV, phone, business data, voice, and cloud services, the company is dedicated to providing outstanding service at affordable prices. WOW! also serves as a leader in exceptional human resources practices, having been recognized by the National Association for Business Resources' for six years as a Best & Brightest Company to Work For, winning the award for the last two consecutive years. Visit wowway.com for more information.
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wow-names-rose-jerez-as-vice-president-of-customer-success-301198877.html
SOURCE WideOpenWest, Inc.
Interview with Tools4ever
Interview with Redline Communications
Installing Asterisk - Part 1
Voice of Your Customers - Listening is only part of the story
Pivotal Secures Big Benefits Of Cloud
Building The Foundation For Customer Insight: Hadoop Infrastructure Architecture
IoT Evolution Track
Smarter Strategies for IoT Deployment
Edge Intelligence Track
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Reception - Hall D


A Mohawk artist on the Kahnawake Mohawk Reservation south of Montreal makes these exquisite breastplate chokers using the ultra-thin hairpipe we manufacture in Vietnam. Each piece has a clam shell button in the middle, glass beads, and deerskin trim. They come in a variety of colours.


text:
Helwaser Gallery returns to The Armory Show with a continued focus on Post-War and Contemporary Masters
https://helwasergallery.com/ve-files/cache/0000711_600x0_0_0.jpg
John Chamberlain, Schadenfreude, 1993, Paint and Chromium-plated steel, 27h x 48w x 25d in (68.58h x 121.92w x 63.50d cm)
HG-37-95
Tom Wesselmann, Technical Drawing for Smoker, 1973, Pencil on Bristol board, 9 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches (24.8 x 21.6 cm)
Sol LeWitt, Untitled (Irregular Lines), 2002, Gouache on paper, 14 3/4h x 14 3/4w in (37.5 x 37.5 cm)
Sol LeWitt, Horizontal Brushstrokes in Color, 2003, Gouache on Paper, 11 x 30 in. (27.94 x 76.20 cm)
Tom Wesselmann, Steel Drawing/Sitting Nude Edition, 17/25, 1987, Laser cut steel multiple with enamel in colors, 27 7/8h x 29 1/4w x 1/8d in, 17 of 25
HG-113-96
Richard Serra, Curve 2, 1981, Paintstick on paper, 38 1/4 x 50 in. (97.16 x 127 cm)
George Condo, Study for Incomprehensible Dream I, 2003, Pencil on paper, 12 5/8 x 9 1/2 in. (32 x 24 cm)
George Condo, Nude with Towel, 2007, Pencil on paper, 12 x 22 1/2 in. (31 x 57 cm)
Tom Wesselmann, Bedroom Blond, Black and Green Pillows, 1986, Enamel on cut-out aluminum, 53 1/2 x 73 1/2 in. (136 x 187 cm)
Alexander Calder, Untitled (Maquette), 1967, Stabile – sheet metal, wire, 13.50h x 17w x 18d in
Alexander Calder, Untitled (Pull Toy), c. 1958, Tin cans and wire, 33 1/2h x 6w x 3d in
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Joan Mitchell, Tree, c.1967, water-soluble wax crayon and wash on paper, 14 1/2 x 9 1/8 in. (36.83 x 23.18 cm)
Richard Diebenkorn, Untitled, 1968, ballpoint pen, watercolor and gouache on paper, 17 x 14 in. (43.18 x 35.56 cm)
HG-104-177
Helen Frankenthaler, Untitled, 1970, Acrylic on paper, 11 x 20 1/2 in. (27.94 x 52.07 cm)
John Wesley, B's Bed, 1973-4, gouache on paper, 21 x 26 in. (53.34 x 66.04 cm)
Press Mentions of Helwaser Gallery at The Armory Show 2019
"Price Check! Here's What Sold—and for How Much—at the 2019 Armory Show in New York", Caroline Goldstein, March 11, 2019
"What Sold during Armory Week", Nate Freeman, March 11, 2019
Fair Preview
Feb. 26, 2019 – New York, NY – From March 7-10, 2019, Helwaser Gallery (Booth #312) will return to The Armory Show (Pier 90) with a continued focus on Post-War and Contemporary Masters.
A selection of two works on paper by Richard Serra, Curve 2 (1981) and L-1 (2000), highlights the sculptor's practice of drawing which played a significant role in his career. Using black paintstick applied in repetitive and vigorous gestures, the drawings illustrate the artist's exploration of surface texture, and his experimentation with new methods of drawing. The predominant use of the color black show a similar attention to the concepts of weight and volume, as he did with his sculptures.
Helwaser Gallery's booth will also present renowned abstract expressionist artists of the late 20th century. Joan Mitchell's Tree (c.1967) depicts unruly precision and opposing hues rendered in pastel that reference her large, emotionally charged canvases. Helen Frankenthaler's Untitled (1970) reminds us of what would become the artist's mature style: thin washes of color soaked into the paper spreading without restriction.
Tom Wesselmann's pastel-colored laser cut-out, Bedroom Blonde, Black and Green Pillows (1986), yields the Pop artist's allusions to large-format, billboard-style advertisements. Together with John Chamberlain's vibrant sculpture, Schadenfreude (1993), these works provide a visual commentary on the Pop Art movement's embrace of popular culture and industry.
Rounding off the presentation is Nets Infinity (1997), a work from the "Infinity Nets" series by seminal Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, as well as additional works by renowned abstract expressionist painters, Helen Frankenthaler and Richard Diebenkorn.
Arranged in alphabetical order of last name, the artists featured at the booth are: Alexander Calder, John Chamberlain, George Condo, Richard Diebenkorn, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb, Yayoi Kusama, Sol LeWitt, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Mitchell, Richard Pousette-Dart, Richard Serra, Joaquin Torres-Garcia, John Wesley, and Tom Wesselmann.
About Helwaser Gallery
Based on Madison Avenue in New York City, Helwaser Gallery specializes in post-war and contemporary art, featuring seminal artists such as Alexander Calder, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb, and Yayoi Kusama. In 1986, the gallery was founded in Paris and initiated significant exhibitions, including a retrospective on Jean Dubuffet (1996), and others on French cubist masters, notably George Braque, Jean Metzinger, and Pablo Picasso. In 2008, Helwaser Gallery marked its inaugural relocation to New York with the group exhibition Red, exhibiting Hans Hofmann, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat amongst others. Helwaser Gallery reopened its new space in 2019 with a public exhibition program, presenting contemporary artists Anton Ginzburg, Christina Kruse, Boedi Widjaja, and Lin Yan.
Thomas Brown, Olu & Company
(978) 808-1961 / thomas@olucompany.com


Captain Ray Markham talks about fishing with artificials.
Captain Mike's guest will be Captain Leiza Fitzgerald.
Captain Glen Taylor is no stranger to SSA. He'll be talking about his approach to tarpon below the Sky Way.
Do you want your spring snook trips to be more productive? Then don't miss SSA's March 3rd meeting.