text:
IL DIVO "Papalin" --- Papalin's Music Performances | [日本語] [English] |
Home | > | Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741) | > | Vivaldi (1677-1741) / Concerto per Flauto, Oboe, Violetta, Fagotto e Basso g-moll RV107 |
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (Italian: [anˈtɔːnjo ˈluːtʃo viˈvaldi]; 4 March 1678 - 28 July 1741), nicknamed il Prete Rosso ("The Red Priest") because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, Catholic priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe. Vivaldi is known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well as sacred choral works and over forty operas. His best known work is a series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons.
Many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi had been employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740. Vivaldi also had some success with stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved to Vienna, hoping for preferment. The Emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival.
Though Vivaldi's music was well received during his lifetime, it later declined in popularity until its vigorous revival in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Vivaldi ranks among the most popular and widely recorded of Baroque composers.
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741) * Released: 2013-8-12; |
Vivaldi (1677-1741) / Concerto per Flauto, Oboe, Violetta, Fagotto e Basso g-moll RV107 * Play: high / normal / low ; * Time: 09:09; * Released: 2014-5-6 (J) |
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text:
Updated March 28, 2022 at 5:54 PM ET
Editor's note: The following contains an embedded video that contains offensive language.
It was an unsurprising Oscars telecast until Will Smith hit Chris Rock.
The favorites had mostly won: Ariana DeBose for West Side Story, Troy Kotsur for CODA, lots of technical awards for Dune. The hosts — Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes — had made a bunch of jokes and been put through a few bits, some not bad and some very bad. Every unnecessary montage was judged for its merit against the eight awards that the producers had cut from the live broadcast. There was a great musical number from Beyoncé and a star-studded take on the Encanto hit "We Don't Talk About Bruno" that some people liked and some people emphatically didn't. In other words, a pretty regular Oscars Sunday night.
It would later conclude with a best picture win for the family drama CODA, but we didn't know that yet. We just knew things were humming along largely as expected — Encanto for animated feature, Drive My Car for international feature, and so on.
And then Chris Rock came onstage to present the Oscar for best documentary feature. He did a little bit about how Javier Bardem had better hope that he didn't win if "his wife" (that would be nominee Penelope Cruz) didn't win, which is your basic "wives are the worst, right?" joke.
Then Rock turned to Jada Pinkett Smith. He said he was looking forward to seeing her in G.I. Jane 2. This was primarily a joke about her being bald, which he may or may not have known is related to alopecia. Will Smith looked briefly like he laughed; she did not.
The best actor favorite simply got up out of his seat, walked onstage and hit the presenter for making an offensive joke about his wife.
Then it happened very fast: movie star Will Smith — who was favored to win best actor for King Richard in, like, a few minutes — came up onstage and hit Rock. Rock looked stunned, and Smith went back to his seat, and then the audio cut out while they exchanged words. Smith yelled that Rock should keep Jada's name out of his mouth, and then Rock, still seeming shaken, gathered himself and presented the award to Questlove's Summer of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised).
VIA JAPANESE TELEVISION: The uncensored exchange between Will Smith and Chris Rock pic.twitter.com/j0Z184ZyXa
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 28, 2022
A lot of people wondered, at least briefly, if this had been some kind of a bit, a scripted fake fight with a fake punch to match. But quickly, both Rock's and Smith's demeanor seemed to suggest it was exactly as it appeared: The best actor favorite simply got up out of his seat, walked onstage and hit the presenter for making an offensive joke about his wife. And perhaps more surprisingly, he was allowed to return to his seat and continue watching as if nothing had happened. If anyone other than Will Smith — or someone else famous enough — had walked onstage and hit someone, they probably would have been escorted out, at the very least. But that would have made for a pretty awkward "we accept this award on his behalf" moment.
If anyone other than Will Smith — or someone else famous enough — had walked onstage and hit someone, he probably would have been escorted out, at the very least.
(According to multiple press reports Monday, the academy has launched a formal review into the incident, "and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law," they wrote in a statement.)
It got stranger moments later, when Will Smith did indeed win his first Oscar for King Richard, in which he played the father of Venus and Serena Williams. While the speech rambled — for obvious reasons, he could not simply give the one he had probably carefully planned — it was loosely framed around the idea that Smith, like Richard Williams, believed in protecting others, especially people in his family, especially women. He apologized to the academy and to his fellow nominees for his behavior, but not to Rock. A couple of times, he tried to slide through it on charm, making little jokes about how he had made himself look like "the crazy father," just like Richard Williams, adding more seriously that "love will make you do crazy things."
It's hard to overstate how the mood of the room changed, how awkward it got. Rock's joke had certainly been cheap, based on a condition Jada Pinkett Smith has talked about finding very painful, and it wasn't Rock's first joke at her expense — he also mocked her in 2016 for boycotting the Oscars over their record on race.
People who should have been able to enjoy their moments, from Questlove on, contended with the consequences of behavior that wound up provoking post-ceremony statements from both the academy and the LAPD.
And yet: Here was a man walking up to another man at a professional event and hitting him, just hitting him, in front of an entire audience of people like the ones they both work with, then carrying on as before — becoming, arguably, the most honored man of the night.
There is no universe in which the producers can be or should be glad that any of this happened, but strictly for the record, it did probably have the effect of stopping people from talking as much about the Oscars production decisions that had drawn criticism in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. And they deserved plenty of criticism — particularly a couple of internet public opinion "polls" that purported to give audiences a voice and turned into fan base wars, the results of which were halfheartedly flashed on the screen with as little fanfare as possible.
The telecast certainly had some nice moments and some intriguing stories to tell: Kotsur's speech and DeBose's were both terrific — lots of the speeches were. It was interesting seeing Dune pile up awards for the craft that went into the movie, despite the fact that Denis Villeneuve, the director who's responsible for coordinating the whole vision, wasn't nominated. Interesting, too, that The Power of the Dog, long considered a potential best picture winner, took home only one of the 12 awards it was nominated for: Jane Campion won best director.
A sharp Beyoncé performance, a lot of deserving winners (this is not a complete list), some great clothes — and all of the air went out of the room when that slap connected. People who should have been able to enjoy their moments, from Questlove on, contended with the consequences of behavior that wound up provoking post-ceremony statements from both the academy and the LAPD.
The Oscars are ideally for recognizing good work, for encouraging the public to see films and for seeing people say nice things about the people who have helped them succeed. It's always a bad sign when the academy — the academy! — has to tell people that it doesn't condone violence.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
It may be surprising that variations of the maximum segment sum (MSS) problem, a textbook example for the squiggolists, are still active topics for algorithm designers. These literate Haskell scripts presents a program solving two recently studied variations:
- mssu.lhs: an amortised linear-time algorithm computing the maximum sum of segments not longer than an upper-bound;
- msdlb.lhs: an O(n log L) algorithm computing the maximum density (average) of segments not shorter than a lower-bound;
- msdll.lhs: computing the maximum density (average) of segments not shorter than a lower-bound. With the discovery of Glodwasser et al. we are able to refine the algorithm to amortised linear time again.
2007/06/26 Update: fixed binary search.
2007/11/04 Update: linear time algorithm for MSDL.


text:
Little Sister B has a few words in her vocabulary that are additions that only work for someone who is 3. For instance, as much as I want to start my sentences off with, "Whobody wants to..." it just doesn't sound quite as cute.
As well as the words of her own creation, she also has a few that are used not exactly for their intended meaning. It isn't that she doesn't know the correct use, she just has adopted a slightly different way of using them in a sentence. For example: princess.
Of course she knows what a princess truly is, but for her, the word also doubles as an article of clothing. As in, "What do you want to wear today?" "I want to pick out a princess!!" I can't blame her, though. After all, there are definitely dresses that deserve to be called a princess, partially for the look and partially for the way that they make a little girl feel when wearing them.
Which is precisely why we love to shop at sites that cater to finding just the right dress for special occasions or everyday fashion. And the boutique that knows all about providing little black dresses and party dresses is none other than the fashionable experts at the Little-Little Black Dress Shop.
With the belief that "One is never too young or too small to have a llbd in her wardrobe ready for any occasion," Little-Little Black Dress Shop focuses on boutique style and designer apparel for sizes 6 months through 12 years. With everything from those fashionable dresses to adorable cardigans to chic outerwear to trendy jewelry to the cutest gifts, llbd shop knows how to style girls of all ages.
However, we've all had the experience of trying to shop online and finding it frustrating to try to navigate a site that is laid out poorly or has a limited selection. How much is shipping? Do they offer returns? Can I have my gift wrapped? Where the heck is the size chart? Why do I have to dig to find the answers to the same questions that every other shopper has surely wondered as well?
Fortunately, llbd shop makes sure that you will have an easy, problem-free shopping experience at their boutique. Looking for items besides their classic little little black dresses? One click on Other Apparel leads you quickly to coats, skirts, tops, sweaters, leggings, shoes, baby outfits and more.
Or maybe you're in need of the perfect finishing touch for a little little black dress? The Jewelry & Accessories category is filled with headbands, hair clips, necklaces, bracelets and more. Is there a little girl out there that wouldn't want to complete her outfit with the cutest dog wristlet purse?
Being the bargain-hunter that I am, one of the first places I like to visit when I shop online is the sale section. I can't pass up a good deal! And there is no shortage of those at llbd shop, as their Sale category contains dresses, coats, accessories, special occasion and even a selection of clearance items that are anywhere from 50% to 70% off!
When it comes to online shopping, I will only return to a site if I know that I can find what I'm looking for and it won't take hiring a private detective or taking out a loan to get it. Easy navigation, affordable prices and a large selection all need to come together with plenty of pictures, quick links and helpful customer service. Too much to ask? Not with llbd shop!
When it comes time to shop for little girls clothes and accessories, including designer dresses for sizes 6 months through 12, you'll always find adorable, chic, trendy, or just plain cute items from the Little-Little Black Dress Shop.
From full price to great sales (you can even receive an extra 10% off of the entire site if you sign up for their email list!) and free shipping with orders over $50, for your next special occasion, party or everyday outfit, you won't want to miss this great site.
And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be able to pick up a stylishly great deal or two, because...
One lucky person will win a $75 gift certificate to the Sale pages (and free shipping) from llbd shop!
To enter to win: Visit llbd shop and leave me a comment telling me your favorite gorgeous item there.
Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you Like llbd shop on Facebook and/or sign up for their email list.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!
#WIN a $75 gift card to Little-Little Black Dress Shop - dresses, apparel & more for girls! http://bit.ly/zlK2YS @thxmailcarrier #giveaway
1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.
Giveaway will end on March 21st at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.
A big thank you to llbd shop for providing a dress for me as well as a $75 gift certificate to the sale page for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.


text:
The Concord Coalition said today that a
new letter released by the Congressional
Budget Office (CBO) confirms the need for tough choices on
spending and tax policy to avoid sustained budget deficits of $400 billion or
more over the coming decade. The letter, written in response to a specific
The Concord Coalition said today that a
new letter released by the Congressional
Budget Office (CBO) confirms the need for tough choices on
spending and tax policy to avoid sustained budget deficits of $400 billion or
more over the coming decade. The letter, written in response to a specific
request from Representative Charles Stenholm (D-TX), projects a 10-year deficit
of $4.4 trillion after using more realistic assumptions about the likely path of
current fiscal policies than CBO can use in its official baseline.
"This letter is very significant because it demonstrates that even with the
strong economic recovery assumed by CBO and the tight discretionary spending
restraint assumed in the President's budget, deficits over the next 10 years are
likely to average $439 billion a year while debt held by the public grows from
37 percent of GDP today to over 47 percent by 2013. We are not facing a
temporary deficit that will go away as the economy picks up. We are back to
facing endless deficits. They will not go away without specific actions by
Congress and the President," said Robert L. Bixby, Executive Director of The
Concord Coalition.
"Moreover, these deficits come at a particularly bad time – just as the enormous
fiscal challenge of funding the health care and retirement benefits for the huge
baby boom generation begins to hit at the end of this decade. Instead of adding
new burdens onto the backs of future taxpayers by running up the debt, we should
be debating policy changes that ensure a long-term, sustainable fiscal policy.
Unfortunately, as Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan recently warned,
the current debate in Washington is more about ways to increase deficits rather
than bring them under control. That must change. To avoid unsustainable
deficits, Congress and the President must decide if they want to cut spending to
match the lower revenue projections, or raise revenues to match their spending
priorities," Bixby said.
In response to Representative Stenholm's request, CBO's letter to him assumed
permanent extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, continued relief from the
alternative minimum tax at its 2004 level, passage of a $400 billion Medicare
prescription drug benefit, the President's discretionary spending proposals, and
a gradual reduction in the costs of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In
September, The Concord Coalition, the Committee for Economic Development and the
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, released
a similar projection showing that under current fiscal policies
the deficit would likely total $5 trillion over the next 10 years.


text:
I downloaded and ran the Mountain Lion Installer today for my mid-2007 iMac. After rebooting and preparing to install, I receive an error message that the hard disk was damaged and the installer could not run.
I can't boot to the partition and am working from the install partition instead. Disk Utility cannot repair the partition, and detects no problems with parent volume. Time Machine cannot restore to the partition as it is apparently locked or unavailable (it is greyed out in the program).
I've booted in Single User mode and run /sbin/fsck -fy
and /sbin/mount -uw /
, but this does not allow me to run fsck
on the problem volume - just the install partition it appears.
This is the partition info from diskutil info /dev/disk0s2
Device Identifier: disk0s2
Device Node: /dev/disk0s2
Part of Whole: disk0
Device / Media Name: WD Black Caviar
Volume Name: WD Black Caviar
Escaped with Unicode: WD%FF%FE%20%00Black%FF%FE%20%00Caviar
Mounted: Yes
Mount Point: /Volumes/WD Black Caviar
Escaped with Unicode: /Volumes/WD%FF%FE%20%00Black%FF%FE%20%00Caviar
File System Personality: HFS+
Type (Bundle): hfs
Name (User Visible): Mac OS Extended
Owners: Enabled
Partition Type: Apple_HFS
OS Can Be Installed: No
Media Type: Generic
Protocol: SATA
SMART Status: Verified
Volume UUID: 8880D8D2-AEC8-3466-81D3-4ABBE296733A
Total Size: 1.3 TB (1278311751680 Bytes) (exactly 2496702640 512-Byte-Blocks)
Volume Free Space: 817.2 GB (817164238848 Bytes) (exactly 1596023904 512-Byte-Blocks)
Device Block Size: 512 Bytes
Read-Only Media: No
Read-Only Volume: Yes
Ejectable: No
Whole: No
Internal: Yes
Solid State: No
How can I regain write access to the partition to diagnose it?


text:
DAVID -V- GOLIATH Historical University of Durham® threats In June 2019 Durham University sold its CEM unit to Cambridge Assessment (CA) and Cambridge University Press (CUP) for £17.8 million in cash.
It seems Durham University finally lost the war of attrition and lost many clients during the battle with so many parties. The for sale sign went up in May 2018 Durham were advised by BDO.
As Children's Educational Material 11+ was constantly being threatened by Durham University® in various jurisdictions around the world it may have had to move domains. Amongst one reason is they object to us advising parents to use other 11+ exams as free mocks - a legal right for any parent, and hardly any of their business. Please follow us on Twitter where we will display where this site moves. Your data will be safe and transferred to any new domain. You can always email us at [email protected].
Below is their claim:
It is the University of Durham's claim that the registrant of this website has abusively registered this domain name in order to do two things: 1. to unfairly take advantage of CEM's good name and reputation in order to sell its tuition services and educational materials; and 2. to disrupt the business of CEM and the University of Durham and to damage the good reputation of CEM and the University of Durham and the testing services provided by CEM. Our comments:
1. It is well known that the University of Durham's CEM unit did NOT sell to the public or sell past papers. Why on earth would the public be confused when the site clearly states that there is no connection with this Unit? This is made clear on the Home Page and every single page of this site. The public would not need to visit the University's site, as they do not deal with the public. Visitors of this site seek information on how to prepare children for the 11+ and obtain Children's Educational Material (CEM) for the 11+ The logo is not similar to the University's nor is the look and feel of the site. Every product sold states clearly that there is no connection with the Unit. The University makes claims that preparation is not required so how could its name be tarnished?
The term cem 11 plus and cem11+ was first used by CoolCleverKids.co.uk and not the University of Durham, who used the phrase later on. The University did not own the trademark CEM and only filed an application on 8th Feb, 2013, after this site was registered and we pointed out they did not own the trademark. Their application was granted months later.
2. Why would cem11plus attempt to disrupt the business of Durham University? Surely, the success of the CEM unit would be of benefit to cem11plus. 3. CEM is an internationally recognised acronym for Children's Educational Material. See: https://www.acronymfinder.com/CEM.html There are 111 listings for the abbreviation. There are various trademarks for CEM in the UK and worldwide.
As for the other claims:
1. This site simply levels the playing field and highlights the ridiculous situation of the same test being used on multiple dates and how tuition centres can exploit this. This does not cast doubt of the University's offering, but the local authority that sets the dates of tests. We do not charge for information relating to past questions. This information is free, as we do not believe it should be exclusive to tuition centres alone.
Past questions are discussed on many sites.
2. Many regions such as Birmingham and Walsall do not have catchment areas. Why shouldn't parents allow children to practice exams, or even consider moving? If the unit claims their test is resistant to prepping, then what difference would it make? Parents may wish to move area and have every right to sit an exam far from their homes. 11plus.eu favours a national 11+ exam. 11plus.eu is an advice site and provides good advice, which parents appreciate.
This site has not illegally reproduced any trade marks and has simply acknowledged Trade marks in a legal manner making it clear that the site is not associated with the University. The University has been bullying this site and demanding it be handed over to them when they have no legitimate claim to the site. We do not target the University and believe the actions of the University may tarnish their own reputation. CEM Centre claims
1. "Assessments are designed to enable all children to demonstrate their natural ability and achievement without excessive preparation.
Really? Where is the evidence? If children are tested on maths that they have never been taught or not yet covered at school, how can they demonstrate natural ability? Clearly preparation is required and the evidence is tuition increases when Durham tests are used. Warwickshire County Council confirm they have no evidence that the tests are resistant to preparation. Click here for the FOI response (name and address of requestor redacted).
The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham confirm they have no evidence that the tests are resistant to preparation. Click here for the FOI response (name and address of requestor redacted). The Schools in Gloucestershire confirm they have no evidence that the tests are resistant to preparation. 2. "In order to maintain the fairness of our tests we do not provide any commercially available practice materials, nor do we recommend any other commercially available materials." Does this imply that preparation is unfair? Does it mean preparation would increase chances of improving performance? Then clearly tuition or preparation is of benefit. Surely, this contradicts the first point. So, tuition centres recreate questions and share content with their students, and others are left behind. Surely, this increases tuition. But the University targets this site for providing free information and providing advice in relation to preparation material, yet other sites recommending their own tuition centres and CGP books are not targeted by the University. Double standards.
3. Durham University admit they remove questions from marking after tests are taken and test users are not even told about this. Is this manipulation?
Durham`s conduct in tests
In 2012, Durham`s CEM unit removed 2 questions from the verbal reasoning sections of Warwckshire tests after the test was taken and if children had answered them correctly, they were not awarded marks. Amy Taylor of Warwickshire County Council was informed. Yet, no parents were informed.The reason for removal was the University believed children guessed the answer - yet guessing is permitted and they could not possibly know who guessed. According to Craig Pratt, one raw score could be as much as six standardised scores. Children could have lost a grammar school place due to this action. Durham also changed weightings of tests the year later after tests were taken and children believed all topics were worth 1/3 of the marks.Retrospective changes could have cost children grammar school places.
If any other exam was subject to retrospective changes there would be uproar and accusations of manipulation. This conduct is unacceptable.


text:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Behind closed doors, President Donald Trump has made his views on Ukraine clear: "They tried to take me down."
The president, according to people familiar with testimony in the House impeachment investigation, sees the Eastern European ally, not Russia, as responsible for the interference in the 2016 election that was investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller.
It's a view denied by the intelligence community, at odds with U.S. foreign policy and dismissed by many of Trump's fellow Republicans but part of a broader skepticism of Ukraine being shared with Trump by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his key regional ally Viktor Orban of Hungary.
Trump's embrace of an alternative view of Ukraine suggests the extent to which his approach to Kyiv — including his request, now central to the impeachment inquiry, that the Ukraine president do him a "favor" and investigate Democrats — was colored by a long-running, unproven conspiracy theory that has circulated online and in some corners of conservative media.
On Monday, Trump derided the impeachment probe anew as a "witch hunt," insisting that he did nothing wrong in his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
But those testifying in the impeachment inquiry, now entering its fifth week, are recalling that Trump's views on Ukraine were seen as a problem by some in the administration.
Some of those testifying recalled a May meeting at the White House when U.S. officials, just back from attending Zelenskiy's inauguration in Kyiv, briefed Trump.
Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, special envoy Kurt Volker and other witnesses have described Trump as suspicious of Ukraine despite well-established American support for the fledgling democracy there. That's according to publicly released transcripts, as well as people familiar with the private testimony to impeachment investigators. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss it.
Several witnesses have testified that Trump believed Ukraine wanted to destroy his presidency.
One career State Department official, George Kent, told lawmakers that Putin and Orban had soured Trump's attitude toward Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have been foes since Putin's invasion of Crimea in 2014, as Kyiv tries to align with the West, while Putin and Orban grow closer.
"President Trump was skeptical," Sondland testified, according to his written remarks. Sondland said that only later did he understand that Trump, by connecting the Ukrainians with his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, was interested in probing the 2016 election as well as the family of his potential 2020 rival, Joe Biden.
"It was apparent to all of us that the key to changing President Trump's mind on Ukraine was Mr. Giuliani."
House Democrats launched the impeachment inquiry after a whistleblower filed a complaint that included Trump's July call with Zelenskiy. The call was placed the day after Mueller testified to Congress and brought an end to the two-year Trump-Russia probe.
"Our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it," Trump told Zelenskiy, according to a rough transcript of the call released by the White House.
"I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say CrowdStrike," Trump said. "The server, they say Ukraine has it."
Trump was airing the conspiracy-theory view, shared by Giuliani, that the security firm CrowdStrike, which was hired by the Democratic National Committee to investigate the 2016 hack of its email, may have had ties to Ukraine.
CrowdStrike determined in June 2016 that Russian agents had broken into the committee's network and stolen emails that were subsequently published by WikiLeaks. The firm's findings were confirmed by FBI investigators and helped lead to Mueller's indictments of 12 individuals from Russia's military intelligence agency.
But the loose conspiracy theory contends that the DNC email hack was a setup, bolstered by fake computer records, designed to cast blame on Russia. Even the president's Republican allies have tried to dissuade Trump from it.
"I've never been a CrowdStrike fan; I mean this whole thing of a server," said Republican Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina last week.
Meadows, a confidant of Trump, said he's sure Ukraine had some role in the U.S. election. But he views the search for the email server as farfetched. "I would not, on my dime, send a private attorney looking for some server in a foreign country," Meadows told reporters.
Perhaps contributing to the conspiracy theories surrounding CrowdStrike and the DNC is the fact that the FBI never took possession of the actual computer server that would have held the hacked emails.
Instead, the FBI relied on the forensics provided by CrowdStrike.
The FBI had "repeatedly stressed" to the DNC its desire to have access to servers, former FBI Director James Comey testified at a March 2017 hearing before a House panel. But he acknowledged it is not unusual for the FBI to use such forensics in place of the actual hard drive during cyber investigations.
Other Republicans have also tried to convince Trump it was not Ukraine that was involved.
Trump's former homeland security adviser, Tom Bossert, said Giuliani had done Trump a disservice by pushing the false story.
"I am deeply frustrated with what he and the legal team is doing and repeating that debunked theory to the president," Bossert said in September on ABC. "It sticks in his mind when he hears it over and over again," said Bossert, who also was an adviser to President George W. Bush. "That conspiracy theory has got to go. They have to stop with that. It cannot continue to be repeated."
On the call, Trump went on to ask Zelenskiy to also look into Burisma, the Ukraine gas company with links to Biden's family. Biden's son Hunter served on the board when the former vice president was the Obama administration's main emissary to Ukraine.
Last week, Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, acknowledged that Trump essentially engaged in a quid pro quo in seeking Zelenskiy's help in exchange for military aid the White House was withholding from Ukraine.
Mulvaney said the request was not improper because Trump wanted help with the 2016 investigation rather than looking ahead to 2020. It is against the law to seek or receive help of value from a foreign entity in U.S. elections.
Mulvaney later clarified his comments, saying, "The president never told me to withhold any money until the Ukrainians did anything related to the server."


text:
For those old enough to remember, the government shutdown skirmishing now underway in Washington brings back some not-so-fond memories of late 1995 and early 1996.
That's the last time a divided government, unable to settle its differences before the money from previous years' spending bills ran out, forced dozens of agencies to close. Some 800,000 federal workers were told to stay home and millions of Americans were shut out of everything from their national parks to small-business loans.
In fact, in 1995 and '96 there were two government shutdowns. The first lasted six days in mid-November 1995, the second from mid-December 1995 to early January 1996. For those 26 days, in addition to the national parks, the Smithsonian museums in Washington were also closed. Veterans' health and welfare services were curtailed, passport applications didn't get processed, new clinical research patients were not accepted at the National Institutes of Health, and federal contractors had to furlough employees.
According to a report by the Congressional Budget Office, the costs of the 1995 shutdowns totaled some $1.4 billion.
While a government shutdown this year would be due to an impasse over a new program — the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare — the shutdowns in 1995 were largely over cuts to existing programs, especially Medicare and Medicaid.
Republicans had won a majority in Congress for the first time in 40 years the previous November. Led by Speaker Newt Gingrich, they demanded sharp cuts in government spending in discretionary programs, such as welfare, and so-called entitlements, like Medicaid and Medicare.
When President Clinton vetoed the spending cuts, round one of the shutdown was underway. The White House and Congress quickly agreed to extend spending on a temporary basis, under the condition that the president agree to a plan to balance the federal budget.
But those talks proved fruitless, and round two of the shutdown followed.
The two sides continued talking throughout the holiday season and in the end reached agreement on a deal similar to what was on the table before the shutdown, with cuts to federal spending (though smaller than Republicans had originally demanded) and a path to a balanced budget
According to polls, Republicans quickly bore the blame for shutting the government down. Their hand was weakened when Gingrich told reporters he had forced a shutdown in part because the president made him exit Air Force One by the back door after returning from the funeral of slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
In his State of the Union address that January, Clinton was able to declare the "the era of big government is over." In November, he easily won re-election over one of the (reluctant) leaders of the shutdown, Republican Sen. Bob Dole.
Having learned some hard lessons in 1995-96, many Republicans seem to realize that a shutdown this year would hurt them more than Democrats. But the political blame may be a bit more muddled: While Republicans control the House, Democrats are in the majority in the Senate and may not escape a share of the responsibility for a shutdown.
And while as many federal programs and employees would be idled in a shutdown as before, large swaths of the government would be deemed essential, and exempt from closing.
Border Patrol agents, air traffic controllers and TSA officers would remain at work. Social Security and other benefits checks would still go out. But with the government relying more on contractors than in 1995, the economic impact from a prolonged shutdown may be bigger this time around.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Gold embroidery needles! A somewhat exciting concept, don't you think? The richness of gold, coating the outside of the needle for a beautiful and smooth finish – to make the needle better for stitching. This is the concept, anyway, but does it hold true?
Some embroiderers have told me that they stitch exclusively with gold needles because of allergies. They find that other needles tarnish quickly in their hands, or bother their skin. In these cases, they've found that gold needles are a good solution for them. But if you don't have skin allergies or reactions to regular steel needles, what is the advantage of stitching with a gold needle?
Most needles today are made out of high carbon steel that is stretched to the correct size, cut, sharpened, punched, and plated with nickel. Hence, folks with nickel allergies usually look for specialty needles that are plated with something else. That something else can be gold or platinum. Here, we're looking specifically at gold-plated needles.
According to various descriptions of gold needles (in retail shops, manufacturers websites, etc.), gold needles are superior to other needles and are resistant to corrosion from humidy and body oils. According to one website, "gold needles cost a little more than steel but they impart a real sense of quality to your needlework."
Available here in the US, the most common gold needles are made by DMC, which offers 18k gold plated embroidery and tapestry needles in various sizes. John James (made in England, but widely available in the US) also makes a line of gold needles, though I am uncertain of the range of gold needles they produce. I know they produce gold tapestry needles in sizes sizes 20 – 28, and petite tapestry needles in sizes 22 – 28. If you have a popular needle company in your own country and are interested in gold-plated needles, you might want to check to see if they produce any gold plated embroidery needles.
Now, about the needles specifically. Are they really "better"? Do they really "impart a sense of quality to your needlework"? (Um – logically speaking, I don't think that claim flies, but anyway…) They cost more, certainly. For about a dollare more than a package of six John James regular tapestry needles, you can purchase three John James gold plated needles. So they cost more than twice as much as regular needles. Incidentally, John James platinum coated needles cost about $2.50 more per package, and you get… 2.
In the photo above, the needle on the left is a size 26 gold-plates tapestry needle (by John James). The needle on the right is a regular steel needle plated with nickel, John James, tapestry #26.
I started using the gold-plated needle because I was looking for a #26 needle, and I had a package of gold plated ones close at hand, so I grabbed 'em. I used this particular gold-plated needle in the photo above for several hours of stitching – probably six hours all told.
When I first started stitching with it, I did notice a different "feel" to the needle. Really! It feels different as it passes through the fabric. It is pleasantly smooth, and it almost seems "squeaky" smooth as it goes through the fabric. There's no resistence or anything, but there is definitely a different feel to it. It glides in a squeaky clean kind of way. (How do you describe how a needle feels??!)
So, away I stitched.
I really hadn't thought too hard about gold-plated needles before this particular incident of stitching. I have a few gold needles, but have never used them any length of time.
In the photo above, the needle on the left is the one I used for about six hours. The needle on the right is new from the package.
But, this is the thing – and I realize it may just be an individual difference in skin and body chemistry, so you can't take this as an absolutely "objective" review of gold-plated needles. After about six hours of stitching with the gold-plated needle, it started to feel "sticky" as it passed through the fabric, rather than smooth and squeaky. I had to push it through – it had stopped gliding smoothly.
On closer inspection, the wear on the coating was obvious. On the shaft of the needle, there were darker areas of wear, and, as you can see in the photo above, the shaft is dull rather than softly shiny.
I still like the initial feel of the gold needles, and I am going to use the other two. I'll try cleaning my hands a different way to see if that helps allay the corrosion of the gold finish.
But I have to admit, since I haven't experienced any allergy problems with nickel, or any corrosion problems with the standard list of needles that I use – John James, Richard Hemming (not my absolute faves, but they're ok), Bohin, and some Wendy Schoen needles – I probably won't make a habit of paying extra for gold coating.
That being said, I really do think I need to try platinum! Just for curiosity's sake!
What are your experiences with gold plated needles? Do you use them? Have you ever had corrosion issues? How about with regular nickel-plated needles? Any insights!
Have a terrific Friday!


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Four new gorgeous Sugar Nellie stamps are on its way, and we are ready with a week of blog hops for you. This collection of mermaids are called "Under the Sea", and it will be available for you Friday 3th over at Funky Kits.
If you arrived here fromTiets amazing blog, you are on the right way, if not just go back to the Sugar Nellie blog, and start the hop from there.
The stamp we want to show you today is called "Oceans gift". I have colored the beautiful image with Copics, and for the shape of the card I have used dies from Go Kreate. I have used a Spellbinder dies to frame the sweet mermaid, and swirls from Die Namic and Cherry Lynn together with flowers and pearls.
Please remember to leave comments on your way, there will be a prize in the end of the hop.
Now you need to hop over to Antia`s wonderful blog to see how her lovely mermaid turned out:)


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WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that while presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is "a phenomenon" and political outsider, he has earned the right to the GOP nomination and the party's support.
"I think Donald Trump is a phenomenon. I don't believe Donald Trump is going to change the Republican Party in a fundamental way. He appeals to a lot of voters, he'll be the nominee. I don't have any problem supporting him," McConnell said.
McConnell said Trump is helping the party reach out to voters who "have not lately voted for Republicans." That will make the party's competitive in November against likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, McConnell said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
"The reason I'm supporting Donald Trump is I don't want four more years just like the last eight," McConnell said, adding, "there's no chance Hillary Clinton is going to be any different than Barack Obama."
Trump's appeal as an outsider has succeeded in part because "the voters this year were looking for something very different, particularly the right-of-center voters," McConnell said. "You can argue the left-of-center is expressing itself the same way," looking to Bernie Sanders.
The Senate Republican leader declined to answer directly whether he thought House Speaker Paul Ryan should issue a formal endorsement of Trump.
"My view is that Trump has earned the nomination because he went out and got the most votes" in the primary and caucus process, McConnell said. "We need to be respectful of the process."


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My subject says it all...how safe is our remote data storage if/when "The Big One" hits San Jose, CA as well as my place in SoCal???
Please visit:
Click on tthe Facility link. Our data center is colocated with one of the largest colocation service providers Hurricane Electric. The facility has 24x7 security monitoring, redundant power supply and Internet connections. Of course there is no guaranttee that it can survive a major earthquake. However, if you also do local backup, then it should be very safe.
User: DriveHQ Webmaster - 12/5/2007 5:02:29 PM
User: nevet9 - 12/6/2007 12:55:27 AM
I understand your concern. However, a major earthquake hit both north and south california at the same time is extremely unlikely. Typically there is an epicenter, and the affected region is limited.
Please logon and reply, Not DriveHQ Member?


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fter the end of the French Wars, it became increasingly clear that England was suffering from great social, economic and political upheavals. These problems collectively became known as the 'Condition of England Question'. Many of these problems would have occurred eventually but had been speeded up by the effects of the French Wars on the country. Most of the major changes were the direct result of the French Wars. Others came from natural growth and change. The distress and discontent caused by these enormous changes were manifested in a series of events in the period 1811-19.
The Luddites (1811-16)
Luddites were men who took the name of a (perhaps) mythical individual, Ned Ludd who was reputed to live in Sherwood Forest. The Luddites were trying to save their livelihoods by smashing industrial machines developed for use in the textile industries of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. Some Luddites were active in Lancashire also. Throughout the period 1811-16 there was a series of incidents of machine-breaking, invariably followed by executions of the culprits. [additional material]
The Spa Fields Riots
These took place on 2 December 1816. The radical meeting on 15 November had been reconvened and Arthur Thistlewood and the Watsons led a mob to Clerkenwell where they robbed a gunsmith's shop; they planned to seize the Tower of London and establish a Committee of Public Safety. The mob was dispersed and the leaders were imprisoned. Thistlewood was executed later. [additional material]The attack on the Prince Regent's carriage (28 January 1817)
The Prince Regent's carriage was mobbed after the State opening of parliament; its windows were smashed either by stones or the pellet from an air-gun. Parliament believed that a revolution, organised by the numerous Hampden Clubs, was imminent: therefore the so-called "Gag Acts" were passed:
- Habeas Corpus was suspended on 3 March (until 1 July, initially)
- Seditious meetings were prohibited (Pitt's 1795 Act)
- On 27 March, Sidmouth ordered the Lords Lieutenant to apprehend all printers, writers and demagogues responsible for seditious and blasphemous material.
The government had little success with this latter because juries refused to risk the freedom of the press. Fox's 1792 Libel Act again came into its own and the government managed to have only one printer convicted. There is a clear parallel here to the 1794 Treason Trials.
March of the Blanketeers (March 1817)
This protest was partly against the government's measures and partly a demonstration and attempt to petition the Prince Regent to do something to relieve the economic depression. It was a peaceful march by hundreds of depressed Manchester cotton operatives, who carried blankets to sleep in - hence the name 'Blanketeers'. It rained violently on the day the march began; the leaders were arrested at Stockport and the protest had fizzled out by Macclesfield. However, the Manchester pattern of discontent in times of hardship created the greatest fears of revolution. [additional material]
The Derbyshire Insurrection (the Pentrich Rising: June 1817)
The Government was worried because there was so much discontent but thought it was caused by the 'poison' of the French Revolution. Consequently the ruling classes feared a revolution in England. Sidmouth, the Home Secretary, had to rely on spies and informers whom he sent out to tour Britain and investigate centres of discontent. Unfortunately, these spies were paid by results and so became agents provocateurs — they stirred up rebellions if they could not find them, so they would be paid.
'Oliver the Spy; went to Pentrich disguised as a depressed worker, found discontent and incited the villagers to rebellion. He made arrangements for an armed march to air their discontents, then informed the local militia of an 'armed rising'. Arrests were made of armed men a 'revolution in the making' had been discovered. Six men were hanged (including Jeremiah Brandreth) and Oliver went on to Leeds. Edward Baines proprietor of the Leeds Mercury followed the activities of Oliver, then exposed him. The government was embarrassed — and Oliver disappeared. The government's unwise use of spies and lack of adequate communications actually caused discontent, because spies stirred things up. [additional material]
The Peterloo Massacre (16 August 1819)
A meeting in Manchester was planned for 9 August to elect Henry Hunt as the working-man's popular representative for Lancashire; it had to be cancelled because it was declared to be an illegal gathering. The meeting was reorganised for 16 August and it was held on St Peter's Field, Manchester to demand parliamentary reform. The meeting was to be addressed by Hunt. The main aim was to demand the reform of parliament as a step towards socio-economic betterment: ordinary people wanted government by the people for the people. The organisers of the meeting were moderate men who wanted a peaceful event that would show that they were respectable working men, worthy of responsibility. The local magistrates brought in the Cheshire Yeomanry to control the crowd of between 50,000 and 60,000 people. The JPs decided to arrest Hunt: they also tried to disperse crowd, but did not read the Riot Act. As the Yeomanry moved on Hunt, people crowded on them. The Yeomanry drew their sabres and a troop of hussars, trying to rescue them, caused a panic. The result was eleven dead including two women, and about 400 wounded.
In December1819 the Government decided that a revolution was afoot and applied repressive policies without enquiring why conditions were as they were. They passed the Six Acts in 1819. [additional material]
The Cato Street Conspiracy, February 1820
This was the only clear-cut example in the post-war years of extreme, violent republicanism. Thistlewood - now out of gaol - and the Watsons thought up the scheme with the help of George Edwards, another of the Spenceans. They adopted a stable in Cato Street (off the Edgware Road) as their headquarters. An advertisement appeared, saying that the entire Cabinet was to attend a dinner held by the Lord President of the Council. The plan was to
- break into the house of Lord Harrowby in Grosvenor Square and murder the entire Cabinet
- kill the new king, George IV (George III died on 31 January 1820)
- seize the Tower of London, which was the great arsenal for the army
- seize the Bank of England and
- set up a Provisional Government
The idea was cleverly worked out even though it was quite mad. The only snag was that the whole event was set up by the government and Edwards, one of Lord Sidmouth's spies. Edwards helped to organise the plot and then informed the authorities about what was going on. Many of the conspirators were arrested; Thistlewood and four others were hanged; five more were transported. [additional material]
The Queen Caroline affair, 1820
George, Prince of Wales, married Princess Caroline of Brunswick in 1795. The couple was ill-matched and after consummating the marriage they lived separate lives. Caroline eventually went to Europe where she travelled widely, settling in Italy. When the Prince of Wales succeeded to the throne on 1820, Caroline returned to claim her rights as Queen Consort. George IV attempted to divorce her but failed. Radicals rallied to her cause as a means of attacking the government and king. It did not take long for Caroline to lose public support; she died shortly after her impolitic attempts to force an entrance to Westminster Abbey at the coronation of George IV.
Last modified 22 December 2004


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Adobe Asset Link
Transform the way creatives and marketers work together by speeding up content creation. Asset Link allows teams to design, revise, review and approve any asset (housed in Experience Manager Assets) directly in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign or XD.
Connect. Create. Collaborate.
If you're a creative, you don't want have to learn a digital asset management (DAM) platform just to access and edit your work. If you're a marketer, you shouldn't have to understand the ins and outs of Photoshop just to leave feedback. No matter your role on the team, the more time you spend trying to understand a new platform, the less time you have to create meaningful content for your customers.
Adobe Experience Manager Assets meets you where you are. Whether you're a marketer looking to provide comments on an asset or a creative trying to quickly make requested changes, Adobe Asset Link helps you to optimise your workflow with the only native connection to Creative Cloud on the market today. Instead of having to manage yet another bulky integration, use single sign-on with your Creative Cloud account credentials to access DAM and Creative Cloud assets directly in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign or XD. From there, it's easy to check out files, automatically version the asset and have changes integrated into the DAM. The workspace makes it simple for your team to collaborate and deliver compelling digital experiences.
See what makes it work.
Drag and drop any asset from Adobe Experience Manager Assets directly into Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign or XD.
Easily collaborate using workflows that keep work-in-progress assets and final production assets separate. Check content in or out of Experience Manager Assets and Creative Cloud Assets to prevent conflicts.
Version History Control
View all versions of an asset in Experience Manager Assets directly within Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign or XD.
Search and Browse
Quickly search and find relevant assets from your organisation through a single interface across Experience Manager Assets and Creative Cloud for enterprise.
Visual Search
Find digital assets that share similarities within Experience Manager Assets using the power of Adobe Sensei. Identify duplicates, near-duplicates and product family associations.
Learn more about Adobe Asset Link in Adobe Experience Manager Assets.
Adobe Photoshop and Asset Link.
See how creatives find the right asset and make required changes without leaving Photoshop.
Adobe lllustrator and Asset Link.
See how Asset Link helps Illustrator users make sure they're working on the latest version of an asset.
Adobe InDesign and Asset Link.
See how Asset Link helps InDesign users find all required assets and make smarter visual decisions.
Adobe XD and Asset Link.
See how Asset Link helps XD designers quickly find and add assets to wireframes and collaborate with marketers, right from their working file.


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Hypnotic Pattern
3rd-level illusion
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: S, M (a glowing stick of incense or a crystal vial filled with phosphorescent material)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You create a twisting pattern of colors that weaves through the air inside a 30-foot cube within range. The pattern appears for a moment and vanishes. Each creature in the area who sees the pattern must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature becomes charmed for the duration. While charmed by this spell, the creature is incapacitated and has a speed of 0.
The spell ends for an affected creature if it takes any damage or if someone else uses an action to shake the creature out of its stupor.


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After months of delay, Boys Scouts of America (BSA) is finally voting today to overturn its ban on "openly gay" scouts (though not scout leaders—those are still verboten.) The BSA has defended its discriminatory policy on the grounds that homosexuality is incompatible with the Scout Law, especially with the values expressed in its commitment to 'morally straight' and 'clean' living. But instead of twisting themselves into moral knots that encourage bigotry, the Boy Scouts would have saved themselves a lot of angst and controversy (and also done better by American boys) if they were more like…the Girl Scouts.
(MORE: The Boy Scouts Latest P.R. Move is a Misfire)
In their statement of purpose called "What we stand for," the Girl Scouts explicitly reject discrimination of any kind and consider sexual orientation, "a private matter for girls and their families to address." Noting their affirmation of freedom of religion, a founding principle of American life, the Girl Scouts "do not attempt to dictate the form or style of a member's worship" and urge "flexibility" in reciting the Girl Scout Promise. (They are encouraged to substitute the word "God" for something that's more in line with their own spiritual practice.) It's an arresting contrast to the Boy Scouts of America, who in addition to excluding gays also refuse to hire non-believers. While the BSA employment application states unequivocally that atheists, agnostics and "known or avowed homosexuals" are in all cases barred from becoming Scout leaders, convicted criminals can rest easy that their record "is not an automatic bar to employment."
But there's more than discrimination at stake. The BSA's clannish practices may harm heterosexual boys too. That's because a body of research suggests that excluding people from groups who are different impairs creative problem-solving and critical thinking. The studies, ranging from financial trading and management practices to jury deliberations, have confirmed what most of us know intuitively: our decision-making is enhanced by a wide variety of perspectives, even from those with whom we may disagree.
Some will argue – and many have – that the Boy Scouts aren't practicing discrimination, merely asserting, as a private institution, constitutionally protected values that have been upheld by the supreme court. And that's correct, as far as it goes.
(MORE: Gay Boy Scouts Employee: "I Can't Live A Lie Any Longer")
The problem is that these values reflect a constricted vision of moral development based on outdated stereotypes of masculinity that can keep young men from reaching their full potential as human beings, while the values of the Girl Scouts enhance moral and intellectual development. According to an article in the Atlantic, the two organizations started with similar aims but quickly diverged as the Boy Scouts affiliated with church sponsors and other elite power structures while the Girl Scouts went their own way. Girl Scouts started racially desegregating their troops back in the 1950's (Martin Luther King Jr. was a vocal fan) and have long espoused a culture of inclusion, dialogue, and strongly independent thinking. In 2011, Kathleen E. Denny, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, analyzed the Boy Scout and Girl Scout handbooks and concluded:
The girls' handbook conveys messages about approaching activities with autonomous and critical thinking, whereas the boys' handbook facilitates intellectual passivity through a reliance on organizational scripts. Taken together, girls' messages promote an "up-to-date traditional woman" consistent with the Girl Scouts' organizational roots; boys' messages promote an assertive heteronormative masculinity that is offset by facilitating boys' intellectual passivity.
Contemporary life demands an increasingly elastic and collaborative mind, and the unfortunate truth is that American women, generally speaking, are finding it easier to adapt to a country of diverse people and ideas. One study found that female politicians make more effective legislators because they are better collaborators and less prone to show-boating (or going off on an Appalachian trail of personal exploration). They sponsor and co-sponsor more bills (an average of 26 more per congressional session) and they also bring more money to their districts compared to their male counterparts. (And we're talking "real money" here: an average of $50 million dollars more per legislator.) The reason seems to be that women politicians are more skilled at the "deal-making" activities that result in legislative action.
Nearly all the essential academic skills identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning, such as creativity and innovation, problem-solving, communication and collaboration and civic literacy, are areas in which girls arguably have an advantage. However, there is no reason boys can't excel in them too.
(MORE: Do Teachers Really Discriminate Against Boys?)
Many indicators are telling us that we have to do a better job of helping young men navigate early adulthood. The Boy Scouts have an admirable tradition of teaching boys to become men. But as men and women work, go to war, and raise families interchangeably, it no longer makes sense to idealize a stereotypic brand of masculinity, one that is 'physically strong,' and 'clean'… whatever that means. The morally "straight" thing to do seems obvious: help all boys and girls become their better selves.


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CHICKS ROCK! is happy to have Kristina back as a guest blogger this week.
Kristina Leonardi is the founder of The Women's Mosaic. She is a career/life coach, speaker, seminar leader and expert in the areas of career development, work/life wellness and personal growth
In the movie Silver Linings Playbook, the main characters Pat and Tiffany are in training for a big dance competition that turns out to be much more than a fancy booty shaking contest. A unique romantic dramedy, it's a film that shows there is a fine line between sanity and insanity, acceptable versus unacceptable behavior, and the beauty of living life to the beat of your own drum.
In the movie The Sessions, Mark O'Brien is confined to an iron lung 20 hours a day, existing on a gurney unable to move from the neck down, and yet he writes poetry, is a professional journalist and decides to hire a sex surrogate so he can experience the most human of experiences. We go along on his journey (based on a true story!) and find him to be one of the most alive, loving and liberated individuals to have ever lived despite such extreme physical limitations.
And as seen in the movie Lincoln, our 16th president is clearly not your Average Joe. He was always thinking out of the box, used his quirky sense of humor to diffuse or illuminate situations, and took numerous risks throughout the most heart-wrenching circumstances our country has endured. He stretched the Constitution to its limit, working within an established framework while implementing his own interpretation and/or bending the rules based on his hard-earned wisdom, keen observations and superior judgement as unprecedented needs arose and critical decisions had to be made in order for progress to occur.
In the conscious movement class I take, we are told to 'dance it your way' and have breaks of 'free dance' where we boogie as we see fit; it's not chaotic because there is an organized structure and unity contained within the flow as we come back together intermittently as a group throughout the hour. It's a super-small class because for many people, when given the opportunity to move and think for themselves, even for just a few moments, is a daunting and uncomfortable feeling; it's an empowering exercise that requires more effort and less inhibition, and many simply don't know what to do if they are not following the instructor. And that, my friends, is indicative of a larger problem with implications reaching much farther than a gym studio.
Spielberg's Lincoln asks, "Do you think we choose to be born? Or are we fitted to the times we're born into?" As citizens of the 21st century, we are certainly living in extraordinary times that will require us to become the fullest and most unique beings we are meant to be. We each have something that needs to be expressed, something that no other person on this planet, no one who has come before or will come after can express. Right now we need new ways of looking at old problems and to change old ways in order deal with new problems, so it's more important than ever for you to do your own thang, because there is no other way to generate inspiration and birth innovation.
In any era it's easy to get stuck in past habits and sucked into the zeitgeist of the day. Resist the urge to follow the herd, fight to honor yourself, think and speak your own thoughts and begin to know and create yourself anew every moment of every day instead of getting swept up by social media, news, commercials, and even your peer groups, work and ethnic cultures or family and friends who are all, consciously or not, forces that can easily grab hold of your mind, body, spirit and/or bank account. Don't let your physical characteristics, family roots or societal dictates squash all the rhythms inside you that might be quite different from what those outside influences might have you believe, say or do.
Not sure exactly what your groove thing is? Give me a buzz and I'll get you started with some basic choreography and point you in the right direction, because ultimately You Should Be Dancing your own steps throughout life, hopefully with a fun disco floor beneath your feet along the way!
P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out my posts: Lucky Charms, A Fool's Errand and New Rules.


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"My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is considered aggression today; I knew it then as purpose."
- Bette Davis (1908 - 1989), The Lonely Life, 1962
Clenched Fist, an EverQuest II guild on Maj'Dul Server, is devoted to the gathering of mature, high-caliber, dedicated, and quite possibly obsessed players into a coherent whole.
Clenched Fist is a guild of friends who enjoy the both the technical and social aspects of gaming and, while we do not limit ourselves in our capabilities, we are not a guild of power-levelers or power-gamers. This is a guild for good people to come together, enjoy the camaraderie of the game and benefit from the strength that comes from a guild of powerful, like-minded individuals.
Clenched Fist encourages good sportsmanship, integrity, and maintaining a good balance between the Game and life. We do not limit our membership strictly by class, race or level, but choose our members by quality of character and desire to participate. Members who can carry themselves with decorum and treat others with respect are welcome to our ranks. We constantly strive to better ourselves to reach new goals as a family.
For those interested in membership in the Clenched Fist, please be sure to review the Guild Policy first. Please also refer to the forum titled "Applicants Look Here!" for information on starting the application process.


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This item isn't available, but some of our sellers will put it up for sale soon, so stay around.
There are also 401225 of records on sale right now and some outstanding vinyl records are of interest to you.
Maybe the next gem of your collection is "hidding" here at VINYLOM. Why don't you take a look?
Smooth digging!
Yannis Pantazis
Founder of Vinylom


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Labor Day 2017: Working People Take Fewer Vacation Days and Work More
Kenneth Quinnell
Working people are taking fewer vacation days and working more. That's the top finding in a new national survey, conducted by polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research for the AFL-CIO in collaboration with the Economic Policy Institute and the Labor Project for Working Families. In the survey, the majority of America's working people credit labor unions for many of the benefits they receive.
Read the full post.


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(RxWiki News) Flu season is here, and that means you or a loved one might have been diagnosed with the flu.
Can the Flu Be Treated?
Yes—the flu can be treated with antiviral medications.
Antivirals are medications that fight the flu in your body. These medications are not sold over the counter. They require a prescription from your doctor.
Antivirals are different from antibiotics because antibiotics are used to fight bacterial infections — not viral infections.
These medications can make your illness less severe and reduce the number of days you are sick. They also can prevent serious flu complications.
Available Treatments
There are four antiviral drugs that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- Oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) is a medication used to treat the flu. This medication comes in capsule and suspension (liquid) forms and is usually taken twice a day.
- Baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza), available in pill form, is given as a single dose by mouth.
- Zanamivir (Relenza) is a powder that is inhaled. Zanamivir is not recommended for people with breathing problems like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Peramivir (Rapivab) is administered into the vein as a one time dose by a health care provider.
Only take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.
If you are exposed to the flu, antiviral medications can help prevent you from becoming sick. Talk to your health care provider if you have been or may be near a person with the flu.
Who Should Receive Antivirals?
Those who are very sick with the flu (those in the hospital, for example), as well as those with the flu who have a greater chance of getting serious flu-related complications because of their age or because they are at high risk for flu-related complications, are good candidates for antivirals. And they should start treatment as soon as possible.
According to the CDC, research shows that antiviral drugs used to treat the flu work best when they are started within two days of getting sick.
However, starting antivirals later can still be helpful, according to the CDC. This is especially true if the person with the flu is very sick or is at high risk for complications related to the flu.
Who Is at Risk of Serious Complications from the Flu?
The following groups may face a high risk of serious flu complications:
- People with asthma
- Those with blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Those with chronic lung disease (such as COPD or cystic fibrosis)
- People with endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- People who are obese (with a body mass index of 40 or higher)
- Those with heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- People with kidney and liver disorders
- Those with metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Those with neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions
- People younger than 19 and on long-term aspirin or salicylate-containing medications
- People with a weakened immune system due to disease (such as people with HIV, AIDS or some cancers like leukemia) or medications (such as those receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer or those with chronic conditions requiring corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress the immune system)
Other people at high risk include those 65 years old and older, children younger than 2, women who are pregnant and women up to two weeks after the end of pregnancy. Native Americans and Alaska Natives and those who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities may also face a higher risk.
Your doctor will determine whether you need antivirals. However, most healthy people who get the flu do not necessarily need to be treated with antiviral drugs.
To stop the spread of flu germs and to protect yourself and loved ones:
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
- Try to limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth. This is because the flu is spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk.
- Frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu. This is because the flu is contagious for a relatively long period of time.
- Limit contact with others to prevent infecting them. A good rule of thumb is to stay home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw the tissue away. If a tissue is nowhere to be found while your nose tickles, sneeze into your upper sleeve. Coughing or sneezing into your hands can still spread germs, especially if you touch common surfaces or objects afterward. Afterward, wash your hands with soap and water. Coughing into a tissue is very important because flu germs can be transmitted from up to six feet away.
- If you're extremely cautious, wear a face mask to help you avoid spreading your sickness.
Talk to your local pharmacist if you have any questions about the flu.
Written by Anyssa Garza, PharmD, BCMAS


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If everyone around the globe began to eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, there wouldn't be enough to go around. That's the conclusion of a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
Currently, only about 55% of people around the globe live in countries with adequate availability of fruits and vegetables – enough to meet the World Health Organization's minimum target of 400 grams per person, per day.
With economic growth, presumably, production will expand. But the researchers project that by 2050, an estimated 1.5 billion more people will live in places with insufficient supply – unless challenges such as food waste and improved productivity are solved.
The report comes at a time when poor diets are a leading cause of premature death. In fact, a recent study found diets are now responsible for more deaths than smoking around the globe. And it's become increasingly clear that current dietary patterns are detrimental to the environment, too. Recent studies, including the EAT-Lancet study and the , have pointed to the need for a radical shift in the food system aimed at nudging people toward more nutritious and sustainable diets.
"Current diets are detrimental to both human and planetary health and shifting towards more balanced, predominantly plant-based diets is seen as crucial to improving both," write the authors of the new Lancet Planetary Health study.
Currently, the global supply of calories is more than enough to meet consumption. But many people eat poor-quality diets "characterized by cheap calories, highly processed foods and overconsumption," the study concludes. These factors promote obesity – so we now live in a world where many people are simultaneously overweight and malnourished. The challenge is to promote a food system that moves "its focus from quantity toward dietary quality and health," The authors conclude. The study authors include researchers from the in Washington, D.C., and the in Australia.
The authors argue that several actions are needed to meet the challenges: increased investments in fruit and vegetable production; increased efforts to educate people about the importance of healthy diets; and – given that about one-third of food produced globally is wasted – new technologies and practices to reduce food waste.
The predictions for fruit and vegetable shortfalls are based on modeling. The researchers draw on food production data, but there is uncertainty in their estimates, given factors such as a lack of data on global waste.
Nonetheless, they forecast that several countries will make gains in the availability of produce — such as India and Morocco. But Mexico and several countries in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific region will likely fail to have adequate supplies.
Another new report released Tuesday, from the World Resources Institute, focuses on ways to reform the food system to improve the health of the planet. It's a deep-dive that's been years in the making by a group of widely respected, science-based analysts.
They argue that we need to close three key gaps in order to feed the projected 9.8 billion people that will inhabit the planet by 2050: the food gap, the land gap and the greenhouse gas gap.
Consider this: The difference between the amount of food produced in 2010 and the amount we need by 2050 is an estimated 7,400 trillion calories, according to the report. Yes, the number is so big that it's hard to imagine it. But the bottom line is, we need to get more calories from the world's current cropland.
One way to do this is through improvements in breeding and technological advancements. The report spells out other fixes, too, including reducing the use of biofuels that divert edible crops to produce energy and reducing food waste. (The group has laid out these cost-effective strategies to cut food waste).
Yet another proposed fix: Nudge people toward a more plant-centered diet. Currently, agriculture uses nearly half of the globe's vegetated land – and at least 30 percent of all cropland is used to grow feed for animals. The resource intensiveness of meat production is a leading cause of deforestation. If current trends continue, the WRI report estimates that we'd need an extra 593 million hectares – an area that is almost twice the size of India — to feed the population in 2050.
Currently, agriculture and the land-use changes associated with producing food — such as plowing and clearing vegetation — generate an estimated 25 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions, according to WRI. If today's consumption trends continue, but agricultural productivity does not increase (beyond 2010 levels), the report concludes that we would have to clear most of the globe's remaining forests to feed the world. And we'd exceed the greenhouse gas emission targets set by the Paris Agreement, which call for holding global warming below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.
Ruminant livestock (including cattle, sheep and goats) use an estimated two-thirds of all the land dedicated to agriculture and contribute about half of the greenhouse gas emissions linked to agriculture. Demand for meat is growing as more people, in more countries, can afford it. But the report concludes that cutting back on ruminant meat consumption could have a significant impact.
The WRI estimates that if people in the U.S. and other heavy meat-eating countries reduced their consumption of beef (and other meat from ruminants) to about 1.5 burgers per person, per week, it would "nearly eliminate the need for additional agricultural expansion (and associated deforestation), even in a world with 10 billion people." (The Better Buying Lab, an arm of WRI that focuses on getting people to eat more sustainably, has come up with some clever research-backed marketing ideas to get people to make the plant-centric switch.)
The WRI's new findings are similar to recommendation made earlier this year by the EAT- Lancet study. A meat industry-funded group has responded to calls for cuts in meat consumption with its own analysis that concludes limiting meat and dairy consumption would have negative consequences. In this analysis, the Animal Agriculture Alliance concludes that meat and dairy provide "unmatched nutrition for healthy bodies, brains and bones." The analysis also concludes that "U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to make huge strides in conserving natural resources and protecting the environment."
As the population continues to grow, the conversations around how to change the food system to promote good health and environmental sustainability will go on.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Brush up on your Languages with Pluralsight
Over the last year not only have I created a number of courses for Pluralsight, I've also watched a lot too. Most of the time, I'm not watching to learn a brand new technology, but as a refresher for something I've already used a bit. Often in just an hour or two (on 1.3x playback) you can watch a whole course and pick up loads of great tips.
I've found it a particularly effective way to brush up on my skills in a few programming languages that I'm semi-proficient in, but not completely "fluent" in. So here's a few programming language related courses that I can recommend:
First, last year I was glad I watched Structuring JavaScript by Dan Whalin, as I had been hearing lots of people talking about the "revealing module pattern" and "revealing prototype pattern" but hadn't yet properly learned what those patterns were. He explains them simply and clearly.
Another great course is Python Fundamentals by Austin Bingham and Robert Smallshire. It's been a number of years since I did any serious Python development, so my skills had grown a bit rusty. This superbly presented course is a brilliant introduction to Python, and filled in a couple of gaps in my knowledge. They've got a follow-up course out as well which is undoubtedly also worth watching.
Third, several times over the years I've tried and failed to get to grips with PowerShell. The Everyday PowerShell for Developers course by Jim Christopher was exactly what I needed as it shows how to do the sorts of things developers will be interested in doing with PowerShell.
And finally, the F# section of the Pluralsight library is still small, but growing fast, and one fascinating course was Mark Seemann's Functional Architecture with F#. It's fast-moving but gives fascinating insights into how you could architect a typical line of business application in a more functional way.
Anyway, that's enough recommendations for now. I have several other courses I want to highlight, so maybe this will become a regular blog feature. Let me know in the comments if there are any must-see courses you've come across.


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"Bobby, you have no idea how often I am still asking myself how SHEW would have done or approached it when I'm in doubt of something. It's in my DNA and it gives me great confidence to remember what you've taught me over the years. It's ME being a proud student and branch of your school and message."
Till Broenner
"Bringing Bobby in as a guest artist is like having YODA on campus!"
Rocky Winslow / Director Jazz Studies
Calif. State U. - Chico
"It was 31 years ago this summer that I was in the Disney College Band and was out to your house at just about this time later in the summer. That day really changed the course of my understanding and development as a trumpet player, and I will always be grateful for the kindness and encouragement you showed to me and the other players."
John Hagstrom
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
"Without a doubt, What I learned from Bobby regarding breathing, efficiency, musicality and taste, gave me exactly what I needed to perform two very demanding books consistently on the road for over ten years. Thanks Bobby!"
Michael Bogart
Maynard Ferguson Big Band / Tower Of Power
"Bobby Shew has been a huge influence on me as a player,
teacher and human being. Apart from going over the mechanics of
playing, I learnt so much about just the process of thinking
about trumpet, music and life."
Gianni Marinucci
Australian jazz trumpeter/ recording artist
"I was a student of Bobby in 1982, and I am still a student of his now.
Any advice he gives me about trumpet playing, or music/life, is like Gold to me."
Joe Magnarelli
NYC- jazz recording artist
"I went to Bobby Shew to help my range and endurance, and to help me become a better jazz trumpet player. During our lessons, the main thing he always stressed was to make music for the right reasons, not to just play the trumpet. Through the years, his knowledge has helped me in exponential ways. Thank you for being so caring and giving."
Sal Cracchiolo
Tower Of Power / Clayton Hamilton big band / Poncho Sanchez
"I think that as a teacher, Bobby most certainly has the ability to lead students to think for themselves, teach themselves, and grow as artists. Because of his natural gift for communication and his extensive knowledge in many areas, he's obviously a great resource for anyone looking for the right answers."
Roger Ingram
"Though everyone recognizes that Bobby has great chops and technique, still, what I love most about his playing are his creativity, versatility, and musicality."
Marvin Stamm
"Bobby was the first person that seriously introduced me to the world of professional jazz trumpet playing when I had no idea what to expect or even play. He taught me how to listen carefully and how to deal with circumstances that can make life difficult for a brass player. Countless recordings I had never heard before he provided generously, since he knew how much they could change my life and playing to the better. I hope many more young players will get a chance to experience what Bobby has to say about the trumpet- it's a lot".
Till Broenner
"I recently had a chance to spend about three hours with Bobby Shew in a lesson situation. His concepts were so simple, practical, and made so much sense demonstrating extreme efficiency in trumpet playing. I can honestly say without a doubt that those were the most valuable three hours I've ever spent in trumpet study and I've studied with many excellent trumpet teachers. My playing has improved incredibly!! Thank you Bobby,"
George Rabbai (formerly with Woody Herman Orchestra).
"The trumpet world has many opinions, myths and even some ridiculous concepts on what makes the trumpet tick.
With experience, science, and logic on his side, Bobby Shew has re-educated thousands of trumpeters around the globe to overcome obstacles due to these misguided concepts. I am one of those of players.
Bobby's great playing speaks for itself, but his dedication, passion and success rate as an educator are equally impressive."
Wayne Bergeron
"I have had the pleasure of studying with Bobby since I was 15 years old, and can honestly say that I never pick up the trumpet without thinking about, and applying, the concepts that he has taught me. Besides being one of the most knowledgeable and experienced trumpet teachers in the world, he is also an amazing guy to work with. I can't think of any player, from the most beginning student, to the top-notch professional, that wouldn't value from spending time with Bobby."
Josh Shpak
"When I heard Bobby Shew play for the first time, I turned to my father and said" Dad!!!! I want to play like THAT!!!!!" Since that time Bobby shew has been a dear friend a generous mentor. Words can not express the depth of my gratitude . PS Thanks for letting me 'win' once in a while. "
Greg Gisbert...Freelance Jazz & Lead trumpet player...New York City
"I would recommend Bobby Shew highly to anyone who is looking for a top-notch performer, teacher, and clinician. He is very flexible and willing to cover whatever topics you would like him to address with your students and does it in a relaxed but informative manner. He tailors his charts to the level of your band and they are all written or arranged by the most quality writers. Bobby draws on his experience as a teacher and performer to deliver a tremendous educational experience for you and your students. I wish that all of my guest artists/clinicians had it together the way that Bobby does."
Dr. Michael Flack
Director of Bands / Professor of Music
College of Lake County, Ill.
"When you engage Bobby Shew to mentor students in the art of jazz improvisation or virtually anything having to do with trumpet playing, you get the whole package. He shares his vast experience freely and shows a genuine concern for the welfare and progress of his students. If you also have the wisdom to have him perform a concert at the same time, you get to hear and see why he has so much to offer."
Todd Coolman
Director, Skidmore Jazz Institute
Grammy winning jazz bassist
"Bobby has been a playing and teaching hero of mine for over 30 years. I've had the privilege of firsthand lessons with him and attended MANY of his performances and clinics. He is hands down the best at what he does - all truth, no nonsense, inspiring words and music! I have invited him to appear at DU at the 2004 ITG Conference, the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute and in other guest clinic situations and he always leaves his listeners in awe. Recently he appeared on my H2 Big Band CD playing polished lead on five tracks and sterling jazz solos! What more can I say!! A legend and a genuine caring teacher and individual."
Al Hood
Associate Professor of Trumpet
Denver University
I highly recommend Bobby as a teacher for trumpet, music, improvisation, etc. He's a great musician and truly loves playing jazz. Just take a listen to one of his many recordings. His other passion is teaching. So simply, he's the complete package.
Adolfo Acosta
Tower of Power horns / ex-Maynard Ferguson band
"Bobby, without you I simply wouldn't be here. That's the gospel truth! My chops would've died 10 years ago. Most of all, you are and always have been, powered by the MUSIC! That's very impressive! You always teach that 'MUSIC IS THE BOSS!'. THANK YOU, MEIN HERR! "
Ingolf Burkhardt
NDR Radio Band / Hamburg / Recording artist
"Bobby has been the guiding light throughout my music career. Not just for music/trumpet playing, but he has guided me to become a better man. I owe him my life, he is the ultimate 'Trumpet Guru'!!!!"
Eric Miyashiro
"We brought Bobby to Eastern Illinois University in December of last year for a guest performance with the top jazz ensemble and his visit was fantastic. Not only did he play great, but Bobby has such an easygoing and sincere style with everyone he talks to that he put the students at ease right away."
Andrew Cheetham
Jazz Studies / E.I.U., Charleston, ILL.
"Bobby Shew was one of my most important teachers. Covering not only trumpet specific techniques, but also musicality that influenced my writing as well. And on top of all a great human being."
Chris Walden
"At the after-concert party, my son-in-law ( who was playing in the trumpet section ) told me that he had never heard me play that well before, and he went on to comment on how "fat" my sound was. The first thing I said was, 'I can thank Bobby Shew for that.'
The changes that I have made in my playing since your visit have been quite remarkable. It's ironic that I never paid you a cent for a lesson, nor did I play a single note for you, but I now consider you one of my most significant teachers. I have totally embraced your breathing concepts, and I now play with a more open aperture. These changes have totally impacted my range, endurance, sound, and most of all, my confidence."
Randy Reyman
Director of jazz studies
Millikin University
Contents ©2020 Bobby Shew. Website by Jim Ahrend.


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The phrase "OK boomer" has become a catch-all put-down that Generation Zers and young millennials have been using to dismiss retrograde arguments made by baby boomers, the generation of Americans who are currently 55 to 73 years old.
Though it originated online and primarily is fueling memes, Twitter feuds and a flurry of commentary, it has begun migrating to real life. Earlier this month, a New Zealand lawmaker lobbed the insult at an older legislator who had dismissed her argument about climate change.
As the term enters our everyday vocabulary, HR professionals and employment law specialists like me now face the age-old question: What happens if people start saying "OK boomer" at work?
Evidence of discrimination
A lot of the internet fights over "OK boomer" revolve around whether the phrase is offensive or not. But when you're talking about the workplace, offensiveness is not the primary problem. The bigger issue is that the insult is age-related.
Workers aged 40 and older are protected by a federal statute called the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prohibits harassment and discrimination on the basis of age.
Comments that relate to a worker's age are a problem because older workers often face negative employment decisions, like a layoff or being passed over for promotion. The only way to tell whether a decision like that is tainted by age discrimination is the surrounding context: comments and behavior by managers and coworkers.
If a manager said "OK boomer" to an older worker's presentation at a meeting, that would make management seem biased. Even if that manager simply tolerated a joke made by someone else, it would suggest the boss was in on it.
Companies also risk age-based harassment claims. Saying "OK boomer" one time does not legally qualify as harassing behavior. But frequent comments about someone's age – for example, calling a colleague "old" and "slow", "old fart" or even "pops" – can become harassment over time.
Gen Xers are covered too
And it doesn't matter if the target isn't even a boomer.
Gen Xers were born around 1965 to 1979. That makes them older than 40 and covered by federal age discrimination law.
Yes, I get that the comment is a retort to "unwoke" elders who cannot be reasoned with. The problem is that the phrase is intended as a put-down that is based, at least partly, on age. If you say it at work, you're essentially saying, "You're old and therefore irrelevant."
Lumping Gen Xers into a category with even older workers doesn't make it better. Either way, you are commenting on their age.
Funny or not
I recently watched some of the "OK boomer" TikTok compilations.
A lot of them were quite funny, like the hairdresser imitating a customer who criticized her tattoos as unprofessional. She responded, "OK boomer," while appearing to lop off a huge swath of the customer's hair.
When I was an employment lawyer, I heard tons of hilarious stories of things people said in the workplace. But that's the point: The story ended with a lawyer on the other end of the phone.
One of the most famous age-discrimination cases – which made its way all the way up to the Supreme Court – involved a manager who described an employee as "so old he must have come over on the Mayflower."
In other words, "it was just a joke" is an awful legal defense.
Tit for tat
To millennials who have suffered through years of being called "snowflakes" by their elders, protests of age discrimination can seem a bit rich. Why didn't HR ban all those millennial jokes about avocado toast?
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act only kicks in for workers who are 40 or older, which means millennials aren't covered. For now.
The oldest millennials will turn 40 later this year. So fear not, the millennial jokes may eventually become a legal problem for companies as these workers age.
Also, a few states, including New York, ban age discrimination for all workers over 18, and employers in those states probably should have done something about the millennial jokes.
Why older workers need protections
Boomers might seem really powerful, and yes, they might be your boss's boss's boss.
But older workers are more vulnerable than they seem. Older workers are expensive – by the time they've worked their way up the corporate ladder, their generous salaries start to weigh on the balance sheet. And management may have trouble envisioning spectacular growth and innovative ideas from them years into the future, even if they are ready and willing to deliver.
That's why Congress thought it was important to extend protections to those workers. It wanted employers to treat them as individuals who shouldn't be dismissed out of hand because of their age.
And in many ways, that's what young people seem to want as well: a little respect for what they bring to the table. After all, that meme didn't make itself.