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The Story of the Second Calender, Son of a King Fairy tale by Andrew Lang
"Madam," said the young man, addressing Zobeida, "if you wish to know how I lost my right eye, I shall have to tell you the story of my whole life."
I was scarcely more than a baby, when the king my father, finding me unusually quick and clever for my age, turned his thoughts to my education. I was taught first to read and write, and then to learn the Koran, which is the basis of our holy religion, and the better to understand it, I read with my tutors the ablest commentators on its teaching, and committed to memory all the traditions respecting the Prophet, which have been gathered from the mouth of those who were his friends. I also learnt history, and was instructed in poetry, versification, geography, chronology, and in all the outdoor exercises in which every prince should excel. But what I liked best of all was writing Arabic characters, and in this I soon surpassed my masters, and gained a reputation in this branch of knowledge that reached as far as India itself.
Now the Sultan of the Indies, curious to see a young prince with such strange tastes, sent an ambassador to my father, laden with rich presents, and a warm invitation to visit his court. My father, who was deeply anxious to secure the friendship of so powerful a monarch, and held besides that a little travel would greatly improve my manners and open my mind, accepted gladly, and in a short time I had set out for India with the ambassador, attended only by a small suite on account of the length of the journey, and the badness of the roads. However, as was my duty, I took with me ten camels, laden with rich presents for the Sultan.
We had been travelling for about a month, when one day we saw a cloud of dust moving swiftly towards us; and as soon as it came near, we found that the dust concealed a band of fifty robbers. Our men barely numbered half, and as we were also hampered by the camels, there was no use in fighting, so we tried to overawe them by informing them who we were, and whither we were going. The robbers, however, only laughed, and declared that was none of their business, and, without more words, attacked us brutally. I defended myself to the last, wounded though I was, but at length, seeing that resistance was hopeless, and that the ambassador and all our followers were made prisoners, I put spurs to my horse and rode away as fast as I could, till the poor beast fell dead from a wound in his side. I managed to jump off without any injury, and looked about to see if I was pursued. But for the moment I was safe, for, as I imagined, the robbers were all engaged in quarrelling over their booty.
I found myself in a country that was quite new to me, and dared not return to the main road lest I should again fall into the hands of the robbers. Luckily my wound was only a slight one, and after binding it up as well as I could, I walked on for the rest of the day, till I reached a cave at the foot of a mountain, where I passed the night in peace, making my supper off some fruits I had gathered on the way.
I wandered about for a whole month without knowing where I was going, till at length I found myself on the outskirts of a beautiful city, watered by winding streams, which enjoyed an eternal spring. My delight at the prospect of mixing once more with human beings was somewhat damped at the thought of the miserable object I must seem. My face and hands had been burned nearly black; my clothes were all in rags, and my shoes were in such a state that I had been forced to abandon them altogether.
I entered the town, and stopped at a tailor's shop to inquire where I was. The man saw I was better than my condition, and begged me to sit down, and in return I told him my whole story. The tailor listened with attention, but his reply, instead of giving me consolation, only increased my trouble.
"Beware," he said, "of telling any one what you have told me, for the prince who governs the kingdom is your father's greatest enemy, and he will be rejoiced to find you in his power."
I thanked the tailor for his counsel, and said I would do whatever he advised; then, being very hungry, I gladly ate of the food he put before me, and accepted his offer of a lodging in his house.
In a few days I had quite recovered from the hardships I had undergone, and then the tailor, knowing that it was the custom for the princes of our religion to learn a trade or profession so as to provide for themselves in times of ill-fortune, inquired if there was anything I could do for my living. I replied that I had been educated as a grammarian and a poet, but that my great gift was writing.
"All that is of no use here," said the tailor. "Take my advice, put on a short coat, and as you seem hardy and strong, go into the woods and cut firewood, which you will sell in the streets. By this means you will earn your living, and be able to wait till better times come. The hatchet and the cord shall be my present."
This counsel was very distasteful to me, but I thought I could not do otherwise than adopt it. So the next morning I set out with a company of poor wood-cutters, to whom the tailor had introduced me. Even on the first day I cut enough wood to sell for a tolerable sum, and very soon I became more expert, and had made enough money to repay the tailor all he had lent me.
I had been a wood-cutter for more than a year, when one day I wandered further into the forest than I had ever done before, and reached a delicious green glade, where I began to cut wood. I was hacking at the root of a tree, when I beheld an iron ring fastened to a trapdoor of the same metal. I soon cleared away the earth, and pulling up the door, found a staircase, which I hastily made up my mind to go down, carrying my hatchet with me by way of protection. When I reached the bottom I discovered that I was in a huge palace, as brilliantly lighted as any palace above ground that I had ever seen, with a long gallery supported by pillars of jasper, ornamented with capitals of gold. Down this gallery a lady came to meet me, of such beauty that I forgot everything else, and thought only of her.
To save her all the trouble possible, I hastened towards her, and bowed low.
"Who are you? Who are you?" she said. "A man or a genius?"
"A man, madam," I replied; "I have nothing to do with genii."
"By what accident do you come here?" she asked again with a sigh. "I have been in this place now for five and twenty years, and you are the first man who has visited me."
Emboldened by her beauty and gentleness, I ventured to reply, "Before, madam, I answer your question, allow me to say how grateful I am for this meeting, which is not only a consolation to me in my own heavy sorrow, but may perhaps enable me to render your lot happier," and then I told her who I was, and how I had come there.
"Alas, prince," she said, with a deeper sigh than before, "you have guessed rightly in supposing me an unwilling prisoner in this gorgeous place. I am the daughter of the king of the Ebony Isle, of whose fame you surely must have heard. At my father's desire I was married to a prince who was my own cousin; but on my very wedding day, I was snatched up by a genius, and brought here in a faint. For a long while I did nothing but weep, and would not suffer the genius to come near me; but time teaches us submission, and I have now got accustomed to his presence, and if clothes and jewels could content me, I have them in plenty. Every tenth day, for five and twenty years, I have received a visit from him, but in case I should need his help at any other time, I have only to touch a talisman that stands at the entrance of my chamber. It wants still five days to his next visit, and I hope that during that time you will do me the honour to be my guest."
I was too much dazzled by her beauty to dream of refusing her offer, and accordingly the princess had me conducted to the bath, and a rich dress befitting my rank was provided for me. Then a feast of the most delicate dishes was served in a room hung with embroidered Indian fabrics.
Next day, when we were at dinner, I could maintain my patience no longer, and implored the princess to break her bonds, and return with me to the world which was lighted by the sun.
"What you ask is impossible," she answered; "but stay here with me instead, and we can be happy, and all you will have to do is to betake yourself to the forest every tenth day, when I am expecting my master the genius. He is very jealous, as you know, and will not suffer a man to come near me."
"Princess," I replied, "I see it is only fear of the genius that makes you act like this. For myself, I dread him so little that I mean to break his talisman in pieces! Awful though you think him, he shall feel the weight of my arm, and I herewith take a solemn vow to stamp out the whole race."
The princess, who realized the consequences of such audacity, entreated me not to touch the talisman. "If you do, it will be the ruin of both of us," said she; "I know genii much better than you." But the wine I had drunk had confused my brain; I gave one kick to the talisman, and it fell into a thousand pieces.
Hardly had my foot touched the talisman when the air became as dark as night, a fearful noise was heard, and the palace shook to its very foundations. In an instant I was sobered, and understood what I had done. "Princess!" I cried, "what is happening?"
"Alas!" she exclaimed, forgetting all her own terrors in anxiety for me, "fly, or you are lost."
I followed her advice and dashed up the staircase, leaving my hatchet behind me. But I was too late. The palace opened and the genius appeared, who, turning angrily to the princess, asked indignantly,
"What is the matter, that you have sent for me like this?"
"A pain in my heart," she replied hastily, "obliged me to seek the aid of this little bottle. Feeling faint, I slipped and fell against the talisman, which broke. That is really all."
"You are an impudent liar!" cried the genius. "How did this hatchet and those shoes get here?"
"I never saw them before," she answered, "and you came in such a hurry that you may have picked them up on the road without knowing it." To this the genius only replied by insults and blows. I could hear the shrieks and groans of the princess, and having by this time taken off my rich garments and put on those in which I had arrived the previous day, I lifted the trap, found myself once more in the forest, and returned to my friend the tailor, with a light load of wood and a heart full of shame and sorrow.
The tailor, who had been uneasy at my long absence, was, delighted to see me; but I kept silence about my adventure, and as soon as possible retired to my room to lament in secret over my folly. While I was thus indulging my grief my host entered, and said, "There is an old man downstairs who has brought your hatchet and slippers, which he picked up on the road, and now restores to you, as he found out from one of your comrades where you lived. You had better come down and speak to him yourself." At this speech I changed colour, and my legs trembled under me. The tailor noticed my confusion, and was just going to inquire the reason when the door of the room opened, and the old man appeared, carrying with him my hatchet and shoes.
"I am a genius," he said, "the son of the daughter of Eblis, prince of the genii. Is not this hatchet yours, and these shoes?" Without waiting for an answer--which, indeed, I could hardly have given him, so great was my fright--he seized hold of me, and darted up into the air with the quickness of lightning, and then, with equal swiftness, dropped down towards the earth. When he touched the ground, he rapped it with his foot; it opened, and we found ourselves in the enchanted palace, in the presence of the beautiful princess of the Ebony Isle. But how different she looked from what she was when I had last seen her, for she was lying stretched on the ground covered with blood, and weeping bitterly.
"Traitress!" cried the genius, "is not this man your lover?"
She lifted up her eyes slowly, and looked sadly at me. "I never saw him before," she answered slowly. "I do not know who he is."
"What!" exclaimed the genius, "you owe all your sufferings to him, and yet you dare to say he is a stranger to you!"
"But if he really is a stranger to me," she replied, "why should I tell a lie and cause his death?"
"Very well," said the genius, drawing his sword, "take this, and cut off his head."
"Alas," answered the princess, "I am too weak even to hold the sabre. And supposing that I had the strength, why should I put an innocent man to death?"
"You condemn yourself by your refusal," said the genius; then turning to me, he added, "and you, do you not know her?"
"How should I?" I replied, resolved to imitate the princess in her fidelity. "How should I, when I never saw her before?"
"Cut her head off," then, "if she is a stranger to you, and I shall believe you are speaking the truth, and will set you at liberty."
"Certainly," I answered, taking the sabre in my hands, and making a sign to the princess to fear nothing, as it was my own life that I was about to sacrifice, and not hers. But the look of gratitude she gave me shook my courage, and I flung the sabre to the earth.
"I should not deserve to live," I said to the genius, "if I were such a coward as to slay a lady who is not only unknown to me, but who is at this moment half dead herself. Do with me as you will--I am in your power--but I refuse to obey your cruel command."
"I see," said the genius, "that you have both made up your minds to brave me, but I will give you a sample of what you may expect." So saying, with one sweep of his sabre he cut off a hand of the princess, who was just able to lift the other to wave me an eternal farewell. Then I lost consciousness for several minutes.
When I came to myself I implored the genius to keep me no longer in this state of suspense, but to lose no time in putting an end to my sufferings. The genius, however, paid no attention to my prayers, but said sternly, "That is the way in which a genius treats the woman who has betrayed him. If I chose, I could kill you also; but I will be merciful, and content myself with changing you into a dog, an ass, a lion, or a bird--whichever you prefer."
I caught eagerly at these words, as giving me a faint hope of softening his wrath. "O genius!" I cried, "as you wish to spare my life, be generous, and spare it altogether. Grant my prayer, and pardon my crime, as the best man in the whole world forgave his neighbour who was eaten up with envy of him." Contrary to my hopes, the genius seemed interested in my words, and said he would like to hear the story of the two neighbours; and as I think, madam, it may please you, I will tell it to you also.


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H.I.G. Capital Completes Re-Financing of a Shopping Centre in Spain
LONDON – January 28, 2014 – Bayside Capital, a credit affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, announced today that it has provided mezzanine debt financing to a 70,000 square meters shopping centre in Madrid, Spain. The identity of the property and the Borrower were not disclosed.
Ahmed Hamdani, Managing Director at Bayside Capital said, "This transaction is an example of H.I.G. working with borrowers and their existing lenders to provide a solution to over-levered capital structures. The transaction was closed in a very short period of time, demonstrating H.I.G.'s ability to deliver complex solutions in a tight time frame".
About Bayside Capital
Bayside Capital, an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, is an investment firm with approximately $4.5 billion under management. Focused on middle-market companies, Bayside Capital invests across several segments of the primary and secondary debt capital markets with an emphasis on long-term returns. With thirteen offices throughout the U.S. and Europe and over 250 investment professionals to draw upon, Bayside has the experience, resources, and flexibility to provide capital solutions quickly, and the strategic and operational expertise to help support its investments.
Bayside Capital is active across a wide spectrum of industries, including business services, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, food/agriculture, and specialty finance. With the ability to invest in all parts of the capital structure, Bayside is able to develop creative financing solutions and consummate transactions on an expedited basis.
Bayside Capital is a credit affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, a leading global private investment firm with more than $13 billion of equity capital under management. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. Capital has invested in more than 200 companies worldwide and has developed an impressive track record for creating value for its partners and investors. For more information, please refer to the Bayside Capital website at www.bayside.com.
Media contacts
To speak to Ahmed Hamdani, Managing Director, H.I.G. Bayside Capital please contact:
MHP Communications
Rory King / Fern Hammond
Direct Dial: +44 (0)20 3128 8564 / 8092
Mobile: +44 (0)7584 681 490
Email: email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Winter 1999
Virtual city: sidebar 3
Global language
The proposed identity of Federation Square is not fixed around a single typeform or image but is a responsive, adaptive and evolving language that refers to the philosophical and strategic aims of the site. < = > is the proposed mark for Federation Square.
This formula, 'less than equals greater than', was devised by Simon Taylor and used for Tomato's 'london< = >tokyo' installation at the Ginza art space, Tokyo (1997), to explore similarity, difference and exchange between the two cities.
The symbol is intended to refer to the multicultural context of the site, the city of Melbourne and Australia as a whole, and to the ideal of a social democracy where there is mutual respect between every one of us. Its graphic strength lies in the fact that is described in a global language (mathematics), and is available on every computer keyboard.
The 'open square' logo refers to the boundaries of site, to framing and to content within context. Many of these concepts have then been introduced into the architectonic forms across the site. The three-dimensional information columns relate, in terms of function and information hierarchy, to the two-dimensional LED matrices, which in turn relate to the one-dimensional directional signage within the buildings and to the destination door plates (single, zero-dimensional points). Therefore there is a legible and articulate hierarchy to the system, as the levels of interaction decrease towards the specific destination.
John Warwicker, Tomato, London and Melbourne
This piece is a sidebar to 'A virtual city in a global square' in Eye 34.
First published in Eye no. 34 vol. 9, Winter 1999, Public realm special issue.
Eye is the world's most beautiful and collectable graphic design journal, published quarterly for professional designers, students and anyone interested in critical, informed writing about graphic design and visual culture. It is available from all good design bookshops and online at the Eye shop, where you can buy subscriptions, back issues and single copies of the latest issue.


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Daily life
Question: Master, my greatest problem seems to be... truthfulness.
Sant Kirpal Singh: That's all right that you do not keep this reserved, but at the same time weed out. You say, "I'm taking poison daily a hundred times a day," but stop taking further poison. Do no more. That is what is wanted. It is good that you don't deceive yourself, but you're not trying to weed out. Diary is the means to weed out. If you know that so many scorpions and snakes are underneath you, you must clear them out. Whatever poison you take can be cleaned from your stomach. Don't take more, that's all.
Question: When filling out our diaries I find a situation where suddenly I become pretty egotistical, how do you sublimate that?
Sant Kirpal Singh: This is difficult of course, but not impossible. It is easier to be calm and quiet when you are in places where everything is at your command, your beck and call. But to maintain yourself when you are fighting the hard battle of life is what is wanted. You learn swimming where? In water; not in theory or while on land, do you see? Swimming instructions are all right, "Just move your hands and legs, like this." That you learn in theory, but in water you'll have to really swim, otherwise you'll drown. So in the hard battle of life we have to be made into men.
I was in the firing line for about four to five months working under bombs and cannons booming and machine guns going off like the roasting of wheat. Still I did my practices. So we have to learn like that. So anyway He won't let you go into the wilderness and pass your life at the sacrifice of others, no. Wind up all give and take. Don't sow more seeds, that's all. Otherwise action, reaction will go on.
(From the book "Light of Kirpal", chapter 79)
* * *
Question: Master, most of us here, before we came on the Path, have taken drugs. Will the fact that we have taken drugs adversely affect our spiritual progress?
Sant Kirpal Singh: Surely. I tell you, we are conscious beings. We have to become more Conscious. Anything which has gone to mar our consciousness – that will take you to the lower strata of life. That is killing yourself, I would say.
Question: A lot of us became aware of the spiritual life through drugs ...
Sant Kirpal Singh: Leave it, that's all. Don't take more poison, that's all. A little poison taken can be ...
Question: But our progress now will be affected by what we did before ...
Sant Kirpal Singh: Only if you put in more time (in spiritual practices) these things will be cleared. Put in more time. Don't leave off that effort. That's all right. Whatever poison you have taken in your stomach can be washed out. But stop taking more poison, that's all. What more is there?
(From the book "Light of Kirpal", chapter 31)
* * *
Question: I wonder about how to rise above the ego.
Sant Kirpal Singh: Ego? How to lose the ego? So long as we are the doer, whether we do good, right or wrong, we have to bear the fruit of it. Good and bad actions come up, just like chains of iron or of gold. You will lose your ego only when you become Conscious Co-worker of the Divine Plan. You see He is doing--you are not the doer. You are merely a puppet in His hands. So this is the only way ego is lost. "I" and "mine" are lost only when you sit at the door of the Guru or the Master, when you are receptive and you come in contact with the Light of God and Sound Principle. In due course, by regular practice you'll see some Higher Power is working. It is not you who are working, but some Higher Power. You are merely a puppet in His Hands. That is the only way of losing the ego. You, please?
Question: Why do I feel depressed sometimes when I sit (in meditation)?
Sant Kirpal Singh: This is the reaction of your own past; day to day thoughts. That is why you should weed out all imperfections within you. The reactions, depression, of good or bad. At times you'll have boost, you will be joyful, at other times, not. Sometimes the society of others affects. If you come in the society of a very learned man, naturally you will feel that effect. If you come in contact with an ignorant person, then? Become strong; you should not be affected by others. You must develop strength to affect others. That is why I say, never look into the eyes of others. Eyes are the windows of the Soul. Out of the abundance of whatever is there, that radiates there through the eyes. If the other man is good, good radiation will come.
Question: You mentioned in the book "Morning Talks" that it's not right for us to touch others if we wish to remain chaste. But in America everybody wants to shake hands. So what should we do when someone outstretches their hands?
Sant Kirpal Singh: Look here. Children meet mothers, or sisters meet brothers, or daughters meet father or mother. The whole poison lies in the mind. You see, mind should be chaste. When a daughter is lying in the lap of her mother or father, how chaste they are. So it is the mind; poison lies in the mind. In India also, I think, forty years back, sisters would like to play with their brothers out of love. Mothers who kiss their children never dreamt of anything. Now because of the values they have got, now everything is different. Now if a father is sitting by the daughter, they will say, "Oh, what is going on?" It is a poison of the mind. I have seen in the West, it is a custom, they shake hands, all right. To kiss also that's a custom. But all the time they don't mean it. Or if a daughter kisses father do you mean to say they are going around?
* * *
Question: I can, for example, go for many weeks feeling very loving, and everything goes smoothly and nice, and then one morning I wake up thinking all kinds of stupid thoughts which should not run in my brain.
Sant Kirpal Singh: When you sit by snow or ice there's no heat left. You come in contact with that higher Power not as a matter of assumption. So without seeing that He is all round, He is everywhere, and you don't see Him actually working, then that's the fault. If you see, then nothing will happen like that – you will have no ego troubles. Sometimes thoughts come up because all heat is not gone from you. In the beginning you have to weed out all your imperfections for, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." So purity of heart consists of good thoughts, good words and good deeds: righteousness. For that we have to prepare ourselves. To get to God is not difficult, but to make a man is difficult. You see? Our subconscious mind is not devoid of all these lower things. Sometimes, you sit and you get some bliss, but again that thing comes up. So unless the reservoir is cleared, these things keep coming up. So have conscious contact with God-into-Expression – I have been especially laying stress on that. If you are seeing something, sometimes it is a matter of inference I tell you, or it is a matter of feelings. So feelings and drawing inferences are different things from seeing. So can you see that God-into-Expression Power? That's the point. "If thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of Light." Do you find Light there?
Question: Yes, I do.
Sant Kirpal Singh: That's all right; then just remain in contact longer and weed out all imperfections from day to day.
(From the book "Light of Kirpal", chapter 84)
* * *


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It's Official: Stephen Colbert to Replace David Letterman as Host of 'The Late Show'!
Well, that was fast! Just one week after David Letterman dropped the 'Late Show' bombshell that he would retire in 2015, his replacement has officially been announced. Following early and decisive rumors, Stephen Colbert will officially leave behind Comedy Central's 'Colbert Report' to ascend the late-night throne as the new host of CBS' 'The Late Show.' You're welcome, nation!
Colbert had been rumored as the frontrunner, particularly following years-earlier talk of Letterman's inevitable retirement, but no one quite expected CBS to make an official confirmation this quickly. Even with Letterman's April 3 announcement, no exact 2015 date for Colbert's takeover has yet been confirmed
Here's CBS' press release on the matter:
The CBS Television Network today announced that Stephen Colbert, the host, writer and executive producer of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning "The Colbert Report," will succeed David Letterman as the host of THE LATE SHOW, effective when Mr. Letterman retires from the broadcast. The five-year agreement between CBS and Colbert was announced by Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation, and Nina Tassler, Chairman of CBS Entertainment.
Letterman, the legendary, critically acclaimed host of the CBS late night series for 21 years, announced his retirement on his April 3 broadcast. Colbert's premiere date as host of THE LATE SHOW will be announced after Mr. Lettermen determines a timetable for his final broadcasts in 2015.
Specific creative elements, as well as the producers and the location for the Colbert-hosted LATE SHOW, will be determined and announced at a later date.
"Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television," said Moonves. "David Letterman's legacy and accomplishments are an incredible source of pride for all of us here, and today's announcement speaks to our commitment of upholding what he established for CBS in late night."
"Stephen is a multi-talented and respected host, writer, producer, satirist and comedian who blazes a trail of thought-provoking conversation, humor and innovation with everything he touches," said Tassler. "He is a presence on every stage, with interests and notable accomplishments across a wide spectrum of entertainment, politics, publishing and music. We welcome Stephen to CBS with great pride and excitement, and look forward to introducing him to our network television viewers in late night."
"Simply being a guest on David Letterman's show has been a highlight of my career," said Colbert. "I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave's lead."
Adding, "I'm thrilled and grateful that CBS chose me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go grind a gap in my front teeth."
As previously noted, Colbert remains contracted with 'The Colbert Report' through the end of 2014, and will drop his ultra-conservative 'Colbert Report' persona, which comprises much of his current appeal, despite landing him in hot water now and again. Colbert is also reportedly selective of his guests, and will likely need to acquiesce to a broader spectrum of Hollywood talent for his 'Late Show.'
Well, what do we think? Is Stephen Colbert a worthy successor to David Letterman for 'The Late Show?' Tell us who you want to see join the late-night lineup in the comments!


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Biography by Gilles Peterson
As we step into 2010, music blares from the radio that quite comfortably merges rhythms from Serbia and Colombia, the voice of Oumou Sangaré and the melodic thump of Maori reggae. But when it comes the new "world music" ie. the merging of DJ culture with music from the worldwide underground – Gotan Project were the first to successfully bring the traditional and the folkloric into the electronic space. The million selling 'La revancha del tango' was followed by their second album the more jazz influenced 'Lunático' and Gotan Project toured the world with their new "world music".
I'd always been a fan of Astor Piazzolla who I'd seen performing at Montreux Jazz Festival aged 14. Ever since then I'd been seduced by the bandoneón as an instrument and was curious about hearing it outside of its traditional bubble. Gotan Project not only established a unique and highly influential sound but they've also preserved the class and elegance of this instrument. Here we are then, 10 years on with their remarkable third album 'Tango 3.0' which, without breaking such radical new ground as their debut, has refined all the founding elements of what makes the Gotan Project the wondrous thing that it is. Understated beats, reflective moods and atmospheres rooted in the dusty backstreets of Buenos Aires and Paris, laced with marvellous voices such as Cristina Vilallonga on 'Peligro' or Melingo blessing 'Tu Misterio'.
Although in Tango 3.0 Gotan Project remain faithful to their founding principles, they have also managed to push the musical barriers further by inviting an exciting host of guests and collaborators. Dr. John lends the smooth sound of the Hammond B3 to 'Tango Square'. The work of Argentinian author Julio Cortázar is honoured through a reading from his groundbreaking novel Rayuela (Hopscotch) on the track of the same name. Even Víctor Hugo Morales, the legendary football commentator, lends his vocals to their first single 'La Gloria'. GOOOOOAL becomes GOOOOOTAN!
Broadcasting on the BBC and worldwide for 20 years, there are a handful of records that have had such a huge impact on my listeners. Alongside the likes of the Cinematic Orchestra, Zero 7, Jill Scott and Mos Def, the Gotan Project came out and bit the listener hard. I'll never forget the phenomenal response that tracks like 'Tríptico' and 'Santa María (Del Buen Ayre)' from 'La revancha del tango' invoked. Nearly a decade since that landmark release, this record has everything that I want to hear from Mssrs. Cohen Solal, Makaroff and Müller. From the opening lazy stroll of 'Tango Square' which ambles out of the speakers somewhere between a New Orleans funeral march and a moody, Boulevard waltz, to the sprightly gait of the rockabilly-tinged 'De hombre a hombre'. Starting in cosy, traditional Gotan Project territory, it's exciting to hear all this Americana creep in to the melting pot alongside those immaculately crafted electronics and, of course, the ever-present nod to the roots of Coxsone Dodd's Studio One.
Gilles Peterson


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Hybristophilia is defined as a sexual fixation on "a partner known to have committed an outrage, cheating, lying, known infidelities or crime, such as rape, murder, or armed robbery." All right, Wikipedia says its a sexual perversion, but you tell that to the people who are into it. Plus, there's not a lot of actual sex involved.
(Maximum-security prisons don't allow conjugal visits. Nor do federal prisons of any level. And only four states - California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington allow conjugal visits in lesser-security prisons.)
And God knows there's not a lot of money involved, either. If anything, money is generally going to flow from the outsider to the prisoner. Money to help pay for the prisoner's phone time, stamps, commissary, odds and ends... In fact, and forgive me for bursting anyone's bubble out there, but one of the main reasons that a lot of prisoners write to outsiders in a friendly to ever-increasing romantic vein is specifically to get money. And they're often very successful.
BTW, prisoners also write attorneys, of course, to get help, and they send judges either bogus lawsuits or outright threats. I remember at the courthouse, whenever something from the pen arrived for the judge, we'd all gather around - judge, court reporter, myself (circuit administrator), state's attorney, bailiff, etc. - and read the latest idiocy. My favorite was a lawsuit demanding that the sheriff depose each and every officer of the court for high crimes and misdemeanors, listing everyone by name. Except the judge. Finally, at the very end, there was a little handwritten note saying, "____, sorry I forgot you, asshole!" You've got to be fairly stupid to send out stuff like that, not to mention "I'm going to take a shotgun to your head" to a judge, when your full name, prisoner number, and cell number is on the envelope...So, no sex, no money - why would someone get involved with a prisoner? Why would someone write love letters to a total stranger? Want to date them, through a glass/mesh screen? Want to marry them in the visitors' room? ???
Well, in some cases, there's the fame factor. For those who write/wrote to Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, the Menendez brothers, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, part of the charm, apparently, is getting in on the modern obsession with celebrity. No, it doesn't matter how horrendous the person is, or how heinous their acts, by God if they're famous, they're a celebrity, and by becoming their girlfriend/boyfriend, you become a celebrity, too! You might get in on the media spotlight, get a book deal, a movie deal, or the body!
Charles Manson in 2014 |
- NOTE: Not kidding about the body. Did you know that, in 2015, at 80 years old, Charles Manson cancelled his upcoming penitentiary wedding to 27-year old Afton Elaine Burton, now known as Star, because he found out she was hoping that, after he died, she'd get his corpse, put it on display in a glass case in LA, and charge people to see it? (Charles Manson has always been a little smarter and saner than he looks.)
- DOUBLE NOTE: With regard to my last blog-post, Bullying 101, where I talked about Rush Limbaugh (and others) objecting to Michelle Carter being convicted of manslaughter for texting her boyfriend to suicide, saying that it's a violation of the First Amendment to "start penalizing people for things they say or things that they think, but don't actually do": Let's all remember that Charles Manson got life in prison without parole, for exactly what he said, and nothing that he did. He was nowhere near either of the murder scenes. So far, I haven't heard anyone objecting to his sentencing...
Anyway, back to reasons why people want to write to, date, have sex (or not) with, and/or marry prisoners. According to Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology at DeSales University,
BTW, men also write to female prisoners. I think many of them are also looking for the perfect girlfriend, who requires nothing (but a little money). I also think that some of them are looking for a future drug mule or sex slave, and a female prison is a good place to recruit: many female prisoners have already been so abandoned, abused, in every sense of the word, and so many of them have father issues, self-image issues, etc., that they are willing to do just about anything for anyone who seems to care for them.
- "Some believe they can change a man as cruel and powerful as a serial killer."
- "Others 'see' the little boy that the killer once was and seek to nurture him."
- "Then there's the notion of the 'perfect boyfriend'. She knows where he is at all times and she knows he's thinking about her. While she can claim that someone loves her, she does not have to endure the day-to-day issues involved in most relationships. There's no laundry to do, no cooking for him, and no accountability to him. She can keep the fantasy charged up for a long time." (Wikipedia)
Of course, there's also the occasional female serial killer, like Aileen Wuornos, who would be perfect for the man who wanted to tell himself that he can nurture the little girl she once was, and/or wants to see if he can change the serial killer the way James Bond changed Pussy Galore on the last page of "Goldfinger". (Even at twelve years old, I knew that was nothing but Ian Fleming's fantasy...)
Meanwhile, I talk to guys up here in South Dakota who are in their 20s and already have anywhere from two to nine children by two or three or four different women, and now have a girlfriend they met while in the pen. They don't even begin to grasp how much trouble they're in even before they get out. I understand why they keep having sex whenever they can - it's fun, free, and so far isn't illegal - but why won't they use condoms? How are they going to support all those children? How are they going to pay child support, make court-ordered restitution, and pay bills when they'll be lucky to get a minimum-wage job? Sigh...
Not that our hybristophiliacs necessarily have any idea of the prior commitments their new prison romance has. After all, it's the rare prisoner who's going to cough up things like ex-wives, current wives, children, and any other financial obligations or debts. Or their personality flaws. Or the truth about their crime(s)... Hybristophilia is somewhere between kinky romance and lion-taming. Either way, it's dangerous. Either way, it's unreal. (You don't really know someone until you've actually lived with them, and even then it helps if you've been together through a bad vacation complete with rain, food poisoning, broken-down car, and a fleabag motel with no heat.) Yes, there are exceptions, where two people genuinely connect through letters and visits; where the prisoner eventually gets out, and they do marry/live together and it all works out. Two points: (1) These are very rare. (2) None of these have been with serial killers.
But the fantasy lives on.


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See the joy in your friends eyes when they discover their gifts wrapped in Il Papiro Florentine wrapping paper.
One of the oldest printing houses in Italy, il Papiro employs artists who still use centuries-old methods and techniques.
Hand-made high quality stationery for any occasion.
Why not use the left overs to line drawers and bookshelves?
Made by Il Papiro (Florence,Italy).
Distribution area: UK, EU, North America


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So, you've been diagnosed with an orthodontic issue – now to decide on treatment options. Orthodontic treatment is a significant investment of time and money. You want to make sure you're using the right product. In this post, our Richmond Hill dentists describes commonly used devices and products.
What are some popular orthodontic products?
Which orthodontic treatment option or product will work best for you will likely be determined by the nature of your orthodontic issue, its severity or complexity, and other factors. Financial considerations are also an issue. These are just some orthodontist- and dentist-recommended orthodontic treatment options that are typically used to help straighten patients' teeth. You and your orthodontist or dentist will need to make the decision regarding which one works for you.
Traditional Braces
Thanks to advances in orthodontic technology, traditional braces have received some upgrades in the past few decades to become more streamlined, lighter in structure and weight than in years past.
Made from high-quality stainless steel with metal brackets connected by a thin archwire and tiny elastics, braces apply pressure to your teeth to move them gradually into their prescribed positions. Braces can be used to fix a wide variety of simple and complex orthodontic issues, from misalignment to excess spacing, overcrowding, crooked teeth and crossbite.
Braces are fixed, which means you can't remove them to eat, drink, brush or floss. Though braces treatment will necessarily eliminate some foods from your diet (very hard or sticky foods, for instance), you won't have to do the mental work of counting your hours of wear time during the day as you would with clear aligners (see below).
Ceramic Braces
These braces work much like traditional braces. The difference is that the brackets are made out of tooth-coloured ceramic, making them appear to be transparent.
A popular choice for adults who need orthodontic treatment but may not be candidates for clear aligners, these braces are lower profile in appearance than traditional braces. Keep in mind though that the elastics can become discoloured, and will require extra special attention when brushing and flossing.
Clear & Removable Aligners
Clear aligners are a popular alternative to braces for adults who need orthodontic treatment but want an option more low-profile in appearance. Clear aligners are removable, which means that you can take them out to eat, drink, brush and floss. Many patients find they fit comfortably into their lifestyle and allow them to keep eating the foods they love.
However, you'll need to wear them for 22 hours a day for them to work, so sticking with your custom treatment plan and remembering to track your daily wear time, meal times and any time your clear aligners will not be worn is critical.
You'll also need to brush and floss your teeth every time you eat or drink anything other than water, before you put your braces back in, to prevent bacteria from getting trapped between your teeth and the aligners and causing tooth decay and cavities.
A custom-made retainer may be either a fixed or removable device and is typically made of wires and clear plastic. They are mostly used to keep your teeth straight after treatment with braces or clear aligners. If yours is removable, it should be worn at all times at first, except when you are eating or brushing your teeth.
Like braces, retainers also require careful care and maintenance to work as they should and keep your teeth in place.
Palate Expanders
Commonly used for patients with overcrowded teeth, palatal expansion and tooth extraction are two common options.
Though tooth extraction was used more often in the past, today's orthodontists will often recommend a palate expander, which is custom fit to your palate and applies pressure to the backs of your upper molars, gradually moving your teeth further apart.
Over time, this expands your palate, making it possible for other types of braces to be used to correct the position of misaligned teeth.
Forsus Appliances
Orthodontists and dentists can now screen children as young as 7 years old to find out whether they are candidates for early orthodontic treatment. If they are, there are various appliances that can be used for treatment, including a Forsus appliance.
A spring on the Forsus appliance attaches to braces to bring the upper or lower jaw into position. These have mostly replaced the use of headgear for braces and are commonly used to help correct stubborn overbites.


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Halcyon Focus 2.0 Handheld!
Now 2X as bright as a standard Focus!
- 5.2-amp hour Lithium battery pack
- approx. 3.0 hours burn time on high
- approx. 5.5 hours burn time on low
- Focus: ~80,000 LUX at 1m
- The adjustable power switch may be set to Off, Low, or High power
- Adjustable handle
Halcyon offers the original purchaser a one-year manufacturers warranty against material and workmanship defects on all of its products. Beyond this standard coverage, Halcyon also offers the original purchaser two separate lifetime warranties, one covering all RF-welded seams used in the construction of MC bladders, surface signaling and lift devices, and the second covering Halcyons primary light canisters. In order to maintain both the one-year manufacturers warranty and the lifetime warranty (where applicable) the original purchaser must retain their sales receipt.
Certain items, such as NiMH and SLA batteries, are covered by a 90-day conditional warranty that commences on the date of customer purchase. Following Halcyons recommended use and service guidelines provided in the manuals is essential in extending the practical lifetime of expendable items such as batteries and light bulbs.
The Halcyon warranty is a global warranty. As long as the customer has a valid sales receipt from an authorized Halcyon dealer, the warranty extends to all countries and shops, regardless of where the item was purchased. Any authorized Halcyon dealer can handle warranty returns to the factory with a valid receipt.
Unauthorized modifications/repairs, negligence, accidental damage, commercial use, or abuse are not covered by the warranty. Floods, leaks, punctures, and broken bulbs etc., are not covered by the warranty unless they are the direct result of a material or workmanship defect.


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$10-Million System Will Expand National Capacity for Coupled HPC, AI and Data and Serve Nontraditional and Traditional high performance-Computing Communities
July 9, 2019
A $10-million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding a new supercomputer at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC), a joint research center of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. In partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), PSC will deploy Bridges-2, a system designed to provide researchers in Pennsylvania and the nation with massive computational capacity and the flexibility to adapt to the rapidly evolving field of data- and computation-intensive research. Bridges-2 will be available at no cost for research and education, and at cost-recovery rates for other purposes.
"Unlocking the power of data will accelerate discovery to advance science, improve our quality of life and enhance national competitiveness," said Nick Nystrom, PSC's chief scientist and principal investigator (PI) for Bridges-2. "We designed Bridges-2 to drive discoveries that will come from the rapid evolution of research, which increasingly needs new, scalable ways for combining large, complex data with high performance simulation and modeling."
Bridges-2 will accelerate discovery to benefit science, society, and the nation. Its unique architecture will catalyze breakthroughs in critically important areas such as understanding the brain, developing new materials for sustainable energy production and quantum computing, assembling genomes of crop species to improve agricultural efficiency, exploring the universe via multimessenger astrophysics and enabling technologies for smart cities.
Building on PSC's experience with its very successful Bridges system, Bridges-2 will take the next step in pioneering converged, scalable high performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI) and data. Designed to power and scale applications identified through close collaboration with the national research community, Bridges-2 will integrate cutting-edge processors, accelerators, large memory, an all-flash storage array and exceptional data-handling capabilities to let researchers meet challenges that otherwise would be out of reach. By enabling AI to be combined with simulation and modeling and through its focus on ease of use and researcher productivity, Bridges-2 will drive a new era of research breakthroughs.
"Bridges-2 is a major leap forward for PSC in high performance computing and data analytics infrastructure and research," said Alan D. George, Interim Director of PSC. "PSC is unique in combining the strengths of two world-class universities (CMU and Pitt) and a world-class medical center (UPMC). Bridges-2 will amplify these strengths to fuel many new discoveries."
"Enabling the execution of science, engineering and non-traditional workflows at scale while leveraging and further developing artificial intelligence is vital to keeping the United States at the forefront of scientific discovery now and into the future," said Paola Buitrago, Director of Artificial Intelligence & Big Data at PSC and co-PI of Bridges. "The Bridges-2 system is the way to realize this and more. I look forward to all the knowledge, discoveries and progress this new system will produce."
Bridges-2's community data collections and user-friendly interfaces are designed to democratize participation in science and engineering and foster collaboration and convergence research. The Bridges-2 project includes bringing the benefits of scalable data analytics and AI to industry, developing STEM talent to strengthen the nation's workforce and broadening collaborations to accelerate discovery.
The NSF is funding Bridges-2 as part of a series of awards for Advanced Computing Systems & Services.
"The capabilities and services these awards will provide will enable the research community to explore new computing models and paradigms," said Manish Parashar, Office Director for the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure at NSF. "These awards complement NSF's long-standing investment in advanced computational infrastructure, providing much-needed support for the full range of innovative computational- and data-intensive research being conducted across all of science and engineering."
Bridges-2 will be deployed in the summer of 2020.


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Indian Visa Online revolutionizes the visa application process, offering tailored platforms for citizens of Belgium, Austria, South Africa, Ireland, and Brazil. Explore the enriched cultural tapestry of India seamlessly with user-friendly portals designed for effortless visa acquisition.
India, 20th Jan 2024 – In a groundbreaking move to enhance international travel accessibility, Indian Visa Online unveils a seamless visa application process catering to citizens from Belgium, Austria, South Africa, Ireland, and Brazil.
Indian Visa for Belgian Citizens
Indian Visa for Austrian Citizens
Indian Visa for Irish Citizens
Indian Visa for Brazilian Citizens
With the aim of simplifying the visa acquisition journey, Indian Visa Online presents a user-friendly platform specifically tailored for Belgian citizens seeking to explore the vibrant tapestry of India. Prospective travelers can find detailed information and initiate the visa application process effortlessly by visiting Indian Visa for Belgian Citizens.
A similar user-centric approach has been adopted for Austrian citizens, who can now embark on a hassle-free visa application journey through the dedicated portal at Indian Visa for Austrian Citizens.
For South African citizens seeking to experience the rich cultural tapestry of India, the dedicated platform at Indian Visa for South African Citizens ensures a smooth and efficient visa application process.
Ireland and Brazil, too, are not left behind in this initiative. Irish citizens can navigate through the tailored portal at Indian Visa for Irish Citizens, while Brazilian citizens can explore the simplified application process at Indian Visa for Brazilian Citizens.
As a leading player in the visa facilitation arena, Indian Visa Online stands committed to providing a seamless experience for global travelers. The platform's intuitive interface, coupled with a robust support system, ensures that individuals from diverse corners of the world can now effortlessly navigate the intricacies of the Indian visa application process.
About Indian Visa Online: Indian Visa Online is a pioneering online platform dedicated to streamlining the visa application process for international travelers. With a focus on user convenience and efficiency, the platform caters to citizens from various countries, providing them with a simplified and hassle-free visa application experience.
Media Contact
Organization: Indian Visa Online
Contact Person: Maya Rao
Website: https://www.indian-visa-online.com/visa/
Email: Send Email
Contact Number: 35929824808
Country: India
Release Id: 2001249046
The post Streamlining Access for Global Travel: Indian Visa Online Facilitates Effortless Visa Procurement for Diverse Nationals appeared first on King NewsWire. It is provided by a third-party content provider. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it.
Disclaimer: The views, recommendations, and opinions expressed in this content belong solely to the third-party experts. This site was not involved in the writing and production of this article.


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IoT Security and Increasing Vendor Liability
2017-01-20 Terry Gaul
The push for some form of liability for vendors who sell faulty or insecure software has been the subject of debate for many years with little or no clear agreement on its legality or how to enforce it. However, that may be changing as the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seems to be intent on taking an active role in the discussion given two announcements made at the beginning of the year.
First, the FTC announced that it is offering a cash prize of up to $25,000 in its IoT Home Inspector Challenge for the best technical solution that would address security vulnerabilities caused by out-of-date software in IoT devices. An ideal tool, they say, might be a physical device that the consumer can add to his or her home network that would check and install updates for other IoT devices on that home network, or it might be an app or cloud-based service, or a dashboard or other user interface.
Second, just one day after the announcement of the challenge, the FTC filed a complaint against D-Link Corporation and its U.S. subsidiary alleging that inadequate security measures taken by the company left its wireless routers and Internet cameras vulnerable to hackers and put U.S. consumers' privacy at risk.
In the complaint, the FTC charged that D-Link failed to take reasonable steps to secure its routers and Internet Protocol (IP) cameras, potentially compromising sensitive consumer information, including live video and audio feeds from D-Link IP cameras.
In a news release from the FTC, Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection said: "Hackers are increasingly targeting consumer routers and IP cameras -- and the consequences for consumers can include device compromise and exposure of their sensitive personal information. When manufacturers tell consumers that their equipment is secure, it's critical that they take the necessary steps to make sure that's true."
The complaint further referenced the FTC's guidance issued in January of 2015 urging IoT companies to adopt best practices to address consumer privacy and security risks. It seems now the FTC is intent on pursuing vendors in the courtroom who ignore their guidance and put consumers at risk with vulnerable devices. The case will be decided by a federal district judge.
In 2017, most every market analyst, security blogger, and industry pundit predicts that serious security breaches are bound to occur given the rapid proliferation of millions of IoT devices. And, as a result of the heightened sensitivity towards security, vendors no doubt will come under much greater scrutiny for failure to keep data, devices and consumers safe.
What will be the degree of liability for vendors be in such cases? Probably little or no change in the near term, but it seems clear the discussion is about to be ramped up.
You can learn more about the many potential vulnerabilities that exist in connected devices, and more importantly, how to protect against them in the Industrial Internet Consortium's Industrial Internet Security Framework document.
Terry Gaul
Vice President Sales USA
Terry Gaul is a sales and business development professional with extensive experience in the software and technology sectors. He has been involved with software protection and licensing technologies for more than 20 years and currently serves as Vice President of Sales at Wibu-Systems USA. When he is not helping customers with software licensing, Terry typically can be found coaching his daughters' soccer teams or camping with his family on the Maine coast.


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What do you dream about? I dream of a world where endless possibilities are realized. —Artist Kitty Zen
Humans spend about one-third of their lives sleeping. And some of us likely spend the other two-thirds of our waking hours dreaming about going back to bed.
That's partially why two entrepreneurs decided to take on the stagnant $14 billion mattress industry. Business partners David Wolfe and Jaime Diamonstein put their heads together back in 2014 to start Leesa, a high-end online mattress retailer, to disrupt the mostly unchanged sleep industry.
In the founders' minds, if we spend so much time sleeping, it only makes sense to sleep well. That's why Virginia-based Leesa is a consumer-facing luxury mattress retailer that delivers American-made products directly to consumer's doors — getting a good night's rest should be as easy as a few mouse clicks.
Since then, Leesa has experienced exponential growth and racked up several accolades. In their second month of business, the merchant managed to pull in an impressive $1 million. Not too shabby for an organization that prides itself on making most of its first sales through word-of-mouth referrals.
In 2015, Leesa picked up even more momentum with a win at the Shopify's Build A Business competition. The merchant was also awarded the title of "fastest growing e-retailer" in the Internet Retailers 2016 Top 500 Guide.
From Clicks to Bricks: The Leesa Dream Gallery
Photo credit: Susan Shek
After seeing such success in just a little over a year of business, Leesa made its first foray into the world of physical retail with a unique storefront concept: an immersive retail experience aptly titled the "Leesa Dream Gallery."
The team realized that Leesa needed to create opportunities to establish long-lasting customer relationships in order to stand out and grab more market share. Purchasing a mattress is an investment — with Leesa mattresses retailing for around $900, many shoppers understandably want to touch and try out the product before handing over that much cash.
As a result, they're connecting in person with their customers via their new Dream Gallery retail experience. So, while online sales remain robust, a physical showroom allows shoppers to interact with the product firsthand, take off their shoes, and lie down for a while to experience the multiple layers of the Leesa mattress.
"Our goal was and remains for the space to be part 'billboard,' and partially a place to experience our mattress in a relaxing, different kind of space," said cofounder David Wolfe regarding the motivation behind the Dream Gallery. "We always wanted to be the first to present mattress designs as art. Hence the [idea behind the] gallery."
On April 27, 2016, the Leesa team, investors, and a crowd of guests cut the blue ribbon on the first Leesa Dream Gallery on Wooster Street in New York City. The immersive retail exhibit offers Leesa fans and prospective customers an environment to touch and feel the product and get a firsthand understanding of the value proposition, i.e. a high-quality mattress that facilitates equally high-quality sleep.
During the opening, the space was filled with A-list supporters such as NFL wide receiver Dale Moss, Grammy winner Bridget Kelly, actor Constantine Maroulis, and a special group of formerly homeless artists. In addition to hosting a display of Leesa's mattresses for attendees to try out, the gallery space also boasted paintings and works from a bevy of homeless artists, underscoring Leesa's dedication to impacting the lives of those who are less fortunate.
At the opening, there was a palpable inspiring energy in the crowd throughout the night as guests were invited to experience the dreams that the gallery opening enabled — both their own through a good night's rest and the artists the gallery supports.
Social Impact: An Experiential Exhibit
Since Leesa's inception, the merchant has measured its success not just by its growing bottom line, but also by the company's overall social impact. Their mission is to bring everyone a better way to sleep and a pathway to a better life through better rest.
While that lofty mandate may sound as dreamy as their mattresses, Leesa has already made some solid progress with their multi-prong approach. This was evident during their Leesa Dream Gallery launch, where they partnered with ArtLifting, an online marketplace for homeless, disabled and other disadvantaged artists to sell their artwork.
"This opening is completely life changing. Our goal is treating artists with the respect they deserve and this gallery is the highest level you could imagine," said Liz Powers, cofounder of ArtLifting.
"It's important to uplift people — you impact their lives in a powerful way," noted Leesa investor Eric Decker.
As part of ArtLifting, artists create their work in shelter and disability center programs and earn 55% of the royalties from each sale. During the gallery's opening night alone, about one-third of the pieces were sold to a crowd of happy buyers.
"I walked in and saw my art and then I was told I already sold a piece, I was shocked," noted Ruben Lopez, one of the artists whose work was displayed during the Dream Gallery opening.
One-for-Ten, One-Earth
This isn't Leesa's first initiative helping homeless residents. Making an impact on the lives of the displaced and disadvantaged is core to Leesa's mission. Unofficial reports estimate that anywhere from 1.9 million to 3.5 million Americans are homeless, and Leesa's founders are dedicated to giving as many as possible a better place to sleep. In addition to working with ArtLifting on the Dream Gallery, the merchant sponsors a One-Ten program, where Leesa donates one mattress to a homeless shelter for every 10 they sell. To date, Leesa has donated more than 5,000 mattresses to help those who would otherwise not have a place to sleep.
Sustainable retail is also at the core of Leesa's operations. They've partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant one million trees by 2025. In 2015, they planted 32,000 trees in the CO Pike National Forest, and in 2016 they plan to plant another 50,000.
Lessons From Leesa's Experiential Retail Exhibit
Photo credit: Susan Shek
While Leesa isn't ready to reveal its future plans for the Dream Gallery (or more locations like it), cofounder David Wolfe did readily offered a few hard-learned lessons on how the team created an "experiential channel" with their retail storefront.
Tip 1: Know Your Goal and Tell a Compelling Story
What was the goal of your pop-up retail store? Why is it called a Dream Gallery versus naming it something else?
David: Our goal has two elements to it: A mobile experiential space and a fixed experiential space. This is obviously the fixed one. Our plan is to continue as long as it makes sense. Nothing we did in the gallery feels temporary — that's because it's not intended to be. It's a place where you can immerse yourself in our brand.
When we realized it also gave us the chance to showcase the art of homeless, formerly homeless and disabled artists, the name "gallery" made even more sense.
Tip 2: Design In-Store Points of Engagement
At the Leesa Dream Gallery, there are a number of opportunities for a customer to engage with the brand: the dream wall, the art gallery, the mattresses. How did you conceptualize each area?
David: Our background is in bringing new ideas to life. Retail experiences need to be totally immersive for them to be effective. So when you walk into the dream store, you're surrounded by opportunities to interact with our brand. The mattress is obvious, but we also have videos playing, customer reviews on the walls, interactive kiosks, blankets, coffee, and, of course, the artwork.
Tip 3: Assemble an In-Store Team to Convey Your Company Culture
What are three things a founding team can do to ensure their in-store pop-up team truly represents an extension of their brand?
David: Selection, training, and on-going motivation.
Tip Four: Constantly Collect and Analyze Data
What is your advice on collecting useful data in a pop-up retail environment?
David: There are so many ways to measure the success of a retail store. We try to look at granular data, the big picture, and anecdotal evidence. We have developed ways to do all three. Then it's about your gut feel. I often say "this feels good," let's continue — sometimes even when there is evidence to the contrary. Sometimes there is no substitute for intuition and drive.
The Bottom Line
While pop-up stores are innately short term in nature, the impression that a brand leaves on its customers is permanent. The team at Leesa invested in approaching their retail experience with that thought process in mind. In order to effectively achieve that, a brand must take the time to start with a clear vision of its goals and the story it wants to tell through their space.
For the Leesa team, they're empowering better sleep and unlimited dreams. That's a powerful message to pass on to their customers.
About The Author


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Padded Knot Headband - Liberty Capel U Print
Use code FREE45 at the checkout
This women's padded knot headband is softly cushioned, creating a raised knot with the perfect amount of volume, and providing comfort all day long. This headband is handmade using the softest and almost silk-like Liberty London Tana Lawn cotton, which is kind to the hair and protects from any tension breakage.
- Liberty London Capel U navy print
- 100% Liberty London Tana Lawn cotton
- Flexible recyclable plastic headband base, which can be adjusted to fit the shape of your head (see video in gallery). Please always bend your headbands with care and ease a little more each time to make it wider or narrower.
- Headband length, end to end: 37cm
- Headband width, at widest point: 12cm
- Fabric width, at widest point: 5cm
- Knot height: 3.5cm
- Knot depth: 4cm
Headband buying guide
Not sure which style to choose? Take a look at our buying guide which explains the differences between our four headband styles.
You will receive your order beautifully presented and wrapped in Liberty inspired tissue paper, sealed with a Holme & Moss sticker. If you want to make it extra special, why not add a Liberty lavender filled heart to your order.
Liberty London Tana Lawn Cotton is luxurious and lightweight, smooth and almost silk-like, which makes our hair accessories kind to the hair and protects from any tension breakage.
Liberty of London silk satin is smooth to touch, with a luminously high-shine surface. It's luxurious smooth finish reduces friction between the hair and our accessories, minimising the chance of breakage, split ends or hair loss.
Take a look at our guides on how to wash your Liberty London print hair accessories:
- All orders are dispatched in 1-2 working days
- UK delivery from £2.50 (calculated at checkout)
- International delivery from £3.50 (calculated at checkout)
- Tracked and next-day delivery available
- Click here for our full delivery details
- If you would like to return a product, please contact us within 14 days of delivery
- Return items within 21 days of delivery
- For hygiene reasons we are unable to refund or exchange earrings for pierced ears, unless they are faulty
- Gift vouchers are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash
- Click here for our full Returns Policy
Choose options


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2012 is the bicentennial of the War of 1812. You may remember just two things about this period from your high school history class. First, in an act of ignominy for the Americans, the British burned down the capital. Second, the war ended with the resounding defeat of the British by the heroic General Andrew Jackson in January 1815, in what was the war's only set-piece battle between the opposing sides. Jackson eventually rode this victory into the Presidency.
There is only one problem with this battle. It took place after the war was over. The previous month, in Europe, the two sides had agreed to peace. But in those days, communications was so slow that word of the peace didn't reach New Orleans until February 1815.
Fast forward, approximately forty-eight years later, to the Civil War. In the period between these two wars, in 1831, Morse thought up the idea for the electronic telegraph. The Union Army had mastered its quick deployment, so that in 1863 while sitting in Washington, President Lincoln could read almost real time reports from the battlefields many miles away.
This was a dramatic increase in the speed of communications. Not all that many decades later, telegraph lines and cables would unite the world. Yet this did not fundamentally change the way people worked or lived or governed themselves.
So consider 2011, when the US Navy Seals got Osama Bin Laden. There was a tweet about helicopters within several minutes, but the author didn't know why the helicopters were nearby. The first tweet with some confirmation came about forty-five minutes before President Obama made his announcement.
Now think back about forty-eight years before to November 22, 1963 and the assassination of President John Kennedy. The news was out quickly all over television and radio and newspapers. Walter Cronkite famously told the viewers of CBS News that the President had died thirty-eight minutes before.
Unlike the 19th century examples, there was no dramatic speed up in the reporting of these two more recent events separated by roughly forty-eight years. While we may have more sources of information in more places now than in 1963, word doesn't get out all that much faster. You could argue that the Telegraph had a greater impact on communications than the Internet.
Yet many of us have the feeling that our world has been changed by this communications. Why is that?
I think it has to do with the changing nature of the work we do. In the mid-19th century, more than three quarters of Americans made things or grew food. In 2011, less than a quarter do so and the rest of us provide services – and increasingly intangible services, including ideas, knowledge, entertainment and the like which is delivered digitally. Because better digital communications directly speeds up the delivery of these services, we see the impact more. It's the increasing availability of high quality communications, in conjunction with these significant socio-economic trends, which will continue to change our lives.
[picture credit for Battle of New Orleans http://www.frenchcreoles.com/battnozz.jpg]


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Lekki new hotbed of cyber fraud syndicates in Nigeria, EFCC claims
…nabs 402 online fraudsters
Lekki, the fast-developing upper middle class area of Lagos Metropolis, is emerging as the new hub of internet-related fraud. Data from the investigation activities of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the second quarter of 2021, indicates that Lekki District is the preferred location for all manner of cyber fraud syndicates.
Between April and June, 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests. While the Advance Fee Fraud Section was responsible for 243 arrests, the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests, from which 13 convictions have so far been recorded.
Of the 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section, 70 are from Lekki, comprising communities such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru.
Ajah accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo had 14 and 13 suspects respectively. Badore had 8 suspects. Neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and one suspect each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.
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The suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 of them aged between 25-34 years, which speaks to the fact that most of the individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university drop outs.
Analysis of the data from the Cyber Crime Section further shows that the dominant form of internet crime is Dating Scam/Online Dating Scam/Romance Scam. Sixty Four percent (64%) of individuals arrested are involved in romance scam, followed closely by "Middle Man Scam" and "Picking" which account for 8% and 7% respectively of those arrested.
The 64% involved in the dating scam benefitted to the tune of N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; £ 900; €10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513.
Other typologies of fraud identified include forgery, possession of fraudulent documents, spamming, credit card fraud, impersonation, rental scam, loan fraud, Business Email Compromise, Hacking, stealing, cheque scam, phishing, and money laundering.
The data also reveals gift cards, at 39%, as the prevalent method employed by the suspects to access their illicit funds. It is followed by bank transfers at 27% and Cryptocurrency at 21%.
A total of $12, 512.49USD was recovered from the e-wallet accounts of four suspects within the period.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
3 September, 2021


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NTIA Brings Broadband Opportunities to Alaska
Ed. note: This blog is cross-posted from The U.S. Department of Commerce.
Last week, I traveled to Anchorage for the annual economic summit hosted by the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference, a non-profit regional economic development organization. The Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference is working to improve the quality of life and drive responsible development across the Alaska Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands, Bristol Bay, the Kodiak Archipelago and the Pribilof Islands.
Last week's summit had a packed agenda, covering everything from energy conservation to sustainable fishing practices. One big topic of conversation was broadband and the power of high-speed Internet to open up economic, educational and social opportunities in some of the poorest, most isolated communities in our nation.
It's no wonder that the Alaska state nickname is "The Last Frontier." The state is more than double the size of Texas, with more than 3 million lakes, 34,000 miles of shoreline, and 29,000 square miles of ice fields. But with fewer than 750,000 residents, Alaska includes some of the most remote, sparsely populated pockets of the U.S. Many Alaska Natives reside in tiny villages with just a few hundred people and lead subsistence lifestyles.
Broadband offers these communities a way to connect with the wider world and access everything from online classes to healthcare services to job opportunities. It also offers Alaska Natives a way to preserve their indigenous culture for future generations and share it with a global audience.
At the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, we see first-hand evidence of this through our investments in several Alaska broadband projects:
With funding from NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rasmuson Foundation, the Alaska State Library established public computer centers at 97 public libraries across the state. The federal investment helped pay for computers and terrestrial and satellite Internet connections, as well as an innovative videoconferencing network. It also helped pay for digital literacy training to help local residents take advantage of everything from electronic commerce and e-government services to online job interviews and distance education offerings.
The Online with Libraries – or Alaska OWL – project is using the new videoconferencing capability in all sorts of creative ways. The Juneau Library organized a virtual field trip for local children to see dinosaurs on display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, Canada. The Unalaska City Library hosted a session for students in a local high school carpentry class to learn about a union apprenticeship program from the training coordinator for the Anchorage-based Local 367 of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Union. And libraries in Craig, Haines and Kenai have used the system to facilitate an interactive Shakespeare "Reader's Theater," with patrons at each of the libraries taking turns reading play passages.
Among the archived videoconferences available through the OWL system: a video from the Inupiat Heritage Center that recounts the Inupiaq legend of hunting mammoths near Anaktuvuk Pass, and an introduction to the Tlingit Language that starts with easy words and commonly used phrases.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks used a separate BTOP award to expand the work of the Alaska Distance Education Consortium, a university-led coalition of partners from across the education, healthcare, social services and non-profit sectors working to expand distance learning opportunities. The federal investment supported a range of projects to help close the digital divide and promote online learning. And it focused much of its work on Alaska Native villages, where the gap is the widest.
One project funded through the Distance Education Consortium was a "telehealth coordinator" certificate program run by the non-profit Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The program teaches students how to operate videoconferencing systems and telemedicine carts to gather patient data to be transmitted to distant hospitals. The Consortium also supported a program at the Alaska Vocational Technical Center – part of the State Labor Department's Institute of Technology – that trains rural Internet technicians known as "Village Internet agents." Another project funded through the Consortium was an online homework help service run by the Alaska Library Network.
With funding from NTIA's State Broadband Initiative Program, Connect Alaska has partnered with the Association of Alaska School Boards to host a series of local technology workshops in a handful of bush villages. At a recent workshop in Chevak, instructors helped build local e-commerce Websites to let residents show off and sell their Native artwork, including dolls, baskets and jewelry. At another workshop in Metlakatla, instructors created community websites and taught residents how to record and upload traditional stories and cultural folklore.
Connect Alaska also uses NTIA funding to map broadband availability across the state for the National Broadband Map, and to finance the work of the Statewide Broadband Task Force, which aims to close remaining broadband gaps.
These projects show the potential of technology to connect people living in even the most remote corners of the U.S. to tomorrow's opportunities, and tie them to the rich cultural heritages of their past. We are proud of NTIA's role in making these projects possible. And we look forward to hearing more stories about how broadband is improving life in The Last Frontier.
Anne Neville is the Director of the State Broadband Initiative for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
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Poundland is placing 44 UK stores into temporary hibernation - full list of locations affected
Poundland is placing 44 of its UK stores into temporary hibernation from the end of trading on Saturday (9 January) as a result of the ongoing lockdown restrictions.
The budget retailer has said the move is to protect the business in the short-term and reflects the 80 per cent drop in footfall at shopping centres and highstreets across the country.
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Hide AdTemporary hibernation
Poundland is replicating the measures it took during the lockdowns throughout 2020, with 44 or its 800-plus stores to be temporarily hibernated.
As an essential retailer, the vast majority of its stores will remain open to serve customers in their communities.
In the first 2020 lockdown last March, Poundland hibernated around 120 stores and was able to start reopening them from the end of May.
Hibernation allows the retailer to focus workers in a slightly smaller number of locations and provide a better service to communities in consolidated stores.
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Hide AdIn the majority of locations that will be hibernated from this weekend, there is another Poundland store that will remain open nearby. All stores that are still open continue to have rigorous health and hygiene measures in place to protect staff and customers.
Where appropriate, workers in hibernating stores will be placed on furlough to protect their roles for the future. Any furloughed staff will retain their benefits and employment status.
It is intended that the move will ensure the retailer is well positioned once the UK emerges from the pandemic.
Austin Cooke, Poundland's retail director said: "We learned valuable lessons during the lockdown in March about how buying patterns change as people stick to government advice to stay at home.
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"Putting a small number of stores into hibernation helps protect them for the long term and focus our attention on the majority of stores that remain open to serve their neighbourhoods.
"We hope this lockdown is short and we can re-open our hibernating stores as quickly as possible and we remain grateful for the vital support schemes available to us that help protect jobs."
Full list of stores
The following Poundland stores will enter hibernation from Sunday 10 January:
- Newark, St Marks Place
- Grantham, Isaac Newton Centre
- Mansfield Four Seasons Shopping Centre
- Lowestoft Britten Shopping Centre
- Ipswich Sailmakers Shopping Centre
- Norwich Castle Mall
- Newmarket, The Guineas Shopping Centre
- Luton 31 The Mall Shopping Centre
- Belfast Castlecourt Shopping Centre NI
- Newry Buttercrane Shopping Centre NI
- Enniskillen Erneside Shopping Centre NI
- Newry Quays Shopping Centre NI
- Londonderry Ferryquay Street NI
- Inverness High Street
- Kirkcaldy Mercat Shopping Centre
- Cramlington Manor Walks Shopping Centre
- Middlesbrough Captain Cook Square Shopping Centre
- Durham Riverwalk Shopping Centre
- Beverley Flemingate Shopping Centre
- Farnham The Borough
- Fareham Market Quay
- Fareham Whiteley Shopping Centre
- Crewe Market Street
- Kingston upon Thames Eden Walk
- Harlow Harvey Shopping Centre
- Colchester Culver Street
- Ayr High Street
- Workington Campbell-Savours Way
- Carlisle Scotch Street
- Dumfries, Loreburne Shopping Centre
- Glasgow Union Street
- Falkirk Howgate Shopping Centre
- Edinburgh Princes Street
- Perth St Johns Shopping Centre
- Cardiff 121 Queens Street
- Bridgwater Angel Place Shopping Centre
- Burnley 82 Charter Walk Shopping Centre
- Preston Fishergate Centre
- Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre
- Chester Frodsham Street
- Bootle Strand Shopping Centre
- Solihull High Street
- Newcastle under Lyme Castle Walk
- Merry Hill Shopping Centre