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How To Arrange The Work Of A Modeling Agency In Ukraine? Legal Procedure
In October 2020 our company was contacted by a foreign modeling agency, which intended to start a company in Ukraine. The ultimate goal of the Client was to set up a company in Ukraine, which could search for models for their further work both with a foreign parent company and other foreign firms. The Client wanted to understand the best way of organizing such a business in Ukraine, and the scope of services that could be provided by his future business, because the full functioning of the agency required employing a certain number of personnel: photographers, stylists, managers, etc.
The Client had a number of questions related to the organization of his business:
What form is better to choose for a company in Ukraine? LLC or a foreign representative office? Each type of the company has its own peculiarities of taxation and autonomy of action from the parent company.
Is it necessary to have a license to search and relocate models abroad to work with foreign contractors?
How to correctly build a work with "scouts", photographers, stylists in order to minimize the tax burden on the company and to protect yourself from the claims of workers?
What types of activities to choose so that the tax office does not charge extra fees? Some modeling agencies provide several types of services at once (in particular, photography, styling shoots).
How to properly formalize cooperation with models sio that they were able to work for foreign companies without violating any copyrights?
Our lawyers offered the Client a detailed "Road Map" of the project, that is the detailed legal analysis of his situation and the algorithm of actions, which could legalize and secure the Client's business in Ukraine.
In this publication we will answer some of the Client's questions concerning his business model. If you did not find the answers to the questions that bother you, we can provide them to you at the consultation after obtaining information on your case.
There is always an easy solution to every issue and we know it.
You may also like: How To Check the Counterparty For Reliability?
How to register a Modeling Agency?
Having considered the directions of activity and possible ways of business development, we suggested the Client choose the Limited Liability Company as legal form of its business. This option would be optimal from the standpoint of taxation and management decision-making.
The Client wanted the business to be set up in such a way to ensure minimal tax payments and quick coordinationation of documents, without unnecessary interference of the parent company, but with supervision and signature of the foreign director, who had to be officially employed in Ukraine.
We managed to meet the above requirements by registering LLC by our specialists and preparing other constituent documents for the Client, in particular the Charter, as well as obtaining other approvals, such as permits for the use of labor.
Do Modeling Agencies need to obtain an Overseas Employment Agency License?
As a general rule, brokering activities in foreign employment or assistance of a Ukrainian firm (modeling agency) in employment of a Ukrainian worker (models in our case) abroad is subject to licensing. However, this type of activity shall be licensed only if there are a number of factors that meet the licensing regulations on employment abroad. In other cases you can do without compulsory obtaining of such a permit.
In our Client's case it was possible to organize the activities in a way that would not require obtaining a work permit, and that's exactly what we did.
Our lawyers will examine your case in detail and advise you on the best way to proceed in your situation. Don't simply ignore the requirement to obtain a license, because, as practice shows, if you make mistakes, you can be visited by law enforcement agencies and get a criminal case.
You may also like: How To Specify The Occupation When Arranging Labor Relations Abroad?
What is the procedure for regulating work of scouts, models, photographers, managers, and other model agency employees?
Of course, the answer to this question will depend on the activities of your agency, the personnel you are going to work with, and many other nuances. We will give an example of arranging a labor relationship with the staff of our Client.
Scouts can be paid both immediately after the agency signs a contract with a potential model and as a percentage of the model's participation in a photo shoot or fashion show during a certain period of cooperation with the agency.
Most agencies sign a contract with a main scout or several scouts who represent the model. You can also cooperate with freelance scouts. This option helps make the most efficient use of labor resources and optimizes costs.
However, legal aspects of this option must be taken into account. It is better to cooperate with the main scouts under an employment agreement and correctly predict the amount of their wages and the procedure for paying the so-called "bonuses' for their work. As for freelance scouts, it is better to sign a service agreement with them. In this case it is better to use templates of agreements, taking into account the specifics of your agency - our lawyers can prepare them for you and hand them over for free use in the future.
As for photographers, the best solution for the safe arrangement of the employment relationship would be to sign a so-called "copyright" agreement, under which the employee commits to creating a certain work of art, in our case, a photograph.
When it comes to stylists and hairdressers, you can use completely different solutions, depending on how often you need services from a particular specialist. However, as a rule, these issues are solved in a complex: our lawyers solve all current issues and offer solutions when running a model agency.
This also includes the development of job descriptions of scouts, art directors and other staff of the modeling agency.
You may also like: Benefits Of Civil Contracts
What kind of agreements does a model sign with a modeling agency?
Model Release.
This is the document that regulates who, how and under what conditions can use the photos of the model. In plain words, it is a permit to use and edit photos.
A Model Release is usually needed to work with photobanks and photostocks, publish photos in magazines, sell them directly to advertising agencies and the like. Such agreements should specify the changes that can be made to the model's image (retouching, cropping, etc.) and how they will be used in the future, to avoid claims from the model in the future.
There is also an opinion that without a Model Release or agreement, the photographer cannot use photos that depict another person. However, things aren't that clear-cut, so sometimes you can do without a Model Release. Model Releases can be made in the same way as addendums to other agreements, including an agreement with an agency, so as not to create unnecessary bureaucracy.
Our lawyers analyze the situation of each individual Client on the need to sign a Model Release, and if there is such a need, we prepare a personalized draft agreement.
Agreement with a mother agency.
A mother agency in the fashion world is often the first modeling agency a rookie model has to deal with.
Agencies' obligations under such agreements include representing models in negotiations and decisions on job offers in advertising, films, and show business, providing recommendations necessary for a successful career, creating a portfolio, and participating in shaping the models' image. These agencies often promote their models to other agencies in international markets, which gives them the opportunity to get shows from major publications and work with big brands.
The essence of a modeling agreement can be summarized as follows: the agency offers the model a job, and receives a commission in the amount of an agreed percentage from the fees paid to the model.
The complexity of such agreements in legal terms is that you need to provide for the commission payments in advance, as well as correctly set out the payment terms, so that they do not contradict the labor law. In addition, such agreements shall specify intellectual property rights and their transfer. Our lawyers can develop templates of such agreements for further use in the agency's work.
You may also like: How To Conclude Non-Standard Employment Agreements?
Tripartite Agreement between a model, a mother agency, a receiving agency.
Such an agreement is made when the mother agency plans to send a model to another country and agrees with a local agency on creating working conditions for such a model.
Usually, the agreement stipulates the share that each party receives from the work performed by the model. Typically, a model gets about 50%, a receiving agency - 40% and a mother agency - 10%. It all depends on the experience of the model and the prestige of the agencies. Also we can stipulate other terms of work in the agreement.
Generally, the work under the agreement with foreign agencies is seasonal, and the period of work is 60-90 days. The agreement must clearly stipulate:
the liability of both agencies and their cooperation with each other and with the model;
the tasks to be performed by the model;
the conditions and rules for performing these tasks.
It is also important to take care of the model's migration issues, so that he/she can leave and enter another country without problems. For this purpose, it is better to consult a migration lawyer.
The world practice of modeling business also knows the exclusive contracts which restrict the right of a model to cooperate with other agencies and to work directly with Clients. However, Ukrainian legislation is not quite adapted for such contractual relations, though they can still be created if you take into account the practice and explanations of Ukrainian courts.
Please note! Modeling career often begins fairly early, which necessitates the mandatory presence of responsible persons (usually parents) when concluding agreements with a model. It is better to make it in the form of a document too.
If you would like to start a modeling agency or any other kind of business but would like to find out in advance all the subtle aspects of the process and avoid problems at any stage of your business setup, don't hesitate to contact us!
When starting a modeling agency our lawyers will offer you the following services:
Registration of the business in the optimal form "from scratch";
Development of start-up documents for the agency's work (personnel, internal documentation, etc.):
Development of templates of agreements between the agency and models, non-disclosure agreements, non-competition agreements, personalized model release or other contracts that will be needed in the course of business;
Analysis of the situation regarding the need for an employment license and, if such a need exists, obtainment of the license;
Consultation on legal relations with the agency personnel, including photographers and "scouts", as well as tax and financial optimization;
Accounting, legal and personnel services for a specified period.
Do you want to start a business simply and safely? We are happy to help you! You can get answers to all your questions at an introductory consultation with our lawyer.
Do you need more information?
Find more about the terms of legal advice at our firm here.
Learn more about agreements and the procedure for their conclusion here.


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Thanks to Movoto, it's now possible to calculate just how much gingerbread it would take to construct a (tasty?) replica of any house. Let's try it out on America's most insane single-family home, the 90,000-square-foot "Versailles" replica in Windermere, Fla. Turns out it would take 209,736 batches of gingerbread to recreate the country's largest home; that's nearly double what it would take to build a life-sized gingerbread White House. [Movoto; previously; previously]
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subset: commoncrawl


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it's time to race in the tropics in the new DLC expansion for Zombie Driver HD called the Tropical Race Rage.
The DLC adds a new Tropical Tournament to the game's Blood Race mode. It includes six events on an island resort filled with zombies, ancient ruins and a secret drug cartel plantation. Players can also take advantage of the new six wheel Military Truck available and upgradeable in all game modes as well as extra car paints for the Bus and Sports Car.
Zombie Driver HD Tropical Race Rage Trailer:
The Tropical Race Rage DLC is now available on Steam and XBLA for $2.99 and will be coming to the PSN in early October. To celebrate the release, the game is available at 75% off and the DLC at 33% off for one week on Steam.
About Zombie Driver™ HD:
Insane mix of cars, speed, explosions, blood and zombies! Fight through an epic narrative campaign or test yourself in the Slaughter and Blood Race modes. Engage huge bosses, save survivors, drive crazy vehicles such as a bulldozer, fire truck or even a tank and smash everything in your way. Take part in the Blood Race tournament – chase other cars and take them down without mercy on brutal racing tracks. Jump into the Slaughter mode and survive as long as possible on specially crafted arenas.
Key Features:
– Epic story campaign with 31 diverse missions featuring boss fights, night missions, special vehicles and more…
– Blood Race mode with 30 unique events offering the best arcade racing experience in 3 distinct game types:
*Race – classic racing spiced up with guns and loads of zombies
*Eliminator – take down as many vehicles as you can before the time runs out
*Endurance – there is a bomb on your car and its ticking. Race through checkpoints to extend your time
– Survive endless zombie waves on 7 twisted slaughter arenas
– Drive 13 insane zombie killing machines including a school bus, a fire truck, a bulldozer or even a tank
– 9 different upgrades, which can transform an innocent Taxi into a Chariot of Death
– Vehicle mounted weapons including miniguns, flamethrowers, rocket launchers or even dual railguns
– All weapons have 3 upgrade levels which come with unique features
– Dynamic combo system with tricks to help fight off the hordes of zombies
– PhysX by NVIDIA


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If I could define this past summer with one recipe it would be the recipe for panzanella. So many things happened the summer of 2011, but what I'll remember is that the summer of 2011 is the summer I learned to make panzanella. And where has it been the previous 21 summers?
Well, the answer isn't so dramatic. It has been in my life in one form or another. In fact, I attribute my love for mayonnaise to a very similar combination of tomatoes and cucumbers. And there is nothing wrong with the mayo version of this salad. It's just that I'm kind of ashamed of my love for mayo. It seems that it has fallen out of fashion. Aside from deviled eggs (which also seem to be "nicht nicht"), nobody cooks with mayo anymore. I remember seeing a recipe for a chocolate cake with mayo in the list of ingredients. I am too much of a chicken to make it.
This salad is awesome because it's tasty! (Even Young Weezy wanted to get a taste. Silly Tigger, vegetables are not for cats.) And it takes no time to make. I know it's the middle of October, but Los Angeles has been really hot the past few days. I have no AC. When I get home I can't bring myself to turn on the stove. So, panzanella it is. You do have to turn on the oven to make the croutons, but I usually make a big batch in the evening after it has cooled down.
It's so simple, it seems silly to type out the recipe.
4 cups of tomatoes
2 cups of cucumber
1 small onion
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 pound bread
1/4 cup basil
salt and pepper
Chop it up, toast the bread, toss it all together.
No one is probably going to make this, but just in case here is a word of advice - if you're the only one eating, don't mix all the bread in at once. I keep the bread separate until about 15 minutes before I am planning on digging in. It does need to soak for a little bit, but no longer than 30 minutes, really. For the love of kittens, don't leave the bread in the salad overnight.


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In order to have an impact, you must be impacted first. Future generations will benefit from us having opened doors. That's real impact.
– Prentice Penny, 2022 Impact Award Honoree
That's the brilliance of what The Alliance does for the underrepresented families in our city – it makes them feel seen.
– Saladin K. Patterson, 2022 Impact Award Honoree
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This program allows students to combine coursework in law and philosophy. Successful candidates may earn both the JD and the MA degrees in the three years ordinarily required for law study, not the four years that would be required if the degrees were pursued separately.
Learning Outcomes
Students must complete both the JD learning objectives of the School of Law and the MA learning objectives of the Department of Philosophy.
Students will:
- Possess knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law;
- Possess the ability to perform:
- Legal analysis and reasoning
- Legal research
- Problem-solving
- Written communication in the legal context
- Oral communication in the legal context;
- Understand the exercise of proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system; and
- Demonstrate the professional skills of collaboration, counseling, and negotiation needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession. All students will also demonstrate a basic understanding of business fundamentals and be able to read and understand basic financial documents.
MA in Philosophy
Students can expect:
- Practice in presentation: Paper presentations are a key component of the philosophy hiring process; job candidates are required to give papers as part of their interview process or to make a formal presentation of their dissertation work, and a great deal of weight is typically placed on their performance. Moreover, presentations at conferences and other universities play a key role in the dissemination of philosophical research.
- Breadth of philosophical experience: Students will be exposed to papers from many different areas of philosophy and will receive feedback from students and faculty concentrating in other areas of philosophy. This is likely to increase philosophical breadth and sophistication as well as the ability to communicate their ideas to, and engage with, non-specialists.
- Feedback: This seminar will generate feedback from a wide audience, consisting of at least one faculty member and 15–20 graduate students. Other faculty members, especially those supervising the particular students, are encouraged to attend.
Academic Requirements
To earn the MA, students must earn at least 32 credits from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS).
The following are special provisions applicable to the MA component of the JD/MA dual degree program:
- Students must take at least four graduate-level courses in the Philosophy department at GRS.
- Students also must take a jurisprudence or legal-theory course cross-listed between the School of Law and the Philosophy department. Such a course has been offered each year. The student may register for this course in either the law school or GRS.
- In addition to the courses mentioned above, students may apply to the MA degree any combination of (1) law courses approved by the program's Joint Advisory Board as MA-relevant and (2) additional graduate-level courses in the Philosophy department.
- Students must satisfy the Philosophy department's MA thesis requirement in one of the following two ways:
- Joint paper satisfying both the School of Law's Upperclass Writing Requirement and the MA thesis requirement. With approval from a member of the Advisory Board, students may pursue both requirements with a single paper. Such a paper must be supervised by a faculty member appointed by the Board, and it must include a balance of philosophical and legal material. Ordinarily, the minimum length for the paper is 35 pages. The usual JD Upperclass Writing Requirements apply. The joint-paper project begins with a detailed proposal for study, submitted to a member of the Advisory Board. Students are strongly encouraged to submit proposals before their final year of law study, or at the very latest, by the beginning of that year. No proposal may be submitted after the end of the second week of the student's final semester.
- Independent MA thesis. Students who choose not to submit a joint paper, or whose joint paper has been finally rejected for MA purposes, may receive the MA only by submitting a paper that meets the Philosophy department's ordinary MA thesis standards, including the requirement of an oral defense.
Through either examination or coursework, students must demonstrate competence in logic. Information about this requirement is available from the Philosophy department.
Under GRS rules, each graduate-level course offered in the Philosophy department earns 4 GRS credits toward the 32 credits required for the MA. That means that the ordinary MA student can reach the 32 credits with just eight GRS courses. For two reasons, however, the situation for JD/MA students is more complicated.
- Law students may apply no more than 12 "outside" credits, or non-law graduate credits, to the JD degree requirements. The JD/MA student will reach that number with three GRS courses in philosophy. Additional GRS course(s) would count toward the MA, but it would not count toward the JD.
- JD students enrolled in the dual degree program can petition the School of Law's Registrar's office to limit the number of credits applied from a GRS course to their JD degree requirements. The petition must be completed and approved prior to the start of enrollment in the GRS class.
If the student wants all MA-applicable courses to count toward the JD, then the student should take just four GRS philosophy courses and register for the required cross-listed jurisprudence/legal theory course on the LAW side.
Please feel free to contact Professor Rachell Powell (email@example.com) for clarification and further advice about the program's rules.
The dual degree program is administered by a Joint Advisory Board. The Board consists of at least two faculty members affiliated with the School of Law and at least two affiliated with the Philosophy department. The Board establishes the list of MA-eligible law courses. A member of the Board will be appointed each year as the student's advisor.
Students must be admitted separately to the School of Law and to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
The following special provisions apply to applications by prospective JD/MA students:
- Students may apply to GRS either before or during the first year of law school. Accepted students will begin the MA program in their second year of law school.
- Students may use their School of Law applications to apply to GRS, provided that they submit a copy to GRS and indicate that they are applying to the JD/MA program in Law & Philosophy.
- Provided that they submit copies to GRS, students may use the recommendations and personal statements submitted for admission to the School of Law.
- GRS will accept the LSAT score in lieu of the GRE. Students should provide a copy of their Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) reports to GRS.
- Students must submit to GRS a writing sample that demonstrates their philosophical abilities.
- All applicants should have a substantial background in philosophy—ordinarily the equivalent of an undergraduate major, and typically with an average of B or higher.
Students pay a single tuition, applicable to both programs.


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If you've recently been let go from your job, you may be entitled to collect unemployment compensation. To determine if you're eligible in Pennsylvania, you'll want to review the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Office of Unemployment Compensation page at
Once you determine if you're a candidate for unemployment compensation, you'll want to:
- FILE FOR BENEFITS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. It takes a few weeks for the local service centers to process the claims, so the earlier you get it, the quicker you get your application in, the quicker you can be eligible for benefits.
- COMPLETE THE PAPERWORK CAREFULLY. What you say on these forms can make all of the difference in whether your benefits are granted saying too little or too much can change how the local office makes a decision.
- IF YOU ARE DEEMED INELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY. Do not merely walk away from the process if your request for benefits is denied. It is often in your best interest to have a hearing officer review your facts and your case. We can help with this.
If you need assistance with unemployment compensation benefits, contact us at [email protected] or (570).970.9700 or (215).278.4767.


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Caterpillar has introduced five new backhoe loader models operating in the 14 foot and 15 foot (4.2 to 4.5 metre) size classes.
Building on the Cat F2 Series backhoe loaders, the new line includes the Cat 415, 416, 420, 420 XE and 430 models, which replace the 415F2, 416F2, 420F2, 420F2 IT and 430F2 machines respectively.
The new backhoes offer similar model platforms throughout the line to deliver component commonality and operating similarities. The machines display the new Cat Trade dress and nomenclature, which removes model suffixes.
More new machines from Caterpillar:
- Meet the new D7 dozer from Caterpillar
- Caterpillar revamps its small dozer line up
- Caterpillar introduces the new RM400 Rotary Mixer
The backhoes are powered by the Cat C3.6 engine, which meets Tier 4 Final emission standards. The engine consists of a service-free Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) emission solution with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) for the 416 to 430 models. The 415 backhoe requires only the DPF to meet Tier 4 requirements, avoiding the need for DEF.
The new engine delivers up to 10 per cent improved fuel economy compared to the F2 Series engine. All models in the new backhoe loader line feature standard 4-wheel drive with rear differential lock for more traction in poor ground conditions.
Power management
The 420, 420 XE and 430 models are available with selectable power management modes. This allows the choice of standard mode engine performance for increased fuel savings or standard plus mode to boost machine performance by maximizing backhoe implement speeds.
The models also feature adjustable auxiliary hydraulic flow on the loader, so the operator can fine-tune machine hydraulics to power attachments like brooms and hydraulic angling snow pushes. The 420 to 430 models now come standard with powershift transmission for easier on-the-go gear shifting and spring applied hydraulically released (SAHR) parking brake.
All new models offer adjustable auxiliary hydraulic flow to the backhoe, so machine hydraulics can be fine-tuned to meet the operating specifications of hammer, thumb and auger attachments.
To increase machine utilization, the new backhoe line may also be equipped from the factory or as a field installed kit with an optional Integrated Tool Carrier (IT) loader coupler for fast tool changes. The backhoe loaders are compatible with F2 series attachments, eliminating the need to purchase new toolf, lowering operating costs.
Offering remote data monitoring through VisionLink, the latest Cat Product Link comes standard on the new models to boost machine uptime. Customers can customize machine operating data gathered like fuel usage, scheduled service reminders and fault code alerts, to meet specific needs for improved fleet management.
420 XE performance
New boom cylinders on the 420 XE, as well as the 420, offer up to 15 per cent more boom lift capability to elevate operating performance. Seat-mounted controls on the 420 XE swivel with the operator to control loader and backhoe functions for more ergonomic and comfortable operation.
This arrangement enables Dual Mode for more efficient machine repositioning. Dual Mode also allows the operator to sit at an offset angle while controlling the machine for improved visibility.
Built with single-tilt loader arms, the new 420 XE features electronic loader controls that enable selectable parallel lift for increased material retention in loading applications. Programmable loader kickout and return-to-dig is easily set via the LCD operator display with touchscreen control and takes the guess work out of the equation when loader height and bucket angle adjustments are critical.
Backhoe cab
A redesigned operator display incorporates analog machine gauges with a colour LCD information display that is soft key controlled for simple navigation. Informational icon pop-ups offer quick navigation between operating modes, while full text diagnostic descriptions simplify machine troubleshooting and maintenance.
As well, a redesigned security system disables the engine, transmission and hydraulic system until a valid passcode is entered via the LCD operator control screen or a machine-specific Bluetooth key is detected.
Like the F2 Series, pilot controls are standard on the 420 and 430 and optional on the 415 and 416 models. New seat controls and touchscreen LCD operator display are also now standard on the 420 XE.


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IN AN ESSAY ABOUT the Russian existentialist philosopher Lev Shestov, best known for his "philosophy of despair" (exactly what it sounds like), D. H. Lawrence writes that Shestov's work provides a "real clue to Russian literature." "With us," Lawrence explains to his English readers, "[European culture] is our very blood and bones, the very nerve and root of our psyche." The Russians, however, "have only been inoculated with the virus of European culture and ethic," Lawrence claims, adding: "The virus works in them like a disease. And the inflammation and irritation comes forth as literature."
Lawrence was part of a generation of English writers who were in rapture over "the Russians." In the early twentieth century, English-speaking readers had been introduced to the Russian literary giants of the nineteenth century, thanks largely to the tireless efforts of Constance Garnett (1861–1946), who nearly went blind translating seventy volumes of Russian literature into English. In an essay titled "The Russian Point of View" (1925), Virginia Woolf tried to account for her generation's Russomania. Like Lawrence, Woolf describes Russian literature as a kind of primitivist antidote to the strictures of Victorian society. The soul of the Russian, Woolf wrote, was "confused, tumultuous, incapable, it seems, of submitting to the control of logic or the discipline of poetry."
In these essays, Russia figures as a country on the cusp of both Europe and Asia, its citizens white with an all-important asterisk, suggestive of depth. Despite the veneer of European sensibility, Russians, their English readers asserted, were, deep down, wild and uncouth, and, as such, perhaps also wise. There are countless things wrong with Woolf's assertions—students of Russia's venerable poetic tradition in particular will have gasped in horror. Still, I am interested in how, across these essays, Russia enables a critique of Western civilization and English society that need not refer to the British colonies.
Indeed, the literature of nineteenth-century Russia tends to occupy a peculiar place in the popular Anglophone imagination, where the books' condemnations of the West are largely abstracted into vague pronouncements about the soul, conveniently roped off from discourses about race, gender, or empire. In 2014, the New York Times published a pair of contributions from Francine Prose and Benjamin Moser on the question "What Makes the Russian Literature of the 19th Century So Distinctive?" Both Prose and Moser point to an elemental quality that can surpass difference. Prose praises the Russians for their "ability to persuade us that there is such a thing as human nature, that something about the human heart and soul transcends the surface distinctions of nationality, social class and time."
In his new book on nineteenth-century Russian literature, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life, acclaimed fiction writer and MacArthur recipient George Saunders offers this view of "the Russians" yet again. The Russian writers of the Golden Age, Saunders writes, saw art as something tasked with asking "the big questions," such as:
How are we supposed to be living down here? What were we put here to accomplish? What should we value? What is truth, anyway, and how might we recognize it? How can we feel any peace when some people have everything and others have nothing? How are we supposed to live with joy in a world that seems to want us to love other people but then roughly separates us from them in the end, no matter what? (You know, those cheerful, Russian kinds of big questions.)
Saunders describes the stories he analyzes in the book as "for the most part quiet, domestic, and apolitical." He attributes the latter quality to the fact that these stories were written "under constant threat of censorship, in a time when a writer's politics could lead to exile, imprisonment, and execution." This is a puzzling statement; one of the selections reprinted here is "The Singers," a story about a singing contest between peasants from Ivan Turgenev's A Sportsman's Sketches (1852), a book that has been called the Russian version of Uncle Tom's Cabin for its biting critique of serfdom. I do not say this as a pedantic scholar, but as a writer curious to know why Saunders would want to present such a flat, uncomplicated, and depoliticized background as essential to understanding the fundamentals of the craft of storytelling.
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain might catch readers looking for traditional literary criticism by surprise. As Saunders explains, it is actually more of a "workbook" for creative writers, based on a course he's taught at Syracuse University. It contains reprints of seven short stories, including Nikolai Gogol's absurdist social satire "The Nose," two of Leo Tolstoy's moral tales ("Master and Man" and "Alyosha the Pot"), the Turgenev story, and three works by Anton Chekhov. Saunders's own contributions include line-by-line analyses, tables, graphs, and charts meant to break down story arc and character networks. He warns us that he will not be providing the kind of studied examination we might expect from a scholar or a critic. Instead, we get a brick-by-brick approach to outlining, revising, and building narrative tension. The result often comes across as a bit detached. Take Saunders's discussion of Chekhov's "The Darling," a story about a woman named Olenka who takes on the interests and worries of whomever she falls in love with. She marries a theater owner named Kukin, who dies near the beginning of the story. In explaining the importance of killing off the husband so Olenka can meet someone new and commence her signature behavior pattern, Saunders writes: "So, Kukin has died, there in Moscow. As a new friend of Olenka's, I am sorry for her, the darling. But as a reader, I am sort of glad. Goodbye, Kukin, you gave your life for rising action."
Saunders writes that Olenka is presented as both beautifully altruistic and worryingly vampiric. But the more he gets to know Olenka, "the less inclined [he feels] to pass a too-harsh or premature judgment." This matter of not passing judgment seems to be the primary life lesson Saunders wants readers to draw from nineteenth-century Russian literature. That these writers held quite passionate and critical views of certain human behavior or social types often gets cast aside, as Saunders tries to squeeze them into what I think of as the Empathy Industrial Complex, a veritable cottage industry that emerged in 2016 alongside profiles of Donald Trump supporters (Saunders covered Trump rallies for the New Yorker).
I kept reading to understand why "the Russians" are uniquely poised to offer guidance on how to be more empathetic by virtue of being "the Russians." The closest we get to a culturally specific lesson on craft is in Saunders's fascination with the Russian literary device skaz. That word comes from the verb skazat', meaning "to tell," and is often translated as something like "unreliable narration." Saunders believes empathy is essentially baked into skaz because it presupposes the existence of multiple perspectives and variegated realities. Saunders says of the device, "It's like a prose version of the theory of relativity: no fixed, objective 'correct' viewpoint exists." Saunders then takes Gogol's disordered depiction of reality and turns it into one explanation for our current political divide: "If you've ever wondered, as I have, 'Given how generally sweet people are, why is the world so fucked up?,' Gogol has an answer: we each have an energetic and unique skaz loop running in our heads, one we believe in fully, not as 'merely my opinion,' but 'the way things actually are, for sure.'"
There is something ironic about using Gogol, a deeply conservative thinker who was certainly capable of disliking whole swaths of people (e.g., women), in a book that seems to make generic empathy the main thing we are to learn from "the Russians." Are we supposed to read Gogol and suddenly realize that the people shouting "Build That Wall" are not racists, but just have a "skaz loop" playing in their heads? This might be what Saunders is getting at. Indeed, elsewhere, when discussing how Chekhov builds anticipation in his fiction, Saunders puts forth an example of a story about "an angry white racist named Mel, who has cancer" and is about to be treated by "a slightly egotistical Pakistani American, Dr. Bukhari." To which Saunders adds, "I don't know what's going to happen next in that . . . room but I'm pretty sure something will." We are already bombarded by the narrative that white racists are actually downtrodden victims subject to the whims of uppity people of color; surely there is no need to encourage aspiring creative writers to imagine more of the same. At the very least, it is a cliché. This anecdote confirmed my worst suspicions of A Swim in a Pond in the Rain. What are "the big questions" if they make room for this kind of narrative, and why do I suspect that my concerns here might be framed as distracting "little" ones?
Jennifer Wilson is a contributing writer at The Nation where she covers books and culture. She has a Ph.D. in Russian literature.


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ABOVE: Out gay creator and actor Dan Levy made People's Sexiest Men Alive list.
Miguel Herrán in Money Heist is the money shot. (Image via Netflix)
OMG.BLOG! (WORK UNFRIENDLY): Nothing but hot guys in this coming-of-age roundup.
Like Zac Efron, Finn Wittrock's got a hot bro named Dylan. (Image via video still)
GAY FLESHBOT (WORK UNFRIENDLY): As much as you can handle of Finn Wittrock and his equally sexy brother Dylan Wittrock.
Clinton & Bush's memoirs sold less than half on their first days. (Image via Penguin Random House)
NBC NEWS: Barack Obama's A Promised Land sold 890,000 copies in its first 24 hours. It is on track to become the best-selling presidential memoir ever.
JOE.MY.GOD.: Kenosha Killer Kyle Rittenhouse bought his gun using coronavirus stimulus money.
THE HILL: In Michigan, two lunatic GOPers initially balked at certifying the vote in their area, which includes Detroit. After nationwide pressure to do the right thing, they relented and reversed their votes, allowing the vote to be certified. To have refused would have meant nakedly attempting to disenfranchise a huge number of mostly Black voters. Last night, the two — Monica Palmer and William Hartmann — tried to rescind their yes votes! And now, Palmer is gushing that "busy guy" Trump actually called her. But not to, you know, interfere with the results of a federal election, mind ya, just to check on her safety.
Busy guy:
No events on President Trump's public schedule again tomorrow. That will mark the 12th day since the election where he hasn't held any public events. No questions in over two weeks, which is unusual for him.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 19, 2020
WAPO: Rudy Giuliani hasn't presented a case in federal court in damn near 30 years. Here is how it went, using a question from the judge:
You're alleging that the two individual plaintiffs were denied the right to vote. But at bottom, you're asking this court to invalidate more than 6.8 million votes, thereby disenfranchising every single voter in the commonwealth. Can you tell me how this result can possibly be justified?
NYT: Wajahat Ali writes eloquently about why reaching out to Trumpers is futile.
NME: Bruce on Family Guy — always joked about as being clandestinely gay — is coming out and getting married.
Smell it by his name? (Image via Etsy)
AOL: If you've ever wanted to smell like Timothée Chalamet — not just smell, like, Timothée Chalamet — here is your chance.
INSTAGRAM (FOLLOWS APPRECIATED): Lesbian overachiever Jodie Foster is among today's celeb b'days:
KFC: Kind of amazing — Ryan Phillippe reminisces about his early role as a gay teen and how he decided to do Cruel Intentions, and it comes up that his religious parents shunned him over that work:
GR8ERDAYS: Janet Hubert and Will Smith have met and hashed out all their bitter differences on camera as part of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion on HBO Max.


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Why Do Perceptions of Police Vary?
A recent study published by the Pew Research Center found, perhaps unsurprisingly, that people's views on police performance vary based on race. Blacks were four times more likely to tell researchers that they have no confidence in police in their communities than whites were. Where does this vast disparity come from? Why does this matter?
Differing views on policing is a great example of how one's social location—our history, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and nationality, among other factors—shapes the way that we view the world. Social location is related to our literal location too, and how our experiences in that location impact our perceptions.
Like many white Americans who responded the Pew survey, I grew up in a community where the police were viewed as a protective force. (Seventy-eight percent of white respondents said that their local police do a good or excellent job protecting people from crime.)
I remember the police coming to our house only twice growing up. We had called them both times, and they arrived within minutes for what turned out to be false alarms about possible intruders. They were professional, courteous and polite both times. Because of these experiences, when I see a police car drive by in my neighborhood I feel protected, not threatened.
Not all people have had this experience; for those who grow up in a community where police surveillance feels threatening rather than reassuring, a police car can create a sense of anxiety, dread, and fear. Take the case of Frank Jude, Jr., an African-American man brutally beaten by off-duty police while attending a party in Milwaukee in 2004. After a friend called the police to report the attack, officers arrived and participated in beating Jude further. Approximately eight officers were involved in his beating.
Three officers were initially tried by the state and acquitted by an all-white jury. This decision led to public outrage and demonstrations, as well as to a call for federal charges, which were soon filed. While the officers involved would soon plead guilty or be convicted of federal charges, the incident and their initial acquittal served as reinforcement to those who might have had bad experiences with police officers who abuse their power.
According to the Pew survey, only one in three blacks surveyed thought that police in their community do a good or excellent job using the right amount of force (compared with three-fourths of whites sampled). Less than one in three blacks thought that departments do a good or excellent job holding officers accountable for misconduct, compared with seven in ten whites.
This disparity in perception has real consequences. Sociologists Matthew Desmond, Andrew V. Papachristos, and David S. Kirk studied the effects of the Jude beating on the likelihood of Milwaukee residents to call the police. Their study, "Police Violence and Citizen Crime Reporting in the Black Community," involved an analysis of 911 calls made to Milwaukee police the year before and after the 2004 incident, as well as several other high-profile incidents from other parts of the country.
Using time series analysis and carefully controlling for possible intervening variables (such as changes in crime rates, neighborhood demographics, and poverty rates), the researchers found that:
[P]ublicized cases of police violence against unarmed black men have a clear and significant impact on citizen crime reporting. Once the story of Frank Jude's beating appeared in the press, Milwaukee residents, especially people in black neighborhoods, were less likely to call the police, including to report violent crime. Both white and black citizens opinions of the police may drop after a high-profile brutality case against unarmed black men… but our study found that only people living in black neighborhoods altered their crime-reporting behavior for a significant period of time after the publication of such events. The dampening effect of the Jude beating on citizen crime reporting persisted for months, resulting in a net loss of more than 20,000 911 calls. It is one thing to disparage law enforcement in your thoughts and speech after an instance of police violence or corruption makes the news. It is quite another to witness a crime, or even to be victimized, and refuse to report it.
Desmond, Papachristos and Kirk's findings remind us that police violence has an impact on more than just those directly involved, but mistrust of police can reduce the public's willingness to cooperate with police investigations or to call police when a crime has been committed. For those that have experienced events similar to Frank Jude, calling the police may not seem like a good idea. When police are not seen as neighborhood protectors, citizens may take on this role themselves, leading to retribution and more violence.
While we might hear about police violence more now thanks to the social media and the ubiquity of cell phone video, this is not a new problem. As The Atlantic reported last year, concerns about police led to the civil unrest in cities across the country during the 1960s.
Following these events, a federal investigation studied the roots of the problem and published their findings in a 1967 book known as the Kerner Report. The report noted the pervasiveness of racial segregation and police brutality as key causes of civil unrest, and recommended that cities move away from the militarized policing that had begun in many of the poorest sections of America's cities. Nearly 50 years on, we can see that the Kerner commission's findings were not heeded, and the same issues that sparked uprisings in the 1960s are still with us today.
Understanding the concept social location can help us better understand why people might view issues like policing in a very different way. It is a useful tool for going beyond thinking our perspective is the only viewpoint, and instead one viewpoint among many.
What other controversial issues can the concept of social location help us better understand?


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NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 11, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Bestselling author and award-winning songwriter, Thornton Cline will bring his latest published children's book, "The Amazing Magical Musical Plants" (ISBN: 978-1574243253) to Anaheim, Calif., for a free multimedia book event tour of the Anaheim Public Libraries on January 19-24, 2016.
"Children discover that playing their musical instruments for their plants can make them grow in this fun, magical book," says Cline.
Cline will kick off his book-event tour with a guest appearance at the Haskett Library on Tuesday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. and will end the tour with a featured presentation for the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) on Sunday, January 24 at 3 p.m. in the Anaheim Convention Center.
"The Amazing Magical Musical Plants" is Cline's third children's book co-authored with bestselling children's author, Crystal Bowman and illustrated by award-winning illustrator, Susan Oliver. It is narrated by actress, Jayla Palmer. The new children's book is published on Centerstream/Hal Leonard Publishing. Cline's first children's book, "The Amazing Incredible Shrinking Violin" (ISBN: 978-1574243130) soared up the charts to become number one on the Amazon bestselling list for children's musical books.
The book is now available at major book sellers and online at Amazon: http://amzn.com/157424325X.
Thornton Cline has been honored with "Songwriter of the Year" twice in a row for his hit song, "Love is the Reason" recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck and Gloria Gaynor. He is author of three children's books, one novel and three non-fiction books. Cline is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He resides in Nashville with his wife and children.
For more information, please visit: http://www.thorntoncline.com/.
Twitter: @thornton_cline
*IMAGE for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0111-musical-plants-300dpi.jpg
To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/bestselling-author-to-bring-magical-musical-plants-to-california-libraries-and-namm-2016-0111-01.shtml.
NEWS SOURCE Thornton Cline :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2016 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.


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Ryan Sean Adams, Mythos Capital founder, believes three key factors are behind the success of Ethereum and Uniswap this year.
The strategist laid out the catalysts as building product users want, maximizing Ethereum's advantages while dealing with its limitations.
The Meteoric Rise of Uniswap
In the third quarter of 2020, the demand for both Ethereum and Uniswap saw explosive growth from decentralized finance (DeFi).
As the total value locked in DeFi protocols surpassed $10 billion, the daily volume of the Uniswap decentralized exchange surged. The demand for Uniswap and its native governance token UNI rose to a point where it started to clog the Ethereum blockchain.
Consequently, the daily volume of Uniswap surpassed Coinbase Pro at its peak, as UToday previously reported.
Following the rapid growth of Uniswap, the team behind the decentralized exchange then launched UNI. The governance token, which was airdropped to all Uniswap users, surpassed $8 at its peak. That means the 400 UNI distributed to every Uniswap user prior to September 1 was worth up to $3,200.
Both the pre and post-governance token phases of Uniswap have been a success. As Adams explained:
"Let's be clear: it's not a mystery why Uniswap was successful. They... 1) Shipped something people want, while 2) Using Ethereum's superpowers 3) Working with Ethereum's constraints Product fit and platform fit. Same story as always."
The momentum of Uniswap further strengthened with the launch of UNI, because it gives the community the power to govern the protocol. The biggest platform on Ethereum in terms of gas spend becoming a community-led decentralized protocol is a major milestone.
Passing Governance to the Public
In the near future, Uniswap plans to release V3, the third version of the decentralized exchange.
Based on the high demand for DeFi, it is likely that Uniswap V3 would attract more users to both Uniswap and Ethereum.
The new product release coincides with the launch of the UNI governance token, which makes it a major development for Uniswap.
The Uniswap team said:
"The Uniswap team will continue to have no involvement in v2 protocol development, auditing, and other matters. Similarly, team members will not participate directly in governance for the foreseeable future, although they may delegate votes to protocol delegates without seeking to influence their voting decisions."
But some prominent DeFi developers, including Yearn.finance creator Andre Cronje, questioned the timing of the UNI launch.
"Kinda meh about the UNI launch. The launch itself is perfect, surprise launch and retrospective. Exactly how it should be done nowadays But I can't help but feel that the launch was simply in response to SUSHI. Never let other people set the pace for you, move at your own pace," Cronje said on September 17.


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The hit Star Wars Disney+ series The Mandalorian recently saw a huge shakeup, as Cara Dune actress Gina Carano was fired from her role . The actress was let go due to her recent comments comparing being an American Republican in the modern era to the experiences of the Jewish community during the time of the Holocaust.
Carano was set to return in future installments of The Mandalorian and was slated to star in her own Disney+ spin-off series , but those plans will now have to change .
Following her firing, very few of her co-stars have spoken out in favor of the actress due to her controversial actions . However, one of her co-stars from The Mandalorian has now come to her defense, whilst sharing his disliking of the cancel culture era.
Migs Mayfeld actor Bill Burr has defended his The Mandalorian co-star Gina Carano, following her firing from future Star Wars properties.
On a recent episode of The Bill Bert Podcast , via IndieWire , Burr admitted that "it's a weird time" and implied that he didn't think that Carano should have been fired "unless she did some truly horrible shit or said overtly racist shit," saying on his show:
"It's a weird time….Unless she did some truly horrible shit or said overtly racist shit... I don't know. I think there is just too many channels. And then you gotta do sensational shit…I don't know what the f*** it is. I'm on that f***ing show. Now, I gotta watch what the f*** I say."
Burr described the Cara Dune actress as an "absolute sweetheart" and a "super nice f***ing person," stating:
"She was an absolute sweetheart. Super nice f***ing person. And you know whatever and somehow someone will take this video and they'll make me say something else and try to get rid of my bald action figure. It's how it is out there. It's f***ing crazy times. People just waiting, laying in the weeds."
The comedian and actor shared his opinion of the people waiting for celebrities to slip up in some way, describing the recent cancel culture era as "crazy times."
Burr also shared his thoughts on cancel culture, stating:
"Now it's becoming like, 'Hey you made an ignorant comparison. (flushing sound) There goes your dream, right? I look at that and it's like, 'Who the f*** stands up to that?'"
It was to be expected that very few of Carano's co-stars would choose to speak out in her favor. The actress's extremely controversial comments made it almost impossible for any friends in the cast or crew to defend her actions without putting themselves at risk of suffering the same fate.
Disney is in an extremely tough position going forward to replace Carano's role in the universe. If it was a simple issue of removing the character from The Mandalorian Season 3, the studio would likely have minimal issues. However, as the character was set to lead her own show that was likely to be the upcoming Rangers of the New Republic , The Mandalorian may require significant rewrites.
Recent reports have suggested the studio will be looking to replace Dune with a different character instead of recasting the actress herself. Rumors recently circulated the studio is planning to replace the character in Rangers of the New Republic with Star Wars Rebels character Hera Syndulla .
Syndulla is said to act as a bridge between The Mandalorian and its spin-off series, a perfect choice due to her established relationship with Ahsoka Tano who will star in her own spin-off series.
The Mandalorian timeline will next be explored in The Book of Boba Fett, set to debut in December on Disney+ .


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Types of close. Ways to end the classroom session
There are a number of common types of close most of which are listed above. These are:
QUESTION: closing on a question will again focus the attention of the audience on the points you have been discussing. The question could be the same question that was used in the opening.
QUOTATION: so long as the quotation is completely relevant to what has gone before it can be a very fine way to close a speech. It could be linked to the opening.
STORY: if the story is completely relevant, it will highlight one or more points made in the speech. One danger to avoid is the possibility that the end of the story will not quite close the lesson – it may need a sentence or two to round it off.
SUMMARY: briefly reviewing the salient points of the lesson so that no doubt remains in the mind of the audience. Avoid the danger of going over too much again. Remember: it is only a summary.
LINK FORWARD: This is the most common in training. The instructor states "in the next lesson we will be learning about the forklift's hydraulic system" or whatever the subject is. Don't get drawn into a discussion on it as it will spoil your next lesson.


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The wrong home updates could compromise a home's fire prevention systems More
The NAHB has urged its members to oppose a new National Fire Protection Agency model building code, reviving a debate between the two associations over stair tread and riser standards. The NFPA 5000, issued in August 2002, requires a minimum tread depth of 11 inches and a maximum riser height of 7 inches for both residential and commercial buildings. More


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As we close in on game day, we continue our deep dive into what #17 Indiana brings to the table this weekend by going directly to the source. Earlier in the week, we recapped pre-season comments from SB Nation Indiana blog Crimson Quarry managing editor Mike Miller. Those touched on key players coming back for a team that finished just outside the top-10 last season, as well as those who have moved on, and explored the team's full season outlook.
Today, we're circling back with Mike and Crimson Quarry to take a more specific look at the matchup between Indiana and your #18 Iowa Hawkeyes. Here are our five questions on the Indiana Hoosiers.
BHGP: When Hawkeye fans think of Indiana we tend to picture high-powered offenses with defense a secondary consideration. But in 2020 the Hoosiers boasted a top-20 scoring defense. Some key pieces have moved on, but IU has plenty of talent returning in 2021. What should Iowa fans expect out of the Hoosiers on the defensive side of the ball week 1?
CQ: Ever since Tom Allen arrived at Indiana as defensive coordinator in 2016, the Hoosiers' program identity has gradually — and deliberately — shifted to the defensive side of the ball. The defense emphasizes takeaways, while using a mix of coverages and ideas to confuse and bait opposing offenses. It's been a remarkable transformation for anyone who, like you say, remembers the Kevin Wilson era. Now, IU has not just one All-American defender, but two. Corner Tiawan Mullen has been outstanding not only in coverage, but as a contributor to the pass rush, too. (As an aside, keep in mind that IU corners combined for 5.5 sacks in eight games last year, so the corner blitz is very much part of that defensive identity.) Linebacker Micah McFadden has also developed from a player who was, at one point, a two-star recruit in at least one database to a team captain and trusted man in the middle of IU's defense. The Hoosiers have a new defensive coordinator this year in former Georgia defensive backs coach Charlton Warren. But make no mistake, this is Allen's defense. His fingerprints are all over it. And while Warren will be poised to add his own wrinkles, this group will still operate with Allen's guidance.
BHGP: On the other side of things, Indiana put up nearly 29 points per game in 2020 on the back of a stellar season out of 2nd Team All-Big Ten QB Michael Penix, Jr. That season was cut short with an ACL tear. What is the status of the Hoosiers' star QB and what should we expect out of this Indiana passing game that returns All-Big Ten players at WR and TE as well?
CQ: Here's the thing ... if Penix can stay healthy, he's demonstrated he can be one of the best quarterbacks not only in the Big Ten, but in the country. However, he's suffered season-ending injuries in each of his first three campaigns in Bloomington, and his ability to stay on the field will be the No. 1 question hovering over the Hoosiers all fall. As of now, everyone seems to be encouraged with the progress he's made from the ACL tear he suffered last November. We'll see, I suppose, just how accurate the reports are when things get underway on Saturday. While IU has some depth at quarterback, there is such a noticeable difference in the offensive ceiling when Penix is in the backfield. Plus, guys just seem to emotionally respond to him. He makes such a difference. Having Ty Fryfogle, last year's Big Ten receiver of the year, back for one more year gives Penix a reliable and dangerous target on the outside, while Miles Marshall is another big outside target who IU hopes to see take another big step forward this season. In the slot, meanwhile, Florida State transfer D.J. Matthews will look to replace the production of Whop Philyor. Really, IU's depth at receiver is quite something — and I'm not sure we've seen it to this degree in some time. Jacolby Hewitt and Javon Swinton represent a second wave of options at the position, while freshmen Jaquez Smith and Malachi Holt-Bennett — both of whom were four-star recruits — could find their ways into the mix before long. At tight end, Peyton Hendershot leads the group. He's a pass-catching tight end who, despite earning all-league honors, didn't have a great year in 2020. Drops were a consistent problem for Hendershot, who will have plenty to prove this season.
BHGP: Staying on offense, one of the biggest question marks for this Iowa defense is the interior of the defensive line. What can Hawkeye fans expect out of the Indiana running game and can the Hoosiers expose Iowa's lack of experience at defensive tackle?
CQ: Great question. For me, the line play on both sides of the ball (and for both teams) is going to be fascinating to follow on Saturday. Honestly, IU's running game has felt pretty stagnant for a couple of years now. Much of that, it seems, is directly related to the consistently underwhelming performance of the offensive line. This offseason, IU's coaching staff regularly went out of its way to note that last year, due to repeated stops and starts related to the pandemic, there just wasn't enough time on task to implement more advanced and creative blocking schemes. So they went vanilla — and the results reflected as much. The hope is that another year of experience for the boys up front, coupled with a more normal offseason of training and preparation, will lead to better rushing results this fall. USC transfer Stephen Carr, a former five-star prospect in 2017, is now the lead back, winning a competition for carries during fall camp thanks to a well-rounded skill set and an advanced understanding of position coach Deland McCullough's approach. Carr and McCullough previously worked together at USC before McCullough latched on with the Kansas City Chiefs. The return of McCullough, who recruited and coached former IU stars Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard during his first stint with the program from 2011 to 2016, adds to the intrigue of the running game. I'm still not sure exactly how good it'll be. But it'll at least be interesting to see what the new guys can do to help that side of the offense yield more useful production.
BHGP: Under Tom Allen, the Hoosiers have been able to build a foundation that appears to have raised the floor for the program longer term. One of the things we always hear about from Allen is "LEO". It's on Indiana's helmets. But it's also a town in Indiana where Iowa has coincidentally tried to recruit a couple prospects. This is all very confusing to Hawkeye fans. Can you explain what LEO is and how that's helped translate to on-field success if it has?
CQ: Ha! The confusion is understood. Basically, the LEO mantra means: Love Each Other. It goes back to Allen's time as defensive coordinator in 2016. When he came to Bloomington, he was tasked with fixing a defense that was one of the absolute worst units in the nation. Just awful stuff, really. I'll never forget one of your old friends, Jake Rudock, and Michigan coming into Memorial Stadium in 2015 and throwing for, like, a billion yards and six scores. It was brutal. Anyway, Allen had to fix that. He started with the culture rather than the scheme. Sure, there was a fix for the latter (he implemented a 4-2-5), but he recognized that these players had been mentally beaten down by all the failures of previous seasons, on top of continually hearing exactly how bad they were. So he aimed to not only form meaningful, heartfelt connections between himself and his charges, but he encouraged players to do the same with each other. Invest in one another, he told them, and great results can follow. I know, I know. It sounds kind of trite. But great results did follow, in large part because players responded to his message. They genuinely liked their coach and wanted to play and perform for him. When Kevin Wilson — a polar opposite of Allen — was ousted after that season, Allen took that message to the entire team. The buy-in seemed to be there immediately, though the results took some time to materialize. All the while, you had this team that really seemed to pull together. So basically, long story short, LEO is another way of saying come together and put the team first. Love each other. A lot of coaches have used a form of that mantra over the decades, but it does feel unique with Allen. He's a genuinely good man who deeply, deeply cares about people. I got to know him while covering the program for the Bloomington Herald-Times and can confidently say that he is exactly who you think he is. He's a very empathetic person striving to lift people up. It's sort of like in any other walk of life: his people respond to him because they know he cares. He's also demonstrated that he's a pretty decent football coach, which helps, too.
BHGP: Ok, prediction time. The line on this one has moved around a bit, but most of the books have Iowa favored by between 3 and 5 points with an over/under set around 46. How do you see this one shaking out and what's your final score prediction?
CQ: I've been all over the place on this one. Seriously. A month or two ago, I was consistently picking Iowa. Then, I changed my mind. And again and again the cycle has continued. The other day, I did a podcast and picked IU in a close one (as Vegas seems to believe). Ultimately, I just feel like IU has the edge on defense and at quarterback. But openers are always squirrelly, so who knows? I think it'll be a good one and I'm pumped to see Kinnick rocking — I swear I'm not pandering. It's my favorite stadium in the Big Ten. For our purposes here, though, I'll go IU 24-20.
So there you have it. Thanks so much to Mike Miller of Crimson Quarry for taking the time, even as he was in the process of transitioning to a new position in sport journalism. Best of luck to Mike on the new adventure. Here's hoping he does well in all things except predicting the Iowa-Indiana matchup.


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1 Front Brake Master Cylinder and Lever - aftermarket? Tue Jul 24, 2018 4:52 pm
Silver member
Hello! I am looking at changing my hand controls and need to change the both the front brake and clutch levers and such. I have been doing some searching but cannot determine what after market front brake master cylinder will accept the stock brake line. I would not be oppose to changing it, but i just purchased a new line lol. Maybe I could get an adapter, but trying to keep it clean.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?


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This post was originally published on this site
https://i-invdn-com.akamaized.net/news/LYNXNPEC0K0YG_M.jpgInvesting.com — Here are three things that went under the radar this week.
1. FOMO Fever Keeps Traders Coming Back More
The fear of missing out, or FOMO should hold little place in rationally functioning markets. But as time has proven markets are neither rational nor efficient. Greed and fear have long been the two overriding emotions prompting traders to take action.
With markets riding a wave of all-time highs, FOMO fever has gripped fund managers once gain. In a desperate dash to join the rally, they have cut their cash holdings to the lowest level in years, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch's latest fund manager survey.
The survey of 230 managers found cash levels fell 0.8% to 4.2%, the biggest monthly decline since November 2016 and the lowest cash balance since June 2013. And their allocation to equities has gone the other way, rising 20% month-on-month to net 21% overweight, the highest level in one year.
While the U.S.-China trade war is still thought to represent the biggest risk, recent signs of progress has kept FOMO alive and well, with managers betting a partial trade deal will be consummated soon, the survey showed.
FOMO or not, some on Wall Street have warned against chasing the rally at a time when stocks appear to be running too hot.
"We think you are just plain old overbought in the equity market right now," said Lori Calvasina, head of U.S. equity strategy at RBC Capital Markets. "When I talk to investors and I talk to people who are more bullish, I hear the FOMO in their voices."
With a bumpy road for risk assets expected in coming year, Goldman Sachs has also echoed caution.
"High uncertainty, investor fears of a recession, and low starting cash allocations will likely limit a significant increase in equity allocations" in 2020, Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients last month.
2. Should Boeing Whipsaw the Dow?
As indexes go, the is a little crazy because it's price weighted. So the higher the stock price, the more influence the stock has on the average.
This is important because Boeing (NYSE:) has been perhaps the most important influence on the Dow all year. Friday, as an example, Boeing was up 1.24%, 10th best among the 30 Dow stocks. (Tops was Pfizer (NYSE:) at 2.2%.)
But because Boeing is the single-priciest Dow stock at about $372, Boeing's gain of $4.55 a share translates into a 32-point gain for the index, or about 20% of the total change.
This is why news about the problems with the 737 MAX airliner, grounded in March after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 passengers and crew, affects the Dow so greatly.
The index looks to finish up 1.4% on the week, or about 258 points. Boeing is contributing about 144 points, or 55% of the total gain.
Boeing shares have fallen 16.7% from a $446.01 peak on March 1 but are still up 15% for the year. The shares did go negative on the year once, on Aug. 14, when the shares were down 0.64%.
The company said this week it expects the Federal Aviation Administration to approve its fixes to the plane's flight-control systems next month, with flights resuming in late January.
The news cheered Wall Street.
Boeing still faces three huge challenges.
• Three of the biggest 737 customers – American Airlines (NASDAQ:), United Airlines (NASDAQ:) and Southwest Airlines (NYSE:) – aren't scheduling flights using the planes until March at the earliest.
• Passengers may be reluctant to book flights that use the plane for a while.
• Boeing faces years of litigation from airlines, whose businesses have been disrupted by the groundings, and, more importantly, families of passengers killed in the accidents.
3. Buy Side Continues
Stocks ended with a flourish Friday, but will the buyers continue? JPMorgan (NYSE:) thinks so.
"We keep our bullish equity market view, expecting further gains, and reiterate our September call for the rotation in style and sector leadership," JPM said.
"We continue to believe that style and sector rotation will be seen as a positive for the overall market direction," the analysts said. "The recent market behavior appears to confirm this. Since the September low in Value/Growth, markets are up 5% on average, with broad-based participation, and are fully absorbing 50bp upmove in U.S. and German bond yields."
"The key for a sustained rotation is that it gets fundamental supports, namely the bounce in bond yields and in PMIs," JPM added. "We expect both of these to come through. Euro PMIs follow M1 and China export orders, and these are improving. Global manufacturing PMI is stable for 3 months now."


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Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture. Today, E.U. ambassador Gordon Sondland's impeachment testimony, last night's Democratic debate, and Prince Andrew's disastrous interview.
In yesterday's impeachment testimony, Ambassador Gordon Sondland revised his earlier statements, saying that he "followed the president's orders" and summing up, simply, "Was there a 'quid pro quo'? … The answer is yes." How damaging is Sondland's testimony for the Republicans' defense of Trump?
If the Republicans cared about the facts or the gravity of the crime being investigated, the answer would be apocalyptically damaging. But they don't care, and they will continue to defend Trump even if those testifying under oath include an eyewitness to a criminal conspiracy hatched in the White House like Sondland, or patriots like Fiona Hill, Alexander Vindman, and Marie Yovanovitch, who not only provided irrefutable evidence of the crime but detailed the existential threat that crime poses to America.
Had Trump pulled out that (so far) proverbial gun and shot someone on Fifth Avenue, Republicans would trot out the exact same defense they have this week: The shot was fired at 2 a.m. and there were no eyewitnesses. Those nearby who claimed to have heard the shot had actually heard a car backfiring. The closed-circuit video capturing the incident is, as the president says, a hoax concocted by the same Fake News outlets that manufactured the Access Hollywood video. The confession released by the White House was "perfect" evidence of Trump's innocence. Election records show that the cops who arrived on the scene were registered Democrats and therefore part of a deep-state conspiracy to frame the president for a crime he didn't commit but that the Democrats did. The victim was not killed and will make a complete recovery, so no crime was committed anyway. And even if Trump had killed the young woman he gunned down, the argument advanced by Trump's lawyer last month would apply: "The person who serves as president, while in office, enjoys absolute immunity from criminal process of any kind." Next case!
The crime Trump actually is accused of is far more severe than that imaginary shooting in any event. He and his co-conspirators, including the vice-president and secretary of State, were guilty of aiding Vladimir Putin's plan to bludgeon Ukraine, an American ally, and, in Fiona Hill's language, "to weaken our country" as well. That Putin's foremost goal is to sabotage the electoral process that is the beating heart of our democracy doesn't seem to matter a whit to Vichy Republicans. If the devastating facts unfurled with great clarity by Adam Schiff's committee has failed to move them, what would? History — particularly the history of the prominent political figures in England, France, and the United States who appeased and collaborated with Germany during the Nazis rise to power — suggests that they will only be moved to speak up when it's too late.
Last night's Democratic debate was the first held since Pete Buttigieg has climbed into the top tier of candidates, and attempted to weather the level of scrutiny that comes with that position. How did he do?
The proof that no one knows what the hell is happening at this point in the Democratic primary was the nearly uniform pre-debate prediction by journalists and politicians that the evening's main event would be Buttigieg takedowns. Eyeing Mayor Pete's rise in polling in his state, the former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack put it this way earlier this week: "He may be able to take a punch. He may not. We just don't know." And we still don't. Except for a scuffle with the soon-to-depart Tulsi Gabbard in the final moments, Buttigieg received at most light taps from his actual rivals and deflected them with ease. That said, to me his easy-listening unflappability still seems to be the voice of a McKinsey consultant, which he once was.
One thing we can all agree on is that the Democrats will not win if they bore the electorate to tears. Yes, many voters may be looking to swing the pendulum away from a president whose style is to compulsively provide entertainment (or at least his brand of it) 24/7. But the overall inability of the candidates to engage with each other passionately before a national television audience last night leaves you wondering how much they are engaging even with the core audience tuning into a debate broadcast on MSNBC.
Did anyone learn anything new last night? Bernie Sanders continues to bounce back impressively from his heart attack. The debate did not illuminate where Elizabeth Warren's Medicare for All plan stands after the seeming hedging of recent days. Joe Biden still cannot get through an unrehearsed answer without slipping into incoherence, irrelevance, or both. Amy Klochubar still can't quit making scripted quips that she delivers as if to emphasize how canned they are (last night's: "I raised $17,000 from ex-boyfriends"). While Cory Booker declared that he is not looking for "a kumbaya moment" as president, he still conveys the sunny, broad good will of kumbaya more successfully than any compelling policy ideas. Kamala Harris's tough prosecutorial intelligence continues to lack a third dimension onstage. The best to be said about Tom Steyer is that he's not Howard Schultz. In the novelty spot, Andrew Yang is not nearly as fascinating as Marianne Williamson.
Even though Michael Bloomberg has scant chance of winning the Democratic nomination, he couldn't jump in soon enough. He's a billionaire who has actually done things in public life — good, bad, and indifferent. His long record and his money will shake things up. The Democratic field needs a jolt. To use a Biden metaphor from a previous debate, watching this one was like listening to a record player when the needle is stuck.
In the wake of a disastrous BBC interview about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew has announced that he will "step back from public duties" for the near future. Will this decision shield him from further repercussions?
A British friend of mine observes that Prince Andrew's BBC interview has united her country for the first time since Brexit. No one believed him, and no viewer was left unappalled. I don't know what "further repercussions" could befall him even if there was evidence that he raped a girl in Epstein's Manhattan mansion. I'm no lawyer, but wouldn't this require the Palace to allow his extradition to the United States? In any case, as a public figure, the prince is done, except as a possible role for Ricky Gervais in season five of The Crown.
I'm much more interested in the repercussions for the various see-no-evil, hear-no-evil American Establishment figures who hung out with Epstein, in some cases took his money and favors or gave him money and favors, and are skating away (or trying to): Alan Dershowitz, Leslie Wexner, and Leon Black most of all in terms of documented interaction with Epstein, but also such hangers-on as Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, not to mention the Harvard retinue led by Larry Summers and Steven Pinker. Go to YouTube, watch the roughly 50-minute Prince Andrew interview in its entirety, and imagine all these American Establishment men being subjected to a similarly rigorous inquiry. It will chill the blood.


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Announcing the End of Paintball as You Know It!
Armageddon Paintball has been built on the years of Paintball experiences by Wayne and Heather Stockdale and their son Kenny. Their love of paintball and previous ownership of Nelson's original Appelby paintball field has resulted in a field that will far surpass all your expectations.
While Armageddon Paintball has now changed ownership to Norman and Bo Hensley, Kenny will continue to work with the Hensley's to ensure your paintball experiences are second to none.
Kenny brings a wealth of experience having competed in pro competitions in Australia and worldwide, including world cups in Asia, super 7s and was twice selected for the Queensland State of Origin.
Armageddon Paintball brings a whole new dimension to paintball in Nelson.
Get ready for total immersion, the ultimate hire gear, top of the line tournament grade paintballs, a licenced cafe, large comfortable staging area for safety briefings and even... get this...indoor plumbing!
Open all year round, just outside Nelson.
ARMAGEDDON Paintball has created the ultimate experience in Paintball excitement...semi-automatic mayhem...from the games you play, to the field you play on.
The town of Purgatory is an apocalyptic town set amongst the ruins of dozens of burned out buildings, cars and street lights; creating the eeriest of landscapes.
What makes us different!
The Field
The apocalyptic custom built theme town of Purgatory - offering unique urban paintball warfare.
The Field's finer details
It's the finer details of this field that gives you the ultimate paintball experience. Purgatory, a custom built town with purpose built buildings includes everything from real street lights, toxic safety signs to plaster made skulls; all of which makes for a game of ultimate visual experience and realism in a nuclear destroyed town.
Safety is our primary concern.
Our experienced staff give a full safety briefing before every game and we offer high quality gear for maximum safety. Safety signage is available in multiple languages.
The Paintballs
ARMAGEDDON Paintball uses High Quality Tournament grade paintballs for every player.
The Uniform
ARMAGEDDON Paintball provides everyone with team colour suits to distinguish the teams apart.
® Copyright © 2002-2021 Hensley's PG Ltd. All Rights Reserved.


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Bronx teen missing after leaving suicide note
A Bronx mother is desperately searching for her teenage daughter, who she says is suicidal.
According to Ruthie Roman, her daughter Natasha Alers has been missing since Wednesday after leaving behind a note saying that she no longer wants to live.
The girl's school contacted Roman the same day her daughter disappeared to say she hadn't been to class for a week.
Roman says that her 15-year-old daughter has a history of mental illness and survived a previous suicide attempt in September. Roman has stomach cancer, which has left her wheelchair-bound, and she says this has also impacted her daughter's emotional state.
Alers is described as Hispanic and stands at just over 5 feet tall. She weighs about 125 pounds.
Roman turned the suicide note over to police, who are now investigating her disappearance. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.


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Plastic compromises
We are half way through July and up until now I haven't even mentioned Plastic Free July (PFJ). The idea behind PFJ is to avoid all single use plastic throughout the month. Last year I started preparing for it months in advance and really tried my hardest (for more info about PFJ see here).
Plastic pollutes in so many way. Firstly it is made from fossil fuels, which need to extracted, transformed into plastic and then transported to where they are needed, with all the waste and pollution that goes along with that. Secondly during it's use it may leach unpleasant chemicals into the foods and liquids we cover it with. Finally discarding the plastic causes yet more pollution – fish containing degraded plastic chemicals or exotic islands covered in plastic rubbish and dead animals appeal to anyone? Recycling can help but is not the ideal solution – at some point it will still need to be disposed of.
I am not done with my plastic free journey, it is now a general target that I have in the back of my mind. One day I will work out how to make ketchup that is actually edible from plastic free ingredients and one day I will stop using plastic containers (albeit reusable ones) in my kitchen.
I have accepted though that I can't, OK I choose not to be 100% single use plastic free. I have made compromises, because without them I would make things harder for myself than I would be happy with and I would feel too overwhelmed by the challenge and quit.
Some examples of compromises I have made include:
- Most of the time I don't use shampoo or conditioner. I wash my hair just with olive oil bar soap, which comes in cardboard boxes (although I bought them in bulk and the boxes came wrapped in plastic packaging, but let's not talk about that!). I have found though that sometimes the soap doesn't seem to do the job and every so often I use shampoo which sorts this problem out and then I go back to using soap.
- I make yoghurt from milk that I buy in glass bottles once or twice a week. After several batches of yoghurt making though it starts to go a bit wrong – it might be a bit too lumpy or too thin for example. Once a month I buy some yoghurt from the shops in a plastic pot to start a new batch of homemade yoghurt.
- I still use dishwasher tablets. I have tried various alternatives – home made versions, shop bought powder and putting vinegar in a cup in the centre of the dishwasher. Nothing cleaned the dishes anywhere near as well as the dishwasher tablets. Does anyone have any better ideas for me? Otherwise I'm sticking with the dishwasher tablets for now.
- It can be hard to source all fruit and veg plastic free in one place. Other foods can often be bought in bulk less regularly, but fruit and veg need to be bought fresh each week and it isn't always practical to go to various different places to buy them. I find that the local shops or farmers markets sell cucumbers, grapes, tomatoes and mushrooms unpackaged sometimes, but not all the time. Plus plastic isn't the only consideration when it comes to food. In an ideal world all food being sold would be fair trade, organic, local and plastic free. At the moment I buy fruit and veg from Abel and Cole. The food is organic, fair trade and British (where possible). It isn't really local though and although a lot of the food comes loose in a cardboard box, some foods come packaged in plastic bags or plastic punnets.
- Although I make our food from scratch from unpackaged ingredients the majority of the time, I don't do it all the time. I know my limits and let myself buy some packaged foods occasionally that I could make myself e.g. chips. They are the exception rather than the rule though.
- Lastly some things I can't currently source plastic free and it either isn't practical or I haven't worked out how, to make or grow them myself. Things like medicines, crisps and tomato ketchup.
There are a lot of changes that individuals can make to become zero waste and plastic free, but there comes a point where businesses need to make changes to the way they package their products. I can try my hardest to avoid single use plastic, but if I am in a rush to go somewhere and don't have all the food and drink I need with me, I may well find the only things available to me come in plastic packaging. Plus as I mentioned before, some things are very difficult to source without plastic packaging and even if they are available they may not be easy to get hold of when you actually need them.
Which small changes could you make to reduce the single use plastic in your life this July? Could you even take on the Plastic Free July challenge – it doesn't have to only happen in July – any month will do! Let's all work together to be part of the solution and not the problem!
If you liked this post please click like on Facebook and follow on Twitter – thanks so much!


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ShopRite Stores Help Quaker Chewy Find Next Kid Superstar
In its quest to find the next pop music sensation among the junior set, the Quaker Chewy Superstar Search is stopping in various markets across the country, including two New Jersey ShopRite locations this weekend. Parents or legal guardians can accompany their budding performers age 8 to 14 to the Quaker Chewy Mobile Recording Studio, which, in addition to the ShopRite stores in Phillipsburg on June 11 and Washington on June 12, will be visiting New York City, Cleveland, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and Los Angeles between June 9 and Aug. 4.
Together with recording artist Nick Jonas of Jonas Brothers fame, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars will host a talent contest, with the grand-prize winner getting to record a song produced by Jonas and star in an online music video, along with receiving a contract with Jonas Group Management and $5,000 in cash. In addition to Jonas, Quaker Chewy has teamed up with San Francisco-based nonprofit organization Little Kids Rock to make music education more accessible in U.S. schools.
"The Quaker Chewy Mobile Recording Studio is a one-of-a-kind studio on wheels," said Bill Fiely, director of Quaker Snack Bars at the Chicago-based Quaker Oats Co., a division of PepsiCo in Purchase, N.Y. "By giving parents and kids a unique opportunity to record a performance in a studio, we're nourishing their potential and letting their musical talents shine."
The studio will provide kids with their own recorded vocal performance video needed to enter the contest. Highlights of the promotion include:
- A Red Carpet Photo Experience in which consumers can get their photo taken with a super-imposed image of Nick Jonas
- Two "takes" in the booth (one practice run and one final take) to record a designated portion of one of four pre-selected songs
- An e-mailed version of the final "take" for parents/guardians to upload on www.ChewySuperstar.com when they enter the contest
- Performances by Little Kids Rock in select markets
- Samples of Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
Participants are advised to get to the event early, as only the first 90 eligible attendees are guaranteed the opportunity to record their songs. Those who arrive later are welcome to wait in line for the chance to record if time allows.
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern Food Corp., the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. Members of the co-op run more than 230 ShopRite supermarkets in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.


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> [Archived] Interviews
Interview with Luc Héry, Member of the French National Orchestra
Mister Luc Héry, concert master of the French symphonic ensemble, gave us an exclusive interview, offering some details from his life.
The French National Radio Orchestra is celebrating 80 years of activity. What does such a long and intense activity mean for a symphonic ensemble?
The 80th anniversary is a special one that crowns the activity of one of the oldest orchestras. None of the French orchestras has had such longevity. The orchestra was created in 1934; back then it was the Ministry of Post Offices and Telecommunications which was in authority- Jean Micheler was the Minister of Telecommunications and signed the decree through which the orchestra could function as a symphonic ensemble with wage-earners. The French National Orchestra has always been the Radio's ensemble. After World War II it received the name the French Radio Orchestra which was then changed into the French National Radio Office, and in 1974, after a presidential decree, it became the French National Orchestra, continuing its radio activity.
Which are the most important objectives of this symphonic ensemble from a repertory and artistic point of view?
The orchestra was established to develop the richness of French music. The first conductor was Emile Inghelbrecht, a good friend of Claude Debussy's. This whole tradition has been passed on from generation to generation. We continued to evaluate the French symphonic repertory from Berlioz to Dutilleux, whom we enriched with unique opuses, such as, Amériques by Edgard Varèse or Métaboles by Henri Dutilleux. It is an orchestra that, through vocation, performs a lot of French music and is the ambassador of French music in Europe and in the world.
Does the French National Orchestra have editorial projects, as well?
The recordings are fluctuating a bit because you know there is a disc crisis. In the '70s, the orchestra conducted by Jean Martinon, recorded a lot of albums containing French opuses - the entire repertory from Debussy to Ravel. There were made a lot of significant recordings and albums with Lorin Maazel. He played an important part in the French ensemble and has collaborated with it for a long period of time. Today, this activity belongs to Daniele Gatti, the music director and principal conductor, who recorded French music, and we have started a Stravinsky project with Petruşka.
Does the French National Orchestra also hold pedagogical activity, Mr. Luc Héry?
Of course; for a while now, we have had a pedagogical department within the French National Orchestra, department in which many musicians are involved and develop activities in schools. These activities represent a different side of the orchestra. We have created an association named Music and Health which collaborates with several hospitals in Paris.
Mr. Luc Héry, as a young man, is it hard to become member of this ensemble?
To become a member of the French National Orchestra you have to pass an entry exam when a position is free. They have a predetermined schedule as all the other ensembles in the world have, with an eliminatory test, then a second one with the members of the orchestra, and if you pass them you will go through a probation period at the end of which you get accepted or not.
Why do we have to love the French National Orchestra, Mr. Luc Héry? Which are the reasons?
The reasons are historical, first of all. The French National Orchestra represents the pilot of the French culture like Ricardo Muti remarked when he conducted the anniversary concert. And, afterwards addressing directly to the audience, he realised that this ensemble was the ambassador of French music, and had an extremely important value. This ensemble has collaborated with the most important composers, and if you go through the orchestra's gold pages you will find the personalities that have conducted it and the important composers whoes works have been performed. I am thinking about Stravinsky who wrote his name in the gold book, or Dutilleux - who is a significant composer. There is a respect for French music which is passed on from generation to generation like a flame. I am sure that the French National Orchestra is really the pilot of French culture.
Translated by Ioana-Alexandra Dumitrescu and Elena Daniela Radu
MTTLC, The University of Bucharest


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David James Cooley
March 11, 1945 - January 9, 2015
David James Cooley, 69, of DeRidder, LA, passed from this life on Thursday, January 9, 2015.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Shirley Cooley; daughter, Donna Sue Cooley; sisters, Donna Cooley Bailey, Connie Cooley Jones and husband Donald Ray, and Judy Cooley Moses and husband Tommy all of DeRidder, LA; grandchildren, David Armstrong and wife Amber, Brandin Ray Armstrong and wife Megan, Jeremy Armstrong, Cody Allen Armstrong and wife Chelsea, and Clinton Dewayne Armstrong; 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmie and Edna Cooley; nephew, Tommy Delayne Moses; and brother-in-law, James A. Bailey.
A private family viewing will be held.
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Nurse in charge: Isabel Llimargas
Entity / Agency in charge: Col·legi Oficial d'Infermeres i Infermers de Barcelona
The Grup 65 from the Col·legi Oficial d'Infermeres i Infermers de Barcelona is a collective consisting of more than one thousand people, most of them retired and early retired nurses aged 55 to 65. The objective of the group is to boost the promotion of health, self-care and autonomy of the people in an environment where nurses who retire from their occupational activities may keep in touch with their colleagues, thus uniting and supporting each other.
The activity program, which collects the suggestions and interests of the group members year after year, includes leisure offers, courses, workshops and excursions. In addition, the Grup 65 plans a week filled with activities every year, the Setmana Gran, which is especially aimed at the elderly and their caregivers.
The Grup 65 is open to collegiate nurses aged 55 to 65, as well as any relatives and friends of any nurse that is a collegiate from COIB who have retired or are over 65 years old.
This initiative, which was started more than ten years ago and has not stopped growing since then, has already grabbed the attention of other professional bodies in terms of its conception and operating model within a collegiate organization.
The documentation below is only available in Catalan.
Activity program


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Maybe all that extra off-season work New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira did after the 2010 season will pay off. It has so far.
Teixiera just hit the Yankees first home run of the 2011 season, a three-run bomb to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead over the Detroit Tigers after three innings. Teixiera hit just .136 last April and for his career he hits only .235 the first month of the season. He still wound up hitting 33 home runs and driving in 108 runs, but batted just .256.
This off-season Teixiera hit much more than he has in other off-seasons, particularly from the left side, in an effort to get off to a better start this time around.
CC Sabathia worked thru a bases-loaded, no-out second-inning jam to only allow one run for the Yankees.
Remember to check out SB Nation's Yankee website, Pinstripe Alley, for complete discussion of the game.