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I very much enjoyed reading your thoughts and reflections on this. I would also have wished for silence, but our world often seems afraid or wary of silence and stillness. Very nicely told. 😊
On Sunday morning, I visited Loughcrew (in Irish Loch Craobh) to greet the dawn of the autumn equinox. It was still pitch black when I left the house, and I was glad to see the stars shining bright and clear. It meant there would be a good chance of seeing the sun rise.
There was just enough tremulous starlight to guide my way up the hill. I couldn't help feeling that by following in the footsteps of our distant ancestors I was enacting some kind of ancient ritual, winding my way through the still velvety darkness as they would have done, perhaps earning the right to be there by participating in that steep, breathless climb at such an early hour of the day.
Meanwhile, the faint stain of dawn was already caressing the horizon in the east, and I wondered at the mysticism of the event I was about to witness.
Although the tiny car park was full, I wasn't prepared for the amount of people waiting in anticipation, as I rounded the stony bulk of cairn T. They were queuing all the way around it, and the hum of their chatter and laughter seemed loud in my ears after all that silence.
There were people everywhere; photographers with huge cameras on tripods, dogs on leads, children running, men climbing on top of the cairn, even people on horses. Above our heads, a remotely controlled device flew around buzzing noisily and flashing red and green lights; it probably contained a camera. I felt uncomfortable, restless. I'm not one for crowds at the best of times.
I watched a small group perform a pagan ritual. No doubt it was disconcerting for them that a small crowd had gathered to watch their ceremony, but when they dress in long robes and cloaks, and process around a public place carrying wooden staves, they have to expect they are going to draw curious onlookers, I suppose. They seemed somewhat lacking in confidence.
The sun rose, but hid her face behind a thin veil of cloud that refused to budge. Still, people waited. I suspected that if there was even a hint of a sunbeam, there would be a mad rush to try and get into the cairn chamber, and I did not want to be a part of that. The cairn was open, so I asked to go in.
It was dark and empty, except for one huge spider. I shone the light from my phone on the familiar symbols, and relaxed. It didn't matter if the sun entered the chamber or not, or how many people there were waiting outside for something stupendous and glorious to happen; this was where the magic happened, and this was what it was all about, in the dark, on my own, with the symbols and the ancestors.
Others followed me in, but I didn't stay long. I didn't feel I needed to. I'd paid my respects, as I always did every time I visited, not just once or twice a year at the equinox. I realised how lucky I was; I could come here any time. If the cairn was closed, I could even get the key. This is Ireland, after all. We don't fence our monuments off and forbid people to touch and experience them.
It came to me as I walked back down the hill that the reason I felt so uncomfortable was that the crowd had unnerved me; there was no peace on the hill. Selfishly, I was used to having the place almost all to myself. I've never been able to handle crowds.
Inevitably in ancient times a crowd would have gathered to witness rituals and the dawning of the sun. But they would have had a common purpose, a shared goal and belief, and they no doubt understood their place in it all better than us, even if they couldn't explain the mystery.
Today's crowd didn't have that. We were a gathering of individuals, some walking our dogs, some riding our horses, some celebrating our rituals, some curious, even part of a drunken wedding party straight from the reception, stinking of booze and out for a laugh.
We all came for the same thing, the dawning of the equinox, but we all wanted to experience it in our own way. That's not a bad thing; we should be celebrating our diversity. I have probably been quick to say that no one cares any more about our ancient sites, but here I was proved wrong.
Whatever their motivations, whether it was honouring the ancestors, or mother earth, or just curiosity, people had got out of their beds before the dawn and climbed up a steep hill to be there. Nothing else matters but that.
It was a beautiful, perfect morning. At the foot of the hill, I got a fabulous coffee in the new Loughcrew Megalithic Centre, before driving home. You can read more about Loughcrew here.
Posted on 21st Sep 2015 by Ali Isaac
Category: Ancient Places of Ireland
Tags: Autumn equinox, co Meath, equinox, Ireland, irish archaeology, Irish Mythology, loughcrew, Oldcastle, Sliabh na Caillaigh
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That sounds like a fantastic experience.
I know what you mean. Some places are better experienced alone. But as you say, people gathering have ameaning, even if we don't like it at first. I thought it was amazing that so many people went to see the dawning in a special palce.
Beautiful pics too 🙂
Lol! Penneys can be quite versatile and certainly follows trends… shame it never survives its first wash… For me, these monuments are a marvel on many different levels; their physicality, location, aesthetics, and of course purpose. But most importantly, the human factor; why, how, who… that most of all. There are buildings far more ancient and fantastic and grander in other parts of the world, and they fill me with wonder. But they dont make me FEEL the way our own monuments do.
I know what you mean. I've had the good fortune of seeing some renowned monuments on quiet days with very few people there. It freed up my imagination to get a better sense of the first inhabitants, but it also allowed me to observe the reactions and mutterings of my fellow gawkers much more keenly, which for me can be half the experience!
Thank you! You are the first person to notice the new theme. I am waiting on a proper banner for the header, that one is just temporary. Thank you for dropping by so quickly after Ed's post! Loughcrew is quite spectacular any time of the day, and the funny thing was, although I knew there was a long line of people pressed up against the other side of the cairn wall, inside was all peaceful and calm. You would have thought you had the place to yourself! 😁 Actually, for a few moments, I did!
Nice Ali. I've never been tempted to join the crowds. Like you I'd sooner go places at quieter times. But I'm guessing even back in the day, thousands of years ago, not all of the crowd were respectful and there were a few drunks and other nuisances – probably not drones though 🙂
We have our own Neolithic tomb here in Jersey – La Hougue Bie – with the sun's rays shining through to the back chamber at equinox.
Really interesting Ali. I'm not really into this dawn rising to see the sun hit a rock thing so I'd have waited in the cafe. Probably lost the urge at Uluru in Australia when I rose pre dawn to view the sun hitting the fabulous red rock and realised after thirty minutes driving that if it was raining I'd most likely not see anything! I was pretty dumb back then. As for access I think it's great, i think I was lucky to have been alive when you could stroke Stonehenge but I don't want people chipping off bits of the stones, so I see the need for compromise. Much like a painting that cannot have daylight on it for fear of fading, we make things we want to last for other generations and therefore have to curtail this one. Maybe we go ott in this protective urge, maybe we will learn other ways that permit greater access but for now I'm not greedy in my need to be up close and personal if t d so would wear away the glory.
Oops. I meant to say they only 'protect' the moneyspinners ie Stonehenge. Take Avebury, such a huge site there is no way they can control and limit access. Are the stones less 'safe' from us than the ones at Stonehenge? There is always a better way. These ancient stone places have lasted through the ages, and will last beyond us too. In Ireland access even when controlled, ie Newgrange, still allows entry to the mound, recreates the dawn experience, and allows people close contact with the stones and their carvings, all at a very small cost, unlike Stonehenge. Are they 'preserving' it for future generations? I wonder.
It's not for me to defend them but the scale is different if the figures I've just pulled from the net for 2014 are accurate. Newgrange has 200,000 visitors, Stonehenge 1.34 million. One of your other correspondents mentioned Avebury – 360,000. It may have been open down the centuries but only today with international recognition and ease of access to it do you get those sorts of numbers. Maybe you're right, maybe it's money. Personally I'm not that cynical.
Those figures are pretty impressive, but thats what you get when you only promote your charged site with visitor centre shop and cafe. Most tourists who go to Stonehenge probably dont know about places like Avebury. I'd be surprised if it wasnt about money. But the good thing is that by focussing everyones attention on one particular site, like Stonehenge, the others remain undeveloped and free to visit for those who are interested. So of course there are positives and negatives.
I really would love them to be all open but I can see there needs to be control when the numbers are huge. And why am I not a cynic? It's usually my default setting? I must have ingested some positivity! Sorry, Ali, my comment seems to have clogged up your lovely post and that wasn't my aim.
Lol! They used concrete? Fab! And that is preservation? But that is what I mean. No one has done anything with Avebury, because it is too big to be effectvely controlled. I think some of its stones were lifted back upright, but I think that was by local people. I think the authorities would show more interest if they could control it by limiting access and charging a fortune to look at it.
That's an entirely fair point and the protection might be an extreme reaction. And it might well be that the conservative nature of the authorities didn't like the Druids and travellers who descended for their celebrations that triggered the protection. But it is a fact that the more people who visit the more difficult it is to protect these venues. I wish I could climb Silbury Hill as I did as a kid but I can't. I can go into the Long Barrow and Avebury and I hope that continues. But I do understand the need to both make accessible and protect. I don't have an answer and English Heritage or whoever runs Stonehenge can answer for themselves I'm sure.
Well Ali, I have to admit I have pretty much been away from all blogs but couldn't resist seeing if you'd posted anything new. And now I get to share it! Awesome. You're picture was so vivid, I felt like I was there. Oddly I also imagined you walking a path that roughly resembled a spiral, is that just my imagination? Anyway I finished my round of revisions, woohoo!, which is how I had a moment to stop by. I didn't get out for the equinox myself but I accomplished much else. Happy equinox to you, I have the feeling the ancestors were indeed very honored by your presence and I wouldn't doubt some of them shared your exasperation with the scattered energy and noisy people. Oh and no offense to pagans, I mean, I am one, I haven't been to a ritual that didn't lack in confidence. I think I said before I like being up front and assertive and loud when hailing directions for instance–I mean how else do you hail anyone or anything? But I am always standing myself out by doing that. I say just make the commitment to your ritual and do it, unless shyness and uncertainty has a designated place in the ritual. 🙂 Just my opinion.
Thanks Éilis! The path wasnt a spiral, but it was circular. I walked around and around the cairn a few times, so maybe thats the spiral you're picking up. Lol! I cant imagine you not being confident and assertive in your rituals, Éilis! 😁 And I hope Ididnt offend pagans either, because I never intended to. I felt pleased and privelaged to witness their ceremony, maybe like me they never expected so many other people to be there.
Ha, ha, the comment of confidence in ritual seems to be quite a focus here, and I can relate to this in amusement. As I have done this since about 6 years old I have also seen this through all kinds of rural folk drama traditions that includes mummers, guisers, circle dancers, sword dancers,, wassailers, straw boys, sacred players, element callers, and lets play at being paganers.
In all of these troupes there is one person that is some kind of leader, usually known as captain or chief if a men's troupe or queen, priestess, guide or facilitator if a women's group. The leader is usually quite rigid about how the ritual should be and often writes out script for each person to follow to the word. Today most of these players have not been part of the troupe for more than a couple of years so its not become part of local tradition to them yet. At Loughcrew it seems to be different troupe members each Equinox as that is what the leader of that likes.
So the situation becomes that new members are conscious of trying to be exacting to please the 'leader', and the 'leader' is distracted due to seemingly being more concerned about what the others are saying and doing than what he or she is doing … so overall it can seem awfully full of no confidence.
With me, I usually am West and Calling Water so I just go ahead and do my own thing with what I am familiar with. Last year Lora O'Brien was there who is similar to me but usually plays North Calling Earth, so I think we had at least two confident people, but I recall the others were on the ball too. The leader did say it was not what she had in mind, as we did not follow her script, but I think she was happy 🙂
I do the same thing in rituals, Ali. 🙂 I'm always amazed how many scripts occur in ritual. I was part of a group who insisted on using scripts, it sucked the energy right out of it in my opinion. Interestingly I'm never seen as rebellious for never following the script, I guess I can get away with it by pointing out I can't read the script anyway, lol. But the truth is, I'd improvise even if I could read it. To Woodland Bard, I'd love to attend a ritual with Lora OâBrien. She came to our West coast PantheaCon last year and I attended her workshop on the sidhe. I now have her book on a practical guide to Irish Spirituality, which I am sure I will end up following, sort of, as the case always is. She's a wonderful speaker and very knowledgeable and I had a very interesting experience in the meditation she led. 🙂
Incidentally I just wonder how much leading the leaders of these groups actually do? I was in a leaderless group for a while, it was pretty messy after a while. I guess I've noticed that a lot of groups dislike anything that looks like hierarchy, and I really don't blame them, but they also confuse that with authority. In parenting styles people talk about being uthoritative versus authoritarian. In my opinion assertiveness is awesome. There's no reason I think to top down decide how rituals go or anything like that, that would be disastrous in many ways, but when people don't know what to do, what's expected, where to go, whether they can follow their instincts and intuition in the moment mainly or adhere to something else, having one or two people take charge, who know how to monitor and hold space for the energy of the entire group, seems so needed. And I often find that lacking, at least in the groups and rituals I've encountered. But that all said the fact that people are going out there and celebrating the seasons and honoring their traditions and the land, and the ancestors, that is the heart of what matters, and we are so lucky to live in a time where we can be exactly who we are and believe what we want without fear, and have such a diversity of everything. Just my personal thoughts on things.
Hey I just realized I might have come across as judging people I don't know in what I said earlier when really I've thought about the subject a lot and was in philosophical mode. When I've ventured to discuss the topic with pagan friends, I've found myself very much in the minority opinion. So if I offended anyone, sorry! 🙂
I don't think you have, Ali. 🙂 But I know, I get so worried when I think I might have upset someone. I can be pretty blunt – I have no particular explanation for that, it just happens. And I often have poor social skills sometimes, especially like lately when I've spent so much time in my head with arguments and very little time with people.
Reblogged this on The Sound of What Happens and commented:
A beautiful heartfelt post by Ali Isaac. Happy equinox to everyone.
Thank you so much Eli! It was amazing, even though I'm really not a morning person. I kept thinking that while most of us are still sleeping, all across Ireland, perhaps even the northern hemisphere, other groups of people were gathering to greet the equinox in all the high sacred places too. It was quite mind blowing… for me, anyway! 😊
Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: and commented:
A lovely post
"couldn't help feeling that by following in the footsteps of our distant ancestors" – odd how this happens – There must be some collective memory we tap into when paying attention.
Sounds like an experience worth doing. I love to watch the sun rise and the morning wake over the lake- often. It seems like it was meant to be – natural life.
Enjoyable read, thanks
There is certainly immense peace and contentment in it. And something about the open space and the reflecton of light on the water, must be a wonderful experience. I am actually a sound sleeper, so I dont often see the dawn, but I adore sunsets, and we get spectacular ones here in the spring and autumn.
"It's said that Mary wanted Cecil to buy a set of curtains at the auction," says Stonehenge's curator, Heather Sebire. "And he came back with something rather different."
When I read this, I thought of you: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34282849
Thanks for your informative presentation, Ali, complete with visuals and interesting video footage. As relics of how humanity evolved through such trail markers and artistic formations, cairns are fascinating signposts of history, similar to stupas in India and Nepal, and pyramids of Egypt. Someday I like to visit Ireland and place a stone on a cairn. As I write this, I am still looking at the cairn, enchantingly silhouetted against rising sun, with two humans atop very much like honey bees drawing nectar from the heaving bosom of dharani (Mother Earth in Sanskrit)…best wishes… Raj.
Fabulous Ali and I get what you mean about places that have special meaning especially when you are there on your own. There is a small chapel plastered onto the walls of a ravine with a wild rushing river beneath it. Near to Chamonix it is popular with hikers but we were lucky to have visited when we were the only two people to cross the dodgy old wooden bridge. The atmosphere inside was electric with centuries of emotional desperation… made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Great photos and I am sure as you say everyone there including the wedding party will have taken something special away from the site.
All the walls had tiny cracks in them with prayers on folded up pieces of paper.Hundreds of them. It was a very tiny space and it was not a serene feeling and perhaps it was the roaring torrent of water so close by but I had to walk out after a few minutes it was so intense in there. Yet, I have walked into old abbeys and churches that have a completely different atmosphere of calm. probably just me.
I doubt it's just you. I had a similar feeling with the Rosslyn Chapel. It took me at least 3 days for my headache to clear. I really didn't like that place, to be honest.
The only place that's given me a worse headache was Holyrood Palace. After I walked into the room where poor Rizzio was murdered, I felt such a weight on my head that I had to get out as fast as possible (sadly, no one had told me that was the room before hand, or I would have avoided it). I spent the next 3 days in bed, unable to move. Yikes.
Glad to hear that I am not just being odd.. when we have been house hunting there have been a couple of places that I just could not stay in and I felt ill. And yet felt fine as soon as outside. They say that intense emotion seeps into the fabric of a building and I am sure that is why people believe certain places are haunted. Probably best not to visit the dungeons in the Tower of London, I hear they are very atmospheric!
I couldnt go in there, Sally! I wouldnt be able to get the two tragic little Princes out of my head. Its too distressing. I feel such an idiot about things, but I often have to force myself to block out suffering, because I cant cope otherwise.
We were with another couple – a total of four people. I was the only one who was so affected. Electra had a strong dislike of the place, but no physical reaction to it.
I get these feeling from a lot of churches, and from within these ancient cairns too. 'Emotional desperation' comes over as a good description but that is only limited to what we personally feel. I could never blame the construction but as is pointed out elsewhere I believe we do pick up signatures, memories, well something unseen, that is part of that space left before.
I do not get that form forests, beside waters and at spring wells, the holy wells, as I always feel there is unconditional forgiveness within and around those.
I know what you mean. Actually, Medieval masons and architects consciously used symbols. I wrote an article about while doing my PhD – it was published in the Edinburgh Architectural Research magazine.
No, its not just you. In fact, Ed Mooney was just describing a similar feeling he had recently when visiting a spring dedicated to Brigid. Some places do have a dark feeling about them, as you say, tainted by need and mabe events too. I remember as a teen writing a story about memories of something bad being trapped in the stone walls of a building. I believe that can happen. Something unpleasant could have happened there.
Only an hour or so earlier, I'd been reading this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34282849 about the man who gave Stonehenge to the nation. I've only visited twice, but on neither occasion did I feel I could roam freely around it, something he clearly intended. I'd never heard of Loughcrew, but maybe that's what makes it so accessible in comparison to a site like Stonehenge. I should keep quiet about it if I were you, Ali…
I was very disappointed with my experience of Stonehenge… at no point we we able or allowed to get anywhere near the stones. There were guards there to ensure no one stepped off the path! For all I know they had pistols under their uniforms! Its not like that here. Whether Stonehenge has changed since the site was redeveloped, I dont know, but i suspect the price of admission has to pay for it all!
I've not been since the recent changes – they were still underway when I last visited – but I can't imagine access has improved. I kind of understand the wish to preserve, but it also feels a bit like when you buy a nice dinner service and then only get it out once a year on special occasions. These things are for USING!
Thanks Ed, its a great place, but that whole experience unexpectedly aroused mixed feelings in me. You will love Loughcrew, its very scenic and atmospheric, and I would love to see your images and interpretation of it. Domed piles of stones do not make for exciting pictures like a stunninc castle does, but I'd love to see a really clear capture of the inner carvings, which are fairly intact.
Reblogged this on Jane Dougherty Writes and commented:
Just block out the chatter and soak up the atmosphere.
I think you nailed it Ali. What we have lost is the naivety of ancient people. We don't see things the way they did and we do see things they could never have imagined. Personally I think the people who try to reconstruct a lost innocence are trying to roll back the tide. How many of them drove their cars to get to Loughcrew before they put on their robes and got out the wooden staves? Like you, I think this spiritual/mystical experience is most fruitful if it's a solitary one, just watching the dawn and listening to the voices in your head. Gorgeous photos btw. I'm pinching them.
Well, I saw two of them get into a car that was more ancient and knackered than mine, so either they're broke, or non-materialistic. I guess these days one can have beliefs based on the distant past but still enjoy modern conveniences. I dont think we can reconstruct past ceremonies, we have no detailed accounts we can trust, so its all guesswork, and I just have a gut instinct that we mostly gt it wildly wrong. As for the pics, I just took them on my phone, feeling mighty inadequate surrounded by all those proffessional cameras on tripods hogging all the best spots. I unintentionally got in one photographers way while I took a pic, you should have seen the look of utter contempt on his face, even though I appologised when I realised. He didnt even bother with a reply. Lol!
Ha, ha, this stirs up my imagination and memories, again as one of the ritual people from last year. First, you are both spot on with the car descriptions. Yes, we all seem to have arrived in battered old falling apart cars last year, and probably no different to this year. I do not think anyone was local, well not living within 10km of Loughcrew. There again, how many with 10km were actually visiting there anyway?
A louder ha, ha, for the photographers. Yes, the people with the pro gear are a touchy bunch, arn't they? We had incidents with them last year.
I find the rituals are a bit novel. To me its all drama. However, I first got into all this when I was 6 years old. My first experience was an unvisited cairn in Yorkshire that became my den and my father took me to Stonehenge in 1956, I think, before it was re-erected. You could drive up to it then, the fields had no fences. My question was "what on earth went on here". After visiting and talking to a few farmers and foresters the only way I could make sense of it was to gather some friends together and create childhood games folks dramas out of what I had learned to see if we could learn something from the interaction. It was a lot of fun. It developed and my first job after school was putting these together based at Glastonbury in the late 60s.
The people that joined me at Loughcrew have perhaps been exploring the megalithic world for 10 years or less, Lora O'Brien may well be longer, maybe up to 20 years, but for many of them the ritual activity I believe is like when I was a child there trying to figure out what this was all about.
We may easily say its about silent and being there but now I question what for? As really I see a lot of this as human created installation art these days. Some say its all built on a 'sacred site', but then I ask who took on the 'right' to say they controlled what was built there. It is is truly sacred where are the trees, where are the water springs etc. The best sense I seem to make of it these days is that one in hunter gather times this may have been a place of marking out migration, as for some tribes they had to follow the migration of animals and birds to survive.
Then came the farmers, and the question then seems to be how was this a toold for the farming people? Then came the iron age, the age of weapons, invasion and seizing, the age of creating heroes, and the heroes then placed in these places to become tombs. Several changes of uses over several thousand years. I believe these caped rituals are not of the ancient past but perhaps part of a modern change of use?
Yes, archaeology bears that out, these places were used and re-used by subsequent people, but no one ever answered why they were built in the first place. They werent really tombs, they werent really temples, so what were they for? There are lots of references in the old stories to pagans celebrating in the open spaces, under sacred trees and so on, but the mounds were always said to be the homes of the Sidhe, or rather, gateways to their homes. Whoever built them aligned them with sun and stars so that is key to me, but the why and who completely evades me.
I believe that question will always be a wonder to live with and the answer never important. Even so it seems to guide us on healthy thinking and feeling ways. When we imagine ourselves back to the times of these places it seems the people were mainly hunter gatherers that did a bit of farming and farmers who did a bit of hunter gathering. So it seems the first thought is of how these ancient constructions enhanced the lives they were living.
There seems to be a lot of interpretation based on how we live today, assuming it was the same then, such as the way we regard rituals, temples, and especially the way people dress now to revere such things.
A trending thought now seems to be that it was mainly hunter gatherers who built these stone structures, and a lot of these hunter gatherers were sea nomads. I like the stories of them coming ashore and building these structures to be symbols of their strength and to share their navigation and astronomy skills. To this they lured the famers. Pure speculation, of course, but I cannot help relate this to the Normans, once Norse sea hunter gatherers who also traded, who eventuall burned their ships, came ashore, built huge churches, and engaged the farming people to serve them.
The stories of the Sidhe also seem to fit every story of farming, germination and human fertility that has been told of these places.
Lovely passionate post Ali. Hmm, I see I cannot post a sample pic but last year I was one of those 'somewhat lacking in confidence' ritual people. I am often called in to be the 'West' and bringer of water at these things. We had a good sunny sunrise last year and a lot of people gathered around us. The 4 of us there were a very confident crew I think 🙂
I do have mixed feelings about Loughcrew Cairns though. Part of my following the stones for about 53 years the the remarkable out of body experience at near death that showed me these in a very different way. To keep that short is to realize these are man made structures that had to clear away a nature created environment to make the possible, a kind of nature genocide in the area.
Even so, all of those stones of art in Cairn T, and at other cairns there are awesome and fill us with wonder.
As for people being present there, it is incredible how the numbers attending Equinox have grown during the past 10 years. 10 years ago we thought it was crowded if more than 12 people turned up 🙂 . 30 years ago I was usually the only one there, maybe one or two others. Key was available to pick up before sunrise outside a cottage in those days.
I read your experience on your website, and it really threw me into confusion for a while, reason being that to me these structures look so much a part of the landscape with their gently domed structures, hewn from rock, turfed over or piled with stones. And yet I am very aware also that neolithic man, in rejection of a hunter gatherer lifestyle, was a very destructive force on the land as he persued his new role as a farmer. His revolutionary new lifestyle completely changed the appearance of our landscape. Clearing a forrested hilltop and raising a series of cairns was probably about as destructive as building a block of flats in the greenbelt today lol! But they have grown to be part of our land, heritage whatever we want to call it. And they are still amazing feats of engineering and skill, and a legacy to the extraordinary spirit of our ancient ancestors. They do fill me with wonder. And as for the ritual I watched, well, I was disappointed I'll admit. I expect that people who live a life closer to nature than most modern people and who choose to follow the old ways would do so with fervour, vigour, vitality and unshakeable conviction. I wanted to admire them but they left me feeling, well, nothing. The leader beating on her bodhran didnt seem to know how to play it, and they seemed to forget the words of their own song. I just thought that most onlookers would have come away thinking "Weirdos!" rather than there is something more to it, and that I felt was a shame.
Great reply, love your thinking through this Ali. As I have replied on a later post I can add to the confusion through the current trend of wondering if it was actually the people who were mainly hunter gatherers, and sea people, who built these structures to both display their strength and their wisdom of navigation and astronomy … and they lured the farming people to them in some ways? The way the Norse who became Normans came ashore, became the church builders and enslaved the farming people into a religion seems to be a later clue?
And, oh dear for the ritual people. I know each one of them personally that attended this year. They were from 5 different local traditions who all had their own ways of doing things, no or little rehearsal or pattern of co-ordination but I love them all dearly for what they do back at their homes.
The frame drum players, I thought there were two of them, are happy to just beat the drums as a noise filler, it seems. One of them is an outstanding speaker, so I am surprise she was not on the morning.
It really does need a local tradition troupe, and maybe via the new Megalithic Centre there this could evolve over the years? It was my job to bring this back to Glastonbury from 1968 until 1972. I think we did a very good job back then 🙂
Lol! Oh no, I hope I havent offended you or them! Perhaps if they dont normally work together, and had no rehearsal it would explain the lack of confidence. How judgemental that was of me without knowing the full story! Your idea of the people coming from the sea and luring the locals with their knowledge and skills is as viable as any. I used to feel a need to KNOW! Not so much now, I can enjoy the structures, the stories and the characters as they are, but I do want to learn more.
Oh, Ali, I love this! You are very lucky, as you say, to be able to visit the cairn whenever you wish. And to experience the equinox – how magical! Wish I could have been there with you 🙂 It's another thing on my list, to experience the season change at one of the ancient sites.
Thanks for the post. I didn't realize you lived in Ireland. We have Equinox Wednesday. Do u have horses. I did until a few years ago. My last died from colic, she weighed 1500 hundred pounds and was a cross between draft and Thorobred. We used to dress in our cloaks and pretend we were in ancient times. Any how my mares name was Molly, she was huge and very solid. I enjoyed seeing what u folks in Ireland are up to. My bucket list is to go to Ireland and see. Prehistoric sights and visit my ancestors. None I know of. Just in general.
No I never had a horse, I was never that lucky, although I was obsessed with them in my teens. I used to hang around stables and help to groom and care for the horses in the hope I'd get an occasional ride. My parents split up when I was a child, and there was never money for riding lessons, so I never got good enough for people to trust me with their horses. I live in a very rural part of Ireland, there are horses everywhere here.
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January 9 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
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text:
RZA in 2009
|Background information
|Birth name
|Robert Fitzgerald Diggs
|Also known as
|Prince Rakeem, Bobby Digital, The RZArector, Abbot
July 5, 1969
Brooklyn, New York
|Staten Island, New York
|Hip hop
|Musician, rapper, record producer, actor, filmmaker, author
|Rapping, keyboards, zither, sampler
|Years active
|Soul Temple Records, Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
/Razor Sharp/Epic/SME Records
Virgin/EMI Records
Koch Records
Gee Street/V2/BMG Records
Sanctuary/BMG Records
|Associated acts
|Wu-Tang Clan, Gravediggaz, Easy Mo Bee, John Frusciante, James Blake
|Notable instruments
|E-mu SP-1200
Roland MC-909
Roland MV-8000
Roland MV-8800
Ensoniq-16 plus
Akai MPC2000
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (born July 5, 1969), better known by his stage name RZA (/ˈrɪzə/ RIZ-ə), is an American rapper, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, actor, composer, and filmmaker. A prominent figure in hip hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan.[1] He has produced almost all of Wu-Tang Clan's albums as well as many Wu-Tang solo and affiliate projects. He is a cousin of the late group-mate, Ol' Dirty Bastard and GZA (who also formed the group with RZA). He has also released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital, along with executive producing credits for side projects.
In addition to the Wu-Tang Clan and his solo releases, RZA was also a founding member of the horrorcore Hip Hop group Gravediggaz where he used the name The RZArector. Furthermore, he has acted in several movies, including Coffee and Cigarettes, American Gangster, Gospel Hill, Life Is Hot in Cracktown, Ghost Dog, Funny People, Derailed, Due Date and Repo Men. He also appeared in the Showtime TV series Californication. His directorial debut is for the film he co-wrote and in which he plays the title role, The Man with the Iron Fists, also starring Russell Crowe. On November 1, 2012, he introduced the movie at a preview screening in the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, the evening before the Universal picture opened nationwide.
The magazine The Source placed him on its list of the 20 greatest producers in the magazine's twenty-year history.[2] He also made the "Elite 8" in the search for The Greatest Hip-Hop Producer of All Time by Vibe.[3] NME placed him on their list of the 50 Greatest Producers Ever.[4]
- 1 Early life
- 2 Music career
- 3 Various Wu-recording labels
- 4 Artistry
- 5 Film career
- 6 Personal life
- 7 Filmography
- 8 Discography
- 9 Bibliography
- 10 References
- 11 External links
Early life
RZA was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He lived in North Carolina with his uncle from age three to seven, who encouraged him to read and study.[5] RZA was introduced to hip hop music at the age of nine, and by eleven, was competing in rap battles. He relocated to Steubenville, Ohio in 1990, to live with his mother. He spent weekends in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where his father ran a convenience store in the city's Hill District.[6]
RZA got involved with petty crime and drug-dealing, and was charged with attempted murder while in Steubenville. He was acquitted of the charge, giving him what he stated was a "second chance".[7] He is named after Robert Kennedy and John Fitzgerald Kennedy.[8] His mother greatly admired the Kennedys, the RZA has called his given name an "honorable" name, given the legacy of both brothers Robert and John.
Music career
1991: Before Wu-Tang
Robert Diggs formed a rap group with his cousins Russell Jones and Gary Grice called All in Together Now. They enjoyed local success but never signed a record deal.[9] Diggs later debuted on Tommy Boy Records in 1991 as a solo artist under the name Prince Rakeem and released the Ooh I Love You Rakeem EP.
After a shoot-out in Ohio in 1992, he faced eight years in jail. "When they said 'not guilty', my face stuck in a smile for three days," he recalled. "I was just walking around town, thinking about my daughter and my wife. Right then I said goodbye to anything that would put me in that situation again. I was up on trial on an attempted murder charge. I was a motherfucking fool, with all that knowledge in my head and ending up there."[10]
Diggs formed a new group with his cousins and five other childhood friends. This group would be named Wu-Tang Clan, releasing their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers in 1993.[11] RZA operated as Wu-Tang Clan's de facto leader, producing and rapping on the group's songs.
1994–1996: Gravediggaz and Wu-Tang solo projects: Round one
As each of the group's members embarked on solo careers, RZA continued to produce nearly everything Wu-Tang released during the period 1994–1996, producing in both the hip-hop producer sense (composing and arranging the instrumental tracks) and in the wider music producer sense (overseeing and directing the creative process as well as devising song concepts and structure in addition to being responsible for a recording's final sound). RZA's rule over the Clan at this time is described in 2004's Wu-Tang Manual book as "a dictatorship". Yet he still released a hit single of his own, in the form of Wu-Wear: The Garment Renaissance. The song was featured on the High School High soundtrack, and was then released to coincide with the Wu-Tang clothing brand. It peaked at #60 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #6 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.[12]
When it came time for the Gravediggaz, Prince Paul was thinking about putting a group together. He wanted to get some good MCs. Poetic was another dope MC who was underrated out in Long Island. He had one single out on Tommy Boy that didn't take off, but he was a dope MC. As the Grym Reaper, you know how many dope lyrics he dropped. Frukwan, one of the top lyricists out of Stetsasonic. He and Paul were friends already. He told him about me. He said, "I know this one guy who is super-dope."
At the same time, I was also trying to do Wu-Tang. I was trying to start my own company and stuff, so when Paul called me up and invited me to his crib in Long Island and told me his idea for forming this group, I thought it would be an honor to be in a group with him. But I told him, "I'm also producing a group, and I'm also part of a family that I'm building." He said, "Yo, that's crazy." We would talk a lot of times. [Ol' Dirty Bastard] came to his house a lot of times with me. [Method Man], too. We all would just go there and try to find ways to get out of the streets. Me, I was trying to get out of the ghetto. Paul had a lot of respect for me, so he helped me break out of it. I think he liked that I was so dark, but I didn't know I was dark.[13]
1997: Wu-Tang Forever
This had already to some extent begun on Wu-Tang Forever, which for the first time featured RZA delegating a small number of beatmaking duties to other producers in the Wu-Tang camp, such as his protégés Mathematics, True Master and 4th Disciple who are known as the original Wu-Elements, and Clan member Inspectah Deck.[14]
1998–1999: Gravediggaz and Wu-Tang solo projects: Round two
During the 1998–2000 period RZA ceased to produce every Wu-Tang solo album as he had done previously, but continued to contribute usually one or two songs on average to each record as well as receiving an Executive Producer credit.
I had to put out Bobby Digital instead of The Cure because if I didn't do that I would've suffered two things. First, I would have revealed where I was musically too soon. Wu-Tang is the perfect medium to expose anything new because I got the most people coming together to buy it. For me to expose it for my own self, I don't think that would've been a wise thing for me to do. I might've caught more people than Bobby Digital caught, but I still wouldn't catch the magnitude of what the Wu-Tang could catch. Maybe this year or next year the game may be different. The Cure is so intimate in writing that you gotta live that Cure shit. I was living like Bobby Digital in '98, '99 na'mean? So if I put "The Cure" out, then I wouldn't even be able to get on stage and perform it for ya'll cause I'd be lying."
2001–2004: Post The W solo projects
In 1999 the RZA moved into composing film scores. His first work, Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), earned praise; he also had a brief cameo in the film itself, as a fellow samurai wearing camouflage. The experience was positive and, as he noted during an interview on National Public Radio's Fresh Air, the work with traditional musicians gave him the desire to learn how to read and write music.[15]
This is one of my biggest adventures, and one of my [best] feelings. We watched Kill Bill in Manhattan. At the premiere, that happened, but you know, that's Hollywood. But in Manhattan, a theater, just a bunch of kids coming from wherever New York, inside a movie theater and the movie's coming on. They don't even know that I'm the man with the music, and when it said, "Original Music by The RZA", we hear the audience clapping. And they didn't clap for nothing else, because the movie's just coming on. I was like, 'Wow, what the fuck is that about?' That's different. It actually might be something special. You never care who did that... Once you see who stars in the shit, you don't read "edited", you don't read all that. You be eating your popcorn and it go right by you. But, for somebody to see that and then clap, that's a different thing right there. That felt pretty pleasing.
2005–present: Solo projects: Round three
He has also stated that the long-delayed The Cure album will now be his final solo album, for he will end his career as MC and move on with his movie directing career.[16]
Before signing with SRC Records in 2007, RZA was flooded with offers from Bad Boy Records, Aftermath Records, Interscope and Def Jam among others for the Wu-Tang Clan super-group.[17]
In 2007, he did the score of the Japanese anime Afro Samurai starring Samuel L. Jackson. He recently and quietly released an instrumental album entitled, The RZA-Instrumental Experience, and worked with Raekwon on his highly anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. Talks are on between System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and RZA regarding a collaboration between the two artists called Achozen.[18] RZA has stated in an interview that he is involved in the project.[19]
"The time is right to bring some older material to the masses digitally. Our fans have been dedicated and patient, and they're hungry to hear the music that has set us apart from so many others. Hip-hop is alive in Wu Music, and with The Orchard, we've got a solid partner that understands our audience and is committed to doing all they can to help us reach the fans. I'm definitely looking forward to working with them to see what else we all come up with. There's much more to come."[20]
Music from Achozen also appears on the major motion picture, Babylon A.D., on which Achozen song "Deuces" is heard blaring at the introduction of the film. The four principal members feel that their unique sound is not only spiritual in nature, but a new genre of "heavy hip hop", not "rap-metal". Achozen's first live show was at the Key Club in LA on December 1, 2006. On Friday, November 13, 2009 the second Achozen track "Salute/Sacrifice" was released exclusively as a free download on Odadjian's online art district and networking site, Ursession from the upcoming Achozen debut album.[21] The Achozen album was anticipated to be released in mid-2010[22] but no firm release date had been scheduled by the end of 2010. In 2015, the album by Achozen was released in a boombox version of 8 songs with potentially more to come.
He has also confirmed that he will be solely producing Liquid Swords II with GZA, which was tentatively due in Fall 2010,[23] but the status of the album has not been updated since the release date passed. RZA also worked with Kanye West on the latter's fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,[24] as well as Watch The Throne by Kanye and Jay-Z.
In a recent interview discussing the producer's new line of headphones, RZA revealed that he recently decided to clean out his beat machines of instrumentals he made for the Wu-Tang Clan that were never used; as a result, he has so far given away ten beats each to Nas, Busta Rhymes and Talib Kweli, as well as 20 beats for Kanye West, including the two that were used on the artist's most recent two albums.[25] Since early 2011, RZA has been producing UK artist Josh Osho's debut album.
RZA also contributed vocals to three songs on John Frusciante's 2012 EP Letur-Lefr and in 2013 he contributed vocals to one song on Kid Cudi's 2013 album Indicud. In August 2012 RZA founded a new record label Soul Temple Records with a distribution deal from RED Distribution. On September 28, 2012 he hosted a show "Equals Three" replacing Ray William Johnson. He appeared on Earl Sweatshirt's album Doris, contributing a verse on the track "Molasses". Despite artistic disagreements with Raekwon, RZA and The Wu-Tang Clan released their sixth album A Better Tomorrow in 2014.
Various Wu-recording labels
Since the early 1990s, several 'various Wu recording labels' were established. The earlier labels are believed to be dissolved. The connection that RZA had to these labels were unknown.
Other record labels were later founded in the early 2000s, and are still active in the present. Very little is known about these labels, other that the fact that RZA produces music on them. It is unknown if RZA is CEO, or has high position within these labels, considering that he was never known to have a CEO position of any recording label.
- Wu-Tang Records
- Razor Sharp Records
- 36 Chambers Records and Wu Music Group
- Protect Ya Neck Records
- Wu-Tang International
- Soul Temple Records
RZA's production technique, specifically the manner of chopping up and/or speeding or slowing soul samples to fit his beats, has been picked up by currently popular producers – most notably Kanye West and Just Blaze, the two main producers behind Roc-A-Fella Records. West's own take on RZA's style[26] briefly flooded the rap market with what was dubbed "chipmunk soul," the speeding of a vocal sample to where it sounded as though the singer had inhaled helium. Several producers at the time copied the style, creating other offshoots. West has admitted that his style was distinctly influenced by the RZA's production,[27]
Said by Kanye West:
Wu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the time... We think Wu-Tang had one of the biggest impacts as far as a movement. From slang to style of dress, skits, the samples. Similar to the [production] style I use, RZA has been doing that.[28]
In response, RZA himself has spoken quite positively of the comparisons:
All good. I got super respect for Kanye. He came up to me about a year or two ago. He gave me mad praising and blessings... For people to say Wu-Tang inspire Kanye, Kanye is one of the biggest artists in the world. That goes back to what we say: 'Wu-Tang is forever.' Kanye is going to inspire people to be like him." After hearing Kanye's work on The Blueprint, RZA claimed that a torch-passing had occurred between him and West, saying, "The shoes gotta be filled. If you ain't gonna do it, somebody else is gonna do it. That's how I feel about rap today."[29]
His Bobby Digital albums introduced tweaked-out new age elements to his sound; these have incorporated themselves more fully into his beats on newer albums such as Method Man's 4:21... The Day After.
The way I produce now is I produce more like a musician", RZA said. "In the old days, I produced more like a DJ. I didn't understand music theory at all. Now that I do understand music theory, I make my music more playable, meaning not only could you listen to it, you could get someone else to play it. Before, you couldn't even write down Wu-Tang music. I think almost 80 percent of this record can be duplicated by a band, which is important for music, because that means 10 years from now, somebody can make a whole song out of it and cover it like how I'm covering The Beatles song.[30]
In a recent 2010 radio interview with UK hip hop station Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, RZA spoke in great detail about the homemade, candid ethos of much of his classic work, including the organic creation process behind ODB's debut album.[31]
Alter egos
RZA is known for having multiple aliases, for different lyrical styles and personalities: Prince Rakeem, The Abbot, Bobby Digital, Bobby Steels, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah.[32] During his time with the Gravediggaz, he went by the name the RZArector, which is for waking up the mentally dead.[33]
Film career
Originally, he was offered the role of "Brown" in The Departed (2006), but turned it down because of scheduling conflicts.[34]
He performed cameo roles in Funny People, Due Date, Gospel Hill, Ghost Dog, and Life Is Hot in Cracktown. He was also said to be attached to friend Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill project in one way or another, featuring as a solo artist on the soundtrack to Kill Bill: Volume 1 and selecting some other songs for the soundtrack. In 2010, RZA appeared in the science fiction action film Repo Men.[35]
RZA appeared in Derailed, Coffee and Cigarettes, and American Gangster.
RZA directed and played the role of the Blacksmith in The Man with the Iron Fists.
RZA appeared in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, as the character Blind Master.[36]
In 2014, RZA took on the role of Tremaine Alexander in the film Brick Mansions opposite Paul Walker and David Belle. Brick Mansions is a remake of the film District 13 (French title, Banlieue 13).
RZA played the role of Samurai Apocalypse in the television series "Californication" in 9 episodes.[37]
RZA played "Mr. L.C.", the main antagonist, in the martial arts film Tom Yum Goong 2.
I made my albums like movies, you know what I mean? I wanted people to be able to listen to a movie in their car while they was driving. "I want to start off making movies where people will know they're at a movie. Like my man Tarantino, he did that movie Pulp Fiction – classic movie, man. Every time it comes on TV or cable, I have to stop and watch it. And it's based on nothing, really. There's only a few people out there that are able to do that, where it comes from nothing but the vision and imagination of the artist.[38]
In the late 90's RZA began production of a feature-length film based on "Bobby Digital", an alias he used on various albums. Though the film was never completed, he continued shooting music videos for his side projects and solo tracks.
RZA directed his first feature film, The Man with the Iron Fists, in 2011, from a script he wrote the previous year. Directors Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth were involved in production, writing, and casting according to several movie Web sites.[39][39][40][41] The film was released in fall 2012. Eli Roth said:
This movie will have everything martial arts fans could want, combined with RZA's superb musical talent. This project has been his dream for years, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. And fans should know that yes, there will be blood... This ain't no PG-13.[40][41]
Personal life
RZA is a Five Percenter and is usually seen wearing the 5% nations flag necklace around his neck. He is commonly seen and heard dealing with 5% culture (which include the Supreme Mathematics and the Supreme Alphabet). He also has taken on various aspects of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity as stated in his book The Wu-Tang Manual which he talks about thoroughly in The Tao of Wu to expand his spiritual growth. He has described Qur'an, The Bible, and Lotus Sutra as three of his favorite books, stating that each contains enlightenment. His hobbies include watching martial arts films, and he is considered an "encyclopedia of martial arts films", owing to his knowledge of the genre.[41] His favorite movies include Five Deadly Venoms,[42] The 36th Chamber of Shaolin,[42] Ninja Scroll,[43] Fist of the North Star.[43] His second well-known hobby is chess, and he is a Director of Development and champion of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation.[44][45][46]
On children and domestic problems, RZA said:
I got children of my own, you know what I mean? Domestic problems at home. If you start coming home at night from helping all your fans and people and then you've got problems at the house, that will kill any man's spirit. Say you're Bobby Digital, you're RZA, and your girl fornicates on you—you feel like shit. 'Who the fuck? How the fuck?' And say it's some nigga who sells weed—'I'm a millionaire and you're fucking with a regular motherfucker?' That takes a lot from your spirit. That slowed me down, and then the passing of my mother—the two big blows of the year 2000. It really kept me back a few years—I had to go and find myself again. I never told anybody that. You got an exclusive on that one! And I think that's enough right there.[47]
RZA is vegan[48] and has promoted the vegan lifestyle on behalf of PETA.[49] "I tell you one thing I did used to like: the fish and chips," he said in 1997. "But I stopped eating fish this year. One day I just felt the death in it."[50]
RZA has been a resident of Millstone Township, New Jersey.[51]
In 2000, he made an appearance in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. In 1999 he shot a self-financed film on his "Bobby Digital" persona. In the late '90s and early '00s, he began shooting his own music videos, including "Tragedy" and "Chi Kung". He had a cameo in the film Due Date. He also played the role of Det. Moses Jones in the film American Gangster in 2007. Eventually, in 2012, he released his feature debut, The Man with the Iron Fists.
|Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
|Samurai in Camouflage
|Coffee and Cigarettes
|Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
|Video game voice over
|Winston Boyko
|American Gangster
|Moses Jones
|The Box
|Gospel Hill
|Afro Samurai: Resurrection
|Voice over
|Funny People
|Life Is Hot in Cracktown
|Repo Men
|Due Date
|Airline Screening Marshall
|A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
|Samurai Apocalypse
|TV series (nine episodes)
|The Man with the Iron Fists
|Lead actor, director, and co-writer
|G.I. Joe: Retaliation
|Blind Master
|Tom Yum Goong 2
|Mr. LC
|The Protector 2
|Brick Mansions
|Tremaine Alexander
|Gang Related
|DEA Agent Cassius Green
|TV series
|The Man with the Iron Fists 2
|Lead actor and co-writer
|Mr. Right
- Bobby Digital in Stereo (1998)
- Digital Bullet (2001)
- Birth of a Prince (2003)
- Digi Snacks (2008)
- The Wu-Tang Manual (2005)
- The Tao of Wu (2009)
- ↑ RZA: Bio. wutang-corp.com. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
- ↑ The Rap Beat Creator: Make Your Own Beats!!!: The Source Magazine Picks 20 Greatest Producers. Createrapbeats.blogspot.com (August 24, 2008). Retrieved on 2013-04-17.
- ↑ Dr. Dre Is VIBE's Greatest Producer Of All Time, Speaks On Win. Vibe (June 1, 2010). Retrieved on 2013-04-17.
- ↑ "50 of the Greatest Producers Ever". NME.COM. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ RZA (2009). The Tao of Wu. New York: Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-1-59448-885-6.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Lolley, Sarah (July 13, 2001). "Pittsburgh's underground hip-hop scene has helped produce key players like RZA and Mel-Man". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved on April 5, 2008.
- ↑ Webb, Rory D. (April 10, 2013). "Wu-Tang's RZA found his second chance in Steubenville". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved on April 12, 2013.
- ↑ [1][dead link]
- ↑ "Hip Hop Core – Interview : RZA – English". Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Wilkinson, Roy (July 1997). "One of these men is God". Select: 60.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Jason Ankeny. "RZA – Biography – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Ankeny, Jason (July 5, 1969). "RZA". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-31.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Wuforever Wu-Tang Community – Home – latest Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface, Rza, Gza, Deck, U-God, ODB Updates and MP3s". Wuforever.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "wuforever.com". Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Rapper, producer, Composer: The RZA". NPR.org. March 7, 2005. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Feature by Dave Kerr. (April 8, 2008). "RZArecting Bobby". The Skinny. Retrieved 2012-03-31.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Cilvaringz: Wu-Tang Report :: news articles at Wu-Tang Corp. – The Official Site of the Wu-Tang Clan". Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ MySpace.com – ACHOZEN – LOS ANGELES – Hip Hop / Experimental / Visual
- ↑ "System of a Tang? Shavo Collaborates With RZA, GZA". MTV News. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "HipHop News " Wu Music Group Signs Global Digital Distribution Deal". Rapsearch.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "404 – Error: 404". Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "System of a Down Bassist To Perform at We The People Festival - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Kuperstein, Slava (April 28, 2010). "RZA Confirms Liquid Swords 2 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2010-08-19.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Andrew Martin (March 23, 2010). "'Good Ass Job' Marks Kanye West's Return to 'Real' Hip-Hop". Prefixmag.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Interview: The RZA Talks Headphones, Hollywood, and Working On "Watch The Throne"". Complex. Retrieved 2012-04-24.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Why You Can't Ignore Kanye". Time. August 21, 2005. Retrieved May 23, 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Page Not Found". Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Kanye, Run-DMC, Outkast, Justin Sound Off on Our Top 10 Hip-Hop Groups". MTV News. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Dukes, Rahman; Reid, Shaheem (January 19, 2009). "The Clipse Hint at Kanye West Collabo: Mixtape Monday". Rolling Stone. RealNetworks, Inc. Retrieved 2009-01-19. <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "PodOmatic | Podcast – Conspiracy Worldwide Hip Hop Radio – [Part 2] Live Guests – ASSASSINATE THE MEDIA SPECIAL w/ The RZA – Tech N9ne – Freddie Foxx (aka. Bumpy Knuckles) – Dogg Pound – D12's Bizarre – Homeboy Sandman – Matt Maddox – Cyrus Melachi – world exclusives and more! Conspiracy Worldwide Radio UNCUT!". Conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com. June 26, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-19.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "PodOmatic – Podcast – Conspiracy Worldwide Hip Hop Radio – [Part 2] Live Guests – ASSASSINATE THE MEDIA SPECIAL w/ The RZA – Tech N9ne – Freddie Foxx (aka. Bumpy Knuckles) – Dogg Pound – D12's Bizarre – Homeboy Sandman – Matt Maddox – Cyrus Melachi – world exclusives and more! Conspiracy Worldwide Radio UNCUT!". PodOmatic. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ The Wu-Tang Manual by The RZA with Chris Norris, ISBN 1-59448-018-4
- ↑ "Hip Hop Core – Interview : RZA – English". Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ RZA (I) – Biography
- ↑ "High Cost of Body Parts Got You Down? Join the Repo Men Union". Dread Central. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Borys Kit. "'G.I. Joe': RZA Joining Sequel (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0904208/fullcredits#cast
- ↑ "The Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah". Fast Forward Weekly. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Brunton, Richard (July 7, 2008). "RZA's The Man with the Iron Fist". Filmstalker. Retrieved 2010-08-19.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Movies – Eli Roth on RZA's The Man with the Iron Fist". 411mania.com. Retrieved 2013-04-17.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 "Eli Roth Gives Chud The Scoop on RZA's Martial Arts Movie!". Chud.com. July 6, 2008. Retrieved 2010-08-19.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 "RZA's Edge: The RZA's Guide to Kung-Fu Films". Film Society of Lincoln Center. Retrieved 2012-06-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 "The RZA – Laying Down Afro Samurai's Beats". Newsarama.com. February 10, 2009. Retrieved 2012-06-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "The 10 Best Beards in Sports". BallerStatus.com. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Where Hip-Hop, Martial Arts and Chess Meet – The New York Times
- ↑ "RZA wins WWF". Prefixmag. Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "RZA: KUNG FU CURES PERVERSION! – L.A. RECORD". Retrieved March 26, 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Wu Tang's RZA Wants To Get Real About Why He's A Vegan". Huffington Post. January 12, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-12.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Luke Morgan Britton,"Wu-Tang Clan's RZA says he refuses to put 'dead animals' in his 'live body' in PETA advert," NME News, November 24, 2014.
- ↑ Wilkinson, Roy (July 1997). "One of these men is God". Select: 60.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Jordan, Chris. "Hip-hop benefit to go on minus state backing", Home News Tribune, May 15, 2002. Accessed September 19, 2014. "I'm here to show that whether it's being supported or funded I'm still here with my own time and my own dime for these young brothers and young sisters to get a chance to know that they got to read and they got to study said RZA also known as Robert Diggs of Millstone Township".
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Picture: John Galliano London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011 - Fashion Fringe - Catwalk London, England - 18.09.10
A representative for John Galliano has denied the disgraced designer donned Hasidic clothing during his appearance at New York Fashion Week on Tuesday (12Feb13), insisting the outfit reflected his usual eclectic sense of style.
The style guru fell from grace in 2011 over his anti-Semitic rant in Paris, France. The scandal cost him his job at Christian Dior and his position at his own fashion house.
He has made a comeback by working for Oscar de la Renta on a temporary contract ahead of his show at the Big Apple's annual fashion week, but caused outrage among the leaders of New York's Jewish community by stepping out seemingly dressed as a Hasid, with a hat, long jacket and his hair in curly 'peyos' sidelocks.
However, the star's spokesperson insists Galliano simply wore designer clothing and has made a concerted effort to make amends with the Jewish community over the last few years.
Publicist Liz Rosenberg tells Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, "Mr Galliano has worn big hats and has had long curly hair for many years. He was in designer attire from head-to-toe including a Stephen Jones hat and Yohji Yamamoto pants.
"(He) continues to be committed to making amends and seeking forgiveness from the Jewish community for his insensitive remarks two years ago.
"(Galliano) continues to make a sincere and heartfelt effort to understand his actions and demonstrate his contrition."


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Large-scale sites are complex systems, where every page is likely generated with data pulled from multiple back-end data stores and services. Yet, not every piece of data on the page is critical to the user experience. The front-end of your site (i.e. front-end applications, templates, and user interface) needs to be designed to tolerate service outages. Features that your users will see need to have not just manual configuration flags, but also the ability to fail gracefully when a back-end service is unavailable. It's important to note that in many cases, your site's users will never realize the difference.
This talk is focused on getting front-end engineers, application developers, and product managers to think about their sites and products with an operational mindset. Topics covered in this talk will include:
Mike leads the Mobile group at Etsy (iOS, Android, Mobile Web), and was previously responsible for building up the Software Infrastructure teams (Core Platform, Dev Tools, CI, Site Performance).
Want to hear what Etsy is up to? Want to chat Continuous Deployment, Performance Culture, or Mobile Development? Reach out and let's find a chance to meet at Velocity NYC: firstname.lastname@example.com
For information on exhibition and sponsorship opportunities at the conference, contact Gloria Lombardo at firstname.lastname@example.com
For media partnerships, contact mediapartners@ oreilly.com
For media-related inquiries, contact Maureen Jennings at email@example.com
View a complete list of Velocity contacts


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Ghost Mine, premiering Jan. 16 at 10 p.m., focuses on a re-opened, supposedly haunted gold mine where "a colorful team of miners" seek fortune alongside a group of paranormal investigators - on hand to explore the ghostly activity and Masonic connections. Stranded, premiering Feb. 27 at 10 p.m., is produced by Destination Truth's Josh Gates (who also serves as showrunner) and Ping Pong Productions (Destination Truth, Finding Bigfoot), and follows teams of three dropped into famously haunted locales. The teams' experiences will be documented with handheld cameras and stationary cams to create a blend of a POV and docudrama.
Then there is Notorious Hauntings (premiering Spring 2013), produced by Pilgrim Studios - the production company behind the Ghost Hunters franchise. A globetrotting paranormal investigative show, the Notorious Hauntings team uncovers history and explores claims of paranormal activity at locations such as Dracula's stomping grounds in Romania and the sites of Jack the Ripper's murders in London.
Notorious Hauntings sounds similar to another international ghost hunting Syfy show produced by Pilgrim ... called Ghost Hunters International. And Mike Nichols, who has exec-produced GH and GHI, also produces Notorious. For a while now it has seemed that GHI - also produced by GH's Jason Hawes - wouldn't be returning, but this puts the nail in that ghost show's coffin.
Following Ghost Hunters Academy, this is the second GH show that appears to be cancelled. After a rotating cast of investigators, coupled with the fact that they haven't filmed any episodes for more than a year (and that last season's ratings were weak), it is reasonable to expect a GHI reboot. But even though GH remains a strong ratings performer (and was recently renewed for season nine), does Pilgrim and Syfy's scrapping of the GHI name suggest a move away from GH as a franchise?
Additionally, it is noteworthy that Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files and Destination Truth are absent from Syfy's list of "popular paranormal reality programming block." Through omission, the announcement of three new shows reads like a de facto cancellation notice of three other shows - all while reinforcing Syfy's continued commitment to the paranormal.
Of course, this could be reading too much into the press release and maybe we can expect to see more of Kris Williams and Barry FitzGerald's GHI team, as well as Ben Hansen's Fact or Faked crew. Whatever the case, Truthies out there can take comfort that at least Josh Gates, who has become a trusted pitch man for the entire net, will still be with Syfy - even if behind the scenes. Then again, this is the TV biz, folks; even cancelled shows can come back from the dead to haunt another day.
-Aaron Sagers


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Tag Archives: drive traffic
Site Building Advice One Response
5 easy ways to promote your business online
If your business is lacking an online presence, now is the perfect time to get started. Getting online has never been easier, and developing a great website no longer requires huge effort or expertise. What's the incentive? Creating an online presence allows your business to be found via search engines, making it possible for users to obtain your contact details, find your hours of operation and research your products. With … Read more


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Message Board
Lillian Belinfante Herzberg Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Herzberg has written!
Author Herzberg's Book Reviews
Kindness of Strangers
Erna, a widow, and her only child, 16-year-old Alice, know they must leave Czechoslovakia, the country of their ancestors, before the Nazis take over complete control if they are to survive. They are joined by Belo, an enthusiastic Zionist. Escape plans are made. To facilitate their escape Alice and 25 year old Belo marry. The trio travel to Brindisi, Italy, from where they plan to sail clandestinely to Palestine. The ship never comes and they are strand...
Stephan's Journey - A Sojourn into Freedom
England, France, and Holland offer a safe haven to European children in danger from the Nazis. Stephan, along with a few other children, is sent to safety in Paris. Stephan's father, now remarried, and his wife leave for America before they can locate Stephan, and plan to send for him upon arriving in America. All communication between parents and child comes to an end. After three years separation, he locates his family in Boston and they send for him. ...


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The OECD Workshop on insurance and private pensions in Baltic States was organised back to back with the Regional Meeting of the International Network of Pensions Regulators and Supervisors for the Central and Eastern European countries in Tallinn, Estonia.
The first session of the Workshop on insurance and private pensions in Baltic States was devoted to three major insurance policy issues: e-insurance, policyholder protection funds and insurance of emerging systemic risks. The second session focused on common insurance and private pension issues, i.e. portfolio management and annuities. The regional INPRS meeting mainly discussed options for legal form, governance and supervision of pension schemes, as well as fee structure, disclosure and education.
The documentation from the two meetings is detailed below. Click on the title to download the document in pdf.
Documents connexes


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Broncos players to help launch new Xbox Kinect game at Park Meadows
Xbox One's Kinect Sports Rivals doesn't hit store shelves until April 8, but the Microsoft Store in Park Meadows is giving folks a chance to play it before then — not to mention an opportunity to meet two Denver Broncos in the process.
In celebration of the game's release, the store will hold events on April 5, 6, 8, 12 and 13. Broncos' defensive lineman Malik Johnson and safety Duke Ihenacho will be at the store from 1 p.m. to 3 on Saturday, April 5 for autographs and photos.
Made by Rareware games, Kinect Sports Rivals is the fourth installment in series but the first to use the Xbox One's improved camera for the Kinect, which works with voice and motion-activated commands. Rareware's Nick Burton said the new Kinect has the ability to understand two people speaking at once — in light or in complete darkness. He said the original Kinect tracks 20 joints on two people; the new version can track 25 joints on six bodies.


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Four Wheel Drive for your Machine!
The Tutto Machine-on-Wheels is the strongest, most lightweight, and most ergonomically friendly of sewing machine luggage choices!
Read our review and check out the wide assortment of sizes and colors (and great prices) for this highly maneuverable carrier for taking your sewing machine across town or around the world!
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history lesson
DayBird - June 7th
1329 – Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, dies in a fiery car smash.
1494 – Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas which divides the New World between the two countries. It is promptly ignored by all other European nations.
1778 - Beau Brummell, follower of men's fashion in Regency England, was born. He established the mode of men wearing understated, yet fitted, tailored clothes and suits, adorned with an elaborately-knotted cravat. He is credit with doing away with breeches, and establishing the modern's man's suit. He claimed to take five hours to dress, and recommended that boots be polished with champagne. He was quite the dandy.
1892 - Homer Plessy boarded a car of the East Louisiana Railroad that was designated for use by white patrons only. Plessy was born one-eighth black and seven-eighths white, under a Louisiana law, he was classified as black, and thus required to sit in the "colored" car. When, in an act of planned disobedience, a lot of that going around today, Plessy refused to move from the white car, he was arrested and jailed. This lead to the dumbass Supreme Court case ruling, upholding the constitutionality of segregation, under the doctrine of, "separate but equal."
1893 – Gandhi's first act of civil disobedience. He lit up in a bar.
1937 - Hollywood is schocked by the sudden death of young actress Jean Harlow, who dies of acute renal failure, at the age of 26.
1954 – Alan Turing, English mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst and computer scientist, died. He was influential in the development and the creation of the modern computer, and super cool WWII code breaker. He also happened to be gay. Turing's homosexuality resulted in a criminal prosecution in 1952—homosexual acts were illegal in the United Kingdom at that time—and he accepted injections of female estrogen hormones, chemical castration, as an alternative to prison. How fucked up is that? The British government removed his security clearance, and his reputation was permanently ruined. He died from an apparently self-administered cyanide poisoning, via a poisoned apple.
In 2009, British PM Gordon Brown apologized for the treatment of Alan Turing:
Thousands of people have come together to demand justice for Alan Turing and recognition of the appalling way he was treated. While Turing was dealt with under the law of the time and we can't put the clock back, his treatment was of course utterly unfair and I am pleased to have the chance to say how deeply sorry I and we all are for what happened to him ... So on behalf of the British government, and all those who live freely thanks to Alan's work I am very proud to say: we're sorry, you deserved so much better.
You bet your ass, Brown.
1988 - I only liked you in Arrested Development, Michael Cera, is born.


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Ok, so it's maybe not the catchiest name for a cake you'll ever come across but I don't like to leave out important details that might sway you into making it!
The CCD's rhubarb plant has sprung into life quite spectacularly, as indeed it does every year, so I spent some happy time perusing my recipes deciding on how to put it to best use. I've baked many rhubarb cakes and tarts and just can't get enough – forced or garden, I don't care! As you can see, it's an impressive plant:
Here, I've parted just one section of leaves so you can see the stalks. There are many, many more than this photo can encompass:
This recipe is made in a small roasting tin or traybake tin and can be served warm with custard or ice cream for dessert or at room temperature with thick spooning cream for a tea time treat.
The juicy, bread pudding like, texture is very comforting and I loved the way that some pieces of rhubarb retained their sharpness as it provided a contrast in flavour. This side view photo shows how moist the cake is:
Many recipes combine rhubarb with orange juice and I find this can overpower the rhubarb a little. This recipe teams the rhubarb with toffee-like dark sugar and the spiced nut topping adds crunch and an extra punch of flavour. I loved the combinations.
For the topping:
15g unsalted butter
50g golden caster sugar
100g mixed nuts, roughly chopped – any nut combination will work, I used a bag from the supermarket containing almonds, walnuts and – oddly - peanuts)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the cake:
85g unsalted butter
250g dark muscovado sugar
1 egg
225g plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
248ml soured cream
300g rhubarb, cut into 1cm chunks
Preheat the oven to 180˚C/fan oven 160˚C/350˚F/Gas mark 4
Line a 30cm x 20cm roasting tin with baking paper. If you are going to serve the cake straight from the oven, as a dessert, simply grease the tin with butter.
Start by making the topping: melt the butter and stir into the golden caster sugar, nuts and cinnamon. Put to one side.
Now make the cake: Beat the butter with the muscovado sugar and egg.
When the mix is smooth and creamy, stir in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and soured cream.
Lastly, stir in the chunks of rhubarb.
Pour into the prepared tin and sprinkle with the cinnamon nut topping.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Have to warn you that mine took much longer – almost an hour; this could be because I was baking two at the same time and this impacted the cooking rate.
If using for dessert, serve immediately with custard, ice cream or cream. If serving as a tea time cake, leave to cool on a wire rack.
When cool, cut into squares. It will keep in an airtight tin for up to 5 days.
Bask in the glory of the wonderful thing you have created.


text: VISITVisitor InformationDirectionsThronson CaféMuseum StorePublic ToursGroup ToursSchool VisitsNearby AttractionsEXHIBITIONSCurrent ExhibitionsUpcoming ExhibitionsPast ExhibitionsOutlooks Exhibition SeriesArt Is EverywhereCOLLECTIONSBritish Pre-RaphaelitesHoward PyleAmerican IllustrationJohn SloanAmerican Art, 19th Century – PresentCopeland Sculpture GardenThe Helen Farr Sloan Library and ArchivesNew AcquisitionsCurator CornerSearch The CollectionPROGRAMS & EVENTSCalendarAdult ProgramsTalks & ToursFamily and YouthArt CampConcerts on KentmereCalls for ArtisansConnected SeriesHoliday House TourEDUCATIONStudio Art ClassesSchool & Teacher ProgramsOutreach: Art ExcursionsHomeschool ProgramsDocentsKids' CornerRed Apple FundMEMBERSHIPWhy Membership MattersMembership LevelsDirectors CircleRossetti CircleArt Is CardReciprocal MuseumsSUPPORTAnnual GivingLegacy Giving1912 Loyalty SocietyDonor PortraitsCorporate SupportFinancial Documents2014 Annual ReportABOUTCentennial HistoryBuilding DesignGoing GreenDelArt BlogE-NewsMuseum RentalPress RoomOpportunitiesVolunteerContact UsStaff ListBoard Of TrusteesMuseum CouncilFirstPrevious12345678..2425NextLastLancelot and GuinevereDate: c. 1873Artist: Julia Margaret Cameron, British photographer, 1815–1879Medium: Albumen silver print from glass negativeDimensions: 13 3/4 × 11 1/4 in. (34.9 × 28.6 cm) frame: 26 1/2 × 22 1/2 in. (67.3 × 57.2 cm)Credit Line: Acquired through the Samuel and Mary R. Bancroft Memorial, 1979Object Number: 1979-71About: At age 49, Julia Margaret Cameron, a wife and mother, took up photography under the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites. She was encouraged by her friend, the poet Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892), to create photographic illustrations for a publication of his poems. This photograph illustrates the moment in Tennyson's Idylls of the King when Lancelot presents a diamond necklace he has won in a tournament to Queen Guinevere. Permalink to this object: http://emuseum.delart.org:8080/emuseum/view/objects/asitem/items$0040:2612


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SUZUKA, Japan (Reuters) - Nico Hulkenberg's chances of replacing Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus were boosted on Tuesday after the Formula One team said weight would not be a major factor in their choice of driver.
The issue has become a hot topic in the sport, with the introduction of a new and heavier V6 turbo power unit and energy recovery systems next year giving more of an advantage to the lighter drivers.
Germany's Hulkenberg is one of the tallest and, at 78 kilos, heaviest drivers. The ideal weight next season is likely to be between 60 and 65 kg.
"We're more interested in the talent and potential of a driver rather than the difference of a few kilos," said Lotus team principal Eric Boullier in a team preview of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
"We have confidence in our development team to be able to produce a car for the 2014 regulations which should be competitive in the hands of any driver we consider for next year."
Boullier, who needs to replace Raikkonen after the Finn signed to return to Ferrari next season, has made no secret of his interest in Sauber's Hulkenberg.
The German finished fourth in South Korea last weekend and had also been considered for the Ferrari seat.
Sauber have said they want to bring 18-year-old Russian Sergey Sirotkin into the sport, if he can get a superlicence, as part of a deal with new Russian backers and Hulkenberg is expected to leave.
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) has increased the minimum weights of car and driver by 50kg for 2014 but the bigger drivers say that is not enough and the weight should go up another 10kg in the interests of fairness and safety.
McLaren's Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, said at the race in Yeongam that something had to change.
"It's a crazy situation to be in. With so many rule changes, obviously the weight limit has gone up but for a driver to have to worry about his weight that much is wrong," he told reporters.
"This is something that could be solved very easily. And it should not stop people looking at heavier drivers (for race seats), especially if they are tall."
McLaren principal Martin Whitmarsh doubted, however, that anything would be done to change it in the short term.
"We need unanimity to change this and I rather doubt we'll get it," he said.
Editing by Ed Osmond


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Wixiban (Wix for short) was a Talaxian and an old friend of Neelix's. In the past, the two had worked together on several less-than-legal ventures. The last of these had landed Wixiban in an Ubean prison.
The two met several years later on the station near the Nekrit Expanse where Wixiban had been stuck for three years due to debt problems. Wixiban succeeded in drawing Neelix back into his schemes, including conducting illegal trade on the Nekrit Expanse trade station in order to help Neelix acquire a map of the Nekrit Expanse. Neelix borrowed a shuttle to deliver Wixiban's supplies, but during the transaction, Wixiban killed one of the dealers, Sutok, with a phaser from the shuttle. Neelix realized that Wixiban used him to carry out a narcotics deal.
Wixiban told Neelix that in order to appease the drug dealer, he needed a sample of warp plasma from USS Voyager. Neelix refused to steal the item and persuaded Wixiban to confess to the station's manager. A trap was set up and the dealers were captured in exchange for the charges being dropped against Neelix and Wixiban. (VOY: "Fair Trade")
External linkEdit
- Wixiban at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works


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The Manatee County school district will eliminate 188 full-time staff positions for the 2013-14 school year by restructuring class sizes and giving employees more responsibilities.
District principals were informed of staffing changes earlier this month, and on Monday the School Board unanimously approved staff cuts that school officials said could save more than $10 million. The savings are needed for a district that has experienced program cuts and other austerity measures in the wake of a $3.4 million budget deficit that depleted reserves last fall.
A district savings plan cuts back on the number of special education teachers and elective teachers, and eliminates 44 teacher aides positions by changing student and staff ratios. But it calls for 22 additional technology assistants in elementary and middle schools and eight parent liaisons — staff in charge of discipline — in order to help with computer-based testing and a program that helps students in the middle prepare for college.
The district can save $5.9 million alone and eliminate 96 staff positions by realigning student/teacher ratios to meet the state Class Size Amendment and minimizing state funding reductions for a lack of compliance, said Chief Financial Officer Michael Boyer.
The Class Size Amendment requires no more than 18 students for PreK through third grade, 22 students in grades four through eight and 25 students in grades nine through 12.
Boyer has spent the past two months working on savings options and worked with Citizens Advisory Group vice-chair Bill Vogel earlier this month to inform school leaders of changes.
District officials said Monday the district loses about 200 employees a year through attrition. The savings plan would eliminate 188 total positions.
"For a while people might have that uncertainty," Vogel said. "But because we are doing it so early and because of attrition we hope to find a place for everyone."
Boyer said evidence suggests that the district's current allocations attributed to the budget problems. As an example he cited elementary schools that have added staff in order to meet class size requirements and avoid fund reductions from the state — a decision that actually costs the district more through salaries. The district is paying for more positions than it needs in some schools, he said.
"It was fiscally irresponsible," Boyer said. "Principals will have to adjust by July 1."
Regardless, the restructure almost certainly means more work with less staff for a district that has already experienced pay and program cuts. Speech therapists' caseloads will increase and 17 custodial positions will be eliminated by making existing custodians responsible for larger areas.
Director of Maintenance and Operations Todd Henson said staff was just becoming informed about the changes, and that though some schools won't see a change at all, it will take some time to see how total staff is affected. He estimates that he loses more than 30 custodians per year due to attrition.
"Everybody understands the budget situation, so there is no surprise," Henson said. "I think everyone understands cuts."
Director of Elementary Schools Joe Stokes said Monday that school size would likely affect how deeply elementary schools feel the cuts.
"Most schools will feel the effect in their electives," Stokes said, speaking of classes such as art, drama and music. "It all comes back to this budget problem."
School officials reported Monday that the district is still on track to bring reserves back to more than $6 million, and above the 2 percent of operating expenses that the state has asked Manatee County to maintain after the September budget crisis. Districts are usually required to maintain 3 percent of their operating budget in their reserves.
Many have high hopes that the legislature will make class size rules more flexible.
"They're going to look at schools (size) instead of by class," Boyer said. "Which is profoundly different and will allow us to be much more flexible."
Earlier Monday, board members also discussed the future of the legal department in light of board attorney John Bowen's impending retirement in June. The board tasked Bowen and Superintendent Rick Mills with exploring options for future counsel for the school board, staff and the superintendent, and report back at the April 8 board meeting.
Manatee schools will eliminate 188 full-time jobs
The Manatee County school district will eliminate 188 full-time staff positions for the 2013-14 school year by restructuring class sizes and giving employees more responsibilities.


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O'Brien Labs > codeSnips - A code snippet WordPress plugin > screenshot-1 Keyboard Shortcuts
About Pat
I'm a sysadmin, WordPress Core Contributor, plugin & theme developer. I've also developed a few non-WordPress websites. I'm a technologist at heart. I enjoy tinkering on many projects. Here on my site you will find some of the projects I've worked on. Whether it's the WordPress plugins I've made, some WordPress tips, various tech tips, or even a couple Halloween props.


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When you work, it's important to be organized. You don't want to spend time looking for an eraser or a particular pen. There's nothing more frustrating than forgetting an idea while looking for a damn pencil. What could be better than a brume to keep your desk clean? To draw design concepts, I use those fat markers called TRIA and I have a lot of different colors. This little trick keeps them close and visible at all time while I'm sketching.
Keep the wooden stick for later... we'll find something to do with it.


text: Bugaboo Breezy Sun CanopyOffers sun protection while allowing cool breezes through The Bugaboo Breezy Sun Canopy provides your child with extra ventilation on warm days. The glacier grey fabric provides excellent UPF 50+ UV protection, is water & oil repellent and made of highly durable material. The Bugaboo Breezy Sun Canopy also has a fine mesh which allows cool breezes to pass through and an integrated sunshade for extra coverage. Thanks to its innovative construction, you can arrange the canopy in the way that will give your child the best shade when strolling around. Protects your child: provides a UPF of 50+ and is water-repellent (excl. integrated mesh parts) Extendable sun canopy: unzips to give extra coverage and ventilation Multifunctional sun canopy: offers head-to-toe sun coverage and mosquito protection (excl. Bugaboo Bee) Zip up window for easy access and ventilation Provides sun protection and shade Dedicated version for all Bugaboo strollersfeatures & specsThe fine mesh allows cool breezes through Teflon coating gives fabric water- & oil- repellency Innovative construction for optimal air flow Mesh part can be zipped up Fabric offers UPF 50+ (excl. integrated mesh panels)


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Create your own fascinating world! In ANNO 1701 for Nintendo DS. You can experience the adventurous world of the 18th century with up to three friends, mobile and wireless. Explore, settle and expand in a completely new world. Prove yourself as adventurer and embark on the journey of your lifetime. Set sail to explore nameless islands and strange cultures, prove yourself as strategist, trader and town planner. Develop a new, powerful colony – it's up to you!
Based on Germanys most successful PC-Game-Franchise, ANNO 1701 for Nintendo DS is original development utilizing the unique options offered by the Nintendo DS. The island worlds of ANNO 1701 can be explored, developed and controlled solely by using the stylus. The upper screen provides all relevant game play information while the game takes its course on the touchscreen below. Three different game modes offer endless fun: a full-fledged campaign including dramatic cut scenes, a versatile endless-game-mode for free exploration and development of the island world, as well as a multiplayer mode offering competitive fun for up to four players via Nintendo WFC
If for any reason you are not 100% happy with your purchase, we can provide you with a full refund or exchange if you return it to us within 7 days after you receive the goods. Conditions apply, please see our terms and conditions.