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This Is Me--2019 A to Z Theme
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
I Don't Want to Talk About It (#BOTB)
Initially, my concern in presenting this series was that no one would want to talk about it. In our society we have many sticky topics that people are hesitant to discuss for fear of arguing and getting angry. I would ask why. Are we so uncivil when it comes to disagreement that we can't make an effort to understand both sides and maybe come to some acceptance and even agreement? I actually think opposing sides of any issue are really in not as much disagreement as they think.
We often engage with inflammatory language and accusations against the opposition. The use of neutral language as much as possible as well as seeing the positive parts of an opposing argument can sometimes lead to constructive solutions and greater understanding of issues at hand. If a discussion regarding disagreements ends with some kind pleasantries and a handshake then we are so much better off. No one has to be mean to the other side nor should we distort what has been said when discussing the conversation later on.
Truth, justice, and the American way is not only the domain of superheroes, but should be a credo for all of us. And for those who don't come from this country you can substitute whatever way you prefer. The United States of America is a pretty darn good place to live in my opinion and we're really not bad folks overall. Even when we elect a President who seems unsavory to many. What seems to be not always is what it is. Appearances can be deceptive especially when funneled through the eyes of the media. You can't always believe everything that's delivered by the media--or Google for that matter.
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands. This event happens twice each month on the 1st and 15th. The premise is simple: Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it. Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.
"I Don't Want To Talk About It"
The most well known version of this song is the version by Rod Stewart first released in 1977. Please don't vote on his version, but if you don't remember it then you can listen to it here. There are a number of very fine recordings of this song. For the Battle I've started with the original version by Crazy Horse.
Crazy Horse "I Don't Want To Talk About It" (1971)
This is the first version of the song with which I was familiar. As a Neil Young fan, I also bought the albums by Crazy Horse, Young's early back-up band. The group's debut album included the Danny Whitten penned "I Don't Want to Talk About It."
Indigo Girls "I Don't Want To Talk About It" (1993)
Alternate version Here
Over twenty years following the Crazy Horse debut of this song, a version by the Indigo Girls appeared on the soundtrack of the film Philadelphia. See what you think of this version.
Time To Vote!
Which of these two song versions do you prefer? If you don't like either then try to play along and tell us which version you think is the least innocuous to you.
Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.
Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:
StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
The Doglady's Den
Angel's Bark
Cherdo on the Flipside
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Janie Junebug Righting & Editing.
J. A. Scott
Winner Announced Monday November 21st
I may slip in another of my political analysis posts on Friday, but I'll definitely continue with the discussion on my announcement post. I figure I've only lost nine followers since the election so I guess I'm not doing too badly. On the other hand, I haven't unfollowed any blogs--for whatever that's worth.
Are you hesitant to discuss topics of disagreement with others? Can you keep a cool head when having a conversation concerning a volatile topic? What topics do you find provokes the most ire within disagreeing parties?
62 comments:
The artwork on the Indigo Girls ~ I Don't Want To Talk About It ~ is beautiful! Very calming. I like this one! It would be a good rallying song to get people to 'talk about it'.ReplyDelete
MLQ, Aesthetically the video has lovely visual appeal and the performance is very nice as well.Delete
First vote goes to Indigo Girls
I really like the Indigo Girls version!The Crazy Horse version was okay but in my opinion it paled in comparison to the Indigo Girls take on the song. I don't really know that much about the Indigo Girls but I do know that I've liked all the songs I've heard by them.ReplyDelete
The video was awesome! Art and music together: can't be beat!
My vote goes to those Indigo Girls...
As for talking about controversial subjects, especially those that so polarize people, I tend to stay away from those conversations. As I told you awhile back, I came this close to losing a good friend over politics and it was very uncomfortable for me.
I do like to have conversations where my views may differ from another's but I pick and chose those conversations and the people I have them with very carefully...
Michele at Angels BarkReplies
Michele, talking about touchy topics especially with people close to you can be very difficult. Sometimes I've tried, but the conversation usually ends up in the "let's not talk about it" realm. Where I've had the biggest problems is when people attack me when I'm being quiet on a topic because they have an idea how I might think and they want to provoke me. Then they get angry because I come up with a good argument that they can't sway me from. Better to be quiet sometimes with certain people. Pick and choose is a good approach to take regarding discussing controversial issues.Delete
Another vote for Indigo Girls.
Hey Lee, you still have time to vote in my battle, if you get a chance to stop by. Low voter turnout this time around, for my battle anyway... So pop on over and cast a vote. Would love to see which one you pick over there...Delete
Michele, actually I did vote for U2. I see that my vote comment is still awaiting moderation so you might want to check that.Delete
I like the Crazy Horse version, although it would have been even better if they'd done it with Neil Young. Neil can turn anyone's song into his. He has the best version of "Imagine" I have ever heard.ReplyDeleteReplies
Nasreen, you and I are of a common mind regarding the Neil Young connection. I'm sure Danny Whitten was influenced by Young's songwriting when he wrote the song. I don't know if Young has ever performed this song, but it would be a natural for him. I can't recall if I've ever heard Neil's version of "Imagine"--sounds interesting although that song does annoy me lyrically speaking to a certain extent.Delete
First vote for Crazy Horse
#2 gets my vote.ReplyDelete
It is rather pathetic how people can't have civil conversations about things. Not agreeing isn't so bad, as you learn more and may even open your eyes to new ideas. If everyone thought for a second that there is a slim chance, no matter what you believe, that "I maybe wrong" it would leave doors open and discussions would go much easier. This "I've always got to be right" mentality gets everyone nowhere.Replies
Pat, reaching a common ground is a great thing when it can be achieved. We don't have to agree, but we should be civil in our disagreement. And even though I'm always right, I try not to rub anyone's nose in it :)Delete
Another Indigo Girls vote.
Nobody does it like Rod, but my vote goes to Crazy Horse. Too bad Neil didn't join in. ☺ I really liked the guitar bits. Indigo Girls did a fine job,but it didn't attract as much. Personally, I'm sick of talking politics at present and that seems to be the most contentious of subjects, especially these days. I don't understand the mindset of people who think being nasty will win them any arguments. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and any decent human being will respect that.ReplyDeleteReplies
Debbie D, Rod does a nice job though listening to his version again after so many years it does seem to have that sound of that era and doesn't seem to me as good as it used to.Delete
As far as the political scene, I wish people could just be rational about it all. Everyone gets so emotional about it and end up saying things that don't particularly help. I like the idea of talking politics, but it never seems to work well unless I'm talking to someone who totally agrees with me and then it's just a rant fest with no contention involved.
A vote for Crazy Horse.
- Sheboyganboy VINovember 15, 2016 at 7:33 AM
Hi Lee -ReplyDelete
Neither of these live up to the Stewart version to my ears. But - although I am not overly fond of the deep female voice of Indigo Person #1, the Girls' voices are much better than the super slow vibrato of Danny Whitten. His voice just totally turns me off, I'm afraid.
I think people having a civil conversation about real issues is a pipe dream. We are a Facebook/Twitter culture and that raw discourse has spilled over into everyday conversation. Example: any attempt to discuss how to solve the problem of illegal immigration is met with howls of racism. Period! You simply cannot discuss the subject without being called names.
And if THAT is all you get from people, then I don't want to discuss it! I just want to take action and let them howl.Replies
SBB6, The internet offers some great things, but I think you're right about its influence on civil discourse. Online people get used to just saying any old crazy thing they want and usually that doesn't work well in face to face discussions. We do need to separate the inflammatory terminology from the discussions so as not to rile the other side of the conversation. Name calling just gets people resentful and upset.Delete
Another vote for Indigo Girls.
Indigo Girls gets my vote. I liked their music and their voices better, the sound is clear and conveys the sadness in the words. Crazy Horse's version is too 'soft' for me. As for your political posts - I think we all have a right to our opinions and I'd expect you to respect my opinions as I respect yours. I wouldn't unfollow someone for stating their ideas or discussing them. You're much too interesting, Lee, and I enjoy some of your BOTBs. Then there's the A to Z thing. . .ReplyDeleteReplies
DG, I try to be as respectful as I can, but I think sometimes people mistake disagreement for disrespect. I try my best to be rational and cool in expressing my side and accepting the opposing side. But sometimes I do feel compelled to speak out on things I believe in at the risk of turning off readers.Delete
A vote for Indigo Girls
Crazy Horse is a great version, but it seems about 2 minutes too long. The Indigo Girls did a great job as well. My vote goes to the Indigo Girls.ReplyDelete
Mary, and that's the long and the short of it...Delete
A vote for Indigo Girls
Lee, Allow me to answer your question before I get into who I picked in this round of BoTB.ReplyDelete
Are you hesitant to discuss topics of disagreement with others? I have no problem talking about sensitive subjects with others so long the person keeps his/her wits about herself, otherwise it's best to not go there.
Can you keep a cool head when having a conversation concerning a volatile topic? I am a very easy going person and generally keep my composure and while I might grow excited with the conversation but I keep my passion in check because I know the person I'm speaking with is someone I either love, respect, or both. Nothing is more important than kinships/friendships.
What topics do you find provokes the most ire within disagreeing parties? In this election cycle it seems race/sex was in the hot seat of, which totally blew my mind. Trump was being bashed on both accounts and I kept thinking, I don't get it. Conservatives are always thought of as the racist or sexist in these elections and that's just absolutely not true. Of course any topics regarding moral or social issues (sexuality, abortion, illegals, etc) seem to spark disagreement between people, too.
The bottom line is people need a change of heart to restore civility between differing opinions. Liberalism teaches "it's my way or no way" and this is why you can't hold a conversation with these people and that is why we're seeing the display of temper tantrums now.
Okay, now on a lighter note let me give you my band pick for this BoTB song choice. The Indigo Girls were ok. Nothing wrong with their cover. I preferred the male vocal's far better and am giving my vote to Danny Whitten. Incidentally, I barely remember this song. Thanks for re-introducing this old classic to me, my friend! Have a good day!Replies
Cathy, you gave some good answers to my questions. I also seem to have a problem when discussing topics with liberal minded people--they start spewing labels to attach to my thinking and insult my ideas and then if the conversation seems to be in my favor they'll clam up saying they don't want to talk about it anymore.Delete
A vote for Crazy Horse
Okay. I'll talk. I don't mind speaking my mind or listening to others speak their's. I am totally mystified at these results. I hear you, Lee, and others speak about Trump and he is not who I see. Do we live on different planets? You must be equally mystified by folks like me. Your last writer says he doesn't understand how Republicans or Conservatives or Trump can be seen as sexist or racist. I'm a woman, who works with indigenous peoples and I cannot see how you don't recoil in fear and loathing at the things he has actually said. Not that have been said about him, because I know that the media is warped in every direction - but things we've heard him say. And now we're seeing the people he is choosing - alt right all of them. People who do really believe that foreigners caused all the problems in North America. People who really do believe that women should stay out of politics and cook meals for their husbands and children. People who really believe that African Americans cause their own misery. If people that feel that North America should be for the people who first settled it - they'd better all get on the Mayflower and head on back to Europe. Because your country and mine was inhabited by Indigenous People for thousands and thousands of years before white colonizers came over. That is me speaking my mind. I don't care which song wins.ReplyDeleteReplies
Jan, the question I keep wondering when people start talking about all the things Trump said and what he and his followers believe is: Where does this information come from? Did you actually hear Trump say the things you say he said? Or did you hear reports and interpretations of what he said and see edited clips from his speeches? I've been puzzled from the beginning as I did not get these same messages that you list above, but I repeatedly heard them reported. I'm glad to hear you speak your mind, but I guess I need more evidence to be convinced that your points are correct.Delete
I think your topic yesterday provoked a lot of ire. Although our pastor recently said that the one word that will always provoke a response, either positive or negative, is Jesus.ReplyDelete
I like the Indigo Girls' version better. Sorry.Replies
Alex, do you mean the topic that I'm talking about has created ire? My post didn't seem to generate any ire at all and if that's what you're suggesting, then you should go back and read through the responses as what I saw was interest and open discussion which is what is needed. Regarding Jesus, He said that he came to bring a sword: start talking Jesus with non-believers as well as believers and you can really stir up some ire and disagreement. In a sense I think Donald Trump has also brought a sword to the American people, some are scared while some are rallied for battle. It's a battle of ideologies like Jesus wielded. Now, don't get me wrong with comparing Trump to Jesus as I'm making a comparison in methodologies since you brought up the topic of Jesus. In the end, according to the Christianity in which I believe, it will come down to the Jesus followers and the anti-Christ armies. This angers billions of people in the world today--how does that affect you? A belief in Jesus can raise far greater ire than any human like Donald Trump--one is a passing fad, an ephemeral world leader, while the other is an all-powerful being for all time ruling over all peoples. Maybe I should put that in a blog post and we can see a topic that might provoke ire.Delete
A vote for Indigo Girls.
They're similar, but I preferred The Indigo Girls' version. It seemed to move along better.ReplyDelete
As for the other topic, I think I'll pass.Replies
John, kind of similar in a way I guess...Delete
Indigo Girls
Trump accurately described many of our national problems as looming catastrophes. However, he promised to fix them without any detail, other than to promise us income tax cuts that would make any fixing impossible. He was the ultimate snake-oil salesman in his campaign, and his loyal fans ignored all his contradictions, crudities, and other evidence of incompetence because they wanted to believe him. Many of our people seem to believe in celebrities such as Reagan, our recent Governor Schwarzenegger and Trump.having special qualities. We can believe in THEM!ReplyDelete
We owe Trump a few months to put his team together, to make such executive decisions that are his to make, and to present his program to Congress. Having antagonized all the responsible leaders of his party, and with the Democrats in opposition, I don't see much happening there. I'll check in with you again 6 months to a year from now, and we can review his list of promises. I see that he's already conceded that part of his wall can be a fence.
The Constitiution's first amendment was to keep the government out of religion. Do we need another to keep religion out of government?
Jack, at this point we do need to give the new administration a chance to get started to see what exactly they will accomplish. We might just be surprised and I hope so. I want things to work for the good and I'm not rooting for a fail in any way.Delete
Regarding the "wall" I've been hearing from him nearly from the start that the wall would vary according to geography and that some areas would not need anything at all. Since I've driven along that border in the Big Bend of Texas I know that we wouldn't need the wall and wouldn't want to spoil the beauty of that area. I think my idea a while back about the way I conceived the wall is still a good one.
I think it would be difficult and probably undesirable to keep Judeo-Christian values out of government. But that's an entirely different issue that we probably shouldn't get into here.
Hope I talk to you before 6 months to a year! And Happy Birthday--I know it's sometime around this date but I forget exactly when.
Actually, it was today, Lee. I'm the oldest person I know. Weird. I remember a time when everyone else was older. I have no problem with Judeo-Christian, Buddhist, or other religious values as long as they don't conflict with each other or our laws. Anyone who wants to live under Islam's Sharia laws would find himself in conflict on many points. He would probably be happier in a country that followed its values.Delete
Your answers to Cathy and Ann really sum up the problem we have in today's America. This is not directed to either lady, since I know neither, but too many people on both sides go no farther than hitting what they believe is truth before they stop looking. I have seen headlines all day long about Pepsi's CEO saying Trump supporters need to stop consuming their product, and have found not one shred of evidence that she said THAT at all. Even though I might be subliminally affected by my status as a Pepsi addict, I looked quite a while and found nothing. If she did say it, well, she works for ME anyway, and I'll drink more just to spite her, lol!ReplyDelete
Point is, I too have lost at least one friend in this election- and it was basically as you told Cathy. Although they did reach out afterwards in congratulations to their credit, they decided that if I wanted them to read MY blog, I had to censor MT opinions, and then when I tried to explain said position, I was accused of "red-state rhetoric" and was told that my other commenters were "fawning sycophants", which is when I hit the ol' heave ho button. You can debate with me all you want, but you don't insult people you don't know on my dime.
Anyhow, though IG did a much better job than I was expecting, I'm an old style Neil Young fan and CH gets the vote.Replies
CW, people are quick to react to whatever they hear when it's delivered via major media. I've started to question almost everything I hear and use healthy doses of salt when I do hear something. Amazingly in our high tech age we seem more prone to believing rumor than ever before. It's kind of a dangerous trend since retractions are often never noticed and original reporting becomes taken as fact even when it has been proven wrong.Delete
I'm still waiting for some reaching out and hopefully some apologies. Some of the post-election reactions were inexcusable in my opinion although I can understand that some people were upset by the election outcome.
A vote for Crazy Horse
Do I shy away from topics of disagreement? I guess I would have to say no because I am very comfortable talking about religion and do so quite frequently. Albeit, not on my blog.ReplyDelete
As for the BOTB, I am giving my vote to Crazy Horse. A much better rendition. I liked the slower, thought provoking version so much more.Replies
Jeffrey, when people can keep their cool, disagreements talked out can be a very healthy thing. I try to be careful on my blog and everywhere for that matter, but if an opening comes my way then I'll express my opinion.Delete
Another vote for Crazy Horse.
I really like the Indigo Girls and I surprise myself because I normally would not go for the newer version but I like her voice. I don't shy away from topics that can be volatile but I choose whom I may want to converse with. I have been in discussions where the person became confrontational which makes me fumble with my words. i dont have the eloquence my brother has plus I don't like when people become heated. have I?...yes i have sadly and that is my error. i believe politics, religion, abortion, capital punishment, making weed legal are all sensitive topicsReplyDeleteReplies
Birgit, the conversant party can make all the difference. I avoid excessive confrontation as I tend to lean toward a passive side. Making weed illegal is controversial? I guess maybe, but not with most of the old friends I know. Anyway, here now it's legal.Delete
A vote for Indigo Girls
Oh absolutely I can keep a cool head. Became zen master to online level headness during my trials/tribulations in the chat rooms back in the late 00's.ReplyDelete
I say with 95% of the people residing online, the bulk of them have passionate & inflexible opinions about any particular topic of the day. And no amount of actual facts can dissuade them from it.
The most garbage I had heaped on me was when I offered a sensible opinion/fact about Matthew Shepard: he wasn't murdered for being gay, he was murdered for the drugs he was supposedly carrying as a courier.
I have found so long as keep my tone extremely civil and sensible, even the hosts of the particular thread I'm commenting on who don't agree with it will tell other people to tone done the nastiness thrown in my direction.
Father Nature's CornerReplies
GB, I try to communicate in the same way but won't stay in a thread long if it becomes overly abusive and profane. I have better things to do than get enmeshed in useless arguments. As you say, most people online or otherwise have their ideas and opinions solidified and it can be very tedious to persuade them otherwise no matter what facts or logic is applied to the conversation.Delete
I believe you're right about the Matthew Shepard issue as that's the in depth analysis I've heard and I don't believe that just because someone is gay is a very common motive for murder. And still the mythology of the gay murder connection persists in the mainstream due to plays, articles, and many agenda-driven pontifications. The drug connection has been proven, but it is not the story the has carried forth as many people prefer a hate crime angle that makes the victim a martyr for the Gay Rights cause.
Very rarely have I responded with nastiness in an online discussion gone bad though often I will try to wrap my end with a bit of humor.
My post today goes along with the political part of what you are saying--agreeing but from the other direction. We need kindness and unity--standing up for each other. As for the Battle of the Bands, I prefer the Indigo Girls version, too. Crazy Horse is straight out of my childhood, but I really love the Indigo Girls.ReplyDeleteReplies
Hart, I'll be over to check out your post. Hope you also saw my post previous to this one.Delete
A vote for Indigo Girls
From Facebook:ReplyDelete
A vote for Indigo Girls from my cousin Tom.
Oh, I really like this battle, Lee! My vote definitely goes for Indigo Girls. Loved everything about the arrangement and vocals. I didn't really look at the artwork because after reading comments about it, I didn't want that to have any influence on my choice. And BTW, I love this song! I haven't heard it in years. Somewhere I have an LP of Rita Coolidge singing it and that's when I first heard it, and loved it! Thanks for a great battle. And as far as discussing volatile issues....I try to stay away from that, especially after reading all the hate spewing forth on FB. My momma taught me to Never discuss religion or politics, and I can understand why!ReplyDeleteReplies
Becky, I almost used the Rita Coolidge version until I found this one by the Indigo Girls which I ended up using since it was more different than other versions.Delete
Indigo Girls
I enjoyed your intro, Lee. Would that there always is a lighthouse when the seas get rough.ReplyDelete
In terms of disagreements I tend to turn away, there are many more conversations to have. Many more people with whom to have them, as well.
I tried not to listen to Rod Stewart's version because he's a favorite of mine, but I couldn't help it;-) Luckily, it was AFTER I listened to the other two. Indigo Girls gets my vote for a soothing, yet more up-tempo rendition. It really is a lovely song.Replies
Diedre, contentious argument is tedious and divisive, but when rational debate can take place then it can be educational and eye-opening. Too bad we can't have more of that.Delete
Again a vote for Indigo Girls
I was Indigo Girls until about 1:05. Then it didn't resonate as well for me. So I'm throwing my vote toward Crazy Horse, because at least it was consistently eh.ReplyDelete
As far as topics, yeah, I avoid anything political. I know my parents and brother are on the opposite end of the spectrum from me, and I'd rather not ruin the rare get-togethers we have by bringing up conflict. And keeping cool isn't a thing with my family. Tempers flare quickly and waterworks soon follow. Therefore, best to avoid it all together.Replies
Loni, when there are controversial differences within the family things can get awkward. We have a few in ours as well.Delete
A vote for Crazy Horse
LEE, the Indigo Girls version wasn't bad but I'm going to vote for CRAZY HORSE. There's an element of melancholia to the song that I felt came through with greater feeling, greater depth in the CRAZY HORSE recording.ReplyDelete
And to just touch on part of an earlier conversation here: The idea that government needs our Income Taxes for all its projects is false.
For one thing, personal Income Tax is a relatively new imposition on American life. And aside from the fact that there is no Constitutional (i.e., legal) justification for it, one might ask how the government projects got paid for BEFORE the advent of Income Tax. That's worth researching. If Uncle Scam could do it then, how come he can't do it now?
But also, due to the nature of our un-Constitutional economic system, personal Income Tax is not necessary to pay for government programs anyway. It does NOT really exist in order to pay for them. It exists primarily as a conditioning agent; a means of acclimating citizens to the idea that they are under government control rather than vice versa.
If anyone really wants to understand this, the one ESSENTIAL political tome that every patriotic American needs to read is 'THE CREATURE FROM JEKYLL ISLAND: A Second Look At The Federal Reserve' by G. Edward Griffin. It's the first political / economics-related book that I ALWAYS recommend to EVERYONE!
For the non-readers there's the documentary movie 'AMERICA: FREEDOM TO FASCISM' by Aaron Russo.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
STMcC, I remember seeing that film though I probably should watch it again since I don't remember the content. I don't remember a lot of things these days, but then again I guess there is still a lot I do remember.ReplyDelete
Anyway, I don't mind paying a small tax--like a membership fee--I just want the money used wisely and efficiently which isn't happening now.
I know what your saying about the song...
Crazy Horse
Hi Lee.ReplyDelete
My personal choice would have to be Crazy Horse. The fact that this is the original recording means that the song writer was experiencing something heartfelt and was trying to express it to someone. Very touching song. The tempo in the Indigo Girls version was a bit too spunky to express those sentiments sincerely in my opinion.
As far as Discussions are concerned, I try to keep Proverbs 17 verse 28 in mind when things get iffy. I don't have all the answers nor do I consider myself wise but some times others think I'm wise because I listen as opposed to arguing. It doesn't always work and I'm not always able to keep my feelings to myself but hey, I'm also human.
Blessings my friend and go well, Geoff.
Crazy Horse.Replies
Geoff, I know--sometimes it's best to not say anything. I might tend to be a little more outspoken on line, but I try to avoid arguments that no one will ever win or will be hurtful in the end.Delete
Good reasoning on the song....
A vote for Crazy Horse.
I saw your previous post and meant to comment when I was on my computer but... I will say that I am inclined to agree with Stephen's comment. I'm afraid you're just going to end up frustrated for your efforts. If it looks like it's going that way, maybe revisit Trump after he's been President for a while and some changes are taking place. I'm anticipating positive things. Actions always speak louder than words anyway. Now, if he could just find a way to make the lying mainstream media shut up we'd all be happier!
I liked both versions of the song. I think you already knew that I was a big Indigo Girls fan. I love their stuff, particularly their earlier stuff, so this was great. Give me The Indigo Girls!Replies
Robin, actually I was frustrated before the election and have been considering getting offline for a while--or cutting back to just BOTB posts. My "series" won't necessarily frustrate me as I see it as a means of venting--one that I can end whenever I want or go on as long as I feel like it. I'm somewhat indifferent about it all and whatever happens, wherever it all goes, isn't particular world changing to me. Although if I do lay out some clarification for someone then it will be good.Delete
A vote for Indigo Girls
I preferred the Crazy Horse version.ReplyDeleteReplies
Shannon, right to the main point...Delete
A vote for Crazy Horse
I just found out my sister was in favor of Mr. Trump. I told her I was afraid and she told me to listen to his speeches. I did watch all three debates and I didn't learn a thing. I am choosing to wait and see what happens since I really don't have any other choice at this point. I voted and it didn't work out for me. I just hope that he can really pick good advisers. He does not give me the impression that he had any clue how large the job of President actually is. My family always seems to fare better with Democrats in office since we are in the middle class everyone talks about. My main concern is that we can continue to get affordable health care for my daughter and I (hubby is on Social Security Disability). Other than that, I want to be able to walk out in public and feel safe. I appreciate your posting and unless you have deleted responses, it all seems to be going smoothly. My vote is for Indigo Girls - couldn't get into Crazy Horse's version at all.ReplyDeleteReplies
Janet, his speeches really spoke to me, but I guess we all hear things in different ways. I'll likely discuss that in a future post.Delete
I got to thinking and I think the best years of my adult life have been during Rep reigns in office. The years when Carter, Clinton, and Obama were financially some of my worst and also state of mind. We all have different perspectives too I guess.
A vote for Indigo Girls
I vote for Crazy Horse, I have never heard either before but preferred the one I voted for.ReplyDelete
Hope I'm not too late in voting but been off line for a while.
Yvonne, glad to see you back--hope you're feeling much better...Delete
A vote for Crazy Horse
First, give my vote to Crazy Horse. I'd forgotten that song, so thanks for resurrecting it.ReplyDelete
Among my friends, I'm know for having a cool head. Tramping down liberties and religious freedoms are my hot button issues...I've gotten a workout lately.Replies
Cherdo, it's such a great song to resurrect. I'm not around anyone much except for my wife so I've not been in any political discussions other than with one of my old friends back in TN.Delete
A vote for Crazy Horse
My vote goes out to Crazy Horse, the harmonies and their sound really work on this songReplyDeleteReplies
Mike, in before the wire...Delete
A vote for Crazy Horse
Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.
For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.
If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.


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Molly's Game [my review]
Jessica Chastain stars in the based-on-fact story of Molly Bloom and the glamorous high-stakes poker games she ran in Los Angeles and New York. (male writer and director)
Insidious: The Last Key [IMDb] pictured
Lin Shaye returns as parapsychologist Elise Rainier, investigating hauntings past and present in the house she grew up in. (male writer and director)
The Strange Ones [IMDb]
Lauren Wolkstein cowrites and codirects a suspense tale of two (male) travelers in remote America.
Goldbuster [IMDb]
Sandra Kwan Yue Ng directs this Hong Kong supernatural comedy about a ghost hunter.
In Between [IMDb]
Maysaloun Hamoud writes and directs this drama about Palestinian women sharing an apartment in Tel Aviv, starring Mouna Hawa, Sana Jammelieh, and Shaden Kanboura.
Project Eden [IMDb]
Ashlee Jensen cowrites and codirects a sci-fi thriller about a woman on the run from a global conspiracy, starring Anna McGahan.
In the Land of Pomegranates [my review]
Hava Kohav Beller directs this documentary about the Palestinian/Jewish conflict in the Middle East.
Please let me know if I've missed any movies directed by, written by, or about women.
Please help me continue this work with your financial support. A recurring contribution or a one-time donation, even only $1, is a great help, and tells me that my work here is valued. Thank you. Links here for PayPal, Patreon, and other methods of donating.

subset: commoncrawl


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Look, I squeaked out a pair of socks for Hubs for Christmas at the last minute.
Yarn: Leading Mens Fiber Arts Show Stopper
Coiorway: O Christmas Tree
Because socks are my on-the-go take-anywhere-and-everywhere knitting I forget how fast they fly off the needles if you just sit down and work on them. It took me 4 months to get to just past the gusset on the 2nd sock knitting these in found moments outside the house. It took me me a cheesy holiday movie and a bit of Christmas Eve morning to finish it off. Makes me wonder if the volume of knitting I accomplish out and about is worth the trouble of carrying it.
What am I even saying, OF COURSE IT IS.
And that's all the holiday makes I have to share. Christmas is in books., or it will be soon after I get it all packed up and moved out of my living room.


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Ante-natal care rights entitle certain working parents to reasonable paid time off work in order to attend ante-natal appointments.
The employee must be attending the appointment on the advice of a suitably qualified practitioner (doctor, registered midwife or registered nurse).
No minimum period of employment is required for the request to be valid, but the pregnant worker must produce, if requested, certification of pregnancy and proof of the appointment.
Employees have the right to be paid as normal during these appointments, and where they successfully bring a claim against the employer for non-payment, they can be awarded twice that amount. Employers refusing such requests and/or payments also stand the risk of liability under discrimination claims.
Certain employees have the right to accompany pregnant employees to ante-natal appointments, provided there is a "qualifying relationship" (including husband or civil partner, father, surrogate father, person in an enduring family relationship). This right is available for up to two appointments only.
Published in… Updates: For employers: Family rights and flexible working | For employees: Family rights and flexible working |
Other employment law terms
- ACAS Early Conciliation
- Adoption appointments
- Adoption leave
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Apprenticeship
- Basic award
- Calderbank offer
- Collective consultation
- Compensatory award
- Compromise agreement
- Constructive dismissal
- Contract of employment
- Disciplinary hearing
- Discrimination
- Employee shareholder
- Employment tribunal
- ETO reason
- Flexible working requests
- Grievance
- Gross misconduct
- Harassment
- Industrial action
- Injury to feelings
- Maternity and parental rights
- Maternity leave
- Maternity pay
- Mediation
- Parental leave
- Paternity leave and pay
- Polkey deduction
- Pre-termination negotiations
- Protected characteristics
- Redundancy
- Restrictive covenants
- Settlement agreement
- Shared parental leave
- Staff handbook
- Statutory annual leave
- Strikes
- Study and training rights
- Summary dismissal
- Sunday working
- Trade union
- Unfair dismissal
- Unlawful deductions
- Victimisation
- Whistle-blowing
- Without prejudice
- Working Time Regulations
- Written particulars
- Wrongful dismissal
- Zero hours contracts


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中秋節, Mid-Autumn Festival
September 22nd, 2010 No comments
中秋節, Mid-Autumn Festival (or Moon Festival) is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in China, perhaps second only to the Spring Festival (or the Chinese New Year). For 2010, it falls on September 22nd. It coincides with a full moon on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Chinese calendar, so there is no fixed date according to Gregorian. That has been the way mid-autumn was figured since ancient times.
"Mid-Autumn" first appeared in "Rites of the Zhou", a collection of ritual matters of the Western Zhou Dynasty some 3,000 years ago. During the Tang Dynasty (618AD – 907AD), this tradition took a strong foot hold. It celebrates harvests and family reunions. This same tradition exists throughout the rest of Asia today.
Read more…


text: What is this Dynamic Tracking Code anyway? When your listing goes live on ResortsandLodges.com you will get a welcome email with a lot of information in it. A very important part of that email is an attachment titled, "Dynamic Code Instructions." This code must be correctly implemented onto your website for you to evaluate the true return of investment (ROI) of your VEM Global™ marketing campaign. Click here to learn how this code helps you!


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|Up a level
Angeles-Hernandez, J C and Pollott, G E and Albarran-Portillo, B and Ramírz-Perez, A H and Lizarazo-Chaparro, A and Castelan Ortega, O and Gonzalez Ronzuillo, M (2018) The application of a mechanistic model to analyze the factors that affect the lactation curve parameters of dairy sheep in Mexico. SMALL RUMINANT RESEARCH, 164. pp. 58-63.
Albarran-Portillo, B and Pollott, G E (2013) The relationship between fertility and lactation characteristics in Holstein cows on United Kingdom commercial dairy farms. JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, 96 (1). pp. 635-646.
Albarran-Portillo, B and Pollott, G E (2011) Environmental factors affecting lactation curve parameters in the United Kingdom's commercial dairy herds. Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria, 43 (2). pp. 145-153.
Albarran-Portillo, B and Pollott, G E (2008) Genetic parameters derived from using a biological model of lactation on records of commercial dairy cows. JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, 91 (9). pp. 3639-3648.


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Panasonic has launched a major upgrade to its flagship large-venue projector range with the release of the quad-lamp, 3-chip, 20,000 lumens PT-DZ21K2. The projector joins the DS20K2, DW17K2 and DZ16K2 in the DZ21K2 Evo Series, which debuted at the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Hartmut Kulessa, European projector marketing manager at Panasonic, commented: "With Panasonic's powerful new Real Motion Processor to enable 120Hz driving speed, Panasonic has refined the Evo series' optical engine to enhance focus performance, resulting in improved image clarity, all from an extremely compact body."
Other upgrades include a Digital Link single LAN cable connection, two 3G-SDI inputs (PT- DZ21K2 and PT-DS20K2 only), and a newly developed Detail Clarity Processor picture enhancement system.
Panasonic has redesigned the lamp modulation system, which lowered the power consumption and extended the recommended lamp replacement from 2,000 hours to 3,000 hours. The new series is significantly more efficient, due to the use of reusable, long-life eco filters and lower-wattage lamps. A hermetic liquid cooling system has reduced noise levels from 49dB to 46dB, which is claimed to represent a 50% drop in perceived noise.
The DZ21K series has been used extensively across the rental and staging industry. Three projectors were used at the 2015 London Marathon Press Centre. Richard Crowe, MD of Creative Staging, added: "We chose Panasonic because they could offer a range of projectors and lenses that suited our needs best. We've had good experience with Panasonic projectors in the past and they offer the performance and excellent reliability we need at a good price point.''
The PT-DZ21K was also used to create a visual concept for the launch of Coldplay's album Ghost Stories with 62 projectors used to help create a Sky Full of Stars. Ben Miles of MixedEMotionsLondon, explained: "The size of the DZ21K was a massive factor. It seemed to be a similar size in terms of footprint as some other projectors but, when you look at it, the body size inside the frame was a lot smaller.''


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Diana Janice Richards of Centreville, Va. passed away peacefully from cancer on May 9, 2012. She was born in 1939 in upstate New York, daughter of John R. Schmidburg and Rose Hornick. She grew up in New York and married her husband, William Bruce Richards, in Switzerland while he was stationed in Germany with the American Red Cross. Upon returning to the States, they adopted three boys while living in Washington, D.C. and Prince Georges County, Md. In 1972, they moved to Burke, where she remained for over 35 years. Diana was very active in the community.
She and Bruce both served as presidents of the Lake Braddock Community Association. She started the mulch site and worked very closely with Sharon Bulova in reducing the tipping fees for local communities at the sanitary landfill, and was at the forefront of the recycling movement in the late '80s for Fairfax County. She was very involved in the start of the Fairfax Fair when it was held at George Mason University, was nominated as Lady Fairfax, served as the Awards Chairperson for the Fairfax County Fair, was an active member of both the Citizens Task Force for Annandale (now Braddock) District and the Fairfax County Policy Review Board and served as the Campaign Precinct Chairperson of the Lake Braddock Community.
Diana chose to stay at home with her children while they were young and worked part time for Fairfax County Schools at Lake Braddock Secondary School. She later started a successful cleaning business called the Mopp-its. She sold the business after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986. She had a second battle with breast cancer in 1990, which she battled successfully. Diana continued working at Guernsey Office Products, and she enjoyed watching movies and spending time with her grandchildren.
She was a member of Fairfax Christian Church in Fairfax and Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale. Diana was preceded in death by her husband Bruce and her parents. She is survived by her three sons, Gregory Richards and wife, Karen, of Springfield; Jeffery Richards of Los Angeles, Calif; and Adam Richards and wife, Tammy, of Wake Forest, N.C.; her sisters and brother, Gloria Schultes of Tampa, Joan Mioduser of Fort Lauderdale, Margaret Mills of Los Angeles; Martin Magone of Woodbridge; and her grandchildren, Christine Glockzin, Elizabeth Glockzin-Westbrook, Rachel Blakely, Dustin Richards, Kody Richards and Frida Richards; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of Queen Anne's in Centreville, Md. or Graceful Care at 1468 Waterfront Road, Reston, VA 20194-1250, http://www.gracefulcare.com. Memorial service is June 2, 10 a.m. at Little River United Church of Christ, 8410 Little River Turnpike in Annandale.


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For the month of September, we are challenging the Works for Women networks to actively seek mentorship and sponsorship from either existing relationships, or build new ones. We know that the landscape is changing and while mentorship is important, the identification of a sponsor for your continued success is paramount. Relationships are an important aspect of any work culture. Cultivating a strong network and ensuring you have advocates are critical steps for advancement and development—especially for women, who are often left out of more informal activities. Nearly two-thirds of men say that the senior leaders who have helped them advance were mostly men, compared to just over one-third of women.
Catalyst research has found that while mentoring is essential to leadership development, it is not enough, on its own, to help women advance. Their research points to a more influential professional relationship: sponsorship. Mentorship and sponsorship are not equal. The power of sponsorship, and the reason it is critical to career advancement, is that a sponsor uses strong influence to help his or her protégé access highly visible assignments and promotions. Sponsors take active risk to ensure their protégés' success. Over time mentors can develop into sponsors who use their status and influence to create opportunities and make connections for you. Before your mentor will sponsor you, they need to trust that you are reliable and a bet worth making. To build trust, always follow through on what you say you're going to do and always do your very best work. When you're consistent over time, you build valuable trust with your mentor – and your coworkers. Mentorship relationships start with a mutual connection – and mentors often select protégés based on their performance and potential.
We can mentor other women at any stage in our careers, and it pays off when we do. Women who are mentored by women feel more supported and re often more satisfied with their career. If you're farther along in your career, pay it forward by investing in a woman just starting out. And if you are early in your career, find a woman who's coming up behind you or a student who's interested in your field. Don't underestimate the value of your input – you may have just been through what she's experiencing. Mentoring is a two-way street, and value can be found by both individuals.
To join the challenge, simply:
Taking a page from #GoSponsorHer, as you start to build your mentor/mentee, or sponsor/sponsoree relationship. Considerations for organizations also looking to develop their own internal programs include:
For Mentors and Sponsors:
For Mentees and Sponsorees:
For Organizations:
Upcoming Community Events (in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
You can also join Works for Women on Wednesday, September 27 at The Glass Cliff…Women, Leadership, Life and Flow. This event is geared towards organizations and individuals who understand the importance of having strong women leaders in our community and will continue the conversation that is being held in corporate boardrooms, throughout non-profit organizations, in political arenas and over coffee with coaches and mentors. To find more information, check out: http://globalwomanofvision.com/.
We also encourage you to the Women's Leadership Roadblocks webinar on September 19, where you will learn how to overcome common roadblocks for women in leadership, gain empowerment and confidence in your current role, build confidence in leading strategy, vision and risk, and build an executive personal brand.
In closing, thank you again for helping to spark dialogue, build awareness, and inspire action. We are reminded that change does not happen overnight, but by uniting our community we can take direct action to impact change. On behalf of Works for Women, thank you for helping us drive change in Alberta.


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startups thrive
Futuristic Management Group
Our Systematic Approach
We offer digital marketing services that consist of a comprehensive consultation to help recognize your gaps, goals and prospects and a complete report that contains a development plan with timelines and a cost-analysis report. Our customized plans are crafted with details that promise the highest quality services that will help your business get to where you want it to be swiftly and effortlessly.
Our Vision
Wants to be recognized as a notable leader in the current marketing industry. We want to focus on serving the needs of the corporate and commercial market and provide our clients with the total customer satisfaction which they deserve. We want to be their first choice and the best Marketing guides!!
Our Mission
We believe that working with everyone by implementing strong values is the basis of our business. These strong core values are at the heart of every choice and decision we make as a company. Our mission is to offer an untiring commitment and offer the best services to our clientele because everything we do here is motivated by an unyielding passion for excellence.
Our Process
Our digital marketing work speaks for itself. We deliver an outstanding service custom-tailored to each and every one of our clients — big or small.
Meta description
FMG United digital marketing agency Minneapolis, MN near me offers the very best of digital marketing solutions. If you need web design, logo design, SEO, PPC, etc., contact us now!
FMG United uses a highly effective social media strategy to grow your business. Hence, by employing digital marketing solutions to maintain your online presence, we can engage your audience and the residents of Minneapolis, MN. Furthermore, we also train your staff and other personnel on how to sustain the digital marketing solutions that we have
Pay Per Click (PPC)
PPC adverts are a crucial part of digital marketing. In fact, people who click on adverts online are at least 50% likely to place an order. So, if you are looking for a custom PPC Digital marketing agency Minneapolis, MN, then FMG United is the way to go. We have an advert plan that can
We Help You Expand
Brand Influence
121 Washington Ave N 2nd, #307, Minneapolis, MN


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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
- Three television commercials for the all-new Ford Fusion debut this week and show viewers how and why this sleek new sedan outshines the competition
- In one of the new ads, all other vehicles on the road become invisible while the new Fusion remains, standing apart from the crowd. In another, a Fusion drives over a cliff showing off "the one thing" the car cannot do
- The ads are part of an integrated launch campaign that builds on the "Random Acts of Fusion" digital series starring Ryan Seacrest and print ads developed with input from Chinese artist Liu Bolin
If there's one thing commentators agree on when talking about the all-new Ford Fusion, it's that this is one midsize sedan that people really notice. This is the theme of the surprising launch campaign for the car, which debuts this week.
These words open the debut television commercial for Ford's all-new midsize sedan, which is part of the new campaign that shows how this revolutionary new vehicle sets itself apart from the competition.
"The media launch of the Fusion will showcase how Ford is shaking up the bland midsize sedan segment," said Jim Farley, group vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. "Why do car buyers have to sacrifice styling and forward-looking design for fuel economy? They don't."
At the center of Fusion's design inspiration was the goal to achieve unparalleled fuel economy. The new Fusion is designed with the driver in mind, offering functional design elements that enhance its sleek exterior. Unique to Fusion is a range of engines including a normally aspirated engine, two EcoBoost® engines, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid model.
Beginning this month, three TV advertisements will debut during a mix of prime-time network programming and various broadcast sporting events. The first spot shows Fusion as the only car left standing as all the other vehicles on the road become invisible. The second twist features a Fusion driving off a cliff, demonstrating "the one thing" the car cannot do. The final spot shows other cars moving backward while Fusion moves forward, going further toward its destination.
The advertisements make note of the Fusion's strong fuel economy including 47 mpg combined in the Fusion Hybrid and 100 MPGe in the plug-in electric model.
Building on digital, print campaigns
The new TV advertisements build on the momentum developed by the prelaunch digital series "Random Acts of Fusion" starring Ryan Seacrest and a new series of print ads developed with Chinese artist Liu Bolin. Two million people visited the Random Acts of Fusion website generating nearly 12 million video views. During the course of the prelaunch, Fusion picked up 100,000 new fans on Facebook.
The successful Random Acts of Fusion campaign will be extended through the vehicle launch in digital and social channels evolving to provide individual experiences to new fans (and skeptics) of the car. For example, in one video Ford surprises a follower named Michael who is skeptical of the EcoBoost engine's performance. Ford shows up at Michael's door with a new Fusion and takes him out for a hot lap on a nearby racetrack.
The advertisements showcase the all-new Fusion's sleek new design and how it brings alive the next generation of more expressive vehicles from Ford.
In addition to its fresh face, Fusion offers the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the midsize segment. It offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives, a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive applications and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions.
The new Fusion is on sale now at Ford dealerships.


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Although it's been a while since Louise ran the Bath Half Marathon we now have the final total. Louise's aim was to raise £1000 and due to people being very generous and donating, the final total that was raised for the Alzheimer's Society was £1060.00. Louise would like to say a massive 'thank you' to each and every person who donated and supported her whilst running the Bath Half Marathon.
A big 'thank you' to the following business' for supporting Louise with the Bath Half marathon;
- Kendal Creative Graphic Design
- Bartons Solicitors
- Michael W Pipe Solictiors
- Octopus
- Legal and General
- Rathbones Specilist Tax Services
- Rathbones
- Premier Asset Management
- Scottish Widows
- Vision Independent Financial Planning
- Boyce Allen Estate Agents
- Inspired Homes – Estate and Letting Agents


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Abolishment of Flesh – The Inhuman Condition (Unholy Anarchy Records)Thursday, 12th April 2018
Phew, sometimes all it takes is a strong opening that knocks one backwards to convince the audience that the rest of the music is worth listening to. Abolishment of Flesh's debut was ten years in the making, but the second that it starts with the pummeling blasts and riffs of "Inhuman Anatomy," you are going to be a full attention. Of course, death metal is supposed to be brutality-forward, but many modern acts end up focusing on style over substance. This can't be said for Abolishment of Flesh.
While the 'it sounds like death metal' argument isn't one that will be won by anyone trying to convince someone to check out The Inhuman Condition, that's not to say it's uninspired. The deadly intensity that tends to go from the beginning of each track to the very last note would certainly stand up and say otherwise. Particularly when this is a mostly one-man act of Ramon Cazares – it's clear he knows what works for death metal and attempt to ramp up the brutality at any given moment in time. It's hard to discuss anything about the album without first going to the downright aggressive nature of it (though there is a bit of melody lying below the surface, particularly in the leads). The type of thing that the more modern flavors of the genre have forgotten. There's nothing like a good beating when it comes to death metal, and those in need of something on the lines of Suffocation or Kataklysm (hopped up on adrenaline) are sure to become familiar with this. The quasi-technical riffing structures, the visceral energy – it's hard to put down a track like "Servitude of Endless Suffering" when it's simply so well done for the style.
A massive helping of death metal adrenaline, The Inhuman Condition may not push the genre forward but it's quite well done. An all-out ball of musical destruction, it grooves, blasts, and shreds its way through over 45-minutes of carnage with minimal listener fatigue.
Abolishment of Flesh on Facebook


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Researchers have developed "smart" holograms that can be used to detect health conditions and monitor diseases.
Researchers at University of Cambridge have developed holographic sensors that
can be used to detect and monitor health conditions and diseases.
The "smart" holograms change color when they come in contact with certain
compounds and they are being developed into cheap and portable medical devices
and tests that can prove useful especially in developing countries where
diagnostic tests can be costly.
The holographic sensors can be used to test a person's breath, saliva, urine,
blood, or tears for a wide range of substances like glucose, hormones, alcohol,
drugs, or bacteria. The color-changing holograms can be checked against a color
chart or possibly a smartphone camera — allowing people to monitor their medical
progress on their own and without the need for expensive equipment.
Department of Chemical Engineering Biotechnology Phd student Ali Yetisen, who
led the research, said,
Currently, a lot of medical testing is performed on large, expensive equipment.
While these sorts of inexpensive, portable tests aren't meant to replace a doctor,
holograms could enable people to easily monitor their own health, and could be useful
for early diagnosis, which is critical for so many conditions.
The holograms are made of a highly absorbent material called a hydrogel,
impregnated with silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticles are formed into
3D-holograms using a single laser pulse. When they come in contact with
certain compounds, the holograms shrink or swell, causing them to change color.
The holograms are currently being tested to monitor glucose levels and urinary
tract infections in diabetic patients at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The research team
is also developing a smartphone-based test.
A paper on the research was published on the Advanced Optical Materials journal
earlier this year.
Source, Images: Gizmag


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A theme I have talked about in many of my previous blogs, has been around CQUniversity being an engaged university, and the many ways in which we work with our communities to give back.
In fact just last week I talked about engaging communities through our research efforts. So in staying with this theme I thought this week I could use this opportunity to let you all know about the CQUniversity art collection.
I am sure when many people think about CQUniversity (or any university for that matter) they would think about libraries, computer labs and classrooms. Of course we have these, but what many people don't know is that CQUniversity is also home to an incredibly extensive collection of art – all of which is accessible to our local communities – right across our entire campus network.
CQUniversity started this collection in the 1970s and has since acquired artworks through purchase, commission, and donation. This collection represents huge value for the university (and the community) not just in terms of monetary value but also its historical and cultural significance to the Central Queensland region.
Made up of almost 600 pieces, mainly from Australia, it includes paintings, ceramics, sculptures, photographs, crafts and prints. It really is a truly outstanding collection and without a doubt would be envied by any gallery or museum in a capital city.
While we don't have a specific art gallery space at the University we do make these works available to the community through public displays, publications and by loaning various pieces to other organisations for display, such as regional art galleries and other universities. This approach not only opens our collection up to national and international audiences but also allows us to engage through the sharing of art.
Engaging audiences and communities through art also promotes a rich cultural experience – particularly in regional areas where we generally don't have the same level of access to the arts that our city neighbours do, and it also allows us to inspire education and new creative pursuits among our audience members.
I would also even go as far as to say that this is one of the University's most significant scholarly resources, and demonstrates our commitment to and leadership in the study, patronage and advancement of the arts – not just locally but across all of the communities we serve.
CQUniversity is very fortunate to have this collection, as are the people of Central Queensland - because it belongs to you too. More work is currently being done to further improve public access to the collection and as this comes to fruition going forward, I hope many of you will take the opportunity to behold the collection and become involved in its future. It is a real asset to our region, not just at present but for many generations to come.
Richard Dunlop standing next to his painting Iron Ore 2
It is also timely that I highlight our art collection today as this morning we were lucky enough to unveil a Richard Dunlop artwork Iron Ore 2, which he donated to CQUniversity personally under the Cultural Gifts Program.
Richard decided to donate the painting in memory of his father Herbert George Dunlop, who was born in Rockhampton and lived there until he was an adult. Richard also chose the space in the Bruce Hiskens Library on the Rockhampton campus where the artwork will now be displayed.
I'd like to thank Richard on behalf of CQUniversity and also the local community for this donation and invite you all o visit the library and enjoy this spectacular painting.
Me with art collection manager Sue Smith, Richard Dunlop and library director Graham Black


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"Awake! For morning, in the bowl of night,
Has flung the stone that put the stars to flight.
And lo! The hunter in the East
Has caught the sultan's turret in a noose of light!"
Omar Khayyam's "Rubaiyat"
This website was invented many years ago, when the author kept coming across interesting things in pockets whilst doing laundry. Like small, terrified reptiles. Blogging about raising children in the rainforest, moving them to the UK and watching them leave home one by one to have their own adventures has gradually been replaced by a return to grownup life for their mother, Nan Sheppard, who is an anthropologist, writer and public international law consultant.
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
random poetry
Posted by Nan Sheppard at 01:54
Labels: book review, books, poetry, review
No comments:
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AVH2 Plus, Whole Room Heater With 2 Settings 1500W & 750W
AVH2 Plus, Whole Room Heater With 2 Settings 1500W & 750W. Automatic Or Continuous Fan Operation. Electronic Auto Climate Temperature Control. Easy To Use Controls, Cool Touch Cabinet, High Gloss Finish, Multi Stage Over Heat Protection. The item "AVH2 Plus, Whole Room Heater With 2 Settings 1500W & 750W" is in sale since Friday, November 24, 2017. This item is in the category "Home & Garden\Home Improvement\Heating, Cooling & Air\Air Conditioners & Heaters\Space Heaters". The seller is "bubsy205″ and is located in Clinton, Mississippi. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Dominican republic, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, El salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Belize, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland, Jordan, Cambodia, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Macao, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Paraguay, Viet nam, Uruguay.
- Power Source: Electric
- Smart Home Compatibility: Nest
- Width: 11.800
- Height: 11.900
- Color: Black
- Type: Fan Heater
- Material: Plastic
- Number of Heat Settings: 2
- Brand: Vornado


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AUDREY McKNIGHT obituary
Audrey Irene McKnight, 77, of Havre died Sunday, May 25, 2003, at her home of natural causes.
A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Cathrine Card officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A
fellowship will be held at the First Lutheran Church immediately after the graveside services.
Audrey was born Nov. 16, 1925, to Gunval and Julia (Bjorlokken) Torkelson in Strandquist, Nelson Park Township, Minn. Audrey grew up in Karlstad, Minn. and graduated from Karlstad High School. She then attended Grand Forks Business College for one year. She worked as a bookkeeper for Buttrey's and Getter Trucking in Cut Bank. After moving to Havre she worked for Gamble Robinson, Buttrey's Department Store, Honadel, Don's Pharmacy and John Deere.
In 1952 she met Minor R. McKnight. They were married Aug. 9, 1952, in Havre.
Audrey had nine hobbies all disguised as grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gunval and Julia Torkelson, one brother and one sister.
Survivors include her husband, Minor R. McKnight of Havre; sons, Greg (Ann) McKnight of Havre and Robert (Cynthia) McKnight of Irvine, Calif .; daughters, Janet (Greg) Van Kleeck of Seward, Alaska, Cheryl (Gary) Schaub of Havre, and Carol (Greg) Minnick of Havre; sisters, Alice Hodne of Karlstad, Minn., Lu Darkenwald of Long Prairie, Minn., Lorraine Costello of Brookings, S.D., and Evelyn Warnes of Morris, Minn .; brothers, Harold Torkelson of Karlstad, Minn .; Clifford Torkelson of Karlstad, Minn .; Gerald Vigstal of Minneapolis, Minn .; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials in Audrey's honor may be made to The First Lutheran Church, 303 Sixth Ave., Havre, MT 59501.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.


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09/11/2021 By RuneLite
Six decades later, Fulton County still echoes:"What happened to Fay Rawley?"As if passing down a treasured heirloom, generations continue to share conjecture and gossip about the case, making Fay Rawley almost mythic. After all, how can a real, live person — especially someone as well known as the gadabout Rawley — seemingly vanish without a trace?The story is not folklore yet sorely short of facts after Nov. 8, 1953. That's when the businessman and his new Cadillac were last seen.A long search for the former bank president included a strip-mine excavation for his body before the prying eyes of national magazines and thousands of beer-swilling curiosity-seekers. The dig triggered a carnival of intrigue that mixed extramarital affairs, off-the-books loans, a dogged sheriff, inheritance riddles and lock-box puzzles. At the unyielding search site, police got so desperate as to listen to the advice of "witchers," rural soothsayers employing animal bones and divining rods in search of clues.But in the end, wherever Fay Rawley landed on this earth, his secrets went with him, unsolved. Sixty years later, there are apparently only two possibilities of what happened:Either Fay Rawley got away with one the greatest disappearing acts in history — or someone got away with murder. At age 56, Fay Rawley hardly swaggered with the look or charm of a playboy.He couldn't hear well. He wore spectacles for his bad eyes and dentures for his missing teeth. He trundled about with a slight stoop, eager to chit-chat but meager with smiles. You could find him often with either a pool cue or highball in his hand.But, to some, he did have one endearing quality: he was flush with cash, often eager to spread it around. The farmer had served as Woodland Township supervisor and run the bank in Astoria, about 50 miles southwest of Peoria. Not long before vanishing, he was seen with $65,000 in his pocket while chewing the fat at the Astoria grain elevator. A thick wallet beckons as a strong aphrodisiac for a certain type of woman. And long after Rawley vanished, police found out what many husbands already knew: Rawley was a rounder, and he didn't let a pesky wedding ring — his or others — slow him from chasing skirts."He was a slick old duck," one of his gadabout pals said in 1957. "Women were his downfall."By 1953, he had been separated from his wife, Hazel, for several years. By then, she had left him behind in their white, two-story farmhouse home in Summum, an incorporated hamlet near Astoria. She was granted a divorce on Nov. 9, 1953 — the day after he was last seen. She never talked to the press, so the subject of their estrangement never became fodder for newspaper stories.Still, in a 1957 interview, a Rawley buddy might've inadvertently given insight to the wife's marital dissatisfaction: "He was a swell guy. We ran around together for 10 to 12 years, four or five nights a week, riding around, playing pool and so on."A social schedule like that can be hard on a marriage. Meanwhile, free-wheeling away from home, Rawley made easy friends as something of a soft touch. Outside the legal confines of his former bank, Rawley would loan money to familiar faces — heck, he knew everyone in and around town — who couldn't catch a break elsewhere.As a pool-hall friend said at the time, "He helped people that everyone else turned down with loans. He'd never push them. I don't think they made a better fellow."That's one viewpoint. But if you owed him money, or if he kept making time with your wife, the future might've loomed far brighter without Fay Rawley around. Rawley's disappearance might have never made for local legend if not for Sheriff Virgil Ball. Many men wanted to get their hands on Rawley, but Ball was the last to look for him. And the lawman learned that it's hard to chase a ghost.Ball, a former Marine Corps hero, was elected sheriff in 1954. By that time, a year had slipped away with little done to track down Rawley. After all, at the time, the sheriff's office had a force of exactly two officers — the sheriff and one deputy — to patrol and protect most of the four-largest counties in Illinois. Such responsibilities would allow precious little time for a missing-person's manhunt. But Ball refused to let the probe lie dormant. He used countless hours of his off time to shake the trees and ask questions, going back to the start of the nagging case.Late the night Rawley vanished, a worker at the Key Coal Co. strip mine, not far from Rawley's house, saw Rawley's new '53 Cadillac there. That would not have been unusual: Rawley, always restless, often would drive into the mine after nightfall to shoot the breeze with whoever might be around. But on that night, the worker could not identify the driver or the number of occupants.Sheriff Ball kept asking questions. By 1957, Ball had pinpointed the spot where he knew — just knew — he'd find Rawley and his Cadillac, but it was under 75 feet of dirt.The theory was that on Nov. 8, 1953, the car had been driven into the mine and parked alongside a 20-foot-tall pile of earth. On the other side of that pile, atop an even higher pile, stood an excavation crane. The operator was to dig earth and dump it in the exact place where (supposedly) Rawley's car rested. However, because of compromised sight lines, the operator would not have been able to see the car as he moved and dumped ton after ton of dirt atop the Cadillac — and whatever might be inside it.After securing the mine's permission onto the property, Ball convinced a reluctant Fulton County Board to spare $800 to allow a small-scale excavation that summer. At Ball's order, geologists drilled deep into the soil and found scrapings of metal — green, and like that of Rawley's Cadillac. So, the sheriff hauled in a crane, drag line and scoop, chomping out 10 cubic yards of dirt at a time, slowly scraping out a 150-foot wide crater.The search triggered an onslaught of onlookers. A slew of local reporters, sometimes 100 a day, converged on the mine, dubbing themselves the "Summum Press Club." The beguiling mystery even lured Life and Look magazine reporters to sit with the crowd and wait for a glimpse of Rawley.Meanwhile, amused locals — mostly men and kids — flocked to the site. Some walked for miles, while carloads crept along U.S. Route 24, jammed bumper-to-bumper, for a chance to gaze at the growing hole in the ground. The sun beat down, with almost no shade trees in the strip mine to offer relief; men wore wide-brim hats while Ball donned a pith helmet, evoking the look of an archeologist seeking fabled treasure. The scene became something of a tailgate party, with gawkers perched on beer coolers, sucking suds and ruminating gossip. Two enterprising college students set up a tent to sell sandwiches, soft drinks and ice to the masses. To maintain security, Ball roped off the area, then brought in U.S. Marines and Illinois State Police to keep dour watch. Meanwhile, though, the most interesting facets of the case were being dug up by reporters. Rawley's name had peppered police reports. Two weeks before Rawley disappeared, he was assaulted in Macomb. A week later, someone threw acid on his car. Around that time, a motorist tried to run him down in Astoria, then again in Camp Ellis.Why? As the Journal Star circumspectly reported, "He had a number of women friends and ... this may supply the motive."In fact, the last known person to see Rawley alive was one of those women friends. In 1957, Helen Wagner was 44 years old and living in Astoria. But in November 1953, she was living in an apartment in Macomb, six months divorced and keeping company with Rawley. In 1957, she recounted that in fall 1953, Rawley wanted to marry her after he was divorced. At first, she liked the idea, but later changed her mind. She planned to remarry her ex-husband, Theodore Wagner, from whom she had been granted a divorce on grounds of "cruelty": her divorce petition alleged he "always had a gun" and had threatened to shoot her dead.Two months earlier, when she revealed her intent to reconcile with her ex-husband, Rawley seemed upset, but not suicidal. And they continued to see each other. On Nov. 8, 1953, Rawley left her apartment at 7:50 p.m., presumably to go home, she said. Still, she said she expected to see him again sometime. When he never showed up again, she knew something was wrong.In a lengthy published interview, she seemed less worried about Rawley's fate than about her tarnished reputation."I never should have gone with him. I'm not proud of that," she said. "Oh, I know I was single, and he had been separated from his wife for eight years, but the kind of person he was, it's nothing to my credit. And I have nothing else to my discredit, I can tell you that, and that's the truth."Did she know what happened to him? "I wouldn't know. I wouldn't know," she told a reporter.Three months after Rawley left her apartment, she remarried her ex-husband. The dig went on. Spectators soon had another diversion to pass the time: watching the self-proclaimed "witchers." One was Orville Fleming, a janitor at the Astoria post office, who tromped around with a trusty rod, a piece of animal jawbone tied to the end. It dipped wildly over a spot where he believed diggers would find a car. Though Ball maintained skepticism, Fleming won over two police officers who testified to the rod's power."If you held it too tight, it would have ripped the skin right off your hands," one lawman said.To anyone, Fleming offered to bet the princely sum of $20 that Ball would find a body under the spot indicated by his rod. "Of course," he said, "I won't bet whose body it is, but there's a body in that trunk for sure."If anyone took that bet, no one collected. After seven long days of excavation, the mine grew impatient, and Ball called everything off. In 1962, out of office for four years — sheriffs back then were limited to one term — Ball tried another approach at the mine: digging in a new spot with bulldozers. The search sparked renewed media ballyhoo, and a teen troubadour grabbed headlines while traipsing through Peoria bistros crooning his self-penned "The Ballad of Fay Rawley."But the second search proved no more successful, prompting some observers to joke about "Ball's Folly." But the ex-lawman, who'd partly financed the second search out of his own pocket, felt no pang of regret."As long as a man feels he's right about something, he should go ahead and do it," Ball said. "If he later finds he's wrong, there's no reason to feel bad about it."Still, chagrined was Rawley's lone son, Robert Rawley. After the disappearance, the 28-year-old tried to run his father's affairs, then took out ads in newspapers seeking clues to the mystery. As years wore on, he fought with the courts to try to open bank lock boxes his father owned. He thought the boxes could contain tips about the disappearance, and certainly information about the estate holdings. The younger Rawley pegged the estate at $250,000, while others close to Fay Rawley put the amount as double that.But because of security purposes, Fay Rawley's bank fought the effort to open the boxes: what if Rawley were to pop up out of nowhere? So, the younger Rawley had to wait until 1960, when the legal span of seven years had expired with no sign of Fay Rawley, whom a judge then declared legally dead.The lock boxes were opened, only to reveal deeds and bonds — but no clues regarding the missing man's whereabouts. After a protracted fight, a judge in 1967 allowed the bonds to be cashed as part of Robert Rawley's legal inheritance.But he got none of it. In 1961, while driving a new Cadillac on the roads of Fulton County — just as his father often did — the younger Rawley was killed in an auto wreck. The money would be split by Robert Rawley's ex-wife, second wife and two daughters. As years wore on, Ball continued to check out tips: sightings of Rawley in South America, tales of makeshift cemeteries near Astoria. All went nowhere, leaving Ball unmoving from his stance that Rawley and his Cadillac remained buried at the mine site — now in private ownership and converted into a strip-mine lake.In interviews in his later years, Ball revealed he had a strong idea as to the identity of Rawley's killer, whom he believed had an accomplice. But before dying at age 85 in 1999, he never revealed those names publicly.Privately, he remained tight-lipped, as well. The family of Judge Charles Wilhelm, who retired from the Fulton County bench in 1999, was close with the Ball family. Yet Wilhelm, one of those two enterprising college students who had sold food and drinks at the '57 dig site, never did hear any whispers of possible suspects."I wish I knew," says Wilhelm, 79, of Lewistown, who still hears occasional coffee-shop conjecture about the case. " ... I wish I had even an inkling."Well, there might be at least two people who have an idea about the killer. One is me.While researching this case and going through old photo files at the Journal Star, I found another file, jammed with notes from 1957. A reporter and editor — both now dead — traded those for several days during the dig. The notes hint toward a suspect, and the paper even secured his photo, apparently to run upon his arrest. That never happened, so his identity remained unpublished.The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has no file on Rawley. So there's no confirmation available there.But Virgil Ball's son says he knows who did it: his dad told him."I feel my father was very correct in who did the crime," says John Ball, 68, of Lewistown. "And I'm confident Fay Rawley's car and body are in that mine."John Ball, who never went into law enforcement, says his father didn't share with him any key reports or evidence regarding the case. But he says the suspect was a husband upset about an affair between his wife and Rawley.And that suspect is the same person indicated in the old Journal Star file.The suspect and the accomplice are both dead. Still I have no idea if the suspect's descendants are still around. So it would be unfair to publish the suspect's name (or that of his accomplice) without proof of involvement.Otherwise, Virgil Ball never pinpointed a likely manner of murder. And, his son says, his dad did not have a clear idea whether Rawley was killed at the mine or driven there post-mortem.Rawley's house showed signs of a struggle, John Ball says. A lamp was overturned, and his eyeglasses were left behind. Apparently, Fay Rawley did not want to go on one last ride in his new '53 Cadillac.I don't know if Rawley's family ever figured out what happened. He has two granddaughters, but I could not track them down.Maybe someday, someone will bring forth a solid answer. Maybe a descendant will discuss a deathbed confession or hand over a guilt-soaked diary.Until then, the riddle will remain:What happened to Fay Rawley?
PHIL LUCIANO is a Journal Star columnist. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com, facebook.com/philluciano, 686-3155 or (800) 225- 5757, Ext. 3155. Follow him on Twitter @LucianoPhil.


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Unlike the typical studio where you're the one asking questions about what they have to offer, our studio asks what you are looking for, so that the type of classes you choose fits you. No matter if the session is group yoga, semi-private, private, or corporate, we try to cater to every single individual need. That's why before you even attend the first free class (Yes, that's right, the first class is FREE), we ask you questions like:
- What is your occupation?
- Is your work physically demanding at all? Is it stressful?
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- How much caffeine do you consume on a daily basis?
- Do you feel tired at any point in the day? If so, when?
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- What injuries have you had in life, including childhood all the way up to the most recent?
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- Have you done yoga classes before? If not, why did you decide to take up classes now?
And that gives us an idea of how to help you.
As you have probably realized by looking around on the website, we don't pack our Schedule too tight. That's because most people decide to do private classes. Yes, we do cater to groups, but because we have such a strong understanding (and excitement!) of how the human body works, we know that one glove doesn't fit all. What might be the solution for one person could be severely damaging to another. So that's why our expertise is in helping to correct the problems of each individual. We can do this in a group or one-on-one, but know this: it won't be the basic yoga class where each person is expected to be able to do the same thing. Besides, what's the point of putting you into a difficult pose if it doesn't benefit you?
Here at Hidden Forest, we strive to make you feel warm, welcomed, and comfortable with the way in which your mind and body are working together to heal. Whether it be a serious injury, accident, work-related pain, emotional trauma or anything else, you'll be surrounded by people just like you.
This includes Jane Kabarguina, the director of the yoga studio, who has experienced serious injuries from childhood all the way to now. In addition to healing herself of physical and emotional traumas, Jane has written 2 books that are purchased worldwide and wrote an article about natural eyesight improvement that has been translated to 14 languages and read by more than a million people. Combining her real-life experience of life injuries, work-related trauma, and years of research with her yoga training, Jane successfully has healed and continues to heal those who need her help.
Hidden Forest Studio is conveniently located in York Region in King City, Ontario, close to Aurora, Newmarket, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Nobleton, Schomberg, Bradford, Holland Landing, etc.
Our Studio is located at
300 Spruce Hill Rd.,
King City, Ontario, L7B 1A3
Our Phone: 416-277-5432
Our Email: info (at) snezha.com


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Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had to beat a hasty retreat from a function in Jammu as he was heckled over the state government's "failure" to declare Dogra autocrat Hari Singh's birth anniversary as a state holiday.
The deputy chief minister was speaking at a function after paying floral tributes to Hari Singh, on his birth anniversary Saturday.
Scores of people from the Dogra community, including youths wearing black T-shirts and carrying saffron flags, raised slogans against Singh and the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, Press Trust of India reported.
The protesters surrounded Singh and some of them heckled him.
The minister had to cut short his speech and was escorted out by a large contingent of police.
The protesters also demanded the minister's resignation and accused his party BJP of doing "dis-service" to the Jammu region.
"BJP has done dis-service to Jammu, which gave them 25 seats. They have failed to address one of the major aspirations of the Dogras. Despite passage of a resolution, the BJP could not facilitate a holiday on Maharaja's birthday.
It is a shame," Sumit Singh, one of the protestors, said. The Dogra community members also blocked the deputy CM's cavalcade. The city saw dozens of pro-Maharaja rallies today.


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LAHORE: An duty courtroom will resume hearing of an assets beyond approach case against PTI leader Aleem Khan today.
Accountability Judge Syed Najamul Hassan will take up the case as prison officials will produce the former Punjab minister within the courtroom.
In the previous hearing, the NAB prosecutor had informed the courtroom that a reference against the accused were finalised and could possibly be filed soon.
According to NAB, Aleem being the Secretary of Parkview Cooperative Housing Society, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab and Minister for Information Technology held public office and in the course of the period turned into worried in acts of corruption and corrupt practices with the aid of way of amassing belongings beyond recognized sources of earnings within Pakistan and outside.
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Furthermore, the bureau stated, the accused set up multiple corporations with the motive of real estate business and invested hundreds of thousands of rupees.
He has been accused of buying more than 900 kanal land in distinctive villages of Lahore inside the call of his business enterprise M/s A&A Pvt. Ltd. And also paid advances for added six hundred kanal land for which he couldn't account for the sources of the investments.
In year 2005 and 2006, other than inland assets, he established offshore agencies within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom (UK) with these organizations acquiring property of sizeable value which might be beyond regarded sources of earnings of the accused.


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Suspension of Entities Submitting Claims for Suspended Providers
The July Update is a list of providers who have been added to or removed from the Medi-Cal Suspended and Ineligible Provider List (S&I List) for the month of July. New providers have been added in bold and reinstated providers were removed from the following lists: susp A, susp C, susp E, susp G, susp J, susp P, susp R, susp S, susp T and susp U. Always refer to the S&I List when verifying provider ineligibility.
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OPINION: What IS The Big Deal About Black Panther?
Black Panther is practically here, but just as with a lot of things that reach of certain level of mass appeal, it has gained more than a few detractors. Black Girl Nerds contributor Kayla Marie Sutton created the #WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe hashtag, taking the Twitter world by storm over the last week. As the release date gets closer and closer, here are some things to consider if you're still on the fence, or just not quite sure what the fuss is about.
Blade Was an Icon of a Different Hue
It's not about "the first Black Superhero to…", or that he's even "Black." Black Panther celebrates Black Culture in a way that movies like Blade, or The Meteor Man did not before it. In those films "Black" was more of a caricature than an actual state of being. Movies of that ilk tended to fall on Black as a personality trait, a flavor, (one of about five, maybe) that you either had or you didn't. (Though it made a more palatable pie than most, Luke Cage picks some of this low-hanging fruit as well.) That's never the way to view your inclusion and acceptance within the community you're literally born into, but it is representative of the time – – the time before. In addition, those films could also be picked at for some of their genre trappings, for example, all stories featuring a predominantly Black cast must take place in an inner city. Those specific properties, even within their target communities don't elicit that same collective response, as a Black Panther is designed to. Black Panther celebrates the common ancestry that most dark-skinned people in America have, regardless of where they fall on the cultural spectrum of Blackness. Africa isn't a country. Whether born here or later emigrated, though our own individual travels and tribal paths have been obscured by our historic captors, Black Panther allows all Black people, not just the "woke" or informed to say, "Yeah, I'm a part of that."
Pre-packaged "Black" Has BEEN Whack, Jack!
Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios pulled a "What If" in cinematic form, showcasing the possibility of an entire world that many of us just couldn't envision, if for no reason other than lack of a clear example. Now, we have guides like Shuri! Black Panther is not only taking our culture out of the 'hood, it's practically leaving the planet! This isn't at all a stretch but expect studies in Afrofuturism to rise to previously unseen heights at a campus near you. STEM programs in cities like Baltimore have been flourishing for years, plus there's FanBros' own Crown Wakanda Curriculum! One of the perceptions Black Panther is looking to change, is that Black actors can't realistically portray Scientists and other intellectuals. This isn't unique to Black Panther mind you, Hidden Figures can certainly boast the same claim. Peoples of Color of all types can, and likely will be offered more diverse roles as when compared with occupational based stereotypes or classic "token" portrayals. Expect the wave to continue. A Wrinkle in Time seeks to shatter some of the same cinematic conventions as Black Panther. It's okay to tell Black stories that don't rely on Slave Narrative or a downtrodden community. Who Fears Death is about to become a series on HBO! People are tired of the same trite and tired tales of turmoil. Black Panther, and a host of other properties are linked directly to that collective pulse.
That Stupid, Reductive John Lennon Quote
There's a famous quote by the fabled musician and humanitarian, comparing women and minorities that I'll not repeat here because it's trash. However, in trying to understand the sentiment behind it, I've taken it as another way of stating that if you're not a white MAN specifically, you're undervalued. Still with me? Good. In a lot of the advertising, whether print or video, it could be easily assumed that T'Challa, though formidable on his own, is a background player in his own movie. Black Panther is the title character, but with the women of Wakanda to support him, "Black Panther" may as well function as more team than individual. The symbolism couldn't be clearer, as it portends to Black couples. Doubting the capability of women is becoming increasingly anachronistic. The Dora Milaje are featured heavily throughout the promotional material, represented as a group, or as individuals. Wonder Woman brought the girls out, setting records on its own, so we know the appeal of an army of Femme Fatales in film. Black Panther is bringing #BlackWomen to the party. You know, the same Black Women who consistently have proven to be a driving force behind book sales, even politics as of late. With writers like Roxane Gay and Nnedi Okorafor adding even more to the Wakandan mythos, it's no surprise at all Black Panther has saturated the cultural landscape the way it has.
It's Not Simply About Marketability
Yes, Black folks are "hot" now, but we've always been financially viable in subtle, and not so subtle ways. This isn't a piece about Appropriation, thankfully. Most movie fans can agree by now that Kevin Feige knew what he was doing when Black Panther was greenlit. One critique I've heard, and this is often from other Black people, is that all the fervor is due to Disney somehow tapping into a vein of Black gold and it's all a ploy. Love of the almighty Black dollar is certainly a driving factor, and why not? Marvel Studios functions first as a for-profit Entertainment company. Going forward however, other properties starring people of color will have to up their game. The "lazy black" narratives are played out, and it's about time. Jordan Peele and Sterling K. Brown aren't receiving attention simply because "Black people will go out and see their stuff." This is also why Tyler Perry never quite hit that mainstream, cross-cultural appeal. Chadwick Boseman was voted the most popular star in a country that just banned hip-hop culture. Think about that. No, really. Black Panther doesn't represent the culmination of our struggles, but instead a new frontier – – the future will have to tell the tale.
Like it or not, Black Panther, from Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios releases nationwide on Friday February 16th, but you already knew that, didn't you?
Keep it tuned to FanBros.com for the latest in Urban and Geek culture!
Read more from Dom Watkins, right here.


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Customs agents in Australia have uncovered a steroid smuggling racket from Thailand. Shipments of the musculature-enhancing drugs have been entering the country as "gay lube oil":
"More than 150 bottles have been seized in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia since the beginning of the year. The bottles from Thailand are marked 'gay lube oil', but actually contain testosterone and Deca Durabolin – which are performance enhancing drugs. Richard Janeczko from Customs says it certainly is an unusual concealment. 'I think that they're going for the presumption that customs won't examine the goods, mainly because we may actually think it's gay lube oil. Secondly they might think we won't examine it because…it's a bit yucky or whatever.'"