This End of Project Report describes an innovative Transition to Work Programme for young people with autistic spectrum diagnoses and is the result of a pilot programme developed by Lothian Autistic Society (LAS) and Scottish Outdoor Education Centres (SOEC) and made possible through funding from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The pilot had the twin aims of developing employability skills and exploring the therapeutic value of the outdoors. 

New on Latin Leche, a Say Uncle site: You are horny all day at your job and you just can’t wait to get home and fuck your main squeeze… and fuck they just want to argue, talk about blue balls! So, you head to the gym and after an intense session you enter the sauna….... View Article

The post Say Uncle | Latin Leche: Rodrigo El Santo and Alexander Rajesh appeared first on QueerClick.

We’ve already taken a dive into the pool of desire that is Jakub Stefano, and well, we enjoyed it so much we decided to dip our toes in again. Whether cuddly or lifting metal, in the bedroom, the kitchen or the boardroom, Jakub and his OnlyFans space is the place to have F.U.N! If you... View Article

The post OnlyFans: Jakub Stefano – ‘Full on’ Erotic appeared first on QueerClick.

New on Men.com: On his way to the bedroom, Shadow is distracted by his girl’s (Cherry Kiss) roommate Chase‘s ass, but he is really aroused and has been wanting to pound his girlfriend all day. Shadow gets the gaymer to take over as Cherry Kiss has to halt the BJ to answer a phone call!... View Article

The post Men.com: Shadow, Chase and Cherry Kiss – “Played By The Straight Jock” appeared first on QueerClick.

In the hours and days since Trump was re-elected president of the United States, there’s been a surge of interest in the US for 4B. Via Yahoo News:

Young liberal women across TikTok and Instagram are discussing and sharing information about the South Korean feminist movement, in which straight women refuse to marry, have children, date or have sex with men.

These women say they are enraged and fed up after a majority of their male counterparts voted for a candidate who was found liable for sexual abuse and whose appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices led to the overturning of national abortion rights protections.

In response, they say they’re swearing off men — and they’re encouraging others around the country to join them.

Jesse Watters' mother, Anne Purvis, was a child psychologist. His dad, Stephen Hapgood Watters, was a teacher. Both parents came from a long line of achievers, and sent him to Penn Charter, a very liberal private Quaker school here in Philadelphia.

Despite his accomplished parents and his education, look how he turned out.

Every time he shows up on Twitter, I comment, "Your mother only talks to you so she can see her grandchildren."

Sounds like I was right, because Jesse's mother has disinvited him from the family Thanksgiving this year. Something about "scheduling." But she told him he could come the next day for leftovers.

He said no thanks, he would be at Best Buy.

Understand, this isn't just a difference of opinion. Jesse Watters is a horrible person who lies and distorts in ways that harm our country.

Time for karma, Jesse, you nasty piece of work. Guess you thought you got away with it, huh? After all, you're rich and famous!

Well, your own family doesn't want to be around you on the holiday that's all about family.

And your mom's bitten her tongue long enough.

read more

One of the oldest conspiracy and 'black helicopter' frauds is now facing the hand of the law. Alex Jones is reaping what he sowed.

During a portion of his Info Wars program, Alex Jones lamented over how his show is being stripped and sold off after a just verdict against him for his lies about Sandy Hook victims and their families.

A verdict he described as a "Nazi show trial."

Sucks to be you, Alex. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving guy.

JONES: InfoWars, the equipment, InfoWars.com, InfoWarsStore.com, and a whole bunch of other stuff is at a federal bankruptcy auction from the fake judgments and the rigged trials where I was found guilty beforehand and they had literal show trials out of the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany.

Robin, I walked in here during the break after getting a glass of water, saw the auctioneers inside the building, going around surveying from the last time they were here to make sure all the stuff's here. Everything tagged, everything marked, this death.

Good riddance, you motherfrakker.

Rudy Giuliani is trying to avoid the same fate.

We need more of these creeps to face the same punishment.

read more

It is good to be a Korean today because the world is fascinated with Koreanness, from K-pop to K-dramas, K-movies, K-food, K-fashion, and K-beauty. It is no exaggeration to say that Korean culture has become synonymous with being cool and being hip. Things were quite different, however, not too long ago. It was around 2018 […]

Photo by Elliott Stallion Last week, Georgia blocked Trump-backed election rules that had been recently passed by the State Election Board. Of the seven rules implemented, three gained immense pushback, which included one that required ballots to be counted by hand after polls close and two that dealt with the certification of election results.  Fulton County […]

The post Georgia Judge Blocks Trump’s Election Rules appeared first on Feminist Majority Foundation.

By Matt Solomon Published: November 10th, 2024

By Ryan Menezes Published: November 11th, 2024

By Keegan Kelly Published: November 11th, 2024

By Keegan Kelly Published: November 11th, 2024

By JM McNab Published: November 11th, 2024

By Matt Solomon Published: November 12th, 2024

By Keegan Kelly Published: November 12th, 2024

By Keegan Kelly Published: November 12th, 2024

Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, and Rogue Squadron are coming out as new trade paperback editions in September as part of Del Rey's Star Wars Essential Legends Collection.

By Sara Truuvert

Sweaty palms, shaking limbs, and the distinct possibility of puking. Am I describing riding a rollercoaster or having a crush in middle school? These two thrill rides collide in Jake Maia Arlow's MG debut Almost Flying.

The novel follows thirteen-year-old Dalia, who has planned the perfect summer: finally ride a rollercoaster and make a new best friend. But when Dalia's dad announces he is engaged and expects Dalia to bond with her soon-to-be stepsister, Alexa, Dalia thinks her summer plans are shot. Luckily, Alexa agrees to take Dalia and Rani, a new girl from Dalia's swim team, on an amusement park road trip. What should be a smooth week takes a turn when Dalia realizes she might have more-than-friend feelings for Rani. Almost Flying launched on June 8th, 2021 with Dial Books and is widely available to order.

Jake Maia Arlow is a writer, podcast producer (listen to her work on shows like NPR's Invisibilia), bagel connoisseur, and co-writer of a musical about a gay demon competing in a reality TV show. You can find out more about Jake on her website, Twitter, and YouTube channel. Watch for her YA debut, How To Excavate A Heart launching from HarperTeen in 2022.

Q. A huge congratulations on your MG debut! Your protagonist Dalia is thirteen, which is such a weird, wild, sometimes(?) wonderful age. Did that time in your own life influence this story?

A. Thank you so much! That time in my own life absolutely influenced this story—mostly in that I was a complete weirdo in middle school. And while I wasn’t brave enough or self-aware enough to understand my own early queer feelings, I was so deeply idiosyncratic that I could write 1,000 middle grade novels and never touch on all of my bizarre behavior. For example: I wore mismatched toe socks to school every. Single. Day. 

Q. I love how unique Dalia is—for starters, she absolutely loves watching rollercoaster POVs (but would rather keep this hobby to herself!). Would you speak a bit about developing Dalia’s character?

A. Developing her character was one of the most exciting parts of the writing process, because it involved watching a ton of rollercoaster POV videos! Part of my process included taking notes on different POV videos in Dalia’s voice—some of those early free-writes even made it into the novel in various forms. It’s hard for me to start writing before I know a character’s voice, but Dalia’s came very naturally to me. She’s an anxious queer Jew from Long Island … just like me haha!

Q. Dalia has to navigate some complicated feelings she develops for her friend Rani. Did you map out the trajectory of their relationship before you began writing? Or was it more a matter of seeing where your writing took you?

A. I knew that Dalia had a crush on Rani from the very beginning, but it took me a few rounds of edits to realize that Rani also had a crush on Dalia from the start. Dalia overthinks everything, and even though Rani gives her some pretty clear signals, she doesn’t pick up on them. It was really more of a discovery writing process than I thought it would be!

Q. Do you have any writing routines or rituals that help you get into a good workflow?

A. Oooh, I love this question! I always have rain sounds playing in the background, regardless of whether or not it’s actually raining outside. Other than that, I do the pomodoro method (25 minutes of writing with a five minute break) and I try to have a friend around so I can bounce ideas off of them! 

Q. You have a helpful (and funny) post on your website about the process of getting your agent, which, understandably, involved a fair amount of nerves and panic. What would you say to an author who feels daunted by the idea of starting this process?

A. I’m thrilled that someone has read that! My advice is always to be over prepared. I am almost chronically over prepared because of my anxiety, but in this case it served me well. Listen to podcasts, read sample query letters, read the acknowledgements of your favorite books. There are so many incredible resources that you never have to go through this alone. 

Q. Do you have any advice for young writers?

A. YES! So many people like to say “read,” which is awesome advice, and you should absolutely do that, but my other piece of advice is to WRITE! Write in a journal, write your earth-shattering novel idea on a Google Doc and share it with friends, write recipes, write spells. Write anything and everything. At the very least, you’ll have something to look back on. 

Q. Finally, I understand that both you and Dalia are bagel connoisseurs. I must know, what separates a great bagel from a good bagel?

A. This is the greatest question I’ve ever been asked. First of all, if a bagel isn’t boiled, it’s not a real bagel— it’s just a piece of bread with a hole in the center. But other than that, a great bagel is freshly made, a little warm on the inside; it’s chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. And, most importantly, a great bagel is one that you eat with friends and family. 

------------------------------------------------------------------

Sara Truuvert completed her MLitt in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews. She also holds a Certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers and a BA in English, Drama, and the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Toronto. Her work has appeared in the Literary Review of Canada among other publications.

For more interviews, see the Inkygirl Interview Archive. Also see Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators, a compilation of tips generously offered by children's book creators Inkygirl.com has interviewed over the years.

Norwegian designer Camilla Bakken repurposed the popular SNUDDA lazy susan into a chic, spinning wall sconce! This innovative repurposing might just be the most unexpected use of a turntable yet. The SNUDDA, known for its practicality in the kitchen, has found a new life in Camilla’s hands. By attaching strip LED lights to three SNUDDA units, she created a unique lighting solution that added ambiance and functionality to her space. The lights are controlled via a remote and can be […]

The post This Round Wall Sconce Hack Is Our New Favorite DIY Project appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

Many people are concerned that they are specifically targeted by hackers, advertisers, and others. Nope.

Why I Keep Saying You’re Just Not That Interesting from Ask Leo!.
Get the Confident Computing weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.askleo.com

Commercial software can be expensive. Can you just pirate software if you can't afford it? You can guess my answer, but even better: theft isn't necessary.

Why Can’t the Poor Just Pirate Software? from Ask Leo!.
Get the Confident Computing weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.askleo.com

Soil erosion is an age-long predicament that always shows up whenever humans embark on any land use activity. Whether it is agriculture, construction or gardening, the need to tame erosion is apparent, especially in regions that experience significant precipitation. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that 90% of the world’s topsoil risks erosion by 2050. It is, therefore, the responsibility of those who participate in land use activities to prevent such a mess. [...]

On March 15, 44B.C. Julius Caesar, the "dictator for life" of the Roman Empire, was murdered by his own senators at a meeting in a hall next to Pompey's Theatre. The conspiracy against Caesar encompassed as many as sixty noblemen, including Caesar's own protege, Marcus Brutus.

Caesar was scheduled to leave Rome to fight in a war on March 18 and had appointed loyal members of his army to rule the Empire in his absence. The Republican senators, already chafing at having to abide by Caesar's dec

Shabbat Shalom yeah, since you've been gone we kinda moved away from that whole "Jewish" thing. But I was gone for like 3 days

Don't be such a shlemiel, Jacob! Stripes is just FINE already, and the Rabbi says you can wear that coat to the synagogue!

In this episode I'm joined by former Arsenal player Carl Jenkinson for a chat about his life and career. He's just back from Australia, so we begin with his thoughts on playing the A-League, before turning our attention to his time with the Gunners. From the early days after his move from Charlton, the difficult early period which included that infamous game at Old Trafford, working with and learning from Arsene Wenger, Steve Bould and Bacary Sagna, how injuries impacted his career, and lots more – including that famous press conference clip involving a question about his dad being a singer!

Get extra bonus content and help support Arseblog by becoming an Arseblog Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arseblog

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Arsenal Women Arsecast, Tim talks to Swedish journalist Amanda Zaza about new signing Rosa Kafaji from Hacken. Amanda talks about the type of player she is, her rise to prominence in Sweden and in the Swedish national team, her best position and why her attributes and her personality will be well suited to helping to solve Arsenal’s issues against deep blocks.

You can follow Tim @Stillmanator

Get extra bonus content and help support Arseblog by becoming an Arseblog Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arseblog

 

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I'm joined by The Man from East Lower and Andrew Allen to discuss the final few hours of the transfer window. We chat about the goalkeeping position in light of Aaron Ramsdale's expected departure, how we might replace him, and what it might cost. Then there's discussion of midfield with two out and two in, before attention turns to the attacking end of the pitch. We chat about whether we think Arsenal need to bring somebody in, whether we expect that to happen before Friday's 11pm deadline, and lots more.

Get extra bonus content and help support Arseblog by becoming an Arseblog Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arseblog

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this emergency episode of the Arsenal Women Arsecast, Tim and Jamie run the rule over the resignation of Jonas Eidevall as the Head Coach of Arsenal Women. Tim talks a little bit about how Arseblog News became aware of and were able to (just about) break the story on Tuesday morning. Then Tim and Jamie analyse where things went wrong, how the situation took a serious turn in the last week, why it didn't quite click the way the club and Jonas wanted it to and looked ahead to how Arsenal might succession plan for his departure. Tim and Jamie then each share one high point from Eidevall's reign.

 

Get extra bonus content and help support Arseblog by becoming an Arseblog Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arseblog

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's a vase that's sure to be a conversation piece for your next family gathering. Just put it at the center of the dinner table, and make sure that the face is pointing towards the person you love the most. Or the least. We're not sure.

Check out VisoVaso, handmade ceramic vase by Italian artist Jimmy Lanza over at his Instagram page.

Monday Jan. 24

GIRL TALK
8:00pm - Fillmore Charlotte
Tickets: $33.50

• Girl Talk is the pseudonym of DJ and remixer Greg Gillis. Everyone from Pitchfork to the New York Times Magazine has lauded various aspects of Girl Talk’s formula. The sample-based dance tracks have made Gillis a hero of the mash-up generation: each of his songs are built on recognizable samples of recent hit singles, re-contextualized into an entirely new piece. Girl Talk’s 5th album was released in November. http://www.livenation.com/event/0E004562F9D99F02?camefrom=CFC_BUYAT_pollstar&brand=

Tuesday Jan. 25

Great Decisions Lecture Series: HORN OF AFRICA
7:00-8:30pm – Charlotte Country Day School (Cramer Lecture Hall)
Admission: $10 (for individual lecture…discount for series registration)

• The Office of International Programs at UNC Charlotte, along with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, coordinates a local community lecture series annually. Each week a local expert from nearby colleges and universities provides additional perspective on the topic of interest and answers questions regarding the information presented in the Briefing Book and through the lecture. Tonight, Dr. Kenneth Menkhaus, Davidson College will discuss the Horn of Africa as part of the series. He regularly serves as a consultant for the UN, US government, non-governmental organizations, and policy research institutes, and has provided expert testimony on two occasions before subcommittees of the US Senate. In 2002 he was recipient of a US Institute of Peace grant to study protracted conflict in the Horn of Africa. For more information or to register to attend, click below.                          http://oip.uncc.edu/great_decisions.htm

THE HARLEM QUARTET (UNC Chamber Music Festival)
8:00pm –Anne R. Belk Theatre/ Robinson Hall @ UNC Charlotte
Tickets: $9 general public, $7 for senior citizens and UNC Charlotte faculty and staff, and $6 for students.

• The centerpiece of the UNC Charlotte Chamber Music Festival (thru 1/27) will be a concert by guest artists The Harlem Quartet, including works by Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev as well as contemporary jazz composers Chick Corea and Wynton Marsalis. Praised for its “panache” by The New York Times, the Harlem Quartet is currently the resident ensemble in the New England Conservatory of Music’s Professional String Quartet Program. Its mission is to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through the discovery and presentation of varied repertoire, highlighting works by minority composers. The Harlem Quartet made its acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut in the fall of 2006 and have returned to Carnegie on numerous occasions. In December 2009 the quartet played to performances at the White House for guests of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and made an appearance on Christmas morning on NBC’s Today Show. http://unccboxoffice.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event.asp?id=246&cid=28

DAVID BROOKS – Op-Ed Columnist/Author
8:00-10:00pm - Charlotte Museum of History
Tickets: Free to members

• The Charlotte Museum of History’s “Distinguished Speaker Series” returns this winter with David Brooks, Op-Ed Columnist for The New York Times, Commentator for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and Author. David Brooks has a gift for bringing audiences face to face with the spirit of our times with humor, insight, and quiet passion. He is a keen observer of the American way of life and a savvy analyst of present-day politics and with the generous support from WFAE, Your NPR News Source, is free to members of the museum and guest. To check or change your membership status, please call (704) 568-1774 x.102.

Wednesday Jan. 26

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus *Opening Night*
7:00pm – Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte

• Tickets: Various prices, with opening night discounts.
  The Greatest Show On Earth just got Greater with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Barnum’s FUNundrum!SM. Featuring 130 performers from six continents, almost 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids, Barnum’s FUNundrum! is a super-sized spectacle so massive you just can’t miss it! This monumental, once in a lifetime event celebrates the 200TH anniversary of the birth of the legendary P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman on Earth! and can only be experienced at The Greatest Show On Earth®, Barnum’s living legacy! Through Sunday January 30th. http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0E00454ECE298882?artistid=1362863&majorcatid=10003&minorcatid=29

BHANGRA Dance Demonstration
7:30-8:30pm – International House, 322 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte
FREE

• Join International House for a free demonstration and lecture by Anish V. Thakkar on the art of Bhangra Dance, a high energy folk dance that originated in the Punjab region of India/Pakistan. For more information, contact 704.333.8099.

Thursday Jan. 27


TRICIA WAGNER – Book signing

• 7:30pm – Barnes & Noble (Morrison Place-4020 Sharon Rd.)
  Come meet local author Tricia Wagner as she leads a discussion of her new book “Black Cowboys of the Old West: True, Sensational and Little Known Stories From History.” http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3081305

PIERRE BENSUSON
8:00pm – Evening Muse (3227 N. Davidson Street)
Tickets: $20 General Admission

• French-Algerian guitarist, singer and composer Pierre Bensusan has been described by the L.A. Times as "one of the most unique and brilliant acoustic guitar veterans in the world music scene today.’ In 2008, he was voted "Best World Music Guitar Player" by Guitar Player Magazine Readers Choice. Don’t miss this exciting show!                             http://www.theeveningmuse.musictoday.com/EveningMuse/moreInfo.aspx

Friday Jan. 28


Music & Museum Concert – “Viva España!”
5:00pm – Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Tickets: $15/members; $20/non-members

• January's concert theme, ¡Viva España!, celebrates Spanish and Argentinean music and features artwork by Joan Miro. The Bechtler Ensemble (Paul Nitsch on piano, David Russell on violin and Tanja Bechtler on cello) will perform Circulo by Joaquin Turina, Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla and Granada by Isaac Albeniz as well as works by Manuel de Falla and Pablo Casals. Also on Sunday 1/30 @ 5:00pm.                 https://purchaseonline.bechtler.org/public/daily_events_list.asp

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
8:00 – McGlohon Theatre @ Spirit Square

• Tickets: $22
  Based on the music of Fats Waller, this hit Broadway musical re-lives the flourishing era of the Harlem Renaissance and turns the stage into a racy, raucous and playful evening of songs. Five performers present their interpretations of what it means to swing, while being backed by the Sign of the Times band, with direction by Jermaine Nakia Lee. *Performances through Sunday Jan. 30.

       


Saturday Jan. 29

“What My Mother Told Me: The Art of Maria Magdalena Campos-Pon” – *Opening Day*
10:00am – Harvey G. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture
Admission: Free w/museum admission (RSVP to opening is encouraged)

• According to David Taylor, president & CEO of the Gantt Center, "What My Mother Told Me’ may be one of the most important exhibitions the Gantt Center has mounted to-date." María Magdalena Campos-Pons, a woman, an expatriate, and a Cuban, makes art about identity and memory. Born in Cuba of Nigerian ancestry, Campos-Pons' work of the last 20 years covers an extended range of visual language investigations. It emerges from the early 1980s focus on painting and the discussion of sexuality in the crossroads of Cuban mixed cultural heritage to incisive questioning, critique and insertion of the black body in the contemporary narratives of the present. She has exhibited internationally since 1984 when she won Honorable Mention at the XVIII Cagnes-sur-Mer Painting Competition in France and the Bunting Fellowship in Visual Arts at Harvard in 1993. Solo shows followed at MoMA, the Venice Biennale 2001, Johannesburg Biennial, the First Liverpool Biennial, the Dak'ART Biennial in Senegal and the Guangzhou Triennial in China.                                                http://www.ganttcenter.org/web/page.asp?urh=ExhibitionsViewer&id=12

GAELIC STORM
7:00 – Neighborhood Theatre (511 E. 36th Street - NODA)
Tickets: $15/advance; $20/day-of-show

• Chart topping Gaelic Storm plays Celtic music that hearkens back to the traditional music of Ireland, but they are hardly traditionalists. Their music adds modern sounds and draws influences from American rock and pop, as well as music styles from around the world. If you’re up for a lively evening of music, this is where you want to be. http://www.neighborhoodtheatre.com/theatre/order/order.asp?shownum=616&eventnum=2222

Sunday Jan. 30

Charlotte Contemporary Ensemble
3:00pm –St. Albans Episcopal Church, Davidson, NC
Tickets: $15; Students & Seniors $10; Children under 12 are FREE

•  Join Cedric Meekins and the Charlotte Contemporary Ensemble on a journey through a rich blend of music, from traditional Spirituals to Gospel and contemporary choral works, as they celebrate more than 30 years of performances. Featuring the music of African American composers and arrangers, this concert will warm your spirit and soothe your soul.

          http://www.musicatstalbans.net/?page_id=9


Preview Discussion of VERDI's "La Traviata"
4:OOpm – The Wine Shop @ Foxcroft (Southpark/7824 Fairview Rd., Charlotte)
FREE

•  Opera Carolina presents one of the world’s most beloved operas, La Traviata. The timeless story of Camille is retold in Verdi’s classic of a Parisian courtesan who surrenders to true love. Join WDAV's Jennifer Foster for a lively preview discussion of the opera. Performances of “La Traviata” by Opera Carolina will take place Feb. 3, 5 & 6.                  http://www.operacarolina.org/#

• A hilarious “mockumentary” about a small town beauty pageant that turns deadly as it becomes clear that someone will go to any lengths to win. Starring Denise Richards, Ellen Barkin & Kristin Dunst. The theatre (along w/co-sponsor The Light Factory) will even have its own beauty contests following the film, with chances to win fabulous prizes.

• The clarinet takes center stage as the Blue Ridge Chamber Players and clarinetist John Sadak perform 20th century works including Prokofieff’s beloved Overture on Hebrew Themes and Alan Shulman’s Rendezvous, written for the King of Swing, Benny Goodman. The program concludes with American composer Charles Griffin’s homage to Irish and Appalachian folk music, Weaving Olden Dances, in a new arrangement commissioned by Charlotte Chamber Music.  **Evening concert includes a wine & cheese reception in the Carillon lobby.

• The Office of International Programs at UNC Charlotte, along with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, coordinates a local community lecture series annually. Each week a local expert from nearby colleges and universities provides additional perspective on the topic of interest and answers questions regarding the information presented in the Briefing Book and through the lecture. Tonight, Dr. James Walsh, UNC Charlotte will discuss the Global Governance as part of the series. He is Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Political Science Department, as well as the Director of the Center for Terrorism, Intelligence and Security Policy @ UNC Charlotte,. He received his doctorate in international relations from American University. For more information or to register to attend, click below.

• This photographic exhibition explores the role of women during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Women fought as soldiers. They travelled with armies performing the work of nurses, cooks and aids. They were also victims of the fighting. The exhibition is made possible with special permission from the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia de México and support from the Friends of Art at Queens.

• The timeless story of Camille is retold in Verdi’s classic of a Parisian courtesan who surrenders to love. Based on the true romance of Alexander Dumas and Marie Duplessis, La Traviata (the fallen woman) tells the story of Paris’ most famous courtesan, Violetta Valéry, who leaves her destructive life to live with her first real love, Alfredo Germont. But social bias and Violetta’s failing health turn love to tragedy and remorse. Get swept up in grandeur of one of the world’s most beloved operas – La Traviata. Performances also 2/5 & 6.

• Broadcaster, author, advocate, publisher and philanthropist Tavis Smiley currently hosts the late night television talk show, Tavis Smiley on PBS and The Tavis Smiley Show, distributed by Public Radio International, as well as Tavis Smiley Reports,  four hour-long primetime TV specials also on PBS. He is the first American to simultaneously host signature talk shows on both public television and public radio. In 2009, Tavis Smiley was named one of TIME’s 100 “Most Influential People in the World.” For more information, call: 704 687-5323

• Tonight is the third of an ongoing evening event series that will be held the first Friday of every month at the new Mint Museum Uptown (500 South Tryon Street). Each First Friday centers on a different theme and features hands-on art activities for all ages, live entertainment, gallery tours, and refreshments.

• The Symphony welcomes guest conductor Maximiano Valdes, violinst Elena Urioste, and Metropolitan Ballroom dancers Clement Joly &Tatiana Kazakova to the KnightSounds stage for Tangos & Tapas, a program of exotic music from four Latin countries – Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The sensuous rhythms will inspire you to kick up your own heels at the post-concert salsa dance party, featuring salsa band Orquesta Mayor, in the new Mint Museum. Meet new friends, mingle with musicians, and experience the orchestra in a whole new way.

• Family Day provides special museum tours and hands-on art activities for children of all ages. Art projects take place from noon to 4:30 p.m. in the museum’s classroom and video gallery. Family-friendly tours are offered on the hour from noon until 4 p.m. and highlight the exhibition Four Artists in Ascona: Benazzi, Bissier, Nicholson and Valenti, which opened January 21.

• During Open Studio Saturdays artists work in their studios with the doors open.  It is an opportunity for the public to meet the artists and learn about their art as well as view the current exhibition. 

• The trio first met in England while studying with iconic King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp. After touring together as part of Fripp’s League of Crafty Guitarists, the three guitarists convened in Los Angeles and founded The California Guitar Trio. Their music has been featured extensively on NPR, NBC’s Olympics coverage, and various CBS, CNN, and ESPN TV programs.

• This special screening showcases a new documentary, “Jail, No Bail”, about the Civil Rights sit-ins that took place in Rock Hill, SC in 1961. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Charles Jones, David Williamson, and others who took part in the historic events. Presented in partnership with South Carolina ETV and The Culture & Heritage Museums.  RSVP to 704.333.1887 ext. 501 or rsvp@museumofthenewsouth.org.

• Guillermo Bill will be playing the music….come and enjoy an afternoon of fun filled tango, milonga and vals.