Check out which players had the top performances in Week 10 of the fantasy football season.

Knowing that today’s homes burn faster than ever, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced “Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out” as the official theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, October 8-14, 2017. Experts say you may have as little as two minutes (or even less) to safely escape a typical home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds.

"The Berlin Trilogy of Bowie albums (Low, “Heroes,” and Lodger) were a huge thematic and aesthetic influence on these books, especially his nods back to early 20th century futurism."

AI-powered search engine Perplexity says it’ll begin experimenting with ads on its platform starting this week. Ads will appear in the U.S. to start, formatted as “sponsored follow-up questions.” (E.g., “How can I use LinkedIn to enhance my job search?”) Paid media will be positioned to the side…

This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the…

President-elect Donald Trump, on Tuesday, greenlit the formation of the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE, the acronym which almost sounds like a parody of the cryptocurrency known as Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE). As the department promises to restructure federal agencies and reduce…

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 24 to 28 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

By Leo Babauta Let’s imagine that there’s a big task you’ve been avoiding for weeks (or maybe a bunch of them!) … it just becomes this ball of dread that you don’t want to think about, but that you feel really bad that you’ve been putting off. Sound familiar? Everyone has something like this, whether […]

The post Turning Towards a Task You’ve Been Avoiding for Weeks appeared first on zen habits.

Good morning, and welcome to November! Next week, on Monday and Wednesday, we will be finishing up Harvest Hues. I …

Prices are for My BBY Members
 
LG - 65" Class 99 Series QNED Mini-LED 8K UHD Smart webOS TV $1499.99
Dell - Inspiron 24" Touch screen All-In-One Desktop - AMD Ryzen 5 - 12GB Memory - 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD $1699.99
HP - Pavilion 32" 4K UHD All-In-One - Intel Core i5 - 16GB Memory - 1TB SSD - Sparkling Black $1249.99
ASUS - Vivobook 14" Laptop - Intel Core i3-1115G4 with 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - Transparent Silver $199.99

Microsoft - Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Windows PCs - White $88.99

 

More gaming deals for My BBY Members

My Best Buy Plus and Total members get:

• Get a free extra controller with an Xbox Series X console

• Save $60 on Xbox Series X Diablo IV bundle. 

• Save $400 or $700 on select Samsung gaming monitors.

• Save $30 on Elite Series 2 wireless controllers for Xbox.

https://cag.vg/memberdeals

 

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The cruelty is the point with these disgusting excuses for human beings. Maybe they can do something about illegal immigrant Elon while they're at it. The incompetent first Trump administration got their rear ends handed to them during their last attempt to deport all of the DREAMers who were living in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, otherwise known as DACA.

Now they're ready to do it again with Trump's plans for mass deportations, that would destroy the United States' economy.

Trump supporter Vivek Ramaswamy, who could end up with a job in the Trump administration, made an appearance on ABC's This Week, and was asked about whether Trump would actually follow through with his threat or not, and when host Jonathan Karl brought up the DREAMers, who were brought here as children, Ramaswamy basically told them all to pound sand.

KARL: Now, obviously, Trump's promised --and you've talked a lot about this, the -- you know, mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

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A one-pan Greek style rice with beef and eggplant in a tasty tomato sauce! Moussaka is a Greek dish typically containing layers of eggplant, a meat sauce, and a bechamel sauce and it takes a bit of time to make it. This dish is inspired by the flavours of moussaka as a quick and easy...

Read On →

The post Greek Style Beef and Eggplant Rice (aka Moussaka Rice) appeared first on Closet Cooking.

By Matt Solomon Published: November 10th, 2024

Hazel Mitchell has helped create more than twenty children's books, including her award-winning picture book Toby (Candlewick Press). Her illustrations appear in books by Cynthia Lord, JaNay Brown-Wood (Imani's Moon was mentioned on the Stephen Colbert show!), Lynn Parrish Sutton, Liza Gardner Walsh and others. You can find out more about Hazel and her work at HazelMitchell.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Synopsis of SWEET PEA SUMMER (Candlewick):

During her mother’s absence, a young girl discovers the joys of gardening—and the rewards of persistence and a sharp eye—in a sweet intergenerational story. With warm, child-friendly illustrations and a simple narration, Hazel Mitchell tells a timeless story about holding on to hope in hard times and finding the strength and determination to see it through. A brief author’s note at the end offers a bit of history and a few details about sweet peas for aspiring gardeners.

Q. What inspired you to write Sweet Pea Summer?

My inspiration for the book were memories I have from staying with my grandparents when I was little (4-6 years old). They lived in a row of mill cottages in a Yorkshire town called Huddersfield. The town was born out of the wool trade and had many factories and tall towers, but was surrounded by beautiful countryside. I started to sketch my memories of staying with them - the cottage, the garden, the countryside with the moors and mill chimneys, the cats that were always scampering around, the long road that stretched away up a sloping hill to the town itself.

My granddad was an excellent gardener. I suspect this came from the war years in Britain when everyone grew their own food as much as possible. In my memory the garden was so, so long with a little greenhouse and was stuffed with veggies and flowers. Of course, my memory exaggerated everything. I was seeing through a small child's eyes. I even googled the road on Google Streetview and the cottage and the garden are still there, just much smaller than I recalled.

I decided there was a story in these sketches and my rememberings. I find that I'm often inspired by childhood memories, places and real life things, like my own dog who is the main character in the book 'Toby', also from Candlewick Press. I've even been known to use my house in books, or feature the landscape of Maine, where I live, and sometimes I draw objects from my home. it gives authenticity I think.

Q. What was the writing and illustration process like?

After some note making, more doodles and musing I decided on the main character of a girl. She's not exactly me. My sister also went to stay with my grandparents when my mother was ill and that was really the nugget that set me rolling. The girl is sad and missing her mother, so Grandpa invites her to help in the garden and, in particular, to look after the sweet peas. (My own grandfather grew chrysanthemums, but I decided children would relate more to sweet peas. Plus it is easier to say!).

The grandparents do not look like my grandparents and even though the child is not really me, I guess she shares some of my personality characteristics and DO I love gardening! (Although I always fail with sweet peas, which is ironic). I found I had all the inspiration I needed to get started on roughing out a story.

Writing and illustrating Sweet Pea Summer was a long process, as most books tend to me. There are a lot of images in the book, which is kind of graphic novelish in a way, with multiple images on some pages that follow a grid layout. Although I did preliminary character and setting sketches, I then spent time writing scene progressions and story boarding before I was ready to do the first full dummy.

I've found this saves me time in the long run, when I finally start to sketch I can be pretty certain I have the rudimentary story arc and length of book down. We had 2-3 edits and rehashes before my editors, art director and myself were all happy to go to finals. Finals are always the very long and arduous stage of the book for me. The first spark of story and hashing it out is the inspirational bit.

I did all the art for Sweet Pea in pencil and watercolor (usually I colour an under painting digitally), but I felt this book needed a traditional watercolour feel. It was a longer process for sure! Along the way I did a good amount of picture research especially on the landscapes and the flowers - plus the process of growing them, which features in the story. The parallel between the illness of the m/c's mom and the flowers failing to open was important to me. didn't want it to be too obvious to the reader.

My editor, Liz Bicknell at Candlewick Press, was very helpful, as always, keeping the story on track. Pam Consolazio was my art director, and her nickname was Sweet Pea as a child! it is lovely when you find unexpected connections. I scan my own artwork, which gives me the luxury of making any tweaks to the final art. I think the whole book took about 2 years, including edits etc.

It's wonderful when your book finally arrives in your mailbox! (Just like any birth, the pain recedes!) It was especially concerning in this time of the pandemic, but everything went well and the books arrived in time for publication.

Q. What advice do you have for young writers and illustrators?

My advice to young writers and illustrators is always work on stories that you love and feel an emotional response to whether, happy, sad, funny or just that you just love and know the subject. It will always show in your work!

----

For more insights from book creators, see my Inkygirl interview archives.

 

The ways buildings are constructed has to change. It has become something else instead, something more sustainable, something newer. And it doesn't get much more modern than buildings that can actually move and adapt at will.[...]

Monday Oct. 4

UNC Charlotte – Global Perspective Series
12:30pm – College of Health & Human Services, Room332
The 1st in this new lecture series titled “International Exchanges: Codex Aubin & the Influence of Early Printed Books”features Professor Rajagopalan who will discuss her experiences researching a 16th-century painted manuscript from Mexico and the European aesthetic and conceptual systems that helped to shape the work.
http://www.coaa.uncc.edu/Calendar/Detail/33507cc05eb6ea26fff147903e5574b98a22b153


Tuesday Oct. 5

François Furstenberg, Historian
7:00pm – Sykes Auditorium/Queens University. Free
Author of the critically lauded "In the Name of the Father: Washington's Legacy, Slavery, and the Making of a Nation" (2006), Furstenberg is the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation Chair of American Studies in the history department at the University of Montreal. His talk is titled “When the United States Spoke French: Trans-Atlantic Politics, Speculation, and Diplomacy in the Early American Republic.”
http://www.queens.edu/News-and-Events/College-of-Arts-and-Sciences-Events/Preyer-Lecture-Series/Francois-Furstenberg-Historian.html


Frontier Ruckus  @ The Evening Muse
10:00pm - $5
Don’t miss Ramseur Records’ recording act Frontier Ruckus as they pass through Charlotte on their East Coast tour and discover why Rolling Stone magazine exclaims this band has the “perfect recipe for Gothic Americana.”
http://www.frontierruckus.com/earshot


Wednesday Oct. 6

“Einstein’s Biggest Blunder: A Cosmic Mystery Story”
7:30-9:00pm – Davidson College/Duke family Performance Hall (Free)
Lawrence Krauss delivers the 2010 Smith Lecture. In his talk, he will describe the developments that have changed the picture of the past, present, and future of the Universe. Krauss is a theoretical physicist of international reputation. He is the Foundation Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and Physics Department, and Inaugural Director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University.
http://www3.davidson.edu/cms/x41124.xml


Disney on Ice – Toy Story 3
7:00pm – Time Warner Cable Arena
An award-winning creative team and a cast of world-class skaters are bringing Woody, the pull-string cowboy; space ranger Buzz Lightyear; Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl; and the rest of the gang to fans and families around the country in this brand-new live ice spectacular! The show is in Charlotte through Sunday 10/10.
http://www.timewarnercablearena.com/page.aspx?section=events&pagetype=events&id=5283


Thursday Oct. 7

“Taste of The World” – Charlotte East Restaurant Preview Event
5:30-10:30pm – $30/person @ VanLandingham Estate Inn
Come share the flavor, uniqueness and vitality while experiencing the cosmopolitan flavor and the excitement of the people who call Charlotte East home! An opening reception at VanLandingham Estate begins your guided tour through eclectic Charlotte East to dine at three different culturally rich restaurants. Your evening's adventure will end with coffee and dessert back at the Estate.
http://www.charlotteeast.com/tasteofworld2010buy.htm

Friday Oct. 8


UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens – Annual Fall Plant Sale
9:00am-3:00pm (continues 10/9) – McMillan Greenhouse
Whether you are a seasoned gardener, a budding plant enthusiast, or a homeowner looking for just the right plant, you won't want to miss the yearly sales at the Botanical Gardens. Choose among shrubs, trees, wildflowers, ferns, and perennials at the fall sale.
All proceeds directly fund the operations of the greenhouse and gardens.
http://gardens.uncc.edu/calendar-of-events/events-at-mcmillan-greenhouse.html


Charlotte Symphony Orchestra– special guest: Natasha Paremski, piano
8:00pm – Belk Theatre. Tickets: $26.50 - $82.50
Christopher Warren-Green conducts his 2nd concert of the Classics series with a program that focuses on the “New World” and includes Bernstein’s Candide Overture, Rachmaninoff, & Dvorak.
http://www.carolinatix.org/default.asp?tix=59&objId=2196


The Diary of Anne Frank (opening night!)
8:00pm – Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts
In this gripping new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, newly discovered writings from the diary of Anne Frank, as well as survivor accounts, are interwoven to create a contemporary impassioned story of the lives of people persecuted under Nazi rule. Set designed by Emmy Award winner John R. Bayless. A portion of the proceeds from this production will go to benefit the “Butterfly Project” at the Jewish Community Center. **Ages 12 and up**
http://www.matthewsplayhouse.com/mp2annefrank.htm


Saturday Oct. 9


CIAO, ITALIA! Festival
11:00 – 7:00pm – Wachovia Atrium, 301 S. Tryon - Adults/$5, Teens/$3, Children/Free
Join the Christopher Columbus Italian Club of Charlotte to celebrate Italian culture with a day filled with food, entertainment and more!
http://www.italian-club-charlotte.org/festivals.html

3rd Annual Charlotte Fine Art Show
10:00am-5:00pm – Park Expo & Conference Center
Admission $5, 12 & under Free
Juried by art professionals, this high quality art show brings approximately 100 world renowned & top notch local Carolina artists to sell their paintings, clay, glass, sculpture, wood, fiber, jewelry, photography and more. Continues Sunday 10/10.
http://www.hotworks.org/charlottefineartshow/index.php


The MET Live in HD – “Wagner’s Das Reingold”
1:00pm – Regal Stonecrest Cinemas @ Piper Glen + AMC Concord Mills 24-IMAX
The Metropolitan Opera’s Emmy and Peabody-award winning series of live and high definition performance transmissions returns for its fifth season with the 1st of (12) operas. This new production, with Maestro James Levine and directed by Robert Lepage, features Bryn Terfel singing the leading role of Wotan .
http://www.fathomevents.com/opera/series/themetropolitanopera.aspx


Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace
10:00am-5:30pm – Sat/Sun through November 21st - Huntersville, NC
The Renaissance Festival is a 16th century European style art and entertainment festival combining outdoor theater, circus entertainment, arts and crafts marketplace, a jousting tournament, a feast fit for royalty, and much, much more.
http://www.royalfaires.com/carolina/


“Dracula” by North Carolina Dance Theatre
7:30pm – Knight Theatre
NC Dance Theatre opens its 40th season with a full-length staging of “Dracula,” choreographed by Mark Godden. Originally created for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1998, this contemporary interpretation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 horror classic has won critical acclaim for its storytelling, wit and theatricality.
http://www.blumenthalcenter.org/default.asp?blumenthal=59&objId=2003


Minneapolis Guitar Quartet
8:00pm Dana Auditorium/Queens University
Founded in 1986, the group has garnered unanimous international critical acclaim with its first four CDs on the Albany and GSP labels. Says Soundboard Magazine, "With 'Over Land and Sea,' the MGQ demonstrates that it is one of the major guitar ensembles in the world."
http://www.queens.edu/News-and-Events/Arts-and-Culture-Events/Performing-Arts/Minneapolis-Guitar-Quartet.html


Sunday Oct. 10

20th Annual Latin American Festival
12:00-7:00pm – Symphony Park, South Park Adults $5/Children $3 The Latin American Festival - one of Charlotte’s signature cultural events- attracts thousands of individuals from our multi-cultural community to enjoy local, nationally and internationally known musicians, handmade arts and crafts, authentic Latin American cuisine, traditional folkloric dance performances and children’s activities and performances- a true cultural experience for all.
http://www.festivallatinoamericano.org/home.html


OPERA CAROLINA’s “Cosi Fan Tutti” – FREE preview
2:00pm – Barnes & Noble/South Park
This hour-long preview, hosted by WDAV announcer Jennifer Foster, will feature music excerpts and in-depth discussion about the plot and composer before seeing the opera on the main stage.
http://www.operacarolina.org/events/321/



Living History Day: Weaving – Charlotte Museum of History
1:00-4:00pm - Free, with museum admission
Kenneth Webb, a weaver from New London, NC, will be visiting the museum to demonstrate different weaving techniques on his floor loom. He will also offer his wares for sale.
http://www.charlottemuseum.org/Calendar.asp#LHWeekends

Monday  Nov. 22

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.

• Band of Joy was the name of rock icon Robert Plant’s Black Country psychedelic folk group of the late ‘60s (pre-Led Zeppelin) and his revival of its name and spirit in 2010 is of no small significance. His top selling 2010 Grammy nominated album titled “Band of Joy ” pays tribute to American country + folk. Don’t miss this living rock legend’s swing through Charlotte!

• As part of their “Let’s Get Reel” series, on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month, The Mint welcomes you to stop by and hear some live music (by the Ocie Davis Trio, this week). Then settle back and watch a screening of Kathryn Bigelow’s Academy Award winning  film “THE HURT LOCKER.”

• The Office of International Programs at UNC Charlotte, along with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, coordinates this "Great Decisions Lecture Series" annually. Tonight, Dr. Chris Van Aller, Winthrop University will discuss Sanctions and Proliferation: North Korea and Iran, as part of the series. Dr. Van Aller is Professor of the Political Science @ Winthrop University. He received his doctorate in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. He specializes in International Relations, Post Soviet Politics, and European Politics.  For more information or to register to attend, click link above.

• The greatest love story ever told receives full musical expression in this romantic Valentine’s concert. In between the brooding and beautiful tales of young love, the CSO’s own concertmaster, Calin Lupanu, performs Tchaikovsky’s spectacular violin concerto, one of the most famous – and most difficult – pieces for that instrument. With Christopher Warren-Green, conducting and Calin Lupanu, violin, the program features TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet and Violin Concerto in D major and PROKOFIEV Excerpts from Romeo and Juliet.

• Sweeney Todd is a musical thriller by Stephen Sondheim. A chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece Sweeney Todd tells the infamous tale of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. His thirst for blood expands to include his unfortunate customers, and the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs soon has the people of London lining up in droves with her mysterious new meat pie recipe!

• The Big Daddy Bluegrass Band rides again! It has been five long years since the BDBB has taken the stage. They make their return tonight for the debut of their new lineup which features some of the premier acoustic musicians working today. Steve “Big Daddy” McMurry, front man and founding member of Acoustic Syndicate, returns to the world of bluegrass music with a formidable arsenal of hot, young pickers. There are always great, guest musicians at their performances and you never know who will turn up to play.

• In support of her recently released book, “Into a Light Both Brilliant and Unseen: Conversations with Contemporary Black Poets,” Malin Periera will discuss her collection of eight interviews with leading contemporary African American poets. The book offers an in-depth look at the cultural and aesthetic perspectives of the post–Black Arts Movement generation.

• A "Knight" to Remember, in preparation of the upcoming tour to Scotland, is a cabaret style concert highlighting individual members of the Charlotte Children’s Choir Youth Chorale and Chamber Ensemble. Enjoy an evening of listening to timeless love songs ranging from contemporary popular music, jazz standards and favorite arias while you enjoy a wonderful meal. The CCC has won recognition for choral excellence in their appearances around the world. The Choir performed on “CBS This Morning” and was featured in the A & E television special, “Judy Collins Christmas at the Biltmore.” The choir made its Carnegie Hall debut as the featured choir at the 2005 National Children’s Choir Festival.

• Sounds of love will fill the Bechtler lobby February 13 when the museum presents a special Valentine's Day Music and Museum program. Chamber of Love: Sizzling Duets will feature music composed by Rachmaninoff, Casals, Kreisler, Gliere and Richard Strauss paired with artwork by Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle, two Bechtler collection artists who were partners in art and life.

• Don’t miss the chance to see folksinger Dan Bern with two Valentines Day concerts in this intimate setting. Email davidsonncmusic@hotmail.com to reserve tickets, making sure to specify what time and how many tickets

• The Office of International Programs at UNC Charlotte, along with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, coordinates a local community lecture series annually. Tonight, Dr. Richard Buttimer, UNC Charlotte will discuss Responding To The Financial Crisis as the final lecture of the series. Dr. Buttimer, who has a PHD from the University of GA, is Interim Associate Dean for Faculty and Research as well as Professor of Finance at UNC Charlotte. He has published papers in many academic journals and is a member of the editorial board of The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. His primary areas of research are the development of mortgage default models and the application of options theory to real estate problems.

• Don’t miss Flogging Molly’s exhilarating and explosive live show with their unique blend of traditional Irish music and rowdy punk rock. This L.A. based septet’s annual tour countdown to St. Patrick’s Day will also feature music from their upcoming spring release, recorded in Asheville. Also appearing is Moneybrother and The Drowning Men.

• Three generations of men (all played by the same actor), from slavery through Black Power, challenge Lewis to embark on a night journey combining past and present. Infused with abundant humor and woven through with original songs, BLUE DOOR is a tour-de-force for two actors, a vivid, exuberantly theatrical play about the African-American male experience. “Intelligent…unfailingly thought-provoking…Barfield poses sharp questions and counter-questions on contemporary black identity. Her vision is fearless and humane.” - The Los Angeles Times

• A full-fledged musical that recasts the MGM tradition in a gritty, near-documentary style. It tells the story of a young Boston jazz musician who drifts from affair to affair, his trumpet the only constant in his life. Jason Palmer, its star, was recently named by Down Beat Magazine as one of the top twenty-five “Trumpeters for the Future.” The film features all original music composed by Justin Hurwitz and recorded by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra.

• Dr. Kimerly Rorschach, Director of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, talks about why universities have museums.

• IN THE HEIGHTS, winner of four 2008 Tony® Awards including BEST MUSICAL, is a sensational new show about chasing your dreams and finding your true home. You will be taken on an exhilarating journey into a vibrant Manhattan community; a place where the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three.  ***Ticket holders for the February 18th performance of IN THE HEIGHTS will have the unique opportunity to attend a pre-show event featuring a cocktail hour (cash bar), free hors d’oeuvres, and salsa dancing led by dancers from Metropolitan Ballroom! To SAVE $10 on tickets to IN THE HEIGHTS on Friday, February 18th visit www.BlumenthalCenter.org/salsa or call 704.372.1000 and ask for the “salsa” special!

• Expanding on the popular Bluebird Day of the past two years, the Garden celebrates our winged friends with a day of birds. Enjoy bird watching walks, demonstrations and mini-talks scheduled throughout the day, including the annual update on the Gardens' Bluebird Program. For a small fee, build your own bluebird house and mix up a suet treat for the feathered friends in your yard at home. ** A materials fee of $10 will apply for optional Bluebird house and Suet projects.
  Partnering Organizations: NC National Wildlife Federation affiliates, Gaston County P.A.W.S. and Mecklenburg County H.A.W.K.

• 2010 film about the legendary poem by beat icon Allen Ginsberg -- played by Hollywood actor James Franco. -- and the 1957 obscenity trial that followed its publication.

• The Friends of Music at Queens proudly hosts Red Priest, an acoustic foursome founded in 1997 and named after the flame-haired priest Antonio Vivaldi. Red Priest is the only early music group in the world to have been compared in the press to the Rolling Stones, Jackson Pollock, the Marx Brothers, Spike Jones and the Cirque du Soleil. The group has given sold-out concerts at many of the world’s most prestigious festivals, including the Hong Kong Arts Festival and Prague Spring Festival. Their repertoire ranges from obscure 17th century sonatas to the most famous works of Bach and Vivaldi, all presented in imaginative programs with cinematically inspired titles: “Priest on the Run,” “Nightmare in Venice,” “Pirates of the Baroque” and “Johann, I’m Only Dancing!”

• It’s family time Uptown! Try out a new scavenger hunt in the museum galleries, see a performer or artist demonstrating, and enjoy kid-friendly activities. Each month the museum will celebrate a new theme. This month’s theme:  Art, Supersized!

• Levine Museum of the New South presents its "New South for the New Southerner," an educational program for newcomers and native, Hosted by Levine Museum historian Dr. Tom Hanchetts. High-profile newcomers to Charlotte include Kathleen Jameson from Houston, director of the Mint Museum, and Christopher Warren-Green from London, conductor of the Charlotte Symphony. They'll share their personal puzzlements with Charlotte, plus tips for getting along in the Queen City. Program includes wine and dinner from Mert's Heart & Soul.

• Come hear a lecture by Jurgen Buchenau, Professor, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Chair, Department of History. Dr. Buchenau’s research interests include 19th and 20th century Mexico, Immigration, Mexico in world affairs, and the Mexican Revolution. He is currently writing a biography of General Alvaro Obregón, who commanded the winning faction in the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920).  Dr. Buchenau has also begun work on a book that will examine economic development, corruption, and political leadership to reconsider the consolidation of Mexican state in the 1920s and 1930s. ***Reservations are required: email programs@charlottemuseum.org  or call 704.568.1774.

·    In this highly anticipated engagement, MOMIX (internationally renowned contemporary dance company) brings its breathtaking fantasy piece BOTANICA to Charlotte. BOTANICA transports you to a fantasy world of surreal images and childlike wonder. Set to an eclectic score that ranges from birdsong to Vivaldi, BOTANICA reveals nature’s changing imagery in an unforgettable multimedia experience. Through Sunday 2/27.

• Charlotte ViewPoint, Novello Festival Press, the Queens MFA in Creative Writing program and The Arts at Queens host a reading of “Topograph,” a literary anthology celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Novello Festival of Reading. The anthology offers a fresh sketch of the current Southern literary landscape, including one-minute stories, fractured prose poems, fragmented pulp fiction and inventively structured memoirs. The book is a collaboration between Novello Festival Press and Charlotte ViewPoint, a community-based nonprofit organization that advances metropolitan ideas and art. Book contributors include MFA faculty Alan Michael Parker and Katherine Min. Prior to the reading, editor Jeff Jackson will answer audience questions about literary publishing and editing.

• The U.S. Ambassador to Singapore will discuss: Why Asia? Why ASEAN? Why Now? - How to be a Winner in the Global Marketplace. Prior to his confirmation, Ambassador Adelman served as a State Senator in the Georgia General Assembly and as an Assistant Attorney General in Georgia.  For the past twenty years he worked with the national law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP.  He has taught courses in political science as an instructor in the Honors Program at the University of Georgia.  For many years Ambassador Adelman represented indigent veterans on a pro bono basis before the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, as well as served as a legal adviser to the state of Georgia’s largest domestic violence organizations.

• Come meet journalist LISA NAPOLI, as she reads from her new book “Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth.” Ms. Napoli writes of a period when she was dissatisfied with her life and her work as a radio journalist when a chance encounter with a handsome stranger presents her with an opportunity to move halfway around the world. She decides to leave behind cosmopolitan Los Angeles for a new adventure in the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan—said to be one of the happiest places on earth - and helps to start Bhutan’s first youth-oriented radio station, Kuzoo FM. Lisa Napoli has worked as a journalist for NPR (public radio show Marketplace), a columnist at the New York Times CyberTimes, and an Internet correspondent at MSNBC. She began her career at CNN, worked in local news in North Carolina, and has directed several documentaries about Southern culture.

• Frequently comic, sometimes tragic, and often poetic, Rowing To America explores the experience of immigration, emigration, and migration through a myriad of culturally diverse one-act plays. These plays are directed, designed, and performed by students in the Department of Theatre and represent a clear but simple aesthetic approach to production and performance.

• The Flag of Hope is a social art project that will travel to 10 cities across North Carolina to promote multicultural awareness and hope within our diverse communities. Artist Edwin Gil will collect handprints and signatures on large canvases that will be fashioned into the nation’s first ever flag made with the handprints of North Carolina residents. Gil is a contemporary conceptual artist best known for his vibrant colors and proprietary paint technique used to achieve depth and movement in his works.

• Susan Graham and Plácido Domingo reprise their starring roles in Gluck’s nuanced and elegant interpretation of this primal Greek myth. Tenor Paul Groves also returns to Stephen Wadsworth’s insightful production, first seen in 2007. Patrick Summers conducts.

• 
  Join staff of the Botanical Gardens for an informative stroll through the delights of the Susie Harwood Garden. Yes, there is much to appreciate in a southern garden in winter – berries, bark, structure, and even flowers. Come enjoy this overlooked season, learn about some plants to add to your own winter garden, and choose from a prime selection of winter plants for sale. A short slide presentation will precede the garden walk.

• The Bechtler Ensemble is joined by special guest violinst Rosemary Furniss this evening. Furniss is one of the most respected violinists of her generation and is acclaimed for her solo performances and collaborations with renowned orchestras and conductors (including her husband, newly appointed Charlotte Symphony conductor Christopher Warren-Green who also leads the London Chamber Orchestra where Furniss shares the role of Artistic Director and Concertmaster). For this performance, the musical work of Brahms will be paried with the artwork of Julius Bissier. Bissier is featured in the exhibition Four Artists in Ascona: Benazzi, Bissier, Nicholson and Valenti on view now through July 5 in the museum's second-floor gallery.

• The Light Factory and Theatre 650 present this month’s Cult Movie Monday feature: SHAFT, the genre-defining blackploitation film,  directed by Gordon Parks. Come watch John Shaft -  the ultimate in suave black detectives. He first finds himself up against Bumpy, the leader of the Black crime mob, then against Black nationals, and finally working with both against the White Mafia who are trying to blackmail Bumpy by kidnapping his daughter.

• Feel the excitement of the bullfight and revel in the flair of the Fandango as you experience the flavour of Spain with classical guitarist Robert Teixeira and friends. From the intimate to the extroverted, enjoy an Iberian musical fiesta right here in Charlotte. Selections include: Joaquin Turina: La Oracion del Torero ; Luigi Boccherini: Guitar Quintet #4 in D “Fandango.”  Musicians for this concert are Robert Teixeira, guitar; Peter deVries and Kari Giles, violins; Vasily Gorkovoy, viola; Tanja Bechtler, cello. These concerts are performed by leading local and regional professional musicians that Charlotte Chamber Music compensates. The evening concert includes a wine and cheese reception in the Carillon Lobby.

7th ANNUAL CHARLOTTE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL –  Opening Night!

7:00pm – Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts/Jewish Community Center

• In honor of NASA’s 50^th Anniversary, the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival (March 3-13) will open with a screening of the 2010 documentary film: AN ARTICLE OF HOPE. An uplifting message of humanity, AN ARTICLE OF HOPE tells the remarkable story of Israel’s first astronaut and the journey of a tiny Torah scroll into outer space. Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon and six other astronauts perished on Feb. 1st, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry. Among the few objects that Ramon took into space was a miniature Torah that had survived the Concentration Camps of the Holocaust.  **Tiffany Russell, from NASA, will be the special guest speaker.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

8:00pm – Charlotte Motor Speedway

• CIRQUE DU SOLEIL returns to Charlotte MARCH 3- 20 with a brand new live production:  TOTEM! Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

• This benefit (which runs through Sun. 3/6) was created to showcase the local talent in our community and to support Matthews Playhouse and Theatre Matthews. For 16 years Matthews Playhouse has enriched the lives of performers and audience members alike with high quality plays and performances. This variety show will celebrate solo, small and large groups who have been invited to or successfully auditioned for a spot in the shows. Top performers will be recognized with a final showdown on the last evening.

• Experience the sounds of 1930s and '40s France when the Ziad Jazz Quartet performs the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Featured songs include Nuages, Limehouse Blues, Minor Swing, Django, After You’ve Gone and Exactly Like You.

• This illustrated lecture about the life and works of Oscar Nemon, Sir Winston Churchill's sculptor, is given by his daughter Lady Young. The lecture traces Nemon's life from his birth in Croatia in 1906 to his very last sitting with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1985. Nemon sculpted many of the leading statesmen and royalty of the 20th century including the Queen, the Queen Mother, Margaret Thatcher and President Eisenhower. The lecture is presented with support from The English Speaking Union of the United States and the Friends of Art at Queens. Reception to follow the lecture.

• Motörhead's overwhelmingly loud and fast style of heavy metal was one of the most groundbreaking styles the genre had to offer in the late '70s. Currently on their 35^th anniversary tour, in support of their latest album “The World Is Yours,” don’t miss Lemmy and the band for a classic hard rock show! Be sure to also catch opening band CLUTCH, for some amazing, bluesy, hard rock.

• Davidson Community Players explores visual art with the thrilling premier of Masterpiece by the award-winning author Meir Ribalow. Based on the actual events of the 20th Century’s most notorious forgery scandal, the drama follows Flemish artist Han van Meegeren who successfully forges a 'masterpiece' by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer to retaliate against a hostile and powerful art critic. The painting is sold to the Nazis, and it is not until nine years later that a mysterious investigator appears and the unraveling begins. "A mesmerizing thriller about what constitutes great art and the relationship between love, art, and the truth." --Broadway World

• 19th century blacksmiths on the grounds providing demonstrations. 

• Levy is one of the artists at the forefront of reviving and preserving Ladino, a collective term for the Judeo-Spanish languages that date back to the 15th century in Spain. In her deep, spiritual and moving style of singing, Levy preserves and revives the most beautiful songs from the Ladino/Judeo-Spanish heritage, mixing it with Andalusian Flamenco. Her “Romance & Yasmin” created a stir amongst world music lovers across the globe. She’s performed at Carnegie Hall, with Jools Holland on his TV show in England and at WOMAD festivals. See why The Guardian says Levy "deserves global recognition... (her music is) powerful, passionate & intriguing. “

The Leonid meteor shower peaks in North America overnight from Nov. 17 to 18, with fast-moving fireballs possible in US skies.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has sought assistance from the public in connection with an investigation involving the breach of edge devices and computer networks belonging to companies and government entities. "An Advanced Persistent Threat group allegedly created and deployed malware (CVE-2020-12271) as part of a widespread series of indiscriminate computer intrusions designed

Another year, another attempt at keeping track of what I’m doing. The weird thing about this site is…

Another even year, another odd Geekcode. The Geekcode is a very old tradition. It was written by Robert…

The new 2024-25 COVID vaccines are available, so FunkyPlaid and I got ours on Friday. Because we went to a pharmacy, my health insurance didn’t cover them, so I had to use funds from my HRA. (We could have waited until our medical provider had appointments, but that would have been late September or early October — and with travel coming up soon, I was unwilling to wait.)

It is bizarre and enraging to see how agencies supposedly dedicated to public health are flailing in this moment. I’m extremely fortunate to have a job that provides health insurance, an HRA, and sick leave, and I can afford KN95 masks and rapid antigen tests. What about people who are uninsured or underinsured?

I know it’s a bummer to read this, but it’s a bigger bummer to try to survive during yet another COVID surge. Let’s take care of our health, for ourselves and for our communities.

Concentrating on

This time of year is Planner Season, when the 2025 planners are released and people like me (and maybe you too) gobble them up and then spend the rest of this year hoping that next year we have lives exciting enough to plan.

Ever the optimist, my planner line-up for 2025 is:

• For my personal planner, daily log, habit tracker, reading journal, and commonplace book, I’ll be trying the Sterling Ink Common Planner in their new N1 size, which fits inside a Traveler’s Notebook. I’m currently using a Hobonichi Weeks, which is 95mm x 186mm; the N1 size is 110mm x 210mm.
• For my work planner, the Wonderland 222 A5 Weekly Planner has been working well for me this year, so I’ll try it again in 2025.

Cultivating

✍???? Drafting two stories, one for performance (I hope ????????) and one for a collection.

???? Still knitting that gift for someone.

???? Food I made that was yummy:

• Peperonata with peppers from a coworker’s CSA box, plus peppers from our own CSA box. CSA boxes are great!
• Gluten-free vegan apple crisp. I am not a huge fan of apples in their primary form; I prefer them as a cinnamon delivery device. So this recipe from Minimalist Baker, apples chopped up and baked with oats and sugar? That works.
• Sliced heirloom tomatoes on toast spread thinly with mayonnaise. Truffle salt if you’re feeling fancy. (I was.)

???????? Learning Italian with Duolingo.

???? The workweek was short because of the holiday on Monday, but also long because of everything. I’m still trying to create better boundaries around that.

Consuming

????️ One of my planner pals shared a sample of Bungukan Kobayashi’s Yagentoshiro Reflex Violet, a dusky blue with iridescent purple shimmer.

???? “girlfriend” by Hemlocke Springs is on repeat on my brain radio.

???? You don’t need to be a Rolling Stones fan to enjoy the “I Can’t Get No Legal Action” episode of the Judge John Hodgman podcast.

???? Still working my way through the crossword puzzle books I’ve hoarded and enjoying the daily Cross|word on Puzzmo. Also, Minute Cryptic is quite humbling.

???? One last episode of “Fargo” to go, then we’ll start the latest season of “Slow Horses”.

???? What I’m reading and quoting:

• “The Mountain in the Sea” by Ray Nayler: “The great and terrible thing about humankind is simply this: we will always do what we are capable of.”

Some links

From “What would an adequate COVID response look like?” by Julia Doubleday:

Right now, state representatives are deliberately avoiding mention of COVID, while propagandizing the safety of infection and/or the end of the pandemic by refusing to mask. It is hard to imagine how successful a pandemic response might be if public officials were actually trying to end the pandemic. We quite literally have public health and political and media figures working to hide three pieces of critical information: public knowledge of the virus, public knowledge of mitigation measures that would reduce viral spread, and public knowledge of the severity of the virus (which would motivate desire to reduce viral spread).

Other links:

• NaNoWriMo Shits The Bed On Artificial Intelligence (Chuck Wendig)
• Why Goblin Mode Is the New Self-Care Routine (Cleveland Clinic)
• 2024 Winners of the 17th Annual iPhone Photography Awards

One more thing

Today I’m journaling about this quote from Seneca: “Life, if well lived, is long enough.”

Look at this absolutely good girl: my canine sister, Willa.

Concentrating on

Rest, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones! We’re visiting family in Pennsylvania this week and attending a wedding in Kentucky on Friday.

When packing, I restricted myself to three notebooks and three pens because I tend to overpack and then immediately regret as I am schlepping around a stationery store in my backpack.

Cultivating

✍???? Drafting two (very different) stories. I’m looking forward to time off work to let my creative writing brain percolate.

???? Food I made that was yummy:

• Pork chops in garlic mushroom sauce, with mashed potatoes and salad on the side. I am not a huge fan of pork chops, but I got them in our CSA box, so I looked for a recipe that incorporated other things I am a huge fan of, like garlic and mushrooms.

???????? When my brain is full of Italian, I switch over to music lessons in Duolingo. It’s fun!

???? No.

Consuming

????️ Only three pens means only three inks: De Atramentis Charles Dickens, Sailor Manyo Hinoki, and Robert Oster Sydney Lavender.

???? I heard “White Gloves” by Khruangbin for the first time in a while and forgot how much I enjoy their music.

???? Recently FunkyPlaid and I tried to watch the show “Kaos” and lasted about ten minutes. I had listened to the Pop Culture Happy Hour episode on the show and thought I might enjoy it.

???? No time for games this week. I’m looking forward to some Puzzmo!

???? We started watching “My Brilliant Friend”, the adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan quartet, which I read last year and loved.

???? What I’m reading and quoting:

• “The Mountain in the Sea” by Ray Nayler: “How we see the world matters — but knowing how the world sees us also matters.”

Some links

• I love Tracy Durnell’s latest weeknotes post. I’m not even mad at how it makes me feel like I’ve done absolutely nothing in comparison. ????
• Neither Elon Musk Nor Anybody Else Will Ever Colonize Mars (Albert Burneko)
• Firefly Atlas: I’m eager to see fireflies while I’m here, so I’m doing some research.

One more thing

I was a bit anxious to travel during a COVID surge, so in addition to getting the new vaccine as soon as I could, I invested in a Flo Mask Pro to wear in airports, planes, and any other crowded spaces. I’m so glad I did; it was very comfortable to wear all day, once I got used to how it felt. My glasses didn’t fog up at all, which is a minor miracle. I did get some looks (you know the kind) but that was a small price to pay for a greater chance of avoiding Covid and/or Long Covid. I only saw a handful of other people masked.

TJ Klune's Somewhere Beyond the Sea is down four positions, ending the week at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Abigail Owen's The Games Gods Play is down one spot, finishing the week at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame is down one position, ending the week at number 9. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down four positions, ending the week at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing debuts at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses is up one position, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Mist and Fury is up five positions, ending the week at number 7. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Stephen King's Holly is down four spots, finishing the week at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame is up three positions, ending the week at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

TJ Klune's Somewhere Beyond the Sea is down three positions, ending the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Abigail Owen's The Games Gods Play is down five spots, finishing the week at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing mtaintains its position at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses maintains its position at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Mist and Fury is down four positions, ending the week at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Raven Kennedy's Goldfinch debuts at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Stephen King's Holly maintains its position at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.