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Forum on Global Issues at the Federal Foreign Office
The Forum on Global Issues convened at the Federal Foreign Office on Thursday, 1 March to discuss "The humanitarian dilemma – the neutrality of humanitarian assistance in conflicts". Various actors and experts from the fields of politics, civil society, the military, and academics discussed to what extent and under what conditions international humanitarian aid in conflict situations can remain neutral, independent, and impartial.
State Secretary Emily Haber during her opening speech
There are four basic principles for humanitarian aid within the framework of international law: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. In the real world, especially the last three principles are time and again put to the test, as the current situations in, for example, Syria, Somalia, and the Sudan show. Political and military attacks and restrictions often significantly impede the work of humanitarian aid organizations there. These organizations, on the other hand, risk their credibility, acceptance, and access to areas in need when they call for political or military protection for their efforts.
The ninth Forum on Global Issues Compact, held on 1 March at the Federal Foreign Office, discussed the limits of humanitarian aid and potential conflicts in this context at an event whose slogan was "the humanitarian dilemma – the neutrality of humanitarian assistance in conflicts".
Participants in discussion with panel members
"Sticking to the core mandate"
In her opening speech, State Secretary Haber showed how necessary this debate is using examples from the current situation in Syria, Somalia, the Sudan, and Afghanistan, where political or military actors regularly impede access for international aid. "Only if humanitarian aid providers stick to their core mandate can they provide a convincing foundation for their acceptance," said Haber.
Introductory remarks by keynote speaker Dr Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, emphasized the significance of the values of independence and neutrality in humanitarian aid. After a discussion by experts building on that point, a panel with several representatives from the fields of politics, civil society, the military, and academics was formed. It was thus possible to illuminate the "humanitarian dilemma" from various angles in a discussion with experts from the audience and to promote understanding of the dilemma. At the closing reception, participants had the opportunity to continue the discussion.
Last updated 02.03.2012


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« Hokkanen in Star Tribune: Media Should take a Closer Look at HPV Vaccine | Main | The Age of Polio: How an Old Virus and New Toxins Created a Man-made Epidemic -- Part 7, "Where was God?" Lessons learned and lost. »
Read Part 5, Part 4, Part 3, Part 2 and Part 1.
By Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill
To summarize our theory: Polio is a virus, contagious like other viruses, and generally a harmless enterovirus. When it is introduced into the human body, it has the capacity to enter the nervous system when nerves are damaged. Damage can occur many ways: mechanically through needle puncture or surgery, or, we propose, biochemically via pesticidal or other toxic exposure. Once the virus enters the nervous system, it becomes dangerous in a way nature never allowed before. It spreads through the nervous system via "retrograde axonal transport." The resulting damage can lead to paralysis or death.
Two regions of the world continue to experience polio outbreaks, despite hopes the virus would be eradicated by 2000. This persistence has surprised and confused the experts.
"The eradication campaign has been stalled from about 2002 to 2007 … Why is it so difficult to complete the global eradication of wild poliovirus?" asked Neal Nathanson of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in a 2008 medical review, "The Pathogenesis of Poliomyelitis: What We Don't Know."[i] (What we don't know turns out to be a lot – the paper runs to 50 pages.)
"Currently, there are two epicenters that have resisted virus elimination, one in South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India) and one in West Africa (centered in Nigeria). What explains the persistence of wild polioviruses in these two foci?"
Nathanson cites three possibilities: those are warm climates, so poliovirus doesn't go dormant in the winter as it theoretically did in other countries; the prevalence of other enteroviruses means that the live-virus polio vaccine is not as effective because the other viruses interfere with it; and poor public health infrastructure couple with fears about vaccination made the achievement of "herd immunity" harder than expected.
If one considers the toxin idea, however, another explanation jumps out, especially in South Asia. Erase national borders for a moment. While outbreaks are small and have waxed and waned over the past decade, the primary sites have been directly south of the Himalayan range in a smiley-face arc that runs west from Nepal and Bangladesh, through the Northern India districts of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, into Pakistan and Afghanistan.
(Photo: The Ganga-Meghna-Bramhaputra River Basins: An arsenic hotbed below the Himalayas)
This also happens to be the area with the worst mass poisoning from arsenic in human history. This is not ancient history – it didn't even begin until the 1980s. It is a story of the single-minded war against microbes gone badly wrong. What happened is beautifully outlined in an American Scientist article, "No one checked: Natural Arsenic in Wells."[ii]
"The wells that now supply the people's drinking water are sealed from bacterial contamination; their tight concrete tubes reach down 60 feet or more, past surface contamination," write Phillip and Phylis Morrison. "The big investment in concrete wells, originally made by UNICEF and the World Bank, has beaten back diarrheal diseases, making a real contribution to the vigor and quality of life of the people here."
But what no one checked was the possibility of another kind of contamination: the wells tapped into the deeper water table and pulled up arsenic that had been swept down the Himalayan watershed by the Ganges and Indus Rivers, both of which drain both slopes of the mighty range.
And that proved to be a catastrophic failure. "A new calamity as astonishing as it is threatening confronts the country people of the Bengal Basin," the Morrisons write – a calamity that has continued to spread through India and westward. "The drinking water, though sealed from infection, can hold a chronic dose of invisible, tasteless, odor-free dissolved arsenic. … That trace presence is a public poison."
In Bangladesh alone, the World Health Organization calls arsenic contamination of drinking water "the largest mass poisoning of a population in history" (an eerie echo of Biskind calling DDT use "the most intensive campaign of mass poisoning in human history"). In focusing solely on microbes, in failing understand the ecology they were tapping into, public health experts failed in their due diligence – "no one checked," and so they simply missed the risk from the toxin. In a deep and disturbing irony, we believe that this arsenic exposure – born of a sincere but disastrously conceived effort to protect people from dangerous microbes -- has also led to the persistence of poliomyelitis.
On May 12, 2010, Bill Gates boarded a boat in the city of Patna, on the Ganges River in the Indian province of Bihar, and traveled 140 miles east to the small village of Guleria. He was there to personally take the Gates Foundation's fight against polio into the heart of the beast. Bihar is "one of only two Indian States where new cases of polio continue to be reported, according to UNICEF. Uttar Pradesh is the other."[iii]
This is also arsenic country. The districts on both sides of the Ganges, including Patna and Khagara, are among the 16 worst arsenic-affected districts in Bihar.[iv] In neighboring Uttar Pradesh, "as many as 20 districts have alarmingly high arsenic content in the groundwater and the state government is at its wits end."[v]
The consequences include lesions on the hands and feet, intestinal problems, and cancer that can kill. In India, "the spread of arsenic contamination in groundwater seems to be assuming gargantuan proportions," reported Current Science in 2005. "What is worse is that inhabitants of the affected areas are unaware and the local authorities totally oblivious to this grave problem. It was known that West Bengal (WB) and Bangladesh had high levels of arsenic in the groundwater, but slowly the problem is spreading to other states like Uttar Pradesh. This is confirmed by the reports of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi that people living in the Ballia district of UP also have high levels of arsenic in their blood, hair, nails, etc."[vi]
This convergence has totally escaped the polio fighters, just as the arsenic risk from deeper wells escaped the planners (ironically, those planners include the same World Health Organization now combating poliomyelitis there). "Most parts of India are polio free. Of the 35 states and Union Territories, 33 have stopped indigenous polio virus transmission. Only Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar remain endemic for polio virus because of the uniquely challenging conditions like poor environmental sanitation, high population density, high birth rate which make them the most challenging places on earth to eradicate polio."[vii]
But do those factors really make the two areas "unique" in all India? And why does the polio arc sweep across the same arsenic-poisoned swath of neighboring countries?
At the proverbial 30,000-foot level – Himalayan height, as it happens -- the theory makes sense. But it also holds up on the ground. District by district, city by city, the dots connect.
-- In West Bengal, Howrah District was singled out for high arsenic contamination[viii] – and polio. A case of poliovirus reported there in April "has shocked the World Health Organization, UNICELF, Rotary International and the government itself."[ix]
-- In Pakistan, "Another polio case in Muzaffargarh"[x] coincides with the fact that "arsenic was recently found in Pakistan, in and around Muzaffargarh on the south-western edge of the Punjab."[xi]
-- In Afghanistan, half a million people are potentially at risk from arsenic poisoning, and the country is one of four where poliovirus remains endemic.
Why, given the arsenic disaster in Bangladesh, are there no recent polio cases there? It appears the virus has been wiped out. "Concerted efforts to eradicate polio in Bangladesh, resulted in the country being declared polio free in August 2000."[xii]
Arsenic abatement also has been attacked most aggressively in Bangladesh, where the problem first surfaced. "In Bangladesh and West Bengal, at present less people are drinking arsenic contaminated water due to growing awareness and access to arsenic safe water. But no doubt the problem would not have attained such gravity, if it were not ignored for quite a long time. Unfortunately today similar mistakes are being repeated in Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, and Assam where still the villagers are drinking contaminated water. Non recognition of truth continues."[xiii]
Indeed it does. Polio outbreaks, we believe, are persisting today for the same reason they arose. South Asia is simply a place where toxic interactions are triggering outbreaks that highlight the presence of the virus, like Luminol bringing out hidden blood splatters at a crime scene.
That would seem to spell trouble for programs guided by the belief that going after polio outbreaks will eradicate the virus – despite the vast resources currently being thrown at the effort.
On January 31, Bill Gates spoke at the Roosevelt House in Manhattan – "Bill Gates Channels Franklin Roosevelt," as one news service put it -- where FDR recuperated after being stricken at Campobello. Gates said his foundation is making polio eradication its top priority because "it is the thing we can do to most improve the human condition." He set a goal of 2013 but said, "Eradication is not guaranteed. It requires campaigns to give polio vaccine to all children under 5 in poor countries, at a cost of almost $1 billion per year." [xiv]
Polio eradication itself is a controversial priority. Bill Gate's own vanity – a heroic effort to make as big an impact on the technological destruction of disease as he did on the technology of computer software – has driven his poliovirus campaign, but many public health advocates grumble that it's a low priority. Millions die every year from preventable diseases ranging from pneumonia to diarrhea.
"As Bill Gates presses forward in a costly mission to eliminate the disease, some eradication experts and bioethicists ask if it's right to keep trying," reported The New York Times in February 2011. "As new outbreaks create new setbacks each year, he has given ever more money, not only for research but for the grinding work on the ground."
"We ought to admit that the best we can achieve is control," argued Arthur L. Caplan, director of the University of Pennsylvania bioethics center, who had polio as a child. Gates calls his critics "cynics" who are "accepting 100,000 to 200,000 crippled or dead children a year" if polio resurges.
We believe a more cost-effective way to reduce and contain poliomyelitis outbreaks – as well as improve total health outcomes -- would be an all-out effort to reduce arsenic contamination and make sure people in South Asia have safe drinking water.
(Next: "Where was God?" -- Lessons learned and Lost)
Dan Olmsted is Editor and Mark Blaxill is Editor-At-Large of Age of Autism. They are co-authors of The Age of Autism -- Mercury, Medicine and a Man-made Epidemic.
[i] Neal Nathanson, "The Pathogenesis of Poliomyelitis – What We Don't Know." Advances in Virus Research, Volume 71, 2008.
[ii] Philip and Phylis Morrison, "Natural Arsenic in Wells: No One Checked," American Scientist, Volume 90, March-April 2002. http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/no-one-checked-natural-arsenic-in-wells
[iii] The Associated Press, "Bill Gates checks on polio progress in India," May 12, 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-05-13-bill-gates-india-polio_N.htm
[iv] Dr. Ashok Ghosh, "Arsenic Contamination of Ground Water in Bihar, India, slide presentation," A.N. College, Patna. http://www.slideshare.net/ghosh51/arsenic-in-ground-water-of-bihar. See slide 16 for extent of arsenic poisoning along Ganges in Bihar.
[v] India News Service, "20 Uttar Pradesh Districts Have High Arsenic in Groundwater," March 7, 2008.
[vi]"Arsenic – India's health crisis attracting global attention," Current Science, Vol. 88 No. 5, March 10, 2005. http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/mar102005/683.pdf
[vii] Uttar Pradesh State Report, http://mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/Documents/High_Focus_Reports/UP_Report.pdf
[viii]"Groundwater arsenic contamination status of Howrah district, one of the nine arsenic affected districts of West Bengal-India." School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University.
[ix] "Polio Breaks in West Bengal AGAIN!" April 16, 2011, http://puthu.blogspot.com/2011/04/polio-breaks-in-west-bengal-again.html
[x] "Another polio case in Muzaffargarh," Dawn.com, November 27, 2009. http://archives.dawn.com/archives/139235
[xi]"Pakistan: Arsenic threat to drinking water spreads." WASH News and Features, February 11, 2005.
[xii] "Polio eradication in Bangladesh." The Newsletter of the Regional Office for South-East Asia, World Health Organization,
[xiii]"Worsening Arsenic contamination in Bihar: another Bengal delta calamity in the making?"
[xiv] Jason Gale and Michael Waldholz, "Bill Gates Channels Franklin Roosevelt in Push to Eradicate Global Polio," Bloomberg News, January 31, 2011. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-31/bill-gates-channels-franklin-roosevelt-in-push-to-eradicate-global-polio.html
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Bill Gates is no more of an expert on "Polio" than Brian Deer is about "Autism".
Put the two of them together and you have "synergistic toxicity!"
I have to echo the comments of the others, a fantastic series. One thing that I never quite understood was that polio epidemics were a recent phenomena. I just sort of assumed they have always been around; I had no idea "polio summer" was limited to the first half of the twentieth century. Your tie in with introduction of arsenic and lead is compelling; more information on the proposed biological mechanism would be helpful.
Since Wikipedia is quite a repository of allopathic conventional wisdom, I took a look at their explanation. It didn't disappoint:
"Before the 20th century, polio infections were rarely seen in infants before six months of age, most cases occurring in children six months to four years of age. Poorer sanitation of the time resulted in a constant exposure to the virus, which enhanced a natural immunity within the population. In developed countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, improvements were made in community sanitation, including better sewage disposal and clean water supplies. These changes drastically increased the proportion of children and adults at risk of paralytic polio infection, by reducing childhood exposure and immunity to the disease."
So, drinking and bathing in clean water instead of sewage-laden filth caused the polio epidemic. Sounds like a tough sell. I like your theory better.
I'm with Twyla - I have thoroughly enjoyed every paragraph in this fascinating series, as well as all the thought-provoking comments. Really makes me wish you guys would publish another book...you make one helluva great writing team!
@ Vaccine.Explorer.
You ask "Very interesting.
I wonder what's the status of DDT and other older pecticides in south-east Asia and west Africa."
DDT and other older and banned pesticides are freely available throughout India and other Asian countries. It's also been smuggled into Africa, who resented not being able to use it against Mosquitos. However, the fact is that AFP is quite common throughout agricultural areas of South America, where more "modern" sprays are used as well. The heavy duty sprays used in commercial banana plantations not only cause AFP which is often not reported, but various organisations have found that workers don't last there very long before they become seriously sick - if not dying.
Raymond Obomsawin did a major report on human ill-healths and deaths because of massive pesticide use in Thailand, that was worse than bad, and lost him his job.
The reason you don't get to hear about all this, is because those at the top have their tentacles down through all the industries involved in turning polio from an inconsequential commensal, to a paralytic causing disease.
And now that polio viruses are being pushed aside, other viruses are stepping in along with the other older ones like Cocksackie, echo, enteroviruses and continuing the process, but with the results logged under new diagnostic criteria to "hide" the issues.
It's all there in the medical literature. "They" just hope you don't look in it.
From the American Scientist article, "No one checked: Natural Arsenic in Wells
"Pinjira, age 25, mother of three, was told that her strange skin discoloration, raindrop-shaped dark spots on her skin, was widely shared by her neighbors. Her husband Masud was hard in judgment, saying, "She was pretty once, but now she is too thin and smells bad and is uglier by the day." He took a second legal wife, while Pinjira is bedridden and feverish."
Masud has enough energy and health to take another wife, so he does not drink the water too, or perhaps he is genetically superior to all of his neighbors and first wife?
Pinjira shares problems a lot of her neighbors share but apparently not 100 percent of her neighbors share. I wonder what percentage of the neighbors share her condition?
If it is just one percent of the population then what is the problem, keep drinking that clean water from those concrete sealed deep wells?
But wait perhaps it is larger than one percent, perhaps they also need to count the ones with lesions on thier hands and feet into that percentage (it is not the same symptoms, so I guess it would not count as part of the arsenic problem though).
Then the polio thing - there is no way they will count polio as part of the percentage of arsenic posioning too, because they lack the intelligence to connect dots.
But if they did - it would be a high percentage affected by deep well arsenic poisoning.
is it safe to assume too, that viruses and retroviruses in this population keep polio going too? Since HIV acts like XMRV, I wouldn't doubt this assumption. They keep on exploding harmless viruses into some man made caca that can't be rid. Somehow I think this was all done on purpose. Depopulation agendas are still in force. Bill Gates is the king of depopulation agenda..."if we get really good, we can vaccinate and control the population"...nice move Gates...are you the antichrist? As "smart" as he thinks he is...he is probably the dumbest nut on the planet. Or is he? Maybe that IS his agenda!
Very interesting.
I wonder what's the status of DDT and other older pecticides in south-east Asia and west Africa.
Thanks for this very interesting series. It's like following a suspenseful serial novel where an episode is published every day -- except that it's not fiction!
Arsenic can have opposing functions depending on the virus or form of arsenic but there are indications that it can enhance viral replication.
There is danger that if arsenic contaminations are not taken care of polio might be replaced with another virus and another disease.
Dan, Mark, thanks again for the great series!
I want Bill Gates fired from world overlord...Mark and Dan, you're in....
Simply breathtaking and outstanding research. There should be real changes made to help these people and stop this catastrophe from happening ever again.
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Rick Heinrichs
Birth Name: Rick Heinrichs
Birth Place: San Rafael, California, USA
Birth Place: San Rafael, California, USA
Heinrichs made his debut as set designer with Ivan Reitman's sequel "Ghostbusters II" (1989). He followed up as art director of "To the Moon, Alice", a "Showtime 30-Minute Movie", and returned to set design duties on the features "Joe Versus the Volcano" and "Edward Scissorhands" (both 1990). While many of the films the designer worked on were Tim Burton movies, even those that were not bore Heinrichs' indelible mark, incorporating lively, almost surrealistically vibrant visuals from which the often over-the-top characters seemed to pop out. Even less fantastical films like "Soapdish" and "The Fisher King" (both 1991), with Heinrichs as assistant art director and set designer, respectively, ... Continue Bio >>
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City bureaucrats will investigate how to keep a lid on the noise coming from household appliances after complaints the existing bylaw fails to keep the nuisance at bay.
In what began Monday as a move to reduce the noisy impact of air conditioners, council decided to look at other appliances, such as central vacuum cleaners, that can leave people's ears ringing.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi, along with Aldermen Druh Farrell and Shane Keating, convinced their council colleagues to have administration look at solutions on how to fix the problem.
Nenshi said noise from air conditioners is not a huge issue in Calgary because few people have such equipment.
"But for those for whom it's a problem, it's really a problem," he said.
"It makes sense for us to look at whether we have existing tools to try and manage the nuisance to the neighbours, particularly around vibration and low frequency noise."
Nenshi said the city needs to find out if a new bylaw is needed to fix the problem.
One option is to change the land-use bylaw so that in the future air conditioners and other household furniture with external components can only be placed in backyards and not between residences.
Nenshi said most Canadian cities do not allow air conditioning units be placed in side yards, precisely because of the noise nuisance.
Ald. Gord Lowe didn't like the idea, noting he has an air conditioner installed in the side of his house and it's not bothering anybody.
"If you locate it in the backyard you disturb everyone," he told council.
"I can't support that part of the resolution at all."
Keating said there are fixes to the problem rather than banning the placement of air conditioners along the side of a house.
He said there are materials that could be used to cover an air conditioner so it doesn't produce as much noise.
Farrell said air conditioners in a city like Calgary are probably on a couple of weeks a year, but even so it's a major irritant for many Calgarians.
"It's a major health issue for people who are very sensitive to noise and as more and more of us are living in closer quarters we need to look at this in a community standards bylaw lens," she said.
Farrell said the city needs to measure the problem with "some adequate solutions."
Possible changes to the rules won't take effect this summer as bureaucrats have until February next year to look into the matter.
On Twitter: @SUNRenatoGandia
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On Saturday, June 6, 8 of us drive to Cherokee, North Carolina, the southernmost point on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If all goes well, on Saturday, June 13 we will ride into Front Royal, Virginia--the northernmost point. In between there are about 630 miles of cycling, and a LOT of climbing.
Will make it a point to wear the 50+ jersey on Monday, when we ride up Mt Mitchell. Looking forward to the trip-- will post details as they come up, and will provide a ride report.
The fixie stays home for this one...
train safe-


text: Hanna Flint 2016-05-31T02:19:38-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=hanna-flint Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Hanna Flint Good old fashioned elbow grease. In Conversation With... Dima Gorbunov tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.4155156 2013-10-24T17:46:42-04:00 2014-01-23T18:58:21-05:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ Dima Gorbunov is a young Russian artist making a name for himself in London's cultural landscape. Based in St. Petersburg, Dima has seen collectors take his creations across Europe, and his commissioned work become high in demand. Now the artist has imagined a beautiful story of paintings, that bring the cult of nightlife to canvas, at North London's C99 Art Project. But before seeing his exhibition, Groundhog Night - which runs until October 31st - I got the chance to discover more about this rising star in the world of contemporary art. What are you trying to convey through your art? I don't try to convey a particular message through my works to the audience, as I don't believe that the message is the most vital goal, it is a confirmation that I objectively perceive the reality around me. I am not going to deny that the feeling of acceptance and being in demand is necessary for any artist, however it should not be the only motivation. How do you come up with a theme for your works? The theme for any work should come from within, it must come from experience, and it could be a single emotion or a thought which in return triggers the rest of the thinking process. After all, the image on the canvas is merely a form of embodiment of my experiences and thoughts which I acquired without my own consent and my duty is to convey this to my audience in a cultural, accessible language and include them into my thinking process. The state of mind that my paintings provoke is more important to me than the meaning of the image, as the meaning is only an auxiliary thread in perception of a product. Talk about your latest series of works 'Groundhog Night' A key theme in my latest works is the night life of the city, where a person tries to escape into their own romantic world of unconsciousness. In which, amongst countless lights, dark windows and neon signs of the inviting places of entertainment, they lose themselves in time and free themselves of their daily worries and torments, completely dissolving in this interval of the night. Under the fluorescent lamps you cannot see the suffering, confusion and their desperation to find love or just to satisfy their fantasies and desires. Perhaps only under the darkness of the night, one feels at peace, fooling themselves that what they are looking for at night is happiness, when it is just an illusion. What are you hoping the audience will see in your works? I am curious to see the reaction of people, because everyone sees and feels differently. This is the most valuable thing in art. This allows the works to live a life of their own, without my participation. I love that feeling. It feels like you're creating something the world didn't know about before. Art is in your family, how do you compare? Family plays a vital part in your development not only as an artist but as an individual. These are the people who are able to have a primary influence on you, introduce you to the world and teach you how to perceive it. My brother and I always kept a level of competitiveness going as it pushed us to achieve more in our works. We were always each other's best critics and set an example for each other. I also understand that our different view on life and the world around us is what sets us far apart in terms of our works. Where did you study? My artistic path began when I attended a small town art school in Toliati, my hometown. I then moved to St Petersburg and enrolled in Sculpture at the Russian Academy of Arts. I have never touched clay before and it was a great experience to learn the expression of art through the language if sculpture. After finishing my course, I studied restoration as it was always a great interest of mine to find out the secrets of the old masters. After a year, I was expelled as I spent most of my time focusing on fine arts as opposed to the core subject of the course, and enrolled in a new course of Fine Art, started painting with oil, however after studying for a year, I felt the need to expand my range and made the decision to leave the Academy, the product of which is my latest series of works. Did you always know that you wanted to be an artist? Art was a hobby of mine which grew into a career when I realised I wasn't doing anything else. Which artists have a key influence on you? The most key and prime example is set to me by the Old Italian masters such as Pierre De La Francesco, Giotto, De La Tour and other masters of the era. I always thought that in modern art, you can trace their influences and spot their methods. What was the last work you saw that left you in awe? The last piece which was a revelation to me is 'Conversion of Saul' of Michelangelo, currently displayed in Moscow. I was struck by the use of colour and magic shapes, the variety that is represented in the story, because first of all, the artist has a task of combining the story, before trying to communicate it in a visual way to his audience. All photos by Dima Gorbunov]]> In Conversation With... Capital Cities tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.4073706 2013-10-10T01:39:27-04:00 2014-01-23T18:58:21-05:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ That's how I felt after seeing Capital Cities at XOYO, who gave the venue a show that it's never experienced before. Pure, unadulterated fun underscored by thumping electronic beats and a playfulness I last saw in a Flight Of The Conchords episode. Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian are the brains behind the high-octane outfit (and who even wear matching outfits along with their live band) and the masters of some heavy dance moves. Their debut album In A Tidal Wave of Mystery is out this week, and definitely worth a download, but here's a little more about the guys and why you should be taking notice... You guys first started making money by writing jingles... how does it compare to writing your own music? One is for money and the other is for art...and money. Where does the name Capital Cities come from and which is favourite capital? The Capital Cities name came from a brainstorming session (beat out "Capital of Maine") and both our favourite capital city is Lisbon. You've spent time crafting your music... were you worried about label involvement in changing your style? Capitol Records was very supportive and gave us full creative control. How did the Andre 3000 collaboration come about? In the song Farrah Fawcet Hair, we thought about reaching out to one of our favourite hip hop artists to add a verse to the song. We both felt the perfect choice was Andre 3000. We sent him the track and to our delight, he agreed to sing on it. Describe your new album in 5 words Engaging, Melodic, Funky, Eclectic, Stupendous What's your favourite jingle that you ever wrote? Would you consider still doing them? A jingle for Helzberg Diamonds. We still do, with our own songs...by licensing them to commercials. Well done on the VMA Award... but did you look like Will Smith's family when you saw Miley Cyrus twerking on Robin Thicke? Unfortunately, or fortunately, we missed it. You met on Craigslist.. have you used it for anything else? And Sebu did you get any weird responses? Ryan: Yes, we've found our bass player and roommates on Craigslist. I've has also sold furniture and musical equipment. Sebu: Besides Ryan's? You've had monumental success but when did you have that moment when you realised you're actually doing your dream? Sebu: When I started my first band at the age of 16. Ryan: When I met the President of Peru during our tour. He came to our show in Lisbon. What's your ultimate goal? Ryan: Self-actualisation Sebu: To make a film about Komitas, the father of Armenian music. Photo by Hanna Flint]]> Hair Made In Chelsea tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3841936 2013-09-10T22:07:00-04:00 2013-11-10T05:12:01-05:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ Is there ever a time on the Channel 4 reality show, that one of the Sloane Rangers has a hair out of place? Even when their doing yoga, in a hottub or throwing drinks over each other, those Made In Chelsea girls have their locks perfectly coiffed to an inch of their life. So where is it that these ladies of leisure go to tame their tresses? One of these such establishments is La Durbin Salon, located in Fulham, the women's only vintage-inspired hair home to the likes of Lucy Watson and Ashley James. And for one afternoon, I got to experience what it's like to be a part of the 'elite' and get a cut, colour and blow dry by Lucy's hairdresser, Chardnay. Now historically speaking I haven't had the best of luck at salons; one time getting half my hair dip-dyed when I wanted sporadic highlights, and the age old mass cutting when you only wanted an inch off your length. But luckily for me Chardnay made sure I knew exactly what was going on every step of the way, talking me through what I want and then explaining how she would recreate that, or recommend alternative ways to go. After the consultation, and the offer of a robe, slippers and a glass of bubbly, Chardnay got to mixing the colours and highlighting my hair, and keeping up a good conversation as the dye settled. And that's when I could have a look around the salon, and see the glamorous inspiration from old Hollywood, with frame photos of screen sirens on the wall, and retro white furniture completing the forties boudoir feel to the salon. I was pleased to find the seats at the sinks had a massage function so I was in pure comfort while my colour was washed out and conditioned, and they didn't forget to give me a good head massage. I mean you may as well cut your own hair if they're not going to give you a head massage! Again through the cut, Chardnay made sure I knew what she was doing, where she was taking length off, all so I wouldn't panic that half my hair would be hacked off, and when the final blow dry came, I certainly felt I could walk onto the Made in Chelsea set for some awkward encounters and long silences. Despite it's upmarket clinetele, La Durbin is a salon that makes everyone feel welcome, and for those who had a few hairdresser nightmares in the past, this place will certainly bring back your confidence in the coiffing business. Wash, cut and blow drys from £45, full head highlights from £90, see website for more prices All pictures by Hanna Flint]]> Review - Bestival's 10th Birthday tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3898791 2013-09-10T07:32:29-04:00 2013-11-10T05:12:01-05:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ And while the sun greeted us as we set up our tent in the blue campsite, sadly the weather seemed to be sticking very closely to this year's nautical fancy dress theme, arriving as the perfect storm of wind and rain over the HMS Bestival weekend. But of course that didn't dampen our spirits or that of the acts on this year's line up with Jessie Ware giving an almost studio perfect performance in a naval uniform on the main stage. She was one of many youth-favoured performers, making me wonder whether the demographic of Bestival was getting younger, or that I, sadly am getting older. Because last year where I was stuck choosing between Alt-J in the Replay tent and Django Django in the Psychedelic Worm, this year there seems to be far more teen-loved DJs and dance acts to choose from than indie players. Luckily my folksy yearnings were answered by Belle & Sebastian, who filled the Big Top with their warming brand of indie pop, before Disclosure made sure the tent was ready to pop with their closing House sounds. Sadly it proved too much of a tight squeeze for me to enjoy White Noise et al, so we headed off to Bollywood for A Love From Outer Space to finish off Friday night. Saturday brought the chill, but also the colourful sight of the fancy dress parade which provided much laughter and mirth as we checked out some the truly original outfits some festivalers had prepared. And yet again it was cool to see the likes of Bastille dressed up for their main stage performance as The Life Aquatics' Steve Zissou (and weird to see Dan's infamous quiffed covered by a red hat). Rudimental were't dressed up but just as energetic, especially after a monumental summer for the band that has seen their star getting brighter and brighter. After a quick trip to Temple Island for a Halloumi sandwich, we were back to main stage once more for Snoop Dogg - briefly the Lion when he arrived on stage to Here Comes The King - but the set played out more like a T-Pain concert than Snoop as he performed tracks he featured on with Katy Perry, Akon, Dr Dre as well as Calvin Harris and House Of Pain. If the sound was better, Snoop's performance would have been pimping, but with nearly the whole festival surging in for the show, only the one's nearest the front got the best experience. After Snoop left, we upped anchor to The Port to see Annie Mac, DJ EZ, Toddla T Sound and Hudson Mohawke, close out the night on the top of an epic ship that gave Block 9's London Underground a run for its money for sheer artistic impact. A net of laser lights darted from the stage's hull over the sea of festivalers going in to the finest garage anthems, dance hall, dubstep and electronica. Sunday was a day of wearing every layer possible and, for me, winding down for the early morning excursion back to London. So after getting some chunky soup from The Soup Library, we chilled and listened to some Tom Odell before getting funky to Chic feat. Nile Rodgers, who schooled all the youngsters on just how many tracks were originally his and not Madonna's, Biggie Small's or Daft Punk's. But as the night grew colder and the rain started to trickle even more, I huddled with a friend to watch Elton John from the press tent hill, swaying back and forth as he regaled the more than receptive crowd with Benny And The Jets, Tiny Dancer, and more, with an encore of Your Song, that was shortly followed by the epic fireworks that lit up the black sky. My Bestival experience could have ended there but James Blake was yet to play, and the Big Top beckoned. But as the 24-year old's ethereal voice cast a spell over the drug-induced crowd, one plonker thought this was exactly the moment to start a mosh-pit. He learnt the hard way it wasn't. So as festivals go - this was my fifth this year - Bestival still has a warm place in my heart, but with a smaller number of indie bands playing, it seemed that this 10th birthday edition played out more like an electronic music showcase. So I'm hoping next year, Rob and Josie will revert back to their once more all-musical-encompassing form. All pictures by Hanna Flint]]> Making It in Fashion With Mikey Trapstar and Susie Lau tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3711891 2013-08-06T09:42:31-04:00 2013-10-06T05:12:01-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ Two stylish game-changers who are more than aware of this fact are legendary urban streetwear designer Mikey Trapstar and world-renowned fashion blogger Susie Lau, who are now lending their support to #shinebright, a new initiative to help some aspiring creatives climb up the sartorial ladder. Mikey - who co-founded the London label loved by Rihanna and Cara Delevingne - knows all too well the difficulties of breaking into the industry, and understands the narrow platform isn't limited to fashion. 'I feel it's as difficult as any desirable industry such as sport, music and entertainment. To break into any of them you've got to be consistent, work hard and know how to pick yourself up after you've been knocked down.' For Susie, her way in, was her own design, starting an online platform (Style Bubble) to showcase her talent, which turned out pretty well for the blogger who is now considered one of the leading fashion voices in the UK and across the world. 'I didn't do the normal run of internships, assisting etc.,' Susie remembers. 'I started my fashion blog in 2006 when fashion blogging was still in its gestation period and it was always supposed to be a hobby alongside my day job of digital advertising. 'The blog then grew and I was then tapped to work for Dazed & Confused as editor of DazedDigital.com - that was my first "break" in the industry but it wasn't something I necessarily sought out. I wouldn't say I've had a difficult path but it's definitely been an odd one. ' So now the two will become mentors, sharing their years of experience of writing, designing and navigating the fashion landscape, but who were those pillars of wisdom for Mikey and Susie? 'I've had so many mentors and still do,' Mikey says. 'From designers who've been there before me, to the tramp on the street who tells me how he lost it all and how I can avoid the same thing happening to me. I ask a lot of "stupid questions" so I'm constantly learning.' Susie's influences come from both the people around her, and those she's actually never met: 'I had a combination of people who helped me along the way either through interacting with them in person or just existing as role models. 'Diane Pernet - whose blog I looked up to and admired for its point of view - and Jefferson Hack of Dazed Group who gave me my first opportunity to work in the "industry" as it were. 'Being a fashion blogger is a bit isolated,' Lau explains. 'There is no one really physically mentoring you. Thankfully people have been very kind in the virtual world. Even a tweet from people like Justine Picardie or a mention by Suzy Menkes perks me up immensely.' Both cultural entrepreneurs agree that the opportunities for aspiring creative are few and far between, but for Mikey, thanks to the World Wide Web, they now have the freedom to go their own way: ' There's a big door open for new designers to make their own rules and pave their own way without help, and that's mainly come from the internet.' But what is clear from the fashion industry, is that it's not for the weak-hearted, so for a person trying to make waves, having 'it' isn't just about a good eye for fashion. Mikey believes that 'work rate, consistency and passion' are key to longevity but also patience, which is 'a new one I'm just learning myself.' But for Susie, trying to pinpoint the upcoming designers who are hoping to make an impact, it's more about that gut feeling. 'With a designer, I can normally "feel" it quite instinctively,' Susie tells me. 'It's not necessarily an aesthetic thing but it's the way they execute their work and the way they have conviction in what they're doing. With stylists and photographers, again because it's so saturated, when someone's work is really unique and standout, it does make you sit up and pay attention.' So now Mikey will be offering young designers the chance to showcase their designs in a fashion pop-up store in London, as well as offering them the inside track on launching their own fashion brand: 'It's my turn to do the right thing and bring some new blood in, to keep the circle of life going and give a new brand the stepping stone to the next level.' And Susie will be offering one-to-one mentoring and the chance to work with her at London Fashion Week. 'I've never taken on an intern or have anyone help me out on the blog,' Susie muses. 'I don't think of myself as a role model or a potential mentor so it was incredibly flattering that Glacéau vitaminwater thought I could take on that role. 'Plus, I got to dress up as a sunflower, have fun with the stylist Anna Trevelyan and photographer Matt Irwin. Fun!' As someone working in a similarly narrow industry myself, I can appreciate how exciting an opportunity it would be to work with two stylish game-changers like Mikey and Susie, so for those aspiring creatives at the infancy of their fashion career, why not do more than appreciate, and get involved by heading to www.vitaminwatershinebright.com Follow @vitaminwater Like Vitaminwater on Facebook Photo of Mikey Trapstar by Seth Fluker Photo of Susie Lau courtesy of Susie Lau]]> In Conversation With... Jim Piddock, Co-Creator of BBC2's 'Family Tree' tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3603135 2013-07-16T08:45:45-04:00 2013-09-15T05:12:01-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ Family Tree starring Chris O'Dowd as a down-and-out guy trying to find his roots through genealogy. But Guest didn't do it alone as British actor and filmmaker Jim Piddock co-created the funnyman's version of Who Do You Think You Are? as it follows the journey down familial history's lane for the lonely Tom Chadwick. 'He has no girlfriend, no job, and no real close ties to his family. So, as all of us do at some point in our lives, he wants to find out who he is, what his place in the world is, and where he fits in the larger picture of the chain of history,' Jim describes his lead protagonist. 'The specifics of what he finds may be funny or unusual or even mundane, but the show is as much about why he's doing it, what happens and who he meets along the way as it is about what he discovers. 'The truth is very few of us are related to Napoleon or Cleopatra. Although, those are bad examples as I am actually descended from both of them.' The project started two years ago when over a lunch, Guest told Piddock about the research he'd conducted which concerned his own history. 'He told me he'd been delving a bit into his own family tree, and did I think the whole genealogy arena is something that might work as a comedy? By the end of the lunch, we both decided that if it was viable, it would be far better as a TV series than a film. 'There's no traditional three act structure - or beginning, middle and end - to a family tree,' Jim explains. 'By its nature it has almost infinite different branches, or episodes, to explore in every direction.' For those fans of Best In Show, For Your Consideration and other classic Guest films you'll be happy to find a wealth of his regular players popping up in the series. 'It was always the intention to use as many of Christopher's regular cast members as we could,' Jim says. 'Some we had in mind for specific roles very early on, some came up as we were writing, and some fit into the puzzle once we'd finished writing. 'Nina Conti and Monkey had done a scene in For Your Consideration, so they were more of a known quantity.' But after making his name on the small screen in The IT Crowd, and getting greater popularity through his role in Bridesmaids and another little HBO show called Girls, Chris O'Dowd was on the team's radar and 'at the top of [their] list early on.' The documentary style comedy is welcome territory for the writing duo, and Jim's description of Christopher as a 'pioneer in the field' is more than apt, for without This Is Spinal Tap or Waiting For Guffman, we wouldn't have had The Office, Parks & Recreation or many other shows currently dominating the TV schedules. But why has the style been so successful on the small screen? 'I think it started to become more of a common language in television comedy,' Jim muses. 'We were very much aware of that fact and actually tried to use a new documentary technique which we called the walk-and-talk interviews, in addition to the more familiar talking head ones. 'The other thing that's different from The Office, either the US or UK versions, and shows like Modern Family is that our characters never address the camera directly, or show any awareness that they're being filmed. This creates a more fly-on-the-wall feel.' But it's not as though the writing team are checking out the competition for Jim admits he doesn't 'watch that many comedies on TV and Chris watches none.' 'That helped us create a show that wasn't really like anything else on TV,' Piddock says. 'I find most stuff quite mean-spirited or obvious today.' That being said, the writer has 'enjoyed Modern Family whenever [he's] watched it', however, most of his favourite shows like Reno 911, Sex And The City, Alan Partridge and Brass Eye aren't on the air anymore. But Jim hasn't just co-written the eight episode series, but will also star in Family Tree, as Mr Pfister, whose South African accent was chosen because of a dare from Guest: 'When we conceived that part, early on in the writing process, Chris asked what voice or accent I was going to use and jokingly, I said South African because it was the least funny accent I could think of.' 'I mean, there's the apartheid connotations, and it's usually used by villains in action movies, and I couldn't think of a single film or TV comedy where anyone had ever used that accent,' Jim remembered. 'So he dared me and, whenever Mr. Pfister came up in the writing process, I started riffing as the character with a heavy South African accent and it always made him laugh.' So what about Jim's own family tree? The 57-year old hails from Rochester in Kent, and says that if he had more time he probably would investigate his genealogy. 'My brother's done quite a lot, and bizarrely, a few months ago he was left a box of old photos and memorabilia by an aunt we never knew, 'Jim tells me. 'There are a few things and some very good stories that I do know already, and a direct connection between my grandfather and Charlie Chaplin - but that's a whole other interview.' Family Tree premieres on BBC 2, tonight, at 10pm.]]> Review - Block 9 at Glastonbury 2013 tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3548777 2013-07-05T02:07:43-04:00 2013-09-03T05:12:01-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ They brought the nostalgic feel of the early seventies NYC gay scene as well as London's grimy pirate radio reality, and although Block 9 may not have been the first port of call at Worthy Farm, it was certainly most people's last. The purpose of these landmark venues? To provoke an emotional reaction that is more than what one might expect from just watching a band on stage where they are separated by a metal fence and a line of security. Rather than just showcase the DJs, bands and artists, Block 9 create fantastical structures and musical realities to heighten every person's experience of them. But the founders aren't the first to recognise this radical outlet at these kind of festivals. "There are plenty of US and Euro arts groups who create amazing spaces where music and art and dance meet successfully." Stephen told me. "Influenced by the scale and vision of the major arts projects at Burning Man festival in Nevada, I really wanted to work on projects that were on that kind of scale." And they certainly achieved that sot of grandeur, for as you walk into the Block 9 space, festival-goers were confronted by a huge council estate tower block with an underground tube train stabbed straight through a second floor balcony. Walking through the grimy levels, ravers could submerge themselves into the sounds of Grant Nelson, Mosca, Randall and Digital & Spirit, while a selection were drawn in to live theatrics as they ascended the London Underground tower. Opposite the London Underground, flashed a fluorescent MOTEL sign, shining a red glow on the adult books lined up in a XXX shop window in the NYC Downlow. And glimmering above were the glamorous trannies shimmying to the mixes of Kerri Chandler from New Jersey, Robert Owens from Chicago, the UK's Horsemeat Disco and Maurice Fulton, followed by My Love Is Underground from Paris; who together lured the crowds into the seedy club of decadent disco. This NYC tribute was first brought to life at Glastonbury in 2007 on a shoestring budget but was an instant success, which cemented Block 9's future at Worthy Farm with more ambitious venues to come. And this year, we were given Genosys, a futuristic utopia influenced by "eastern bloc communist architecture, brutalism, acid house music, shipping containers, recycling logos and fuel processing plants." "It was a long process," Steve explains. "It's built from 55 tonnes of scaffolding, set and lighting and is certainly our most ambitious project to date." If you build it they will come, and world class DJs certainly did, with the likes of Gene Hunt and Tyree spinning their brand of EDM from the early days of Chicago house. As did king of the re-edits Greg Wilson and UK homegrown titans Bicep & Julio Bashmore who filled Genosys with a contemporary twist. But Block 9 is more than just a living history of dance music past, present and future; it's also a fingerprint of the hard work and efforts made by these festival veterans and their team, trying their best to evolve the collective experience of Glastonbury. "An enormous amount of time, energy and resources goes into making Block9 what it is at Glastonbury," the founders tell me. "Considering the small length of time that the festival itself runs in comparison to the amount of pre-planning and work that goes into it beforehand is just insane." "We're fortunate to have an incredible team who work through the night to make sure everything runs smoothly and to plan." But their efforts don't stop at Worthy Farm. "The skies the limit really in terms of how far we'd like to take it, " Steve says. "After Glastonbury is finished, we're heading off to a festival or two in Eastern Europe to explore how we might be able to bring Block9 to a new audience in 2014. " Well, I was part of that new audience of 2013 and can tell you how eager I felt when Gideon told me beforehand that he wanted "guests to have one the best nights of their life and a plethora of debauched tales to tell forever more." After four days I left Block 9 and Glastonbury with certainly lot of tales... But that's a whole other blog post.]]> Why Small Record Labels Are the Bread and (Black) Butter of Music tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3412793 2013-06-10T09:11:31-04:00 2013-08-10T05:12:01-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ One such company boosting our musical economy is Black Butter Records, who celebrated their 3rd birthday with an all night showcase of their game-changing signings. Founders Ollywood, Henry Village and Joe Gossa were managing just a few acts when they decided they 'wanted a platform to promote their music' and that's when BB 'then took on a life of it's own'. 'When we started in 2010, Dance music was dominated by Dubstep, big bone-crushing bass and stupid noises, House was limp and tired and Pop was the same old regurgitated nonsense,' Ollie told me. 'There was a perfect vacuum for music with soul and fresh vibes to fill.' 'Our label is like a family and that makes it easier for us to take risks... we just happened to be in the right time and the right place.' On Saturday night the right place to be was Oval Space in the heart of Bethnal Green, where a winding snake of eager guests were ready to succumb to the whomping bass and electronic overload of P Funk & M Boogie, MANIK, Yasmin, Justin Martin, DJ EZ, Gorgon City, Woz and chart-toppers Rudimental. But they weren't all East London scenesters wearing ironic T-shirts, unnecessary horn-rimmed frames and drinking out of jars. The suited and booted threw shapes in harmony with vest-wearing hipsters and snapbacked wideboys, turning the urban art space into a melting pot of musical redemption. Coming up for air from the hypnotic drops and symphonic re-boots, I chatted to M Boogie (minus P Funk) about just why small record labels are the heart and soul of the industry. 'If it wasn't for the independents, the music scene wouldn't be what it is, in the UK especially,' the DJ/producer enthused. 'Now that House has become popular with people who didn't use to like it, I think small labels have done wonders for that.' 'Rudimental have come through Black Butter the same way Disclosure have come out through PMR, so small labels is where it's at.' Too true, for both acts saw their debut LPs soar to the top of the UK album chart thanks to the creative freedom and support from their small labels with major heart. And clearly Black Butter are living up to their 'Spread Love' tagline as a wider demographic are embracing EDM in a way that hasn't been seen since the early '90s. 'It's amazing to see so much good music is currently getting the love it deserves,' Ollie said. 'The old gatekeepers don't have the stranglehold on people's taste that they once did.' So while big things continue to come from small beginnings, here's hoping the reign of independent labels like Black Butter Records never ends.]]> Festival Preview: Field Day 2013 tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3243922 2013-05-09T07:09:37-04:00 2013-07-09T05:12:02-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ Field Day returns for another year, bringing an eclectic mix of the industry's best musical talent, from the established to the rising stars in the indie and EDM genres. Certainly it's my type of one-dayer, where big headliner acts don't overshadow the breakthrough bands and DJs who thoroughly deserve our attention. Daughter is one of these such bands, a London based three-piece made up of Elena Tonra, Igor Haefeli and Remi Aguilella. Think Ghosts meets The xx, throw in some Bjork experimentalism with a good base of classic folk and you get their moody tracks delivered with an ethereal quality. The perfect musical companion for those wanting a mellow moment under the (hopefully) blue skies of the day in May. Everything Everything will liven up your East London afternoon with their dynamically complex alternative electro rock/pop anthems. And if you thought Daniel Beddingfield had a good falsetto, wait until you encounter the lyrical gems Jonathan Higgs' lungs can produce. Jeremy Pritchard, Michael Spearman and Alex Robertshaw join Higgs to complete their foursome, and as a band who count Nirvana, Radiohead, Destiny's Child and R. Kelly as influences, surely Everything Everything is a band for everyone everyone. Bringing some nostalgic prowess to the day's events are Guards, the new project from Richie Follin, Loren Humphrey and Kaylie Church. You can be sure their infusion of grunge, psychedelia, new wave and '60s rock will take you on a journey through musical history, the final stop ending with their own unique brand for our modern time. I saw CHVRCHES at SXSW earlier this year and was utterly taken in by their light yet punchy electronic offering. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry is like Dolores O'Riordian or Sinead O'Conner, in that her voice is full of character whereby it doesn't just utter the lyrics but caresses them with every breath. Add an undercurrent of synth and a jumpy beat, you'll never recover if you miss this act. After you've pencilled in these wicked bands, fill in the gaps with the likes of Feather, TOY, Charlie Boyeur And The Voyeurs, Django Django and Egyptian Hip Hop. And for those wanted to throw some shapes like it's an M25 rave party, then make time for Waze & Odyssey, Oneman, and Julio Bashmore, or, for something a little more funky try out Psychemagik. ]]> Sundance London: Interview With Greg 'Freddy' Camalier, Director, Muscle Shoals tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3188682 2013-04-30T18:33:08-04:00 2013-06-30T05:12:01-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ It's where Rick Hall founded FAME studios, the spot where many a musical legend flocked to, to create some of the best known tracks in the world. The 'Muscle Shoals Sound' was formulated there, where Hall married the genres of white country and black gospel to create tracks like 'Brown Sugar', 'When a Man Loves a Woman', 'Mustang Sally' and many thousands of songs that have resonated throughout the years. Finally bringing the story of the studio to a global audience, first time director Greg 'Freddy' Camalier brought together Aretha Franklin, Greg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Cliff, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Wilson Pickett, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Steve Winwood and others to share their memories in this new documentary. I caught up with the director at the Sundance London screening of Muscle Shoals to get his take on how this small town has influenced the bigger musical landscape today... Why did you want to make this film? Well it really found us as much as we found it. It was very serendipidous, I was helping my childhood friend move across country, from New York City to New Mexico. We were music lovers and knew some of the music that came out of Muscle Shoals, and we were near this town late one night, and the next 24 hours there blew us away because we learned so much more about stuff we had no idea about. This was your first directorial feature. How was it for you? It was an amazing experience, I wish I was out shooting right now, other than the fact that I'm so happy being here at Sundance London. All I want to do is make films. You have so many big names sharing their memories from across the world. Was it diffuclt to get them involved? Some of them like Rick Hall and David Hood, many of them, they really had a very good memory of their time there which was a great thing. It was a defining era of music, but how do you relate what happened then to the changing landscape of music today? I think there is a brand new renaissance of new music coming out of Muscle Shoals that will last equally as long. John Paul White hails from there from The Civil Wars, he's an amazing artist. The Secret Sisters are from there, Jason Isbell is from there and the Alabama Shakes are right down the road, many other up and coming bands and song-writers. I think you'll be seeing a whole new generation of amazing music still coming out of Muscle Shoals, equal to those in its famous history that have preceded it. What was going on down there could be considered grassroots, getting away from the mainstream to create an authentic sound. Today people are self-releasing in the same way so do you think this type of grassroots approach is the truest form of making music? I think the truest form of which I think you are touching upon and how they recorded music there, is having living, breathing musicians playing, versus everyone laying down their isolated tracks in a little cubicle somewhere and assembling it all together, or using a lot of synthesisers or computer programs. Getting musicians together live in a room to play, to me and those guys down there, was the best way to capture the real magic and essence of what music is. But there are many without the means to get a lot of musicians together, and need to rely on new technology. Could the new grassroots now be considered as those doing it from their own home studio set up? Well yes, not to confuse the two points, because I do think doing it in your own studio and your own home is an equal and great way of doing it. I just think if those musicians have their instruments and they're going to record it individually in their own home I think they could probably still manage to all come together and make that music. I don't think it matters if the studio is your garage or basement, but it's that element of coming together. It's a personal and subjective kind of thing, but to me it's that essence of what music's about. Some people may disagree. I have to say I disagree if you are applying that logic to all music genres as the foundation of electronic dance music is exploring the musical evolution that you cannot harness with session musicians... Yes, dance music is doing great things now and of course for that genre this doesn't apply. But consider Jazz music, it can't be done on a computer. And neither can the Muscle Shoals Sound. [youtube id="KodHAJb6uck" width="600" height="350"] ]]> Maggie, Maggie, Maggie... Dead, Dead, Dead tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3043414 2013-04-09T07:24:33-04:00 2013-06-09T05:12:01-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ There's an excited buzz around the place, the kind of electricity in the air that generates as the masses descend on South London's famous Academy ahead of a top-line gig. But the hum of the crowd wasn't leading me towards the grand venue on Stockwell Road, rather to the Ritzy cinema where a carnival-like atmosphere had enveloped the Brixton Oval. This wasn't like any cultural celebration I had been to, where the jubilation came not from commemorating the heritage and lives of many, but rather basking in the demise of one. "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie... Dead, Dead, Dead". On April 8 2013, Margaret Thatcher died from a stroke, at the age of 87. She was the Grantham girl who became the British Conservative politician of history, governing this country for 11 years. On April 8 2013, the masses turned out to celebrate her death on the streets of Brixton, but there was barely a face among the merry gathering old enough to understand the good and the bad she brought to this country. Not that they didn't look the part; a spattering of acid washed jeans, bomber jackets, Dr Martens and scrunchies certainly screamed of the youthful style favoured in Thatcher's 1980s Britain. But their fashion choices seemed to be the only link they had to the society of thirty years past, and when I asked a few of these revellers why they were in attendance, their answers certainly confirmed this. "I'm here to party!" "Because Thatcher's a bitch!" 'LOUD NOISES!' OK, the last example wasn't technically correct, but it pretty much summed up the thoughts of the raving 90s born kids, screaming and chanting over the beats of a ragtag percussion section accompanied by a mid-level soundsystem spurting out Pendulum. Billy Bragg's Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards obviously wasn't making the playlist. However, for every 15 hipsters, there was one attendee who lived through the Thatcher years, and could tell me why this day was meaningful to them. "I need medical treatment but I can't got to my local hospital in Lewisham because its services have been reduced and privatised", the gentleman told me. "If it weren't for Thatcher's PFIs (Private Finance Initiative) then I wouldn't be in this position". "To me this day marks an end to her politics". True, the former Tory leader put into place a programme of privatisation that was implemented by John Major in 1992, and subsequently in varying forms by every government since. So I thanked this gentleman for actually giving me a reason for his malcontent. As he rejoined the mix, the look of despondency was evident on his face. He did not sing, he did not dance. He stood and watched 'Thatcher's children' showing their political illiterateness with every chant. As I left the waining celebration I thought back to Baroness Margaret Thatcher, and how she affected a lot of lives, for better and for exponentially worse. And as the drumming noise dimmed, I could honestly say that I had never felt so uncomfortable with community spirit and joy, than I did on Monday night.]]> How Offending Harry Styles Could Cost Me My Life... Seriously. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3030678 2013-04-07T01:11:08-04:00 2013-06-06T05:12:01-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ WHOS COMING WITH ME TO SHOOT THIS HANNA FLINT It's always refreshing to get feedback from a reader, but this one takes the biscuit. I came across this lovely tweet after vainly searching my name on the social networking site to see if any of my recent articles had left an impression. Don't judge me, we all... OK, a lot of... I mean, well, some of us do it. And maybe I'm just being big headed to think I'm the 'HANNA FLINT' referred to in their aggressive post, but as the user's previous tweet shares one of my latest write-ups, I put all my journalistic powers to work to deduce that I am in fact, the person they want shot. Clearly my piece on One Direction becoming Maddame Tussauds waxworks really hit a nerve with this fan. Maybe their ire stemmed from my opening line suggesting a photo with the wax figure could be just as good as one with the real Harry Styles? Or they could have falsely assumed the comments made by DM readers reflected my own opinion of the boyband. However big or most likely small an offence I caused with the article I doubt that really justifies this troll putting a bounty on my head. I've written on the subject of internet trolling in the past so I find it interesting calling myself the 'victim' for the first time, and technically, putting myself in the same category as Tom Daley, Miranda Hart and Louise Mensch. What an awkward Scrabble game that would be. But it's not that I feel too victimised or worried that I may come face-to-face with a crazed tweenager wearing a 'I want Harry's babies' T-shirt, with a Zayn Malik doll in one hand and a BB gun pointed at my head in the other. (I assume this is the only firearm someone like that would be able to get their hands on.) I just have to say, it is getting ridiculous that people are using this fantastic platform to incite negativity and violence rather than use it for what it was made for: to share information and communicate with people across the globe in a revolutionary way. For far too long now, Twitter is being ravaged by people using the site's functionality as a tool for hate rather than a medium for good. This particular tweeter - and I won't mention their handle, as I wouldn't want the person to either be a victim of abuse themselves or enjoy more followers as a result of their hateful 140 characters or less. No, this tweeter, is clearly an ignorant soul who doesn't understand the ramifications of his or her actions. There's a difference between uttering a statement in the lonely confines of your room than writing a violent message in a tangible form online for the world to see. In this country we've seen careless trolls like Liam Stacey go to jail for what they thought were 'harmless' racist tweets that no-one would read. For them, I don't believe that incarceration is the answer, considering the rising UK prison population over the last few years and the system's inability to handle the influx of offenders. The solution should come from Twitter more vehemently monitoring their feeds and users to close the stage to those abusing their terms of use. More and more people are looking to the social site for news and opinion rather than TV, radio and print outlets, which are governed by a journalistic code of practice enforced by Ofcom and the Press Complaints Commission. As a journalist working for a national newspaper that must take accountability for what its staff and contributors publish through all its channels, then, I think it is certainly time for the guys behind the blue bird to start taking responsibility for their own platform too. But to finish, I'd like to address the person who wants to shoot me. Sorry kid, if you didn't like that story about Harry then I wouldn't read my follow up on him styling his hair in the back of a cab. You'll want to hang me for that one.]]> I Never Appreciated British Taxi Drivers... Until I Went To Texas. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2926501 2013-03-21T16:12:54-04:00 2013-05-21T05:12:01-04:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ I could have forgiven the driver if he hadn't claimed I hit him (hard push when I was smacked from behind) but the fact that he described me as white and blonde-haired I knew this brunette, half-Tunisian wasn't going to have a problem getting justice in the small claims court. However, after spending 10 days in Austin, Texas for South By Southwest, I don't think I could appreciate the British taxi driver more. The yellow cab situation didn't start off so bad, oh no. After my flight arrived four hours late, I had a Katherine Heigl in 27 Dresses moment - paying the driver to take me to my Texan home and drop off my luggage then straight to the Paramount theatre to interview the cast of Evil Dead at it's premiere. All the while, I was clumsily stripping off my travelling clothes for a more presentable (yet creased) dress and attempting to do my make-up in the growing darkness of the back seat. But that journey seemed to be the rare exception to the frustrating rule that there wasn't enough cabs to meet the demands of the 120,000 strong influx of people to the city. And more importantly, that if you managed to actually flag one down, no Austin taxi driver knew where they were going, carried a satellite navigation system, or owned a flipping A to Z. So many times, myself and my travelling buddies found ourselves confounded by a universal lack of cartographic awareness, offering up street names - be it Red River and E 48th or 404 Atlanta - and getting a 'do you know where that is' response. No driver, I'm from London and I cannot direct you, as I believe that is your job. The perfect example of this came one evening when our English collective hailed a cab and asked to be taken to a college dorm to see the Palma Violets play a secret gig. After giving the driver the address he set off, but after 5 minutes of heading east the questions began: 'Erm... do you know which direction I need to go? Can you tell me which road I need to go down?' The guy had no sat nav, no map, no phone, no clue. So after 20 minutes of trying to understand this professional incompetence, we ended up making the expensive international call from our own phone to his despatch office just so we could reach our destination. Therefore the remaining days of Texan road uncertainty, reassured me of the navigational skills of our own British taxi drivers - even if their direction takes them towards the back of my car.]]> We Need to Talk About Guns, America tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2307584 2012-12-15T13:42:25-05:00 2013-02-14T05:12:01-05:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ Tell me America, for I'm just an ignorant, left-leaning, religiously apathetic Brit who'd love to know, exactly what is 'brave' about 28 innocent people shot dead in cold blood? Because I'm sure a country that allows the murder of 20 school children isn't 'the land of the free' Elmer Davis was talking about. You, America, you have arrogantly shunned the restrictions on guns, which have allowed domestic aggressors to bear arms against innocent people. To deprive wives their husbands, fathers their sons, daughters their mothers. To force six-year-olds to watch classmates fall to their death before their very eyes. All because - according to AWR Hawkins - your 'right to keep and bear arms is a God-given right.' Why this entitlement is 'God-given' when guns are man-made defeats me, but AWR justifies this position as such: 'Because Divine Law and Natural Law both flow from God, they are in agreement with one another. Thus, whereas Divine Law teaches, "Thou shall not kill," Natural Law provides us with the intuitive knowledge that killing in cold blood is wrong.' That argument fails to hold up when you consider the UNODC Global Study on Homicide that shows 9960 people were killed in cold blood with firearms in 2010. Obviously those murderers didn't think their actions were 'wrong'. So when you've racked up more homicides through gun crime than Iraq, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo and a vast number of other war-torn countries currently in conflict, there is clearly something wrong with your ideology that continues to function under a pretence of self-defence. According to the Guardian's Datablog, a staggering 88 out of 100 Americans carry firearms. But plenty of other populations manage to survive without a tool for killing as part of their individual entitlements, with some nations even changing their laws to reflect the tragic consequences of gun use. After the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre, the Australian federal government co-ordinated all states and territories in heavily restricting the legal ownership and use of self-loading rifles, self-loading and pump-action shotguns, as well as significantly tightening controls on their legal use. Just 30 deaths from gun crime were recorded in Australia last year. Japan is the developed world's least gun-populated nation and with some of the strictest laws on ownership, the country experienced just 11 deaths by firearms in 2011. In his article on Japanese gun control, Max Fisher mentions the NRA's David Kopel who conducted a study on the subject for the Asia Pacific Law Review in 1993. Still cited as current, Kopel's piece showed that Japanese police never held firearms 'until, in 1946, the American occupation authority ordered them to.' Today, police are trained more intensively than their American equivalents; spending hours studying martial arts and are forbidden from carrying guns off-duty, because they are only to be used as Kopel describes, in 'the rarest of circumstances.' In the UK, police are not routinely armed and the Home Office reported this year that our stringent firearm policies have led to a seventh consecutive annual fall in gun-related offences. We also recorded just 14 deaths from gun crime in 2011, giving the UK one of the lowest gun homicide rates in the world. In 2012 alone, America has suffered eight mass shootings resulting in the death of 35 innocent victims and injuring 68 more. Now, 20 children from Sandy Hook Elementary School will never open up their presents Christmas morning because of one man, a Glock, a Sig Sauer handgun and a .223-calibre rifle. Adam Lanza may have pulled the trigger, but you America loaded the gun by your refusal to realise that the ratification of the second amendment over 221 years ago may no longer be fit for purpose. In 1791 the United States had no police force therefore it made sense to construct the right to 'a well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state.' But now with state and federal law enforcement in place to protect and serve shouldn't the only sort of vigilantism be left to the Sons of Anarchy? The U.S. Constitution isn't a frozen document, but rather like the law, it is organic in that it is meant to evolve to reflect and protect the needs of your citizens in the changing times. Since 1795 there have been 17 amendments, which have seen the abolition of slavery and the right to vote for all women and races. The 13th, 15th and 19th were sanctioned even after years of political and violent opposition against the campaigners fighting to establish them. Of course gun proponents like the NRA will not want political action to restrict firearms. They want the government to legislate for greater powers, like to arm teachers instead. Not a very surprising - if not ridiculous - position for an organisation who's CEO said, 'the guys with the guns make the rules.' Well sorry to say, this isn't Tombstone and the guys with the political office make the rules. So America, I urge you, don't let your re-elected President forget his tearful promise to 'take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.' For this isn't the time to run scared of gun control reforms. As Ezra Klein of The Washington Post points out: 'if roads were collapsing all across the United States, killing dozens of drivers, we would surely see that as a moment to talk about what we could do to keep roads from collapsing.' This is the time to protect yourself, your kids and your neighbours with non-violent legislation, because self-defence is far from limited to the barrel of a smoking gun.]]> Let's Not Confuse a Prank Call for Malicious Subterfuge tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2267564 2012-12-09T15:56:46-05:00 2013-02-08T05:12:01-05:00 Hanna Flint http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hanna-flint/ Moe: Hello, Moe's Tavern. Birthplace of the Rob Roy. Bart: Is Seymour there? Last name Butz. Moe: Just a sec. Hey, is there a Butz here? Seymour Butz? Hey, everybody! I wanna see more butts! I discovered the comedic delight of the prank call for the first time from watching The Simpsons. Not specifically from this Season 2 episode entitled 'One Fish, Two Fish Blowfish, Blue Fish.' But this is by far one of my favorites. Seymour Butz... chortle. From that point on my brothers and I did try and find ways to prank each other and our parents over the telephone, which in a pre-Nokia 3210 age proved a lot harder than we thought. And in the years since we've seen the dial up joke reach across the pond from its American cultural origins and dive into UK mainstream broadcasting. BBC Radio 4 and subsequently BBC 2 featured Jon Culshaw's prank calls on impression show Dead Ringers that saw him call up public offices and pretend to be Tom Baker's incarnation of Doctor Who, Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and talk show host Michael Parkinson. Later Kayvan Novak brought to the screen his own brand of telephone hijinks in the highly popular E4 series Fonejacker. Now in recent weeks the practical joke has been caught up in controversy with the death of a nurse who fell victim to the pretense of two Australian DJs pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and her son Prince Charles as they tried to get some juicy details about the Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy. I can't deny that Jacintha Saldanha's assumed suicide was a truly tragic and extreme consequence of the radio station's on-air jest but for the hospital to blame the situation entirely on DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian is the most tasteless joke of all. King Edward VII's hospital has been used by the Royal Family for years and therefore must constantly be contacted by third parties - especially by members of the press -- trying to source information about the majestic visitors who just might be staying in the private health center. Surely stringent security measures and protocols would be put in place to guarantee no breach of confidence would be made? Furthermore, their entire staff should be expected to have frequent training to deal with any such situation. Now with that in mind go back and listen to the radio recording of the prank call. Mel Greig is no Helen Mirren, and together the two hardly perform a credible impression of the Monarch and her heir. But questionable upper class accents aside, when at any point do either nurses attempt to verify the authenticity of the call or clarify that the 'Kate' (no second name was given) Mel Grieg asked for was actually the Duchess of Cambridge? I can't change the address of my Empire magazine subscription without verifying who I am with the call handler, so why on earth would not the most basic security checks be in place when it comes to highly sensitive and confidential medical information concerning the mother of the future heir to the British throne? I draw your attention to section 5b of the NHS Code of Practice for Confidentiality 2003, where it specifically makes the point that 'staff should check that any callers, by telephone or in person, are who they say they are.' 'There can be a significant risk of harm to a patient through impersonation by those seeking information improperly,' it continues. The guideline makes clear that staff should 'seek official identification or check identity by calling them back (using an independent source for the phone number).' None of these measures were carried out by King Charles VII's Hospital. If jut one check had been made then I wouldn't be writing this post, the world wouldn't be 'outraged' and the face of a Jacintha Saldanha may not be filling our news feed. Yes, maybe the prank call was in 'bad taste' but before any death the Royal family had publically regarded it in the good spirit of what it was meant to be. Prince Charles laughed about the poor impersonation of his accent, joking, 'how do you know I'm not a radio station?' And the soon-to-be grandfather's jovial reaction is rather fitting for someone who's been confronted by a prankster on the phone before (see Howard Stern). The original purpose of this prank call wasn't meant to be a design of malicious subterfuge rather an entertaining feature on their 2Day FM show. The presenters don't ask for specific details about the Duchess, just her general well being and visiting hours... hardly a covert intelligence operation. But a person has died and of course that can't be ignored, and I couldn't possibly comment on Mrs. Saldanha frame of mind before or after the event took place that led her to potentially take her own life. Nonetheless I will leave you with a snippet of the hospital's chairman Lord Glenarthur's open letter to the Aussie station: 'I appreciate that you cannot undo the damage which has been done but I would urge you to take steps to ensure that such an incident could never be repeated.' Pot. Kettle. Black. No matter how Lord Glenarthur paints it, this was fundamentally a security breach. So whether the nurses had been given training or not, were duped or embarrassed they are representatives of King Charles VII hospital who have a code of practice to adhere to. Therefore I can't help but believe that it is Lord Glenarthur who should step and take full responsibility for the health center's malpractice and the collateral damage rather than using two radio DJs as their scapegoats.]]>


text: Wednesday Mar 17 2010 comments Rocklin Academy uses its imagination -A +A Pictured are the three Rocklin Academy teams. Originals team members are: Nate Challis, top left, Rachel Marquardt, Spencer Andres, Rebecca Spahn, Connor Challis, Rhiannon Jones. The Bouncing Bubbles team members are: Emily Brustman, center row, from left, Hannah Klang, Jaclynn Pinero, Kristen Smyth, Avery Van der Linden, Vanessa Hill, and Emma Andres. The Shining Stars are: Madison Lovin, bottom row, from left, Cameron Roche, Jade Watari, Keiko Watari, and Emily Zehnder. Rocklin Academy had five teams compete at the Destination Imagination Regional Tournament in Roseville March 6.


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ROCKFORD (WIFR) – Police say alcohol was a factor in last night's fatal motorcycle accident.
We're told the victim, 25-year-old George Foster, who friends and family members say goes by "Jason", was struck by a minivan trying to make a left turn at the intersection of Weaver and Perryville. Foster was wearing a helmet but it came off in the collision. The driver of the van, Brad Carlson of Rockford has been charged with a DUI.
Foster's family says they're devastated over the loss of their loved one who they describe as a guy who would help anyone in need. We spoke with Jason's sister who says her baby brother will be missed.
To the world he was known as George, but to his friends and family, he'll always be Jason.
"His dad wanted to name him George after a great-great-Grandfather and my mom wanted to name him Jason and he's been Jason ever since, he was too lazy to change it.
Jason's sister Nicole can still hear her brother's voice in heard.
"I could call him anytime and "what you doing? 'Nothing.'"
She even got a missed call from him hours before he was killed, she says she heard the tragic news from a friend.
"All she said was have you heard about your brother? And I started bawling."
Nicole says Jason will be missed by family and friends. Many of them changed their Facebook profile pictures to photos of themselves with Jason.
"I love him. He's my baby brother."
Family and friends are planning to hold a candlelight vigil for Jason tonight at 8:30 at the intersection where he was killed.
UPDATE: The driver of one of the vehicles is being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after being involved in a fatal accident in Rockford Thursday night.
Before 9:30 p.m., police say Rockford resident Bradley Carlson was turning west from Perryville Road onto Weaver Road in a mini-van when it hit a motorcycle traveling southbound on Perryville Road.
Machesney Park resident George Foster, also known as Jason Foster, was taken to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead there.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- First responders are on the scene of a fatal motorcycle accident. It happened shortly after 9pm Thursday at Perryville and Weaver Roads near RBI's bar. We're told a motorcycle and car collided. The motorcycle driver was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.


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Awkward Season 4 Scoop: "Trouble in Paradise" For Sadie and Austin, Says Molly Tarlov (VIDEO) — Exclusive
Wetpaint Entertainment was on the scene at the 2014 MTV Upfronts, and we caught up with all of your favorite MTV stars — from Girl Code's Nicole Byer, to Awkward star Molly Tarlov, and even supermodel (and network newbie) Chrissy Teigen.
Molly told us all about the "flames" at Palos Hills High this season on Awkward and even hinted at a bit of trouble in paradise for Sadie and Austin (that is totally jacked-up). And when we asked Faking It star Katie Stevens to choose between her two on-set makeout buddies — Gregg Sulkin and Rita Volk — the 21-year-old had a very interesting answer. Karmy fans, you don't want to miss it!
Check out all of the scoop — and get a first listen at Nicole Byer's "gospel album" — in the video above.
Crystal Bell is an editor at Wetpaint Entertainment and our resident fangirl and pop culture enthusiast. Follow her on Twitter and Google+.


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National Aboriginal Day
National Aboriginal Day on June 21 is a day to celebrate the past and present contributions of Aboriginal people to Canada.
Poster 2015 ( 921 KB)
Poster 2014 ( 921 KB)
Poster 2013 ( 1.24 MB)
The following area links provide more detailed information on particular strategies and initiatives within the province of Manitoba.
Grade 12 Current Topics in First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies: A Foundation for Implementation
This document supports the empowerment of students through the exploration of the histories, traditions, cultures, worldviews, and contemporary issues of Indigenous peoples in Canada and worldwide.
From Apology to Reconciliation: Residential School SurvivorsA Guide for Grades 9 and 11 Social Studies Teachers in Manitoba
This document was developed in response to the Government of Canadas formal apology to Aboriginal people who attended residential schools. The project was created to help Manitoba students in Grades 9 and 11 understand the history of the residential school experience, its influence on contemporary Canada, and our responsibilities as Canadian citizens.
Kindergarten to Grade 12 Aboriginal Languages and Cultures: Manitoba Curriculum Framework of Outcomes
This document is intended to provide the basis for Kindergarten to Grade 12 Aboriginal language programming in Manitoba.
Aboriginal Education Directorate
The Aboriginal Education Directorate provides leadership and co-ordination for departmental initiatives in Aboriginal education and training as part of the Government of Manitoba Department of Education and Manitoba Advanced Education and Literacy.
Aboriginal Languages in Manitoba
Consultation Reports to assist in planning for the development of a provincial curriculum in Aboriginal Languages.
Aboriginal Perspectives
Aboriginal perspectives apply to learning experiences for all students. Each subject area will address the perspectives and accomplishments of Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal Studies
The study of Aboriginal people focuses on an understanding of Aboriginal philosophies and creates an awareness of issues and events that relate to Aboriginal history.
WNCP First Nations, Métis and Inuit
WNCP Common Curriculum Framework for First Nations, Métis and Inuit programs provides a framework for further development in Aboriginal languages and culture programs.


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text: The Asian New Year begins….it's the Year of the Snake. The Jade Buddha Temple in Alief welcomed members and well-wishers with a celebration in the Grand Hall. Festivities in our Houston Asian Communities will run for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival. It is a time to gather families, to show gratitude for life and health, to feast and to wish each other good things in the coming year.


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Travel Ideas
Hong Kong's Hidden Island Retreat: Cheung Chau (VIDEO)
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Baboon Reported On The Run In New Jersey Neighborhood
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If You Could Travel Anywhere Tomorrow, Where Would It Be? (VIDEO)
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If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, and if money wasn't an issue, where would you travel to? We put the question to the good attendees at the Nomading Film Festival to find out.
Cars 2: 'Car-ifying' The World with Co-Director Brad Lewis (PHOTOS)
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Airbus 'Invisible' Concept Plane Revealed As Future of Commercial Flight
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Destin-Nation Vietnam: Hanoi, Budget Lover's Paradise
by Chris Anderson. Posted Jun 10th 2011 08:15 AM
HD Space Video: Astronauts' 1080p Tour of Earth's Striking Landscapes
by Chris Anderson. Posted Jun 1st 2011 07:59 PM
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Fistfight on United Airlines Flight to Ghana Leads to F-16 Escort
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Martin Jetpack Test Flight Video: Jetpack Travel Becoming Closer to Reality?
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From Martin Jetpack, Youtube
Hong Kong on High: Time Lapse Video From Ritz-Carlton - World's Highest Hotel
by Chris Anderson. Posted May 17th 2011 07:50 AM
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