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Show notes
Actor/writer Matt Watts (The Newsroom, Michael Tuesdays and Thursdays) on "incest" and "hush money" at the CBC, among other problems plaguing our TV industry.
Episode Rundown
01:15 Michael Tuesdays and Thursdays ran on CBC for one season of twelve episodes. You can still watch it online (link)
01:40 Richard Stursberg says a lot of contradictory things. Great review of his book The Tower of Babel (link)
01:52 Big Bang Theory pulls in 3.1 million in Canada and almost 20 million views in the US (link)
02:31 The CBC mandate (link)
03:20 "White people in Ottawa, you can't get more un-urban" Jesse
03:52 "I was in Newfoundland last summer for a couple of months..they don't even think of therapy as a thing. They're just not a neurotic people. They don't watch Woody Allen films, they don't get them. It's not in the nature of the province, it's such a calm, easy-going people. That someone is so stressed out that they need a doctor to deal with that is completely foreign to them." Watts
04:24 "No Jews in Newfoundland?" Jesse
"Not any" Watts
Synagogues in Newfoundland (link)
05:04 Matt Watts was the guy intoducing "Sex Bob-Om" in Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. This clip at 1:40 (link)
05:20 Don't get the Ken Finkleman's Newsroom confused with the Andrew Sorkin's Newsroom. Two different shows. The Canadian one ran for 32 episodes (link)
Slings and Arrows was a series based on the inner workings of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. It ran for 18 episodes (link)
07:05 "It's interesting, he (Stursberg) was so reviled and yet it seemed that people didn't feel the same way about her (Kirstine Stewart). But her sensibilities seemed to be very similar to his." -Jesse
"She's reviled, I don't think anyone was sorry to see the back of her. Honestly, what I think was the difference between Stursberg and Kirsten was that Stursberg had a vision. It was a largely disagreed with vision, but it was a vision… What Kirsten did that frustrated a lot of people was no one really knew where she stood" – Watts
8:30 The widely shared post from Matt Watts' Facebook page, May 2013:
"This was in my inbox this morning. I'm keeping the sender's name anonymous. But anyone who has wondered about the goings on in the CBC should look at this. It's criminal. Literally. What Harper is doing to the CBC is nothing to the shit that Kirstine and Zaib got away with.
Hello Matt,
We've never met before but I work in XXXXXXX at the CBC and now that KS has thankfully exited the building, I thought you should know that you were totally played by Zaib.
Zaib was not being straight-up when he said his blind pilot was news to him. For over two years, he had a blind pilot deal at CBC but what happened is that he didn't realize that he, as the producer, had to re-apply to the CMF. As of March 5th when all of this happened, CBC business affairs was frantically in the process of internally re-negotiating his deal. The deal was in place and Zaib knew it.
Perhaps it might surprise you, or not, to know about all the others projects that CBC had with Zaib, all approved while his wife was the boss:
In Little Mosque on the Prairie, Zaib had multiple credits (and multiple salaries!), perhaps the most egregious one was as a paid "creative consultant" which gave Zaib final say in the hiring of writers and actors. And why do you think LMOTP kept getting renewed?
A double-scale development deal for a movie of the week – to star Zaib and to be written by Zaib.
Do you really think Deepa Metha wanted to cast Zaib in Midnight's Children? Maybe it had something to do with it being a pre-condition of CBC providing a high six-figure license fee.
Zaib Shaik's own one man company produced the CBC 75th anniversary special, even though he'd never done such a thing before.
Q forced, despite protest, to hire Zaib to guest host.
Ever notice how Zaib was trotted out as a presenter at every awards show CBC ever aired?
And did you hear about the drama series pilot, 19-2 not picked up to series because the producers refused to cast Zaib after they were forced by CBC to audition him for BOTH of the lead roles?
Lately, Zaib has taken to writing to production companies presenting self-created roles for himself. (OK, this is the one that really makes all of us here laugh hysterically!)
And guess what Zaib's wife's parting gift to him was? The lead role in the new CBC drama series Best Laid Plans.
The good times continue!"
10:40 "Blind development deal, I was offered one when Michael(Tuesdays and Thursday) was cancelled. It's 'here's some money, come up with something'. – Watts
13:10 The Tweet is here (link)
14:10 Since Stewart left the CBC, Shaikh's opportunities their seem to have dried up. No worries, he's Toronto's new Film Commissioner! (link)
14:34 Don McKeller (link)
16:24 "People (At the CBC) were not happy and it had nothing to do with the budget cuts. She (Kirsten Stewart) had more to do with destroying morale than the cuts did." Watts
16:39 "It's (CBC's) bloated middle management and departments that you don't know what they're doing. It's like any government organization, you look at it and say 'it could be a lot more efficient'." Watts
"It's like being creative in the post office." Jesse
17:22 "Someone once told me if you want to keep a secret you should give it to the CBC communications department to publicize." Jesse
"Oh my god, that whole department should just go." Watts
22:14 Rob Salem piece mourning the loss of the show with Watts (link)
23:05 The John Doyle piece here (link)
23:34 "Orphan Black is a fantastic show, we had Slings and Arrows…I can't point to my shows without feeling like an asshole." Watts
"You can do that, don't be so Canadian." Jesse
24:38 "If you look at the biggest American shows. The writers room for those shows, there's usually a Canadian. From Mad Men to all the comedies. There are Canadians in very high places. It's not for lack of talent here" Jesse
26:02 "There's no incentive to invest in Canadian programing because they're probably going to lose money on it. And they don't own it outright. This is the problem, these networks are just licensing the Canadian rights to these shows. So they don't own it, so if it sells around the world they don't see a dime of it." Watts
25:55 "90% of what a producer does in Canada is trying to get the money to get this thing made." Watts
"It seems like producers make money by not having a hit show but if you have shows that are in production you take your production fee." Jesse
27:35 "Television you need a broadcaster before you can commit to any other money..This is what's frustrating, the public doesn't seem to be aware this. The privates get public funding for their shows…So when people argue against the CBC as though they're the only publicly funded television, it's not entirely true. All television in Canada is publicly funded." Watts
Actor/writer Matt Watts (The Newsroom, Michael Tuesdays and Thursdays) on "incest" and "hush money" at the CBC, among other problems plaguing our TV industry.
Show notes
Canada produces top animation talent but lousy animation content. Animator Adam Hines, co-host of the Guys With Pencils podcast, on how to save Canadian cartoons.
Episode Rundown
00:31 Norman Mclaren (link)
00:41 That's right, a Canadian made Ren and Stimpy, John K
00:50 Alias, the creators of the 3D modeling and Animation program Maya. Maya has been used in Game of Thrones, Finding Nemo, Frozen and Monsters inc.
01:08 Rocket Robin Hood is a strange thing (link)
Racoons (link)
01:19 The Guys With Pencils podcast (link)
03:31 I dare you to watch this theme and not want to watch all of that series, it's all on Netflix just to let you know. (link)
04:09 "The Warner Brothers that you know is dead" Hines quoting Paul Dini. Dini also said that Warner Bros doesn't like large female fan bases (link)
04:18 "Watching cartoons can be a ton of fun, and then you get into the business side of actually making it… It can feel a bit like a death march." Hines
05:11 Turbo F.A.S.T (link) made by Titmouse (link)
05:27 "In Canada, we have a fraction of the budget and the schedule to make the shows that we make. You hear that as a student and you're like 'ok', but you don't really have and point of reference or experience." Hines
05:51 "When I was working on an American production as an animator I had to do 16 seconds a week.16 seconds of good animation, that's reasonable. I've worked on (Canadian) productions that wanted 80 seconds a week." Hines
06:32 " I work for this American company (Titmouse) from my living room, it's freelance. Yet they trusted me more… in Canada a lot of the productions I've worked on, you're more their hands. It's basically 'if I could make this by myself I would but I can't so I'm going to treat you like an extra pair of arms" Hines
09:21 "I love this industry and I love the people that work in it but sometimes it feels a little sweatshoppy." Hines
09:53 Steve Wolfhard (link) and his comics here (link) (link)
10:17 Adventure Time is Cartoon Network's top show (link) (link)
10:40 Spoiler Alert, (link)
10:48 "Remember kids' movies in the 80's and early 90's where it's for kids but real shit happens?" Hines finding a parallel for the serious content on Adventure Time. Mufasa dying still chokes me up.
10:59 "There was a point when I started in the industry and you'd hear execs go 'we want the next Spongebob', now they're saying they want the next Adventure Time." Hines
11:17 John K's book about what Jesse was talking about (link)
12:47 "Is there a Canadian show that's like- 'that's the one where we got it right'?" Jesse
"No" Hines
I thought Reboot was a good show.
12:55 "You look at a show like Adventure Time, that's so out there that it's brilliant. That show would get noted to death and get changed (in Canada)" Hines
13:15 " Who's the client? Who are we making this for? Who's the client? Who's the network?" Hines
13:45 " The people writing for cartoons in Canada- we have to use this union, and to them this is their Mcdonalds job. They all want to be writing movies." Hines (link)
14:29 "We have world class game studios in this fucking city, and I'm not even talking about Ubisoft which is this big international thing. I'm talking about Capybara and Drinkbox who are making critically acclaim well-selling games as independent studios." (link) (link)
18:20 "Animators are actors, I would look in a mirror and and would think how does a character move when they're angry" Jesse chanelling Chuck Jones
19:25 "Are there old systems in place that back then worked but are fucking us now?" Hines.
Looks like Adam was right (link) (link)
19:42 "Lets talk about Adventure Time, that show is probably horrifying to an exec." Hines
20:47 "If you're making a video game, theres no government bureau that has to stamp it as a CanCon video game. There's also not the middle man of a broadcaster. You make a video game, put it on the internet." Jesse
23:33 "I know with a lot of Canadian TV production, it's not about having a hit show, it's about getting a green light. And you get money to make a show and the profits for the production company lie in making it as cheaply as possible and keeping what's left over." Jesse
23:57 "One of the shows I worked on ended after 3 seasons and we were under the impression that ratings were good. Apparently this was a really popular show, as far as the studio goes it was a really popular show for them. But they were more interested in cutting it after 3 seasons and put it into syndication." Hines
24:43 The episode they talk about is here (link)
25:25 "(Ricardo Curtis) Was saying the difference between America and Canada is that in Canada you have a bunch of safety nets, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the attitude of Canadians could be 'why bother?'. Whereas in America, they have the attitude of 'why not?'." Hines
27:05 "You're an animator working in television who doesn't have televsion?" Jesse
"No dude, why bother?" Hines
28:00 More on Robert Khoo (link)
30:45 Frederator Studios (link)
31:15 "Let's work around these roadblocks that we seem to have to deal with in the Canadian ecosystem" Hines
32:02 " I wonder if we're going to hit a point where it's not really possible to have any original Canadian shit and we're going to become an outsource…We are referred as 'overseas' by the States. We are the equivalent of sending it to China or Korea." Hines
32:26 "We're like a banana republic for cheap labour." Jesse
33:45 "See, I fall into this trap too. You see a part of me is 'we got to make it better, we got to take risks'. But then I'm like 'fuck, I gotta pay rent." Hines
33:55 "The reality kinda kicks you in the dreams." Hines
34:25 Justin Chan is very talented, eat it Hines (link)
Canada produces top animation talent but lousy animation content. Animator Adam Hines, co-host of the Guys With Pencils podcast, on how to save Canadian cartoons.


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Clubs in the the Premier League did not discuss ending the season by 30th June when they met on 17th April, as the English top-flight league navigates their way through some contract and sponsorship disputes.
Clubs have looked at numerous models for the resumption of action, but are purely speculative as this stage until the UK government provide an update on restrictions, with the country currently in lockdown until 7th May at the earliest to limit the spread of coronavirus.
It had been reported that numerous clubs were concerned that finishing after the end of June could cause issues, as player contracts may expire on 30th June. However, this issue was not raised.
It is thought the biggest financial consideration for clubs remains getting the 2019/20 season completed, rather than any costs attached to legal disputes over contracts.
Discussions on a collective approach to tackling the issue of player contracts is believed to be a work in progress, with FIFA, the game's global governing body, having proposed that contracts can be extended to match a later than usual end date to a season.
The general acceptance among Premier League clubs is matches will have to be played behind closed doors if the competition is able to resume because of the restrictions around mass gatherings, but there is no guarantee that all matches will be available to watch from home.
Rick Parry, chairman of the English Football League (EFL), wrote an open letter to supporters of clubs in the three professional tiers below the top flight outlining plans to at least stream every match, so fans would not miss out.
"In common with other businesses and industries, the Premier League and our clubs are working through complex planning scenarios," a Premier League spokesperson said.
"We are actively engaging with stakeholders, including broadcast partners, and our aim is to ensure we are in a position to resume playing when it is safe to do so and with the full support of the government.
"The health and well-being of players, coaches, managers, club staff and supporters are our priority and the league will only restart when medical guidance allows.
"[17th April's] shareholders' meeting provided an opportunity to discuss possible scheduling models. It remains our objective to complete the 2019/20 season but at this stage all dates are tentative while the impact of Covid-19 develops.
"In response to the pandemic, the Premier League, our clubs and players have provided vital support for communities and the NHS and will continue to do so after matches recommence."

subset: commoncrawl


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Learn to save the marriage and stop your divorce, even if you are the only one who wants to. You can stop your divorce and save the marriage with this direct advice. This works, even if your spouse says that he or she has fallen out of love, and even if there has been infidelity, affairs, cheating, or constant fighting.
Just Some Of What You'll Discover
* The Top 5 Mistakes people make when a crisis arises.
* The "real" secrets to a healthy, stable, loving marriage.
* How to assess the stage of your crisis (there are 8).
* How to address any stage of a crisis and turn it around.
* What to do, what to say, and what to avoid in order to save your marriage!
* Why "hard work" on the relationship isn't always the answer.
* How marriage counseling can be dangerous to your marriage's future.
* Why "low mood therapy" is destined for failure and how "high mood relating" makes the difference.
* How to move beyond emotions and take action!
* How to find the North Star of your relationship, and why it matters.
* Why true intimacy is a lot closer than you think–and how to get there!
* Much, much more…
What a dramatic turn around! Relationship is 180 degrees reversed and moving in the RIGHT direction!
This guide is sensible, real, self help book These things that is talk about in your book are real.
Click Here To Save Your Marriage


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- Insurance costs increased in 2024.
- Don't let your rates go up.
- Compare rates to save big!
One thing that is critical when trying to escape a hurricane is to avoid a flat tire at all costs.
First off, most (if not all motorcycle shops) will be closed up for the storm.
Second, you don't want to be out there on the side of the road repairing a tire if you don't have to.
Third, time is of the essence. You may have only a few critical hours to get yourself out of the cone of the hurricane.
For those new to motorcycle tire terminology, there are generally three varieties: tube, tubeless, and the lesser-known mousse. There are others (tire balls, lol, for example), but let's keep this discussion mainstream.
The first two definition-ally are exactly how they sound. A tube tire has an air-filled tube between the rim and the rubber tire. Tubes are generally required where the rim is spoked because otherwise air could escape through the gaps between spoke and outer rim.
The advantage is that a spare tube and some tools are easy to carry, so theoretically a tube tire could be patched or replaced on the side of the road in a pinch.
Tubes also come in different thicknesses or varieties, so the heavy-duty more puncture resistant option is available. Regular duty tubes are easier to patch though, so either run a regular duty tube and carry a patch or a heavy duty tube and carry a spare.
A tubeless tire holds air between the rim and the tire without the need of a tube. They are the preference of street riders with solid rims, but are not ideal for the hurricane motorcycle. A spare tubeless tire cannot be carried and they are more difficult to change ad hoc.
A tubeless tire can be successfully patched, but this isn't something I would want to do on the side of the road and rely on in a life or death situation. These patches should always be considered temporary unlike a patched tube, which can essentially be considered back to full service.
Mousses or the Bib Mousse, named after the Michelin mascot, are the go to choice of motorcycle endurance racers. Mousses are essentially a ring of honeycomb foam with the pockets or spaces filled with nitrogen. Mousses replace a tube and provides puncture free riding. The disadvantages to mousses are weight, price, and ease of fitment, but none of these are deal-breakers with respect to the perfect hurricane motorcycle.
So my recommendation is simple, go with mousses or a combination of tubes and/or patches. Stay safe out there.
If you missed the other parts of my series of the perfect hurricane motorcycle, you can get to them here.
Come back for more related posts in the weeks to come. Also, please forgive any typos, I wrote a good portion of this post from my phone.
The Perfect Hurricane Motorcycle Part 1: The Engine or Powerplant
The Perfect Hurricane Motorcycle Part 4: Communications Equipment
If you enjoyed this blog post, please like or share on Facebook, tweet on Twitter, or like on Instagram.
Didn't find what you needed in this particular post? Check out the HappyWrench Motorcycle Repair Link Database. It is a one-stop shop for all your DIY motorcycle repair information needs.


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How to Loom Granny Squares
Hey Loomers!
There are many misconceptions about what can be created by loom knitting. Over my years of looming, I've found that It's just about how you look at it and not fear being creative and thinking outside of the loom. Anyone who loom knits can create trendy pieces seen in stores and all over social media. For example, knitting stitches can be converted to the loom, unfortunately, you can't convert crochet exactly but we did find that you can still loom knit granny squares. We discovered that you can create a granny square with looming and check out Lily Oaks video on Youtube. We've made it easy, the video is below, so keep reading.
Lily has a great tutorial for loom knitting Granny Squares/Rounds. We have made many following her easy steps. So, if you've been dying to make that granny top, sweater or jacket check out her video.
This page contains affiliate links. We at Bohemian Lifestyle Designs receive compensation when you click, follow and or make a purchase through the links on our shop pages. Being apart of affiliate programs give us the opportunity to directly link you with the products we use and also help us continue to grow our business.
Thank you for all your support!


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Pat Hickey: Egocentric Roy Shows he's no Team Player—Again
That's what the Canadiens would be getting if they brought Patrick Roy back to Montreal.
Roy stunned the Colorado Avalanche Thursday with his decision to quit as head coach and vice-president of hockey operations.
The decision touched off speculation that Roy would be next in line for the Canadiens' coaching job when the team axes Michel Therrien.
Roy's name carries some magic here because he played a key role in two Stanley Cup victories, including the last one in 1993. He's arguably the best goaltender in NHL history, although you can also make an argument that he isn't in the top three in Canadiens history.
But this week, he again showed that he's a quitter.
Roy said he was leaving because he disagreed with Avalanche general manager and executive vice-president Joe Sakic.
"I have thought long and hard over the course of the summer about how I might improve this team to give it the depth it needs and bring it to a higher level," Roy said in a statement released by National Public Relations whose partner and chairman is Canadiens co-owner Andrew Molson. "To achieve this, the vision of the coach and VP-Hockey Operations needs to be perfectly aligned with that of the organization. He must also have a say in the decisions that impact the team's performance. These conditions are not currently met."
Put simply, these are the words of a petulant child who's taking his toys and going home. Roy's history is that of someone who wants to run the show and he can't accept it when his enormous ego isn't front and centre.
He was like that as a player, and a healthy ego can be an asset when you're striving to be the best. But his ego was a key factor when he quit on the Canadiens in 1995.
You can think what you want about Mario Tremblay's abilities as a coach and the reality is that he was ill prepared for the task when he was plucked from the broadcasting booth to replace Jacques Demers two weeks into the 1995-96 season.
But he was still the coach and he deserved a measure of respect, which was never forthcoming from Roy. The goaltender was accustomed to being coddled by Demers and he didn't take kindly to the new coach deciding who was going to be in the nets and when.
The tension between goaltender and coach reached the breaking point on Dec. 2 when Tremblay left Roy in the game until he had given up nine goals against Detroit in what would be an 11-1 win for the Red Wings. Roy, who felt humiliated, told team president Ronald Corey that he had played his last game as a Canadien and, a few days later, he was traded to Colorado.
The timing of Roy's outburst was a major setback for the Canadiens. The Avalanche knew that Montreal had to trade their unhappy goaltender and they were dealing from a position of strength.
The timing of this week's announcement is a disaster for the Avalanche, but it's another example of Roy thinking only of himself.
He could have made the same decision after the regular season ended with his team missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
He could have made the same decision after looking at the team's draft choices, headed by Tyson Jost, a Tier II junior star who's headed to college.
He could have made the same decision after the Avalanche's free-agent dealing was limited to the acquisition of two journeymen blue-liners.
He could have made the same decision before every team in pro hockey had locked up any coaches who could skate and blow a whistle at the same time.
If he had any respect for Sakic or the organization, which has paid him for the past three years, he would have given them time to find a decent coach.
Since announcing his decision to quit, Roy's name has been linked to future employment in Montreal, Quebec City and Las Vegas. He will probably find another job, but any prospective employer should know he's not a team guy and you never know when he'll quit on you.


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Two More High-Profile Celeb Houses On The Market
Kelly Clarkson is Trying to Sell Nashville Mansion
Kelly Clarkson has some property for you to buy. She is trying to sell her mansion on the outskirts of Nashville for $8.75 million. The home features seven bedrooms, nine and a half bathrooms, a movie theater, pool, hot tub, beach volleyball court and a dock on the Cumberland River. It's located in Hendersonville, Tennessee; about 30 miles from downtown Nashville. Clarkson and her family are currently living in Southern California. See the pictures HERE.
Michael Jackson's 'Neverland' Relists for $31 Million—Or 70% Off
Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is being listed for the lowest it's ever been since 2015. Originally it was priced at $100 million, the listing has now fallen to $31 million. Jackson bought the property in 1987 for $19.5 million and lived in the 12,000 square foot main house for 15 years, which sits on 2,700 acres of land. Not much has changed since Jackson died, the amusement park rides were removed, however the fire department, swimming pool, guesthouses and basketball court still remains. According to the real estate agent, there hasn't been a buyer due to its initial asking price and since there have been mudslides, wildfires and droughts in the area potential buyers have been skeptical to move forward. The estate is now called "Sycamore Valley Ranch." Would you purchase Michael Jackson's previous home if you could?
Get your bids ready!


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Blinken Attacks China in African Speech
by Ted SniderPosted onDecember 02, 2021
Perkins says that American neocolonialism ensnares countries "in a web of debt that ensures their loyalty." They make projects look profitable and sell them on loans "so large that the debtor was forced to default on its payment." In their debt, the US and the IMF could now set terms and make demands on the debtor nation that are favorable to the US. Those demands might take the form of control of or access to resources, military bases or political loyalty and loyalty in voting at the United Nations.
If it didn't contribute to a second cold war, it would be comical. He may not have meant it. But that would require an abysmal ignorance of history. Sounding more like a stand-up comic than a Secretary of State, Antony Blinken finished his Africa tour with a verbal assault on China. There's nothing new there because the true purpose of the tour was to try to pull Africa away from China and into the American camp in the important new African theater of the Second Cold War. According to reporting by The New York Times, China has invested $7.5 billion since 2018 in Nigeria alone, one of the countries Blinken visited. He drove on roads that were built as part of China's Silk Road Economic Belt, a belt that Blinken hopes to cut. What was bizarre about the verbal assault on China was Blinken's case that Africa should abandon its growing partnerships with China in favor of partnering with the US because Chinese projects and investment in Africa will leave China's African partners in debt to China. In a speech in Nigeria that didn't name China, but was clearly referring to China, Blinken criticized "major powers" for "Too often" partnering with African nations on "international infrastructure deals [that] are opaque, coercive" that "burden countries with unmanageable debt. . . ." The comedy is that that deliberate creation of debt has been a major feature of American foreign policy since at least 1955. The strategic concept was born a hundred years ago. After World War I, during the Wilson administration, foreign policy planners began to realize, what was for them, the exciting idea that to colonize a country, you didn't actually have to control their territory. All you had to control was their markets and resources. The weapon now was not bullets but the International Monetary Fund and their ammunition of structural adjustments that used debt to capture a country. The US would provide major loans to a country, then drive up interest rates, forcing the debt shackled nation to turn to the IMF for loans that came with conditions featuring structural adjustments that opened their economy up to American markets. Third world countries, adopting a word that may have been coined by Indonesia's President Sukarno, called this new kind of colonialism in disguise "neocolonialism." Neocolonialism is a new kind of colonialism that does not require controlling a territory. In The Jakarta Method, Vincent Bevins defines it as "the enforced conditions of imperial control without formal rule." In 1955, at the Bandung Afro-Asian Conference that would shape the formation of the Cold War non-aligned movement, Sukarno poetically implored his colleagues to "not think of colonialism only in the classic form which we of Indonesia, and our brothers in different parts of Asia and Africa, knew. Colonialism also has its modern dress, in the form of economic control. . . . It is a skillful and determined enemy, and it appears in many guises." Sukarno was not talking about China. The dangerous new US strategy was most fully described by Ghana's President, Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah was opposed to Western imperialism and he wanted to rebuild the world economy so that it did not exploit the formerly colonized countries of the world. According to Bevin, by the 1960's, Nkrumah "rivaled Sukarno on the world stage as the man who most loudly railed against 'neocolonialism'." In 1965, Nkrumah published Neocolonialism: the Last Stage of Imperialism. In his book, he said that "neo-colonialism is the worst form of imperialism." He explained that "foreign capital is used for the exploitation, rather than for the development of the less developed parts of the world." A few months after the book was published, the neocolonialists offered their rebuttal in the form of a coup. In 1966, Nkrumah was taken out in a military coup that was backed by the US. In Killing Hope, William Blum describes the CIA's complicity in the coup, which took the form of financing, advising and supporting the coup plotters. Neocolonialism has continued into the present generation. John Perkins, whose job it was to "justify huge international loans" for massive projects that would assure the borrowing county's "long-term financial dependence and therefore political loyalty" describes the process in The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Perkins says that American neocolonialism ensnares countries "in a web of debt that ensures their loyalty." They make projects look profitable and sell them on loans "so large that the debtor was forced to default on its payment." In their debt, the US and the IMF could now set terms and make demands on the debtor nation that are favorable to the US. Those demands might take the form of control of or access to resources, military bases or political loyalty and loyalty in voting at the United Nations. They can also take the form of political or economic restructuring. According to Naomi Klein, when countries were forced to go to the World Bank or the IMF, those institutions saw their "economic catastrophes not as problems to solve but as precious opportunities to leverage. . . ." Seeking debt relief and emergency loans, "the fund responded with sweeping shock therapy programs" that required the country "to revamp its economy from top to bottom." US aid was only available if the country signed off on those demands. An IMF senior economist who designed structural adjustment programs in Latin America and Africa would later confess that "everything we did from 1983 onward was based on our new sense of mission to have the south 'privatize' or die; towards this end we ignominiously created economic bedlam in Latin America and Africa. . . ." The US made investments and entered into projects that indebted African nations and "created economic bedlam" in Africa. Whatever China is or is not doing in Africa, Antony Blinken and the US have a lot of nerve telling the countries of Africa to trust the US and partner with them because partnering with China will burden them with debt. Ted Snider has a graduate degree in philosophy and writes on analyzing patterns in US foreign policy and history. Blinken Attacks China in African Speech - Antiwar.com Original


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is it normal to have sore ribs, etc, after stopping smoking?
When i cough especially I get pain in the back of my ribs, u know, round the back area! is this normal and does it go away eventually?
2 Responses to "is it normal to have sore ribs, etc, after stopping smoking?"
January 30th, 2011 at 8:20 amyou must be coughing a lot. your body is used to the smoke, so it takes a long time to come down from the addiction. my dad in law quit after sixty yeas as a smoker. he felt crappy for six months. now he can,t even be in a room with a smoker.
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January 30th, 2011 at 8:44 amyes, its normal. all the tar is currently stuck to the lining of your lungs, and you will have to cough that up. so, yes, when you do that, it will hurt like crazy. have you noticed any coloured phlegm coming out when you cough? it will lessen as time goes by-congrats on quitting-good for you. in six months you will feel like a new person.
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One of the first questions my students ask me when we dive into the personal healing module of my Spiritual Life Coach Certification for Badass Butterflies program is how I deal with the negative energy that plagues my clients. These budding coaches want to know how I protect myself and keep myself from being sucked down the rabbit hole of depression, anger and emotional exhaustion. Obviously, I've been doing this a long time and there were times when I saw over 20 clients a week. Look, I love my work, but that rigorous pace was tiring and not at all sustainable. I've structured my business very differently now, working in groups and seeing fewer one-on-one sessions and also, I've truly learned the value of what I bring, so I demand a higher investment.
The thing is, the real solution lies in my compassion, empathy and self-care. That's really the best way to transmute and process all the stuff that crosses my doorstep in the course of my coaching workday.
I'm a negative emotions Badass!
In my own personal life, I've not only lived with negative emotions, but been driven by them. On the surface, I've been very happy and successful. But that happiness and success always came with a price. Something would always happen to take away my happiness and so I lived my happy times wondering what danger was around the corner.
In my spiritual philosophy, the experiences I have in the three-dimensional life are outpicturings of my inner state– my thoughts, beliefs and focus. When I started getting deep into my spiritual practice, what I noticed was that while I was living a superficially joyful life, there were always these mean little disempowered thoughts and negative limiting beliefs that were constantly niggling away at my good mood. Let me give you an example. I spent a few months living with some relatives while I was on lockdown (what I affectionately call my 'coronavirus staycation') in California. One of my relatives did something that made me think she was uncomfortable with my presence in her home. On the surface I was trying to be happy that I was living with 'family' and in trying to really make this real for myself, I went about my days trying to engage this 'family' member in conversation and trying to somehow either prove or disprove my theory. Now, it would have been fine if this was a matter that resolved itself in one day. But it didn't. I ended up staying with those relatives for six months and during that entire time, the limiting belief I had (I am not wanted here) and its offspring of disempowered thoughts played over and over in my mind. Every time I saw this relative, the negative belief would trigger and then the chatter that fed the belief would play on repeat. UGH! I was knee-deep in shadow.
Now, as a Spiritual Life Coach, I would coach my client in this way:
- Sit with the negative emotions that are coming up. Hold space for yourself as you unconditionally experience them fully without trying to change them in any way. (This first step is usually enough to completely change the client's perspective because usually they are projecting their own objections to themselves onto other people. Sitting with the negative emotion takes all the pressure off their own inner criticism and frees up their energy for their authentic being to come through… which is peaceful and loving. Otherwise, I'd have them move onto step 2.)
- Explore the belief.
- Find the core belief that is the root cause of the superficial one.
- Do the process to transform that belief.
- Integrate the new belief.
At this point, it would be up to my client to condition themselves to the new belief and to create new neural pathways in their brains through this conditioning.
Personally, I LOVE self-improvement and doing spiritual work. I love looking at my shadow and doing the work necessary to transform my mindset. This is what makes me Badass Butterfly. I love diving deep into my own emotional and energetic crap and finding the source of the pain so that I can work it. I do this work regularly on myself.
But have you noticed how sometimes things take a really long time to heal? Like with my relative, I kept trying to deal with my crap early in the beginning, but it took me MONTHS to get the momentum I needed to make real progress. Really, my breakthrough came because I finally just got SO sick of hearing my own negative thought tape playing over and over in my head. I got tired of dissecting her various behaviors and I got tired of watching myself try to get her to welcome me. So finally, I just did the work on myself, had the breakthrough and then was able to leave the situation with a good, clear conscience.
The negative emotions I felt during that six month period were painful and they really took a toll on me. They clouded my vision, obscured my creativity and drained my energy. They made me act weird.
Negative emotions make it really difficult to get grounded and peaceful within ourselves. Yet, negative emotions are valuable markers that can (when we consciously use them) help us get really clear about what it is we truly desire in our Soul.
Starting from the minute we are born, we all experience a wide range of emotions. Some of these emotions are positive, and some of them are negative. ALL of them are natural. Positive emotions give a sense of fulfillment and boost our motivation and confidence. Negative emotions, on the other hand, demotivate us and put obstacles on our path to personal and professional growth and success.
It's important to remember that emotions are energy in motion and all energy in motion is attractive. Our emotions attract whatever is vibrating at their same frequency. So a negative emotion such as fear of failure or fear of the unknown will attract things that reflect that energy. Fear of failure might create a void of opportunity to grow and expand in your life. Fear of the unknown might find you repeating patterns that you already know and that keep you in your comfort zone. These are not great if you have any ambitions to say, write a book or bring in a six- or seven-figure income. I definitely want to encourage you to awaken your inner Badass Butterfly and make a commitment to designing your own personal healing system.
GAH! How do feelings and emotions work together?
As a life coach, you are not immune to negative emotions. After all, you are here to experience life as a human being with feelings. Even though both of these words are often interchangeable, there is a big difference between feelings and emotions.
Feelings are related to your perception of the world that surrounds you and how you relate to your own body and energy. They are conscious responses. You can feel pain, or you can feel tingles, or you can feel tired.
Folks often mistake feelings with emotions most likely because of simple linguistics (should I really be saying simple linguistics?? Hahaha! Linguistics are anything but simple!) We use the same verb "feel" both for physical and psychological situations. Feelings can also be caused as a response to an emotional trigger. But in general, feelings are more conscious, like feeling hot, or sick. I often ask my clients how they feel and 90% of the time they launch into what they think about how they feel. Feelings are experiential and so I ask them to first experience what they are feeling both physically and emotionally and I ask them to talk to me from the place of feeling what they are feeling, as opposed to censoring what they are feeling.
Emotions are, in general, subconscious responses to situations like anger, sadness, anxiety, or panic, for instance. These are all connected to our unconscious mind and manifest themselves as reactions to whatever we perceive and/or receive emotionally. Emotions are chemical responses.
Most folks HATE having negative emotions and they hate feeling negative feelings, even though it's a natural part of life and it's happening all day long for most people. They don't feel safe in their negative emotions because they're viewed as bad or somehow inferior to positive emotions. Nevertheless, everyone experiences them. If emotion drags you down, gives you a sense of unhappiness, unease, it is a negative emotion and somehow wrong. Since we can't escape these negative feelings when they arise, we need to learn how to turn them into positive outcomes. This way, we can learn from a negative experience, and develop a habit to use it constructively. Instead of giving into the negativity, we can choose to stand up to that energy and deal with the root causes of those emotions with tools like shadow work.
By the way, I want to invite you to take my masterclass called Healing the Healer: 3 Powerful Tools for Healing, Transformation and Self-Realization. In this class, I give you three mindset-blowing techniques to help you overcome any negativity that comes into your life. This is powerful medicine channeled directly from the 8th dimension so come and get your LOVE.
The impact of negative emotions on Spiritual Life Coaches
When you interact with your clients, you will be exposed to a wide range of negative emotions, thoughts and destructive behavioral patterns. When your practice is thriving, you'll find yourself talking about pain for hours every day. Ha! Your clients would not need your guidance if they did not feel weakness or hopelessness. AND of course, you're most likely an empath so you are picking up on their stuff consciously and unconsciously and if you are not doing your own purifying work, you're integrating their feelings, emotions and behaviors with your own! To help your tribe deal with their negative thoughts and emotions, you will need to ultimately learn how to transmute the feelings that drag you down. I'll talk about that in another article.
In her book "Dealing With Clients' Emotional Problems in Life Coaching" Windy Dryden says: "If you know anything about jazz, you will know that before you can skillfully improvise on your chosen instrument, you will need to play it properly. This requires you to play and learn musical scales and chords. When you have done this, your improvisation will be based on a sound foundation." In other words, as a life coach, you need to have mastered your attitude around dealing with negative emotions so you can provide help for others.
Does this mean you need to be perfect in your own life? NO WAY. It does, however, mean that you need to be perfectly willing to regularly do the spiritual practice, emotional wellness and shadow work you need to keep you healthy and resilient to the negative situations that will come across your screen every day. Spiritual practice, emotional wellness and shadow work do not make you perfect. But they do make you knowledgeable and dextrous when it comes to dealing with the pain of your clients. I always say that I don't ask my clients to do what I don't do. I'm not saying that I do my work perfectly, but I do walk my talk. Take a moment, Beloved, and ask yourself some questions. What are some of the pitfalls you face when you're dealing with your clients' negative emotions and thought patterns? Have you ever dropped your basic protection cloak and found yourself caught off-guard and sliding downhill into negativity overload? How have these negative emotions impacted your professionalism as a Spiritual Life Coach? If you're triggered by anything you're reading here, you should answer these questions in your journal, otherwise, just contemplate them for a moment.
Some pitfalls that Spiritual Life Coaches and healers face in their work
Of course, you know you're going to face challenges in your career like everyone does. Some challenges will be bigger than others and they will feel like great big old obstacles on your path.
- You might feel like giving up because you are not successful enough.
- Maybe you will feel so drained and will have a hard time to find enough motivation to face another session.
- Maybe you find it really hard to organize yourself so that you can do all the different things you need to build a success practice.
- UGH! Maybe you said something to your client that triggered a negative response and they brutally confronted you about it.
- Perhaps you enthusiastically made a post and someone criticized you publicly.
- OH! You created a program and launched it and nobody bought it. YIKES.
Seven awful feelings that many Spiritual Life Coaches and healers face in their careers
Defeat. All of the above scenarios are very real experiences that many coaches face at some point in their careers! But one of the toughest negative emotions Spiritual Life Coaches and healers face is feeling defeated. Many things can cause you to feel this way. Your EXPECTATIONS are probably the biggest culprit in this! Have you been trying for a long time or have you just started but are expecting quick results? Especially if you recently quit your 9 to 5 job and put all your energy and savings into your new business. Ooooh! Unrealistic expectations can make you crazy and send you spiraling downward FAST.
Client Deficit. Maybe you are not good enough at finding clients and advertise yourself or maybe you don't have a good enough online presence. Whatever the reasons may be, you are not alone. Many coaches face this problem and find themselves in this situation at some point in their careers. On the one hand, you are trying to help people, but on the other hand, you are trying to sell yourself, so they hire you. These two feelings can cause friction with one another and drain your energy! Many people don't know how to deal with this as professional coaches, and unfortunately, they give up.
Uncreative. Feeling depressed due to lack of creativity and inspiration is another tough challenge that professional healers and Spiritual Life Coaches face daily. Our work requires a good dose of creativity. Your personal touch, your unique ways to guide and help people are what sets you apart from the other practitioners. In a sense, it is a form of art. And the joy of doing this work is that you can deliver it in so many different ways. You can be a Spiritual Life Coach in the comfort of your home by doing it online– and oh the joys of creating an online community. And if you don't like working virtually, you can take your job outdoors and plan different activities with your clients. It can be a meeting at a restaurant or a coffee shop, it can be a walk in the park or a hiking trip in the afternoon. You can also create your own studio or office and invite people in for an experience.
Scattered Energy. You might also feel lost because you can't determine a good niche for your business. Not niching is a disaster waiting to happen because it becomes very difficult to wield your energy. Niche is everything. Be as specific as you can be. Do you want to help people over a certain age? Do you want to help mainly women or men? Do you want to address specific problems like marriage or relationship? Do you want to help people to get to the next level in their business? Do you want to do one-to-one coaching or do you want to be a group coach? You need to determine exactly where your strength is. Once you can manage to do that, you will see that the creativity will flow easier than you think.
Unconfident. Do you feel a lack of self-confidence? Are you suffering from imposter syndrome? Whether or not you have the education and certificates needed to become a Spiritual Life Coach, you might feel intimidated by how much competition there is out there, and it can be a tough feeling to deal with. Fear of failure and lack of confidence are two things most coaches and healers face commonly. You are not alone. This is where you have to get clear in yourself. Answer these questions:
- Why would anyone want your services?
- What makes you think you have what it takes to start this business?
- What if you can't help people the way you hoped you could?
These questions really need to be answered in depth and with heart. So pull out your journal and tuck in.
Poor Rapport. You can also try simple NLP techniques to boost your self-esteem and regain your powers. For instance, do you speak the same mother tongue language as your client? To create a strong rapport with your clients you need to understand how to use your body language and how to choose the right words. That's why having a specific niche is important because it will give you the opportunity to develop specific communication skills. NLP encourages you to focus on the outcome. Your clients want to see an outcome. NLP teaches you how to be flexible and look at things from different perspectives. Try to use mindfulness meditation techniques to become aware of what is happening around you and what is happening in this present moment. It helps you distinguish between what is important and what is not. Once you develop strong rapport skills, you will see that your clients trust you more and listen to you more carefully. Try the dissociation technique for instance. Identify the negative emotion. Whatever that may be: fear, anxiety, anger, panic… Imagine you are watching yourself on a big movie screen and you are examining yourself. you are now the observer. When you start observing your feelings and emotions, you will start to see a change in the way you experience and reflect them. It helps you distance yourself from negative feelings almost instantly. When you deal with other people, try using the mirroring techniques. Because people are drawn to other people who are like them. This technique might work well when you are trying to sell your services to potential clients. You learn how to mirror someone's body language or their words. You can repeat their sentences mixed within your sentences to give them the impression that you are valuing their words and listening to them carefully. It makes the other person feel heard and understood. Mimic their moves. But please don't be a parrot. Take in their words and repeat back to them what you have understood. For example, you might say, "Susan, I believe I heard you say…" or "Tina, I understand.."
Undervalued. Another negative emotion a Spiritual Life Coaches and healers experience often is the feeling of being undervalued by their client. Many new business owners set their pricing too low because they don't understand the value they bring to the marketplace. This can be totally reflected in your practice. You can have folks who pay you very little and instead of acting gratefully, they act unappreciative. This is all stemming from the coaches mindset. That's the first rule. But then, accept that not everyone can be coachable. Some people are simply arrogant, some people will always be argumentative and there is nothing you can do about it. Some people downright insult you because they pay you so they feel like they have the right to do or say whatever they want. In these situations, know that it is OK to end the relationship or coach and coachee interaction. It is OK to deal with difficult people but you don't have to accept the disrespect and insult. Knowing you have the power to lead the interaction and you have the absolute right to say NO, will make it easier for you to set your boundaries and not let others step all over you simply because they pay you. And of course, Beloved, get your prices up so they reflect your excellence.
If you are just beginning your career as a Spiritual Life Coach, don't quit your day job until you have created a sustainable income from your coaching sessions. When you quit your 9 to 5 job too soon, you are setting yourself up for stress and panic, and both of these emotions are a recipe for failure. Learn to be patient and don't expect overnight success. Especially in the life coaching world, things take time, but the effort to get there is well worth it. And of course, getting expert help from a mentor who knows their stuff and has a systematic approach to teaching you to thrive helps. YEP! I'm talking about my Spiritual Life Coach Certification for Badass Butterflies program. I've got a five-month accelerated version and a 10-month version for those of you who need more time. Check out the program and then book in a complimentary Discovery Session to discuss your coaching vision and to learn more about it.


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Let's face it, Syracuse knows how to do fall right — we've got the foliage, pumpkin patches and apple-picking to prove it. And for those looking for a thrill this season, we've got that covered too.
Not only is Central New York recognized as the region that sparked the supernatural movement back in the mid-1800s, but fortunately for those who like to be scared stiff, acres of thick forests and miles of cornfields are right on the edge of the city — and nothing sets the scare stage quite like being out in the middle of nowhere. Explore all the spine-tingling attractions fit for fall in Syracuse and get spooked at these thrilling, top-rated haunted houses, hayrides and attractions in the Central New York area.
Frightmare Farms
When: Every Friday & Saturday in October, 7 - 10 p.m.; select Sundays with limited hours
Where: 4816 NY-49, Fulton, NY 13069 (30-minute drive from Syracuse)
Haunted houses, labyrinths and trails, oh my! This haunted scream park just north of the city of Syracuse is the perfect setting for a frightful evening. Countdown to Halloween with their creepy fear facts on Facebook and explore one of upstate New York's top haunt destinations and their new sensory inclusive attraction Blood Moon Rising, if you dare. Click here for admission information.
The Fright Nights
When: Every Friday, Saturday (7 p.m. - 12 a.m.) & Sunday (7 - 11 p.m.) in October
Where: 1 LePage Place, Syracuse, NY 13206
Recognized by USA Today as one of The Best 20 Haunted Attractions in the Northeast, The Fright Nights is a top spot to get spooked in Syracuse. Visitors can experience their five attractions, including The Devil's Dungeon Slide to Hell, The Monster Movie Matinee, Burgen Manor, Lady Lamson's Cursed Voyage, and Penny's Playhouse, where evil clowns await. Bring your friends as you're warned to "never, ever come alone" while you encounter these new and horrifying attractions.
Cayo Industrial Horror Realm
When: Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday in October, 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. (Or later..); also open Halloween night
Where: 530 Harbor Way, Rome, NY 13440 (45-minute drive from Syracuse)
Located just 45 minutes east of Syracuse in Rome, NY, this disturbing attraction is worth the trip. The 2023 Cayo Industrial is an apocalyptic themed walkthrough horror maze/escape room revealing the horrors of impending chaos. A representation of horror, conspiracies, conflicts, pandemics and hidden agendas of the real world await you in a labyrinth of horrific encounters and twisted halls in Cayo's old industrial warehouse railyard. Intrigued? Voted a top attraction on Google, visitors encourage you to explore this eerie maze of terror and its disturbing showcase.
Demon Acres
When: Every Friday (7 - 11 p.m.) & Saturday (6:30 - 11 p.m.); select Sundays (6:30 – 9 p.m.) in October
Where: 341 County Route 36, Hannibal, NY 13074 (35-minute drive from Syracuse)
Situated on 25 rural acres northwest of Syracuse, Demon Acres features four terrifying experiences, including the Depths of the Dark Forest, voted one of the best haunted hayrides in the Syracuse, NY area by scarycuse.com. Feeling brave? Experience the Demon's Den Haunted House with high tech special effects and Hollywood-quality sets. Or try to escape the terror of the Jail Break attraction, where you're handcuffed and herded onto a bus that drops you at a prison in the midst of a riot. If you're still looking for more, check out their Insane Asylum Escape Rooms — a disturbing attraction that puts you inside the cell of the killer himself.
13th Hour Rising Haunted Hayride
When: Fridays & Saturdays through October 30th, 7 - 10 p.m.
Where: 84 Merritt Road, Fulton, NY 13069 (30-minute drive from Syracuse)
If you're afraid of clowns, run for the hills (but not the ones on this property). Voted the #1 top overall attraction by New York Haunted Houses, 13th Hour Rising is an award-winning haunted hayride experience just north of Syracuse. Visitors are thrusted into the deep woods as they journey through a dark ride complete with shadowy figures and distant screams. The attraction is also home to "The Passage" — a twisted mind maze that leaves visitors in the dark, literally. Bring your friends and family to experience the terror this October and don't worry, EMTs are onsite in case your heart pops out of your chest.
Haunted History Trail of New York State
When: Year-round
Where: Across New York state, with several locations throughout Syracuse.
Haunted inns, ghost hunts, creepy locations and even guided tours, the official Haunted History Trail of New York State is a ghost lover's dream come true. Map out your own spine-tingling trip through Syracuse and Onondaga County's historic haunts — an abandoned munitions plant that unexpectedly exploded, killing more than 50 men; the historic Landmark Theatre where a young woman fell to her death and whose spirit is said to still be haunting the venue; the Erie Canal Museum where rumors of ghosts galore wander the 150-year-old halls, including a woman who was killed where the model canal boat now sits. Outline your own itinerary to experience a handful of haunted spots in the greater Syracuse area, no matter what time of the spooky season you want to test out your paranormal limits.
Fall in Syracuse
October Events & Activities
Things to do this October in Syracuse, NY
Apple Season: Where to pick, sip and celebrate
When it's fall in Syracuse that can only mean one thing: Apples.
Top Fall Things To Do in Syracuse
Discover all the fall activities, events and happenings in Syracuse this season.
Experience Fall in Syracuse
Fall for fall and experience our favorite things to do in Syracuse this season. Explore pumpkin…


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Boston Comic ConApril 30 - May 1, 2011Boston, Massachusetts
Houston ComicpaloozaMay 27-29, 2011Houston, Texas
Mack was invited to give the commencement address at Ludlow High School, where he graduated in 1990, and was honored by the high school and city of Ludlow with an award of recognition for achievement. The mayor of Ludlow proclaimed June 5, 2003 to be David Mack Day, and Mack was presented with the framed proclaimation. His late mother received a similar honor from the city of Covington before she died for her years of teaching first grade, and Mack was thirlled to "follow in my mother's footsteps."
The English classes at Ludlow High School also will be studying his books next semester. The school is obtaining a copy for each student in its English classes and those books will be part of their required reading.
He will "come home" to NKU in October when he will be exhibiting in the Fine Arts Gallery.
Related Links: Portfolio Daredevil #20 Portfolio Kabuki Mini-Busts Kabuki Portfolio Kabuki Vol. 2 The Ghost Play Portfolio Kabuki Vol. 5 #4, #8
From the collection of David Thornton


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Able Planet NC200 headphones offer active noise cancellation at bargain basement price [review]
The Able Planet Clear Harmony NC200 headphones offer active noise cancellation in a foldable, flight-friendly design for a low price. But the comfy headphones may prompt you to look beyond the spec sheet.
On the outside, the Able Planet NC200's are exactly what you'd expect for $99: they're a set of relatively plush, over-the-ear headphones that are relatively durable and come with a quarter-inch plug adapter.
They're also foldable and come with a soft nylon bag for portability, and thus are perfect for travel.
I found the leatherette pads and the headband of the Able Planet NC200s to be very comfortable, and despite a finnicky battery door that didn't close with any satisfaction, reasonable in sound quality.
In my tests, the sound sounded a bit muddled and "pushed back," rather than articulate and "up front." For most types of music -- pop, rap, hip hop, electronica, vocal -- that didn't matter too much, but for thick-in-the-middle rock, there was a noticeable difference. A distorted guitar riff that raises the hair on my arms using a pair of old Ultrasone HFI-2200s -- themselves not the best headphones in their class -- just sounded narrow and loud with the NC200s.
But the NC200's distinguishing feature is active noise cancellation, digital technology that uses a combination of a microphone and electronic circuitry that generates an "anti-noise" wave in the opposite shape of what's coming in. Together, they cancel each other out, leaving your ears free of the hum of an airplane turbine or a subway car.
Usually, this technology comes at a price. For example, the new Bose QuietComfort 15 headphones offer the technology, but come with a hefty $299 price tag. So it's fairly unusual to see headphones with this kind of technology at this price point (though others do exist).
Price doesn't always indicate quality, but in this case, it holds true. The Able Planet NC200 headphones certainly do cancel some noise (turn it on and hear the vacuum whoosh of silence), but you can faintly hear the whine of the cancellation antinoise -- not a problem for rock and other muddy music, but an irritant during live performances and quiet sets, such as jazz or instrumental music.
Another problem is that the noise cancellation couldn't handle too much noise. Tested on the clamorous streets of New York, the NC200's did manage perceptible noise cancellation but in no way eliminated most of the low frequency rumble of taxis, food carts and other assorted noisemakers during a stroll home.
In fact, I wasn't sure just how much a part the active noise cancellation was playing, so I tried turning it off mid-walk. Unfortunately, the battery that powers the circuitry also powers the volume -- music is barely audible without the noise cancellation on. So I wasn't sure how much noise was being canceled simply by the passive shape of the earcups sealed around my ears.
So I pulled out my trusty old Sony Fontopia MDR-EX71L earbuds (originally $49), which offer passive noise cancellation through plugging my ear canal by nature of their shape. In a test on the noisy street, my passive noise-canceling earbuds were equal or better than the active noise-canceling Able Planet NC200s. Sure, they handled different frequencies differently, but when it came to overall blocking out noise that ruined the music, the earbuds won.
There's a lesson here: by technology and price, active noise cancellation should best passive noise cancellation. But at the bargain price point, well-designed passive cancellation can triumph -- for less.


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Community Content: Sportito Competition
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Reckless driving charges are incredibly serious in New York State. If you are charged with reckless driving, which the New York State Penal Code defines as unreasonably interfering with the free and proper use of public roads, or endangering the use of public roads. If you are someone who was caught traveling at very high speeds, changing lanes without warning, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, there is a very good chance you received a reckless driving charge. Please continue reading and speak with our knowledgeable Rockland County traffic violations attorney to learn more about reckless driving charges and how we can help if you are facing them. Here are some of the questions you may have:
If you receive a reckless driving ticket, you will most likely obtain 5 points on your license. This is very serious because as a result of those points, your insurance premiums will most likely spike, which means, in effect, you will be paying for your ticket for months or years to come. You will also have to take the Driver Responsibility Assessment, which means you will have to pay $100 once a year for three years. You should also understand that if you receive more than 11 points on your license within 18 months, you will most likely have your license suspended. Additionally, since New York State considers reckless driving charges misdemeanors, you may even go to jail, which will go on your criminal record. Our firm is here to help you fight your charges.
A combination offense is when someone is charged with breaking two laws at once, which will result in facing compound charges. For example, if you are someone who was caught traveling at very high speeds while driving under the influence of alcohol, or if you are someone who was caught driving under the influence of alcohol with a child in the car, it would be considered a combination offense. These charges are extremely serious. No matter your charges, our firm is here to help. Simply pick up the phone and give us a call today.
Kevin T. Conway has over 30 years of experience as a Spring Valley criminal attorney handling DUI, DWI, traffic violations, violent crimes, sex crimes, illegal gun possession, shoplifting, and juvenile crimes. Attorney Conway is also experienced in commercial law matters, zoning law, and estate planning. If you need a Rockland County criminal lawyer, contact our Spring Valley office for a free consultation.
© 2024 The Law Office of Kevin T. Conway. All rights reserved.


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Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)
The deadline for booking a place on this course has passed. Please use the 'Ask a Question' button to register your interest in future or similar courses.
This course is now closed for applications. If you have not already done so, please register your interest for future Festivals of Learning and other Summer Programmes by clicking here: Register your interest.
We will build the distance scale ladder in absolute units, starting with the distance from the Earth to the Sun and show how it tells us the Universe is made of dark energy, dark matter and ordinary matter, such as stars and planets.


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I want you to channel your inner Spice Girl for this one.
I've noticed a theme recently with my coaching clients, and it's a familiar one for me personally as well: it can be damn hard to figure out what we want. What we really really want.
(Before I go any further – if you are wondering what the heck a Spice Girl is, please go to your closest internet search engine and look it up, then come back. I'll wait.)
On the surface, this seems like such a simple question, right? All you've got to do is just tell me what you want! Decide what you want. Identify some hopes, map out some dreams, consider how you want to spend your Sunday evening, figure out what to order for dinner. But the truth is many of us have been conditioned – by life, family, teachers, faith-based organizations, well-intentioned bumper stickers – NOT to ask for what we want. Then we get the opportunity to do just that, and well, turns out it's not quite so easy!
I struggle with this, too, sometimes, so in case it's helpful, here are the six steps I take to get down to what I want. (What I really, really want.)
1) Get still. I mean, literally, stop moving your body. Notice your breath, check in on your heart rate, adjust your posture into something more comfortable. Feel into the bottom of your feet and pull that awareness all the way up to the top of your head.
2) Calm down. Usually the act of getting still and noticing my physical body from bottom to top will help me do this, but not always. Sometimes I'll need some extra time breathing deeply and evenly, or I may repeat a mantra I find soothing. A guided meditation may be in order, or perhaps some yoga or relaxing stretches. Regardless of method, invest some time in nurturing that nervous system of yours and helping it cool down.
3) Apply your filters RIGOROUSLY. By this I mean build your awareness of who else's voice is entering this internal conversation. Mom's? Your boss? A partner? An overbearing social media influencer? Take stock and apply a heavy filter to make sure your voice is being clearly heard.
4) Give your inner voice plenty of room to speak. No editing or filtering here, give it lots of space. Preferably verbally or in written form to get some clarity from the mind chatter going on between your own two ears. Let it all out so you can sift through it.
5) Next, notice what's happening in your body as you listen to what this inner voice is sharing. Your physical person will hold clues as to how you truly feel about the options in front of you. Consider one and notice – do you tense up? Relax? Exhale a sigh of relief? Scrunch your nose? Use these physical hints as guideposts for your next steps.
6) Head in the direction of what feels best, and write yourself a permission slip to try it out. Consider it a test run until you're ready for full commitment
If you are REALLY stuck, there are two other tactics I like to try.
First, I give myself something to "push off of," meaning I'll either ask someone to make a decision for me so I can see how I feel about it, or I'll flip a coin or draw a straw or something of the like, and then I notice how I react to it. Often, all I need is something definite (that's really not all that definite at all) to help push me in the right direction.
Last, if I just can't make headway, I'll adopt a playful framework to help me through. I'll either ask myself – what just sounds like the most FUN? Then I'll try that on as my preferred option. Or – I'll literally stop working on trying to figure out what I want to do and go do something playful that's just pure fun instead. That often relaxes the mental blocks I've erected and also quiets down whatever other voices or sources of input are crowding the conversation.
Oh, and if you find you're STILL stuck – drop me a note. That's what coaching is for, and I'd love to help you out.


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B2B opportunities will continue to rise in tech and related industries, as will B2C opportunities in line with employment in the sector. MNCs should target established and emerging tech hubs within SSA cities—consumer-facing firms should assess earmarking these areas for their premium offerings. Moreover, MNCs should consider ICT literacy when assessing or developing their local partners' capabilities—this will become increasingly important in sales and post-sales engagement. Furthermore, increased openness from local partners to engage less in face-to-face interaction provides greater scope for a hybrid model of channel management, offering potential efficiency gains.
Over the past decade, ICT has grown rapidly in SSA, becoming a key growth driver in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. The sector's growth surged in 2020. Several West African startups—mostly Nigerian fintech firms such as Flutterwave and OPay—achieved unicorn status (having a value of at least US$ 1 billion) in 2021, amid a flurry of multimillion-dollar investor-funding rounds. According to VISA, e-commerce users in SSA rose 5% YOY in 2020.
Our View
COVID-19 accelerated the fast-growing sector in SSA, as it facilitated business continuity during lockdowns. However, tech's rising relevance will outlive the pandemic, because it has increased firms' customer reach (via e-commerce) and efficiency (via digital payments). E-commerce has also proved convenient for SSA consumers, who have been averse to transactions without face-to-face engagement. Tech's ability to facilitate growth in other sectors will particularly benefit financial services, education, and healthcare by allowing service providers to extend their reach more effectively. In addition, its momentum will continue to drive the growth of a relatively well-paid portion of the workforce, boosting consumer demand among a resilient consumer segment. In South Africa, even as total employment in the sector declined between 2018 and 2020, skilled employment in the sector continued to climb, highlighting buoyancy in the higher-income jobs. Moreover, SSA governments will continue to promote ICT initiatives, aiming to improve tech literacy and leverage the industry's growth for economic development. Not all countries will experience the same tech boom, but more hubs will appear in the next few years, joining Lagos (especially the "Yabacon Valley" area), Cape Town, and Nairobi.
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Chicken Parmesan Pizza
- Yield: Makes 4 servings
- Total:30 Minutes
- 1 (10-oz.) package frozen garlic bread loaf
- 1/2 cup canned pizza sauce
- 6 deli fried chicken strips
- 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Italian three-cheese blend
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange garlic bread, buttered sides up, on a baking sheet.
2. Bake at 400° for 8 to 9 minutes or until bread is lightly browned. Spread pizza sauce over garlic bread.
3. Cut chicken strips into 1/2-inch pieces, and arrange over pizza sauce. Sprinkle with cheese and basil.
4. Bake at 400° for 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve immediately.
Recipe from Southern Living February 2010
Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken
- Yield: Makes 6 servings
- Cook time:1 Hour
- Prep time:10 Minutes
- 1 (4-lb.) package chicken pieces (3 breasts, 4 thighs, 3 legs)
- 1 cup sun-dried tomato vinaigrette with roasted red pepper dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
- Toppings: chopped sun-dried tomatoes, sliced fresh basil
1. Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Pour dressing evenly over chicken pieces, and sprinkle with ground pepper.
2. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 1 hour or until done, basting every 15 minutes. Sprinkle baked chicken with desired toppings.
Note: For testing purposes only, we used Good Seasons Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette With Roasted Red Pepper dressing.
Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Breasts: Substitute 6 skinned and boned chicken breasts for chicken pieces. Prepare recipe as directed, decreasing bake time to 30 minutes.
Recipe from Southern Living March 2007
Roasted Chicken Salad with Garlic Toasts
4 servings | Active Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 3 tablespoons cider vinegar or white-wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
- 8 cups mixed salad greens
- 4 1/2-inch slices whole-wheat country bread, toasted
- 1 2-pound roasted chicken, (hot or cold), skin discarded, sliced into large pieces (see Ingredient Note)
- Mince one garlic clove and whisk with vinegar, oil and olives in a medium bowl. Toss greens in the dressing to coat well.
- Rub each bread slice with the remaining garlic clove. (Discard garlic.) Divide the salad among 4 plates, place chicken on top and serve with the bread.
Tips & Notes
- Ingredient Note: Store-bought rotisserie chicken is convenient and practical—but much higher in sodium than a home-roasted bird. Even the unseasoned varieties have been marinated or seasoned with salty flavorings. People with hypertension should think twice before choosing store-bought.
From EatingWell: February/March 2005, The EatingWell Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook (2006)
Marmalade Chicken
4 servings | Active Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 pound chicken tenders, (see Note)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 large shallots, minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
- Whisk broth, vinegar, marmalade, mustard and cornstarch in a medium bowl.
- Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 4 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and shallots to the pan and cook, stirring often, until beginning to brown, about 30 seconds. Whisk the broth mixture and add it to the pan. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer; cook until the sauce is slightly reduced and thickened, 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Add the chicken; return to a simmer. Cook, turning once, until the chicken is heated through, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in orange zest.
Tips & Notes
- Note: Chicken tenders are the virtually fat-free strips of rib meat typically found attached to the underside of chicken breasts. They can also be purchased separately. Four 1-ounce tenders will yield a 3-ounce cooked portion. Tenders are perfect for quick stir-fries, chicken satay or kid-friendly breaded "chicken fingers."
From EatingWell: January/February 2009
Grilled Chicken 'N' Cheese Sandwiches
Take a normal grilled cheese from everyday to extraordinary by adding delicious chicken salad to the mix.
- Yield: Makes 6 sandwiches
- Cook time:6 Minutes
- Prep time:14 Minutes
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 1/3 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 12 (3/4-ounce) Monterey Jack cheese slices
- 12 whole wheat bread slices
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine,softened
Stir together first 5 ingredients. Place 1 cheese slice on each of 6 bread slices; spread evenly with chicken mixture, and top with remaining cheese and bread slices. Spread half of butter evenly on 1 side of each sandwich.
Cook sandwiches, buttered side down, in a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat about 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Spread remaining butter evenly on ungrilled sides; turn and cook 3 minutes or until lightly browned.
Recipe from Southern Living October 1999


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At one end of the spectrum, the biggest tourist draws for Eastern Europe are the destinations. The people, sights, sounds, smells, the essences of experiencing this wonderful part of the world. And then there is the other draw – the value. Hotel comparison site Trivago UK just completed a poll that reveals deals in hotels under 30 pounds, hotels in the hottest cities of East Europe too. Be sure to check out the video below of Bulgaria's capital Sofia.
Topping the list of fantastic hotel deals, in unbelievable places no less, is the Hanza Hotel in Riga, Latvia. Located in the extraordinary city center or Riga, this regal building retains the air of another century, while offering all the modern amenities you might expect. Built in 1901, the imposing building offers amazing views of the city, as well as easily affordable accommodation.
Sit back and relax at the bar, cozy up next to the extraordinary Daugava River, take in Latvia's most famous city. Best of all our accuracy check revealed rooms exactly as advertised. (news is about being correct). A single for one night comes in at less than €40. The Hanza website has extraordinary pictures and information for those interested.
Next up in popularity, and in one of our favorite destinations Tallinn, is the L'Eremitage Hotel. Smack in the middle of "Old Town" this three star hotel is of a more modern vintage. Built in 2004, location and rooms with a view are the establishment's best values. Though the suggested 30 pound mark is tested a bit when prices on their site and VAT are added, L'Eremitage still looks like a super deal if only because of its location.
Their website is way past being Web 1.0, but in digging deeper (their image aspect does not work in some browsers), we had to use all our Google powers to find any suitable image of this hotel. The Argophilia alternative, given they advertise €50 as the lowest single price – we is the chic boutique hotel St. Petersburg. This 4 star affair is about the same price, but offers a charm and flair most others in the city center cannot. Well, at these prices. If websites are any indication of hotel functionality, St. Petersburg's has many beat too. They advertise at 54.66 – 221 EUR by the way.
If your destination is Lithuania, then an economic treasure awaits the frugal traveler in Vilnius. The Hotel Tilto is a classy affair, especially for a budget hotel. A combination of old world charm, and crisp interior design, the accommodation and their website reflect a business intent on stating in business. Just off Vilnius' Gedimino Boulevard, the hotel actually offers cheap single rooms that are doubles. Our test booking proved out as well. One of the nice singles below for €55.
There's no denying Bucharest is one of the most fascinating places behind what was the Iron Curtain. Romania's capital has its own value gems too. Hotel Venezia is a quaint little affair built back in 1928. Classic decor, and a recent face lift have added to the hotel's charm – and its location personalized service make it a true 4 star accommodation.
Our booking test did not however work out exactly perfectly though. Okay, 65 pounds is a far cry from 30 – but the rooms are really doubles! Given the selection of super hotels at great prices available in Bucharest, our alternative is the stylish Rembrandt Hotel, also a 3 star accommodation in the center of Bucharest. Situated not a stone's throw from the House of the People and the Contemporary Art Museum, this little jewel actually does advertise rooms at around 30 pounds.
Last up in today's budget hotel roundup is the Hotel Vega in majestic Sofia, Bulgaria. When you see the website, and look at the images (like the on below) of this hotel, you will probably think we saved the best for last. This grand hotel is a picture of sophistication in between the city center and airport of Sofia. Just believing 30 pounds (plus a tad) per night is the only negative aspect of this fine hotel. As an added bonus though, the super cuisine and atmosphere at restaurant Stara Sofia is doubly unbelievable for an economy stay in one of the world's most beautiful cities. As for the hotel's digital footprint? Well, the older flash site is super slow – long past its day actually. But the images are superb once they load.
These 5 cities offer tourists, especially those who have never visited Eastern Europe, a rare chance at an extraordinary vacation of visit. Deals are one thing, and as we have shown there are plenty to go around. But the sheer beauty of these places, and their people – the nightlife, culture, outdoors – whatever your vision of beauty is, is breathtaking. We hope you enjoyed this introduction to some money saving travel ecstasy. We leave you with video of Sofia, enjoy.


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SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen unleashed a barrage of airstrikes on the capital and a strategic Red Sea city, officials said. At least eight people were killed.
The overnight airstrikes on Sanaa and Hodeida — both held by the Houthis — came a day after the rebels attacked an oil depot in the Saudi city of Jiddah, their higest-profile assault yet on the kingdom.
Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said the strikes targeted "sources of threat" to Saudi Arabia, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency or SPA.
He said the coalition intercepted and destroyed two explosives-laden drones earlier in the week. He said the drones were launched from Houthi-held civilian oil facilities in Hodeida, urging civilians to stay away from oil facilities in the city.
Footage circulated online showed flames and plumes of smoke over Sanaa and Hodeida. Associated Press journalists in the Yemeni capital heard loud explosions that rattled residential buildings there.
The Houthis said the coalition airstrikes hit a power plant, a fuel supply station and the state-run social insurance office in the capital.
A Houthi media office claimed an airstrike hit houses for guards of the social insurance office in Sanaa's Haddah neighborhood, killing at least eight people and wounding four others, including women and children.
The office shared images it said for the aftermath of the airstrike. It showed wreckage in the courtyard of a social insurance office with the shattered windows of a nearby multiple-story building.
Hamoud Abbad, a local official with the Houthis in Sanaa, said the facility is located close to a building used by the U.N. agencies in the capital. He claimed that U.N. vehicles were seen leaving the area prior the the airstrikes.
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities officially confirmed that there were no survivors in the crash of a China Eastern 737-800 earlier this week with 132 people on board.
The announcement by an official of the Civil Aviation Administration of China at a late-night news conference was followed by a brief moment of silence. Investigators have identified 120 of the victims through DNA analysis, state media reported.
The flight from the city of Kunming in southwestern China was flying at 29,000 feet (8,800 meters) when it suddenly nosedived into a mountainous area, shortly before it would have started its descent to the airport in Guangzhou, a provincial capital and export manufacturing hub near Hong Kong on China's southeastern coast.
Construction excavators dug into the crash site in the search for wreckage, remains and the second black box. Searchers found the cockpit voice recorder but have yet to find the flight data recorder.
Workers wearing knee-high rubber boots used shovels and other hand tools to sift through the earthen slopes in a 20-meter- (65-foot-) deep pit left by the plane. Debris and other items were collected in dozens of rectangular, mud-stained plastic containers.
Pumps were used to drain water as muddy conditions in the rainy Guangxi region hampered the search. One excavator stopped working after getting partially stuck, state broadcaster CCTV said.
The cause of the crash remained a mystery. An air traffic controller tried to contact the pilots several times after seeing the plane's altitude drop sharply but got no reply, officials have said.
Authorities said that forensic and criminal investigation experts had confirmed the identities of 114 passengers and six crew members.
China Eastern, one of China's four major airlines, and its subsidiaries have grounded all of their 737-800 aircraft, a total of 223 planes. The carrier said the grounding was a precaution, not a sign there was anything wrong.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taylor Hawkins, for 25 years the drummer for Foo Fighters and best friend of frontman Dave Grohl, died during a South American tour with the rock band. He was 50.
There were few immediate details on how Hawkins died, although the band said in a statement that his death was a "tragic and untimely loss."
Colombia's Prosecutor's Office released a statement saying toxicological tests on urine from Hawkins' body preliminarily found 10 psychoactive substances and medicines, including marijuana, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines. It did not provide a cause of death and investigations are continuing.
Foo Fighters had been scheduled to play at a festival in Bogota, Colombia, on Friday night. Hawkins' final concert was Sunday at another festival in San Isidro, Argentina.
"His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever," said a message on the band's official Twitter account that was also emailed to reporters. "Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family."
The Bogota municipal government issued a statement Saturday that the city's emergency center had received a report of a patient with "chest pain" and sent an ambulance, though a private ambulance had already arrived at the hotel in northern Bogota.
Health workers tried to revive him, but were unable to do so.
"It was a band I grew up with. This leaves me empty," Juan Sebastian Anchique, 23, told The Associated Press as he mourned Hawkins outside the hotel.
The U.S. Embassy in Bogota also expressed its condolences in a tweet.
After Grohl, Hawkins was the most recognizable member of the group, appearing alongside the lead singer in interviews and playing prominent, usually comic, roles in the band's memorable videos and their recent horror-comedy film, "Studio 666."
Hawkins was Alanis Morissette's touring drummer when he joined Foo Fighters in 1997. He played on the band's biggest albums including "One by One" and "In Your Honor," and on hit singles like "Best of You."


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