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Netgate is offering COVID-19 aid for pfSense software users, learn more.
Certificate Management¶
Certificates are managed from System > Cert Manager, on the Certificates tab. From this screen Certificates may be added, edited, exported, or deleted.
Create a new Certificate¶
To create a new certificate, start the process as follows:
Navigate to System > Cert Manager on the Certificates tab.
Click Add to create a new certificate.
Enter a Descriptive name for the certificate. This is used as a label for this certificate throughout the GUI.
Select the Method that best suits how the certificate will be generated. These options and further instructions are in the corresponding sections below:
Import an Existing Certificate
Create an Internal Certificate
Create a Certificate Signing Request
Import an Existing Certificate¶
If an existing certificate from an external source needs to be imported, it can be done by selecting the Method of Import an Existing Certificate. This can be useful for certificates that have been made using another system or for certificates that have been provided by a third party.
Enter the Certificate data, this is required. It is typically contained in a file ending with .crt. It would be plain text, and enclosed in a block such as:
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- [A bunch of random-looking base64-encoded data] -----END CERTIFICATE-----
Enter the Private key data which is also required. This is typically in a file ending in .key. It would be plain text data enclosed in a block such as:
-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY----- [A bunch of random-looking base64-encoded data] -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
Click Save to finish the import process.
If any errors are encountered, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve them. The most common error is not pasting in the right portion of the certificate or private key. Make sure to include the entire block, including the beginning header and ending footer around the encoded data.
Create an Internal Certificate¶
The most common Method is Create an Internal Certificate. This will make a new certificate using one of the existing Certificate Authorities.
Select the Certificate Authority by which this certificate will be signed. Only a CA that has a private key present can be in this list, as the private key is required in order for the CA to sign a certificate.
Select the Key length to choose how "strong" the certificate is in terms of encryption. The longer the key, the more secure it is. However, longer keys can take more CPU time to process, so it isn't always wise to use the maximum value. The default value of 2048 is a good balance.
Select a Digest Algorithm from the supplied list. The current best practice is to use an algorithm stronger than SHA1 where possible. SHA256 is a good choice.
Some older or less sophisticated equipment, such as VPN-enabled VoIP handsets may only support SHA1 for the Digest Algorithm. Consult device documentation for specifics.
Select a Certificate Type which matches the purpose of this certificate.
Choose Server Certificate if the certificate will be used in a VPN server or HTTPS server. This indicates inside the certificate that it may be used in a server role, and no other.
Server type certificates include Extended Key Usage attributes indicating they may be used for Server Authentication as well as the OID 18.104.22.168.220.127.116.11.2 which is used by Microsoft to signifiy that a certificate may be used as an IKE intermediate. These are required for Windows 7 and later to trust the server certificate for use with certain types of VPNs. They also are marked with a constraint indicating that they are not a CA, and have nsCertType set to "server".
Choose User Certificate if the certificate can be used in an end-user capacity, such as a VPN client, but it cannot be used as a server. This prevents a user from using their own certificate to impersonate a server.
User type certificates include Extended Key Usage attributes indicating they may be used for client authentication. They also are marked with a constraint indicating that they are not a CA.
Choose Certificate Authority to create an intermediate CA. A certificate generated in this way will be subordinate to the chosen CA. It can create its own certificates, but the root CA must also be included when it is used. This is also known as "chaining".
Enter a value for Lifetime to specify the number of days for which the certificate will be valid. The duration depends on personal preferences and site policies. Changing the certificate frequently is more secure, but it is also a management headache as it requires reissuing new certificates when they expire. By default the GUI suggests using 3650 days, which is approximately 10 years.
Enter values for the Distinguished name section for personalized parameters in the certificate. Most of these fields will be pre-populated with data from the CA. These are typically filled in with an organization's information, or in the case of an individual, personal information. This information is mostly cosmetic, and used to verify the accuracy of the certificate, and to distinguish one certificate from another. Punctuation and special characters must not be used.
Select the Country Code from the list. This is the ISO-recognized country code, not a hostname top-level domain.
Enter the State or Province fully spelled out, not abbreviated.
Enter the City.
Enter the Organization name, typically the company name.
Enter a valid Email Address.
Enter the Common Name (CN). This field is the internal name that identifies the certificate. Unlike a CA, the CN for a certificate should be a username or hostname. For instance, it could be called VPNCert, user01, or vpnrouter.example.com.
Although it is technically valid, avoid using spaces in the CN.
Click Add to add Alternative Names if they are required. Alternative Names allow the certificate to specify multiple names that are all valid for the CN, such as two different hostnames, an additional IP address, a URL, or an e-mail address. This field may be left blank if it is not required or its purpose is unclear.
Enter a Type for the Alternative Name. This must contain one of DNS (FQDN or Hostname), IP (IP address), URI , or email .
Enter a Value for the Alternative Name. This field must contain an appropriately formatted value based on the Type entered.
Click Delete at the end of the row for an unneeded Alternative Name.
Repeat this process for each additional Alternative Name.
Click Save.
If errors are reported, such as invalid characters or other input problems, they will be described on the screen. Correct the errors, and attempt to Save again.
Create a Certificate Signing Request¶
Choosing a Method of Certificate Signing Request creates a new request file that can be sent into a third party CA to be signed. This would be used to obtain a certificate from a trusted root certificate authority. Once this Method has been chosen, the remaining parameters for creating this certificate are identical to those for Create an Internal Certificate.
Export a Certificate¶
From the list of certificates at System > Cert Manager on the Certificates tab, a certificate and/or its private key may be exported.
To export the certificate, click the icon. To export the private key for the certificate, click the icon. To export the CA certificate, certificate and the private key for the certificate together in a PKCS#12 file, click the icon. To confirm the proper file is being exported, hover the mouse pointer over the icon and a tooltip will display the action to be performed.
The files will download with the descriptive name of the certificate as the file name, and the extension .crt for the certificate and .key for the private key, or .p12 for a PKCS#12 file.
Remove a Certificate¶
To remove a certificate, first it must be removed from active use.
Check areas that can use a certificate, such as the WebGUI options, OpenVPN, IPsec, and packages.
Remove entries using the certificate, or choose another certificate.
Navigate to System > Cert Manager on the Certificates tab.
Locate the certificate to delete in the list
Click at the end of the row for the certificate.
Click OK on the confirmation dialog.
If an error appears, follow the on-screen instructions to correct the problem and then try again.
User Certificates¶
If a VPN is being used that requires user certificates, they may be created in one of several ways. The exact method depends on where the authentication for the VPN is being performed and whether or not the certificate already exists.
No Authentication or External Authentication¶
If there is no user authentication, or if the user authentication is being performed on an external server (RADIUS, LDAP, etc) then make a user certificate like any other certificate described earlier. Ensure that User Certificate is selected for the Certificate Type and set the Common Name to be the user's username.
Local Authentication / Create Certificate When Creating a User¶
If user authentication is being performed on pfSense® software, the user certificate can be made inside of the User Manager.
Navigate to System > User Manager
Create a user. See User Management and Authentication for details.
Fill in the Username and Password
Select Click to create a user certificate in the User Certificates section, which will display a simple form for creating a user certificate.
Enter a short Descriptive Name, which can be the username or something such as Bob's Remote Access VPN Cert.
Choose the proper Certificate Authority for the VPN.
Adjust the Key Length and Lifetime if desired.
Finish any other required user details.
Click Save
Local Authentication / Add a Certificate to an Existing User¶
To add a certificate to an existing user:
Navigate to System > User Manager
Click to edit the user
Click Add under User Certificates.
Choose options as needed available from the certificate creation process described in Create a new Certificate, or select Choose an existing certificate and then select from the Existing Certificates
For more information on adding and managing users, see User Management and Authentication.


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Korakot: A Direct Flight from Chula Kites to High Design
His grandfather was a master Chula kitemaker, now Korakot Aromdee makes masterpieces of bamboo using the same fine materials and craftsmanship. His work includes large-scale sculptures, lighting, decorative accessories and architectural pieces.
Author : Susi
Comment Number : 2 Comments
Tagged on : furniture design , lighting design asia , modern craft design , rattan bamboo asia

subset: commoncrawl


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- Company
- Markets
- Products
- News
- Events
- Contact
- Support
- Jobs
- Downloads
BMSvision is a global supplier of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) for the discrete manufacturing industry, with focus on the textile and plastics industry. We develop state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions that register productivity, quality and energy consumption data, enabling our global customers to optimize their operations.
To strengthen our team, we are currently looking for a:


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Keyshia Cole on love, new music and respect for Beyoncé and Jay-Z
The title of your album, Woman to Woman, what's the meaning behind it?
It's for women who have been through similar situations and can relate to me. It's for all women. It's also a personal statement. It has been 10 years since I signed to Intersope. I became a woman before everyone's eyes. The [photo composite] illustration on the cover was created because some of the songs aren't exactly about me, but they are stories that a lot of women can relate to.
The last album didn't do as well as your other work. Why didn't it resonate with fans?
I was pregnant. I was going through a lot with my family at the time. Some of the songs were about them. It was an extremely emotional time and it reflected on the album. When you're pregnant, you're 10 times more emotional about everything. There was just a lot going on back then.
During that time, you also fell in love. Do you remember the day you realized Daniel was the one?
I thought he was beautiful the first time we met. We had been talking for months before we physically met each other. We had ups and downs in our relationship, and we grew from it. When you make a commitment to marriage, you have to be serious about it. You can love the person you are with, but you have to be sure that you're ready to make that commitment. This is not only for when times are good — marriage is for the remainder of our lives. [It's for] building a life and making the best life for your children.
1 Comment
Keyshia cole is a ghetto hot mess disguising herself as a non groupie. She has a horrible attitude with no class and a huge chip on her shoulder. Recently i realized she has a worse voice than rihanna. If she uses the apparent fact she is bi racial in a conversation one more time…imma go play in traffic. Someone give this bitch an award for being mixed. Smh of course there is no proof, so i guess it makes her feel more relevant and exotic. Lol #girlbye


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Mon-Fri 1.30-5.30pm
to support families
Taking legal action against a school should be a last resort. It is an arduous path, you need to be determined, tenacious, and prepared for a long and unpleasant battle. There is no prospect of success unless you have ample evidence of physical or mental harm, backed up with letters to and from the school and comprehensive medical reports.
Bullying UK's view is that legal action should be the very last resort and that any parents who think they want to pursue this should see a local solicitor for half an hour of free legal advice to see if there is any point in taking the matter further.
Details about legal aid for children are in the Community Legal Service booklet A Step by Step Guide to Legal Aid. However, the 2002 case of two north east teenagers who lost their county court claim over bullying may have affected subsequent decisions on funding in bullying cases. The judge ruled that although both had been bullied, the school had done what it could to resolve the problem.
It can be difficult to obtain legal funding and some who have been given it have had it withdrawn part way through the case after being told that, on balance, their claims were not likely to succeed.
If you do take legal action, the first step is that the solicitor reviews all your papers and takes counsel's opinion. You then see a barrister which is fairly informal. He tells you whether or not he thinks you have a case, who is liable, the LEA, head teacher, or governors, and then issues a written opinion.
This is a fairly intrusive process, and probably very upsetting for a younger child. It isn't very pleasant for the parents either. Your legal team will want a report from an educational psychologist and psychiatrist/ hospital to prove that your child has suffered harm, because if they haven't suffered harm there is no case. The child's medical records will be sent to the psychiatrist if you are alleging mental harm.
Armed with this information you return to see the barrister to read through the particulars of the claim to be served at your local county court. This will detail specific bullying instances and specific instances of harm i.e. bruises, post-traumatic stress disorder.
When the papers are served at the county court (a writ is only for High Court) it will probably include the medical report. It will fully detail what has happened to the child on various dates. The defence, either the LEA/head/governors will instruct solicitors to act for them.
You can expect as many as three extensions of deadline for the defence to be filed. This could take three months. The LEA will want its own psychologist/psychiatrist to see the child and will also want to see the medical and school records.
The next step is the exchange of witness statements and the court decides how the case should proceed. There could be a pre-trial review. It may be that, having read all the witness statements, the LEA (or its insurance company), will decide the case is too costly to defend and will make an offer to settle which could be a very small amount.
If the case goes to court there is likely to be enormous media interest as these cases are so rare. If the child is a minor the judge could direct that neither he/she nor the school should be identified but so far these cases have not attracted that ruling.
Having one's day in court is likely to extend into several stressful and upsetting days in which the child's school life is raked over and they may be accused of bringing the bullying on themselves. They, and their parents, will have to relive the ordeal in public which is why legal action should be avoided unless it is absolutely necessary.
For further advice, you can speak to Coram Children's Legal Centre on 0808 802 0008.


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"Very informative course and nicely structured and even suitable for absolute beginners.This course doesn't expect you to be an expert,so it was very easy to understand, I would definitely do it again."
As a regional business website covering content across the UK, Get coding skills now brings to you a selective range of E-Learning courses, providing the necessary training for our learners to advance and progress within their desired industry. With Get coding skills you can now obtain access to cutting edge online training courses, utilising the latest technology and learning methodologies. We place you at the forefront of opportunity, allowing you to study at anytime, anywhere. Whether you are interested in professional qualifications or skill development, enrol today and benefit from our industry leading


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The North Sea
Intensive utilization of the North Sea, e.g., transport, extraction and disposal of sand, laying of cables and pipes, fishery, and –for the last few years- area intensive usage by offshore wind farms result in an increase in anthropogenic stress on the environment.
A state-of-the-art ecosystem management and modern environmental protection aim at sustainable usage of our coasts, focusing on key functions of the ecosystem.
A better understanding of ecological functioning and the responses of the system to stress is therefore essential. Knowledge of the corridor of natural variability and comprehension of ecologically relevant scales, spatial as well as temporal, is an indispensable prerequisite for the distinction between anthropogenic and natural impacts.
Key Activities
We are investigating
- the distribution of the benthos on different spatial (local-regional) and temporal (seasonal-long-term) scales
- effects of natural and anthropogenic change on the benthic system, i.e., ecosystem shifts caused by environmental shifts
- the ecological functioning of the benthos, i.e., the coupling of regulating environmental factors and ecosystem functions including consequential ecosystem services
To that end we are employing an extensive base of reliable, validated and georeferenced data from the southern North Sea collected during several decades of sampling. Models are coupled to these data, and the results are made accessible to agencies, decision makers, scientists, and the interested public through information systems and visualization tools.
Our Projects
Benthic long-term series (since 1969)
Title: Benthic long-term series in the German Bight
Participants: Jennifer Dannheim, Mehdi Shojaei, Lars Gutow, Alexander Schröder, Eike Rachor
Content: The long-term series is aiming at analyzing the influence of climate change on benthic communities. Since 1969 three stations, and since 1981 an additional station, have been sampled that are thought to represent the different benthic communities. Such long-term data present a treasure trove allowing for the analysis of structural and functional change in the ecosystem.
Funding: AWI internally
External Links: Long-term observations
ANKER: Cost reduction approaches for monitoring (2016-2018)
Title: Cost reduction approaches for mointoring data surveys of offshore projects (ANKER)
Participants: Jennifer Dannheim, Thomas Brey
Content: The project aim is the construction of an information system for benthic invertebrates and demersal fish for (a) the utilisation and supply of data on protective goods via the subject information network of environmental impact assessments (UVP-FIN), (b) the publication of approval-relevant scientific information for both protective goods and (c) the development of approval relevant issues and the verification of analysis tools of the UVP-FIN which might be important to increase efficiency and thus potential cost reduction of environmental impact assessments of offshore windfarms in relation to benthos.
Funding: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWI)
BfN Monitoring (2011-2018)
Title: Assessment, evaluation and mapping of benthic species and biotopes in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the North Sea
Participants: Lars Gutow, Brigitte Ebbe, Manuela Gusky, Christian Buschbaum, Dagmar Lackschewitz
Content: The Federal Republic of Germany is obligated by the European Union to regularly assess and evaluate the status of the benthic biotopes in its territorial waters. By order of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) a benthos monitoring program shall be initialized and established that fulfills the specifications of relevant directives and conventions for the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the North Sea. In particular the issues of the Flora Fauna Habitat directive (FFH), the Marine Strategy Framework directive (MSFD), the Oslo-Paris convention (OSPAR) and the Federal Nature Conservation law (BNatSchG) are to be addressed. In the process a consistent evaluation system ensuring as much as possible a synergistic monitoring concurrently addressing all issues shall be developed.
Funding: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)
External Links: Habitat Mare
Cooperation Partners: IOW, Bioconsult
WebBenthos: Extension of the benthic information system (2015-2018)
Title: Sustainable developments at sea (NavES) – Offshore Investigations: Provision of environmental information from study projects and the monitoring of offshore windfarms – extension and update of the existing technical information system and the web based service for benthos data (subproject WebBenthos)
Participants: Jan Holstein, Jennifer Dannheim, Thomas Brey
Content: Linking of benthic data bases to digital analyzing tools and the MDI-DE (Marine Data Infrastructure, Deutschland) to generate and publish dynamic products (e.g., maps of spatial and temporal distribution of species). The results are produced to make decision processes for agencies simple and transparent.
Funding: Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB)
UNDINE: Understanding the influence of man-made structures (2016-2017)
Title: Understanding the influence of man-made structures on teh ecosystem functions of the North Sea (UNDINE)
Participants: Jennifer Dannheim, Lars Gutow, Thomas Brey
Content: UNDINE will use offshore wind farms and data from other man-made structures in order to understand the impact of man-made structures in the southern North Sea. We will evaluate (i) the ecological impact of artificial structures on trophic functioning and (ii) potential changes in connectivity of benthic habitats by man-made structures (stepping stone hypothesis). Trophic functioning and connectivity are considered key issues as man-made structures start proliferating in the marine environment. They necessitate the extrapolation of artificial hard substrate effects from local to regional scales, all of which will be tackled by UNDINE.
Funding: INSITE, Oil & Gas UK
External Links: INSITE
Shine: Benthic information system (2014-2015)
Title: An integrated North Sea information system for environmental management and research
Participants: Jan Holstein, Jennifer Dannheim
Content: Biodiversity information are an essential component for spatial planning and nature conservation decision making of authorities and politics.The development of an integrated biodiversity information system for science and public concerns within this project, shares the state of the art with the interested public. In this way the necessary transparency of planning and approval procedures as a base for societal discussions is supported.
Funding: AWI-ESKP
Externer Link: Earth System Knowledge Platform, ESKP
Habitat Project: Approaches for evaluation in marine spatial planning (2011-2015)
Title: Approaches for evaluation in spatial planning and permit procedures regarding benthic systems and habitat structures
Participants: Jennifer Dannheim, Manuela Gusky, Jan Holstein, Brigitte Ebbe
Content: Development of suitable methods for the protection of the marine environment, marine spatial planning and permit procedures, in particular for offshore windfarms. A database of macrozoobenthic invertebrates and demersal fish is the base for georeferenced modelling. Resulting maps are provided for the general public through web portals (here: Geoseaportal).
Funding: Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI)
External Links: Geoseaportal
StUKplus: Evaluation of the offshore windfarm monitoring (2008-2012)
Title: Ecological research accompanying the offshore testing site "alpha ventus" to evaluate the standard operating procedure of the BSH (StUKplus)
Subproject 1: Investigation of the effects of wind turbines on fish and vagile megafauna on the testing site alpha ventus, work package A: pelagic fish, work package B: study of effects on demersal fish and megazoobenthos (mobile demersal megafauna)
Participants: Roland Krone, Sören Krägefsky
Subproject 2: Analysis of data from scientific research, monitoring programmes and environmental impact statements for a holistic approach to evaluation of ecological impact monitoring at the testing site "alpha ventus"
Participants: Jennifer Dannheim, Alexander Schröder, Manuela Gusky, Kai Wätjen
Subproject 3: Completion of the StUK time series during the operating phase and detection of change in the benthos by expansion of the monitoring of facility related impacts
Participants: Lars Gutow, Katharina Teschke, Manuela Gusky
Content: The aim of the project was a comprehensive understanding of environmental impacts caused by offshore windfarms on benthos and fish. Aside the investigations required by the standard operating procedure (StUK) more advanced, research related questions were answered. New themes were treated in the testing site and novel methods and assessment techniques, e.g., regarding vagile megafauna, were tested. The results were employed to evaluate the StUK for the follow-up version 4.
Funding: Ministry for environment, natural conservation, construction and reactor safety (BMUB)
External Links: Ecological Monitoring at the offshore test field alpha ventus
Fishpact: Effects of trawling and sand/gravel extraction (2008)
Title: Effects of demersal trawling and mining of sand and gravel on the structure of the sea floor and the benthos in the German Exclusive Economic Zone in the North Sea
Participants: Alexander Schröder, Lars Gutow, Manuela Gusky
Content: The impact of demersal trawling and mining of sand and gravel in protected areas on local population densities of typical macrozoobenthos species of FFH habitat types "sandbanks" and "reefs" was modelled. Age structured models were developed based on literature data and specific mortality of benthic organisms related to fisheries was determined.
Funding: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)
Marfood: Benthic feeding habitats in the German Bight (2007-2008)
Title: Nutritional basis for marine mammals and seabirds in protected areas, feasibility and testing study: habitat requirements and spatial distribution of food fish, especially sand eels and their nutritional basis
Participants: Jennifer Dannheim, Arne Malzahn, Alexander Schröder
Content: Analysis of the trophic function of demersal fishes and macrozoobenthic invertebrates in the food web of the North Sea, testing of methods to analyze nutritional requirements of marine mammals and seabirds
Funding: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)
BeoFINO: Research platforms in the North and Baltic Sea (2003-2008)
Title: Ecological research accompanying offshore wind energy on research platforms in the Noth Sea and Baltic Sea
Participants: Lars Gutow, Covadonga Orejas, Tanja Joschko, Alexander Schröder, Roland Krone, Manuela Gusky, Markus Paster, Michael Potthoff
Content: Special questions regarding possible impacts of offshore windfarms were investigated on-site on the research platform FINO. Emphasis was put on the impacts on communities of the seafloor. Processes in the nearfield of the piles, colonization of the underwater structure, potential biomass export, changes in the surrounding benthic fauna and attraction of pelagic fishes were surveyed.
Funding: Ministry for environment, natural conservation, construction and reactor safety (BMUB)
Cooperation Partners: IOW, Institute of Avian Research, University of Duisburg-Essen
RESPONSE: Effects of trawling on the benthos (2003-2006)
Title: Response of benthic communities and sediment to different regimens of fishing disturbance in European coastal waters
Paticipants: Alexander Schröder, Jennifer Dannheim, Wolf Isbert, Kristin Blasche, Mirko Hoyer
Content: Study of the effects of fishery closure or different degrees of fishing intensity on benthic biotopes, analysis of biological and sedimentological changes on the seafloor. Validating of resistence and resilience of the benthic communities in heavily fished areas (Celtic Sea, Catalan Sea, Adriatic Sea, North Sea)
Funding: European Union (EU)
External Links: RESPONSE
Henrike Andresen
Jan Beermann
Jennifer Dannheim
Brigitte Ebbe
Dario Fiorentino
Dylan Griffith
Manuela Gusky
Paul Kloss
Melina Nalmpanti
Maryam Weigt
Alexa Wrede


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Saints Sign Former Special Teams Captain Michael Mauti
In lieu of special teamer and backup linebacker Nate Stupar's season ending ACL injury, New Orleans is bringing back former special teams captain Michael Mauti. Mauti's agent announced the move today on social media.
Voted a captain by teammates last season, Mauti landing on injured reserve when he battled ulcerative colitis, eventually undergoing three different surgeries.
After losing a significant amount of weight, Mauti got back into football shape, impressing enough at training camp to make it to final cut day. At the time, head coach Sean Payton noted the difficulty of the cut, sharing his admiration for Mauti.
Mauti impressed enough to get the call today to return to the team.
A Mandeville native, Mauti grew up a Saints fan. His father, Rich Mauti, played wide receiver for the Saints from 1977 to 1983.


text: Charter Loses More Video Subs, Posts Wider Second-Quarter Loss 5:31 AM PDT 8/4/2015 by Georg Szalai FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME AP Photo/Richard Drew Charter CEO Tom Rutledge - H 2014 CEO Tom Rutledge on the earnings call discusses the planned Time Warner Cable acquisition, cord cutting and the challenges of designing "skinny" pay TV bundles. Cable operator Charter Communications, in which John Malone's Liberty Broadband owns a big stake and which has agreed to acquire Time Warner Cable, on Tuesday reported a widened second-quarter loss and continued video subscriber losses. The company, led by CEO Tom Rutledge, reported a loss of $122 million, including a $128 million loss on the extinguishment of debt. That compared with a year-ago loss of $45 million. Charter said the latest quarterly loss also included $26 million of interest expense related to the Comcast transactions financing and $19 million of transactions costs related to planned Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks transactions. Asked on Tuesday's earnings conference call about skinny bundles and cord cutting, Rutledge said "skinny bundles are still bundles, they just cost less." He argued that cord cutting was driven by the high cost of pay TV services. "Everybody wants everything, but it's a cost issue," he said. Asked about possible a la carte pay TV models that could replace the traditional bundle, Rutledge said about the bundle that "there is nothing to [incentivize] anyone to pull it apart." But he said Charter would like to offer tailored content packages for groups of consumers if content companies are flexible enough to do so. "Some of the content companies would suffer dramatically" if their channels are left out of such skinnier bundles, he acknowledged. He has discussed the issue in the past, saying Tuesday that Charter was still "working through programming rights" and acknowledging that "we haven't found that right mix yet and don't think anyone else has either." Charter said its second-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization grew by 6.8 percent, or 8.9 percent when excluding transactions transition costs. Revenue rose 7.6 percent to $2.4 billion. The cable firm lost 33,000 residential video subscribers in the latest period, ending June with 4.12 million residential video subscribers. In the year-ago period, the company had lost 29,000 residential video customers. Overall residential customer units increased by 5 percent from the year-ago period to 5.96 million. Charter added 70,000 residential subscriber units in the second quarter, up from 55,000, as it signed up 70,000 broadband users, up from 49,000 in the year-ago period, and 33,000 telephony customers, compared with 35,000. Overall residential subscriber relationships rose by 34,000, which includes people taking more than one product, up from 27,000 in the year-ago period. Charter had struck a deal with Comcast to buy some cable systems from it after Comcast's planned takeover of Time Warner Cable, which the cable giant later had to abandon, making way for a Charter deal. "Our second-quarter results demonstrate that our consistent focus on delivering superior products at highly-competitive prices, continues to drive our strong customer, revenue and cash flow growth," said Rutledge. "We look forward to applying that same focus and strategy across New Charter, following the close of our transactions with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. Our new company will drive significant investment into broadband infrastructure, delivering faster broadband speeds and better video products to our customers, while driving customer and cash flow growth for our shareholders." On the earnings conference call, Rutledge touted the planned TW Cable acquisition, saying the company was working to get regulatory approval and close it by year-end. He also touted the deal's consumer benefits, saying "New Charter is in the public interest." He touted the company's plans to roll out wifi and broadband services, create jobs and improve customer service. The CEO said Charter was "still a diamond in the rough," but "we're polishing the diamond." Twitter: @georgszalai FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Georg Szalai email@example.com @thr


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In an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, Surface chief Panos Panay mentioned that a Surface tablet with LTE connectivity will be available in 2014.
Microsoft unveiled the Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro yesterday, and both tablets are faster and thinner. The Surface 2 now comes with a full-HD screen and Nvidia's Tegra 4, while the Surface 2 Pro includes a full-fledged Intel 4th-generation Haswell i5 processor.
However, LTE connectivity is still missing on both devices, and may be a deal-breaker for a lot of users planning to buy the devices. On Reddit, Surface boss Panos Panay said that a Surface with LTE will be coming next year, and mentioned, "We didn't talk about it today, but Surface 2 will be launching an awesome LTE SKU early next year!" Considering the Wi-Fi-only Surface 2 costs $449, the LTE enabled version would cost a few hundred dollars more, which might put Microsoft at a disadvantage as there are a bevy of full-HD Android tablets that come with great hardware and cost less.
Sources also revealed that Microsoft is looking to create a bundle of Windows Phone and Surface that features mobile connectivity. This will be aimed at markets where the lack of in-built wireless connectivity is a major deterrent for buyers.
Source: ZDNet


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Monday, April 6, 2009
~Sweet baby Blake~
I just love babies! I had the pleasure of taking photos of my friend's baby and he is just a sweetheart. He's two weeks old and he did not want to sleep for us at first. He wanted to stay up and party, didn't want to miss a thing. So amazing for a two week old, normally they are just snoozing:) I was able to use a couple of my new props, this adorable baby cocoon w/matching hat and a hat with bear ears!! So, so cute. Loved how his little toes stuck through the bottom of cocoon. Oh, those baby toes are so darling, Thank you to my friend for sharing her baby for an afternoon, it was so much fun. Hope you enjoy these few and I'll have more for you real soon!
Happy Monday everyone:)
Posted by Chris at 11:52 AM 2 comments:
Friday, April 3, 2009
~Beautiful couple~
I had the great pleasure of meeting Leah and Dave for an engagement session! Such an exciting time in their lives. I wish them the very best:) They picked a gorgeous location and it was a beautiful night. A little hotter than normal but we were able to cool off with the breeze from their aunt's golf cart. Their Aunt Deb was a sweetheart and so nice to drive us all around. Here are a few from their session, hope this will tide you over until I finish editing. Enjoy!
Posted by Chris at 12:32 AM 2 comments:
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The rundown
This week in UB Athletics
Women's soccer (7-8-2, 5-4-1 MAC) vs Ball State
The Bull's played host to the Ball State Cardinals (9-6-4, 7-1-3 MAC), losing a tight game. The cardinals struck first just before halftime. Senior midfielder Julia Benati was able to tie things up in the seventy-seventh minute. But two minutes later the Cardinals were able to put in what became the game winning goal.
Goalkeeper Laura Dougall set the all-time MAC record during the game with the most minutes played as a keeper, appearing in 7,109 minutes of action.
Women's soccer (7-8-2, 5-4-1 MAC) vs Miami(OH)
It took overtime to finally score a goal, but the Bulls came through with a win against the Miami (OH) RedHawks (2-13-2, 2-6-2 MAC) to avoid a two-game skid. This pushed the bulls to closer to .500 on the season and above .500 in the MAC. Senior midfielder Moira Petrie scored the lone goal on the Bulls Senior night. The goal came on an assist from sophomore midfielder Kara Daly
Buffalo outshot the RedHawks 26 to five. Buffalo also had nine shots on goals compared to the RedHawks' three. Senior goalkeeper Laura Dougall had her sixth shutout of the season.
Women's Volleyball (13-8, 6-4 MAC) vs Central Michigan
The Bulls took a tour through Michigan this weekend, first squaring off with the Central Michigan Chippewas (11-11, 3-7 MAC). They won in a dominating fashion, sweeping the match 3-0. With the win, the Bulls were able to elevate to over .500 in conference play.
Sophomore outside hitter Paulina Prokudina and freshman outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic both finished with double digit kills, with 10 and 13 respectively.
Women's Volleyball (13-8, 6-4 MAC) vs Eastern Michigan
After beating Central Michigan, the Bulls swept the weekend beating Eastern Michigan Eagles (11-15, 3-7 MAC) easily, 3-0. The bulls are on a roll and they tied a school record with six victories in the MAC on the season.
Freshman outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic brought her weekend total to 26 kills. Senior middle blocker Cassie Shado was second on the Bulls with 10 kills.
Football (3-5, 1-3 MAC)
Traveling to Miami of Ohio, the Bulls came up short against the RedHawks (3-5, 2-2 MAC), losing 24-14. The Bulls have now lost three straight games and have not been able to recover since the loss of starting Quarterback Tyree Jackson.
True Freshman quarterback Kyle Vantrease made his first career start and ended up with 202 yards, two touchdowns, and interception. The Bulls offense was lackluster all night and had their second lowest output of the year.


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Obituary – Joanne Marie Chakra
The Lord Giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. "Job 1:21″
Joanne Marie Chakra
(nee Bourdeau)
Passed away surrounded by her family after a long and courageous battle with cancer, on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at the age of 62.
Beloved wife of Robert Chakra.
Cherished mother of Frédéric (Christina) and Mathieu.
Loving grandmother of Julien and Penelope.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, on Saturday, March 25 from 11:00am.
A prayer service will follow at 12:00pm
Special thanks to Lyse Edward and family, Dr. Roanne Segal, Dr. D. Vincent, Dr. G. Michael for their support and excellent care. Donations in Joanne's memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation or Hospice Care Ottawa (May Court Hospice).
Category: Obituaries


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Our team member Claas Grohnfeldt and the team leader Prof. Xiaoxiang Zhu won the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) Symposium Prize Paper Award 2016 for their work "Towards a combined sparse representation and unmixing based hybrid hyperspectral resolution enhancement method" presented in IGARSS 2015. The full paper can be find here.
Together with one other paper, their work was judged by the GRSS Symposium Award Committee to be of exceptional merit and the best out of 1083 papers presented at the IGARSS 2015. The honorarium of US$1250 will be shared among the authors of both papers. The following image is Prof. Richard Bamler, the Director of Remote Sensing Technology Institute, German Aerospace Center, congratulates the authors of the winning paper.


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Career Guide for Insurance Underwriters
Insurance underwriters work for insurance companies to determine if insurance is provided to a client and under what terms. Insurance underwriters focus on risk – what is the risk of financial loss on a particular insurance policy – and then determine if the company is willing to take the risk and at what terms.
This career guide focuses on what it takes to become a successful insurance underwriter.
Insurance Underwriter Summary
- Most large insurance companies prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor's degree or some insurance-related experience.
- Continuing education is necessary for advancement.
- Employment is expected to decline slowly as the spread of automated underwriting software increases worker productivity
- Job opportunities should be best for those with strong computer skills and a background in finance.
Working as an Insurance Underwriter
Insurance companies protect individuals and organizations from financial loss by assuming billions of dollars in risk each year—risks of car accident, property damage, illness, and other occurrences. Underwriters decide whether insurance is provided and, if so, under what terms. They identify and calculate the risk of loss from policyholders, establish who receives a policy, determine the appropriate premium, and write policies that cover this risk. An insurance company may lose business to competitors if risk underwriting is too conservative, or it may have to pay excessive claims if the underwriting actions are too liberal.
Using sophisticated computer software, underwriters analyze information in insurance applications to determine whether a risk is acceptable and will not result in a loss. Insurance applications often are supplemented with reports from loss-control representatives, medical reports, reports from data vendors, and actuarial studies. Underwriters then must decide whether to issue the policy and, if so, determine the appropriate premium. In making this determination, underwriters consider a wide variety of factors about the applicant. For example, an underwriter working in health insurance will consider age, family history, lifestyle, and current health, whereas an underwriter working for a property-casualty insurance company is concerned with the causes of loss to which property is exposed, such as hurricanes or earthquakes, and the safeguards taken by the applicant. Therefore, underwriters serve as the main link between the insurance carrier and the insurance agent.
Technology plays an important role in an underwriter's job. Underwriters use computer applications called "smart" systems to calculate risks more efficiently and accurately. Such systems—also known as "automated underwriting systems"—analyze and rate insurance applications, recommend acceptance or denial of the risk, and adjust the premium rate according to the risk. To start the process, underwriters create software rules to screen applicants based on certain criteria, such as income and credit score for mortgage applicants or age and family medical history for life insurance applicants. After the software completes its assessment, underwriters can either approve or refute the decision, or, if it is questionable, request additional information from the applicant. These automated systems allow underwriters to quickly make decisions and, in most cases, effectively make sound judgments and minimize losses.
The Internet also has aided underwriters in their work. Many insurance carriers' computer systems are linked to various databases on the Internet that allow immediate access to information—such as driving records and credit scores—necessary in determining a potential client's risk. This kind of access reduces the time and paperwork needed for an underwriter to complete a risk assessment.
Although there are many lines of insurance work, most underwriters specialize in one of four broad categories: life, health, mortgage, and property and casualty. Life and health insurance underwriters may further specialize in individual or group policies.
An increasing proportion of insurance sales, particularly in life and health insurance, are being made through group contracts. A standard group policy insures everyone in a specified group through a single contract at a standard premium. The group underwriter analyzes the overall composition of the group to ensure that the total risk is not excessive. Another type of group policy provides members of a group—senior citizens, for example—with individual policies that reflect their particular needs. These usually are casualty policies, such as those covering automobiles. The casualty underwriter analyzes the application of each group member and makes individual appraisals. Some group underwriters meet with union or employer representatives to discuss the types of policies available to their group.
Property and casualty underwriters specialize in either commercial or personal insurance and then by type of risk insured, such as fire, homeowners', automobile, or marine. In cases where property-casualty companies provide insurance through a single "package" policy covering various types of risks, the underwriter must be familiar with different types of insurance. For business insurance, the underwriter should be able to evaluate the firm's entire operation in appraising its application for insurance.
Work environment. Underwriters mainly have sedentary desk jobs that do not require strenuous physical activity. Most underwriters are based in a company headquarters or regional branch office, but they occasionally attend meetings away from home. Construction and marine underwriters frequently travel to inspect worksites and assess risks.
Although some overtime may be required, underwriters typically work a standard 40-hour week. Those in managerial positions often work more than 40 hours per week.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Although there are no formal education requirements for becoming an underwriter, employers prefer candidates who have either a bachelor's degree or insurance-related experience and strong computer skills. Much of what an underwriter does may be learned through on-the-job training, so the majority of underwriters start their careers as trainees.
Education and training. For entry-level underwriting jobs, most large insurance companies prefer college graduates who have a degree in business administration or finance. However, a bachelor's degree in almost any field—plus courses in business law and accounting—provides a good general background and may be sufficient to qualify entry-level jobseekers. Because computers are an integral part of most underwriters' jobs, some coursework with computers is also beneficial. Still, many employers prefer to hire candidates who have several years of related experience in underwriting or insurance.
New employees usually start as underwriter trainees or assistant underwriters. Under the supervision of an experienced risk analyst, beginning underwriters may help collect information on applicants and evaluate routine applications. Property and casualty trainees study claims files to become familiar with factors associated with certain types of losses. Many larger insurers offer work-study training programs, which generally last from a few months to a year. As trainees gain experience, they are assigned policy applications that are more complex and cover greater risks.
The computer programs many underwriters use to assess risk are continually being updated, so on-the-job computer training may continue throughout an underwriter's career.
Other qualifications. Underwriters must pay attention to detail and possess good judgment to make sound decisions. Additionally, good communication and interpersonal skills are beneficial because much of the underwriter's work involves dealing with agents and other professionals.
Certification and advancement. Continuing education is necessary for advancement, because changes in tax laws, government benefits programs, and other State and Federal regulations can affect the insurance needs of clients and businesses. Independent-study programs for experienced underwriters are also available. The Insurance Institute of America offers a training program for beginning underwriters. The Institute also offers the designation of Associate in Commercial Underwriting (ACU) for those starting a career in underwriting business insurance policies, or an Associate in Personal Insurance (API) for those interested in underwriting personal insurance policies. To earn either the ACU or API designation, underwriters complete a series of courses and examinations that generally last 1 to 2 years.
The American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters awards the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation to experienced underwriters. Earning the CPCU designation requires passing eight exams, having at least 3 years of insurance experience, and abiding by the Institute's and CPCU Society's code of professional ethics.
The American College offers the equivalent Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation and the Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) designation for life and health insurance professionals. For those new to the industry, the American College also offers the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (FUTCF), an introductory course that teaches basic insurance concepts.
Experienced underwriters who complete courses of study may advance to senior underwriter or underwriting manager positions. Some underwriting managers are promoted to senior managerial jobs, but these managers often need a master's degree. Other underwriters are attracted to the earnings potential of sales and, therefore, obtain State licenses to sell insurance and related financial products as agents or brokers.
Employment for Insurance Underwriters
Insurance underwriters held about 102,900 jobs in 2008. Insurance carriers employed 67 percent of all underwriters. Most of the remaining underwriters work in insurance agencies and brokerages.
Most underwriters are based in the insurance company's home office. But some, mainly in the property and casualty area, work out of regional branch offices of the insurance company. These underwriters usually have the authority to underwrite most risks and determine an appropriate rating without consulting the home office.
Job Outlook for Insurance Underwriters
Although employment is expected to decline slowly, job prospects will remain good because of high turnover.
Employment change. Employment of underwriters is expected to decline 4 percent during the 2008-18 decade. Demand for underwriters will continue to be offset by automation and technological advancement—factors that have resulted, in large part, to stagnant employment levels over the past two decades. For example, upgrades to underwriting software have helped increase underwriter productivity. Automated underwriting quickly rates and analyzes insurance applications, reducing the need for underwriters. In addition, adoption of this technology into other segments of insurance, such as life and health and long-term care, will continue to impede employment growth through the projection period, although at a slower rate than in the past. Nonetheless, even as automated underwriting continues to be adopted and upgrades to underwriting software makes workers more productive, the need for humans to verify information will continue.
Additionally, some demand for underwriters may arise as insurance carriers try to restore profitability. As the carriers' returns on their investments have declined, insurers may place more emphasis on underwriting to generate revenues. An expected increase in sales of health insurance and long-term care insurance, designed specifically for the elderly, also may result in some new jobs. As members of the baby-boom generation grow older and a growing share of the Nation's population moves into the older age groups, more people are expected to purchase these kinds of insurance products.
Job prospects. Job opportunities should be best for those with experience in related insurance jobs, a background in finance, and strong computer and communication skills. The need to replace workers who retire or transfer to another occupation will create many job openings. In fact, high turnover will account for most job openings. High turnover among underwriters results, in part, from the limited upward mobility of workers in the occupation—a scenario that is likely to continue through the projections decade (2008-18).
New and emerging fields of insurance may also be a source of job opportunities for underwriters. Insurance carriers are always assessing new risks and offering new types of policies to meet changing circumstances. Underwriters are needed particularly in product development, where they assess risks and set the premiums for new lines of insurance. Growing demand for long-term care insurance—a relatively new product offered by insurance carriers—may also provide some job opportunities for underwriters.
Projections Data
|Occupational Title
|SOC Code
|Employment, 2008
Employment, 2018
|Insurance underwriters
|NOTE: Data in this table are rounded.
Earnings for Insurance Underwriters
Median annual wages of wage and salary insurance underwriters were $56,790 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $43,490 and $76,700 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,010, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,940. Median annual wages of underwriters working with insurance carriers were $57,480, while underwriters' median annual wages in agencies, brokerages, and other insurance-related activities were $54,410.
Insurance companies usually provide better-than-average benefits, including retirement plans and employer-financed group life and health insurance. Insurance companies usually pay tuition for underwriting courses that their trainees complete, and some also offer salary incentives.
Insurance underwriters help insurance companies scope risk in an insurance policy sale and what terms to sell insurance under. This career guide taught you what a career as an insurance underwriter is like and how you can become a successful insurance underwriter.


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Fireworks do nothing for me. Never have. Neither has the circus.
When I was little, but not so little that I allowed my parents to dress me, our family loaded into my father's Cadillac and headed into Manhattan to see the circus. I don't recall if my light up yo-yo or neon bouncy headband were purchased on the street or inside Madison Square Garden. What I do recall is being more excited about the things being purchased, the things I could hold or wear, than I was about the circus. A twinkle flashlight that looked like a sparkling bouquet of flower stems. A puffy bag of cotton candy, which I liked the idea of, but not the taste. I remember watching people tear a smear of it and hold it above their upper lip, a mock mustache. I liked to watch people do this, I think, but I still didn't want to eat it. It's the only thing, aside from tuna fish, mushrooms, or eggs, that I can recall not wanting to eat. I didn't mind holding the bag though. I felt like I belonged, maybe. Once we found our seats, and me and my overalls settled in, I remember looking up at my mother, who seemed delighted. "Mom," I said tugging on her sleeve, "when can we leave?" It wasn't that I thought clowns were frightening or the animals were treated cruelly. I couldn't stand the smell.
"We just got here, Stephanie."
"Yeah, I've seen enough. It stinks."
When I got older, much older–we're talking college years here–I remember a bright-eyed suitor eager to take me to the circus for a date. Some people think it's cute when you try to revisit childhood favorites as adults, like sitting through the mistake that is the movie Cars (which I actually asked to see! It was Doc Hollywood with a lube job.) Now of course there's the zoo (which isn't really a place just for children, but we do tend to go a lot more as kids) for a date, but I've already gone there), which I would have agreed to, but the circus? Not for me. It's the kind of thing that sounds better than it is, like New Years or fireworks on the fourth of July, or, well, ever.


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Mindkult's debut EP Witch's Oath is a four track doom rocker that brings to mind Alice In Chains' darker and emotional salad days as much as it does the broad stable of artists residing on Riding Easy Records. True, that's a mouthful and big shoes to fill but Mindkult is more than up to it with this dark, moody collection of songs. Just one listen to these 24 plus minutes and two words come to mind; fantastic and mesmerizing.
Mindkult is a solo project from a man that goes by Fowst. Written and recorded completely in his hands this EP is a wealth of emotive atmosphere, riffs aplenty, a heavy blues feel and some rather fascinating vocals. Even though there's plenty of artists — that on paper — appear to be of the same ilk, this one is simply a cut above. There's a certain vulnerability and immediate recognizability in a song such as Mad Season's "River Of Deceit" — the combination of beautifully sung vocals and heartfelt guitar chords here hit that same mark. It's bliss and lightning in a bottle all at the same time. Not to mention the fantastic songwriting that shows itself early in opener "King and Priest", a doomy plod with grunge rock painted all over the walls. Fowst successfully plays with tension and release but favors the former here, building long and slow to the huge payoff at songs center. But it's his vocals that really hit the sweet spot and elevate this whole affair to another level entirely.
"Serpent's Nest" is simply some of the best doom leaning desert rock these ears have heard in many years. It's an expansive listen heavy on recurring riffs and echoed vocals. Fowst has that extremely unique ability to keep you hanging on every word, not wanting each track to end. The highlight here, but not by a large margin, is "Chief Of Devils". These syrupy blues and soulful yet dark vocals sound like something King Dude, Layne Staley and Black Sabbath cooked up in some candlelit green room in hell. It's an ensemble of slow burn doom/blues that all tug on that part of the brain needing a fix of something soulful and evil.
Truly, enough good words cannot be said about Mindkult's maiden EP Witch's Oath. From doom to stoner, and even a touch of alternative, Fowst, by himself is compelling. But as a complete package Mindkult hits all the right notes and provides us with a glimpse into what will hopefully be a sooner rather than later full length. For now, this EP is a satisfying and very addictive first chance to experience this band on the ground floor. Caligari Records have hit another home run and has found yet another artist absolutely worth your time to check out.
– Josh Stewart
Witch's Oath is available now on digital format via the band's Bandcamp page and will be available on physical format August 19 on Caligari Records. For more information on Mindkult visit the band's Facebook page.


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Cool Thing I Got to Do
On Friday I got to go see this exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science before it opened to the public. I was invited to do some commentary for WBUR, the local public radio station. I'll put up a link when the piece is broadcast in a couple of weeks.
The exhibit was surprisingly good. I've seen lot of movie props (my roomate at Carnegie Mellon was a drama production major and used to bring work home), and they're usually crappy: just good enough to look ok on film is the rule (and it makes sense, since you don't want to waste a lot of money). But these are really impressive: beautifully crafted and presented as if they were 'real' artifacts in a 'real' museum.
I was inwardly amused because I remember that back in sixth grade we had been given the assignment of designing a museum or something like that, and I'd done The Museum of Middle-earth, with orc skulls and palantiri on display. I'd forgotten that until just as I was walking out of the exhibit
There are also some very interesting displays that let you do interactive stuff to see how the characters, etc. were made. You can re-create the Gandalf and Frodo on the cart scene (two separate benches, different sizes, melded together on one screen), or move a plastic sword and shield to make a computer-generated warrior follow you moves. Pretty neat stuff, whether you were disappointed in aspects of the films or not.
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
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Fears over baby food safety as product recalled
PUBLISHED: 13:15 14 May 2019 | UPDATED: 13:48 14 May 2019
Suffolk Trading Standards
Parents have been warned not to give their babies a type of baby food amid fears rubber may be found in some jars of the product.
Cow and Gate has recalled its Cheesy Broccoli Bake Stage 3, which is aimed at babies aged 10 months and above, due to concerns it may contain small pieces of blue rubber.
Suffolk Trading Standards said: "If you have bought the above product do not feed it to your baby.
"Instead, return it to the store where it was bought, with or without a receipt, for a full refund."
The Food Standards Agency said point of sale notices will be displayed in all supermarkets and stores that are selling the 250g jars of the Cow and Gate Cheesy Broccoli Bake.
Important information
Cow and Gate products are sold in the baby aisles of most major supermarkets but the Food Standard Agency has stressed that is just one of the baby food products that has been recalled.
It specifically relates to Cow and Gate Cheesy Broccoli Bake Stage 3 in 250g jars, with the batch code 28122020 and best before date of December 28 2020.
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روابط الخير
تسجيل الدخول
About Us
Marafie Foundation Pakistan
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About US
The life and works of the distinguished Kuwaiti entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mohammad Rafie Husain Marafie,demonstrates that the legacy of compassion is an enduring one. A Sponsor of the first charity school in Kuwait established by his cousin. Mr. Mohammed Rafie subscribed strongly to the idea of community welfare, and as patriarch of a prominent family, he used his position to judiciously underwrite relief efforts and welfare projects all over the world in expansion of his charitable works, he founded the Marafie Foundation through which to organize and promote his philanthropy. Believing that the poor should share in the prosperity of the more fortunate, he also willed one third of his fortune towards charitable uses. With his passing in 1976, the family lost a benevolent patriarch, but his philanthropic work that Mohammad Rafie Husain Marafie had begun, gained strength and impetus. Mr. Mohammad Rafie Husain Marafie' s family took steps to restructure the Marafie Foundation and to formalize its management so as to sustain the founder's vision of philanthropy as well to extend his legacy, It is a testament to Mr. Marafie' s compassion and vision that his largesse and legacy has continued to make such difference in the lives of the less fortunate and to empower disadvantaged communities across the globe. In fact, his legacy lives on in every poor child who receives an education that would have been otherwise denied to him or her. Inevery poverty stricken person who can dare to live out his or her dreams only through the sponsorship and support of the Marafie Foundation.
AbdulHusain Mohammed Rafie Marafie
The Co-Founder 1935-2012
The eldest son of the Founder, Abdul Husain Mohammed Rafie Marafie (1935-2012) was an equally successful businessman and a highly respected figure in Kuwait. Having completed his early education in India, Abdul Husain travelled extensively in Europe and America gaining valuable experience by working in different industries After his return to Kuwait, he joined his father in the family business. Following the death of the Founder, Abdul Husain continued his father's work by expanding the scope of the activities of the Marafie Foundation. Indeed, he became the driving force behind this organization. He had a great love for Kuwaiti heritage and built several Dhows including AI-Hashemi II, the world's largest wooden ship. AI-Hashemi II, the world's largest wooden Arabian Dhow was registered in the Guinness Book of World Records in the 2002 edition.
Abdul llah Marafie
Chief Patron Trustee
Expanding the sphere of the Foundation's activities, Abdul llah Marafie hasinitiated new projects centering on the construction of community buildings, establishment of schemes for the provision of clean drinking water, setting up of libraries, computer literacy and vocational training programs etc. Hisunswerving dedication and judicious management have enabledhim to forge strong and viable partnerships with all the stakeholders, thereby catalyzing fast-paced development in the education and the health sectors of the respective projects.
The Marafie Foundation Is distinguished by its inclusive approach of ""working together for humanity"" which also sets it apartas a role model for other organizations with similar agendas. Abdul llah has extended the activities of the Foundation to those parts of the world where people need its valuable support. Abdul llah Marafie is a true 'symbol of synergy', especially In the field of community development. In recognition ofhis public services, the Government of Pakistan has conferred on him Tamgha-1-lmtiaz.
AbdulFatah Marafie
Deputy Chief Patron Trustee
There is a saying that 'If you want to change the world, be that change. Mr. Abdul Fatah Marafie upholds and exemplifies the true spirit of this axiom. Subsequent to visiting Baltistan in 1 986, he was deeply moved by the abject poverty of the local community, bereft of the most rudimentary of healthcare and of educational infrastructure.
Mr. Abdul Fatah Marafie, with his family's long established tradition of philanthropic work within the Kuwaiti Emirate as well as around the world, was motivated enough to translate his empathy for a community in need into a practical plan for sustainable development.
Mr. Abdul Fatah took it as a mission, and supported by local notables from within the Balti community, established the Marafie Foundation as a trust in Karachi. Mr. Abdul Fatah's success in his philanthropic mission lay in his understanding that while giving away money might be an easy matter, but long lasting community development depended on how the money was allocated,for what purpose and in what manner. Consequently, Mr. Abdul Fatah Marafie sought to collaborate with the Government in cautiously carrying out planned welfare activities within the project areas as he believed that only by complementing and supplementing each other's efforts the Marafie Foundation and the Government could bring about a meaningful change in the socio-economically deprived region of Baltistan. He was the pioneer in the much talked about model of public private partnership in Pakistan.
The model forged by him serves as a success story that has stood the test of time. Today, Mr. Abdul Fatah Marafie 's efforts have borne fruit and an entire community of people has been given the opportunity to break the vicious circle of disease, illiteracy and poverty due to the work of the Marafie Foundation.
In recognition of his public service the Government of Pakistan has conferred on him Tamgha-1-lmtiaz.
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A local man is undergoing counselling today following a beverage related miscommunication between him and a friend he was visiting.
The events unfolded as the local gent was asked by his friend if he wanted a cuppa, due to the kettle being on and making boiling water type noises, which can be quite loud, as opposed to someone answering from the next room and who cant hear just how loud the kettle is, so doesn't bother raising the volume of their voice, the stage was set for all manner of sitcom type shenanigans.
Unfortunately, comedy turned to near tragedy when the local mans hot beverage making acquaintance brought in two steaming hot mugs of tea, "I answered coffee, but he didn't hear me" said the local man "I couldn't hear anything because of the kettle and the fact that I was in the kitchen" said the local mans char-wallah-esque chum.
"You know what it's like when your mouth is all geared up for one taste and it gets another taste that is so completely different from what it was expecting? It was like that, almost exactly like that in fact" said the orally confused gentleman, "It was quite a shock I can tell you, although I seemed to recover quicker than my mouth has. I'm fine with it now, what's done is done, but my mouth hasn't shut up about it ever since"


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Had it not been for his mother, Toronto fans would never have had the chance to make Keon one of their all-time favorites. As a teenager in Noranda, Quebec, Keon was heavily courted by the Detroit Red Wings. His mother, however, objected to his moving so far away. He stayed in Noranda for another winter and was soon noticed by the Maple Leafs. The next year he went to St. Michael's College, as so many Leaf prospects did, and began to improve remarkably quickly. The Leafs informed him that he would be given a chance in the pro league in 1960, when he'd be 19. He was told by Bob Goldham and Father David Bauer, the St. Michael's coaches, that he could either learn how to play the defensive game - the game without the puck - in the summer or he could spend the next year in the minors working on it. He put in the extra time and effort and made the Leafs that Fall.
Keon won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie that year and was a Second Team All-Star the next. Along with Red Kelly and Bob Pulford, Keon provided the Maple Leafs with a solid stable of centers, a nucleus of talent that would play a large role in the Leafs' four Stanley Cup triumphs in the 1960s. Keon was the playoff MVP in 1967, the last year the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. Also in that span, he won the Lady Byng Trophy twice, in 1962 and 1963, as the NHL's most gentlemanly player. He had only two minutes in penalties each season, a remarkable total for such an effective forechecker and defensive player. At one time, Keon was the Maple Leafs' all-time leading scorer, overtaking Frank Mahovlich and George Armstrong, who had shared the record with 296 goals apiece.
Keon seemed to be always at odds with Toronto management when it came to contract negotiations but was able to smooth over differences before they interfered with his play. In 1972 the Ottawa Nationals of the World Hockey Association announced that they were going to do everything in their power to sign the productive center. Keon was trying out at the time for Team Canada, hoping for an opportunity to play against the Soviets in the Summit Series. He was kept off that team because of the possibility that he might leave the NHL. He was later convinced to remain with the Leafs by vice-president King Clancy and signed the richest contract the team had ever offered, but he did regret not playing in the 1972 series with teammates Paul Henderson and Ron Ellis.
Keon's leadership and productivity over his 15 years with the Leafs were all forgotten in the summer of 1975, at least by Harold Ballard, the cantankerous and headstrong owner of the team. He began to complain publicly about the lack of leadership Keon had shown to his younger teammates. Since Ballard was determined to rebuild the team with youth, Keon, the Leaf captain at the time, wasn't resigned. It was insult on top of injury and Keon, though a classy individual on the ice and off, has refused for years to have much to do with the team he was - and is - so strongly identified with.
He signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Fighting Saints and spent four years in the WHA with the Fighting Saints, Indianapolis Racers and New England Whalers. In 1979-80, he returned to the NHL with the Hartford Whalers. Very quietly, in the summer of 1982, Keon ended his 22-year professional career. There was no fanfare. Keon, at the time the NHL's oldest player at 42, informed Hartford director of hockey operations Larry Pleau of his decision and then declined to have a press conference, saying he'd like to end his career without formality.
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An early Wednesday morning fire at Kitty, Georgetown destroyed three houses and left at least 22 persons homeless, and causing government to rush assistance to the victims. In the second major fire in less than two weeks, three houses at Lots 185 and 191 were destroyed and another at 191 was damaged between 3:30 AM an 5 AM. Those homeless ...Read More »
Daily Archives: March 7, 2018
ExxonMobil plans 20 projects offshore Guyana; calculations pegged at US$40 per barrel
ExxonMobil plans 20 oil exploration projects offshore Guyana, using a projected cost of US$40 per barrel, company officials said Wednesday. The corporation's Vice President Neil Chapman said his company has found 3.2 barrels of oil equivalents and is gearing up to drill 20 more wells in the Stabroek Block. "We also have considerable additional potential in this region. We have ...Read More »
Former Bishops High School teacher to be charged with sexual offence
Former Bishop's High School teacher, Coen Jackson is to be charged with a sexual offence allegedly committed on a child, the Director of Public Prosecutions Chambers has recommended. After months of back-and-forth between the DPP's Chambers and police, a recommendation was dispatched to police earlier Wednesday for Jackson to be charged with the offence of "sexual activity with a child ...Read More »
Drunken man chops his mother near police station; arrested in river
A drunken man, who chopped his mother several times and jumped into the nearby Berbice River to escape from police, was arrested by lawmen who plunged behind him in the waterway, police said. The incident occurred Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at about 11:30 AM at a home next door to the Sister's Village Police Station. Police have since arrested 21-year ...Read More »


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Hanging out in Hobbiton: The Hobbit's stunning movie set
Sir Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" will premiere in Wellington, New Zealand, on November 28, two weeks before the film's official release on December 14.
The director's latest blog account of the filming has also just been uploaded -- see it here.
But Middle Earth fans don't need to wait six months to see the spectacular locations used in the film.
Since the announcement that filming would take place in New Zealand for production of the two-part prequel to "The Lord of the Rings," (LOTR) Tourism New Zealand has been getting ready to capitalize on the next round of hobbit fever.
Now travelers can get a peek of Middle Earth and even visit the new film locations before the movies are released -- here's a quick tour through a hobbit's world.
Hobbiton (Matamata)
After landing at Auckland airport, any true Middle Earth fan is going to run off and visit the Hobbiton Movie Set in the North Island's town of Matamata.
As an unprecedented convention-defying, Hollywood-style gift to the people of New Zealand and movie fans across the globe, Jackson has rebuilt the entire outdoor film set of Hobbiton in all its hobbit-hole, gardeny-green glory.
It will serve as a permanent tourist attraction -- it's made of actual wood and stone, no polystyrene.
Visitors can stroll through the lane where Gandalf first arrived in Hobbiton, pass by Sam's house, gaze across the lake at the Green Dragon tavern, dance under the Party Tree and climb the hill to Bilbo's house at Bag End, where J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure begins.
It's open to the public when filming is not in session.
Mordor (Tongariro National Park)
From Hobbiton, its straight to Mordor (yes, New Zealand's Middle Earth map is a little scrambled), in Tongariro National Park.
The day hike along the Tongariro Alpine crossing and skirting active volcanoes and Emerald Lakes, with a detour to Mt. Doom (or rather Mount Ngauruhoe), is one of the best walks in New Zealand.
Several spots in the park were used as filming locations.
The walk normally takes seven to eight hours.
I did it 11 hours. My feet were so sore that my toenails fell out, I drank all my water hours before I finished and I missed my scheduled pick-up.
Thank God for attentive hut wardens and the folks at Howard's Mountain Lodge, who came looking for me.
Rivendell (Wellywood)
It's a pleasant train ride south from Tongariro to the nation's capital.
Wellington, affectionately known is "Wellywood," is arguably the hottest spot in filmmaking right now.
Wellington's Weta Workshop not only designed all the computer effects, props and sets for LOTR and "The Hobbit," it continues to create effects for many of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters.
Located on Miramar Peninsula near the airport, the Weta Cave, which sells books, souvenirs, replicas and movie maquettes (created by the same artists who make the movie props) is the only part of Weta that's open to the public.
However, it's possible to walk the streets of Miramar, between the surrounding studios, and get a glimpse of sets from "The Hobbit," or even some of the actors.
The rustic wooden set for Laketown has been visible from outside the Stone Street Studios for several months.
Across from Weta's famous "Tripod" sculpture is the Embassy Theatre on Courtenay Place, a grand period cinema tenderly restored to include a chic basement bar and upstairs café.
Embassy hosted the premier of "The Return of the King" in 2003 and is scheduled to host the premier of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."
There are dozens of film locations in the landscapes surrounding Wellington.
The locations I found most worthwhile were Mount Victoria, where Frodo and the hobbits fled the shire to escape the Black Riders, and Kaitoke Park, location of several scenes in Rivendell (both landscapes which could conceivably appear again in the new movies).
The Misty Mountains (The Remarkables)
The Southern Island's Queenstown (reached via short flight from Wellington) has been a base for filming many scenes in both LOTR and "The Hobbit."
Nearby Paradise and Paradise Trust were used as film locations for the outskirts of Bree in "The Hobbit." Speargrass Flat and Wanaka will comprise the Lonelands.
Portions of the Remarkables, a spectacular mountain range overlooking Queenstown, were used in LOTR shots for both the Snowy Mountains and the landscapes of Mordor.
They'll be used once again for the Misty Mountains in "The Hobbit."
Even after a month in New Zealand I didn't exhaust all of the Middle Earth locations and related activities that are possible to experience. To do so would be an epic adventure worthy of a true hobbit.
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" will premier in Wellington in late November 2012.
A week-long festival for the premier is expected to dwarf that of 2003's "Return of the King," with an expected 100,000 visitors in attendance.
The worldwide premier will follow on December 14, 2012.
The second film, "The Hobbit: There and Back Again," will be released on December 13, 2013.
More on CNN: World's weirdest themed restaurants
How to tour Hobbiton yourself
Embassy Theatre, 10 Kent Terrace, Wellington, +64 4 384 7657, www.embassytheatre.co.nz
Flat Earth, (tours of film locations around Wellington), +64 4 472 9635, www.flatearth.co.nz
Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tours, 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata, +64 7 888 1505, www.hobbitontours.com
Howard's Mountain Lodge, Caroll Street, National Park Village, +64 7 892 2827, www.howardslodge.co.nz
Nomad Safaris (tours of film locations around Queenstown), +64 3 442 6699, www.nomadsafaris.co.nz
Weta Cave, corner of Camperdown Road and Weka Street, Miramar, Wellington, +64 4 380 9361, www.wetanz.com/cave
Also see:
Lord Of The Rings Location Guidebook -- Extended Edition by Ian Brodie, Harpercollins, 2011
Tourism New Zealand, www.newzealand.com
New Zealand Department of Conservation (including national park brochures, maps and free cell phone apps), www.doc.govt.nz


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A guide to understanding your natural portrait session
As someone who tends to feel a little camera shy, you'll be all too familiar with those glossy photo profiles on social media sites – Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.
Yet, are you happy with your photo?
This blog post was written in you in mind, so you can see what goes into a natural portrait session in London. This means you'll understand what to expect in easy steps and have confidence in your decision to book a professional photographer.
The Facts
Most working women contact me when they want their profile image to say a little more –
I publish children's literature – I want to look professional with a welcoming smile
I run a health food website – I want to look happy, healthy and alive
I run offices throughout London – I need a professional look that isn't too staged
The Myths
Movie theatres have a lot to answer for – common consensus in films finds photographers sitting in front of the computer, hot tea in hand and still wearing out PJs after eleven. We jump out of our seats for an hour to snap, snap, snap a glamorous model or impossibly happy child.
I love to bust that myth – the truth is a little closer to home. Everyday people book photographers to capture expressive portraits that say something about who they are.
And that's my mission – to show you how it's done.
Don't miss out
If you feel professional photography isn't for you, you could be missing out on a valuable way to improve your social media profile. Updating your portrait is a fast, easy way to connect with fellow professionals, enhance your on-line reputation and feel good about your on-line identity.
That's only the start of it.
Here's how to get a piece of that pie
Here at Amanda Herbert Photography I spend every spare moment I have ensuing the best experience possible, to show my clients how to capture authentic portraits, naturally. Just click the links below:
- Choose a photographer that you trust – using this step-bystepy guide
- Speak on the phone to iron out the details – how to hire a photographer
- Be clear about what you want (& don't want) – what you get
- Wash & iron your clothes a week before – what to wear guides
- Allow time for your session – how I work
- Set out clear time lines for delivery of products
- Leave feedback (everyone loves a little praise)
Enjoy your fabulous photographs and on-line popularity, with a growing list of professional contacts.
I hope you find these tips helpful and that your next natural portrait session in London is a hoot. I'd love to know which tip you think is the most helpful, your thoughts on the blog and all things photographic!
And if you need a little help to kickstart your social media photo, don't be shy to ask me to help you!
Tel: 0789 8621 187
Want to join in? Check out the helpful posts below:
If these approaches work for your family, tell me about it! Tel: 07898621187


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Fishing-nets of various kinds were in use, and were all manufactured on the islands. Several of the Polynesian tribes excel in this branch of industry. A captain of a ship of war, who was buying curiosities lately at Savage Island, actually refused their fine small fishing-nets, thinking that they must be articles of European manufacture. In Samoa, net-making is the same now as it was of old. It is the work of the women, and confined principally to the inland villages. One would have thought that it would be the reverse, and that the coast districts would have made it their principal business. The trade being confined to the interior, is probably occasioned by its proximity to the raw material which abounds in the bush, viz. the bark of the hibiscus, already referred to in describing "fine mats."
After the rough outer surface of the bark has been scraped off with a shell on a board, the remaining fibres are twisted with the mere palm of the hand across the bare thigh into a strong whip-cord, or finer twine, according to the size of the meshes of the net. As the good lady's cord lengthens, she fills her netting-needle, and when that is full, works it into her net. Their wooden netting-needles are exactly the same in form as those in common use in Europe. One evening, in taking a walk, Mrs. Turner and I stood for a few minutes and looked at a woman working a net. Mrs. Turner begged to be allowed to do a bit, took the needle, and did a few loops, to the no small amazement of the woman, who wondered how a European lady could know how to handle a Samoan netting-needle, and do Samoan work.
They make nets of all sizes, from the small one of eighteen inches square to the seine of a hundred feet long. A net forty feet long and twelve feet deep can be had for native mats, or white calico, to the value of twenty shillings. A hundred men may be able to muster some twenty nets. These they unite together, and, in the lagoon off their settlement, take large quantities of mullet and other fish.
The pearl-shell fish-hook is another article long in use, and in the manufacture of which the Samoans show some ingenuity. They cut a strip off the shell, from two to three inches long, and rub it smooth on a stone, so as to resemble a small fish. On the under side, or what may be called the belly, of this little mock fish, they fasten a hook made of tortoise-shell, or, it may be, nowadays, an English steel one. Alongside of the hook, concealing its point, and in imitation of the fins of a little fish, they fasten two small white feathers. Without any bait, this pearl-shell contrivance is cast adrift at the stern of a canoe, with a line of twenty feet, and from its striking resemblance to a little fish it is soon caught at, and in this way the Samoans secure a large quantity of their favourite food. No European fish-hook has yet superseded this purely native invention. They bait and use the steel fish-hook, however, and in some cases use it on their pearl-shells, as we have just remarked, instead of the tortoise-shell fish-hook.
A curious native drill is seen in connection with the manufacture of these little shell fish-hooks. Fine holes are drilled through the shell for the purpose of making fast the hook as well as the line, and the instrument to which we refer answers the purpose admirably. For the sake of comparison with other parts of the world, this simple contrivance is worth a few lines of description. Take a piece of wood, eighteen inches long, twice the thickness of a cedar pencil. Fasten with a strong thread a fine-pointed nail, or a sail-needle, to the end of this sort of spindle. Get a thick piece of wood, about the size of what is called in England a "hot cross bun," and in Scotland a "cookie," bore a hole in the centre of it, run the spindle through it, and wedge it fast about the middle of the spindle. At the top of the spindle fasten two strings, each nine inches long, to the ends of these strings attach the ends of a common cedar pencil, forming a triangle with a wooden base and string sides. Stand up the machine with your left hand, place the iron point where you wish to bore a hole, and steady the spindle with your left hand. Take hold of the pencil handle of the upper triangle, twirl round the spindle with your left hand, which will coil on the strings at the top to the spindle, pull down the pencil handle quickly, and then the machine will spin round. Work the handle in this way up and down, like a pump, the cord will alternately run off and on to the spindle, and the machine will continue to whirl round, first one way and then the other, until the pearl-shell, or whatever it may be, is perforated.
There is hardly anything else in the department of manufacture requiring particular notice. When speaking of garments, we referred to native cloth and mats. Large quantities of cinnet are plaited by the old men principally. They sit at their ease in their houses, and twist away very rapidly. At political meetings also, where there are hours of formal palaver and speechifying, the old men take their work with them, and improve the time at the cleanly, useful occupation of twisting cinnet. It is a substitute for twine, and useful for many a purpose, and is now sold to the merchants at about a shilling per pound. Baskets andfans are made as of old of the cocoa-nut leaflet, floor mats and a finer kind of baskets from the pandanus leaf. Twenty or thirty pieces of the rib of the cocoa-nut leaflet, fastened close together with a thread of cinnet, form a comb. Oval tubs are made by hollowing out a block of wood. Clubs, three feet long, from the iron-wood, or something else that is heavy. Spears, eight feet long, were made from the cocoa-nut tree, and barbed with the sting of the ray-fish; a wicked contrivance, for it was meant to break off from the spear in the body of the unhappy victim. In nine cases out of ten there was no way of cutting it out, and the poor creature died in agony.
The Samoans are an agricultural rather than a manufacturing people. In addition to their own individual wants, their hospitable custom in supplying, without money and without stint, the wants of visitors from all parts of the group, was a great drain on their plantations. The fact that a party of natives could travel from one end of the group to the other without a penny of expense for food and lodging, was an encouragement to pleasure excursions, friendly visits, and all sorts of travelling. Hardly a day passed without there being some strangers in the "guest house" of the village, to be provided for by a contribution from every family in the place. After meeting fully, however, all home wants, large quantities of yams, taro, and bananas, with pigs and poultry, were still to spare, and were sold to the ships which called for water and supplies.


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"Princess Ivona"
Thu, March 12th, 2015
7:30 pm
- This event has passed.
In this dark humor play, two different societies drastically collide: traditional and unconventional. The theme of the play highlights the comparison between those devoted to empty platitudes, lack of creativity, and hatred, and those with mysterious and inspiring minds. Witold Gombrowicz, one of the most influential playwrights of the twentieth century, brings humor, truth of human nature, and universal pieces of wisdom. Which society are you in? Come and find out!
This exciting production of a rarely-seen classic unites Williams Theatre Department artists with a creative team of international collaborators, including a set designer from Poland, a lighting designer who worked on Broadway and New York Fashion Week, a sound designer from the vanguard of innovative New York theater, and two choreographers from Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.
The play introduces Prince Philip, the most eligible bachelor in Burgundia, who can attract any woman he desires. But when he declares his engagement to the commoner Ivona, his scandalized kingdom must confront the ugliness and cruelty within each soul. Why is the royal court so threatened by the mysterious future princess, who refuses to speak for herself? This grotesque comic fable by absurdist master Witold Gombrowicz explores what happens when genteel facades are shattered, fear and humiliation take over, and repressed human brutality gushes to the surface.
Ivona: Petra Mijanović
King Ignatius: Michael Druker
Queen Margaret: Carina Zox
Prince Philip: Bailey Edwards
Lord Chamberlain: David Carter
Isobel: Mia Hull
Simon: Michael May
Cyprian: Harold Theurer
Ivona's Aunts: Evelyn Mahon, Jacqueline Lewy
Innocent/Beggar: Ben Rosenblum
Checkers: Spencer Lee-Rey, Jackson Barber
Guests: Sofia Smith, Rachel Waldman, Ashna Shah, Christine Pash
Security Officer: Michael Kidd-Phillips
Director: Omar Sangare
Choreographers: Jorge Puerta Armenta & Pau Aran Gimeno from Pina Bausch Company
Set Designer: Joanna Kus, Poland
Lighting Designer: Coby Chasman-Beck, NYC
Costume Designer: Deborah Brothers, Williams
Sound Designer: Stephen Simalchik, NYC
Dramaturg: Ilya Khodosh, Yale
Assistant to the Director: Matt Jewett, Williams
Graphic Designer: Julia Kwinto, London
Props Artisan: Jessica Sovronsky, NYC
Witold Gombrowicz (1904-1969) was one of the foremost visionaries of twentieth-century world literature. A Polish dissident who sought refuge in Argentina during the Second World War, his irreverent, satirical works include "The Marriage," "Ferdydurke," "Memoirs Of A Time Of Immaturity," and "Trans-Atlantic."
Produced by arrangement with Rita Gombrowicz.