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Explained: How and why Kumbh Mela 2021 in Haridwar will be different – The Indian Express

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Danzig

Written by Lalmani Verma, Edited by Explained Desk | Updated: October 10, 2020 10:39:39 pmSaints take part in a religious procession at Sangam confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythological Saraswati river, in Allahabad on January 1, 2019. (Express Photo: Ritesh Shukla, File)The mythology behind Kumbh

Kumbh is one of the most sacred pilgrimages for Hindus. According to information shared on a website on Kumbh hosted by Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj Mela Pradhikaran, the founding myth of the Kumbh Mela points to the puranas (compilation of ancient legends). It recounts how gods and demons fought over the sacred kumbh (pitcher) of amrit (nectar of immortality) called the Ratna of Samudra Manthan. It is widely believed that Lord Vishnu (disguised as the enchantress Mohini) whisked the kumbh out of the grasp of the covetous demons who had tried to claim it. As he took it towards heaven, a few drops of the precious nectar fell on four sacred sites, which we now know as Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayag. The flight and the following pursuit is said to have lasted 12 divine days, which is equivalent to twelve human years, and therefore, the mela is celebrated every 12 years, staggered at each of the four sacred sites in this cycle. The corresponding rivers are believed to have turned into amrit at the cosmic moment, giving pilgrims the chance to bathe in the essence of purity, auspiciousness, and immortality.

Religious tourism is the backbone of Uttarakhands economy. The lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic has given the hill states tourism sector a major jolt.

The annual pilgrimage of Char Dham Yatra resumed late and with restrictions. The annual Kanwar Yatra could not happen due to the pandemic. And now, the Kumbh Mela 2021, which is to be held from January 1 to April 30, is a hope of revival for the people associated with the sector, says Seema Nautiyal, Hardiwar District Tourism Officer.

There are over 800 hotels and 350 ashrams in Haridwar where preparations are underway to accomodate an average 1.25 lakh pilgrims on any given day during the Kumbh. The tourism department was earlier expecting around 10 crore pilgrims, but restrictions imposed to ensure social distancing will curtail the figure. As 156-sq km mela area has been demarcated in three districts of Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal for people associated with hospitality, tourism and civil supply in these districts, and adjoining areas of western Uttar Pradesh, to get business during the religious congregation.

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Hundreds of labourers have been working on permanent infrastructure, laying of sandstone at the ghats of Har Ki Pauri and shifting overhead power cables underground to give the area a facelift. A total of 51 construction projects which will be permanent in nature are underway in the mela area. A few projects had started in August 2019, but most began in January 2020. Lockdown had halted the progress for a few weeks after which is resumed in the first unlock.

According to Mela Officer Deepak Rawat, projects worth Rs 320 crore are going on, with December 15 as the deadline to complete them. Rawat claims 70 per cent of the work has been completed. This includes seven bridges, various new roads, astha path, upgradation of police barracks, fire stations and bus station and facelifts of various ghats.

First, the schedule has changed. Kumbh is celebrated once in 12 years and and the previous kumbh in Hardiwar was held in 2010. The next one was to be held in 2022, but is happening a year earlier.

After more than 100 years the kumbh will be held earlier. It is happening because of specific auspicious dates, said Mahant Narendra Giri, head of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Prishad, who attended various meetings chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on the preparations.

Second, crowd management will be tackled differently due to Covid-19. For taking a holy dip in the Ganga on the dates of four Shahi Snans (March 11, April 12, April 14 and April 27), pilgrims will have to register on a website and select a specific ghat to bathe. Each pilgrim will be allotted a specific time to visit the ghat, and will be allowed to bathe only for 15 minutes. The route map of the selected ghat will also be provided on the e-pass.

The mela area and all 107 ghats too have been marked as red, green and yellow zones, according to vulnerability. GIS mapping of the entire area has been done, and if there is crowding at any particular site above the permissible limit, the control room will receive an alert that will be relayed to security force teams available nearby. The crowd capacity of each ghat has also been assessed. Further, since, in the past, stampedes have occurred in the morning or forenoon as people rush to bathe, the administration will increase the time duration to reduce crowd density during these hours.

IG, Kumbh Mela, Sanjay Gunjyal said the portal system will be for Shahi Snans days when the maximum crowd turns up to take a holy dip, and pilgrims will have to produce a pass at the border. Gunjyal said the strategy can be changed further in view of the pandemic.

A staggering seven million devotees attended the last Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in 2010. Officials said the grandness can be attested by the fact that there were 1.5 crore people in the mela area on April 14, 2020 one particular date of shahi snan.

Also in Explained | Should you get yourself tested for Covid-19 just to rule it out?

It is also expected that pilgrims will be able to bathe in cleaner water in the Ganga this year. While inaugurating various projected related to Namami Gange mission in Uttarakhand via video conferencing recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that as it was experienced by the pilgrims at Prayagraj Kumbh, the visitors to Haridwar Kumbh would also experience the clean and pure status of the River Ganga in Uttarakhand.

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Aditya Dhar and Vicky Kaushal’s The Immortal Ashwatthama to begin shooting next year in April – The Indian Wire

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Danzig

The year 2019, saw a new young director, coming out and making a mark in Bollywood. That man was, Aditya Dhar, whose film,Uri: The Surgical Strikebecame a sensation in the country. Starring Vicky Kaushal, in the lead, it was a mammoth success at the box office. It was hard to comprehend, that it was Dhars debut film.

Next year, will be the year when he starts his second film. Titled as The Immortal Ashwatthama, the film will star, Vicky Kaushal. It will go on floors in April, next year, as per Dhar.

There is an interesting arch to Adityas second film. Though set in modern times, the film is having its roots in the Indian epic, The Mahabharata. Vicky Kaushal will play the role of a mythological character, given the curse of immortality.

If you remember, Ashwatthama was the son of Guru Dronacharya, who fought for the Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra. He was given a curse of immortality by Lord Krishna.

The film is going to be a superhero action film, and Aditya is planning to make the film, a trilogy. Work on the film already started during the lockdown, as per him. Shooting for the film will take place in Europe. Talking about the film, in an interview Aditya said :

We will begin shooting in Europe, primarily the UK, and then head to Iceland. The final schedule will be in Mumbai. The plan may change depending on the COVID-19 crisis in these countries.

Since the role is going to be demanding, Vicky Kaushal will have to bulk up for it and will undergo training in horse riding, and various martial art forms.

While keeping the film on track, the director, Aditya Dhar has already talked with the VFX team. Speaking on this he said:

Since nobody has attempted such a subject before, we dont have a reference point. So, the VFX and design teams have to use their imagination and create (the universe) from scratch.

Backing the film as the producer is, Ronnie Screwvala, who also backed, Dhars debut film, Uri.

It is good to see, Indian directors coming up with new content ideas. We hope Aditya Dhars next film, lives up to its hype. Meanwhile, tell us what do you think about this development below.

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Aditya Dhar and Vicky Kaushal's The Immortal Ashwatthama to begin shooting next year in April - The Indian Wire

Vicky Kaushal”s ”The Immortal Ashwatthama” to start production in April 2021 – Outlook India

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Danzig

Mumbai, Oct 9 (PTI) Filmmaker Aditya Dhar on Friday said his upcoming Vicky Kaushal-starrer "The Immortal Ashwatthama" will go on floors from April next year.

Dhar, who broke out on the Bollywood scene with his 2019 debut "Uri: The Surgical Strike", is once again teaming up with the actor for the new project.

"The Immortal Ashwatthama", billed as a superhero action film set in modern times, is being planned as a trilogy.

Dhar said during the lockdown, his team was actively working on the pre-production of the film, which will be shot in the Europe.

"We will begin shooting in Europe, primarily the UK, and then head to Iceland. The final schedule will be in Mumbai. The plan may change depending on the COVID-19 crisis in these countries," Dhar said in a statement.

The three-part modern-day superhero film, which has its roots in the Mahabharata, will see Kaushal in a mythological character, who was given the boon of immortality.

As per the epic Mahabharata, Ashwatthama was the son of guru Dronacharya, who fought for the Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra.

For the part, Kaushal will gain weight as well as receive training in horse-riding and various martial art forms, including krav maga and jujutsu.

Dhar said he has finalised the heads of departments (HoDs) for the ambitious project and begun discussion with the VFX team.

"Since nobody has attempted such a subject before, we don''t have a reference point. So, the VFX and design teams have to use their imagination and create (the universe) from scratch," he added.

"The Immortal Ashwatthama" is being produced by Ronnie Screwvala, who had also backed Dhar''s debut "Uri". PTI KKP RBRB

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Vicky Kaushal''s ''The Immortal Ashwatthama'' to start production in April 2021 - Outlook India

Remembering Snoopy, the Red Baron and the Royal Guardsmen – St Pete Catalyst

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Danzig

There was a moment, in the final month of 1966, when it looked as if the written in St. Pete, recorded in Tampa record Snoopy vs. the Red Baron would reach No. 1 on the national pop charts. The Royal Guardsmen, a teen band from Ocala, might become the next Beatles or, at the very least, the next Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Instead, Im a Believer by the Monkees went to the top, leaving Snoopy vs. the Red Baron to lodge at a still-pretty-great No. 2, where it would remain for an incredible four weeks.

All across America (and in Australia, where the Royal Guardsmen record topped the chart for more than a month), kids were marching around the schoolyard singing Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or more!

The bands Chris Nunley and Billy Taylor were Fridays guests on The Catalyst Sessions, remembering, with more than five decades past, that heady time when they came within a guitar string of pop music immortality.

It sold a million copies in that week before Thanksgiving, is what we were told at the time, Taylor said. And everything just went into high gear. The kids in the area were hearing it on the radio, so they knew that it was a big deal.

But we didnt know that it would be such a big thing nationally we just kept on being local kids making good music.

The band went on TV to promote Snoopy and its followup Return of the Red Baron, and in the summer of 67 when the youngest members were out of high school toured the country as part of a package show with Tommy James & the Shondells, Sam the Sham and others.

Snoopys Christmas became another million-seller.

We were touring quite a bit, explained Nunley, and the only thing that kind of got us cheesed off was the fact that all Laurie (Records) wanted was more Snoopy, more Snoopy. They half-heartedly let us cut some original stuff, and its pretty good. Its on more than one CD.

But they didnt push it.

In the end, the momentum ran out, and the Royal Guardsmen went their separate ways in 1969.

Read the full story of the Royal Guardsmen in the book Phil Gernhard Record Man (University Press of Florida, 2018).

April 29, 2018: The Royal Guardsmen reunion concert in the Palladium Side Door, St. Petersburg:

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Remembering Snoopy, the Red Baron and the Royal Guardsmen - St Pete Catalyst

A Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Jinx? Maybe – Past The Wire

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Danzig

Each year since 1984, on the undercard of the big Breeders Cup Classic, we get to see the kids run in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Its a chance for the 2-year-old colts to race their way to fame and immortality on the way to a possible Kentucky Derby win or a Triple Crown.

Yet only twice in the races 36-year history has the winner of the race gone on to win the Kentucky Derby.

We should know by now that there are no jinxes in horse racing. After all, Justify shattered Apollos curse in 2018, becoming the first horse to win the Derby (and Triple Crown) when unraced at 2. But for 22 years, the Breeders Cup Juvenile Jinx had complete control over the 3-year-old colts.

Its extended to the girls as well. Only two fillies have won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies race and gone on to win the Kentucky Oaks Open Mind in 1989 and Silverbulletday in 1999. Thats it.

Even the great 2-year-old Arazi, who turned in one of the greatest Breeders Cup performances in history in the 1991 Juvenile, couldnt handle the 1992 Derby and finished eighth. More often than not, the Juvenile winner has disappointed. Many times they havent even run, already washed up or injured by the time the first Saturday in May comes around.

Not until Street Sense, the 2006 Juvenile winner, won the 2007 Kentucky Derby was the curse broken. And since then, its been broken only one other time in 2016, when Nyquist won both races.

The jinx has continued throughout the other Triple Crown races. Only one Juvenile winner has taken the Preakness Stakes (Timber Country in 1994), and no Juvenile winner has ever won the Belmont Stakes.

Why isnt there more success among the Juvenile winners? There are several theories and facts.

One theory is that the Breeders Cup Juvenile, at 1 1/16 miles, is too long of a race for such young horses, and they get worn down quickly. Two-year-old champions such as Steviewonderboy and War Pass had their careers cut short by injuries before the Kentucky Derby. This theory, of course, has been contradicted by both Street Sense and Nyquist, but it does bear some examination.

According to horse.com, it has been suggested that many [horse injuries] stem from the training and racing of 2-year-olds. Most racehorses begin training at 18 to 20 months of age, a year or more before the skeleton has reached full maturity. Potentially, intensive training at that young age might predispose the horses to career-limiting injuries.

More than likely, though, its because Derby winners may develop more slowly, and you never know when theyre going to peak. Alysheba won only one maiden race in 1986 and ran third in the Juvenile, yet came on strong in 1987 to win the Derby and the Preakness en route to becoming a Hall of Fame horse.

Capote, the 1986 Juvenile winner and 2-Year-Old Male Horse of the Year, peaked too early, wit one third-place finish in six starts at 3. He finished 16th in the Derby behind Alysheba.

On the other hand, Orb, the 2013 Kentucky Derby winner, won only one of four starts at 2. The 2012 Derby winner Ill Have Another won one of three starts at 2, including a disappointing sixth place in the Hopeful Stakes.

That being said, many superhorses are discovered at age 2. Secretariat was named Horse of the Year at 2, and other legends such as Man O War, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Citation, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Spectacular Bid all won 2-Year-Old Male Horse of the Year honors. While we would like to see great horses blossom at 2 and continue their winning ways at 3 and 4, sometimes that doesnt always happen.

And its not to say success hasnt found Juvenile winners just for some odd reason, it hasnt found them very often in Triple Crown races. Juvenile winners have won 28 2-year-old championships in 36 years a kind of Win and Youre In commendation for winning the race. The $2 million purse is enticing as well.

But even running in the Juvenile wont improve your chances of winning the Derby. In the 36 runnings of the Juvenile, only six horses who competed in the Juvenile went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Jinx? Maybe not. But dont start putting your money on the Juvenile winner when the Kentucky Derby Future Wagers roll around unless we have a superhorse come along. Then all bets are on.

Nyquist Photo: Jlvsclrk / CC BY-SA

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A Breeders' Cup Juvenile Jinx? Maybe - Past The Wire

Book review: V.E. Schwab writes a book to leave you weeping and heartbroken – Sheffield Telegraph

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Danzig

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has been causing quite a stir in the book community and for good reason.

This beautiful book totally enchanted me and I ended up reading it two times in one month because it was just that good.

I initially picked up this book as the early reviews were raving and the premise of a romance including a character of the literal devil was intriguing.

But this novel blew my already high expectations out of the water.

V.E.Schwab wrote an epic tale of romance with a fast plot which kept me on my toes the whole time.

Addie LaRue makes a deal with the devil but not all is what it seems as instead of immortality he makes her invisible, figuratively.

She can live forever but any person that she meets will forget her as soon as she is out of their eyesight.

Leading to a rather miserable existence for the main character.

The novel follows Addie from the 18th century to present day and how she finds ways to leave a mark on the world despite the devil's curse.

This book brought about a few existential crises in myself as it forces you to ponder your own impact and what you would do differently if you never aged.

The biggest pleasure of this book was the unravelling of Addies past as she travels the world and slowly grows into herself.

Schwab doesnt give you all of this information in one go.

She slowly drip feeds you the secrets of Addies past which constantly surprise me.

By the end of this book I was an emotional wreck, Schwab tears out the reader's heart several times and I loved it.

If like me the never ending pandemic is extending your singledom then I would highly recommend this novel to fill that romance hole.

If you want to hear more of my book thoughts you can follow me on Instagram @lauraandrew95

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Book review: V.E. Schwab writes a book to leave you weeping and heartbroken - Sheffield Telegraph

CRYPTOSIS Release "Prospect Of Immortality" Single And Music Video – bravewords.com

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Danzig

December 18, 2020, 4 days ago

news heavy metal cryptosis

Dutch futuristic multi-metal eruption, Cryptosis, present the video for Prospect Of Immortality. Watch below.

Says the band: "'Prospect Of Immortality' is a song in which we used an experimental approach of songwriting. In contrast to other material, this song is a lot more atmospheric and doesnt make use of a clear verse/chorus structure. The lyrics are written as a suicide note by a person who can no longer cope with the 24/7 surveillance and human experiments that she is being subjected too. The experiments and lost sense of reality has caused her to believe suicide is the only way out. Trapped inside a continuous cycle of endeavours, she is unable to succeed. The song consists of 5 chapters, each representing a different part of her reality."

Check out the previously released video for Decypher:

Cryptosis are:

Laurens Houvast (vocals/guitar)Frank te Riet (bass/mellotron/backing vocals)Marco Prij (drums)

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CRYPTOSIS Release "Prospect Of Immortality" Single And Music Video - bravewords.com

Latest Overwatch Patch Features D.Va and Reinhardt Buffs – Hotspawn

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Danzig

A brand new patch was released for the Overwatch retail servers on Thursday, which included a small nerf for Baptiste and a moderate buff to both D.Va and Reinhardt. All of the new changes were tested on the most recent experimental card over the past week before being finalized and released for all modes.

D.Va received a buff in Thursdays patch which changed her health pool from 200 armor with 400 health to 300 armor with 300 health. Armor blocks five damage from any attack that deals more than ten damage, and it halves the damage of any attack that deals less than ten damage. This means that armor is an effective tool for countering shotgun pellets, damage-over-time beams, and weapons that rely on hitting a lot of shots quickly, because armor has a more significant effect on lower damage pellets than high damage hits. By increasing her armor, this change should make D.Va a more durable hero, which is good since she has been feeling pretty squishy for a tank in recent months.

The developers gave Reinhardt a similar buff, increasing his armor from 200 to 250. Post change, Reinhardt has a total health pool of 550 health, 250 of which is armor and 300 of which is health. They also increased the damage of his Rocket Hammer from 75 to 85 damage per hit. The buff to his damage means he can kill a 250 health enemy in three hits instead of four. When combined, these two buffs should make a significant improvement on Reinhardts frontline abilities, since he will be able to deal more damage and take more damage.

Finally, the developers nerfed Baptiste in this Overwatch patch by lowering the health on his Immortality Field from 200 to 150 and increasing the cost of his ultimate, Amplification Matrix, by 15%. He recently received a buff to his Biotic Launcher and Amplification Matrix in the last patch on November 18th. Those adjustments made Baptiste much more effective than the developers had originally intended, so they decided to nerf him by making his Immortality Field slightly worse and making it harder to earn his ultimate.

Continue reading here:
Latest Overwatch Patch Features D.Va and Reinhardt Buffs - Hotspawn

Meaning in it all – The Times of India Blog

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Danzig

Man lives on food, water and air but not for them. One universal law of life, in a world with limited resources, is the constant struggle of living organisms for these, in order to leave behind maximum copies of themselves in the form of their progeny. This simple rule of nature has carved our bodies and minds over millions of years, as new species evolve, better adapted to their environments. It operates silently at the level of our genes, by selecting those genes from the pool which code for such behaviour as will maximise their survival.

But we do not fall in love in order to produce a large brood, nor do we look after our children only because they are the means of propagation of our genes. We do things that seem far removed from this Malthusian world of struggle for survival. And it appears we liveforthem. We sing and dance with our friends, we invent wildly improbable supernatural beings and equally preposterous means to appease them, we pierce our bodies to put on trinkets, we toil in our gardens to beautify our surroundings, we invent intricate systems of sounds and body-movements and derive rapturous joy listening and watching people who have mastered these, we zealously guard little leisure wrenched from the gruelling task of earning livelihood and spend it holding hands of our beloveds, we fritter hard-earned money to travel to far-off lands to watch sun sink behind an interminable ocean, we pave mountains, we carve stones, we paint caves.

Are all these activities in pursuit of happiness? If by happiness we mean sum-total of pleasurable stimuli during a sensory experience, much of our lives are spent in ventures which are far from pleasant when being performed. An act of creation is the most tormenting experience of man: be it painting, sculpture, writing, music, or scientific invention. People spend excruciating lives in these pursuits. We only learn of those who succeed. Even they admit that the process of achieving their objective is an unmitigated misery.

Writing a book is horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.

-George Orwell, Why I Write

These human endeavours at least provide for an illusion of immortality. One feels they are leaving behind a part of themselves for the posterity. What about people who live and die in strange, hostile lands to spread the message of their imaginary God. People spend their precious youths in climbing remote, inhospitable mountains or charting the seas of the world.

People with exquisite intellect whittle away their most productive years in inventing esoteric streams of abstract knowledge which has no apparent utility for mankind. What is this gigantic human industry for? If it is not for the immediate pleasure and apparently not to maximize individual survival, what then drives it? What does man seek in this relentless labour?

It seems this unflagging strife is in pursuance ofmeaningin life. Meaning, not in the sense of Cosmic truth of existence, but meaning in the sense of a goal, a value, that makes every moment of life worth living. Meaning gives a narrative to our past and a direction to our future. It gives us a feeling that our life is not a mere collection of random occurrences but each moment is a component of the whole which we can strive to carve. It is a known fact that life without meaning, though not lacking in pleasure, is rarely felt to be happy. While a life devoid of much pleasures but seen to be meaningful is considered rewarding.

People find this meaning in various activities: in arts, science, music, travel, charity; in being a dutiful parent or a loving spouse; in building empires or in simply being an honest, sincere citizen.

Science presents another interesting view of life.

Human life is inconsequential in the realm of cosmos, though inseparably woven in its fabric. Origin of human life was a cosmic phenomenon, like any other. In this infinite vastness of universe, we inhabit a speck of dust called Earth which is itself an insignificant planet revolving around a moderately sized star. There are billions such stars and planetary systems in our galaxy and billions such galaxies in our universe. It would not make any difference to universe if all of a sudden human life was to be snubbed from it. Planets would go on revolving around their stars, stars will go on exploding into supernovae or collapse into black holes, universe will go on expanding and as this expansion slows, perhaps one day it will vanish into a void from which it had risen.

Universe grinds according to certain simple laws. These laws are blind. They have no purpose. Mans search for meaning in his ephemeral life, seen in the context of the meaninglessness of existence is intensely tragic, if not outright absurd. Steven Weinberg, a Noble laureate in physics, thought that the more universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless.

Scientific explanations, stark and trenchant as they are, appear to sap life of its vitality. But when approached with a longing only for truth, they expose a vista of unparalleled simplicity about origin of universe and life on earth. In a few words they give us the law which explains the origin of the most exquisite living machine.

What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable!

-Shakespeare

This relentless search, a by-product of our thinking mind itself a fruit of evolution, is as real as the supreme brain that stirred it, however fruitless it may be.

It is this endless quest, which makes human life shine with a singular beauty.

Views expressed above are the author's own.

END OF ARTICLE

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Meaning in it all - The Times of India Blog

45 Years Later, Griffin’s Still the Only Two-Time Heisman Winner – ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Danzig

Griffins numbers more than back up that claim. At the time his career finished in 1975, Griffin was the NCAAs all-time leading rusher with 5,589 yards, which is still the Ohio State standard. Perhaps even more impressive was his consistency he set the NCAA record with 31 consecutive games with 100 or more yards rushing, a record that still stands today.

For Griffin, his path to stardom wasnt a straight one. A Columbus native and graduate of Eastmore High School, Griffin was strongly considering attending Northwestern before Hayes came to visit him in 1972. The conversation wasnt about football, but instead mostly about academics and what he wanted to accomplish off the field. Griffin put on a Buckeye uniform for the first time of September 16, 1972 and the result was ominous: his only carry of the game resulted in a fumble.

Two weeks later against North Carolina, Hayes and the Ohio State coaches gave Griffin another shot. And he ran with it literally. Griffin broke a team record that had stood for 27 seasons when he rushed for 239 yards. He had officially introduced himself to Buckeye Nation and college football and the rest was history.

The four decades following his Ohio State career would be full of achievement and accolades for the only player to ever start in four Rose Bowl Games and who was president and CEO of the Ohio State Alumni Association from 2004 to 2015. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986. In 2006 he was named one of the NCAAs 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes. In 2011 he was the first recipient of the Big Tens Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award. In 2013 he was named the Rose Bowls All-Century Player. Griffins name, along with that of Red Grange, graces the Big Ten championship game MVP award. Ohio State retired his jersey number 45 on Oct. 30, 1999.

Griffin also is a living example of what his coach, Woody Hayes, meant when he talked about paying forward. It was Hayes who instilled in his players the importance of giving back with your time, talent and treasure. And thats exactly what Griffin has done: his many community leadership activities led him to create the Archie Griffin Scholarship Fund, which benefits Ohio States Olympic sports programs.

Simply put, it easy to see why Griffin is still regarded as one of the all-time great players in college football history. But its equally easy to see why hes regarded as a first-class person and representative of Ohio State.

The Offseason: 11/19/2020 – The Good Phight

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Danzig

Well that one shouldnt have been unexpected.

Robinson Cano was suspended for the 2021 season yesterday when he was found to have tested positive for PEDs for a second time. While many will focus on the implications for this coming offseason, one of the bigger stories will be how it affects Chase Utley and his chase for Hall of Fame immortality. This test and suspension will remove Cano from ever reaching the Hall since his own stupidity at using the enhancers will never allow his entry with the strain of writers that are now voting and those that are still to come. So, when it comes to the best second baseman of his generation, Utley should immediately take the mantle since all of Canos career will now be under scrutiny.

Its great for those in Philadelphia who were already thinking about Utleys date with immortality. Now, it should be sealed. It probably wont be, but it should be.

On to the links.

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The Offseason: 11/19/2020 - The Good Phight

The sad story of San Jacinto hero Sherman – Hays Free Press

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Danzig

The daughter of a long dead and all but forgotten hero of the Texas Revolution unveiled a statue of her tragic father at a Galveston intersection on Oct. 20, 1938.

San Jacinto should have ensured him success and immortality, but Sidney Sherman knew only pain and disappointment. The most powerful politician of his day ruined his reputation, and three suspicious fires left a promising career in ashes. Yet his public ordeal paled in comparison to the private anguish of burying four children and a wife.

Sherman proudly admired the fruit of four years labor since leaving New York City in 1831. Nevertheless, the Cincinnati businessman was willing to risk everything to fight for freedom in a foreign land.

On March 6, 1836, Sherman and 50 volunteers from Ohio and Kentucky reached Gonzales, where reinforcements were supposed to be ready for an Alamo rescue mission. Finding no relief column waiting, the stunned officer refused to lead his men into certain annihilation.

Five days later, Gen. Sam Houston showed up and forged the chain of command that included Sherman as lieutenant colonel. When confirmation came that night of the massacre in San Antonio, the general gave the order for a full-scale retreat that Sherman and many others found hard to swallow.

At the Colorado River, the outspoken newcomer pleaded for permission to cross the tributary and surprise a Mexican force twice the size of his own contingent. Harsh words were exchanged after Houston pulled rank and insisted Sherman continue the withdrawal.

Word of the slaughter at Goliad sapped the already anemic morale of the rebels and set mutinous tongues to wagging. Sherman was the popular choice of the dispirited soldiers to replace their do-nothing general, a fact duly noted by Houston who would always despise his would-be successor as a back-stabbing traitor.

As the two sides jockeyed for position the day before the climax at San Jacinto, Sherman proposed a preemptive strike against Santa Annas cannon. A rancorous debate ended with Houston giving his reluctant approval, and the recently promoted colonel assembling a squad for the daring dash.

Coming under heavy fire from the Mexican lines, the horseback commandos pulled up short of their objective. What are they about? shouted Houston. I ordered a reconnoiter only! Sherman accused his superior of reneging on promised support, a charge the latter denied to his dying day.

While Sam Houston scaled the political heights after the Revolution, twice serving as president of the Republic as well as senator and governor, Sherman suffered a personal apocalypse. In May 1852, an arsonist burned to the ground the sawmill that supplied his troubled railroad with crossties. The mysterious incident was only the beginning of a strange series of calamities.

Within the year, Shermans 18-month-old child died unexpectedly, and a second blaze destroyed the family home at Harrisburg. Sending his kin out of state, the head of the family took shelter in his railway office until that structure too went up in smoke.

At age 51, when he should have been looking forward to a secure retirement, Sherman started over from scratch as a hotel proprietor in Galveston. But his problems were far from over.

In his farewell address to the U.S. Senate in 1859, Houston launched into a scathing tirade against every enemy he had ever made. During this blistering attack, he produced a letter purportedly written by Shermans adjutant accusing him of cowardice at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Dazed by the patently false allegation, Sherman countered with his own clear recollection and testimonials from several eyewitnesses. But, as far as most Texans were concerned, irreparable damage had been done. If Sam said Sherman was yellow, then yellow he was.

Only in Galveston did Sherman remain above reproach. In early 1861, he was asked to direct the defense of the island in the event of a northern invasion, a responsibility he relinquished that August to the incoming Confederate commander.

He sold his hotel and moved his family to the mainland. At the Battle of Galveston, when the Rebs freed the city from Union occupation, Lt. Sidney A. Sherman, his 19 year old namesake, was among the gray-clad casualties.Tragedy stalked poor old Sherman into his twilight years. The last of his sons perished in 1863 followed a few months later by his invalid wife. The yellow fever epidemic of 1867 claimed the husbands of two daughters, and in 1872 he lost a fourth child.

Finally, in August 1873, death came calling for Sidney Sherman, the sole surviving San Jacinto officer. In solemn tribute the Galveston News urged, Let Texans follow this patriot to his grave and moisten the ashes of glory with the sweet tears of gratitude.

Bartee welcomes your comments and questions at barteehaile@gmail.com or P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 77393 and invites you to visit barteehaile.com.

Lake wants rapid COVID-19 testing to allow for more family visits at care homes – Kamloops This Week

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Danzig

B.C.s former health minister is calling for widespread use of rapid COVID-19 testing at the provinces long-term care facilities to allow ailing residents to increase social interaction to improve their health.

Terry Lake CEO of the BC Care Providers Association and former Kamloops mayor and MLA said the tests are available and approved for use in Canada, but the holdup lies with B.C. public health officials who are skeptical of the accuracy of the tests.

Lake pointed to Ontario and many U.S. states, where rapid testing is used to quickly identify positive cases in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in health-care facilities.

We dont have nearly that kind of rapid testing in B.C., he said. Were using it in the film industry and for sports leagues. Theyre using it at YVR. But theyre not using it in the community.

There is nothing stopping a long-term care operator from purchasing tests they go for about US$5 a pop and administering them on-site, but Lake said many operators are already in dire financial straits already after nearly eight months of the pandemic.

They theoretically could, but the tests are not approved by the medical health officers or the provincial health officer, so you may run into some pushback from them, Lake said. The provincial health officers and medical health officers are concerned about the accuracy of these tests, but theyre being used elsewhere, in the U.S. and Ontario.

Lake said the hope would be that, with a provincial stamp of approval, Victoria might shoulder some or all of the cost for testing.

The government has already put in a sizeable amount of resources to hire FTEs in long-term care to do the [COVID-19] screening process, Lake said. Theyve already invested heavily in that. I dont think the amount of money were talking here for the testing is close to that.

Lake said hed like to see the tests used daily on long-term care employees and visitors. He pointed to a recent report from B.C.s seniors advocate, Isobel Mackenzie, which called for an easing of restrictions on visitors to long-term care residents.

Right now, rules allow one social visitor per resident a designated friend or family member who is allowed to visit on a limited basis. With rapid testing, Lake said, a family might be allowed to rotate visitors to allow for more diverse social experiences for those in care.

Lake said his association is also seeking consistency and clarification on the definition of essential visitor a friend or family member of someone in long-term care who provides an essential service to a resident.

According to Lake, about 4,500 long-term care residents have died in B.C. since the pandemic was declared in March. He said about 175 of those deaths were due to COVID.

We hear from families, he said. People in care have said, Id rather die of COVID than die of loneliness. In her [Mackenzies] words, the goal is not immortality you have to balance it. What are we saving people for?

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Save 20% on a smart and reusable Rocketbook, the last notebook you’ll ever need to buy – CNET

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Danzig

Rocketbook

If a genie granted me three wishes, my first wish would be for infinite wealth. At one time, my second wish would have been for a notebook that never ran out of pages, but now that I have a Rocketbook, I can change that wish to immortality. A Rocketbook, of course, is a smart reusable notebook that's completely erasable when you wipe it with a dampened microfiber cloth, so you can use each page over and over and over again, after storing a digital copy online via its mobile app. Today only, Oct. 15,all Rocketbook notebooks and accessories are 20% off in a sitewide sale.

I've been using a Rocketbook for about a year now, and it surprises me how much I love it. You need to pair your Rocketbook with a special FriXion erasable pen, but it feels exactly like you're using ordinary paper. The pages are made of some space-age synthetic material, and the ink wipes away when you use a dampened microfiber cloth. Let it dry for a few moments, and then it's ready to be used again. I have a pair of Rocketbooks -- the small Fusion notebook, currently marked down to $29.60, and a large executive-size planner (currently $28) -- and I've been using them daily for about a year. In that time I've gone through about three pens, and haven't wasted a single sheet of paper.

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Each notebook is "smart." Using the bundled app, you can snap a photo of your page of notes, and it's automatically uploaded to your favorite cloud service. There's a row of icons at the bottom of every page, and you can program the app to send scanned pages to specific destinations based on which icon you mark with the pen before photographing it. Not only do you get an image of the page, but your text is converted to digital text, so it's fully searchable.

Rocketbooks come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, and the one-day sale covers all of them.

Over the years, I've seen a lot of smart notebook products like this come and go. They mostly fail because they're just too darned complicated. Rocketbook keeps things simple by making each page infinitely reusable and letting you automatically send images of pages to the cloud on demand. Try it; I predict you'll love it.

This article was published previously. It has been updated with the latest Rocketbook deal.

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The Turf Monster: The 14 NBA teams that can win a title in 2021 – Tufts Daily

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Danzig

When basketball wraps up, it always leaves you wanting more. The 2020 restart was the most fun Ive had watching sports in a very long time, and it was sad to see the season wrap up. To fill some of that basketball void thats been lingering since the finals wrapped up, Ive decided to look ahead and evaluate what the basketball landscape will look like in 2021. There are some exciting narratives and teams to explore, as well as several key players coming back from prolonged absences. So lets dig into the 14 teams I think can win a title next year.

The Los Angeles teams

The Lakers are an obvious choice to repeat, given how dominant they looked throughout the regular season and playoffs. They will in all likelihood return Lebron James and Anthony Davis, a duo that we now know can propel just about any roster to the finals. Meanwhile, the Clippers will emerge from the Bubble hungrier and bearing a vicious chip on their shoulder. This roster is still one of the most talented in the league in my opinion, and its success will come down to two things: more consistent locker-room leadership and a creative new coach that can squeeze every last drop of potential from this squad. The LA teams are my two favorite picks to win a title in 2021.

The Eastern Conference powerhouses

The Miami Heat were so close to NBA immortality, but James and Davis were simply too much. I love their roster, and the Butler-Adebayo pairing is only going to get better. This team has room to add another star, and if they do theyll immediately be my pick to represent the East in 2021. The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo will look to add more firepower to bring Giannis that ring he so righteously deserves. Even if they return more or less the same roster, this is still a team that has claimed back-to-back league-best records the past two years.

Meanwhile, Boston and Toronto both showed out in the playoffs, but fell short in their own ways. They will both look to run it back and count on fringe or internal improvements. Brooklyn will also look to add themselves to this list of powerhouses, and they have every right to land themselves here. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Steve Nash at head coach are just too exciting to count out. This team will score in bunches, and could shake up the Eastern Conference hierarchy in 2021.

The rest of the West

The West is always a dogfight of contending teams. The dreadful 2020 regular season and exclusion from the restart made the basketball world forget this team for a while, but Golden State is still very much a powerhouse. Barring injury, the Warriors should return their dreaded trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, whom everyone knows boast a finals-caliber ceiling. They also have the resources to swing another impact trade or bolster the depth on their roster.

Denver made history in the Bubble, coming back from not one but two 31 deficits in the playoffs, only to fall short against the Lakers. They ran a devastating gauntlet of playoff competition, and this roster now boasts some serious experience and chemistry to make noise next year. Dallas and Houston are both interesting and boast arguable top-five players on their roster, so they can never truly be counted out. Luka Doni was a revelation for Dallas this year, and could push for an MVP season in his third year, while James Harden and Russell Westbrook have all offseason to give Houston a more schematically functioning star duo.

The dark horses

Utah has more questions than answers right now, but Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are bona fide stars that shouldnt be ignored. This team still has some options to boost its ceiling in the playoffs, but itll take serious creativity on the front office and coaching fronts.

Beyond them, I cant see any team in the West boasting a championship-caliber ceiling, outside of a surprise season from New Orleans. Zion Williamson is a generational talent whose potential impact knows no bounds, even if he looked the part of an inexperienced rookie for most of the Bubble. Brandon Ingram and the rest of the Pelicans young talent could take leaps and bounds under new coaching leadership, and theyll be a trendy pick to make the West playoffs.

For the East, I have many doubts for the 76ers being more than a low-seed playoff team. I like the Doc Rivers hire to give this team a respectable floor, but I cannot in any way see them making a run past the second round with the awkwardness of their roster fit.

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The Turf Monster: The 14 NBA teams that can win a title in 2021 - Tufts Daily

NBA Finals 2020: LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead Los Angeles Lakers to dominant title-clinching win in Game 6 over Miami Heat – NBA IN

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Danzig

The 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers have attained basketball immortality as they have captured the 2020 NBA title with a win over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

LeBron James led the way with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, Anthony Davis finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and three assists while dominating defensively and Rajon Rondo (19), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (17) and Danny Green (11) combined for 47 points.

For Miami, Bam Adebayo scored a team-high 25 points (on 10-for-15 shooting) while Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder scored 12 points apiece. Duncan Robinson, who scored 10 points, was the only other Heat player to finish in double figures.

Here are some takeaways from the Lakers title-clinching win.

Los Angeles finishes the job

And in the process, the Los Angeles Lakers have rewritten the history books.

In winning the 2020 NBA title, the Lakers franchise now has won 17 championships, tying the Boston Celtics for most titles in league history. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1960, the Lakers have won 11 championships, which leads the league in that span.

A 17th banner will soon hang in the Staples Center.

Count to four

2012. 2013. 2016. 2020.

Make that four championships and four Finals MVPs in 17 years for LeBron James, who has exceeded the lofty expectations placed upon him as an 18-year-old rookie in 2003. LeBron and teammate Danny Green become the third and fourth players to win a championship with three different teams and James becomes the first player in league history to win Finals MVP for three different franchises.

Now, only Michael Jordan (6) has more Finals MVP trophies than James.

That LeBron is still performing at this level at 35 is a reminder to cherish these moments in watching him because he is the definition of a generational talent.

We'll never see this again.

Closeout LeBron

After his 40 points couldn't get the job done in Game 5, LeBron James was efficient and surgical in Game 6. He recorded his 11th NBA Finals triple-double, finishing with 28 points (on 13-for-20 shooting), 14 rebounds and 10 assists. His 28 postseason triple-doubles are good for second all-time behind only Magic Johnson, who recorded 30.

And he made a number of highlights along the way.

35-year-olds don't typically do this:

Or this:

The highlights speak for themselves.

AD dominates defensively

This is why Anthony Davis is one of the league's best big men.

A starting lineup change which replaced Dwight Howard with Alex Caruso meant that Davis would be the Lakers centre to start the game after playing at power forward for the majority of the season and playoffs.

He imposed his will.

You get the feeling that this won't be the last time we see Davis put forth a dominant performance on the championship stage.

Win the first quarter, win the game

At least that was the trend for the entirety of this series.

The winner of each game in the 2020 NBA Finals held a lead after one quarter and Game 6 was no different, as the Lakers took a 28-20 lead into the second quarter. They parlayed that strong start into a dominant second quarter showing.

Speaking of

Momentum swings for good in the second frame

The Lakers blew this one open in the second quarter.

Not only did LA outscore Miami 36-16, but it also shot 53.8% from the field while limiting its opponent to 7-for-23 (30.4%) shooting. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (11) and Rajon Rondo (9) combined for 20 points in the frame, outscoring the Heat on their own, while Anthony Davis added seven points and two blocks in the quarter.

With a 64-36 halftime advantage, it was only a matter of time.

Take a bow, Jimmy Butler

After playing in all but 48 seconds of Game 5, it appeared that Jimmy Butler had nothing left in the tank.

In Game 6, he and the Heat appeared to have run out of steam.

Butler saw just under 45 minutes of action and finished with 12 points (on 5-for-10 shooting), eight assists and seven rebounds. Though this postseason run ended with a blowout loss, Butler put forth some of the most impressive playoff performances this league has ever seen, and it's only the beginning of his time in Miami.

He and the Heat will be back.

Playoff Finals Rondo

Through the first five games of the Finals, Rajon Rondo was averaging 6.6 points, 5.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds while shooting just 28.9% from the field and 23.5% from deep.

He tapped into another mode in the title-clincher.

Rondo was masterful in getting into the lane to finish around the rim, which resulted in his scoring an efficient 19 points (on 8-for-11 shooting), four rebounds and four assists.

Return of the Dragon

After going down in Game 1 with a plantar fascia injury, Goran Dragic missed Games 2 through 5 of the series and it appeared his season may be done.

Instead, Dragic checked in with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter.

He didn't exactly look like himself but still finished with five points, five rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes of action. That Dragic would play through obvious pain as an impending free agent shows just how much this team means to him and how much he wanted to help his team compete to win a championship.

Witness History.

OK, just one more LeBron James takeaway.

In the history of the NBA, no player has appeared in more postseason games than LeBron, who has never missed a game in the playoffs.

Add that to his growing list of records .

What's next?

After beginning over a year ago, the 2019-20 NBA season is officially a wrap

We've got you covered with what's next for both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.

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NBA Finals 2020: LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead Los Angeles Lakers to dominant title-clinching win in Game 6 over Miami Heat - NBA IN

Teenager Therapy, Resistance, and 6 More Podcasts Worth Trying – Vulture

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Danzig

This article was featured in 1.5x Speed,New Yorks podcast recommendation newsletter.Sign up hereto get it weekly.

Photo-Illustration: Vulture

Over the weekend, I stepped into an independent record store for the first time since the onset of the pandemic and almost immediately committed the faux pas of saying the word Spotify in front of the owner of said independent record store. John, Im sorry. Please let me back in.

Meanwhile, tell me which podcasts youre listening to. Its totally fine if you listened on Spotify. Find me on Twitter or reach me over email: nicholas.quah@vulture.com. On to the weeks picks.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Hosted by writer and poet Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr., Resistance offers a collection of a few different portraits from the front lines of the Black Lives Matter protests that have swept the country. Ive only been able to listen to the first three episodes, and the stories run the gamut. The first sees Tejan-Thomas Jr. grappling with his own feelings about political activation and participation as he follows a young Black man evolve from being a first-time protester to a possible first-time local-office candidate. The second is a gripping account of an activist trapped in his home for hours as the NYPD tries a number of different tactics to flush him out. The third tells the story of the only Black man in a small Nebraskan town trying to organize its first Black Lives Matter rally, working in the face of his own experiences with racism in the locality.

Resistance is a striking and vivid listen, at least based on its early innings, and one of its more interesting contributions is the way in which it creates an emotional space for people to process their own feelings about political mobilization. But its not exempt from questions and critiques, of course. That it is the product of a corporate media entity Gimlet Media, a content division of Spotify should expose it to some discourse about the rendering of political expression into an entertainment commodity. Folks who are more radical in their politics might also have things to say about the kinds of political action it grapples with and what it leaves out. But on the whole, these are discussions worth having, and the fact that Resistance provokes me to think about it is a sign that its doing something right.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

I cant even begin to express just how much I love the latest season of Lost Notes, which dropped in its entirety in late September.

Now in its third season, Lost Notes is a nonfiction anthology podcast from KCRW that weaves together great untold stories from the music world. This outing, called Lost Notes: 1980, was entirely curated and hosted by the poet-critic Hanif Abdurraqib, and as you can probably glean from the subtitle, all of its stories revolve around the year 1980. If youre not familiar with Abdurraqibs body of work, you should get acquainted; check out Go Ahead in the Rain, his 2019 book-length love letter to A Tribe Called Quest, or pick up any of his poetry collections. Music, legacy, and the active act of loving art are all themes that tend to pop up in Abdurraqibs creations, and Lost Notes: 1980 is no different.

The enthusiast in me would tell you to work linearly through the season, starting from the Stevie Wonder story all the way down to Grace Jones. But if for some reason you remain skeptical and wish for only a taste, hit up John Lennon & Darby Crash, which revisits how Crash, the co-founder of the extremely influential punk band Germs, took his own life as some means toward achieving cultural immortality only for Lennons murder, which happened less than a day later, to completely overshadow Crashs death.

With the man at the center of its story finally free, In the Dark is dropping one final episode today to wrap up its second season, and it takes the form of an interview with Curtis Flowers himself.

Teenager Therapy is a legitimate phenomenon these days, and the chat-cast featuring a group of teens having sincere conversations about mental health and their lives welcomed special guests in a recent episode: the ex-royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who popped up on the show in honor of World Mental Health Day.

Tracy Clayton already co-hosts a nostalgic pop-culture podcast, Back Issue (with Josh Gwynn), and now shes co-hosting another nostalgic pop-culture podcast, which launches this week: the music-themed My 90s Playlist with Akoto Ofori-Atta.

Lores Aaron Mahnke is producing a fiction podcast series with iHeartMedia and Blumhouse TV thatll star Keegan-Michael Key in the lead role. It will be called Aaron Mahnkes 13 Days of Halloween, and it is scheduled to drop for 13 days leading up to Halloween. That means it will actually start on *checks calendar* October 18, I think?

Heres an interesting artifact: Hearing With Tali Farhadian Weinstein, a Pushkin Industries podcast that launched earlier this month, is basically an interview show in lieu of a political campaign. Weinstein, a former counsel to AG Eric Holder, is running for Manhattan district attorney next year, but obviously it isnt a good idea to be knocking on doors or holding political events right now hence the podcast.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

I thought Id plug Who the Hell Is Hamish? Its Australian, which may explain why I didnt hear about it when it first came out a couple of years ago, but it got me through a notably dark portion of quarantine and seemed to have the same effect on the people I recommended it to.

Who the Hell Is Hamish? follows a con man as he crisscrosses the globe, swindling victims out of millions at ski resorts in Canada and swanky beach communities in Australia and, despite several near misses, never quite getting caught. At various times, Hamish (a.k.a. Max, a.k.a. Kevin) claims to be an orphan, an orphan who accidentally killed his parents, a twin, a twin who accidentally killed his brother, and a 9/11 survivor. Like most con-man stories, its a lot of fun until it isnt. The second to last episode, an interview with a young woman whose life Hamish upended, is a gut-punch. (Be prepared to spend the next several weeks mistrusting everyone you know.)

Its a wild con-man story with many of the usual contours of wild con-man stories the old he sweeps women off their feet and steals their money gambit and so on but its unusually attentive and sensitive to the victims. Its a good example of a true-crime podcast that tells a great story without overlooking the actual pain at the center of things.

Also: great accents, delightfully incomprehensible Aussie slang, and lots of fun to be had Google Mapping the various beach towns that are mentioned. I cant be the only one who does that, right? Susie A., Chicago, Illinois

And thats a wrap for1.5x Speed! Hope you enjoyed it. Were back next week, but in the meantime: Send podcast recommendations, feedback, or just say hello atnicholas.quah@vulture.com.

Listening notes for the top shows, from Vulture's critic Nick Quah.

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Teenager Therapy, Resistance, and 6 More Podcasts Worth Trying - Vulture

Text Messages | The words of Che Guevara – newframe.com

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Danzig

For an image intended to prove that its subject was dead, defeated and of no further consequence, it is a failure. Seven men are gathered around a figure lying face upwards on a makeshift stretcher that is placed on top of a cement sink of sorts. Four of the men are in military uniform, two officers and two soldiers. In their midst are three men in plain clothes, one looking away.

The right half of a man with a camera, evidently taking a picture, is visible on the left of the frame. One of the officers has his right index finger on the chest of the dead man. The other, looking at the photographer on the left, has his right hand resting on the corpses hair.

The face of the dead man is unmistakable, its sculpted cheeks, moustache and beard known the world over at the time, October 1967, and ever since. His eyes are open, seeming still to hold that unwavering gaze that in life gave courage and hope to so many around the globe. He might have been dead, but immortality was now secure for Ernesto Che Guevara.

The photograph is one of the most infamous ever taken, but its original purpose turned against its commissioners and its maker. No one familiar with Christian imagery can fail to notice the Christ-like nature of the dead subject. Indeed, as Jon Lee Anderson writes in his magnificent biography Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life (Bantam Press, 1997), the nuns at the Vallegrande hospital thought the slain Guevara resembled Jesus Christ, and local women clipped locks of his hair as keepsakes. To this day, they keep them as good-luck talismans and pray for his soul on the Day of the Dead.

The revolutionary captured in battle and then executed in such a craven way is but one part of the history. Behind that and all the myth and legend that have accumulated around the most charismatic thinker and doer of later 20th-century revolution lies the observer, the teacher, the writer: Guevara in his own words, sent out to the world as a manual for guerrilla warfare, as pleas for a new kind of human being, as arguments for a galvanised socialism that can truly transform and as reflections of revolution in action.

Here are vignettes of those, from his writings.

Moreover, it is necessary to demonstrate clearly to people the futility of maintaining the fight for social gains within the framework of civil debate. When the oppressive forces maintain themselves in power against the laws they themselves established, peace must be considered already broken. (Guerrilla Warfare, The Authorised Edition, Ocean Press, 2006)

What we must create is the man of the twenty-first century, although this is still a subjective aspiration, not yet systematised

By reacting against the man of the nineteenth century we have relapsed into the decadence of the twentieth century. It is not a very grave error, but we must overcome it lest we open a wide breach for revisionism. (Socialism and Man in Cuba, Pathfinder Press, 1989)

At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality. Perhaps it is one of the great dramas of the leader that he must combine a passionate spirit with a cold intelligence and make painful decisions without flinching. Our vanguard revolutionaries must make an ideal of this love of the people, of the most sacred causes, and make it one and indivisible. They cannot descend, with small doses of daily affection, to the level where ordinary men put their love into practice. (Socialism and Man in Cuba, Pathfinder Press, 1989)

Revolutions, radical and accelerated social transformations, are made in specific circumstances. They rarely, if ever, emerge fully ripe, and not all their details can be scientifically foreseen. They are made from passion, from the improvisation of human beings in their struggle for social change, and they are never perfect. Our revolution was no exception. It committed errors, and some of these cost us dearly. (Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War, Ocean Press, 2006)

The last words go to Anderson, from the last paragraph of his biography of Guevara.

Left behind, in Vallegrande, is a graffiti scrawl in Spanish on the adobe wall of the public telephone office: Che Alive as they never wanted you to be. Perhaps more than any other, the statement best describes Ches true legacy He is immortal because others want him to be, as the solitary example of the New Man who once lived and dared others to follow.

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Text Messages | The words of Che Guevara - newframe.com

Books to pick up this October – Borneo Bulletin Online

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Danzig

Aqilah Rahman

Looking for a new book to add to your reading list? Here are eight critically acclaimed books published this month.

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE BY VE SCHWAB

Desperate to live a life without any ties and obligations, Addie LaRue makes a deal with the devil and gains immortality. But in exchange, she is doomed to be forgotten by everyone she meets, as if she has never existed at all.

After 300 years later, Addie meets a man who, strangely enough, remembers her name.

OVER THE WOODWARD WALL BY A DEBORAH BAKER

This is the first instalment of a new fantasy series by Seanan McGuire. While on their way to school, Zib and Avery come across a mysterious wall and decide to climb over it.

Instead of landing on their school ground, they find themselves in a strange yet magical placed called the Up-and-Under, inhabited by talking trees, mermaids, and other mythical beings.

Fun fact: Over The Woodward Wall started off as a book within a book. Deborah Baker is a pseudonym based on the alchemist in Seanans best-selling novel Middlegame, who wrote about Zib and Avery.

THE MINISTRY FOR THE FUTURE BY KIM STANLEY ROBINSON

In 2025, the Earth faces its biggest and inevitable crisis climate change. The Ministry for the Future is formed to protect the present and future generations.

The story is narrated by multiple third-party witnesses over the next few decades, with narrators ranging from farmers and scientists, to the less conventional including photons and molecules.

IS THIS ANYTHING? BY JERRY SEINFELD

If youre looking for a laugh and you happen to be a fan of Seinfeld, you may want to read Jerry Seinfelds new book. Is This Anything? is a compilation of jokes Jerry has come up with over the past decades, since his very first stand-up in the 70s when he was just a

college student. Its worth noting that the audiobook is narrated by Jerry himself, which is bound to be a different experience compared to reading the book yourself.

THE PUPPETMASTERS APPRENTICE BY LISA DESELM

A puppetmaster is given a task by the citys ruler to create an army of marionette soldiers. Unable to cope with the orders, the puppetmaster falls ill and is thrown into prison. His daughter a marionette that he created and brought to life on the night of blue moon must fill in his shoes.

The tension escalates even further when the puppetmasters daughter is given another task: to create an assassin with a life of its own.

THE DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER BY STUART TURTON

Set in 1634, the story follows Detective Samuel Pipps who is convicted of a crime and is due to be executed. He sets off on a voyage to Amsterdam for his execution with his bodyguard Arent Hayes.

But then strange things happen: a leper without a tongue appears onboard, saying theres a devil on the ship coming after the passengers. The leper bursts into flames, and a string of seemingly supernatural events take place on the ship.

With Samuel behind bars, Arent is determined to find out who, or what, is behind these strange cases, before every passenger meets their end.

CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 BY LISA UNGER

While on her way commuting home, Selena Murphy strikes up a conversation on the train with a stranger named Martha. The two women exchange seemingly harmless confessions. Martha confesses of having an affair with her boss, while Selena confesses that she suspects her husband is having an affair with the nanny.

A few days later, Selenas nanny goes missing, and Selena begins to wonder if Martha has anything to do with it.

THE NEIL GAIMAN READER: SELECTED FICTION BY NEIL GAIMAN

As the title implies, this is a collection of Neil Gaimans stories, selected based on the votes of his readers all around the world.

The stories range from some of his earlier works to his most recent writings.

With 52 pieces of writing that span over 700 pages, this book is best enjoyed in small chunks.

Its suitable for both long-time fans and readers who are new to Neils works.

Link:
Books to pick up this October - Borneo Bulletin Online

Happy Navratri 2020: Top 50 Wishes, Quotes and Messages to share with your family and friends – Times of India

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Danzig

The grandness of festivals in India is a sight to see. The nine-days long festival, Navratri is just two days away and the excitement of the festival approaching, can be sensed in the air. Though the year 2020 has been unpredictable, Navratri signifies good over evil and for this very reason, people across the globe celebrate this time with much joy and happiness. Arriving at the time of Autumn, this festival also signifies how Goddess Maa Durga triumphed over the demon Mahishasur, to free the land of all evil. Dedicated to Maa Durgas nine avatars, each day is associated with the Goddess incarnation. Cultural programs and beautiful, craftily lit pandals are constructed in each part of the country, and overseas. The final day of the festival is called Vijayadashami or Dussehra when Maa Durga is said to leave Earth and return to heaven, according to legends. On this auspicious occasion, we bring to you wishes, quotes and messages that will be the perfect greeting to others.Navratri 2020 wishes May Goddess Durga shower all her blessings on you and your family. HAPPY NAVRATRI!

May Goddess Durga bestow all happiness and joy in your family for all years to come.May the nine days and nine nights of Navratri bring your good health and fortune. Wishing you a very Happy Navratri.

Maa Durga will surely bestow her 9 forms of blessings for you and your family: Fame, Name, Wealth, Prosperity, Happiness, Education, Health, Power and Commitment. Happy Navratri!

Navratri is a time to share and care. Wish you glorious days ahead. Happy Navratri 2020!

May Goddess Durga provide you with the strength to overcome all obstacles in life. Shubh Navratri!

May Maa Durga empower you and your family with health, wealth, happiness and prosperity. Happy Navratri 2020!

Happy Navratri to you and your family. May the nine days of Navratri light up your lives!

May the blessings of Goddess Durga always be with you. Wishing you happiness! Happy Navratri 2020!

May the great goddess Maa Durga provide you with the strength, wisdom, and courage to overcome all obstacles in life. Have an auspicious Navratri.

Wishing you a very happy and vibrant New Year and auspicious Navratri.

Our hearty Greetings to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Navratri. May Maa Durga always guide & bless all of us.

Maa Durga means she, who is incomprehensible to reach. Happy Navratri!

Lakshmi donates the internal wealth of virtues or divine qualities. Happy Navratri!

Good wishes for a joyous Navratri, with plenty of peace and prosperity. Happy Navratri.

Heres wishing that the colours, beauty, bliss, and happiness, of this auspicious festival of Maa Durga stay with you, not just for these nine days, but forever. Happy Navratri 2020!

May you have the best of time, celebrations and success in life this year. Best Wishes for a joyous Navratri with lots joy, happiness and peace.

May Maa Durga guide you, protect you, and always be with you in whatever you do. Happy Navratri!

Good Fortune, Good Health, Happy LifeAll these are my wishes for you this Navtatri! Happy Navaratri

Maa Durga ke aashirwaad se apka jivan sukhmay ho,Iss Navratri pe hamari shubkamnayen aapke saath hai.

Navratri 2020 quotes

Maa Durga ka sada rahe ashirvad; dhan, samridhi, sukh aur kamiyabi ka de aapko aashirvad; Navrati ki nau raatein roshan kar dein aapka Jeevan; Navratri ki shubh kamnayein.

Ma Durga removes all obstacles and defects. Happy Navratri!

Aaya hai Maa Durga ka tyohaar.Maa aap aur aapke parivaar par sada apni kripa banaye rakheAapko Navaratri ke pawan avsar par bahut bahut badhai ho.

Maa Bharti jholi khali! Maa Ambe Vaishno wali!Maa Sankat harne wali!Maa Vipda mitane wali!Maa ke sabhi bhakto koNavaraatri ki saari shubhkamnayein!

Navratri ke pavan utsav par aapke ghar Durga ji ka agaman ho, aapke ghar mein sukh aur samruddhi ka vaas ho, yehi humari manokamna hai.

On Navratri, may Maa Durga inspire all of us with positivity, strength, wisdom, and devotion!Jai Ambe! Jai Bhavani! Jai Mata Di!

May the blessing of Maa Durga guide you on the right path and help you in all your endeavours.Warm wishes of Navratri to all.

Maa Durga, the universal mother is the embodiment of power.We bow to her to seek blessings on this auspicious occasion of NavratriIf you dont respect women for the rest of 356 days,I am sure your 9 days of Navratri puja cant make Durga Maa happy.

Nothing can replace the peace and happiness that Maa Durga brings to our homes each year. Here's celebrating the victory of Maa Durga over Mahishasura, the demon who spread hatred. Let us celebrate the triumph of the good over the evil a very Happy Navratri to you and your family.

Maa Durga aapkoBal, buddhi, sukh, aishwarya aur sampannta pradaan karen!Jai mata di!

Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shakti Rupen Samsthitapower to stay composed in chaospower to be kind and righteousMore power to you.Have a blessed Navratri!

Navratri marks the onset of the Autumn season. So let us celebrate Divine Mother representing prakriti (nature) and welcome new beginnings in your lives.

May this festival be the harbinger of joy and prosperity. As the holy occasion of Navratri is here and the atmosphere is filled with the spirit of mirth and love, heres hoping this festival will be great for you!

Navratri 2020 Messages Hey maa sherawali,mujhe iss navratri mein sirf ek cheez ki tamanna hai,Jin jin ki aankhein ye pad rahi hain,unka daaman sada khushiyon se bharna..Shubh Navratri!

Chand ki chandani, Basant ki bahar ,Phoolo ki khushbu, Apno ka pyar,Mubarak ho aapko NAVRATRI ka Tyohar ,Sada khush rahe aap aur apka Parivar !

Lakshmi ka Hath ho, Saraswati ka Sath ho, Ganesh ka niwas ho, aur maa durga ke ashirwad se Aapke jeevan mai prakash hi prakash ho, HAPPY NAVRATRI

Jagat Paalan Haar Hai Maa, Mukti Ka Dham Hai Maa. Hamari Bakti Ke Adhar Hai Maa, Ham Sab Ki Raksha Ki Avatar Hai Maa. Happy Navratri

Maa Durga ka sada rahe ashirvad,dhan, samridhi, sukh aur kamiyabi ka de aapko aashirvad,Navrati ki nau raatein roshan kar dein aapka Jeevan,Navratri ki shubh kamnayein.

While observing fast during Durga puja is to propitiate Durga Ma and seek her divine blessings. Happy Navratri.

May the blessing of Maa Durga guide you on the right path and help you in all your endeavours. Warm wishes of Navratri to all.

Ma Durga is a Mother of the Universe, she represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism. Happy Navratri!

May This Navratri be as splendid as ever.May this Navratri move joy,Illness as well as resources to you.May a legal holiday of lights lighten up we as well asyour nearby as well as dear ones lives.

There's something magical about this festival. It transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, darkness into light and agony into ecstasy. Maa Durga brings along with her unparalleled energy, happiness and joy. Happy Navratri to you and your family.

I hope that on the pious occasion of Navratri you are blessed with good health and prosperity. Wishing a very Happy Navratri to my dearest mother.

May this Navratri bring happiness in your life.Hatred be far apart from your life.Enjoy the festival with love on your heart.Those who have learned to respectAnd not to greed will be fortunate.I know you are always respectful and soYou are among the fortunate!Excellent wishes for a Subh Navratri!

What is that bright light?From where does this fragrance coming?This gentle breeze, cool air, hearty music;Oh! its Navaratri... Happy Navaratri

I know someone who deserves to be blessed this Navratri,Someone who has been so good, so sharing and so special.That someone is you!Happy Navratri!

Feast and have fun

These auspicious quotes, wishes and messages will bring further joy and bless your loved ones and those around you.

Follow this link:
Happy Navratri 2020: Top 50 Wishes, Quotes and Messages to share with your family and friends - Times of India

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