Daily Archives: January 28, 2022

British athletes must have freedom of expression in Beijing, Amnesty International demand – Yahoo News

Posted: January 28, 2022 at 12:10 am

Amnesty International has written to the British Olympic Association ahead of next months Winter Olympic Games in Beijing (Jae C. Hong/AP) (AP)

British athletes rights to free expression must be upheld at the Beijing Olympic Games, Amnesty International has said.

The UK chief executive of the human rights organisation, Sacha Deshmukh, has written to his counterpart at the British Olympic Association, Andy Anson, urging the BOA to avoid placing restrictions on athletes.

Amnesty said campaign messages, such as the Where is Peng Shuai? T-shirts and banners which were initially banned by organisers of the Australian Open tennis tournament, must be supported by the BOA.

The letter provided Anson with an update on the intensifying suppression of human rights in China, citing the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang province, the crackdown on democratic protests in Hong Kong and continuing concerns over tennis star Peng Shuais freedom and well-being.

The International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday that its representatives had spoken to Peng last week and were planning to meet her in Beijing next week, but has faced criticism over its handling of her situation.

Deshmukh said: The British Olympic Association mustnt repeat the Australian Opens disastrous T-shirt ban and should instead support Team GB athletes wanting to speak about human rights in China.

From the industrial-scale detention and torture of Uyghur people in Xinjiang, to the jailing of protesters in Hong Kong these Games are taking place in the shadow of Chinas horrific human rights abuses.

If the British Olympic Association resorts to muzzling athletes it will be complicit in Chinas sportswashing attempts and complicit in its massive programme of systematic human rights abuse.

Amnesty UK chief executive Sacha Deshmukh

If the British Olympic Association resorts to muzzling athletes it will be complicit in Chinas sportswashing attempts and complicit in its massive programme of systematic human rights abuse.

These Games should not become a rights-free zone freedom of speech and the right to openly debate and discuss human rights should be an integral part of these Games.

Story continues

Anson spoke about athletes rights to express themselves earlier this month, prior to receiving the letter from Amnesty.

He said: We definitely want our athletes to be respectful of the athletes they are standing on the podium with, (but) we are not going to stifle their freedom of expression.

Weve told the athletes all along that were very happy for them to express themselves but to be sensible and to ideally touch base with us if they feel that theyre doing anything at all controversial. We are not the ones who are going to stop our athletes expressing opinions.

Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter places restrictions on political protests at Games venues and sites.

The rules were relaxed slightly ahead of the Tokyo Games to allow athletes to express their views on the field of play before competition, provided this was not targeted, directly or indirectly, against people, countries (or) organisations.

This allowed, for instance, the womens football team to take the knee before matches. However, any protest deemed to be targeted at the Chinese government would still be prohibited in Olympic sites and venues.

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Paul Dacres all for freedom of expression except when hes a character in your play – The Guardian

Posted: at 12:10 am

The Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday have been banging on a lot lately about freedom of expression. An editorial declared it to be a dark day when the newspaper group lost its legal battle with Meghan Markle. Shed sued them for publishing extracts from a private letter shed sent to her estranged father.

Ive got to know the Mails legal department quite well over the past few months though its clients commitment to freedom of expression hasnt been quite so clear in my case. The Mails lawyers appear to be fixated with my play Bloody Difficult Women and have been bombarding the Riverside Studios theatre in west London and my producers with emails and letters. Paul Dacre, the Mails editor in chief, appears in it as a character, and the lawyers said Dacre would very much like to see a copy of the script to check it for factual accuracy. These repeated requests have all been declined.

The play focuses on the court case my old friend Gina Miller won against Theresa Mays government over the issue of parliamentary sovereignty. Dacre is an unavoidable part of that story: the Enemies of the people headline he ran on his papers front page, alongside photographs of the high court judges who found in Millers favour, caused uproar. There were a great many not least in the legal profession who took the view it was the lowest point in the whole acrimonious Brexit saga.

Apart from Dacre and Miller, Bloody Difficult Women features two other real-life characters, in Theresa May and Alan Miller, Ginas husband. The Mails legal team suggested I had given May and the Millers sight of the script. For the avoidance of doubt, none of them has requested or been granted that privilege. Quite frankly, I found it hard enough writing a play without four of its leading characters leaning over my shoulder seeing if they come out of it well. Though the lawyers said their client had no wish to restrict my or the theatres artistic freedom of expression, the prospect of a character as menacing as Dacre going through every word of the script is, of course, more than a wee bit inhibiting.

Mays office, while courteous and interested when I told them about the play, raised no objections. Even the title a nod to Ken Clarkes famous off-mic description of the former prime minister left them unperturbed. With Gina, I wanted to check the basic timetable of events leading up to the case and beyond, but that was it. She gamely tweeted that she would be watching it through her fingers.

Still, I can understand, given there has been press speculation that Dacre is the villain of the piece (and that I dont share his views about Brexit), that he might have special concerns. Every day, however, a great many people no doubt have special concerns about what his newspapers are going to write about them, but they are seldom, if ever, granted sight of the stories ahead of publication.

Long before the EU referendum and the start of that almighty national row, Id worked for Dacre as a feature writer, and, latterly, deputy to the late diarist Nigel Dempster, for almost a decade. Our relationship was respectful, but not close. He was and is, as I make clear in the play, a strident character. The last of the all-powerful one might say imperial editors.

The letters from his legal department have made for a few dark days for me, too, but Ive had the play painstakingly factchecked. From the outset, I strained to be fair to all its characters and kept in mind Chekhovs rule that plays shouldnt be about good or bad people, only people.

All I want now is for the show to go on. The plan had originally been to open last June, but that was put back to November on account of the pandemic and so its launch next month will, Im confident, be third time lucky. It is a play that seems to be acquiring over time a certain radical chic.

All journalists can, of course, be thin-skinned and I am no exception. I recall, when I was working for Dacre, being upset when Id read that Norma Major, the former prime ministers wife, had said a biography Id written of her had been 99% inaccurate. I asked Dacre if anything could be done and he wearily intoned that if I was going to dish it out, Id have to learn to take it too.

I await the reviews for Bloody Difficult Women in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday with trepidation, but Ive no intention of asking to fact check them ahead of publication.

Tim Walker is a journalist and author. His latest book, Star Turns, is an anthology of interviews. Bloody Difficult Women begins its run at the Riverside Studios in west London on 24 February

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Fairview Trailer: Welcome To Fairview, A Place Of Freedom And Punching Stuff – /Film

Posted: at 12:10 am

According to the trailer, the town of Fairview is an Everytown, USA kind of place; "If it's happening here, it's happening everywhere." Surely, your town's officials fix the town's problems with "lighthearted indecent exposure" as often as mine do. Mayor Kelly Sampson is simply trying her best aren't we all? The large-scale issues plaguing the nation are refracted through the small-town beer-smeared lens of Fairview, and in between jerkoff seminars, there are profound lessons to be learned along the way.

"Fairview" is executive produced by Colbert and showrunner RJ Fried, along with Chris Licht, Tim Luecke, Kim Gamble, Mike Leech, and Zach Smilovitz. The voice cast includes Marina Cockenberg, James Austin Johnson, Aparna Nancherla, Jeremy Levick, Blair Socci, Graham Techler, Atsuko Okatsuka, Otter Lee, Carl Foreman Jr, Jack Bensinger, Lisa Gilroy, and Joey Romaine. Grant Gish and Sachi Ezura co-executive produce with supervising producer Michael Stanger under the MTV Entertainment Group banner.

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The best of Manfred Thierry Mugler’s theatrical, otherworldly fashion – i-D

Posted: at 12:09 am

Yesterday, we learned the sad news that legendary designer Manfred Thierry Mugler had passed away at the age of 73. The king of otherworldly fashion, his eponymous label pushed the boundaries of what a fashion show could be, turning them into over-the-top moments of theatre.

However, it was dance, not fashion that was the designers first passion. Born in Strasbourg, France, in 1948, he performed as a dancer with the Rhine Opera Ballet from 1965 to 1966 before moving to Paris, where he became a window dresser at fashion boutique Gudule.

From there, he began freelancing as an assistant designer for a number of fashion houses, before starting his own ready-to-wear line, Caf de Paris, in 1973. I never dreamed of being a fashion designer. I wanted to be a director, the designer told T Magazine in 2019. But fashion happened to be a good tool. It was a means of communicating. His debut, which featured precise, streamlined silhouettes inspired by his dance background, became the foundations of his namesake line, which was launched a year later in 1974.

At Thierry Mugler, the designer became known for his strong silhouettes power shoulders with snatched waists use of unconventional materials and unexpected inspirations like science fiction, insects, and fantastical creatures. After building an empire that included a successful series of fragrances, financial difficulties led to the designer retiring from the brand in 2003.

While his label has continued without him at the helm Casey Cadwallader is the current creative director, preceded by the likes of Nicola Formichetti and David Koma he continued to create, working on short films with Isabelle Huppert, as well as designing costumes for operas, theatre, the Cirque du Soleil, and even a Beyonc tour.

More recently, the designers recent projects included dressing Cardi B in three looks from his archive most notably the Venus sheath dress from his AW95 couture show for the 2019 Grammys, and coming out of retirement to create Kim Kardashian Wests outfit for the 2019 Met Gala. After previously declining offers from The Met and V&A, the designer collaborated with Montreals Museum of Fine Arts on a retrospective of his work, with Thierry Mugler: Couturissime later travelling to the Muse des Arts Dcoratifs in Paris (where its currently showing until the end of April).

Muglers death is another huge loss for fashion following in the wake of recent losses in the form of Andr Leon Talley and Virgil Abloh and his undeniable impact, years after he stopped designing on-schedule, will undoubtedly continue long after his death.

My work is timeless because its based on the beauty of the human body and the fascinating world we live in, he once reflected on his impact. My work pays tribute to the woman and gives her personality I give them armour.

From the beginning of his career, Muglers shows toed the line of fashion, theatre, and performance inspired by his background in dance. For the designers 10th anniversary AW84 show, Mugler took the fashion show experience to dizzying new heights. Taking over the Znith arena in Paris, the show was presented to 6000 people, marking the first time that the public had access to a show at Paris Fashion Week. The show-stopping event featured 350 models acting in short vignettes inspired by Olympian and religious motifs, before the grand finale in which a pregnant Pat Cleveland cosplaying as the Madonna in an angelic bedazzled gown and headdress was lowered from the heavens in a puff of smoke before walking the catwalk, triggering the release of thousands of rose petals. This stadium-scale style of show was later adopted by the likes of Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier, and inspired a new generation of showmen like John Galliano and Alexander McQueen.

Throughout his career, Mugler teamed up with celebrities who shared his button-pushing creativity, working with names including (but not limited to) David Bowie, Grace Jones, Diana Ross, and George Michael. After coming across one of his iconic motorcycle corsets in the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute, Beyonc tapped the designer as creative director for her 2009 I Am tour in which he designed 58 costumes for the singer alone, as well as directing segments of the show, and providing input on choreography and lighting.

Long before runway diversity was a talking point, Mugler would often feature models who didnt meet the prevailing industry standard (read: tall, white, and thin). As well as casting plus-size models like Stella Ellis and drag queens like Lipsynka, the designers shows prominently featured trans models like Connie Fleming, Teri Toye, and Roberta Close leading to them walking for the likes of Chanel and Vivienne Westwood. For the designers SS92 show, the cast of models included a mind-bending combination of the porn star Jeffrey Stryker, Deee-Lites Lady Miss Kier and Dmitry, and recently divorced Ivana Trump. It prompted acerbic critic Cathy Horyn to pen in the Washington Times: Mugler's shows have pretty much ceased to be about fashion per se. They are about the people who are in his shows socialites, peroxided Lido stars, pop singers, bouffant transvestites and in that sense they are for the people who live for fashion.

While Mugler is synonymous with iconic fashion design, he was a multi-hyphenate creative, pursuing photography after prompting from Helmut Newton. While working with the legendary photographer on the set of one of his campaigns, his uncompromising vision led Newton to tell Mugler to shoot the images himself, and he did. His photographic oeuvre is as grand as the catwalk shows he produced, filled with images shot in far-flung locales, from the salt flats of the Atacama Desert in Chile to the middle of the Sahara, or 20km into the ocean on an iceberg. In perhaps one of his most iconic images, he lensed model Claude Heidemeyer at feet-tingling heights perched atop the gargoyles of the Chrysler building. Risking his life for the shot, Mugler was balanced out of a window two floors above on a ladder, while two assistants inside held it so he wouldnt fall. See: uncompromising vision.

Thierry Mugler fashion show, Haute Couture Fall-Winter 1995-96 collection in Paris in March 1995, France. (Photo by Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

In 1996, the notoriously rigid Chambre Syndicale de la Couture invited Mugler to officially show on the couture schedule, and his foray into it motivated him to explore and innovate what fashion on this level could look like. Already famous for using unconventional materials like latex, rubber tyres, and car parts for his AW89 motorcycle corsets, he collaborated once again with Jean-Jacques Urcun to create a look that was six months in the making. Swaddled underneath a grand purple overcoat, the model disrobed to reveal a shining chrome suit of armour, a futuristic look that leaned into the designers transhuman interests while remaining femininely beautiful and undeniably chic.

Photo by Pierre Vauthey/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images

The instantly recognisable Chimre gown from the designers AW97 haute couture collection is arguably the crown jewel of Muglers design legacy. Transforming model Adriana Karembeu into an otherworldly fish-bird creature complete with piercing eyes, reptilian and yellow the dress was a labour of love, created in collaboration with artist Jean-Jacques Urcun and renowned corset-maker Mr Pearl. Unlike anything seen before it (or since), the gold armour-like corset explodes into a kaleidoscope of sparkling crystals, hand-painted scales, feathers and horsehair. It unsurprisingly required countless hours of work in the atelier to be constructed, with a team of 20 people working around the clock for six weeks to bring the vision to life.

One of Muglers biggest bonanzas, the AW95 couture show, was an hour-long spectacle in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the house and featured supers including Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss, as well as Jerry Hall, actress Tippi Hedren, and James Brown, who performed. The collection featured some of Muglers most celebrated designs such asVenus, the silver fembot, the gaggle of latex ladies, and Nadja Auermann in the iconic gold, crystallised corset later given a new lease of life in Beyoncs Sweet Dreams music video.

Photo by Karwai Tang/Getty Images

After retiring from fashion in 2003, in 2019 Mugler made his red-carpet return, designing a look for Kim Kardashians appearance atthe Met Gala Camp: Notes on Fashion, the theme that year working with longtime collaborator Mr Pearl over a period of eight months. Inspired by Sophia Lorens sponge-diving character Phaedra in the 1957 film Boy on a Dolphin, the nude latex dress glistened with sequins and dripping crystals. He envisioned me as this California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping, Kim said on the Met red carpet, about her look before adding: Manfred Thierry Mugler is the definition of camp.

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Inflation adds uncertainty for Canadians trying to look past the pandemic and refocus on their financial future – RBC poll – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 12:09 am

Impact of inflation on retirement finances now one of Canadians' top concerns

RRSPs rebound, as financial priorities shift to longer-term saving and investing

Investors willing to pay fees for opportunity to gain higher returns

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2022 /CNW/ - With inflation reaching the highest levels in the past 30 years, Canadians trying to refocus on their financial future now face a new uncertainty: the effects of rising inflation on their retirement savings. According to RBC's annual Financial Independence in Retirement Poll, inflation has now moved into the top three concerns Canadians have about retirement for the first time in more than a decade.

RBC Logo (CNW Group/RBC Royal Bank)

"When assessing value, investment performance after fees is what really matters. It's encouraging to see that younger Canadians understand how crucial this is in achieving your retirement savings goals and building a strong financial future."

Inflation is also limiting the ability of Canadians to increase any savings, as it continues to drive up the costs of fixed expenses a key savings barrier referenced by 29% of poll respondents, with the largest number of these (40%) being aged 25 to 34. A majority (85%) of this younger age group also worries the most about trying to balance saving for today versus saving for their future.

There is a key difference across all age groups, however, despite the uncertainties posed by the pandemic and rising inflation. Today, almost half (48%) of Canadians have a financial plan and the majority (86%) of those say they are feeling positive about their financial future because of that plan.

"The unexpected has changed lives over the past two years, but if you have a plan, it's easier to adapt to those changes," says Stuart Gray, Director Financial Planning Centre of Expertise, RBC. "A plan helps you keep on top of your finances, so you know what adjustments you can make for changing circumstances while saving for today and investing for the future."

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One strong indicator that Canadians want to refocus on their financial future: RRSPs are making a big comeback. After seven years of trending downward and last year's historic low of 46% RRSPs have rebounded and now over half (53%) of Canadians have RRSPs in place to save and invest for their retirement. Also, within those RRSPs, more Canadians are holding mutual funds (36% vs. 30% last year), stocks (20% vs. 14%) and ETFs (11% vs. 7%).

Another future-focused indication in poll findings: the percentage of Canadians who are building their investment portfolios has risen to 28% from 25% last year (and 10 points higher than a decade ago). Of particular note, younger investors aged 25 to 34 are also expressing the most interest in building these portfolios (32%). Since the onset of the pandemic, these younger investors are also focusing more attention on the value of their investments (22%) and almost half (48%) indicate they are willing to pay fees if this offers the opportunity to gain higher returns on those investments.

"When assessing value, investment performance after fees is what really matters. It's encouraging to see that younger Canadians understand how crucial this is in achieving your retirement savings goals and building a strong financial future," adds Gray. "Whenever you want advice, our financial advisors are here to help in person or through our MyAdvisor digital advice platform, which connects you to an interactive, personalized plan where you can review forward-looking projections and try out different savings scenarios. This makes it easy to see how changes you make to your savings and investments today can impact your finances in the future."

Fast Facts: RBC 2022 Financial Independence in Retirement PollSelected findings National and regional

Top concerns about retirement finances

NAT'L

BC

AB

SK/MB

ON

QC

AC

Having enough savings

47%

43%

44%

47%

47%

52%

44%

Maintaining my standard of living

36%

39%

31%

34%

36%

42%

29%

Impact of inflation

29%

33%

31%

28%

29%

26%

32%

The cost of healthcare

27%

30%

25%

21%

24%

31%

29%

Outliving my savings

25%

29%

30%

29%

28%

16%

29%

Barriers to saving more

NAT'L

BC

AB

SK/MB

ON

QC

AC

Income too low

36%

38%

41%

45%

37%

30%

34%

Fixed expenses too high

29%

35%

38%

37%

29%

22%

24%

No money left over at the end of the month to save

26%

25%

30%

32%

24%

25%

31%

Unexpected expenses (dentist, car repairs, etc.)

26%

32%

36%

29%

23%

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Hell or High Seas: A Veteran’s Quest to Raise PTSD Awareness

Posted: at 12:08 am

Taylor Grieger returned home from the military with PTSD. After miraculously failing at an attempt to take his own life, he decided to sail around Cape Horn in an effort to raise awareness about military veterans suffering from PTSD and to record his healing journey through adventure therapy in a new documentary called Hell or High Seas.

Grieger, director Glenn Holsten, and producer Chayne Gregg spoke about making the documentary on a new episode of the Factual America podcast. You can listen to the episode above, on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or right here:

Hell or High Seas is about Taylor Griegers adventure journey, actually to heal himself, but also raise attention to the troubling fact that many people who return from the military dont return healthy and then end up taking their lives, dying by suicide, said Holsten. Taylor wanted to raise awareness about this fact that exists in America that an unfortunate number of people die every day by suicide veterans. But he also wanted to challenge himself by taking this adventure and sailing around Cape Horn, which is the bottom tip of the world, and some of the most dangerous waters.

Grieger said he wanted to make the documentary to show other veterans that even after their darkest moments, it gets better.

Also Read: Matthew Heinemans The First Wave Doc Depoliticizes the Pandemic: Theres No Trump in My Film (Video)

One of the biggest things that happened me whenever I got back was my adrenaline would start running for no reason at all. And I didnt know why, Grieger said. It was weird, and it was really scary, honestly, because I thought that something was really wrong with me. And so the goal of the film and the reason why we made the film was to show my experience so the guys coming out after us didnt have that same experience I did, but they knew exactly what was going on with their body and they didnt just go down that PTSD spiral which can just ruin your life.

The veteran added that he hopes that if other soldiers returning from the military saw what he went through, they would know that you can heal, and you can get better that they wont have to go through what I did when I first got back.

Grieger also likes to hold Q&A sessions after screenings in order to meet other veterans and tell them that its possible to recover from PTSD.

For me, I didnt want to live in this world anymore. It was just so dark and disgusting, dude, there was no reason to want to stay in this world and be a part of it. And thats all I saw every single day. We hear it over and over again at these screenings that we do now, veterans from Vietnam, from World War II, come up and say the exact same thing. They say, Ive been living like this for decades, and nobody has ever told me this. And that breaks my freakin heart, dude. Those guys have been in pain for 20 years, 30 years. Thats why we made this film to talk about it and say, there is a physical problem here that you can actually heal, he said. W talk about that in the film, too, that your hippocampus can regrow whenever you are in environments where your adrenalines running, your endorphins running. Thats one of the biggest things we talk about when we do Q&As in the screenings is adventure therapy and how you can heal you dont have to live in the darkness anymore.

Hell or High Seas is available to stream on-demand on YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and on more VOD services via the Hell or High Seas website. Here are the timestamps from the Factual America interview:

00:00 The trailer for Hell or High Seas.04:04 What the film is about.05:24 Why Taylor Grieger set himself such an extreme challenge.06:31 How they got the idea to sail around Cape Horn.07:40 How Chayne and Glenn got involved with the production.11:14 How Taylor got quality footage without having any prior filming experience.16:50 Glenns experience in creating films around mental health.18:59 What PTSD is and how it affects you on a physiological level.21:54 Taylors advice for family members of people who suffer from PTSD.24:45 The possibility of recovery from PTSD and how this can be achieved.28:12 How people have responded to the films screenings.31:22 The work Britain is doing to help its veterans after combat.37:19 How people can help raise awareness about veterans struggles with PTSD.39:51 The next projects Glenn is working on.42:15 What Taylors goals are now.

Factual America examines America through the lens of documentary filmmaking. Guests include Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning filmmakers and producers, their subjects, as well as experts on the American experience. We discuss true crime, music, burning social and political topics, history and arts with the creators of the latest and upcoming documentary films in theatres and on the most popular digital platforms. This podcast is produced by Alamo Pictures, a London- and Austin-based production company that makes documentaries about the US from a European perspective for international audiences.

Main Image: A still from Hell or High Seas, courtesy of Factual America.

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Welcome to Tortuga On the High Seas – Eurofurence 26

Posted: at 12:08 am

We understand that a convention a big as Eurofurence might be overwhelming and confusing at first, so here's what you need to know to get you started for your first time. The following guide is for people new to EF or new to cons at all. If you find any information lacking or a question left unclear, don't hesitate to write us.

First and foremost, as an attendee of Eurofurence, you must have read and agreed to all general policies.Take your time and make sure you understand everything. If in doubt, contact our security department about questions regarding these rules.

You'll find all policies under "Policies", section "General Policies".

Furthermore, all policies listed under "Event Policies" apply to all attendees who attend certain events or activities at the convention.

There are various dates and deadlines to keep in mind. Generally, you'd want to keep track of registration, booking and payment dates:

Artists may additionally need to keep an eye on application deadlines for Art Show and Dealers' Den:

Fursuiters may want to keep the fursuit badge registration deadline in mind:

Getting a spot at the popular main hotel is tough, we know that. Part of our efforts to improve this situation is by providing alternatives; On our Overflow page, we'll point you towards suitable hotels and hostels. Expect this information to be available some weeks before the convention. If you rely on such an option, check the page frequently!

You won't be left alone to find your way to the convention. Our Travel Guide provides useful information on how to get to Berlin and the Hotel itself, where to park your car, how much it costs, and so on.This page is being updated more frequently as the convention draws near, so make sure to check back for updates!

Once arrived at the convention, there are two very first things to do in no particular order:

If you ever need to identify our staff, that's easy:

If you'd like to lend a helping hand at or around the convention, we've got a list of open positions to fill. Make sure to check the page frequently, as we keep updating it throughout the entire year.

There are generally two ways of selling merchandise at Eurofurence: by auction in the Art Show / Art Auction and directly in the Dealers' Den or Artist Alley. All options except Artist Alley require you to to register beforehand until a given deadline and apply for a panel or table accordingly. Read on for deadlines and application processes:

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Welcome to Tortuga On the High Seas - Eurofurence 26

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Weather warning: Here’s why some boaters should consider skipping this year’s Gasparilla invasion – WTSP.com

Posted: at 12:08 am

Forecasters say inexperienced boaters should avoid the open water as the winds kick up.

TAMPA, Fla Its a long-standing tradition: hundreds of boats joining the Jose Gasparilla as it makes its way up the Seddon Channel and into downtown Tampa.

But this years weather forecast could and maybe should have some people thinking twice about joining the flotilla.

It would be foolish, said Master Sgt. Ryan Balseiro with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office Marine Unit. Youre talking 3-foot seas in the bay.

Balseiro says theyre carefully watching Saturdays forecast, which currently calls for sustained winds of 23 mph and seas 3-5 feet outside the channel. A small craft advisory goes into effect Friday night and runs through Saturday evening.

There are going to be days that are no-go days. And when the Coast Guard puts out small craft advisories, you know, you need to heed that warning, Balseiro said.

Another danger is density. With so many boats packed so close together, it could make for some difficult, if not dangerous, navigating. In 1971, they still had the parade, but the flotilla was called off because of bad weather. This year?

They are monitoring it the same as us, Balseiro said. Paying very close attention to wind.

The decision as to whether the pirate ship sails, said Balseiro, is a call made by the towing company that pulls the barge, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard. Something else to think about? Its going to be cold out there. That means people are going to be wearing sweatshirts and heavy coats.

Safety experts say to make sure your personal floatation devices and life jackets are big enough to fit over all of that. People we spoke with who boat on a regular basis say they might sit this one out.

If you dont have to go out on the water, I would personally recommend not, said Josh Campbell, who started boating about a year ago as many have during the pandemic.

Things can flip a switch real quick, said boat captain Will Robertson. Ive seen it happen multiple times.

And its just not fun anyway, added Joe Williams, a life-long boater. Why do you wanna be out on the water on a rough day, cold rough day?

For those working to ensure public safety, it's their advice, too. Especially for those wanna-be pirates whose boats arent built for the high seas. Or those small-sized boats that could become a big problem.

Yeah, heed the warning. Stay inside the protected area. And, you know, just be mindful, Balseiro said. Theres a lot of things to consider.

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Miami Twin Brothers Will Set Sail For Harvard In The Fall – CBS Miami

Posted: at 12:08 am

MIAMI (CBSMiami) With big smiles on their faces, twin brothers Justin and Mitchell Callahan made it official in front of friends, family and teachers at Immaculata-LaSalle High School.

They put pen to paper and signed letters of intent to attend Harvard University in the fall.

The two high school sailing champions will hit the high seas as members of the Ivy League Universitys sailing team.

Harvard doesnt offer athletic scholarships, but the twins are getting early admission as outstanding scholar-athletes.

I dont think its completely sunken in yet, Mitchell Callahan said. Itll get more real as our senior year goes on, but were grateful to everyone who supported us and showed up today. It shows how nice everyone is at this school and how supportive they are as we go on this journey.

Much of their journey has taken place on the water as competitive sailors, a passion passed down by their father. Paul Callahan is a quadriplegic who competed for the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team.

My dad went to the Paralympics twice for sailing and its a wonderful sport, Justin Callahan said. Its been a wonderful ride and we cant wait to see whats in the future.

Paul Callahan has been in a wheelchair since suffering a freak accident when he was 21 years old. It didnt stop him from graduating from Harvard, having a successful career as an investment banker and starting Sail to Prevail, an organization that promotes sailing for disabled children and adults. Paul has cheered on his boys since they took up sailing at age seven.

Im more than proud of them, Paul Callahan said. Im happy for them. They worked hard academically and athletically. Im glad they are getting rewarded with something they really wanted.

He really is my role model in life, Justin Callahan said about his father. He acts like he can do anything, and growing up Ive seen it for myself. For us, hes really special.

When they get to Harvard Justin plans to study engineering. Mitchell plans to major in economics.

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Miami Twin Brothers Will Set Sail For Harvard In The Fall - CBS Miami

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Planning a trip in 2022? Experts offer tips amid ongoing pandemic. – SILive.com

Posted: at 12:07 am

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Traveling over the past two years has been difficult for many Americans, with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic prompting safety concerns and resulting in ever-changing travel restrictions from both the state and federal governments.

However, as more and more Americans get vaccinated, fears of contracting, spreading and becoming severely ill from the coronavirus have started to subside, with many eager to return to their annual vacations.

With that in mind, AAA has released a list of 2022 travel tips to help prepare Americans for their trips, whether theyre traveling by air, land or sea.

So far this year, flight cancellations, wintery weather and the COVID-19 omicron variant have all combined to create the perfect storm for travelers, said Ellen Edmonds of AAA. However, AAAs travel advice makes it possible to travel in the pandemic without losing your mind or your money.

GENERAL TRAVEL TIPS

Regardless of where youre going and how youre getting there, the coronavirus is still a threat, and travelers should pack with that in mind, ensuring that they have multiple high-quality masks and an adequate supply of hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes.

While you may be traveling with your vaccine card, theres always a chance that it could be misplaced. To safeguard yourself from being denied entry to a place that requires vaccination, travelers should carry some digital documentation of their vaccine card on their phone, whether that be a photo of the card itself or a virtual card, like New Yorks Excelsior Pass.

Its also important for travelers to keep up-to-date on their destinations current coronavirus restrictions. Most importantly, whether a negative coronavirus test is required before arrival or returning home. If a test is required, AAA encourages travelers to schedule an appointment well in advance of the trip to make sure they have their results within the required timeframe.

Travelers may also want to notify their credit card providers of their plans, which decreases the likelihood that their cards will be frozen due to suspicious activity.

AIRLINES

Those traveling by air should brace themselves for possible delays and cancellations, with crew shortages associated with the pandemic impeding many airlines abilities to run all scheduled flights in recent weeks.

Should travelers find themselves in such a situation, there are federal laws in place to ensure that theyre either accommodated on a later flight or issued a full refund for their ticket.

For travelers looking to avoid any delays or cancellations, their best bet is to take the earliest flight possible, according to AAA.

Book the first flight in the morning. Because of how routes are planned and crews set up, early morning flights are less susceptible to encountering problems from cancelations or delays, Edmonds said.

Travelers should also consider checking into their flights online 24 hours in advance and signing up for mobile alerts from their airline so theyre immediately notified of any changes to their flight.

ROAD TRIPS

For those hitting the road, its important to make sure that their vehicle is prepared for the journey ahead. Road trippers should ensure that their oil has been changed, their tires are properly inflated and that their windshield wipers are in working order in the event of rain or snow.

When traveling during the winter months, its important for drivers to keep their cars well-stocked with certain items in case they get stranded during a heavy snowstorm.

This includes: jackets, blankets, hats and gloves to keep warm; water and non-perishable food items to stay hydrated and well-fed; a cellphone charger; an ice scraper or snow brush, and road flares or emergency markers to signal for help.

Should travelers find themselves temporarily stranded on the side of the road, AAA encourages drivers to stay in their car as much as possible to avoid falling or being struck by another vehicle.

In these situations, make sure to only run your car sporadically, as leaving it on for too long with the windows closed could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

CRUISES

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising travelers to avoid cruises, there are still some Americans planning to hit the high seas.

Those travelers are strongly recommended to plan their trip with a travel agent who can offer them a better idea of what to expect onboard and while docked in port.

Many popular onboard activities and shore excursions may be modified or unavailable due to the pandemic, and new safety protocols, like coronavirus testing or daily health assessments, may be in place.

Should travelers have to postpone a cruise, AAA advises them to do so as early as possible for the best rescheduling options.

Demand is already pent up, and dates will book up fast as conditions improve, Edmonds said.

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Planning a trip in 2022? Experts offer tips amid ongoing pandemic. - SILive.com

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