Daily Archives: June 5, 2022

Lane Thomas becomes 7th player in Nats history with 3-HR game – NBC Sports

Posted: June 5, 2022 at 2:10 am

Lane Thomas entered Fridays game against the Cincinnati Reds with three home runs on the season. He left it with twice as many.

The Nationals left fielder hit three long balls in Washingtons 8-5 victory, becoming just the seventh player to have a three-homer game for the club since it moved to D.C. in 2005. The other names on that list are known sluggers: Alfonso Soriano, Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Kyle Schwarber.

Now, that list includes Thomas, who finished with four RBIs on the day as well.

He was very aggressive, which we like, Nationals manager Davey Martinez said in his postgame press conference, as aired on MASN. Hes a fastball hitter. When he gets the ball in the zone with fastballs/sliders, he hits the ball hard. Tonight is a perfect example.

Thomas was slumping hard prior to the game, having tallied just one hit in his last 22 at-bats (.046 average). Martinez continued to show confidence in him, however, batting him second in the lineup in front of Juan Soto for four of their last seven games including Friday.

His career platoon splits skewed heavily in favor of facing southpaws and he got the start Friday with Reds left-hander Mike Minor on the bump. After lining out in his first at-bat, Thomas took Minor deep to left on a 1-2 pitch that landed only a few rows up from the wall.

That ball only traveled 349 feet, but the homers got progressively longer from there. Thomas only saw right-handed pitchers the rest of the way. It didnt matter. He hit his second homer off Vladimir Gutirrez on a full count in the fifth, this time to the opposite field 383 feet away.

Home run No. 3 came off reliever Jeff Hoffman, who could only watch as Thomas golfed a 95-mph fastball down and in and sent it 396 feet to left. He hit the ball with an exit velocity of 104.8 mph, well above his season average of 87.7 mph.

He had a chance to go for a fourth homer in his fifth at-bat but flew out to center field. With his big day, Thomas raised his slash on the season to .211/.268/.406, leaving plenty of room for improvement the rest of the season.

But after the Nationals acquired him in exchange for two months of a struggling Jon Lester last summer, the production Thomas has provided to this point including an impressive 45-game stretch to close out the 2021 campaign has already made that move a win for Washington.

Lane Thomas becomes 7th player in Nats history with 3-HR game - NBC Sports

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President Ramkalawan Officially Launched the Institute of Football Seychelles – African Business

Posted: at 2:09 am

The President of the Republic, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan who is also the Patron of the Seychelles Football Federation attended the official launching of the Institute of Football Seychelles (IFS), held yesterday afternoon at Savoy Seychelles Resorts and Spa, Beau Vallon. As a symbolic gesture, the President was given the honour alongside the President of Seychelles Football Federation (SFF), Mr. Elvis Chetty to sign a ball to launch the Insitute.

The objective of founding such an Institute is to train, prepare and create future players, and coaches in football career. The institute will enroll the best young players of Seychelles Football whereby in each age group, the top players will be selected to attend the institute. The same will be carried out through trials and selection process, which will be based on three basic criteria: technique, physics, and game.

During the ceremony, the invitees were presented to the first cohort of students who have been accepted at this Institute. The event was also highlighted by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the Chief Executive Officer for the Seychelles Football Federation, Mr. Georges Bibi, and Principal Secretary for Education, Ms. Merna Eulentin. There were also remarks by the Minister of Education, Dr. Justin Valentin, the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family, Mrs. Marie-Cline Zialor, and the President of Seychelles Football Federation (SFF), Mr. Elvis Chetty.

The official launching also featured corporate videos of IFS presented by the National Technical Director for the Seychelles Football Federation, Mr. Osama Haroun, and presentations of t-shirts to students and Ministers.

In his closing remarks, President Ramkalawan congratulated the students and wished them all the best as they take on this new challenge. As he extended his support, the President emphasized the importance for them to make this Institute a success. He advised them to be disciplined, learn the strategies that will make them successful in life, and listen to their coaches and parents.

Today makes a new chapter in the Seychelles football; one that is very popular among all Seychellois. Many players before you have tried to bring this sport to new heights and have made their mark. Now it is your time to set new targets and records. Seize this opportunity bestowed on you and make the most of it. Many people will be observing you, there will be those that will guide you on the right path. You will have the full support of your coaches but I want you to also do well in your studies . These two should be given equal attention, said the President.

President Ramkalawan also commended the Seychelles Football Federation for the exemplary role they are making and in taking this sport to the next level. He further encouraged other disciplines in sports to follow in their footsteps so that young people with talents can be groomed at an earlier age.Selection for the best players will be carried out in turns on three main islands: Mah, Praslin, and La Digue. The second stage will take place on Mah with 33 players selected from the three islands to constitute a smaller group of players who will join the IFS.

Once selected, IFS will be responsible to train them for three years, Monday to Friday, so that they become future Seychellois professional football players as well as pave the way for various football professions. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, it will allow each player to have a structured programme where the players will have access to an academic curriculum and classroom to continue their education.

Two places will also be reserved for players who have not been selected to join the IFS, but they will have to provide their academic reports for admission. Furthermore, as non-scholarship students, their studies will have to be financed by their scholarship holders.Also present at the event was the Principal Secretary for Youth and Sports Department, Mr. Ralph Jean-Louis, Chief Executive Officer for the National Sports Council, Mr. Jean Larue, parents of the selected athletes, and other distinguished guests.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles.

This Press Release has been issued by APO. The content is not monitored by the editorial team of African Business and not of the content has been checked or validated by our editorial teams, proof readers or fact checkers. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

As Growth Slows, Madagascar Needs a New Reform Drive To Steer Clear of the Economic Storm – World Bank Group

Posted: at 2:09 am

ANTANANARIVO, June 1, 2022The latest economic update for Madagascar suggests that the economy is facing new headwinds following bouts of COVID-19 (coronavirus), a series of extreme weather events and the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine at the start of 2022. An economic recovery had started in Madagascar in 2021 but was interrupted in 2022 by a sequence of domestic and international shocks which are expected to result in growth slowing to 2.6 percent in 2022 (from 4.4 percent in 2021), with the poverty rate now expected to remain close to 81 percent.

According to the Madagascar Economic Update: Navigating Through the Storm, the crisis is Ukraine is expected to affect Madagascar mainly through slowing demand from key trading partners and rising oil prices, which are projected to lead to growing fiscal pressures due to a lack of adjustment of regulated fuel prices and growing losses of the national utilities company JIRAMA. Beyond conjunctural factors, the decline in private investment and job creation since the outset of the crisis are expected to constraint in the growth potential of the economy moving forward. In this context, growth is expected to pick up to a slower than expected 4.2 percent in 2023 and 4.6 percent in 2024.

Faced with new shocks and uncertainties, Madagascar need more than ever to undertake bold reforms to accelerate growth and reinforce its resilience, said Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough, Country Director, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros and Seychelles. This is the only chance to reduce poverty significantly in coming years and to start catching up with aspirational peers.

Several policy priorities are highlighted as particularly urgent in this Economic Update, including (i) a clear strategy to speed up vaccination for vulnerable groups as well as in urban and tourist areas; (ii) the restoration of essential public services and connectivity infrastructure following recent climate shocks; (iii) forceful actions to address food insecurity and boost domestic food production; (iv) fuel and electricity price reforms that protect the poor while preventing ballooning fiscal deficits and socially regressive subsidies; ; (v) a new momentum to boost access and affordability of broadband and digital services; and (vi) more public sector transparency and accountability.

This report also highlights the importance of boosting public school performance following a continued deterioration in learning outcomes in recent years. Findings presented in the economic update suggest the need for new approach to performance enhancement that includes measures reinforcing teachers selection and evaluation, salary and school grant management, redress mechanism and local community participation.

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As Growth Slows, Madagascar Needs a New Reform Drive To Steer Clear of the Economic Storm - World Bank Group

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OKX Blockdream Ventures Invests Tens of Millions to Grow Play-to-Earn Gaming, NFT Marketplace on WAX – Markets Insider

Posted: at 2:09 am

The funding will support WAX-based gaming, NFT, and web3 wallet capabilities, driving greater utility of the WAX blockchain and WAXP token

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OKX Blockdream Ventures, the investment arm of world-leading cryptocurrency exchange OKX, today announced it's investing tens of millions of dollars in WAX Studios. WAXis a carbon neutral blockchain network that supports over 23 million daily transactions across NFT trading, play-to-earn (P2E) gaming, and more. The funding will go towards greater functionality of NFTs in P2E games built on WAX, the development of an exchange for P2E gaming tokens, and upgrades to the WAX Cloud Wallet. With this investment, OKX Blockdream Ventures aims to advance blockchain-based gaming infrastructure to help integrate web3 technology into consumers' daily lives.

William Quigley, CEO of WAX Studios, said, "This initiative with OKX Blockdream Ventures will further our mission to sustainably scale the WAX ecosystem and across multiple blockchains, bringing blockchain gaming to the mass market. Enthralling gaming experiences, seamless user experiences, and closer, more effective collaboration with game developers will all be facilitated with this initiative, and we look forward to further cementing our position as the most multi-faceted NFT and gaming studio."

With over 12 million user accounts, WAX has been used by top brands such as NASCAR, Sony, Hasbro, and Mattel to create and sell their respective NFT collections. WAX's novel vIRL NFTs are distinct from standard NFTs in their dynamic functionality, including app integrations, marketing tools, and e-commerce capabilities.

The capital from OKX Blockdream Ventures will be used to enable the integration of these NFT capabilities into WAX-based video games, ultimately giving more creative leeway to P2E game developers and means of engagement to end-users. The increased NFT functionality within blockchain-based games will create an experience akin to popular web2 games, while offering the ROI opportunity that gamers prioritize in P2E participation. WAX will work alongside innovative game development studios from around the world with proven gaming pedigree that can deliver this level of gameplay, digital fidelity, thoughtful system design, and high production value.

Additionally, funding from Blockdream will support development of the WAXex exchange, which will specifically list the native tokens of play-to-earn video games that are built on the WAX blockchain. This will make it easier for new blockchain-based games to enter the market, as developers often struggle to get gaming tokens listed on reputable exchanges without a large existing userbase. WAXex will function like any mainstream cryptocurrency exchange while giving gamers a more familiar and accessible experience of using fiat currency to buy WAX's native WAXP tokens, then using them to acquire any gaming token listed on the exchange. Developers building WAX-based games will get marketing and technical support, with plugins and dev kits for integrating the engines Unityand Unreal, soon to come from WAX Studios.

Jeff Ren, head of OKX Blockdream Ventures, said, "OKX Blockdream Ventures is committed to promoting innovation and growth across industries and international borders through funding the world's most progressive implementations of blockchain technology. WAX Studios sits at the cutting edge of traditional gaming and the emerging P2E environment, and we are thrilled to be giving them the firepower needed to further proliferate their unique offering to a wider audience."

Beyond gaming, Blockdream's investment will be used to facilitate the growth of the WAX Cloud Wallet to include more cross-chain functionality and an improved user experience. The wallet acts as a dashboard for the entire WAX ecosystem users can create an account using social media or email to then send gaming NFTs seamlessly, utilizing existing WAX cross-chain NFT functionality and NFT bridges across multiple blockchains. NFTs from WAX studios can be sold on OpenSea,OKX NFT, and WAX's own vIRL market, among other major platforms. WAX Studios is also committed to continuing to raise additional funding as it builds ambitious projects, such as its upcoming metaverse.

For more information, please contact:Larissa Bundziaklarissa.bundziak@okcoin.com

About OKX Blockdream VenturesOKX Blockdream Ventures is an investment institution under the worldwide top trading platform OKX.com, which focuses on exploring the best blockchain projects on a global scale, supporting the most cutting-edge blockchain technology innovation, promoting the healthy development of the global blockchain industry, and focusing on long-term structural value investment. The initial capital of OKX Blockdream Ventures is USD $100 million. We are committed to helping the ideal entrepreneurs who contribute to the development of the blockchain industry to build great companies and bringing global resources and historical experience to blockchain projects.

About WAX - The King of NFTsThe Worldwide Asset eXchange (WAX) is the #1 Metaverse Blockchain for Games and Entertainment, bringing blockchain games and NFTs to the mass market in the most secure, environmentally friendly, and easy-to-use manner possible. It's also home to WAX Studios, the innovator of vIRL Market, vIRL Technology, WAX Cloud Wallet, and several blockchain game titles currently in development and slated for release in 2022 and beyond. For more information, please visit https://wax.io and follow along on Twitter and Discord.

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American Airlines and Qatar Airways expand codeshare agreement to 16 additional countries – Aviation24.be

Posted: at 2:09 am

American Airlines and Qatar Airways are expanding their strategic alliance with a new codeshare agreement, enabling Americans customers to book travel on Qatar Airways flights via Doha to and from 16 new countries.

Pending any necessary government codeshare approvals, travellers will be able to book travel beyond Qatar to their final destinations in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This expanded codeshare comes as American launches new service on June 4 from New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Dohas Hamad International Airport (DOH), recently voted Worlds Best Airport. The new service establishes American as the only U.S. carrier to serve the Gulf region, seamlessly connecting through Doha with Qatar Airways.

Our global partnerships expand upon Americans comprehensive network, providing access to numerous destinations for our customers who are ready to travel around the world, said Americans CEO Robert Isom. Were excited to deepen our strategic alliance with Qatar Airways alongside the launch of our new service between New York and Doha, giving Americans customers more choices and convenient access to the Middle East and beyond.

The strategic alliance includes Qatar Airways, the leading carrier in the Middle East in terms of frequencies and destinations and the six-time Skytrax Worlds Best Airline award winner, placing its code on thousands of Americans domestic flights strengthening connectivity and creating new travel options for customers. Americans network enables connections to over 250 North American cities and Qatar Airways extensive network of more than 85 relevant destinations allows customers to access the Middle East, East Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia gateways. The airlines, both alliance members, are paving the way for more interconnected travel within the alliance and globally.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, said: Qatar Airways is pleased to extend our codeshare partnership with American Airlines, as yet another step in renewing our long-term strategic partnership with the airline. The expansion of our codeshare agreement is a testament to our joint confidence in the future of aviation, and our shared mission of enhancing the customer experience for millions of passengers worldwide. We are thrilled to build on our relationship with our fellow oneworld partner to provide passengers with the reliable, safe and award-winning service that they have come to know and expect from Qatar Airways.

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American Airlines and Qatar Airways expand codeshare agreement to 16 additional countries - Aviation24.be

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25.12: The Collapse of the Soviet Union: A Timeline of Key Events

Posted: at 2:06 am

On December 25, 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev announced his resignation as President of the Soviet Union. One day later, the Union was formally dissolved. The Red Empire, the worlds first workers state, had broken apart into fifteen independent nation states. These events, and those of the months preceding them, were the definitive moments of the dawn of the new millennium.

The road to this geopolitical climax was long. It is generally thought to have begun with the election of Mikhail Gorbachev to the post of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), the de facto head of state. At 54 years old, he was the only Soviet leader to have been born after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. He had inherited the largest country in the world; over 22 million square kilometers and spanning eleven time zones, with a population of some 290 million people of various ethnicities. Gorbachev would oversee the destruction of this state, a process that would last only a few years and would culminate in a failed coup dtat against him, a last, desperate gasp of the pathetic old relics of the Stalin era to conserve the Soviet Union.

Learn more about the key events, figures, and themes of these historical turning points in communistcrimes.orgs timeline on the Soviet collapse:

March 11, 1985: Gorbachev is nominated General Secretary of the CPSU. A committed communist with firm convictions around the necessity of reform, his attempts to democratise the Soviet political system and modernise the economy would ultimately see the downfall of his state.

April 26, 1986: An environmental disaster ensues after a nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine explodes, dispersing a cloud of radiation across Europe. The explosion is caused by a faulty reactor design and inadequately trained personnel. Attempts by the Government to conceal the disaster directly contradict Gorbachevs policy of glasnost (openness and transparency) on the world stage, and directly harm the Soviet populace through premature death and internal displacement. This coverup would continue, in part, for years to come.

1989: Gorbachevs commitment to Soviet non-intervention in the affairs of foreign states accelerates the end of the Cold War. Two key events occur in 1989 to this effect. The first is the conclusion of the Soviet-Afghan War, a problem Gorbachevinherited from his predecessors which had raged for nine years at great human cost. The second is the wave of mostly peaceful revolutions against communist governments in Eastern Europe. Gorbachev reacts to the loss of these satellite states, which had been seized by the Soviet Union as spoils of war in 1945, with seeming disinterest. By contrast, his predecessors had fought tooth and nail to preserve them by crushing anti-communist resistance in East Germany (1953), Hungary (1956), and Czechoslovakia (1968).

March 1989: Elections to the new parliament, the Congress of Peoples Deputies, are held. The CPSU directly controls only one-third of the seats, making these the most democratic elections Russia has seen since 1917. This is an important step in breaking the CPSUs monopoly on power. Rather than solidifying Gorbachevs support base, voters are drawn to more radical democrats like Boris Yeltsin. The opposition also wins in many of the non-Russian republics.

August 23, 1989: The Baltic Way, a human chain between Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, is formed to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939. The Pact had formed the basis for the illegal annexation of the three states by the Soviet Union in 1940. Though Gorbachev claimed we can say the nationalities issue has been resolved for our country, ethnic nationalism, partially enable by glasnosts exposition of such controversial aspects of Soviet history, undermined the legitimacy of Soviet rule in these republics. While the leadership denounced nationalist separatism, many in the Baltic states viewed continued membership of the Soviet Union as an ongoing occupation. Nationalism was also prevalent in other borderland regions of the empire.

January 1991: Soviet tanks and paratroopers undertake military operations in Lithuania and Latvia. In Lithuania alone, 14 civilians are killed, and hundreds more injured. Moscows intolerance for the ever-growing nationalism in the non-Russian constituent republics, especially in the Baltics, led to this display of force. These events, however, have the opposite effect to what was intended. Rather than intimidating the nationalist movements, the violence only strengthens their cause.

June 1991: Yeltsin was elected as the first President of the Russian Federation.

August 19, 1991: A coup dtat against Gorbachev takes place in Moscow. Acting in advance of the signing of the New Union Treaty, which was Gorbachevs initiative to preserve the Soviet Union by granting more autonomy to the constituent republics, a so-called State Committee on the State of Emergency (GKChP) is formed by representatives of the Soviet State, KGB, CPSU, and the military-industrialists. The putschists place Gorbachev under house arrest in his Crimean dacha and, after his refusal to cooperate, replace him with Gennady Yanayev as Acting President of the Soviet Union. The coup openly opposes democratisation and liberalisation, which are blamed for the socio-economic crises plaguing the country.

August 21, 1991: The coup is broken, and the Soviet Union has just days to live. Mass protests occur in Moscow when the coup is announced, and Yeltsin famously clambers atop a tank outside the Russian Parliament to give a speech denouncing the right-wing, reactionary, anti-constitutional coup detat. Three civilians are killed in clashes with the military. The coup is undermined by the weakness, indecision, and alcoholism of its instigators. Faced with mass unrest and an increasingly unsupportive military, the GKChP calls off its tanks.

December 25, 1991: Gorbachev gives his farewell speech, announcing his resignation as President of the Soviet Union. Despite his attempts to preserve some semblance of a union and his own place within it, he is forced to concede his position to Yeltsin, the inaugural President of the Russian Federation. The Union is replaced with a much weaker Commonwealth of Independent States, which does not include many of the former constituent republics. One day later, the upper chamber of the Supreme Soviet votes both itself and the Soviet Union out of existence, formally bringing the empire to an end.

List of sources.

Edele, Mark. The Soviet Union: A Short History. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2019.

Remnick, David. Lenins Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire. New York: Random House, 1993.

Seventeen Moments in Soviet History, Michigan State University. Gorbachev Challenges the Party. Accessed December 14, 2021. URL: http://soviethistory.msu.edu/1985-2/perestroika-and-glasnost/perestroika-and-glasnost-texts/gorbachev-challenges-the-party/

Taubman, William and Svetlana Savranskaya. If a Wall Fell in Berlin and Moscow Hardly Noticed, Would it Still Make a Noise?. In The Fall of the Berlin Wall: The Revolutionary Legacy of 1989, edited by Jeffrey A. Engel, 6995. Oxford: Oxford University, 2009.

Taubman, William. Gorbachev: His Life and Times. London: Simon and Schuster, 2017.

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What Happens to Johnny Depps and Amber Heards Careers? Insiders Weigh In – Vanity Fair

Posted: at 2:04 am

As tempting as it might be for Depp to embrace his status as a leader of the anti-MeToo movement, the veteran movie producer says he should resist. He needs to represent Johnny Depp as an actor trying to come back from years of lack of sobriety. The narrative that he beat #MeToo would be very bad for him.

Once one of Americas biggest and most magnetic movie stars, Depp was the kind of actor who could make any movieeven one based on a theme park rideworth seeing. His career has encompassed serious indie films and blockbusters. As he grew older, he transformed into a bit of a cartoon-character version of a rebel, in the mold of his gonzo hero, Hunter S. Thompson. During the trial, there was discussion of whether Depp had gained a problematic reputation in the industry that dimmed his work prospects even before Heards op-ed. In a video deposition, UTAs Tracey Jacobs, a top talent agent who represented Depp for 30 years until he fired her in 2016, testified about his increased substance abuse and suggested that, in her final decade working with him, Depp tarnished his reputation by consistently showing up late to set. People were talking, she said. The question was out there about his behavior.

A prominent Hollywood publicist and awards strategist sees a bumpy road ahead for Depp. Once you go too far down this path, the legitimate studios are not going to hire him. Hes still slightly kryptonite. But what does he care? He will continue to make money off marginal video-on-demand things and be fine with that.

Hes still slightly kryptonite. But what does he care? He will continue to make money off marginal video-on-demand things and be fine with that.

A talent agent at one of the major agencies believes that since Depps dangerous artistic image was already a given, audiences may be forgiving. I think its just going to take one studio hiring him. Maybe he has to make an independent film or make something thats outside the studio system for it to be acceptable to hire him again."

A development executive who has worked on several Depp projects agrees that the actors reintegration into Hollywood will be a gradual process: I dont think he immediately goes back on the Harry Potter franchise or goes immediately back onto Pirates of the Caribbean. The jury and the public seem to be on his side, so its less controversial than many of these other celebrities whove been guilty of #MeToo accusations, because he did win the case largely.

The executive disagrees with Depps former agents assessment that issues like substance abuse and emotional volatility had already hampered Depps projects. That kind of stuff never really affected his ability to show up on set and give a performance. It wasnt an industry problem like, we cant get him bonded because he wont show up on set for big chunks of time. Whatever those problems were, its not like they had a massive impact on his ability to actually perform in big films.

Still, the abuse accusations will remain a factor in whether he gets hired, the development exec admits. Its a question of executives within the business determining: Do they want that headache? My guess is more likely hes going to be doing sort of smaller, Rum Diary kinds of movies that might kind of get him back on the map. Depp may also find himself being offered less compensation because of his reputational damage. Johnny is part of a group of superstars that used to command these gigantic salaries, the development exec continues. Thats a shrinking demographic. So any excuse Hollywood could use to not pay those figures, theyre gonna take it.

Depp does have other financial footholds, like his role as the face of Diors Sauvage cologne. The company chose to stand by him through the trial, a decision that seemed to be rewarded by fans, some of whom went out of their way to buy the product as a sign of support for Depp. Its a win for Dior, says a luxury fashion brand executive and consultant. Theres obviously a lot of articles out there [saying] that nobody has won, but clearly Johnny is the winner in our public opinion.

As for Heard, most sources V.F. spoke to agree that her reputation has been badly damaged by the grueling trial. Although never as massive a star as Depp, Heard is set to appear in blockbuster sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom alongside Jason Momoa next year. But Depp fans, who have showered Heard with disgust and fury, mounted a campaign to remove the actor from the movie; as of this writing, their change.org petition has more than 4.5 million signatures.

She walked away being less trusted and less liked than she was before.

Insiders are divided about Heards prospects going forward. I think, for Amber, her career is over, says the talent agent. She didnt really have a viable career in the last year or two or so before this, so I dont know how she comes out of that. The development exec concurs: She had her day in court, quite literally, to prove the case that she was trying to make, and the jurors didnt find it as compelling and the public didnt find it as compelling. At the end of the day, I think she walked away being less trusted and less liked than she was before.

The publicist is more sanguine about Heards future: Her career as a big studio star is done, but I do think shell find appropriate producers who are going to be all about working with herwomen who actually want to send the elevator back down for people. The veteran movie producer isnt quite ready to make a bet. It really depends on the kinds of choices that she makes. I think there will be people that are willing to work with her. And if she did a terrific indie with a terrific part and showed her chops, I think she could come back from this.

Hollywood has recently forged a mini trend out of reckoning with the tabloid demonization of women like Monica Lewinsky, Pamela Anderson, and Britney Spears; yet Heards treatment on social media grimly echoes the way these women were publicly mocked and undermined. The harassment and the humiliation, the campaign against me thats echoed every single day on social media, and now in front of cameras in the showroomevery single day I have to relive the trauma, Heard said in her testimony. Current hashtags include #amberheardisapsychopath, #WeJustDontLikeYouAmber, and #DontBelieveAllWomen.

I think this trial fell into a zeitgeist crisis, says the movie producer. Theres an appetite for allowing complications to enter the picture, where its not all victim and victimizer. The craziness [aimed at Heard] was a kind of pent-up anger at women. I think it really stirred up a lot of deep-seated resentment that hasnt been allowed expression since #MeToo.

The verdict may test one of Hollywoods ongoing quandaries, the producer says: How canceled is canceled? Other than Harvey Weinstein, it seems that all bets are off. I think it will be determined by the market, not the executives. If the market really wants an actor, theyll get it. I dont think the market is begging for Kevin Spacey. They certainly are begging for Dave Chappelle. And judging by Depps army of followers, he retains a boisterous fandom. His post-verdict Instagram statement currently has more than 18 million likes, some from celebrities, including filmmaker Taika Waititi.

So would you cast either Depp or Heard right now, if you had the right part? I would probably wait six months to figure that out, the producer says. Right now the studios and the buyers dont know whats going to happen. You have to wait for this to sort of settle in the culture. But I would certainly put them on the list.

Meanwhile, Hollywood will have to let the grimness of the trial dissipate. I think they abused each other, says an industry veteran who watched the trial compulsively. I think they were toxic. I dont think hes a serial abuser. He didnt abuse Kate Moss. He didnt abuse Vanessa Paradis. But there are some combinations of people that are like chemicals that are completely benign when theyre on their own, but you put them together, and they blow up your kitchen.

Additional interviews by Anthony Breznican, Rebecca Ford, and Britt Hennemuth.

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WA Symphony Orchestra and Asher Fisch play Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms at Perth Concert Hall – The West Australian

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A sense of nostalgia with a hint of mystery hung over the Concert Hall on Friday for WA Symphony Orchestras featured work, Haydns Sinfonia concertante.

Four of WASOs leading musicians Liz Chee (oboe), Jane Kircher-Lindner (bassoon), Semra Lee-Smith (violin) and Eve Silver (cello) were billed as soloists, yet a harpsichord held centre stage.

Haydns Classical strains took on a wistful, nostalgic quality, perhaps because this would be the last of an heroic run of concertos and ensembles played by the orchestras own artists during COVID curbs, with the return of international talent next week.

The four voices and their complementary colours faithfully captured the elegant simplicity of the melody, a whiff of a sigh in the composition and languor in delivery as if spinning out this special moment.

Lee-Smith brought yearning to the Allegro first movement solos and cadenzas, echoed by duets in the double reeds, with Silvers assured support and virtuoso flourishes.

The Andante second movement opened in violin and bassoon, then oboe and cello, playing across the quartet with an empathy and lightness of touch that spoke of easy familiarity; landing gently on the cadence over mellow horns.

Sudden attack into the Allegro con spirito finale gave way to violin cadenzas alternating with the orchestra, Lee-Smiths confident lead taken up by Silver in matching quality of tone, sustained by oboe and bassoon; the quartet in dialogue with the orchestra punctuated by exquisitely exposed violin.

A heartfelt hometown cheer at the conclusion said it all.

And the harpsichord? A late addition to the scripted program with Fisch playing and directing from the keyboard.

The instrument is a staple of the Baroque era that Fisch at a Discovery concert in 2019 ironically compared to someone walking on broken glass while were trying to play a symphony.

The evening opened with Brahms Variation on a Theme by Haydn, another whiff of nostalgia harking back from the Romantic to the Classical era, the familiar theme led out by young guest oboist Kyeong Ham, stepping up to great effect with Chee absent on solo duty.

Woodwind was reinforced by German trumpets then transplanted by strings as woodwind and brass tolled out a rhythmic accompaniment.

Fisch was relaxed and expressive on the podium, summoning disparate elements in turn, delicately balancing the dynamics as the theme passed through variations and sections; sometimes more classically Haydn, at others full-on Romantic Brahms especially in the grandiose finale, which earned a warm ovation for Ham.

After the break, Beethovens Leonore Overture No.3 channelled the drama of the French revolutionary era, an opening blast and sustained chordal sequence building gradually to a brusque explosion with full effects in woodwind, brass and strings.

Fisch was in full flight with vigorous gestures painting sound on a canvas of air; leaving nothing on the field in summoning the zeitgeist of Beethovens breakthrough decade.

Ovations followed for off-stage trumpeter Brent Grapes, flautist Andrew Nicholson and bassoonist Adam Mikulicz again, a stand-in for a principal on solo duty.

Beethovens much-neglected Symphony No.8 rounded out the program, another sudden attack echoing the surging, swirling melody and dynamics of the better-known Symphony No.7 before suddenly dropping to a curiously unsettling conclusion.

The Allegretto second movement was almost whimsical; a characteristic Fisch coaxed along with deft directions down to another abrupt cadence.

The Tempo di minuetto third stanza was definitely a Classical throwback, a gentle dance measure with trumpet highlights over mellow horns and woodwind as strings meandered through to another backwoods halt.

It was left to the Allegro vivace finale to revive the vigour of the opening, almost experimental in harmonic progressions with disruptive dynamics and rhythm, before finally rendering a typical Beethoven-like crash-bang conclusion.

Ovations for cellos, horns and clarinettist Allan Meyer wound up the night.

WASO returns to the Concert Hall on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, at 7.30pm, with Elgars Cello Concerto and Bruckners Symphony No.3.

http://www.waso.com.au

World Pantheism Revering the Universe, Caring for Nature, Celebrating …

Posted: at 2:03 am

Do you feel a deep sense of peace, belonging, and gratitude in Nature? Are you blown away by a clear night sky filled with stars and galaxies? Do you say things like Forests are my cathedrals or The Universe is my higher power ? Then you may well be a scientific pantheist. Scientific pantheism focuses on saving the planet rather than saving souls. It respects the rights of humans, and also of all living beings. It encourages you to make the most and best of your one life here. It values reason and the scientific method over adherence to ancient scriptures.Over 230,000 people have taken our popular quizzes. Try the latest takes three minutes:- Are you Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan, Deist, Pantheist or What?

We relate closely to some of the central challenges of our era. At a time when the balance of our Earth is under unprecedented threat, scientific pantheism is one of the few forms of spirituality in which Nature plays a central part. For us, Nature is a source of peace, solace, joy and beauty, as well as the focus for our gratitude, love, care and vigilance. Nature was not created for us to use or abuse. Nature created us, we are an inseparable part of her. We have a duty to live sustainably, to care for Nature and to halt and reverse the harm that humans have done to her.

Scientific pantheism is the only form of spirituality we know of which fully embraces science as part of the human exploration of Earth and Cosmos. We wonder at the picture of a vast, creative and often violent Universerevealed by the Hubble Space Telescope. We regard stargazing as a spiritual practice. We oppose climate change denial and evolution denial, especially in education.

Scientific pantheism has a joyous affirmative approach to life. It has a healthy and positive attitude to sex and life in the body. We wont tell you what you should be smoking or doing in the bedroom. We fully accept We fully accept gender and sexual diversity, and we oppose all forms of discrimination.

Scientific pantheism moves beyond God and defines itself by positives. Atheism and Agnosticism both define themselves negatively, in relation to a God that they deny or doubt. These are useful starting points but they dont take us very far. Most people also need positive beliefs and feelings about their place in Nature and the wider Universe. Scientific pantheists take Nature and the Universe as our start and finish point, not some preconceived idea of God. We do not believe in a supernatural creator god who watches or judges us. Most scientific pantheists avoid god-language or religious words like church, worship, divinity and so on. We regard them as misleading in relation to pantheism. Those of us who do like to use these words, use them metaphorically, as a way of expressing their deep feelings of reverence, gratitude and belonging towards Nature and the wider Universe.

Pantheism theory, practice and history

Our beliefs and values are summarized in our Principles of Scientific Pantheism. The statement was drawn up by fallible humans. It is not required dogma it is simply a notice on our door, to show what we are about so people can decide if it suits them or if they want to learn more. These are the key elements:

Many people feel the need to belong to a religious community. Research shows that such groups provide mutual support and friends and are good for physical and mental health. Theres no good reason why groups of like-minded non-theistic folk should not enjoy similar benefits.

In the WPM we are spiritual but not religious. By spiritual we dont mean spiritualistic. We are not talking about a spirit or soul separate from our body. We mean that whole complex of deep feelings, values and beliefs that inspire our core sense of place in human society, Nature and Universe.We are not religious in the sense that we dont have churches, priests, or prescribed dogma and rituals. But we do aim to provide a home base for people who have deep feelings for Nature and the Universe and who do not believe in supernatural entities.

Two of the major benefits our members and friends say they value are gaining new like-minded friends and finding a place where they can share their enthusiasms without fear of being ostracized or feeling isolated. There have been many local meetings of members across the USA and in other parts of the world, where people have found a rare level of fellowship and stimulation.

In the longer term, as resources permit, we hope to:

If you would like to help promote these goals, please consider becoming a WPM member. Volunteering is another great way of supporting the WPM.

All who agree with our principles are encouraged to like our Facebook page (with 160,000 fans), or join our Facebook discussion group with 15,000 members.

We use the name pantheism because the term encompasses a long and venerable history dating back to Heraclitus and Marcus Aurelius and extending to Einstein, D. H. Lawrence and beyond.

Our beliefs (see the Statement of Principles) are entirely compatible with atheism, humanism, agnosticism, and symbolic paganism (viewing magic, gods and spirits as symbols rather than objective realities). We offer a home to all forms of naturalistic spirituality however you may choose to label it. Other paths that approximate include philosophical Taoism, modern Stoicism, Western forms of Buddhism that celebrate Nature and daily life without supernatural beliefs, and Unitarian Universalists who do not believe in supernatural beings.

You are free to adopt the terms and practices you prefer and draw on other traditions for inspiration or celebration. Some call this a religion (a positive one), while others call it a philosophy, a way of life, or a form of general spirituality. Its up to you.

Please explore our pages. If you have any questions, please contact us

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World Pantheism Revering the Universe, Caring for Nature, Celebrating ...

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The R&S Pantheism Thread – City-Data

Posted: at 2:03 am

Location: Germany

Reputation: 1517

Quote:

Up until recently, I had no real opinion about pantheism. One poster...just one...has given me a totally negative view of pantheism. After reading this poster's posts over several months, I have come to the conclusion that pantheism has no moral core.

One can only hope Goldie provides credible arguments for his religion instead of the usual evasive assertions.

Location: Sun City West, Arizona

Reputation: 28040

Quote:

One can only hope Goldie provides credible arguments for his religion instead of the usual evasive assertions.

Reputation: 822

Quote:

One can only hope Goldie provides credible arguments for his religion instead of the usual evasive assertions.

If you are not satisfied with that (as you are not satisfied with any Theistic Views)...that issue is completely on you. Best wishes resolving that problem. I will pray for you.

Reputation: 14428

Quote:

It also appears to be a problem for those faking spiritual wisdom. These constant, dishonest attacks instead of addressing the does not suggest a wise sage is posting. One can only hope provides credible arguments for his religion instead of the usual evasive assertions.

Do you yourself even know what that is? This is not about what anyone else says or does or believes or defines it as. It is what you yourself recognize and know and grasp.

Think of it this way, think of someone who doesn't get art, or doesn't get music, making the types of demands and statements we see on threads regarding paths of religion and spirituality. What makes art, art, and not just a bunch of scribbles. What makes music,music, and not just a bunch of noise. Demands to "prove" art. Demands to "provide credible argument for music." Crowing about "which music is true" "which art is truth." Drawing conclusions such as "there are so many different kinds of music, they can't all be right, some even contradict each other, therefore music is false" "if art was true it would all show the same thing" "people who discuss art are faking it" "people who discuss music are dishonest" "where are the arguments for art" "show a rational argument for music" "faking music wisdom" "faking art wisdom"

That is how the questions and demands and 'conclusions' come across which are made about paths of religion and spirituality including Pantheism the topic of this thread. so i'm asking how do you yourself know what is music and not just a bunch of noise. how do you yourself know what is art and not just a bunch of scribbles. and again the same question: how do you yourself know what is sacred,holy,divinity.

because based on the repetitive demands and repetitive statements, that may be the obstacle. that you don't.

Last edited by Tzaphkiel; Today at 06:31 AM..

Location: Germany

Reputation: 1517

Quote:

Do you yourself even know what that is? This is not about what anyone else says or does or believes or defines it as. It is what you yourself recognize and know and grasp.

because based on the repetitive demands and repetitive statements, that may be the obstacle. that you don't.

Reputation: 14428

Quote:

The three obstacles you show here are:1) you STILL not understanding the simple difference between subjective and objective2) the fact that people do fake sacred, holy and divine truth, and3) why are you asking me when even the religious and spiritual can not agree on what is sacred, holy or divine.

it is like someone saying these:"the fact that people do fake music" "the fact that people do fake art""people can't even agree on music" "people can't even agree on art"

Reputation: 14428

the type of music a person prefers and chooses is subjective. the existence of music is not. a person recognizes or not that music exists. the type of art a person prefers and chooses is subjective. the existence of art is not. a person recognizes or not that art exists.the type of religion and spirituality a person prefers and chooses is subjective. the existence of the holy and sacred is not. a person recognizes or not the holy and sacred exists.

Last edited by Tzaphkiel; Today at 07:53 AM..

Location: Germany

Reputation: 1517

Quote:

bingo. that answers the question and identifies the obstacle.that you do not grasp what it even is, what it even means, and do not recognize sacred,holy, Divinity.

Just more dishonesty from you, your conclusion does not follow from my post.

Quote:

it is like someone saying these:"the fact that people do fake music" "the fact that people do fake art""people can't even agree on music" "people can't even agree on art"

Location: Germany

Reputation: 1517

Quote:

repeating the phrase "subjective and objective" has nothing to do with having an internal understanding of why is art not just a fake bunch of scribbles, why is music not just a fake bunch of noise, why is religion and spirituality not just a fake bunch of words.

Focus on what people are actually saying, do not dishonestly swap objective for subjective to make an answer that answers nothing.

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The R&S Pantheism Thread - City-Data

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