Category Archives: Golden Rule

IN the rich pantheon of people nobody will care about one year from now, Curtis Pritchard and Maura Higgins are right at the top.

But after Maura finally called time on their transparent seven-month romance on Monday, I thought it only fair to tell you all whats really been going on behind closed doors.

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Curtis and Maura, if you hadnt already guessed, have been faking their relationship and were urged to stay together for work commitments by cash-hungry management teams, who warned them it would be bad for their brand if they split.

After coupling up on last years Love Island, the pair were told they would make millions if they stuck together and kept the illusion alive.

Despite Maura quickly falling out of love with Curtis, insiders told me she first felt pressured into sticking with him like so many other couples who are paired up on the ITV2 series at the end of last year.

The cracks in their relationship were grossly evident at the National Television Awards in January, when three reporters on my team witnessed Maura cowering in a corner of the smoking area as Curtis who was so drunk he struggled to stand shouted at her.

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An insider told me: Maura felt pressured to stick with him. They had booked jobs together, parties they had to attend.

When they met in Love Island it was genuine.

But when the showbiz treadmill started on the outside, it was a sham.

The NTAs was the last straw.

Maura has star quality and is a professional.

Curtis showed his true colours that night.

Curtis was seen cosying up to another woman in a nightclub in January.

Over the weekend he was linked to sexy dancer Amber Pierson, who is on his brother AJs dance tour.

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Last week, former Love Island contestant Montana Brown admitted stars are put under pressure to stick together and Curtis and Maura were a prime example of this fakery in action.

Inside the swanky NTAs after-party at Londons O2 Arena, Curtis had downed glasses of white wine and was filmed acting like a lout, even though hed been paid to host the red carpet with Maura.

Male friends of Mauras warned him to leave her alone and he had to be helped out of the building by fellow islander Joe Garrett.

Maura said afterwards she was furious Curtis had drunk so much and was being so irrational.

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When faced with the video of him staggering and being pushed away by Maura, Curtiss smarmy rep begged me not to use it for fear it would ruin a deal he had struck between Curtis and the BBC.

I understand young stars make mistakes so I agreed not to run the footage.

In return, and as part of a deal that is a regular occurrence in showbiz reporting, Curtiss team promised they would be honest about the moment the couple ended their relationship and said Curtis would speak to us about this.

Instead, both their teams lied about the break-up and denied it just hours before Maura posted a po-faced statement on Instagram on Monday night.

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Curtiss slippery flunky went to ground when asked when his client would be available to speak about the break-up.

So Im revealing the couples sham relationship and telling the truth about what a grim man Curtis can be when hes on the sauce and away from the watchful eye of those he pays to keep bad stories out of the limelight.

If you go back on the deal you so were desperate to strike, mate, dont think I wont either.

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IF you thought there was nothing Kim Kardashian and Kanye West would not do to push their showbiz and business agenda, youd be absolutely correct.

The shameless couple launched their daughter North as a pop star aged just six on Monday night in a bid to get some publicity for Kanyes fashion brand.

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She performed a song called What I Do on stage at his Yeezy Season 8 show as part of Paris Fashion Week and she looked terrified until her dad joined her halfway through the performance.

Meanwhile, Kim dressed in new gear from the collection filmed her.

A school nativity play is one thing, but being put on stage in front of hundreds and streamed to thousands more is something else entirely.

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AFTER five decades in the industry, there cant be anybody more familiar with theatre etiquette than Andrew Lloyd Webber.

But still, it was the legendary composer of musical smashes including The Phantom Of The Opera who broke the golden rule of the West End on Sunday night when he started using his phone to film the stars on stage during a show.

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He was in the audience at the Gillian Lynne Theatre during the final performance of School Of Rock which he wrote the music for when he was told off by an usher.

But it was only after she had snapped at him that she realised who the famous culprit was.

The usher, musical theatre graduate Hayley Baldwin, tweeted: So today I accidentally told THE Andrew Lloyd Webber off for filming his own show... Guess there go my chances of ever being in any of his shows in the future.

"To clarify, I was working FOH [front of house], I wasnt just in the audience.

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During his phenomenal career, Andrew has written the music for Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats and Joseph And The Amazing Techni- color Dreamcoat and is now worth an estimated 820million.

If he really wanted a video that much, booking out the whole theatre would have been no issue at all.

KYLIE Minogue must be feeling really loved up, because shes been making music with the man behind hits including Sexbomb and Horny.

The Aussie singer, who is dating GQ mag boss Paul Solomons, was photographed at the Rosewood London hotel on Monday night, hours after having a session in the studio with German producer Mousse T.

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He tweeted a photo with Kylie and tagged in another top DJ, Alex Gaudino, who is responsible for dance tunes including Destination Calabria and What A Feeling featuring Kelly Rowland.

Speaking about her new music last week, Kylie said: Ive already started work in the studio.

Were not quite sure what it is yet, but we feel like Thats good, thats good this is the direction were heading.

I wont be doing [country] again, but what I learned in that period will stay with me however the songwriting pans out.

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I CALLED out Radio 1 on Monday for failing to put Lady Gaga's incredible new single Stupid Love on its playlists and now bosses have finally seen sense.

Last night the station announced the latest set of weekly playlists and the song has been added to the B list. Perhaps the change of heart was forced by drivetime presenter Nick Grimshaw.

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He was away in Namibia on a Sport Relief fundraiser last week when the decision to snub the song was made.

But on his first show back on Monday, Nick posted two Instagram stories dancing to the tune, so clearly hes a fan even if his bosses arent.

Stupid Love was at No2 in the midweek chart update.

It is from Gagas upcoming album Chromatica.

That is sure to be just as successful as it is rumoured to feature a collaboration with Ariana Grande.

I cant wait to hear it.

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SISTER Sledge, Lisa Maffia and Artful Dodger have been added to the line-up for South Londons Mighty Hoopla festival in Brockwell Park on June 6. Cheryl Tweedy, Atomic Kitten and Eve are also on the bill.

HIT producer Max Martin's pop musical & Juliet leads the pack for this years Olivier Awards with nine nominations.

I gave it a five-star review when it opened in the West End in November and clearly audiences agree.

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The modern retelling of Romeo & Juliet, set to some of pops most famous songs, is up for the most gongs including Best New Musical and Best Original Score.

Fiddler On The Roof has eight nominations while Dear Evan Hansen has seven. Phoebe Waller-Bridge has a Best Actress nod for her stage version of Fleabag while James McAvoy is up for Best Actor for Cyrano de Bergerac.

Jason Manford will host the ceremony on April 5.

DAMNING VERDICTLove Island's Demi and Luke M will be the first to split up, says Callum

on same paigePaige Turley reveals ex Lewis Capaldi congratulated her after Love Island

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FREEZE A CROWDMaura and Curtis split over her closeness with hunky DOI partner Alexander

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CASH & CORRIELucy Fallon 'makes her 100k Coronation Street salary with Insta ads'

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NEES-UPCoronation Streets James Burrows gets first role since quitting soap as Ali Neeson

CURT REPLYMaura posts cryptic comment about 'giving up on you' after split with Curtis

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Curtis Pritchard and Maura Higgins faked their romance for three months and were forced to stay together for - The Sun

Showing off the staff shirts, Jan Ek, Recreation Centers of Sun City general manager, left, and Brian Duthu, golf and grounds director, right, with Jim Wellman, former assistant general manager, being honored prior to his retirement.

Dan Schroeder, Recreation Centers of Sun City board president

By Dan Schroeder

Theres a group here in Sun City that is typically and quite often taken for granted.

You can easily spot them wherever you are on Recreation Centers of Sun City properties. Bright tropical floral printed shirts reminding you that life here really is pretty close to paradise. More than 60% of them are cardholders and live in Sun City, too just like you!

They check you in as you head to the swimming pool and the fitness center. They make sure your meeting space is properly set up and ready for your club. They hose off the sidewalks and patios, change air filters and make certain restrooms and shower areas are not only clean but meet or exceed health standards. They properly balance pool and spa chemicals, and make sure everything is running smoothly.

They process your annual assessments, answer your questions, give you directions and help you with club functions and scheduling.

They work to fairly and consistently apply the rules, regulations and policies that make our facilities work day in and day out, year-round. Imagine what chaos there would be without these dedicated staff?

But most of all, what they deserve is your cooperation and respect. When youre approached about an issue, please listen and try to work together to get the problem resolved.

If you see something that requires attention, say something. Staff would be happy to help make it right, if possible. Regulations and requirements are actually in place and enforced for everyones safety and protection.

Nevertheless, we all need to remember and live by the golden rule Do unto others! Treat all people the same way you wish and deserve to be treated.

While things may not be perfect here, lets work together with a goal to make life better. Dont just sit on the sidelines and complain, get involved and talk about what needs to happen so that everyone both full-time and seasonal residents are treated equally and respectfully. That should include those who are merely doing their jobs as best they can.

Editors Note: Dan Schroeder is Recreation Centers of Sun City board president for 2020.

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Schroeder: Let's live life by the golden rule in Sun City - Your Valley

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW)-- While a lot of schools participate in random acts of kindness week, one local school has taken it upon themselves to it a month-long challenge.

All throughout February Howe Elementary School in Wisconsin Rapids has been working hard to instill kindness in their students. Each morning the school starts their day with a kindness pledge and kindness challenge to do at school and at home.

Tine Miller the Principal at the elementary school said it has been fun to really go all in for the students.

it feels so good to know that we're instilling these values for kids that hopefully continue on for the rest of their lives, Miller said.

Throughout the month, teachers have spent countless hours of their personal time on the challenge. Leah Boon the school counselor said the teachers have been caught making signs, creating fun activities, finding videos, games and crafts all revolving around kindness, littering the hallways with kind notes and posters.

Seeing some of the activities that teachers are taking on without even being asked, they're just jumping on board and saying, yes, this is an important thing that we're doing and we want to continue to give back and keep teaching all throughout the day, Boon said.

One big project has been the schools Kindness Tree in the cafeteria. The tree highlights all the great things seen in the hallways at school with a unanimous heart, teaching that kindness isnt about personal gain.

Brenda Simon, the schools paraprofessional who fronted the project said she hopes the extra effort will show the students just how easy it is to be kind.It's a smile. It's a hug. It's maybe just a look that says, I care about you asking somebody to play compliments, Simon said.

While their month of kindness is almost over, many teachers have spoken out about continuing to push kindness in the classroom.

The school has also colored personal bookmarks for the public library hoping the community will follow in their random acts of kindness.

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Kindness Month shows students the importance of the golden rule - WSAW

The White family has runrestaurants in Phoenix for decades. Elizabeth White started the tradition in 1964 with her restaurant Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe, followed by her grandson's local Southern food chain, Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles.

Then in January, Larry White III, whose father owns Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles,opened a fast-casual restaurant called Lo-Lo Jr's.

Now, after less than one month in business, the newest restaurant in the White family empire is closed.

Co-owner Emmanuel Gorree confirmed to The Arizona Republic on Monday that the restaurant is closed. Gorree did not provide information on why the restaurant closed orif it will reopen.

Larry White III could not be reached at the time of publication.

Larry "Lo-Lo" White owns the local Southernfood chain Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles, which has locations inPhoenix,Gilbert and Scottsdale, as well as at Sky Harbor International Airport. Out of state locations can be found in Las Vegas and Southlake, Texas.

He opened the first location in 2002 after working at his grandmother's restaurant,Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe,growing up.

Larry White III, Lo-Lo's son and Mrs. White's great grandson, opened Lo-Lo Jr's on Jan. 29to continuehis family legacy of cooking Southern food in Phoenix, he told The Arizona Republic.

The restaurant offered a small menu with options including a chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, waffle sticks and mac n' cheese andwas located on Van Buren Street just east of Interstate 10.

A few weeks after opening Lo-Lo Jr's started the process of changing its name to Junior's Chicken and Waffles.

OnMonday, Feb. 17, a note was taped to the front door of the restaurant, which read:

A sign hangs on the building showing the name change from Lo-Lo Jr's to Junior's Chicken and Waffles on Feb. 17, 2020.(Photo: Tirion Morris/The Republic)

"This is a letter to inform everyone that the name at this location will be changing to (Juniors Chicken and Waffles). Out of respect for (Lo-Lo's) a Brand that's been around for 22 years and we will like to step out and build out own brand (Juniors Chicken and Waffles). Still the same owners and under the same management and definitely the same great food. Thank you and greatly appreciate your support. Sincerely, management."

The Lo-Lo's logo was also removed from one of two signs on the exterior of the restaurant. Paper signs reflecting the new name hangon the building.

All locations of Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles remain open and the businesses are unconnected to Junior's.

Reach the reporter at tirion.morris@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @tirionmorris, on Facebook at Tirion Rose and on Instagram at tirionrose.

Support local journalism andsubscribeto azcentral.com today.

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After less than a month, Lo-Lo Jr's has changed its name and closed. Here's what we know - AZCentral

When I was in my late teens, my grandfather provided me with a subscription to Reader's Digest. One of my favorite sections of the periodical was the "Word Power" quiz. I enjoyed learning new words as much as finding out how many I already knew. It is good to increase our vocabulary. Good word choices help us to communicate more effectively. Poor word choices or a limited vocabulary can cost us in many ways.

Words are powerful. They can build up or tear down. Someone has said once a word is spoken, it can never be forgotten only forgiven. Many people are struggling with self-esteem issues over the words of a parent. The children's saying about sticks and stones is often untrue, words do indeed hurt. However, words can also help. I grew up without my dad, so my grandfather was my male role model. Grandpa always told me and anyone who would listen, "That boy can do anything he sets his mind to." He died 32 years ago, but his words are alive in my mind.

There are many verses in the Bible that refer to the use of words. Proverbs 10:19 CSB says, "When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is prudent." This makes me nervous as one who preaches and writes weekly. It is next to impossible to get it right every time. It is difficult to communicate without offending someone. Choosing our words carefully helps. One thing I like about writing is that I can revisit and revise my thoughts before I share them. It also helps to have my multitalented wife proofread my columns. However, once you speak, you cannot edit what you have spoken.

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We can choose peace over conflict with our words. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 ESV. If you snap at someone, they will usually respond in the same manner. This principle of using soft or gentle words is also known as de-escalation. It is always better to control our words and reactions. We should apply the golden rule -- do to others as you would have them do to you. I have observed that a segment of our society thinks that it is virtuous to verbally assault political opponents. Have we lost the art of disagreeing agreeably?

The Lenten Season is upon us. In many Christian traditions, from Ash Wednesday to the Thursday before Easter, something is sacrificed in order to prepare for Easter. It is a time of self-control and discipline. I find Fat Tuesday ironic -- wild celebrations preceding 40 days of discipline. The Bible encourages a lifestyle, not just a season of self-discipline. The book of James tells us that the most difficult part of the body to tame is the tongue (James 3:1-12). I think would be easier to give up meat than to go 40 days without misusing words.

Did you know that we are either saved or condemned by our words (Matthew 12:37)? It is by God's grace by that anyone finds salvation. If we confess with our mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in his resurrection, we will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). We communicate with words the foundational principles of the faith, and people either accept the message or they reject it. Those who handle the Word of God need to bear in mind the responsibility that goes with communicating it.

If you are familiar with the Gospel according to John, you know he writes that Jesus is the Word. A powerful description of the Savior of the world. "And the Word 'became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 ESV.

I am thankful for everyone who uses their words to build people up instead of tearing them down. We will be held accountable for how we use our words. Matthew 12:36 says, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak." Words are powerful, let's choose them wisely.

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Column: Shawn Wasson: Use wisely: There is power in words (2/29/20) - Southeast Missourian

It takes the average person six weeks to apply for and land a new job. Throughout the ups and downs of the typical search, there's one part of the process is usually more daunting than the rest: writing a cover letter with each application.

The challenge of writing a good cover letter may be why six out of 10 job applicants don't submit one at all, according to a survey from resume advice site ResumeLab.

But HR professionals still say these documents are crucial to their decision-making process, and they overwhelmingly give preference to candidates who include one with their application. The ResumeLab survey of 200 hiring managers also found that, 83% of the time, a great cover letter was enough to sway them to extend a job interview to a candidate with a less-than-perfect resume.

Ian Siegel, CEO of jobs marketplace ZipRecruiter, understands why job seekers don't know the best approach to writing a good cover letter.

"I think there's a traditional best practice way of writing a cover letter that's filled with bad advice for the current generation we're in," he tells CNBC Make It. "It's more of a demonstration of communication competency and attempt to provide a short summary of your skills and experience."

Using a cover letter to detail your qualifications is a big mistake, Siegel says a resume should already accomplish this. In fact, the biggest mistake a job applicant can make is by starting their cover letter by talking about themselves.

Instead, applicants should begin by talking about the company, and specifically why they're excited by the prospect of joining.

"Don't talk about yourself first; talk about them first. My golden rule is to make them feel excited," Siegel says, noting that hiring managers spend just 20 seconds reviewing every application, on average. "Your excitement will get them excited it's the best way to get their attention," he adds.

He recommends job seekers open their cover letters with the following sentence: "I'm so excited to apply to this job because ..." and fill in the blank about the company's product, service or mission.

Beyond that, Siegel boils down the most important things to include in a cover letter to three points.

"Show enthusiasm, show you've done research, and show you want to come in there and make a contribution," he says.

Following this four-step formula can help job seekers better understand which jobs are most appealing to them, and therefore which ones are more worth their time to apply.

The good news for the cover letter-averse is that, as more companies allow people to apply to jobs via a mobile device, they're less likely to require the additional document. In such cases, they may instead opt for requiring what Siegel refers to as a cover note, where applicants must type out their elevator pitch in a few sentences.

In such cases, the objective is usually much clearer: Explain why you applied (not why you're qualified).

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Don't miss: Valerie Jarrettwho once hired Michelle Obamashares the secret to a stand-out resume

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The 1 sentence you should use to start your cover letter, according to ZipRecruiter's CEO - CNBC

Sonny Rollins is, by any reasonable estimation, a genius. He is jazzs greatest living improviser, able to imbue his solos with wry humor, surprise, brilliant logical form and profound emotion. Time and time again, he created something miraculous out of thin air, and he did it until he could do it no longer. The 89-year-old played his last concert in 2012, and in 2014, he stopped playing saxophone altogether, a result of pulmonary fibrosis. That doesnt mean well never hear music from him again Resonance Records will release a set of previously unissued performances this fall but it does mean that Rollinss colossal record as a musician is a thing of the past. I wanted to know how a musician whose playing was always attuned to the present has forged a new life in the shadow of that stark fact. Happy is not the word, said Rollins, seated on a couch under a large painting of Buddha at his rambling home in Woodstock, N.Y., but I am the most content Ive ever been. I have most things figured out.

You never made any formal retirement announcement. Did you ever want to say goodbye to the people who made up your audience? Well, no. The reason my retirement happened quietly was because my health problems were gradual. I didnt expect them. I wasnt quite sure that I would never be able to play again. It took me a while to realize, Hey, thats gone now. But the people? Im glad for their love but I dont feel that Im worthy of anyone saying, Wow, Sonny! And this is going to sound funny, but my highest place musically was not about playing for a crowd. I played a couple of concerts early on where I was out in the open in the afternoon. I was able to look up in the sky, and I felt a communication; I felt that I was part of something. Not the crowd. Something bigger.

Rollins at age 14 in Harlem. From Sonny Rollins

I only realized when I spoke to you a couple of years ago that you had to give up the saxophone. So much of your life had been about using music to fulfill your potential as a person. Now that you dont play, is fulfillment still possible? When I had to stop playing it was quite traumatic. But I realized that instead of lamenting and crying, I should be grateful for the fact that I was able to do music all of my life. So I had that realization, plus my spiritual beliefs, which Ive been cultivating for many years. All that work went into my accepting the fact that I couldnt play my horn.

Tell me more about that work. Im working toward why Im here what its all about. At this point in my life Im well, I dont want to say satisfied, but I feel that Im closer to an understanding. Its always been my idea that the golden rule is a good thing, but I wasnt quite able to understand if the golden rule was possible. If somebody is playing music and Im playing music and were in a saxophone battle, I still have to play my best, regardless of the other guy. It has nothing to do with my trying to make him feel bad because playing music is for a higher cause. So I believe living by the golden rule is possible. Not only possible but the reason were here.

Were you playing for a higher cause on something like The Serpents Tooth with Charlie Parker and Miles Davis? In your solo you quoted the melody of Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better). That wasnt intended as a provocation? If I was so stupid to have to implied that, then I was ignorant. I was in Miless band at the time and Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) was just one of the riffs that we played. It had nothing to do with my attitude about Charlie Parker. I would never say that to him. But I take your criticism. I might have been a foolish young boy playing that to his guru. If there was a little of that, it was sophomoric. I was ignorant. I am still ignorant about many things.

Rollins, right, and Miles Davis at the New York Jazz Festival in 1957. Bob Parent/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Im also thinking about when you played with John Coltrane on Tenor Madness. Theres a part of that performance where you guys were trading fours and he played a lick and in response you played the same lick but with the notes reversed. That wasnt meant as one-upmanship? David, I dont believe Ive mentioned this to many people. When I played with Coltrane, I had the impression and back then it was true that I was much more popular than him. I remember what Kamasi Washington said about Tenor Madness: Sonny, you werent even really playing. I wasnt really playing. Coltrane was playing. I was only playing halfway, because I thought that I was the guy and that Coltrane was this young whippersnapper. That was my mind-set. It was immature.

So you were holding back to show your status? Exactly. I dont want people to think that Im saying, Oh, wow, I could have played much better, but thats the story of Tenor Madness. My attitude on it wasnt right.

I was poking around in your papers, and I saw a performance note you wrote for Elvin Jones that I thought was interesting. You wrote that when you were playing rubato on a certain song, he shouldnt look in any direction but yours. Why not? I wouldve said that to him because when Im playing rubato, which would mean when Im playing solo, that presents a perfect opportunity for somebody to relax: OK, Sonnys playing by himself so let me wipe my head or drink water. I wanted the band to be all together even when I was playing by myself because we were all still in the song. People would take their concentration away. I didnt want that.

I also saw all these very detailed instructional notes youd written about saxophone technique and harmony. Did you ever consider publishing any of it? I thought about doing things like that but my stuff is unorthodox. I once had a young guy that wanted to study with me. I said, No, man, go to Coltrane. Coltrane will get you on the right course with fingering and technique. All these things that I might have been writing, I didnt feel they were applicable to other people. So I didnt pursue them.

One of the most inspiring things about your playing was how alive you were to the possibilities of a given musical moment. Did that openness translate to your life? Thats a very profound question. I can look back and say, Gee, that was a good solo, but I dont know if it had anything to do with a spiritual or ethical thing. I did some bad things when I was playing my horn. We all knew Charlie Parker was using drugs, and we said, Wow, Im going to use drugs if Im going to end up playing like that. That got a lot of guys using drugs and stealing and whatever else drugs made you do. I know great musicians that werent trying to be good people. A lot of people wouldnt think Miles was a very spiritual person though to me he was and Coltrane was a very spiritual individual. Does that have to do with their music? Possibly. I dont want to say that theres no connection between the way you behave and your music. But its something which I havent been able to figure out.

Rollins during a Sonny Rollins Volume II session at Van Gelder Studio in 1957. Francis Wolff/Mosaic Images

Do you think music has an ethical component? I can hear music that elevates me, but on the other hand theres martial music thats made to make people go to war. So music is neutral. It has nothing to do with ethics. Music is not on the same level as trying to understand life. Were here for 80-something years. One lifetime is not enough to get it right. Ill be back in another body. Im not interested in trying to get that technical about that because I dont need to know. What I need to know is that being a person who understands that giving is better than getting is the proper way to live. Live your life now in a positive way. Help people if you can. Dont hurt people. That works perfectly for me, man.

Are you ready for your incarnation in this life to be over? You mean do I feel ready to die? Dying, its funny. Everybody is afraid to die because its the unknown. But my mother died. My father died. My brother died. My sister died. My uncle died. My grandmother died. Theyre all great people. If they can die then why cant I die? Im better than they are? Its ridiculous to feel, Oh, gee, I shouldnt die. My body is going to turn into dust. But my soul will live forever.

Is there anything youll miss about this life? No. Theres a big picture, which is the afterlife, and this life is a little picture. Theres also karma: What you do, youre going to get it back. So this life is a trip, man, and youve got to go through it. I know Ive done a lot of stupid things and hurt people. Ive got a lot of stuff that Im paying for, and Im trying to get good karma by not trying to hurt somebody or doing things for my own pleasure or aggrandizement.

Does believing in the transience of life mean youre not nostalgic for jazzs past? Or your own life in jazz? Wayne Shorters still here, but Miles is not here. Max Roach is not here. Trane is not here. Monk is not here. Do I feel nostalgic about that? No. These guys are alive to me. I hear their music. OK, Charlie Parker is not in his body, but everything about Charlie Parker is here to me in spirit. Any time of day, any time of night, I might think of Miles, and the spirit is there. Occasionally I go, Gee, I cant hang out with Dizzy Gillespie or Clifford Brown after a gig. I think about that, but its receding. Those guys I dont worry about them not being here in the flesh. Im not going to be in the flesh, either. Youre not going to be in the flesh, either, David. So what? Its OK.

Rollins recording at the the Radio House in Copenhagen in 1968. Jan Persson/Getty Images

This is slightly random, but Ive never seen you talk in much detail about when you played on a Rolling Stones album. How was trying to fit into their music? Mick Jagger, I dont think he understood what I was doing, and I didnt understand what he was doing. My wife was the one that persuaded me to do that recording. I said: Man, the Rolling Stones. I dont want to do any record with the Rolling Stones. Id considered them and its faulty not on the level of jazz. But my wife said, No, no, you must do it. So I said, OK, let me see if I can relate to what they are doing; let me see if I can make it sound as good as possible.

Could you? Not really. I know theyre a very popular rock band, but they were derivative of a lot of black bands, right? Isnt that what they do?

Well, yeah. Right. It might be wrong for me to feel that way because I do like a lot of white artists. I like the Beatles. Paul McCartney is a good tunesmith. But the Rolling Stones, I didnt relate to them because I thought they were just derivative of black blues. I do remember once I was in the supermarket up in Hudson, New York, and they were playing Top 40 records. I heard this song and thought, Whos that guy? His playing struck a chord in me. Then I said, Wait a minute, thats me! It was my playing on one of those Rolling Stones records.

Something Ive heard musicians talk about is losing their sense of self when theyre playing, and how thats when the best improvisations can happen. What does that say about the true nature of the self? It says that there are divine moments in this world. This world is not what its cracked up to be. This world is just a place to pay off our karma. Thats all. Theres something huge happening, and its a matter of feeling. Its different than having book knowledge. The thing Im talking about is more like intuition. Something is there. Ive had experiences which have allowed me to know that.

Experiences that happened while you were playing? Ill tell you one. I was in France playing at a place called Marciac. I was staying at a hotel a little ways out in the country. I liked to stay at nice hotels. The band stayed at another hotel, and if they could afford it, they could stay at this hotel; Im not trying to be above them. Anyway, the night before the concert I lost my partial. I needed it to play. I was very concerned. I didnt know what to do. I called up the front desk. I said: Listen, I have a dental partial, which I misplaced. Can you please look through the garbage and find if its there? They said, Well look and see. So while I was searching, I looked up and I saw a vision of what was like a window opening horizontally. It opened just a bit and there was something I saw; colors behind that little opening. It was such a revelation. I said, Wow, what was that? Then I looked down on the floor and there was my partial. I cant say, Oh, man, therefore theres a God. Its not about that. But this happened to me and for months, even years, the feeling coming out of my body I was elevated.

So you took this vision as a confirmation of the existence of something greater? You could call it a confirmation. That was a beautiful thing that happened to me. Something else happened a long time before that, David. When I was about 9 years old I was living up on Edgecombe Avenue in Harlem. I used to live on the block between 150th and 155th Street. It was one long block of houses and there was a shortcut there from St. Nicholas Place to Edgecombe Avenue. People would walk through the shortcut to get to the subway. So one day I went up on the roof, and there was part of the roof, the mortar, that was loose. I thought it would be a great idea if I dropped the loose part down and scared somebody walking through the shortcut. So I did that and when I dropped it I realized, If this hits somebody, theyre dead and there was a guy walking through the shortcut. I prayed like I never prayed before. I asked God, Please dont let it hit this guy. I prayed and I prayed and it didnt hit him. Somebody could say, Sonny, you were lucky. Maybe so. But I knew that I was communicating with something greater and it worked in my favor.

Rollins waiting backstage at the Berkeley Jazz Festival in California in 1979. Ed Perlstein/Redferns/Getty Images

This is a crazy thing to bring up but lately Ive been listening to your music and associating it with the pharaoh Akhenaten. Maybe its just because I wanted to see the Mets production of Philip Glasss opera about him and everything has gotten jumbled in my mind. But let me just throw it out there: Is Akhenaten significant to you in any way? Oh, very much so. Years ago, I began reading about Egypt. Akhenaten went against the old order. He was a break from some of the other Egyptian theology. He was a maverick, and I felt sympathetic to that. Akhenaten was a guy that influenced me a lot to be serious.

Im glad my shot in the dark wasnt useless. No, not at all. I was very much into Egyptology. That was another thing to learn about life, and learning about Akhenatens seriousness is another reason why, in a sense, I hate this world. Its so inconsequential. Sure, there might be a good movie or this or that but we dont have time for it. Instead we have to try to get some wisdom.

Does that mean your music was inconsequential too? I didnt say everything was inconsequential. I can listen to some beautiful music, I can see a beautiful painting, and I wouldnt dare to say theyre inconsequential. But the majority of what you see out here is inconsequential. Eating ice cream, wanting to have sex with some broad Oh boy, shes beautiful and all that stuff the seven deadly sins. You have to get above that. Because if you dont do it in this life, its like what the guy said in the commercial: Pay me now or pay me later.

Have you made plans for what will happen with your unreleased recordings when youre not around? After I get out of this planet Im not going to have any say about whats going on, so Im not worried about that. And, boy, I agonize over my music; I wont have to agonize about it anymore. Thank God.

Do you play any other instruments now that you dont play the horn? The communion I had with my horn, the things I tried to do, I cant get otherwise. I do have a Fender Rhodes piano upstairs. In fact, I think I should get a piano, a real piano, and play around. Id probably get something out of it. But its not like it would be a continuation of where I was at with my horn. I feel like that thing is broken.

Is your relationship with silence different these days? Thats an excellent question. I used to look at TV a lot. Then I realized, this is very negative. Images and lies and bad for your eyes: I made sure that mantra got in my head, and I stopped looking at TV. I do listen to the radio. Im trying to get away from that. Silence to me is meditative. To get into that silent space is a huge thing. But even today Ive had the radio on so much. Its something Im working on.

Do you ever get lonely up here in Woodstock? On occasion. Fortunately not too often. I like being alone, actually. I have my yoga books. I have my Buddha books. I have a lot of spiritual material that I need to get with. At my age, all my friends are gone. At one time I began to lament that and then I said, No, this is good that I have nobody to call and waste time talking. Every now and then I do go, Yeah, man, Im lonely, let me call somebody up, but to me thats a weakness. I have to deal with myself. Thats what it gets down to for each of us. Understanding is up to you. Its up to me. Theres no escape. I got pains and aches all over but spiritually, man, I feel better than Ive ever felt. Im on the right course.

David Marchese is a staff writer and the Talk columnist for the magazine.

This interview has been edited and condensed from two conversations.

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Sonny Rollins Is at Peace. But He Regrets Trying to One-Up Coltrane. - The New York Times

Religious liberty is cherished by all Americans as a foundational element of what our country values. Sadly, the Trump administration has distorted and weaponized religious liberty to attack the LGBTQ community.

House Democrats are providing much-needed accountability today as the House Oversight Committee convenes for a hearing on the topic. But progressives should be wary of buying into the Trump administrations and religious rights framing of the issue. Its not about religion.

Im baffled every time I hear President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump endorses former White House physician Ronny Jackson for Congress Newly released emails reveal officials' panic over loss of credibility after Trump's Dorian claims Lindsey Graham thanks Trump, bemoans 'never-ending bull----' at South Carolina rally MORE, the religious right and, yes, sometimes progressives fall into this trap as well pitting religious liberty and LGBTQ rights against one another. As a gay Christian, my right to religious liberty and my right to marriage equality played an equal role in my marriage being recognized legally by my country and religiously by my church. Conservatives suddenly invented this religious liberty argument as another means of trampling the dignity of other LGBTQ Americans, many of whom are people of faith.

Its sad to see the American ideal of religious liberty tarnished by turning it into a license to discriminate. Its sad because we have so many real threats to religious liberty today, including the ugly rise of anti-Semitism and the Trump administrations travel bans involving largely Muslim countries. Protecting the rights of religious minorities to be able to live with dignity should unite all Americans across the political spectrum.

There are also real attacks on the LGBTQ community by the Trump administration. These attacks impact many aspects of LGBTQ Americans lives, including health care, employment, housing, education, commerce, sports, military service and more. But these attacks arent about religious liberty any more than Bob Jones Universitys racist interracial dating policies were actually about religion. Theyre about the troubling use of religion by people who want to discriminate.

People of faith exist on both sides of the divide over whether LGBTQ Americans should be free to live without fear or discrimination. Solid majorities of all major religious groups in the U.S. support laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in housing, public accommodations and the workplace, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. Even a majority of the religious groups most opposed to these kinds of protections white evangelical Protestants support the idea.

Thats why many religious groups have taken action for LGBTQ rights such as rallying support for the Equality Act. The bipartisan bill passed the House of Representatives last year and would clarify and add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics to existing civil rights law, including the Civil Rights Act.

Faith groups also have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of Title VII prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, opposes the Equality Act and is fighting LGBTQ rights at the Supreme Court. One in three of Trumps nominations to the federal circuit court have a history of anti-LGBTQ bias. They may repeat over and over again that they are defending religious people, but that doesnt make it true.

I am grateful that progressives are highlighting the ways the Trump administration is misusing religious liberty to undermine the protections for LGBTQ people that were expanded under the Obama administration. But lets not give into conservatives framing of the issue. Instead, lets remember that President Obama himself cited his own Christian faith in supporting LGBTQ rights.

[Michelle Obama and I], were both practicing Christians, President Obama reminded the nation in his groundbreaking interview to support same-sex marriage in 2012. And when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf but its also the golden rule, you know? Treat others the way youd want to be treated. And I think thats what we try to impart to our kids. And thats what motivates me as president.

Faith motivates many LGBTQ people and our allies in our ongoing struggle for equality. Lets not cede all the talk of religion to the religious right, when many people of faith see things differently.

Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons is a fellow with the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress.

Original post:

No conflict between true religious liberty and LGBTQ rights | TheHill - The Hill

Facing a barrage of attacks from his Democratic rivals and hawkish questions from moderators, Sen. Bernie Sanders said during the presidential primary debate in South Carolina Tuesday night that political leaders must face up to America's long record of toppling democratically elected governments overseas.

"Excuse me, occasionally it might be a good idea to be honest about American foreign policy," Sanders, the Democratic frontrunner, said as Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden attempted to slime the senator over his comments on Cuba's education and healthcare systems and falsely accuse him of being sympathetic to authoritarianism.

"That includes," Sanders continued, "the fact that America has overthrown governments all over the world in Chile, in Guatemala, in Iran."

While pundits were not pleased with Sanders' remarks, progressives applauded the senator's willingness to speak candidly about the United States' sordid record overseas.

"A golden rule of Beltway orthodoxy is that candidates should never criticize U.S. foreign policy even when the criticisms are both factual and correct," tweeted Jacobin staff writer Luke Savage in response to CNN commentator David Axelrod's criticism of the senator's comments. "One of Bernie's strengths is his unwillingness to concede to this sort of elite taboo."

"Nobody on the debate stage except Bernie has the guts to say the truth about the legacy of U.S. foreign policy," added Nikhil Goyal, a PhD candidate at Cambridge University.

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Others echoed Savage and Goyal:

Thank you Bernie. I so appreciate your honesty about the fact that US foreign policy has wreaked havoc in so many places around the world for so long, including #Iran.

Time for a fundamental change. #Bernie2020 #DemDebate

Azadeh Shahshahani (@ashahshahani) February 26, 2020

Bernie just gave the most honest assessment of American foreign policy thats been heard on a presidential debate stage in more than a decade possibly ever. #DemDebate

Collin Rees (@collinrees) February 26, 2020

After Republican Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin tweeted that Sanders was "digging his grave" by "blaming America" for overthrowing governments, progressive foreign policy analyst Elizabeth Beavers replied, "Imagine thinking 'blaming America for overthrowing governments' is anything other than historical fact."

"Guatemala, Iran, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile, Grenada, Panama, Iraq, and many, many others would like a word," Beavers added.

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'In Chile, In Guatemala, In Iran': Sanders Applauded for Highlighting US Record of Overthrowing Governments Around the World - Common Dreams

Searching for a new job is a time-consuming endeavor. By some estimates, the typical worker takes about six weeks to apply for, interview and finally land a new job offer. And across any industry and level of work, there's one step to the process that's bound to slow down even the most qualified and enthusiastic candidate: the cover letter.

But findings from one new report offer some motivation to draft a good elevator pitch, even in a time when cover letters are becoming increasingly optional.

According to a survey of 200 hiring managers from ResumeLab, a resume advice site, 83% of HR professionals agreed with the statement "a great cover letter can make me decide to interview a candidate, even if I don't think their resume is good enough."

That means, out of every 10 resumes where the applicant might not have the right work history, set of skills or management experience, eight job seekers are likely to advance, as long as they can make up for it in their cover letters.

A majority of hiring managers said cover letters were crucial to their hiring decisions, and 77% give preference to candidates who submit one, even if they're deemed optional on the application form. A similar share always expect the document, even if they're not required in order to apply.

While cover letters can give candidates a leg up on the competition, they come with a major caveat.

Companies are increasingly relying on applicant tracking systems, often shortened to ATS, and artificial intelligence software to review resumes. These algorithms scan resumes for specific words and phrases around work history, responsibilities, skills and accomplishments to identify candidates who match well with the job description.

Ian Siegel, CEO of jobs marketplace ZipRecruiter, estimates more than 70% of resumes are now reviewed by robots before they reach a human reader.

That means resumes, and how they're written, matter first and foremost.

To be sure, the ResumeLab survey was designed to measure the impact of a cover letter only after a resume passed an ATS scan and made it to a human reviewer, explains Maciej Duszynski, career expert and researcher behind the study.

Siegel offers three recommendations for a resume to make it past the bots:

1. "Use standard file types no more trying to stand out by putting your resume into Photoshop," he tells CNBC Make It. Instead, "Use Microsoft Word or Google Docs to give something the parser can parse.

2. "Check your grammar and spelling. It seems obvious, yet a surprising number of job seekers don't do it.

3. "Clearly list your skills and make it easy for the parser to understand your years of experience," Siegel says.

If possible, Siegel says to demonstrate mastery of each skill by listing your years of experience learning or using each one in your work history.

While workers should be detailed about their qualifications on a resume, they need to be quick and creative when it comes to their cover letter. Siegel estimates that hiring managers spend an average of 20 seconds reviewing a given cover letter.

The majority of hiring managers from the ResumeLab survey said the most important thing they're looking for in a cover letter is the applicant's reason for wanting to join the company.

Siegel agrees this is one of just three things job seekers should include in their cover letter.

"The golden rule of applying to a job is showing specific interest," he says. "A lot of people write cover letters to describe their background and explain why they're a fit for the role. But I would start my cover letter with the sentence, 'I'm so excited to apply to this job because ... ' and fill in the blank about the business."

Beyond that, Siegel boils down the most important things to include in a cover letter to three points.

"Show enthusiasm, show you've done research, and show you want to come in there and make a contribution," he says.

According to the ResumeLab survey, hiring managers also find cover letters helpful in understanding anything surprising about the candidate's work history, such as a reason for changing careers or explaining an employment gap.

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The only 3 things you should include in a cover letter (Hint: It's not your qualifications) - CNBC