#Make-up by Carla Abrams

[aefward]

Paula Anguera wears a bikini top by Toteme; earrings by Jacquemus. Photography by Kate Bellm, Fashion editor: Helen Broadfoot, Fashion assistant: Maya Gunavardhana, Make-up by Carla Abrams, Art direction by Michael Kelly.

[goodbysunball]

Best of 2019

Happy new year, y’all. Here’s a handful of favorites from yet another ridiculously robust year for music from zee underground and below. Joshua Abrams & NIS was a no-brainer for me, a nearly perfect release all the way around, but the Bobby Would and Mount Trout albums were probably the two I listened to the most this year. Bad Breeding, SCAN and Asid kicked my teeth in, I zoned way the fuck out with Crazy Doberman, K-Group and the Dead C/the Never Quartet, and that Maleem Mahmoud Ghania record is now probably the best sounding record I own. I like that Siltbreeze only puts out one record per year now, I like that Jim Shepard's vaults were cracked, and if you like that legendary Keggs 7″, let me introduce you to the Society’s 7″. Lots of great stuff didn’t make the cut, and I’m still discovering more in the lists/recommendations of other trusted sources (like this Anadol record, or this Extended Hell mini-LP), so keep ‘em comin’. I didn’t do as much writing as I’d like this year, but that’s gonna change soon. Onward!

LP

Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society, Mandatory Reality (Eremite)

Krypts, Cadaver Circulation (Dark Descent)

Bobby Would, Baby (Low Company)

Chronophage, Prolog For Tomorrow (Cleta Patra)

Bad Breeding, Exiled (Iron Lung)

The Dead C, Rare Ravers (Ba Da Bing!)

Sempiternal Dusk, Cenotaph of Defectuous Creation (Dark Descent)

Crazy Doberman, s/t (Mastermind)

Itchy Bugger, Double Bugger (Low Company)

C.I.A. Débutante, The Landlord (Siltbreeze)

...and six more:

Fabulous Diamonds, Plain Songs (Alter)

Carla dal Forno, Look Up Sharp (Kallista)

Monokultur, s/t (ever/never / Förlag För Fri Musik)

The Pheromoans, County Lines (Alter)

The Stroppies, Whoosh (Tough Love)

Yellow Eyes, Rare Field Ceiling (Gilead Media)

7″/12″/Cassette

Asid, Pathetic Flesh 12″ (La Vida Es Un Mus)

Euromilliard, "Elève Modèle” b/w “Indolore” 7″ (Pollymaggoo)

Forra, Mostrame Lo Peor 7″ EP (La Vida Es Un Mus)

K-Group, “Accueil” b/w “Over-Future Shop” 7″ (I Dischi Del Barone)

Mount Trout, Shelter Belt cassette (Rough Skies)

The Never Quartet, “1.001.006″ b/w “1.001.007″  7″ (I Dischi Del Barone)

Ossuary, Supreme Degradation cassette (Darkness Shall Rise)

Overt Hostility, s/t cassette (Loki Label)

Pinocchio, s/t 7″ EP (Toxic State)

SCAN, s/t 7″ EP (self-released)

Skiftande Enheter, s/t one-sided 12″ (Levande Begravd)

Reissue/Archival

Maleem Mahmoud Ghania with Pharoah Sanders, The Trance of Seven Colors 2xLP (Zehra)

Jim Shepard, Heavy Action 2xLP + 12″ (ever/never)

Smelly Feet, Left Odours cassette (Independent Woman)

The Society, “You Girl” b/w “Lonely” 7″ (My Mind’s Eye)

V/A, Heavy Space Records - Anthology Vol. 1 cassette (Ikuisuus)

Above: Bill Direen at the Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN, Nov. 17

Shows

Jon Mueller at the Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN, January 23

Gong-trance heaven

This Is Not This Heat at the Mill & Mine, Knoxville, TN, March 23

Best show of the year, no contest

BIG|BRAVE and Primitive Man at the Earl, Atlanta, GA, June 17

One of the most punishingly loud shows I’ve ever seen

Cube at the Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN, June 20

Danced like a fool to his cracked techno

Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society at the Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville, NC, August 24

Now with faster tempos - brilliant

Bill Direen at the Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN, November 17

“I’ve always been a mistaker”

[nomehables2]

Camí Amunt | 2021 | 4′| MV

Videoclip dirigit per Claire O'Keefe i Joan Porcel.

DoP: David Álvarez

Gaffer: Toni Vaquer

Gràfics: Luz-ía

Make up: Carla Abrams

Edició i color: Blanca Monagas

Agraïments: Son Viscos, Cortana, Keef Palas, Aclam Records

Produció: Martín Leiton, Júlia Colom

Coprodució: Juan Rodríguez Berbín

Violoncel: Anna Llorens

Mescla: Ismael Salces

Màster: Ultramarinos

[movietvtechgeeks]

Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/la-la-land-stranger-things-atlanta-sweep-2017-pga-awards/

'La La Land,' 'Stranger Things' and 'Atlanta' sweep 2017 PGA Awards

“La La Land” is easily sweeping up all the awards this year, but Netflix’s “Stranger Things” jumped in on the action along with “Atlanta” for the 28th annual Producers Guild Awards (PGA).

The musical comedy-drama went up against “Arrival,” “Deadpool,” “Fences,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Hell or High Water,” “Hidden Figures,”  “Lion,” “Manchester by the Sea,” and “Moonlight,” but was able to come out the winner which was presented by Dustin Hoffman.

The guild recognized the candy-colored musical with its Darryl F. Zanuck Award for theatrical motion picture production Saturday, a prize that often precedes the best picture Academy Award. (Last year was an exception, when “The Big Short” won the guild award, while “Spotlight” got the Oscar.) The nominees for the guild’s top film prize echo Oscars’ best picture nominees this year, with the exception of “Deadpool,” which made the cut with producers but not the film academy.

But the guild’s celebration at the Beverly Hilton Hotel of the year’s outstanding film and television productions had a decidedly political tone, as President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and visitors from several Muslim countries triggered protests in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and other cities.

“Our America is big, it is free, and it is open to dreamers of all races, all countries, all religions,” singer John Legend said as he introduced “La La Land” at Saturday’s untelevised ceremony. “Our vision of America is directly antithetical to that of President Trump. I want to specifically, tonight, reject his vision and affirm America has to be better than that.”

Ezra Edelman, producer and director of “O.J.: Made in America,” which claimed the guild’s documentary prize, echoed Legend’s sentiments.

“Please keep telling stories that are about our humanity,” he said.

Other winners Saturday included “Zootopia” for animated feature, “Atlanta” for episodic television comedy and “Stranger Things” for episodic TV drama.

Presenters included Justin Timberlake, Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Nicole Kidman, Jeff Bridges, Kerry Washington, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese. Veteran producers James L. Brooks, Tom Rothman and Irwin Winkler received special awards.

Dustin Hoffman presented the night’s top prize. As producer Marc Platt accepted for “La La Land,” he said, “The power of cinema cannot be denied and has no borders … We must believe love can change our lives, much as it can change the world.”

Full List of 2017 Producers Guild Awards Winners:

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: • La La Land (WINNER) Producers: Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, Marc Platt • Arrival Producers: Dan Levine, Shawn Levy, Aaron Ryder, David Linde • Deadpool Producers: Simon Kinberg, Ryan Reynolds, Lauren Shuler Donner • Fences Producers: Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington, Todd Black • Hacksaw Ridge Producers: Bill Mechanic, David Permut • Hell or High Water Producers: Carla Hacken, Julie Yorn • Hidden Figures Producers: Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin & Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams, Theodore Melfi • Lion Producers: Emile Sherman & Iain Canning, Angie Fielder • Manchester By the Sea Producers: Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck, Kevin Walsh • Moonlight Producers: Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner & Jeremy Kleiner

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures: • Zootopia (WINNER) Producer: Clark Spencer • Finding Dory Producer: Lindsey Collins • Kubo and the Two Strings Producers: Arianne Sutner, Travis Knight • Moana Producer: Osnat Shurer • The Secret Life of Pets Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures: • O.J.: Made in America (WINNER) Producers: Ezra Edelman, Caroline Waterlow • Dancer Producer: Gabrielle Tana • The Eagle Huntress Producers: Stacey Reiss, Otto Bell • Life, Animated Producers: Julie Goldman, Roger Ross Williams • Tower Producers: Keith Maitland, Susan Thomson, Megan Gilbride

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: • The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (Season 1) (WINNER) Producers: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, D.V. DeVincentis, Anthony Hemingway, Alexis Martin Woodall, John Travolta, Chip Vucelich • Black Mirror (Season 3) Producers: Annabel Jones, Charlie Brooker • The Night Manager (Season 1) Producers: Simon Cornwell, Stephen Garrett, Stephen Cornwell, Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, Susanne Bier, David Farr, John le Carré, William D. Johnson, Alexei Boltho, Rob Bullock • The Night Of Producers: Steven Zaillian, Richard Price, Jane Tranter, Garrett Basch, Scott Ferguson • Sherlock: The Abominable Bride Producers: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, Sue Vertue, Beryl Vertue

The Award for Outstanding Sports Program: • VICE World of Sports (Season 1) (WINNER — TIE)  • Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (Season 22) (WINNER — TIE) • E:60 (2016) • The Fight Game with Jim Lampley: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali • Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Los Angeles Rams (Season 11)

The Award for Outstanding Digital Series: • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Season 7, Season 8) (WINNER) • 30 for 30 Shorts (Season 5) • Epic Rap Battles of History (Season 5) • Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: ACADEMY (Season 1) • National Endowment for the Arts: United States of Arts

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: • Stranger Things (Season 1) (WINNER) Producers: Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Iain Paterson • Better Call Saul (Season 2) Producers: Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Melissa Bernstein, Mark Johnson, Thomas Schnauz, Gennifer Hutchison, Nina Jack, Robin Sweet, Diane Mercer, Bob Odenkirk • Game of Thrones (Season 6) Producers: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Bernadette Caulfield, Frank Doelger, Carolyn Strauss, Bryan Cogman, Lisa McAtackney, Chris Newman, Greg Spence • House of Cards (Season 4) Producers: Beau Willimon, Dana Brunetti, Michael Dobbs, Josh Donen, David Fincher, Eric Roth, Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, John Mankiewicz, Robert Zotnowski, Jay Carson, Frank Pugliese, Boris Malden, Hameed Shaukat • Westworld (Season 1) Producers: J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Bryan Burk, Athena Wickham, Kathy Lingg, Richard J. Lewis, Roberto Patino, Katherine Lingenfelter, Cherylanne Martin

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: • Atlanta (Season 1) (WINNER) Producers: Donald Glover, Dianne McGunigle, Paul Simms, Hiro Murai, Alex Orr • black-ish (Season 2) Producers: Kenya Barris, Jonathan Groff, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins, Vijal Patel, Gail Lerner, Corey Nickerson, Courtney Lilly, Lindsey Shockley, Peter Saji, Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry, Hale Rothstein, Michael Petok, Yvette Lee Bowser • Modern Family (Season 7) Producers: Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Corrigan, Abraham Higginbotham, Elaine Ko, Jeff Morton, Jeffrey Richman, Brad Walsh, Danny Zuker, Vali Chandrasekaran, Andy Gordon, Vanessa McCarthy, Jon Pollack, Chuck Tatham, Chris Smirnoff, Sally Young • Silicon Valley (Season 3) Producers: Mike Judge, Alec Berg, Jim Kleverweis, Clay Tarver, Dan O’Keefe, Michael Rotenberg, Tom Lassally, John Levenstein, Ron Weiner, Carrie Kemper, Adam Countee • Veep (Season 5) Producers: David Mandel, Frank Rich, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lew Morton, Morgan Sackett, Sean Gray, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Jim Margolis, Georgia Pritchett, Will Smith, Chris Addison, Rachel Axler, David Hyman, Erik Kenward, Billy Kimball, Steve Koren

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television: • Making a Murderer (Season 1) (WINNER) Producers: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos • 30 for 30 (Season 7) Producers: Connor Schell, John Dahl, Libby Geist, Bill Simmons, Erin Leyden, Gentry Kirby, Andrew Billman, Marquis Daisy, Deirdre Fenton • 60 Minutes (Season 48, Season 49) Producers: Jeff Fager • Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown (Season 5-8) Producers: Anthony Bourdain, Christopher Collins, Lydia Tenaglia, Sandra Zweig • Hamilton’s America Producers: Alex Horwitz, Nicole Pusateri, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeffrey Seller, Dave Sirulnick, Jon Kamen, Justin Wilkes

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Competition Television: • The Voice (Season 9-11) (WINNER) Producers: Audrey Morrissey, Jay Bienstock, Mark Burnett, John de Mol, Chad Hines, Lee Metzger, Kyra Thompson, Mike Yurchuk, Amanda Zucker, Carson Daly • The Amazing Race (Season 27, Season 28) Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri, Mark Vertullo • American Ninja Warrior (Season 7, Season 8) Producers: Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Anthony Storm, Brian Richardson, Kristen Stabile, David Markus, J.D. Pruess, D. Max Poris, Zayna Abi-Hashim, Royce Toni, John, Gunn, Matt Silverberg, Briana Vowels, Mason Funk, Jonathan Provost • Lip Sync Battle (Season 1, Season 2) Producers: Casey Patterson, Jay Peterson, John Krasinski, Stephen Merchant, Leah Gonzalez, Genna Gintzig, LL Cool J • Top Chef (Season 13) Producers: Daniel Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Doneen Arquines, Tom Colicchio, Casey Kriley, Padma Lakshmi, Tara Siener, Erica Ross, Patrick Schmedeman, Wade Sheeler, Ellie Carbajal

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Season 3) (WINNER) Producers: Tim Carvell, John Oliver, Liz Stanton • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (Season 1) Producers: Samantha Bee, Jo Miller, Jason Jones, Tony Hernandez, Miles Kahn, Pat King, Alison Camillo, Kristen Everman • The Late Late Show with James Corden (Season 2) Producers: Ben Winston, Rob Crabbe, Mike Gibbons, Amy Ozols, Sheila Rogers, Michael Kaplan, Jeff Kopp, James Longman, Josie Cliff, James Corden • Real Time with Bill Maher (Season 14) Producers: Bill Maher, Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths, Marc Gurvitz, Billy Martin, Dean E. Johnsen, Chris Kelly, Matt Wood • Saturday Night Live (Season 42) Producers: Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Erik Kenward, Lindsay Shookus, Erin Doyle, Ken Aymong

The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program: • Sesame Street (Season 46) (WINNER) • Girl Meets World (Season 2, Season 3) • Octonauts (Season 4) • School of Rock (Season 1) • SpongeBob SquarePants (Season 9)

Movie TV Tech Geeks News

[male-model-confessions]

Year in Review It is time for the Year in Review again. I want to start out by thanking all my followers. It has been a long year and I have not been on top of things like I should. I finished my MBA and have been looking for a job. I am sorry this year in review is late. I had trouble deciding how to begin. This year has been filled with so many tragedies and deaths. It seems to me, that there are way more deaths this year than I can include in this post. Everyone in the media is subjected to scrutiny and can influence the world of fashion. I have decided that I will provide a list of the names of the people that passed away. 

January 10 David Bowie, 69, Rock icon January 14 Alan Rickman, 69, Actor January 18 Glenn Frey, 67, Eagles rocker January 23 Jimmy Bain, 68, Rainbow rock star January 30 Frank Finlay, 89, Acting great January 31 Terry Wogan, 77, TV & radio legend February 3 Maurice White, 74, Earth Wind & Fire star

February 4 Katie May, 34, female model February 19 Harper Lee, 89, To Kill A Mockingbird author February 28 George Kennedy, 91, Movie great March 8 George Martin, 90, Beatles producer March 11 Keith Emerson, 71, ELP rock legend March 15 Sylvia Anderson, 88, Lady Penelope March 16 Frank Sinatra Junior, 72, Sinatra’s singer son March 17 Paul Daniels, 77, Comedy magician March 29 Patty Duke, 69, Child star March 31 Ronnie Corbett, 85, Comedy legend March 31 Denise Robertson, 83, TV agony aunt April 6 Merle Haggard, 79, Country legend April 12 David Gest, 62, TV personality April 20 Victoria Wood, 62, Comedian April 20 Joanie “Chyna” Laurer, 46, WWE wrestling legend April 21 Lonnie Mack, 74, Blues guitar great April 21 Prince, 57, Pop icon April 21 Guy Hamilton, 93, Bond director April 24 Billy Paul, 80, Chart star May 17 Guy Clark, 74, Country legend May 19 John Berry, 52, Beastie Boys star May 19 Alan Young, 96, Mister Ed TV star May 21 Nick Menza, 51, Megadeth drummer May 24 Burt Kwouk, 85, Pink Panther star May 31 Carla Lane, 87, Liver Birds writer June 3 Muhammad Ali, 74, Boxing legend June 14 Henry McCullough, 72, Wings guitarist June 19 Anton Yelchin, 27, Star Trek’s Chekov June 24 Bernie Worrell, 72, Funkadelic star

June 25 Billy Cunningham, 87, Fashion photographer June 28 Scotty Moore, 84, Elvis’s guitarist July 2 Caroline Aherne, 52, Comedy actress July 16 Alan Vega, 78, Suicide punk pioneer August 13 Kenny Baker, 81, Star Wars’ R2-D2 August 29 Gene Wilder, 83, Comic genius September 11 Alexis Arquette, 47, Transgender actress September 17 Charmian Carr, 73, Sound of Music’s Liesl September 25 Arnold Palmer, 87, Golfing legend October 14 Jean Alexander, 90, Corrie’s Hilda Ogden October 23 Pete Burns, 57, Dead or Alive chart star October 24 Bobby Vee, 73, 1960s teen idol November 7 Leonard Cohen, 82, Iconic singer & writer November 11 Robert Vaughn, 83, Veteran actor November 13 Leon Russell, 74, US rock legend November 24 Colonel Abrams, 67, 80s chart star November 25 Florence Henderson, 82, Brady Bunch star November 26 Ron Glass, 71, US TV star December 1 Andrew Sachs, 86, Fawlty Towers star December 6 Peter Vaughan, 93, Game of Thrones star December 8 John Glenn, 95, First to orbit Earth December 8 Greg Lake, 69, ELP legend December 13 Alan thicke, 69,Actor, composer, television host December 18 Zsa Zsa Gabor, 99, Actress December 24 Rick Parfitt, 68, Quo Rocker December 25 George Michael, 53, Singer December 26 George Irving, 94, Actor December 27 Richard Adams, 96, Author December 27 Carrie Fisher, 60, Actress

December 28 Debbie Renyolds, 84, Actress and mother.

December 31 William Christopher, 84, Actor

Of course, not everything is about death. Some good things happened this year. I’m going to stick to the fashion world, in this one. 

• More insight and awareness was achieved in the struggles and pressure male actors Cover Girl hired James Charles, the first male model to advertise make up. This is a big step in normalizing the use of make up, by men.

 • Several models, including Jaden Smith, stood up against gender norms and began advertising skirts and dresses

.• Colton Hayes received the visibility award from the Human Rights Campaign. This year has been amazing at highlighting gender issues and destroying gender stereotypes. 

Top five favorites confessions:

1. I think it is important to raise awareness on this matter. It is usually easy to dismiss the idea that men do not suffer from sexism but here is the unglamorous truth and the problem with the social constructs of masculinity. [I think it is important that we address this issue. Sexism is not excluded to female models.]

2. I just saw the BBC report on modelling agencies demanding to end gender pay gap in modelling. The argument is actually very fair, but in the long run male models and their agencies will never see it, because as Ty Ogunkoya (featured in the report) said; nobody wants to speak out because they will lose modelling jobs, and male models are just happy that they’re given the opportunity. [I like this one because It sheds light on a major problem in the fashion industry.]

3. I hate what that person said about Marc Schulze’s girlfriend. She’s super pretty and just because someone’s SUPER attractive (Marc) doesn’t mean that they aren’t allowed to like people who are less attractive. Which I don’t even think she is less attractive. [I love that someone stood up for a model’s girlfriend, rather than tearing them down.] 

4. It’s pretty damn sad to see people say “oh it’d be sad if” or ‘what a waste if “ Ben Allen is gay. People - it’s not a 'waste’ or 'sad’ if someone isn’t heterosexual and you are. That’s you being selfish and talking about a person as if they are 'property’ you could potentially own, and you dismissing their worth based on your personal preferences. Rude! [I agree with this statement on so many levels. It is not sad that these people have a life outside of modeling.]

5. Felix Gesnouin is not ugly at all, i like the fact that he is not dating a model…(like most of male models nowdays) and he is really a funny guy,i worked with him once in London. [I seriously love when people right in and defend the models.]

5 of my least favorite confessions:

1. No thanks. CoverGirl used James Charles as a token. Not groundbreaking…[I disagree. This was a groundbreaking move for CoverGirl.]

2. Ben Allen is so gross, honestly. I was at a small party that he was at and everyone was so uncomfortable around him and no one wanted to talk to him because he was saying some ridiculous shit and acting real fucking cocky. He is hot garbage. [I hate when people completely tear into the models.]

3. I’m so happy RJ King finally came out! I mean, it felt like everyone already knew except him. There were already so many rumors circulating back then. Much love to them both! [I love the positivity in this post, but I don’t like outing anyone.]

4. French model Paul Hameline comes off as over-sexed and lustful, but in a good way that makes you want to rip his pants off without shame. His Instagram is full of nearly naked men, sometimes engaging in sex! I think he has a fling with Jonas Gloer. [His Instagram seriously disturbed me, but I thought this confession was too judgmental on the man’s sexuality.]

5. This is a photo of Kristof Kralik taken by Nicolas Hagius (another male model) that pretty much show how pigs and misogynist some male models can actually. The “funny” thing is right after this Kristof and Nicolas stopped working for some time in the big markets, upto some time ago (Kristof walked Versace A/W 2016). I’ve always wondered what is the real reason why guys become male models, they always say because of traveling and meeting new people, it seems like some of them want to be a douchebag in as many different countries as they can be. [I think the picture was taken out of context. You cannot always judge a picture at face value.]

Well, that is another year in review. I wish everyone a Happy New Year. 

[duaneodavila]

Millennial Attorneys Can Learn Priceless Life Lessons From Legal Affinity Groups Like NAPABA And GAPABA

Renwei Chung and his father

“Legacy. What is a legacy? / It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see… / America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me / You let me make a difference / A place where even orphan immigrants / Can leave their fingerprints and rise up.” — Hamilton

This time of year is always a little bit rough for me. As some of our ATL readers may recall, I wrote an article titled, “3 Things A Law Student Learned From The Death Of His Father” around this time a few years back.

This year has been especially tough for me now that my mother has been hospitalized for an indeterminate amount of time. In 2015, I had the opportunity to write about her, Dontre Hamilton, and Starbucks.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Atlanta, Georgia — missing the Masters Tournament by only a few days. Just as some use golf as therapy for dealing with the death of a loved one, I have always used basketball to keep my mind preoccupied. Every spring, watching the NCAA tournament, the NBA playoffs, as well as Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny “the Jet” Smith, and Shaq talk about basketball and life becomes rather cathartic.

I definitely have a basketball jones. It’s why I write columns about basketball figures such as Steph Curry and the late Jim Valvano. From elementary school to high school, my father spent countless evenings witnessing me shoot free throws. He would give me 50 cents every time I shot 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. It’s why I chose to deliver his eulogy at the Breslin Center — home of the MSU Spartan basketball team — in East Lansing, Michigan.

As a member of the oldest cohort of millennials, and someone who was facing the prospects of a major career pivot, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it in the stodgy, non-diverse profession of law, especially during the first several months of law school.

To my surprise, I developed lifelong relationships with other green 1Ls who were hunkered down in the trenches of their legal educations and navigating their winding paths in life.  I’m still thankful for the large group of classmates who attended my father’s funeral. Yes, we all had the opportunity to bond together during our educational struggles and achievements. But more importantly, we bonded through shared life experiences — birthdays, graduations, weddings, baby showers, funerals, etc. Never feeling a part of any tribe before, I have a genuine affinity for fellow attorneys.

A couple weeks ago, a member of my LinkedIn tribe, Michael Wu, invited me to the National Asian Pacific Bar Association’s (NAPABA) Southeast Regional Conference and 25th Anniversary of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA) in Atlanta. I had a balance in my “interesting people” fund and was inspired to make the pilgrimage to honor my late friend and long-distance mentor, NAPABA Trailblazer, and GAPABA Past President, Han C. Choi. After all, it was only a year ago, I wrote about another trailblazing member of GAPABA — Trinh Huynh.

Han C. Choi

Choi, was taken from us by pancreatic cancer at 52. Huynh was a victim of gun violence at 40. Even though they both passed away at a relatively young age, they definitely made the most of their time here on earth. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “it’s not the length of life, but the depth of life.”

Trinh Huynh

After learning about Choi’s Scholarship and Huynh’s Fellowship, and watching the dedicated montages to each individual, it became quite apparent to me that their legacies will go on and continue to touch countless generations.

I was captivated by the 25 years of GAPABA history that was displayed on the projection screens throughout the Georgia Aquarium. Keynote Speaker Viet D. Dinh and Rising Star Rep. Samuel L. Park implored the audience to dream bigger. While Angela Hsu and Hon. Carla Wong McMillian reminded us of the shoulders we have been able to stand on to see further and urged us to build upon the successes of our predecessors (like Hon. Alvin T. Wong). And the honorariums for both Choi and Huynh were beautiful.

Lest I forget to mention, there were two other very impressive individuals who attended last Thursday’s event, who were not NAPABA or GAPABA members, whose remarks struck me to my core: Ernie Johnson, NBA commentator, and Catherine Abrams, wife of Han C. Choi.

I literally have watched EJ on Inside the NBA since the early 90s. But seeing him perform as a Master of Ceremonies in person was much better than any commentating I’ve seen him do on TV, and that’s saying something remarkable as I have watched hundreds of hours of his performances. Ever the consummate professional, it was evident he thoroughly rehearsed for this special event.

A group picture from NAPABA/GAPABA

Johnson began the night telling wonderful stories and showing entertaining pictures of his family, including his daughter in law, Quynh Truong-Johnson, President-Elect of GAPABA. By the end of his MC duties, he got a little choked up while quoting the legendary coach Jimmy V: “if you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day — that’s a heck of a day,” and then thanked GAPABA for bringing these three actions out of him tonight.

Catherine Abrams thanked the GAPABA community for their generosity and kindness. Most of all, she was thankful for everyone who shared their stories with her children — so that Choi’s life could be remembered by her kids and her grandkids. Abrams then implored the audience to go “all in” like Choi in their respective endeavors. She pleaded that “whatever you do, blaze trails so that others can follow.”

I was in Atlanta for less than 36 hours. But during my short trip, I felt a season’s worth of emotions. I visited the street corner where Trinh Huynh was slain. I had the opportunity to run into friends like Cyndie Chang and LinkedIn connections like Michael Chu and Bonnie Youn. Ernie Johnson made me laugh out loud; Viet D. Dinh, Samuel L. Park, Angela Hsu, and Hon. Carla Wong McMillian made me think about my own future; and Catherine Abrams made me cry tears of happiness. Suffice it to say, the trip to Atlanta provided some comfort that I wasn’t aware I needed.

I’m so grateful for the bond I feel to NAPABA and its many affiliates. I can’t emphasize enough how impactful I believe affinity groups, galas, and conferences can be for the mind, body, and soul of their members and attendees. I’m always inspired by the passion and commitment of all the colleagues I meet in these type of groups and events.

Fellow millennials, I encourage you to put some money aside every paycheck and dedicate these funds to visiting interesting people, attending affinity events, and going “all in” on your respective pursuits. And don’t ever become too busy to return your parents’ phone calls. They deserve to hear from you often. In fact, call them right now and thank them for everything they’ve done for you.

One day, you may not get the chance to do this.

To learn more about the Han C. Choi Scholarship and Trinh Huynh Fellowship, be sure to visit GAPABA’s website.

Renwei Chung is the Diversity Columnist at Above the Law. You can contact Renwei by email at projectrenwei@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter (@renweichung), or connect with him on LinkedIn. 

Millennial Attorneys Can Learn Priceless Life Lessons From Legal Affinity Groups Like NAPABA And GAPABA republished via Above the Law

[aefward]

Paula Anguera wears a sleeveless denim shirt by Tibi; bikini briefs by Haight; cowboy boots by Ganni.

Photography by Kate Bellm, Fashion editor: Helen Broadfoot, Fashion assistant: Maya Gunavardhana, Make-up by Carla Abrams, Art direction by Michael Kelly.

[njawaidofficial]

8 couples who combined last names and the amazing reasons they did it.

http://styleveryday.com/2017/08/13/8-couples-who-combined-last-names-and-the-amazing-reasons-they-did-it/

8 couples who combined last names and the amazing reasons they did it.

Brangelina. Kimye. “Combined names” are a key step in becoming a celebrity “it” couple. But regular people all over the U.S. are doing the same thing. And making it legal.

I recently read about the phenomenon of married couples legally taking a smushed-together — or otherwise completely invented — version of their last names. Smith and Johnson become the Smithsons, for example. I started asking around: Had anyone else heard of this?

Turns out, a ton of people had. Almost everyone I asked knew a couple who had done it officially, done it unofficially, or at least thought about it.

It might sound kind of odd, but there are a lot of great reasons modern couples choose to do something like this — everything from gender equality (FTW!) to giving the kids a fresh family identity to make their own.

Here are eight forward-thinking, creative, and diverse couples who chose to use a combined name, and why they did it.

1. Carla Cole + Brian Martin = the Latimers

Photo by Carla Latimer, used with permission.

These two turned to an unlikely tool when they decided to combine names: an anagram generator.

“We wanted a family name to share with the kids,” Carla says. She says they almost had guests at their wedding vote on their top five favorite names. Instead, they wound up choosing on their own.

“We dropped our middle birth names, moved our maiden names to our middle names, and added the new last name,” she says.

And lived happily ever after.

2. Blair Eckenrode + Megan Christensen = the Eckensens

Photo by Shawnee/A Lovely Photo, used with permission

When Eckenrode and Christensen got married, they had some understandably complicated feelings about the institution.

Questioning the long upheld standards of marriage gave the couple a lot of freedom to define their own union how they saw fit. The first thing to go? The historic coverture laws that originated today’s commonplace tradition of a woman relinquishing a part of her identity, her name, and assuming her husband’s.

“We are a family, and we share every part of our lives with each other, and we also desired to share a name,” Blair says. “So we got creative and here we are — a nontraditionally created name for a ‘nontraditional’ marriage.”

3. Sally and Ryan Stauffer = the Elainskas

Photo via Sally Elainska, used with permission

When these two first got married, they did what Sally calls “the normal thing,” and went with her husband’s last name of Stauffer. A few years later, Ryan had a confession to make — he wished they’d gone another route.

“In the end we decided to combine Gaelic to represent his ancestry and Polish to represent mine,” Sally says. They chose words that loosely translated to “people of art,” plus a few tweaks to make it easy to spell and pronounce, and suddenly they were the Elainskas.

Their families have had mixed reactions, Sally says, but there’s only one thing that really matters: “I couldn’t be happier with the decision and with my perfect partner!”

4. Sonia Abrams + Stephen Moss = the Abramoss kids

Photo via Sonia Abrams, used with permission.

When these two tied the knot, they both agreed it’d be best to keep their own last names. The kids? That was a different story.

“We both felt a little weird about not having a little bit of [both] our names in our kid,” Sonia says. That’s when they got the idea to combine, and Abramoss just felt like a winning combination.

“My dad did not like it at all, but I think he got over it,” she says. “It feels neat to have our kid’s’ names be a combo of ours, since our kids are a perfect combo of the two of us.”

5. Beth Shea + John Marshall = the Marsheas

Photo via Beth Marshea, used with permission.

Beth does not mince words how she feels about kids and last names: “We never considered giving the kids his last name because he is not the one who gives birth to them.”

They considered hyphenating, but decided against it. John even offered to ditch his own last name, but Beth worried he’d regret it later.

“So, we came up with the portmanteau idea as the best option,” she says, though there are times when she misses the old ‘Shea family’ identity. “But, it’s nice that we have our own thing, so I’m happy with it.”

6. Sara Kunitake + Jonah Horowitz = the Horotakes

Photo from Jonah Horotake, used with permission.

“Sara has a very strong attachment to her family name. She’s the last Kunitake grandchild, and she hesitated to give the name up,” Jonah says. “Also, she has invested a lot in building her brand professionally as Sara Kunitake and didn’t want to have to rebuild as Sara Horowitz.”

So they merged to become the Horotakes. “We really like the sound of it and it merges our Japanese and Jewish heritage.”

7. Jesse Rauch + Lissa McManus = the McRauchs

Photo via Jesse McRauch, used with permission.

Feminism has been an important thread throughout Jesse and Lissa’s relationship.

“As our relationship deepened, I felt it was important to be completely equal in our relationship,” Jesse says. “We both wear engagement rings. I didn’t get on one knee — so we looked each other in the eye.”

Jesse says most people are really supportive, or even jealous they didn’t think of it, but his parents keep asking, ‘Are you really doing that?”

“They may need more time,” he says.

8. Ash Russell + Crystal Fields = the Rocketships

Photo from Ash Rocketship, used with permission

That’s right. Meet Mrs. and Mrs. Rocketship.

Ash says the couple talked a lot about “how neither of us were really attached to our family names and how it would be nice to share a name once we were married.”

Her alternative? Pick something random, but meaningful. It got the couple talking about their shared love of outer space.

“We joked about Lightyear, after Buzz, and then one of us — probably me because I am nothing if not overjoyed at being obnoxious — said, ‘We should just pick something random … like, rocketship.’ And it just stuck.”

From there, the paperwork was a breeze, and the Rocketships became the coolest family in the solar system.

#8 #Amazing #Combined #Couples #Names #Reasons

[tragicbooks]

<p>8 couples who combined last names and the amazing reasons they did it.</p>

Brangelina. Kimye. "Combined names" are a key step in becoming a celebrity "it" couple. But regular people all over the U.S. are doing the same thing. And making it legal.

I recently read about the phenomenon of married couples legally taking a smushed-together — or otherwise completely invented — version of their last names. Smith and Johnson become the Smithsons, for example. I started asking around: Had anyone else heard of this?

Turns out, a ton of people had. Almost everyone I asked knew a couple who had done it officially, done it unofficially, or at least thought about it.

It might sound kind of odd, but there are a lot of great reasons modern couples choose to do something like this — everything from gender equality (FTW!) to giving the kids a fresh family identity to make their own.

Here are eight forward-thinking, creative, and diverse couples who chose to use a combined name, and why they did it.

1. Carla Cole + Brian Martin = the Latimers

Photo by Carla Latimer, used with permission.

These two turned to an unlikely tool when they decided to combine names: an anagram generator.

"We wanted a family name to share with the kids," Carla says. She says they almost had guests at their wedding vote on their top five favorite names. Instead, they wound up choosing on their own.

"We dropped our middle birth names, moved our maiden names to our middle names, and added the new last name," she says.

And lived happily ever after.

2. Blair Eckenrode + Megan Christensen = the Eckensens

Photo by Shawnee/A Lovely Photo, used with permission

When Eckenrode and Christensen got married, they had some understandably complicated feelings about the institution.

Questioning the long upheld standards of marriage gave the couple a lot of freedom to define their own union how they saw fit. The first thing to go? The historic coverture laws that originated today's commonplace tradition of a woman relinquishing a part of her identity, her name, and assuming her husband's.

"We are a family, and we share every part of our lives with each other, and we also desired to share a name," Blair says. "So we got creative and here we are — a nontraditionally created name for a 'nontraditional' marriage."

3. Sally and Ryan Stauffer = the Elainskas

Photo via Sally Elainska, used with permission

When these two first got married, they did what Sally calls "the normal thing," and went with her husband's last name of Stauffer. A few years later, Ryan had a confession to make — he wished they'd gone another route.

"In the end we decided to combine Gaelic to represent his ancestry and Polish to represent mine," Sally says. They chose words that loosely translated to "people of art," plus a few tweaks to make it easy to spell and pronounce, and suddenly they were the Elainskas.

Their families have had mixed reactions, Sally says, but there's only one thing that really matters: "I couldn't be happier with the decision and with my perfect partner!"

4. Sonia Abrams + Stephen Moss = the Abramoss kids

Photo via Sonia Abrams, used with permission.

When these two tied the knot, they both agreed it'd be best to keep their own last names. The kids? That was a different story.

"We both felt a little weird about not having a little bit of [both] our names in our kid," Sonia says. That's when they got the idea to combine, and Abramoss just felt like a winning combination.

"My dad did not like it at all, but I think he got over it," she says. "It feels neat to have our kid's' names be a combo of ours, since our kids are a perfect combo of the two of us."

5. Beth Shea + John Marshall = the Marsheas

Photo via Beth Marshea, used with permission.

Beth does not mince words how she feels about kids and last names: "We never considered giving the kids his last name because he is not the one who gives birth to them."

They considered hyphenating, but decided against it. John even offered to ditch his own last name, but Beth worried he'd regret it later.

"So, we came up with the portmanteau idea as the best option," she says, though there are times when she misses the old 'Shea family' identity. "But, it's nice that we have our own thing, so I'm happy with it."

6. Sara Kunitake + Jonah Horowitz = the Horotakes

Photo from Jonah Horotake, used with permission.

"Sara has a very strong attachment to her family name. She’s the last Kunitake grandchild, and she hesitated to give the name up," Jonah says. "Also, she has invested a lot in building her brand professionally as Sara Kunitake and didn’t want to have to rebuild as Sara Horowitz."

So they merged to become the Horotakes. "We really like the sound of it and it merges our Japanese and Jewish heritage."

7. Jesse Rauch + Lissa McManus = the McRauchs

Photo via Jesse McRauch, used with permission.

Feminism has been an important thread throughout Jesse and Lissa's relationship.

"As our relationship deepened, I felt it was important to be completely equal in our relationship," Jesse says. "We both wear engagement rings. I didn't get on one knee — so we looked each other in the eye."

Jesse says most people are really supportive, or even jealous they didn't think of it, but his parents keep asking, 'Are you really doing that?"

"They may need more time," he says.

8. Ash Russell + Crystal Fields = the Rocketships

Photo from Ash Rocketship, used with permission

That's right. Meet Mrs. and Mrs. Rocketship.

Ash says the couple talked a lot about "how neither of us were really attached to our family names and how it would be nice to share a name once we were married."

Her alternative? Pick something random, but meaningful. It got the couple talking about their shared love of outer space.

"We joked about Lightyear, after Buzz, and then one of us — probably me because I am nothing if not overjoyed at being obnoxious — said, 'We should just pick something random ... like, rocketship.' And it just stuck."

From there, the paperwork was a breeze, and the Rocketships became the coolest family in the solar system.

[vernicle]

<p>8 couples who combined last names and the amazing reasons they did it.</p>

[ad_1]

Brangelina. Kimye. "Put together names" are a crucial action in becoming a superstar "it" few. But frequent persons all above the U.S. are executing the identical issue. And generating it lawful.

I a short while ago study about the phenomenon of married partners legally using a smushed-together — or or else totally invented — model of their very last names. Smith and Johnson develop into the Smithsons, for illustration. I commenced asking about: Experienced anyone else heard of this?

Turns out, a ton of persons experienced. Nearly absolutely everyone I asked knew a few who experienced finished it formally, finished it unofficially, or at minimum considered about it.

It might audio variety of odd, but there are a whole lot of great motives modern-day partners pick to do a thing like this — everything from gender equality (FTW!) to supplying the children a clean family members id to make their individual.

Listed here are 8 ahead-imagining, innovative, and numerous partners who selected to use a merged identify, and why they did it.

one. Carla Cole + Brian Martin = the Latimers

Picture by Carla Latimer, utilized with authorization.

These two turned to an not likely software when they determined to merge names: an anagram generator.

"We preferred a family members identify to share with the children," Carla states. She states they virtually experienced visitors at their wedding vote on their top rated five most loved names. Instead, they wound up selecting on their individual.

"We dropped our center delivery names, moved our maiden names to our center names, and included the new very last identify," she states.

And lived fortunately at any time just after.

2. Blair Eckenrode + Megan Christensen = the Eckensens

Picture by Shawnee/A Charming Picture, utilized with authorization

When Eckenrode and Christensen acquired married, they experienced some understandably complex inner thoughts about the institution.

Questioning the prolonged upheld specifications of marriage gave the few a whole lot of liberty to determine their individual union how they saw match. The initial issue to go? The historic coverture rules that originated modern commonplace custom of a lady relinquishing a portion of her id, her identify, and assuming her husband's.

"We are a family members, and we share just about every portion of our lives with every other, and we also desired to share a identify," Blair states. "So we acquired innovative and below we are — a nontraditionally produced identify for a 'nontraditional' marriage."

three. Sally and Ryan Stauffer = the Elainskas

Picture by way of Sally Elainska, utilized with authorization

When these two initial acquired married, they did what Sally phone calls "the usual issue," and went with her husband's very last identify of Stauffer. A number of yrs later on, Ryan experienced a confession to make — he wished they'd absent another route.

"In the close we determined to merge Gaelic to represent his ancestry and Polish to represent mine," Sally states. They selected words that loosely translated to "persons of artwork," additionally a number of tweaks to make it quick to spell and pronounce, and all of a sudden they were being the Elainskas.

Their households have experienced combined reactions, Sally states, but there is certainly only a single issue that truly issues: "I could not be happier with the final decision and with my excellent husband or wife!"

four. Sonia Abrams + Stephen Moss = the Abramoss children

Picture by way of Sonia Abrams, utilized with authorization.

When these two tied the knot, they both agreed it'd be most effective to keep their individual very last names. The children? That was a unique story.

"We both felt a minor bizarre about not having a minor bit of [both] our names in our child," Sonia states. That's when they acquired the idea to merge, and Abramoss just felt like a winning mix.

"My dad did not like it at all, but I think he acquired above it," she states. "It feels neat to have our kid's' names be a combo of ours, due to the fact our children are a excellent combo of the two of us."

five. Beth Shea + John Marshall = the Marsheas

Picture by way of Beth Marshea, utilized with authorization.

Beth does not mince words how she feels about children and very last names: "We under no circumstances considered supplying the children his very last identify due to the fact he is not the a single who presents delivery to them."

They considered hyphenating, but determined in opposition to it. John even made available to ditch his individual very last identify, but Beth nervous he'd regret it later on.

"So, we arrived up with the portmanteau idea as the most effective alternative," she states, nevertheless there are situations when she misses the aged 'Shea family' id. "But, it truly is good that we have our individual issue, so I'm joyful with it."

6. Sara Kunitake + Jonah Horowitz = the Horotakes

Picture from Jonah Horotake, utilized with authorization.

"Sara has a extremely potent attachment to her family members identify. She’s the very last Kunitake grandchild, and she hesitated to give the identify up," Jonah states. "Also, she has invested a whole lot in constructing her brand name professionally as Sara Kunitake and did not want to have to rebuild as Sara Horowitz."

So they merged to develop into the Horotakes. "We truly like the audio of it and it merges our Japanese and Jewish heritage."

seven. Jesse Rauch + Lissa McManus = the McRauchs

Picture by way of Jesse McRauch, utilized with authorization.

Feminism has been an essential thread throughout Jesse and Lissa's romance.

"As our romance deepened, I felt it was essential to be totally equal in our romance," Jesse states. "We both dress in engagement rings. I did not get on a single knee — so we appeared every other in the eye."

Jesse states most persons are truly supportive, or even jealous they did not think of it, but his mom and dad keep asking, 'Are you truly executing that?"

"They might will need a lot more time," he states.

eight. Ash Russell + Crystal Fields = the Rocketships

Picture from Ash Rocketship, utilized with authorization

That's right. Fulfill Mrs. and Mrs. Rocketship.

Ash states the few talked a whole lot about "how neither of us were being truly attached to our family members names and how it would be good to share a identify when we were being married."

Her alternate? Pick a thing random, but meaningful. It acquired the few speaking about their shared adore of outer room.

"We joked about Lightyear, just after Buzz, and then a single of us — likely me due to the fact I am almost nothing if not overjoyed at getting obnoxious — said, 'We ought to just select a thing random ... like, rocketship.' And it just trapped."

From there, the paperwork was a breeze, and the Rocketships became the coolest family members in the solar procedure.

[ad_2] Resource url

from Viral News Around The World - Feed http://ift.tt/2wC3RbZ via IFTTT

[socialviralnews]

<p>8 couples who combined last names and the amazing reasons they did it.</p>

Brangelina. Kimye. "Combined names" are a key step in becoming a celebrity "it" couple. But regular people all over the U.S. are doing the same thing. And making it legal.

I recently read about the phenomenon of married couples legally taking a smushed-together — or otherwise completely invented — version of their last names. Smith and Johnson become the Smithsons, for example. I started asking around: Had anyone else heard of this?

Turns out, a ton of people had. Almost everyone I asked knew a couple who had done it officially, done it unofficially, or at least thought about it.

It might sound kind of odd, but there are a lot of great reasons modern couples choose to do something like this — everything from gender equality (FTW!) to giving the kids a fresh family identity to make their own.

Here are eight forward-thinking, creative, and diverse couples who chose to use a combined name, and why they did it.

1. Carla Cole + Brian Martin = the Latimers

Photo by Carla Latimer, used with permission.

These two turned to an unlikely tool when they decided to combine names: an anagram generator.

"We wanted a family name to share with the kids," Carla says. She says they almost had guests at their wedding vote on their top five favorite names. Instead, they wound up choosing on their own.

"We dropped our middle birth names, moved our maiden names to our middle names, and added the new last name," she says.

And lived happily ever after.

2. Blair Eckenrode + Megan Christensen = the Eckensens

Photo by Shawnee/A Lovely Photo, used with permission

When Eckenrode and Christensen got married, they had some understandably complicated feelings about the institution.

Questioning the long upheld standards of marriage gave the couple a lot of freedom to define their own union how they saw fit. The first thing to go? The historic coverture laws that originated today's commonplace tradition of a woman relinquishing a part of her identity, her name, and assuming her husband's.

"We are a family, and we share every part of our lives with each other, and we also desired to share a name," Blair says. "So we got creative and here we are — a nontraditionally created name for a 'nontraditional' marriage."

3. Sally and Ryan Stauffer = the Elainskas

Photo via Sally Elainska, used with permission

When these two first got married, they did what Sally calls "the normal thing," and went with her husband's last name of Stauffer. A few years later, Ryan had a confession to make — he wished they'd gone another route.

"In the end we decided to combine Gaelic to represent his ancestry and Polish to represent mine," Sally says. They chose words that loosely translated to "people of art," plus a few tweaks to make it easy to spell and pronounce, and suddenly they were the Elainskas.

Their families have had mixed reactions, Sally says, but there's only one thing that really matters: "I couldn't be happier with the decision and with my perfect partner!"

4. Sonia Abrams + Stephen Moss = the Abramoss kids

Photo via Sonia Abrams, used with permission.

When these two tied the knot, they both agreed it'd be best to keep their own last names. The kids? That was a different story.

"We both felt a little weird about not having a little bit of [both] our names in our kid," Sonia says. That's when they got the idea to combine, and Abramoss just felt like a winning combination.

"My dad did not like it at all, but I think he got over it," she says. "It feels neat to have our kid's' names be a combo of ours, since our kids are a perfect combo of the two of us."

5. Beth Shea + John Marshall = the Marsheas

Photo via Beth Marshea, used with permission.

Beth does not mince words how she feels about kids and last names: "We never considered giving the kids his last name because he is not the one who gives birth to them."

They considered hyphenating, but decided against it. John even offered to ditch his own last name, but Beth worried he'd regret it later.

"So, we came up with the portmanteau idea as the best option," she says, though there are times when she misses the old 'Shea family' identity. "But, it's nice that we have our own thing, so I'm happy with it."

6. Sara Kunitake + Jonah Horowitz = the Horotakes

Photo from Jonah Horotake, used with permission.

"Sara has a very strong attachment to her family name. She’s the last Kunitake grandchild, and she hesitated to give the name up," Jonah says. "Also, she has invested a lot in building her brand professionally as Sara Kunitake and didn’t want to have to rebuild as Sara Horowitz."

So they merged to become the Horotakes. "We really like the sound of it and it merges our Japanese and Jewish heritage."

7. Jesse Rauch + Lissa McManus = the McRauchs

Photo via Jesse McRauch, used with permission.

Feminism has been an important thread throughout Jesse and Lissa's relationship.

"As our relationship deepened, I felt it was important to be completely equal in our relationship," Jesse says. "We both wear engagement rings. I didn't get on one knee — so we looked each other in the eye."

Jesse says most people are really supportive, or even jealous they didn't think of it, but his parents keep asking, 'Are you really doing that?"

"They may need more time," he says.

8. Ash Russell + Crystal Fields = the Rocketships

Photo from Ash Rocketship, used with permission

That's right. Meet Mrs. and Mrs. Rocketship.

Ash says the couple talked a lot about "how neither of us were really attached to our family names and how it would be nice to share a name once we were married."

Her alternative? Pick something random, but meaningful. It got the couple talking about their shared love of outer space.

"We joked about Lightyear, after Buzz, and then one of us — probably me because I am nothing if not overjoyed at being obnoxious — said, 'We should just pick something random ... like, rocketship.' And it just stuck."

From there, the paperwork was a breeze, and the Rocketships became the coolest family in the solar system.

from Upworthy http://ift.tt/2uycbZ0 via cheap web hosting

[thorned-owl]

i need to write this out

even if no one really reads it. to get down in writing what my heart was feeling this morning.

at church service today the sermon was about...a lot of things, really. mostly it was about believing God at His word, having faith in Him even if its weary or uncertain or imperfect faith. realizing that it isn’t about your quality of faith but just about the One you’re putting your faith into.

but at the end, my preacher pulled it all together by talking about what God did to prove that we can believe His words, that He is trustworthy. he talked about how when abram asked God how he could know for sure that God was going to bless him with a son & endless offspring, God had Abram set everything up so that God and Abram could perform a blood oath, a covenant, together. which back then was basically signing a contract with someone promising to do something, and saying that if you don’t do it you will be cursed & die. but when Abram got it all set up God put Abram to sleep, and then God was the one who passed through the sacrificed animals, thus binding himself to his promise to Abram that he WOULD have a son and be the father of endless offspring. in a normal blood oath, abram would have then passed through the animals too thus signing his side of the contract and saying that he would hold up his end of the deal to always believe and follow God and stuff. but God didn’t make Abram do that. Instead, He kept Abram asleep and God took Abram’s place in the contract too. 

So basically God said, if I do not fulfill my promises to you, I will be cursed. And if you do not fulfill your promises to me, I will take the curse for you as well. And then, thousands of years later, He ultimately did because Jesus died on the cross for us after we couldn’t uphold our end of the covenant. God upheld His end.

and my preacher just slammed this point home by talking about how much God loves us and that He did that for us and Christ took the curse for us, for me, and I was just overwhelmed that this might be true. i, someone who spends time with God daily and writes to Him and feels like shes doing so good in her walk and all this stuff, i looked up at the cross and realized that i wasn’t even believing in the fundamental part of my faith: Jesus loves me. I can’t even really believe that. I didnt know it but the thought of it being true crippled me, and i just stood there. after the sermon i just stood there staring at the wall. and tears flowed.

eventually i went up to one of the prayer ushers and asked her to pray with me, that i would be able to truly grasp that God loves me. that i could believe it. as she prayed over me she said, “I dont know if this is applicable, but if there are any people in Carla’s life that have made her feel like she is unlovable, God I just reject those lies in the name of your Son.” and in that moment the tears poured down my face and my soul was shook because she, with the Holy Spirit, touched a place in me that i didn’t realize was broken. i didnt even know this hurt was there, but these words from these people that God loves me cut a gash in my soul and out poured this sour poison that had been sitting there, causing me to doubt my lovability, doubt my worth. i didnt even know, guys. i didnt even know.

when we stopped praying she asked me if i had a community around me to encourage me and i literally couldnt speak for a moment as my crying worsened. i was blubbering at this point, as i told her about the church i just left and how none of them have reached out to me. how i thought i had a family, a family i’d had for 5 years now, and i thought that they loved me but now that i’m not there they’ve forgotten me like trash. and i told her how my dad doesnt care to have a relationship with me and hasn’t talked to me in two months, and i told her that all these people keep throwing me away so how can i be lovable. how can i be loved by God.

i didnt know there was this brokenness in my heart. i mean, i knew the pain was there but i didnt know it cut so deep. i didnt know it infiltrated my relationship with God, the only One who has never failed me or left me or hurt me. 

Jesus, i dont know how to fix me. i dont know how to bind up these wounds that these broken people have left on me. they dont want me. i am not good enough. i feel like thats all ive ever been told, that i’m not good enough. and i dont want to be “enough”, like im all people need, i dont want that. but it would be nice to be enough to just be given love. normal love. from my own dad. Jesus, i dont know how to heal these hurts. i dont know how to make them not affect how i see you. I want to know that you love me despite what the world shows me. i want to REALLY know that, to feel it in my core and carry it with me without faultering and i want to just wear your love like a badge on my chest that no one can take away no matter how many times they beat me down. Jesus, show me your love every day until that badge is a tattoo that cannot be removed. please, Lord, drown me in love that washes away all my tears. i want to know your love more intimately than i know anything else. show me jesus, show me. your word says that you will restore my health and heal all my hurts. i believe. i believe you. i believe you. i believe you. i believe you. i believe you. 

[jazzworldquest-blog]

USA: Howard Johnson Celebrates His 75th With New CD and Concert at The Jazz Museum In Harlem Sunday, January 29th 2:30pm

Howard Johnson Celebrates His 75th With New CD and Concert at The Jazz Museum In Harlem Sunday, January 29th 2:30pm

DATE AND TIME

Sun, January 29, 2017

2:30 PM – 5:00 PM EST

LOCATION

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem

58 West 129th Street 

New York, NY 10027  Featuring Howard Johnson – baritone sax, tuba, penny whistle Yayoi Ikawa – piano Melissa Slocum – bass Newman Taylor Baker – drums

Tickets & Info

Internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and veteran sideman Howard Johnson takes a turn in the spotlight with a new release, Testimony, recorded with his 10-piece tuba choir, Gravity. Testimony includes eight tunes ranging from soulful to funky to bluesy to cookers. Gravity’s take on Johnson’s  originals as well as compositions by McCoy Tyner, Carol King, and others, testifies to the range and versatility of the tuba. Over the past half century, Howard Johnson, the eminence grise of low brass, has appeared on hundreds of albums playing tuba, baritone sax, bass clarinet, electric bass and other instruments with the giants of many genres. The New York Times’ critic Nate Chinen credits Johnson as “the figure most responsible for the tuba’s current status as a full-fledged jazz voice.” With Testimony, his third recording with Gravity (and his fourth as a leader) Johnson takes a giant step forward in making the music world safe for tubas and low brass, delighting—and enlightening—listeners in the process. After arriving in New York in the early ’60s, Johnson appeared with Jack DeJohnette, Abdullah Ibrahim, Lou Rawls, Lee Morgan, Chick Corea, John Lennon, The Band, Paul Simon, Tony Williams, Pharoah Sanders, Hank Mobley, The Saturday Night Live Band, Gato Barbieri, Levon Helm, and literally hundreds of others. Johnson was also a long-time muse to innovators such as Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Carla Bley, and George Gruntz, who created music to showcase the multi-instrumentalist’s abilities, and inspired him on his life-long quest to expand the range and repertoire for some of the less familiar instruments in jazz and popular music. Bluesman Taj Mahal helped to spread the word when he invited Johnson and his tuba cohorts to tour and to record with him in 1971. The resulting album, The Real Thing, features Johnson’s brass arrangements and Gravity stalwarts Joseph Daley, Earl McIntyre and Bob Stewart, who also appear on Testimony. In addition to Johnson on tuba, pennywhistle, and baritone sax, Testimony includes: Dave Bargeron (tuba), a self-described “proud charter member of Gravity since 1968.” He has played with Blood, Sweat and Tears, big bands led by Clark Terry, Gil Evans, George Russell, George Gruntz, and Jaco Pastorius, and countless smaller ensembles.  Velvet Brown (tuba), the Penn State professor of tuba and euphonium, is equally at home with the St. Louis Symphony, the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, or the San Francisco Women’s Philharmonic Orchestra. Joseph Daley (tuba) is the producer of Testimony and a mainstay of New York’s adventurous music scene, having played with the likes of Sam Rivers, Carla Bley, Gil Evans, Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, and Hazmat Modine. Carlton Holmes (keyboards) is a top pick of icons like Charli Persip, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Michael Carvin, Freddie Hubbard, Stevie Wonder, and many others. Nedra Johnson (tuba, vocal) has one of the most powerful and compelling voices you’re likely to hear. Whether playing jazz, womyn’s music, funk, or R&B, she’s known for bringing festival crowds to their feet. Earl McIntyre (tuba) is a renowned educator, Brooklyn Philharmonic guest conductor. An in-demand bass trombonist as well, he is an alumnus of bands fronted by Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Cecil Taylor, Lester Bowie, McCoy Tyner, and others. Melissa Slocum (bass) is an in-demand veteran of stints with Art Blakey, Leon Thomas, Hank Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Melba Liston. She also shines in settings from symphony to Broadway to baroque. Bob Stewart (tuba) has worked with the mainstream (Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis), the avant-garde (Muhal Richard Abrams, Henry Threadgill,  Arthur Blythe), and the hit makers (Chaka Khan, Dap Kings, Aretha Franklin). Buddy Williams (drummer) has a list of credits encompassing Valerie Simpson, Sonny Sharrock, Jack McDuff, Jennifer Holiday, Michael Jackson, Herbie Mann, Lena Horne, and David Sanborn. Album highlights include: “Testimony”: This 1990 Howard Johnson original is a cooker that testifies to the power and versatility of the tuba, and puts the listener on notice as to what’s to come. “Workin’ Hard for the Joneses”: Forget keepin’ up with the Joneses! Nedra Johnson’s original is a reminder that addictions, including love, can come at a hefty cost. “Fly With the Wind”: This Howard Johnson arrangement of a too-rarely heard McCoy Tyner composition proves how nimble and versatile a tuba choir can be: Tubas can indeed fly with the wind! “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”: A 1968 Howard Johnson arrangement of the Carol King classic, inspired by Aretha Franklin’s hit version. Besides her brilliant lead work throughout the CD, Velvet Brown’s solo here shows truly authentic command and grace. “High Priest”: McCoy Tyner’s tribute to Thelonious Monk, the high priest of jazz. From the jaggedness of the melody to the signature lope in the rhythm, Gravity captures what’s best about both McCoy and Monk. Listen up for a brilliant solo from bassist Melissa Slocum. “Little Black Lucille”: Johnson brings the pennywhistle to the fore with his lilting original folk tune. It’s a tender tribute to his Aunt Lucille, who overcame the privation of her early years to build a loving family. “Evolution”: A Bob Neloms composition Johnson learned at 18—Neloms was two years younger. “I really liked the rhythm and the hipness of the blues. I’m the only person who plays it, and Bob doesn’t remember writing it,” Howard recalls, laughing. “Way Back Home”: Penned by saxophonist/bassist/Jazz Crusader Wilton Felder, Johnson wrote an arrangement of this soulful crowd-pleaser for The Saturday Night Live Band, as well as this one for Gravity. “We recently lost Wilton, and we will not forget him,” Howard declares. Full of mellow, rich harmonies, its subtlety challenges preconceptions about the role of low brass in jazz. Howard Johnson has made it his life’s work to “reveal the range and versatility of the tuba in all its splendor” to a larger audience. With its vibrant spirit and swing, Testimony makes a strong case for repeated listening.  

http://www.hojotuba.com Howard Johnson And Gravity Testimony (Tuscarora Records Item number 17-001 ) Street Date: March 3, 2017

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