#edinburgh international fashion festival

[scotianostra]

On August 15th 1771 Sir Walter Scott the poet and novelist was born in Edinburgh.

Walter survived polio as a toddler which left him with a limp and he used a cane the rest of his life. He was the first author to have international fame in his lifetime and is credited with inventing the historical novel.

Scott used the great storytelling tradition of the Highlands to help bring back the Scottish identity that had been cruelly crushed by the British. His Waverly novels were very popular in Europe and America starting Romanticism and influencing American writers such as Thoreau and Twain.

As well as popularising the historical novel, his books more or less invented tourism in Scotland. A family holiday to Loch Katrine inspired Scott to write the epic narrative poem The Lady of the Lake; a romantic, stirring tale of secret identity, love and loss. It was a publishing phenomenon and readers flocked to see the landscape Scott had described. Thus when travel entrepreneurs such as Thomas Cook began selling packaged railroad tours in the 1840s, Scotland was one of the most popular destinations. Victorians who had grown up on Scott’s Waverley novels, and now technology made it possible to reach these areas

Scott was a prolific writer, publishing two novels a year. Readers around the globe devoured his tales of historic Scotland and its noble, heroic people.

Composers in particular found inspiration in his work, among them Gaetano Donizetti who was inspired to write the tragic opera Lucia del Lammermoor based on Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor.  Franz Schubert was similarly moved, setting text from The Lady of the Lake to music to create his much-loved work Ave Maria.

When King George IIII visited Edinburgh in 1822 Scott was put in charge of the festivities. This was the first time a reigning monarch had made it north of the border in over 200 years and Scott masterminded a spectacular Scottish show in his honour.

He created a romantic - and, some argued, and still do argue, an unrealistic - vision of the Highlands on the streets of the capital with parades, gatherings of clans and swathes of tartan on display. King George himself lapped up this romantic symbolism, dressing in a kilt for the occasion and, like a 19th century influencer, prompting others to wear it too. It marked a turning point in the way the world saw Scotland, and the return of tartan to fashionable society following a ban enforced by the government in the aftermath of the Jacobite rebellion.

Scott’s influence in society allowed him to lobby on causes he held dear.Sir Walter Scott got involved in a number of political issues. Particularly, his interested in issues where the government was trying to impose things on Scotland. For example, the Bank of England wanted to withdraw the right of Scottish banks to print bank notes, it's testement to the man that he features on bank notes not just today, but going back to the days of smaller nbanks, like the Linen Bank in Scotland, The Bank of Scotland range of notes still carry his portrait. Scott He stirred up such a furore that the government backed down, so you have him to thank that your not carrying English bank notes around with you, imagine a life where we Scots couldn't have a good old moan about businesses in England refusing to take our money as payment!

Scott’s popularity as a poet was cemented in 1813 when he was given the opportunity to become Poet Laureate. However, he declined and Robert Southey accepted the position instead.

Having suffered a stroke in 1831, which resulted in apoplectic paralysis, his health continued to fail and Scott died on 21st September 1832 at Abbotsford, I hope to read and post more about Sir Walter Scott in just over a months time.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.2

Holidays

Airborne Forces Day (Russia)

Airmobile Forces Day (Ukraine)

Aviation Day (Slovenia)

Bonalu (Telangana, India)

Bunny Day (Japan)

Congolese Genocide Day (Congo (DRC))

Crabhog Day

Day of Airborne Forces (Russia)

Day of Azerbaijani Cinema (Azerbaijan)

Day of Maiden Katrica (Elder Scrolls)

Day of the Water Nymphs (Macedonia)

Deez Nutz Day

Dinosaurs Day

802 Day

Emancipation Day (Several Caribbean nations)

Escalator Day

Ewe Day (French Republic)

Fallen Paratroopers Remembrance Day (Ukraine)

Fiesta La Patrona (Spain)

Greenwich Mean Time Day

Hydroxychloroquine Day (India)

I Came I Saw I Conquered Day

Ilinden Day (Republic Day; Macedonia)

International Golden Lion Tamarin Day

International Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Day

Jabotinsky Day (Israel)

Lady Godiva Day (Coventry, UK)

Little Mix Appreciation Day

International Jewish Day

International Pony Day

Lady of the Angels Day (Costa Rica)

Lincoln Penny Day

Mark Lee Day (K-Pop)

Mary Prince Day (Bermuda)

Mindfulness Day

National Blockchain Day

National Boob Day

National CAD Day (a.k.a. National Computer-Aided Design Day)

National Children’s Day (Tuvalu)

National Coloring Book Day

National Ex-Girlfriend Day

National Hugh Day

National Jacqueline Day

National Rap Music Day

National Sisters Day

Our Lady of the Angels Day (Costa Rica)

Pantsu Day (Japan)

Paratroopers Day (Russia)

Republic Day (North Macedonia)

Roma Holocaust Memorial Day (EU)

Take a Penny, Leave a Penny Day

World Anglo-Indian Day

World Feed the Poor Day

World Find a Four Leaf Clover Day

Yeezy Day (Adidas)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Make Some Old-Fashioned Lemonade Day

Miracle Treat Day (Dairy Queen)

National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

Independence & Related Days

Butuan City Charter Day (Philippines; 1950)

Declaration of Independence 1st signed (US; 1776)

Kabankalan City Charter Day (Philippines)

Makira Ulawa Province Day (Solomon Islands)

Napoleon Bonaparte made 1st Consul for Life (France; 1802)

1st Friday in August

August Bank Holiday (UK) [1st Friday]

Bandcamp Friday [1st Friday]

Braham Pie Day (Minnesota) [1st Friday]

CafeSmart Day [1st Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Health Advocate Day [1st Friday]

International Beer Day [1st Friday]

International Mustache Day [1st Friday]

Jeans for Genes Day (Australia) [1st Friday]

Moxee Hop Festival begins (Washington) [1st Friday]

National Water Balloon Day [1st Friday]

Tomboy Tools Day [1st Friday]

Twins Day Festival begins (Twinsburg, Ohio) [1st Full Weekend, begins 1st Friday]

Umuganura Day (Harvest Thanksgiving; Rwanda) [1st Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 2 (1st Week of August)

Gallop International Tribal Indian Powwow (thru 8.11)

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Sturgis, South Dakota) [1st Friday for 10 Days] (thru 8.11)

Twins Days (thru 8.4) [1st Full Weekend; Friday thru Sunday]

Festivals Beginning August 2, 2024

Appalachian Arts & Crafts Fair & Festival (Buckley, West Virginia) [thru 8.3]

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (Cary, North Carolina) [thru 8.3]

Blueberry Arts Festival (Ketchikan, Alaska) [thru 8.4]

Blueberry Festival (Wilton, Maine) [thru 8.3]

Brat Days (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) [thru 8.3]

Brew at the Zoo (Columbia, South Carolina)

Calgary Fringe Festival (Calgary, Canada) [thru 8.10]

Charlestown Seafood Festival (Charlestown, Rhode Island) [thru 8.4]

Clark Potato Days (Clark, South Dakota) [thru 8.4]

Cowtown Days Festival (Ellsworth, Kansas) [thru 8.4]

Creamery Picnic (Stevensville, Montana) [thru 8.3]

Dublin Irish Festival (Dublin, Ohio) [thru 8.4]

Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Edinburgh, Scotland) [thru 8.26]

Edinburgh International Festival (Edinburgh, Scotland) [thru 8.25]

Festa Italiana (Naperville, Illinois) [thru 8.4]

Festival of the Flowers in Medellín (Medellín, Colombia) [thru 8.11]

Fish Sandwich Festival (Bay Port, Michigan) [thru 8.3]

Glad-Peach Festival (Coloma, Michigan) [thru 8.4]

Glengarry Highland Games (Maxville, Canada) [thru 8.3]

Gorolski Święto (Jablunkov, Czech Republic) [thru 8.4]

Grape Country Craft Beverage Festival (Dunkirk, New York) [thru 8.4]

Guča Trumpet Festival (Guča, Serbia) [thru 8.4]

Indiana State Fair (Indianapolis, Indiana) [thru 8.18]

Locomotion Festival (Felton, California) [thru 8.4]

Mossyrock Blueberry Festival (Mossyrock, Washington) [thru 8.4]

New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show (Augusta, New Jersey) [thru 8.10]

Newport Jazz Festival (Newport, Rhode Island) [thru 8.4]

North Branford PoCo Festival (North Branford, Connecticut) [thru 8.4]

Old Time Harvest Festival (Jordan, Minnesota) [thru 8.4]

One Love Reggae Festival (Wiesen, Austria) [thru 8.3]

Otakon (Washington, DC) [thru 8.4]

Pluk de Nacht Film Festival (Utrecht, Netherlands) [thru 8.10]

Possum Festival (Wausau, Florida) [thru 8.3]

Reggae on the River (Piercy, California) [tgru 8.4]

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Edinburgh, United Kingdom) [thru 8.24]

Scranton Jazz Festival (Scranton, Pennsylvania) [thru 8.4]

Sidmouth Folk Festival (Sidmouth, United Kingdom) [thru 8.9]

Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally (Binghamton, New York) [thru 8.4]

SunSka Festival (Vertheuil, France) [thru 8.4]

Sweet Pea Festival (Bozeman, Montana) [thru 8.4]

Taste of the Coeur d'Alene (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) [thru 8.4]

Tokyo Idol Festival (Tokyo, Japan) [thru 8.4]

Vintage Ohio Wine Festival (Kirtland, Ohio) [thru 8.3]

Watsonville Strawberry Festival (Watsonville, California) [thru 8.4]

World Cosplay Summit (Nagoya, Japan) [thru 8.4]

Feast Days

Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church)

Albert Bloch (Artology)

Alfonso A. Ossorio (Artology)

Arthur Dove (Artology)

Barley Day (Pagan)

Basil Fool for Christ (Russian Orthodox Church)

Bei Dao (Writerism)

Chateaubriand (Positivist; Saint)

Death of King Rufus Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Distribution of Charity Moneys (Strictly Imps Only; Shamanism)

Dryads Day (Greek Wood & Water Gods)

Elias (a.k.a. Ilia or Elijah the Prophet; Christian; Saint)

Etheldritha (a.k.a. Alfrida; Christian; Saint)

Eusebius of Vercelli (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Anahita (Ancient Persia; Everyday Wicca)

Feast of Our Lady of the Angeles of the Portiuncula (Franciscan Order)

Fomorian King Bres’ Agricultural Gifts Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Håkon Stenstadvold (Artology)

Holling C. Holling (Artology)

Ilinden Day (St. Elijah Day; Macedonia)

Isabel Allende (Writerism)

James Baldwin (Writerism)

Jan van Scorel (Artology)

John Radecki (Artology)

John French Sloan (Artology)

Justin Russolillo (Christian; Blessed)

Khao Phansa begins (Buddhist Lent; Thailand)

Lady of the Angels’ Day (Costa Rica)

Martian Time-Slip, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1964)

Monster Monster (Muppetism)

Peter Faber (Christian; Saint)

Peter Julian Eymard (Christian; Saint)

Perdono di Assisi (Pardon of Assisi), the plenary indulgence related to St.Francis of Assisi originated in the church of Porziuncola (Catholic Church)

Richard Wilson (Artology)

Robert Holdstock (Writerism)

Robert Goddard Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Samuel David Ferguson (Episcopal Church)

Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten (Artology)

Sidwell (Christian; Saint) [Farmers]

Stephen I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Theodots (Christian; Martyr)

Thomas of Dover (Christian; Saint)

Vermicelli Day (Pastafarian)

Virgin of Los Angeles Day (Costa Rica)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

American Graffiti (Film; 1973)

Castle in the Sky (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 1986)

Doc Hollywood (Film; 1991)

Doing Impossible Stunts (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1940)

Don’t Look Back, by Boston (Album; 1978)

Emma (Film; 1996)

Europa Report (Film; 2013)

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (Film; 2019) [F&F]

Follow That Bird (Film; 1985)

In the Heat of the Night (Film; 1967)

It’s a Greek Life (Rainbow Parade Cartoon; 1936)

Lady, Play Your Mandolin! (WB MM Cartoon; 1931)

The Others (Film; 2001)

The Pebbles on the Beach, by Clarence Ellis (Geology Book; 1954)

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, “The Moonlight Sonata,” by Ludwig Van Beethoven (Piano Sonata; 1802)

The Suburbs, by Arcade Fire (Album; 2010)

Testament of Youth, by Vera Brittain (memoir; 1933)

2 Guns (Film; 2013)

Weird Science (Film; 1985)

Today’s Name Days

Eusebius, Julian, Petrus, Stefan (Austria)

Anđela, Arnir, Euzebije (Croatia)

Gustav (Czech Republic)

Hannibal (Denmark)

Helger, Helgo, Holger, Olger (Estonia)

Kimmo (Finland)

Julien (France)

Adriana, Eusebius, Juliam, Julan (Germany)

Justinianos (Greece)

Lehel (Hungary)

Eusebio (Italy)

Norma, Normunds, Stefans (Latvia)

Alfonsas, Guoda, Gustavas, Tautvaldas (Lithuania)

Karen, Karin (Norway)

Alfons, Alfonsyna, Borzysława, Gustaw, Ilia, Karina, Maria, Stefan (Poland)

Stefan (Romania)

Gustáv (Slovakia)

Ángeles, Eusebio (Spain)

Kajsa, Karin (Sweden)

Alf, Alfie, Alfonsina, Alfonso, Alford, Alfred, Alfreda, Alfredo, Alonso, Alonza, Alonzo, Alphonso, Fonzie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 215 of 2024; 151 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 31 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 28 (Wu-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 27 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 26 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 5 Purple; Fryday [5 of 30]

Julian: 20 July 2024

Moon: 4%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 18 Dante (8th Month) [Chateaubriand]

Runic Half Month: Thorn (Defense) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 44 of 94)

Week: 1st Week of August

Zodiac: Leo (Day 12 of 31)

[flexible-student-accommodation]

Top 5 UK Cities for International Students: Where to Live and Why

The United Kingdom has always been a go-to destination for students from abroad. Its excellent tradition of education, lively culture, and varied communities make the UK a unique experience. The choice of where to live can be the most exciting yet overwhelming for first-time international students. This article covers the top five cities in the UK for international students and also explains each city's unique features.

1. London

Why London?

The world landmarks of education such as Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), and King's College London  are located in London, a city of global education. Besides that, it is a city of many cultures that let students experience different communities, foods, and ways of life.

Highlights for Students:

- More than 300,000 international students each year.

- World-class libraries, museums, and cultural events.

- The public transportation system is excellent, it includes buses, trains, and the iconic Tube.

Popular Areas to Live:

- Camden: It has been famous for its diverse vibe and busy market.

- Shoreditch: The area of creativity and nightlife has been built.

- Stratford: Low prices and proximity to the city center are the main factors that attract people to Stratford.

Fun Fact: QSRankings has ranked London as one of the best student cities in the world.

2. Manchester

Why Manchester?

Manchester is acknowledged as the "student capital of the North" due to its two prominent universities, the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. This city is a place where you can have a look at not only a good industrial history but a constantly developing student culture.

Highlights for Students:

- Over 100,000 students  in the city.

- Inexpensive living relative to London.

- A lively music and sports scene together with venues like the ever so known Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford.

Popular Areas to Live:

- Fallowfield: Students love hanging around there for its social life.

- Rusholme: Well-known for the "Curry Mile."

- Northern Quarter: Fashionable and thriving with cafes, art galleries, and shops.

Fun Fact: The city in which the first-ever modern computer was developed is Manchester which resonates with the city's innovative heritage.

3. Edinburgh

Why Edinburgh?

Scotland's capital is a runner-up for the title of the most magnificent historical and cultural city, and it is famous for the University of Edinburgh which is the world's fourth best university. The town's complemented combination of medieval as well as contemporary architecture creates a different, mysterious, and attractive beauty.

Highlights for Students:

- Hosts up to 35,000 international students every year.

- Participates in the renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe, an arts festival with the most performances globally.

- Small and convenient to go around, which makes it easy to get one's way.

Popular Areas to Live:

Old Town: Best for people who love history and see the lively student life.

- Leith: A hip waterside neighborhood with affordable housing options.

- Newington: Near to the university, and it is full of cafes and shops.

Fun Fact: Edinburgh has been called the greenest city in the UK, as there are lots of parks and open spaces for relaxation and leisure.

4. Birmingham

Why Birmingham?

Birmingham is the UK's second-largest city and a new center for international students, with universities like the University of Birmingham and Aston University. Its central area is the perfect basis for excursions to other UK cities.

Highlights for Students:

- More than 65,000 students including the growing international community.

- There are lower accommodation costs than in Southern cities.

- Cultural diversity is the main thing you will see from the Bullring shopping center to the Digbeth district.

Popular Areas to Live:

- Selly Oak: Close to the University of Birmingham and very popular.

- Jewellery Quarter: The city with modern and stylish places but has a rich history.

- Harborne: It is quiet and residential so perfect for studying.

Fun Fact: Birmingham has more canals than Venice, which provides beautiful routes for walking and cycling.

5. Glasgow

Why Glasgow?

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and is characterized by the sociability of the local people as well as the vibrant atmosphere. The city is home to popular institutions such as the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University.

Highlights for Students:

- The total number of students, which is something over 50,000, implies a larger educational setting that is even more dynamic.

- Residences are the most affordable but all of the overall costs of living here are low.

- Let's not forget the great art and music scene in the city with venues like King Tut's Wah Wah Hut.

Popular Areas to Live:

- West End: It is very near to the University of Glasgow and full of cafes and vintage shops.

- Finnieston: Regarded by many as a cool place to be as well as the rest of its excellent dining can be found here.

- City Centre: A perfect spot for those who enjoy being in the hotspot of the city.

Fun Fact: The survey conducted by 'Rough Guides' ranked Glasgow as the most 'day-friendly city' in the true sense of the word.

Finding the Right Student Accommodation

Navigating the accommodation landscape in these cities can be challenging. Thankfully, services like Uninist make the process seamless. Whether you're looking for shared apartments, studios, or purpose-built student accommodations (PBSA), Uninist provides a range of safe, secure, and budget-friendly housing options. Their easy-to-use platform ensures students can find the perfect home close to their university.

From offering fully vetted properties to 24/7 support, Uninist is committed to simplifying the accommodation process, so you can focus on enjoying your academic journey.

[lboogie1906]

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (August 22, 1967) is an English actor, director, and former fashion model known for his roles as Simon Adebisi in Oz, Lock-Nah in The Mummy Returns, Nykwana Wombosi in The Bourne Identity, Heavy Duty in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Kurse in Thor: The Dark World, Killer Croc in Suicide Squad, Mr. Eko in Lost, Malko in Game of Thrones, Hitu in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Dave Duerson in Concussion.

His feature directorial debut, Farming, wrapped production in 2017 and had its world premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.

He was born in Islington, London, to Nigerian parents of Yoruba origin, who were students in the UK. When he was six weeks old, his biological parents gave him up to a white working-class family in Tilbury, Essex.

He went on to earn his BA from the University of London at large and an MA in Law from King’s College London. While a university student, he worked in a clothes shop where he was introduced to the world of modeling. He was awarded an Honorary Ph.D. by Princess Anne, Chancellor of the University of London.

His modeling career led him to Hollywood, where he began his acting career with a role in Congo. He was featured in the video for singer-songwriter Grayson Hugh’s hit “Talk It Over”.

He guest-starred in the second episode of season 8 of Monk and played Derek Jameson in The Thing. He portrayed Kurse in Thor: The Dark World. It was reported that he voices the lead character of Bilal. He co-starred in Suicide Squad, as the Batman villain Killer Croc

He announced that casting on the film had begun with Damson Idris in the lead role as Enitan, Kate Beckinsale playing his abusive, neglectful foster mother, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as his teacher and mentor. The film went on to win the prestigious Michael Powell Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival for Best British Feature and Best Performance in a British Feature for Idris.

He is a Nichiren Buddhist and a member of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist Association. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[brookston]

Holidays 8.2

Holidays

Airborne Forces Day (Russia)

Airmobile Forces Day (Ukraine)

Aviation Day (Slovenia)

Bonalu (Telangana, India)

Bunny Day (Japan)

Congolese Genocide Day (Congo (DRC))

Crabhog Day

Day of Airborne Forces (Russia)

Day of Azerbaijani Cinema (Azerbaijan)

Day of Maiden Katrica (Elder Scrolls)

Day of the Water Nymphs (Macedonia)

Deez Nutz Day

Dinosaurs Day

802 Day

Emancipation Day (Several Caribbean nations)

Escalator Day

Ewe Day (French Republic)

Fallen Paratroopers Remembrance Day (Ukraine)

Fiesta La Patrona (Spain)

Greenwich Mean Time Day

Hydroxychloroquine Day (India)

I Came I Saw I Conquered Day

Ilinden Day (Republic Day; Macedonia)

International Golden Lion Tamarin Day

International Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Day

Jabotinsky Day (Israel)

Lady Godiva Day (Coventry, UK)

Little Mix Appreciation Day

International Jewish Day

International Pony Day

Lady of the Angels Day (Costa Rica)

Lincoln Penny Day

Mark Lee Day (K-Pop)

Mary Prince Day (Bermuda)

Mindfulness Day

National Blockchain Day

National Boob Day

National CAD Day (a.k.a. National Computer-Aided Design Day)

National Children’s Day (Tuvalu)

National Coloring Book Day

National Ex-Girlfriend Day

National Hugh Day

National Jacqueline Day

National Rap Music Day

National Sisters Day

Our Lady of the Angels Day (Costa Rica)

Pantsu Day (Japan)

Paratroopers Day (Russia)

Republic Day (North Macedonia)

Roma Holocaust Memorial Day (EU)

Take a Penny, Leave a Penny Day

World Anglo-Indian Day

World Feed the Poor Day

World Find a Four Leaf Clover Day

Yeezy Day (Adidas)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Make Some Old-Fashioned Lemonade Day

Miracle Treat Day (Dairy Queen)

National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

Independence & Related Days

Butuan City Charter Day (Philippines; 1950)

Declaration of Independence 1st signed (US; 1776)

Kabankalan City Charter Day (Philippines)

Makira Ulawa Province Day (Solomon Islands)

Napoleon Bonaparte made 1st Consul for Life (France; 1802)

1st Friday in August

August Bank Holiday (UK) [1st Friday]

Bandcamp Friday [1st Friday]

Braham Pie Day (Minnesota) [1st Friday]

CafeSmart Day [1st Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Health Advocate Day [1st Friday]

International Beer Day [1st Friday]

International Mustache Day [1st Friday]

Jeans for Genes Day (Australia) [1st Friday]

Moxee Hop Festival begins (Washington) [1st Friday]

National Water Balloon Day [1st Friday]

Tomboy Tools Day [1st Friday]

Twins Day Festival begins (Twinsburg, Ohio) [1st Full Weekend, begins 1st Friday]

Umuganura Day (Harvest Thanksgiving; Rwanda) [1st Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 2 (1st Week of August)

Gallop International Tribal Indian Powwow (thru 8.11)

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Sturgis, South Dakota) [1st Friday for 10 Days] (thru 8.11)

Twins Days (thru 8.4) [1st Full Weekend; Friday thru Sunday]

Festivals Beginning August 2, 2024

Appalachian Arts & Crafts Fair & Festival (Buckley, West Virginia) [thru 8.3]

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (Cary, North Carolina) [thru 8.3]

Blueberry Arts Festival (Ketchikan, Alaska) [thru 8.4]

Blueberry Festival (Wilton, Maine) [thru 8.3]

Brat Days (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) [thru 8.3]

Brew at the Zoo (Columbia, South Carolina)

Calgary Fringe Festival (Calgary, Canada) [thru 8.10]

Charlestown Seafood Festival (Charlestown, Rhode Island) [thru 8.4]

Clark Potato Days (Clark, South Dakota) [thru 8.4]

Cowtown Days Festival (Ellsworth, Kansas) [thru 8.4]

Creamery Picnic (Stevensville, Montana) [thru 8.3]

Dublin Irish Festival (Dublin, Ohio) [thru 8.4]

Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Edinburgh, Scotland) [thru 8.26]

Edinburgh International Festival (Edinburgh, Scotland) [thru 8.25]

Festa Italiana (Naperville, Illinois) [thru 8.4]

Festival of the Flowers in Medellín (Medellín, Colombia) [thru 8.11]

Fish Sandwich Festival (Bay Port, Michigan) [thru 8.3]

Glad-Peach Festival (Coloma, Michigan) [thru 8.4]

Glengarry Highland Games (Maxville, Canada) [thru 8.3]

Gorolski Święto (Jablunkov, Czech Republic) [thru 8.4]

Grape Country Craft Beverage Festival (Dunkirk, New York) [thru 8.4]

Guča Trumpet Festival (Guča, Serbia) [thru 8.4]

Indiana State Fair (Indianapolis, Indiana) [thru 8.18]

Locomotion Festival (Felton, California) [thru 8.4]

Mossyrock Blueberry Festival (Mossyrock, Washington) [thru 8.4]

New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show (Augusta, New Jersey) [thru 8.10]

Newport Jazz Festival (Newport, Rhode Island) [thru 8.4]

North Branford PoCo Festival (North Branford, Connecticut) [thru 8.4]

Old Time Harvest Festival (Jordan, Minnesota) [thru 8.4]

One Love Reggae Festival (Wiesen, Austria) [thru 8.3]

Otakon (Washington, DC) [thru 8.4]

Pluk de Nacht Film Festival (Utrecht, Netherlands) [thru 8.10]

Possum Festival (Wausau, Florida) [thru 8.3]

Reggae on the River (Piercy, California) [tgru 8.4]

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Edinburgh, United Kingdom) [thru 8.24]

Scranton Jazz Festival (Scranton, Pennsylvania) [thru 8.4]

Sidmouth Folk Festival (Sidmouth, United Kingdom) [thru 8.9]

Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally (Binghamton, New York) [thru 8.4]

SunSka Festival (Vertheuil, France) [thru 8.4]

Sweet Pea Festival (Bozeman, Montana) [thru 8.4]

Taste of the Coeur d'Alene (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) [thru 8.4]

Tokyo Idol Festival (Tokyo, Japan) [thru 8.4]

Vintage Ohio Wine Festival (Kirtland, Ohio) [thru 8.3]

Watsonville Strawberry Festival (Watsonville, California) [thru 8.4]

World Cosplay Summit (Nagoya, Japan) [thru 8.4]

Feast Days

Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church)

Albert Bloch (Artology)

Alfonso A. Ossorio (Artology)

Arthur Dove (Artology)

Barley Day (Pagan)

Basil Fool for Christ (Russian Orthodox Church)

Bei Dao (Writerism)

Chateaubriand (Positivist; Saint)

Death of King Rufus Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Distribution of Charity Moneys (Strictly Imps Only; Shamanism)

Dryads Day (Greek Wood & Water Gods)

Elias (a.k.a. Ilia or Elijah the Prophet; Christian; Saint)

Etheldritha (a.k.a. Alfrida; Christian; Saint)

Eusebius of Vercelli (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Anahita (Ancient Persia; Everyday Wicca)

Feast of Our Lady of the Angeles of the Portiuncula (Franciscan Order)

Fomorian King Bres’ Agricultural Gifts Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Håkon Stenstadvold (Artology)

Holling C. Holling (Artology)

Ilinden Day (St. Elijah Day; Macedonia)

Isabel Allende (Writerism)

James Baldwin (Writerism)

Jan van Scorel (Artology)

John Radecki (Artology)

John French Sloan (Artology)

Justin Russolillo (Christian; Blessed)

Khao Phansa begins (Buddhist Lent; Thailand)

Lady of the Angels’ Day (Costa Rica)

Martian Time-Slip, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1964)

Monster Monster (Muppetism)

Peter Faber (Christian; Saint)

Peter Julian Eymard (Christian; Saint)

Perdono di Assisi (Pardon of Assisi), the plenary indulgence related to St.Francis of Assisi originated in the church of Porziuncola (Catholic Church)

Richard Wilson (Artology)

Robert Holdstock (Writerism)

Robert Goddard Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Samuel David Ferguson (Episcopal Church)

Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten (Artology)

Sidwell (Christian; Saint) [Farmers]

Stephen I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Theodots (Christian; Martyr)

Thomas of Dover (Christian; Saint)

Vermicelli Day (Pastafarian)

Virgin of Los Angeles Day (Costa Rica)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

American Graffiti (Film; 1973)

Castle in the Sky (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 1986)

Doc Hollywood (Film; 1991)

Doing Impossible Stunts (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1940)

Don’t Look Back, by Boston (Album; 1978)

Emma (Film; 1996)

Europa Report (Film; 2013)

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (Film; 2019) [F&F]

Follow That Bird (Film; 1985)

In the Heat of the Night (Film; 1967)

It’s a Greek Life (Rainbow Parade Cartoon; 1936)

Lady, Play Your Mandolin! (WB MM Cartoon; 1931)

The Others (Film; 2001)

The Pebbles on the Beach, by Clarence Ellis (Geology Book; 1954)

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, “The Moonlight Sonata,” by Ludwig Van Beethoven (Piano Sonata; 1802)

The Suburbs, by Arcade Fire (Album; 2010)

Testament of Youth, by Vera Brittain (memoir; 1933)

2 Guns (Film; 2013)

Weird Science (Film; 1985)

Today’s Name Days

Eusebius, Julian, Petrus, Stefan (Austria)

Anđela, Arnir, Euzebije (Croatia)

Gustav (Czech Republic)

Hannibal (Denmark)

Helger, Helgo, Holger, Olger (Estonia)

Kimmo (Finland)

Julien (France)

Adriana, Eusebius, Juliam, Julan (Germany)

Justinianos (Greece)

Lehel (Hungary)

Eusebio (Italy)

Norma, Normunds, Stefans (Latvia)

Alfonsas, Guoda, Gustavas, Tautvaldas (Lithuania)

Karen, Karin (Norway)

Alfons, Alfonsyna, Borzysława, Gustaw, Ilia, Karina, Maria, Stefan (Poland)

Stefan (Romania)

Gustáv (Slovakia)

Ángeles, Eusebio (Spain)

Kajsa, Karin (Sweden)

Alf, Alfie, Alfonsina, Alfonso, Alford, Alfred, Alfreda, Alfredo, Alonso, Alonza, Alonzo, Alphonso, Fonzie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 215 of 2024; 151 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 31 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 28 (Wu-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 27 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 26 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 5 Purple; Fryday [5 of 30]

Julian: 20 July 2024

Moon: 4%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 18 Dante (8th Month) [Chateaubriand]

Runic Half Month: Thorn (Defense) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 44 of 94)

Week: 1st Week of August

Zodiac: Leo (Day 12 of 31)

[creativeindustrysh]

Creative Industries - Culture Quiz

>Who is Minister for Culture in the Scottish Parliament? - Kauai Stewart

>Who founded the Young Photographer’s Alliance? - Jerry Savin and Deborah Free in 2009

>Who is the CEO of Creative Scotland? - Iain Munro

> What is the name of the Cultural Enterprise Office’s training programme for young creative entrepreneurs? - Design Your Practice (DYP) is a programme which allows creative freelancers to establish their practice and proactively take control of their future.

>What is the address of Business Gateway in Glasgow? - Address: Exchange House, 231 George St, Glasgow G1 1RX

> List 6 creative businesses in Glasgow. - MadeBrave (creative agency) - FishFinger (creative agency) - Freytag Anderson - Dog Digital - Hug - Warrior >Name two photographic galleries in Scotland. - Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow photography gallery, Agitate Gallery, Still Gallery >Where do the following cultural events take place, what do they promote and who is the Director of each? - Glasgow International Document Festival: Glasgow; Richard Birkett (2022) - EIFF: Edinburgh; Paul Ridd (2023) > Name a Stills photographer working in the film Industry in Glasgow? -Julie Bradford

> List four places where you could have your photographs professionally printed in Glasgow: - Deadly Digital - Loxely colour - Black art Giclee - Make Works

> Which Photographic magazine publishes the shortlisted photographers for the Jerwood Photography prize? - Photoworks

If you were involved in a fashion shoot at Film City, what kind of building would you be in? - Victorian Govan Town Hall

List 3 Scottish based agencies where you might hire a model for a photoshoot. - Colour agency, All Talent Agency, Model Team

Name three magazines devoted to the promotion of ‘new photography’. > Crack, The Skinny, fStopMagazine

[butterflies-dragons]

GRRM has projected his love for medieval tourneys, heraldry, pageantry, knights and chivalry on Sansa Stark

Art credit: Heinrich von Breslau (Codex Manesse, 14. Jahrhundert)

GRRM:

“That whole story (The Hedge Knight) is built around a tournament. I love medieval tournaments, reading about them, writing about them. There's of course some of them in the main books, but this was an opportunity in a time of peace, not war, to look at a medieval tournament with all its pageantry and the jousting and the combat and reveal a little of Westerosi History”.

—In conversation: George R.R. Martin with Dan Jones FULL EVENT- August 2019

SANSA:

"The talk in the yard is we shall have a tourney, my lord," Jory said as he resumed his seat. "They say that knights will come from all over the realm to joust and feast in honor of your appointment as Hand of the King."

Arya could see that her father was not very happy about that. "Do they also say this is the last thing in the world I would have wished?"

Sansa's eyes had grown wide as the plates. "A tourney," she breathed. She was seated between Septa Mordane and Jeyne Poole, as far from Arya as she could get without drawing a reproach from Father. "Will we be permitted to go, Father?"

"You know my feelings, Sansa. It seems I must arrange Robert's games and pretend to be honored for his sake. That does not mean I must subject my daughters to this folly."

"Oh, please," Sansa said. "I want to see."

Septa Mordane spoke up. "Princess Myrcella will be there, my lord, and her younger than Lady Sansa. All the ladies of the court will be expected at a grand event like this, and as the tourney is in your honor, it would look queer if your family did not attend."

Father looked pained. "I suppose so. Very well, I shall arrange a place for you, Sansa." He saw Arya. "For both of you."

"I don't care about their stupid tourney," Arya said. She knew Prince Joffrey would be there, and she hated Prince Joffrey.

Sansa lifted her head. "It will be a splendid event. You shan't be wanted."

—A Game of Thrones - Arya II

Sansa rode to the Hand's tourney with Septa Mordane and Jeyne Poole, in a litter with curtains of yellow silk so fine she could see right through them. They turned the whole world gold. Beyond the city walls, a hundred pavilions had been raised beside the river, and the common folk came out in the thousands to watch the games. The splendor of it all took Sansa’s breath away; the shining armor, the great chargers caparisoned in silver and gold, the shouts of the crowd, the banners snapping in the wind…and the knights themselves, the knights most of all.

“It is better than the songs,” she whispered when they found the places that her father had promised her, among the high lords and ladies. Sansa was dressed beautifully that day, in a green gown that brought out the auburn of her hair, and she knew they were looking at her and smiling.

They watched the heroes of a hundred songs ride forth, each more fabulous than the last.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa II

GRRM:

“Tolkien imitators who came after him, a lot of them created a sort of Disneyland Middle Ages, you know, a sort of Middle Ages like you might see at a Renaissance Faire, but you don't have the dysentery, or the torture, or the leprosy, or the innate sexism, or classism, or racism that was so built into so much of that world for so many centuries, you really have to take, you know, I like the knights in shinning armor, the heraldry and pageantry as much as anyone, but you also have to include the fleas."

— Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival - NIFFF 2014

The novelist is midway through something of a European tour. After his trip to Switzerland, he is due in Scotland for the Edinburgh book festival. It has often been suggested that Ivanhoe (by the Scottish 19th-century novelist Walter Scott) was, alongside the War of the Roses, a major influence on A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones.

Martin was first turned on to Ivanhoe by the 1952 MGM movie starring Robert Taylor, George Sanders and a young Elizabeth Taylor. "I think it was Elizabeth Taylor at the peak of her...," his voice tails off before he clarifies. "She was the most beautiful woman in the world. I think I was nine years old when I saw that movie. How could you not fall in love with her? But the jousting and the pageantry of it made me love that story. Later, in high school, I did read that book. For a modern reader, it's a little tough to get through. The prose is very Victorian and thick but if you fight your way through it, the story is there. It has everything the movie has and more – the heraldry and jousting and the insight into the times. It was an influence in that sense."

—GRRM - Independent - 2014

SANSA:

The green knight laughed again. "Barristan the Old, you mean. Don't flatter him too sweetly, child, he thinks overmuch of himself already." He smiled at her. "Now, wolf girl, if you can put a name to me as well, then I must concede that you are truly our Hand's daughter."

Joffrey stiffened beside her. "Have a care how you address my betrothed."

"I can answer," Sansa said quickly, to quell her prince's anger. She smiled at the green knight. "Your helmet bears golden antlers, my lord. The stag is the sigil of the royal House. King Robert has two brothers. By your extreme youth, you can only be Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and councillor to the king, and so I name you."

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa I

No one ransomed the northmen, though. One fat lordling haunted the kitchens, Hot Pie told her, always looking for a morsel. His mustache was so bushy that it covered his mouth, and the clasp that held his cloak was a silver-and-sapphire trident. He belonged to Lord Tywin, but the fierce, bearded young man who liked to walk the battlements alone in a black cloak patterned with white suns had been taken by some hedge knight who meant to get rich off him. Sansa would have known who he was, and the fat one too, but Arya had never taken much interest in titles and sigils. Whenever Septa Mordane had gone on about the history of this house and that house, she was inclined to drift and dream and wonder when the lesson would be done.

—A Clash of Kings - Arya VII

Petyr had given her a roll of arms to study, so she knew their heraldry if not their faces. The red castle was Redfort, plainly; a short man with a neat grey beard and mild eyes. Lady Anya was the only woman amongst the Lords Declarant, and wore a deep green mantle with the broken wheel of Waynwood picked out in beads of jet. Six silver bells on purple, that was Belmore, pear-bellied and round of shoulder. His beard was a ginger-grey horror sprouting from a multiplicity of chins. Symond Templeton's, by contrast, was black and sharply pointed. A beak of a nose and icy blue eyes made the Knight of Ninestars look like some elegant bird of prey. His doublet displayed nine black stars within a golden saltire. Young Lord Hunter's ermine cloak confused her till she spied the brooch that pinned it, five silver arrows fanned. Alayne would have put his age closer to fifty than to forty. His father had ruled at Longbow Hall for nigh on sixty years, only to die so abruptly that some whispered the new lord had hastened his inheritance. Hunter's cheeks and nose were red as apples, which bespoke a certain fondness for the grape. She made certain to fill his cup as often as he emptied it.

—A Feast for Crows - Alayne I

Harry was staring at her. He knows who I am, she realized, and he does not seem pleased to see me. It was only then that she took note of his heraldry. Though his surcoat and horse trappings were patterned in the red-and-white diamonds of House Hardyng, his shield was quartered. The arms of Hardyng and Waynwood were displayed in the first and third quarters, respectively, but in the second and fourth quarters he bore the moon-and-falcon of House Arryn, sky blue and cream. Sweetrobin will not like that.

—The Winds of Winter - Alayne I

GRRM:

Firstly, thanks for that very thorough response on the tournaments and knighthood. Fascinating. In particular given the notes about _Ivanhoe_ and its influence -- I've only witnessed the A&E production of it, although maybe about time I read it. Seems it might be ripe for ideas.

IVANHOE is well worth a read, although the style is very old fashioned, of course. Still it has some fabulous characters and scenes, and so far as I know the definitive portrayal of a medieval tournament, both melee and joust.

It has been filmed three times that I know of. The recent A&E production had some good moments, as did the older Sam Neill version... the CLASSIC version, however, is still MGM's 50s version, starring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, and George Sanders. The jousts are wonderful, Liz is radiant, and George Sanders steals the film as Bois-Gilbert. You should definitely rent that one and have a look.

—GRRM - 1999

SANSA:

She loved King's Landing; the pageantry of the court, the high lords and ladies in their velvets and silks and gemstones, the great city with all its people. The tournament had been the most magical time of her whole life, and there was so much she had not seen yet, harvest feasts and masked balls and mummer shows. She could not bear the thought of losing it all.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa III

She closed the window, gathered up the fallen papers, and stacked them on the table. One was a list of the competitors. Four-and-sixty knights had been invited to vie for places amongst Lord Robert Arryn's new Brotherhood of Winged Knights, and four and-sixty knights had come to tilt for the right to wear falcon's wings upon their warhelms and guard their lord.

The competitors came from all over the Vale, from the mountain valleys and the coast, from Gulltown and the Bloody Gate, even the Three Sisters. Though a few were promised, only three were wed; the eight victors would be expected to spend the next three years at Lord Robert's side, as his own personal guard (Alayne had suggested seven, like the Kingsguard, but Sweetrobin had insisted that he must have more knights than King Tommen), so older men with wives and children had not been invited.

And they came, Alayne thought proudly. They all came.

It had fallen out just as Petyr said it would, the day the ravens flew. "They're young, eager, hungry for adventure and renown. Lysa would not let them go to war. This is the next best thing. A chance to serve their lord and prove their prowess. They will come. Even Harry the Heir." He had smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead. "What a clever daughter you are."

It was clever. The tourney, the prizes, the winged knights, it had all been her own notion. Lord Robert's mother had filled him full of fears, but he always took courage from the tales she read him of Ser Artys Arryn, the Winged Knight of legend, founder of his line. Why not surround him with Winged Knights? She had thought one night, after Sweetrobin had finally drifted off to sleep. His own Kingsguard, to keep him safe and make him brave. And no sooner did she tell Petyr her idea than he went out and made it happen.

—The Winds of Winter - Alayne I

GRRM:

Amon Shin in Maine asks, “If you lived in Westeros, which house would you like to be part of, or in which area would you like to live?”

Well, you know, there’s something to be said for being an honorable Stark, but you’re kinda cold all the time and poor and so forth. And you have a lot of land, but there’s not a lot of stuff on it, you know? On the other hand, if you’re a Lannister, you have a nice house and all the gold you want and all of that stuff.  So, there’s a lot to be said for being a Lannister.  I don’t know.  Maybe I could probably see me being a Lannister.  And I would always pay my debts.

—A Dance with Dragons | George R.R. Martin | Talks at Google - July 2011

SANSA:

They were going to take it all away; the tournaments and the court and her prince, everything, they were going to send her back to the bleak grey walls of Winterfell and lock her up forever. Her life was over before it had begun.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa III

* * *

Art credit: Loras Tyrell gives Sansa Stark a rose at the Hand’s Tournament by Jonathan Burton.

As you can see, Sansa loves tourneys because GRRM loves tourneys.

During the events that take place in the ASOIAF Books, we find 5 tourneys and Sansa Stark is directly or indirectly linked with all of them:

The Hand's tourney, a tourney in honor of Sansa’s father, Eddard Stark. Sansa was unofficially crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty by the Knight of Flowers, Loras Tyrell. GRRM wrote this passage as a resemblance to the Great tourney at Harrenhal, hiding hints and reversing colors. 

Tourney on King Joffrey's name day, a tourney in honor of Sansa’s betrothed. Sansa defended and saved Dontos Hollard’s life.

Melee at Bitterbridge, Brienne won the melee and earned a place in Renly’s Kingsguard. Later she swore his allegiance to Sansa’s mother, Catelyn Stark, and made an oath to find Sansa Stark. Brienne also wields Oathkeeper, a sword made of Ice (House Stark ancestral sword).  

Melee at Runestone, this event was organized with the sole intention of knighting Harrold Hardyng, Alayne Stone’s betrothed.

Tourney at the Gates of the Moon to select the members of the Brotherhood of Winged Knights, created and organized by Alayne Stone.

Sansa is also linked with other important tourneys that happened previously to the events of the ASOIAF Books:

Tourney at Ashford Meadows (The Hedge Knight), GRRM wrote the Hedge Knight when he was in the middle of writing A Clash of Kings, and he made sure of link the five initial champions of the Tourney at Ashford Meadows (Baratheon, Lannister, Tyrell, Hardyng & Targaryen) with Sansa’s suitors and betrothed. So Willas Tyrell and Harrold Hardyng are not a coincidence in Sansa’s arc, GRRM had already planned for this since he was writing A Clash of Kings.    

Great tourney at Harrenhal, this tourney was won by Rhaegar Targaryen and as the champion he crowned Lyanna Stark (Sansa’s aunt & Jon Snow’s mother) as his Queen of Love and Beauty. And take note at this very interesting detail: Rhaegar Targaryen wearing an armor adorned with rubies (red) gave Lyanna Stark a crown of winter roses (blue), while Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers, wearing an armor adorned with sapphires (blue) gave Sansa a (red) rose.

Sansa loves knights because GRRM loves knights. Remember that George’s Catholic high school (Marist) football team is called the Royal Knights: 

Sansa loves pageantry because GRRM loves pageantry. Just look at his collection of knights and ladies figurines:

Sansa loves heraldry because GRRM loves heraldry. Take note that GRRM took inspiration from the antagonist of Ivanhoe, Brian de Bois-Guilbert’s sigil, to created House Corbray’s sigil:

Bois-Guilbert’s new shield bore a raven in full flight, holding in its claws a skull, and bearing the motto, Gare le Corbeau.

—IVANHOE: A Romance

The youngest man in the party had three ravens on his chest, each clutching a blood-red heart in its talons. His brown hair was shoulder length; one stray lock curled down across his forehead. Ser Lyn Corbray, Alayne thought, with a wary glance at his hard mouth and restless eyes.

—A Feast for Crows - Alayne I

(Not to mention that Sansa loves books because George loves books...)

There you have it, GRRM self inserts in a few of his ASOIAF characters, and Sansa Stark is one of them.

[ellenalexanderupdates]

Story behind Ellen Alexander Success beyond the runway

Never resting on her laurels, Ellen Alexander usually has many projects going at one time.

Model Ellen Alexander may not be the typical advocate for a women-in-biotech movement: Supermodels have usually moved towards careers such as designers (Kate Moss for Topshop; Gigi Hadid for Tommy Hilfiger), wellness guru such as Gisele and Miranda Kerr or a nurse in the case of Lisa Davies, a former face of Marc Jacobs, after their days on the runway ended. Alexander is unique because she is preparing for her post-modelling career by becoming an entrepreneur now.

In one of her current projects, she is working on a special biotech project based in Russia with a friend who studied bioengineering at Harvard. This is an important project because right now, female chief executives account for just 10% of biotech’s top leaders. A BioPharma Drive analysis in 2019 of 180 leading biotech companies found that only 15 were led by women. The project is called “Create U Future,” that specializes in helping women have brilliant kids and she is also working on a tech project that is kind of an Airbnb for cars.

Never resting on her laurels, Alexander usually has many projects going at one time. Her inspirations for female entrepreneurs are her Instagram idols Gigi Hadid and Kylie Jenner, who she knew before they reached such popularity. They have enjoyed success in promoting their brands in social networks, with very modest start-up investments. Alexander’s projects include partnering with a Chinese company to sell products online and she also started a music company called GDP Music Group.

In another business venture, Alexander said that a friend created a tech company that is basically an Airbnb for cars, so she created a partner firm. “I see a future in technology,” she said and “I can never pass up on opportunities like these. Plus, most of my friends are in tech, so it’s the perfect scenario.”

As a model, Alexander has travelled the world in the past eight years and posed for covers of numerous magazines such as Shape, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, Maxim Belgium, L’Offciel and appeared on the pages of FHM. She was also featured in Runway, Product and Fashion events and photoshoots. She has worked with top brands and photographers on both the east and west coasts. Alexander has had success in many different fields—film, television, theatre and modelling—not only in her native Russia, but also in the UK and now the U.S. Her education began at a young age: Alexander trained at the world-renowned Chekhov Moscow Arts theatre school where she developed her skills, becoming a recognizable figure in the Moscow arts world.

After relocating to the UK, she received positive reviews for her performance as Phoebe in “The Catcher in the Rye” at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Alexander said that she became a world traveller at age 14.

“I was always independent and had my own money so I would fly to a shoot and then fly back five hours to return to Moscow.” After arriving in the U.S., she was hired as the lead role of Tatiana in the series “Gold Diggers.” Alexander is used to flying to many different countries for work, but she has been based in Los Angels since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alexander’s educational background is quite unique for a model. Alexander earned an M.B.A at Moscow’s Plekhanov Russian University of Economics where she majored in International Business and Law. She was an active participant in debates and other competitions. In fact, she was part of a project that looked into the possibility of presenting economic models to government officials. “I studied and applied structure and business plan writing,” Alexander explained that she also gained real-world experience while interning and working for businesses in Moscow.

As a result, Alexander was able to take this experience and education and “apply it to my work in the fashion industry: first in Russia, then in Europe and the U.S.”

From a young age, Alexander was exposed to science and engineering. Her mother has a Ph.D. in electrification of public transportation and is head of the department of Electrotechnics at Polytech University in Moscow. Her father works on a Russian space program that focuses on Mars. Currently, he is also writing a book about it.

Alexander’s grandfather was one of the leaders in the Russian space program and he worked with Sergei Korolev and Yuri Gagarin. Ellen’s grandfather also worked on the Cosmodrome and also on sending Soviet Union cosmonauts and the Moon shuttle to send animals to space. The Soviet Union and Russia launched monkeys between 1983 and 1996. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Soviet space program used a number of dogs for sub-orbital and orbital space flights. Two tortoises and a variety of insects were the first inhabitants of Earth to circle the Moon, on the 1968 Zond 5 mission.

Her parents always let her choose what she wanted to do, but they also desired for her to obtain the best education. They sent her to a school that specialized in physics and mathematics. “That’s how I developed my love of science and technology.” Her dream was to research the human body and find cures for untreatable diseases. “That has not happened yet, but who knows, maybe one day.”

Alexander also stresses that her parents and grandfather taught her to strive to do bigger things to “help humanity.” Her grandfather always aimed to accomplish major things and “not just to stay in a small bubble.”

Now, she is aiming for a major accomplishment by investing $X amount in the “Create U Future” project. The project has several goals and studies in place including one about the human genome and one about three-way parenting which allows parents with genetic issues to have children. This is a new technique called mitochondrial transfer that has recently emerged to prevent the transmission of a certain class of genetic disorders. This technique is controversial, as it combines DNA from three individual to generate a so-called “three-parent baby.” The project also wants to do research to help older parents have children.

Alexander explains that it is not a commercial project for now, but she and her friend are working on an educational portal and further research for now.

The pages slugged ‘Brand Connect’ are equivalent to advertisements and are not written and produced by Forbes India journalists.

[bowietracks]

There is a lovely cut in this sequence of Bowie performing Changes, a cut that mirrors that of the performance. Shot from stage right, Bowie sings the line ‘So I turned myself to face me’. Bowie swings his head, and the film cuts to a shot from stage left. D. A. Pennebaker’s Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture is filmed on 3 July 1973, the last night of the Ziggy Stardust tour, and Bowie has just had his first costume change, done invisibly during Mick Ronson’s tripped out guitar solo of the preceding song, Moonage Daydream. Bowie had begun the gig in a darkk cape. This cape was ripped from him before the second song to reveal a short white kimono. Now Bowie is in alien spacesuit. These clothes were all designed by Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto. Bowie had used three of Kansai’s designs earlier in the tour, and had then been commissioned to create nine more costumes. These were to be based on traditional Japanese Noh dramas sci-fi-ed up for Bowie to collect during the Japanese tour in Tokyo in April 1973. These were the flamboyant, androgynous Ziggy Stardust costumes Bowie wore on this third UK tour of ‘73. "He has an unusual face, don't you think? He's neither man nor woman.  If you see what I mean; which suited me as a designer because most of my clothes are for either sex.  I love his music and obviously that has influenced my designs but most of all there's this aura of fantasy that surrounds him.   He has flair." - Kansai Yamamoto (5years.com).

Written by David Bowie. Recorded 3 July 1973. Screened 1973 (US colleges); Broadcast 25 October 1974 (US ABC TV In Concert); Screened 1979: Edinburgh International Film Festival; General cinema release 1983. Film and soundtrack home release October 1984. Reissued for home release (sound improved, soundtrack album expanded) 2003. Film available on Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture (2003); soundtrack available on Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture Soundtrack (2003).

[carolhnd2bphoto]

CREATIVE

Below is research I carried out to define what Creative Industries is and the different sectors in it. within the research is the historic development, of value of creative industries and how much some of the sectors have brought to the economy, the impact of the industry and my career as a photographer.

The Creative Industries in Scotland are based on creativity, skill and talent.  In Scotland within the Creative Industry there are over 15,000 businesses employing over 70,000 people.  This is not including freelancers and students studying creative courses (www.gov.scot).  Every year the Scottish Creative Industry contribute £5 billion towards the Scottish economy (www.gov.scot). There are 16 distinct industries:

·       Advertising

·       Architecture

·       Visual art

·       Crafts

·       Fashion and textiles

·       Design

·       Performing arts

·       Music

·       Photography

·       Film and video

·       Computer games

·       Radio and tv

·       Writing and publishing

·       Heritage

·       Software/electronic publishing

(www.gov.scot)

Company Websites

Advertising – Marketing With Us, is a Scottish Tourism site that helps identify marketing opportunities, the company will have their own market plan tailored to them.  They offer free listings on the website (www.visitscotland.org).

Architecture – ewan cameron architects specialize in modern energy efficient buildings, they work with the clients in order to meet their needs.  They also work closely with structural engineers and builders (www.ewancameronarchitects.com).

Visual Arts – Visual Arts Scotland promote national and international modern fine and applied arts. Their exhibitions allow for the emergence of up and coming practitioners (craft makers, designers etc) to showcase their work.  This is good for newly graduated students (www.visualartsscotland.org).

Crafts – Craft Scotland is an agency that support makers and promote craft.  The create opportunities for craft makers to build on their creative practice, to exhibit their work and also to sell their work.  The website allows for individuals who have an interest in crafts to find out about workshops and exhibitions and also to commission crafts (www.craftscotland.org).  

Fashion and textile – Textiles Scotland act for the industry by providing information, assistance, training and promoting Scottish textile products to buyers and suppliers.  If a member they will benefit by networking with industry partners they will also be provided with one to one support. Will have the opportunity to raise their profile on the website and appear on the directory of Scottish Textiles (www.textilescotland.com).

Design – Primal Space is a company that designs websites for businesses.  Other services offered are maintenance of the website and content management, website photography and graphic design (www.primalspace.co.uk).

Performing Arts – The Theatre School of Scotland offer performing arts training for both children and young adults. Performers have a safe environment in which to develop their talent and grow as a performer.  There is also the opportunity for casting (www.theatreschoolofscotland.co.uk).

Music – Music for Scotland are a music agency that provide high quality musical acts.  If a customer is planning an event, the agency will provide information on bands and will help pick out a band for the event.  The agency have a network of musicians and members of the agency are musicians themselves (www.musicforscotland.co.uk).

Photography – Photography Scotland is an organization with various members such as Street Level Photoworks, Stills, The National Galleries of Scotland and many more across Scotland. Their aim is to promote awareness of Scotland’s photography at home and abroad. They have events each year known as Season’s.  the aim of the Seasons is to highlight exhibitions and events throughout Scotland (www.photographyscotland.org).

Film and video – Screen Scotland deliver support to all areas of Scotland’s screen sector; film and tv production. They are in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Funding Council and the National Lottery.  Screen Scotland fund the screen sector giving funding and support to film and tv productions in Scotland and by developing audiences through improved access to Scottish film and tv productions at home and abroad (www.screen.scot).

Computer Games – The Scottish Games Directory is an organization that encompasses everything to do with the interactive entertainment sector.  This covers business, culture and consumer issues.  The Scottish Games Network acts as a community for the growing industry.  The Scottish Games Network supports all of the cultural, creative and academic organizations which promote the videogames sector industry in Scotland. (www.scottishgames.net).

Radio and tv – many radio stations in Scotland have their own websites such as Radio Scotland, Radio Clyde. DAB radio stations also have stations online.  TV stations such as BBC Scotland and STV show content online (www.stv.tv) and (www.bbc.co.uk).  

Writing and publishing – Scottish Books International work on behalf of the literature sector in Scotland, they promote books, writers and festivals.  Scottish Book International are a platform for Scottish writers and publishers and give support to promote their work across the world (www.scottishbooksinternational.org).

Heritage – Historic Environment Scotland care for and promote Scotlands historic environment.  They are responsible for over 300 properties; Edinburgh Castle, Skara Brae and Fort George.  Other responsibilities include international collections of photographs, manuscripts and drawings.  The website provides information on places of interest to visit, there is advice and information for communities to help support their local heritage (www.historicenvironment.scot).

Electronic publishing – publishing Scotland provide funding for Scottish based book publishers to publish digitally through Go – Digital Fund.  The fund helps with training on digital matters, attending digital events ad marketing digital books (www.publishscotland.org).

The term ‘creative industry’ began 20 years ago, then it was used to describe activities both historical (theatre, dance etc but came under the name cultural industry) and newer activities that came into prominence with digital technology. It was becoming apparent that these activities were important to the economy not just in the UK but countries around the world. In 1997, the Labour government in the UK made an attempt to define the term creative industries and how it had an impact on the economy.  Creative Industries – Mapping Document 1998, which was published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport listed 13 areas of activity, namely

·       Advertising

·       Architecture

·       The arts and antiques market

·       Crafts

·       Design

·       Designer fashion

·       Film

·       Interactive leisure software

·       Music

·       Performing arts

·       Publishing

·       Software

·       Tv and radio

All of which had in common was the ability to creative wealth and have individual skill, talent and creativity (www.creativeeconomy.britishcouncil.org). In present day, the notion of ‘creative industries’ is acknowledged by nearly every government in the world.  In some countries the definition of creative industry also include food and gastronomy. So what is the current value of creative industries in the UK today? Information from www.gov.uk suggests that the Department for Digital, Cultural, Media and Sport’s sectors are worth £268 billion. There has been huge growth in Britain’s film, tv, music and advertising industries.  Figures show that digital industries are worth more than £130 billion.  In 2017 the creative industries contributed over £100 billion to the British economy. This is an increase from £94.8 billion in 2016. As well as areas such as film, tv, photography etc contributing to the increase, computer services such as video games have also played a huge part, companies such as Rocksteady and Scottish based company Rockstar have had an input. The video game sector is worth £5.11 billion alone (www.gov.uk).  The tourist sector too, in 2017 was worth £67.7 billion. The impact of creative industries on the culture of Scotland and the UK can only be seen as a good thing going by the numbers above.  The British economy benefit with the money that is created along with the jobs.  With more funding for education, that teach the arts, media and radio, photography, more talent can discovered and promoted. Heritage sites throughout Britain bring in tourists from around the world which is both good for the economy and good for keeping the heritage alive as without tourists there would be no funds for maintenance of  buildings. To encourage the creative industries throughout Britain, the government  continue to fund sectors such as TV and film, performing arts and computer games.  In doing this as stated above more talent is discovered and as such Britain can be seen as a leading force in the creative industries throughout the world which can then being business and funding from elsewhere in the world.

My future career direction? This is quite a tricky question for me to answer, as I still don’t quite know yet.  When I started college I enjoyed landscape photography and I still do.  But as for which professional path I wish to take, well I haven’t thought that far ahead. What I do know is that I do not want to do the cliché wedding photography, it holds no interest.  I suppose I would go for Freelance Photographer then I can do my own thing but with that comes issues such as being business minded which is a skill I would have to learn. Another way of getting my foot in the door would be to work for an agency, however with that I wouldn’t make that much in the way of money as the agency would take a good cut.  I think firstly what I really need to do is set up a website in order to promote my images both college based, private and work that I have done on a paid and voluntary capacity.

[floraexplorer]

Stories 📚 . I've spent the last few days at the @scottishstorytellingcentre in Edinburgh, where they've been celebrating their 31st International Storytelling Festival with @edinburghfestivals. For two weeks straight, this stunning old building on the Royal Mile -- which dates back to the 1500s -- was filled with storytellers from all over the world; a group of folks who spun their tales through song, music, dance and good old-fashioned talking in front of enraptured audiences 😍 . I'll be writing about this dream of a festival soon enough on the blog, but there's a few more things to come first - because apparently this autumn is all about stories for me! I've spent today putting the finishing touches to a presentation about the importance of online storytelling for #WITSRiga next week - and I'm also racing to finish a hugely exciting project which I can hopefully make public soon. . It's strange to think back to the onset of autumn last year, when I was so scared of the future. There are so many stories unfurling themselves now that the darker skies and colder nights don't seem to be as concerning as they once were. Now it seems that I'm embracing them instead 📖💛 https://ift.tt/2NBSmL3

[bbclesmis]

The Herald: Disappointed by TV version of Les Mis? Here comes the real thing

 On the streets of Paris, revolution is in the air. The people want to take back control from an out of touch government whose leaders are shoring up their own wealth. Barricades look set to be leapt. Such is the way of history repeating itself in France, from the 19th century uprising through to 1968 and even the current, and slightly more ideologically ambiguous wave of street protests by the so-called Gilets Jaunes – the yellow vests. It was seeing photographs of the latter in a French newspaper that struck a chord with Claude-Michel Schonberg.

 “Those pictures looked exactly like the set of Les Miserables,” says the composer of one of the most iconic pieces of musical theatre in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

 “First of all it made me realise that Les Miserables is still relevant. Secondly, it also made me realise that in 200 years we have learnt nothing.”

 Maybe this is why the current year-long UK tour of Les Miserables, originally adapted by Schonberg and writer Alan Boublil from Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, has pretty much sold out already.

 Arriving in Edinburgh this month for the first time in 20 years for a month-long run, the English-language version of Boublil and Schonberg’s show has been a fixture of the London theatre circuit since Trevor Nunn directed a co-production between the Royal Shakespeare Company and Cameron Mackintosh at the Barbican in 1985.

 This makes it the second longest-running musical in the world.

 Despite the success of putting Hugo’s story charting ex-convict Jean Valjean’s travails through poverty-stricken France onstage, Schonberg for one isn’t quite sure of the reasons why it happened.

 “It’s a phenomenon I don’t really understand,” the now 74-year old composer admits of a creation which introduced the world to songs now regarded as modern classics such as I Dreamed A Dream, “but the show is more popular than ever. I must say, I’m totally surprised.”

 By the time Les Miserables opens at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, the new six-part TV adaptation of Hugo’s book scripted by Andrew Davies will be mid-way through its own run. With Dominic West playing Valjean as part of a cast that includes Olivia Coleman and David Oyelowo, rather than claiming kin with Boublil and Schonberg’s take on things, advance publicity appears to pointing up the fact that it is categorically not the musical, and shouldn’t be confused as such. Viewers and critics have already criticised this sans songs version as being flat.

 With Les Mis the musical itself filmed in 2012 with Hugh Jackman as Valjean, this too is something Schonberg doesn’t understand.

 “Whenever I read an article about the BBC version, they are saying it is the real version of the novel and not the trivial musical stage version,” he says.

 “I don’t know how you can promote something against it. People know the title because of the musical show, but each time there’s an adaptation, they all make the point that they are not going to have anyone singing. But who knows? This one might be very good. I will look at it carefully.”

 Schonberg probably doesn’t need to worry too much. As he points out, there has been more than 50 films based on Hugo’s novel, with over 20 TV adaptations as well as another 20 different versions onstage. This is how great stories work as they are reimagined for every age. Indeed, it was another musical adaptation of a nineteenth century novel that was the starting point for Les Miserables.

 “Alain saw Oliver! in London,” says Schonberg, who had previously collaborated with Boublil on La Revolution Francaise, France’s first rock opera, produced in 1973. “I said to Alain, next time we find a big subject, we have it as a sung-through musical, and when Alain saw Oliver!, that gave us an idea about how to do it.”

 Lionel Bart’s musical version of Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist, had already been adapted for film by Carol Reed in 1968 by then, after being first seen on the West End eight years earlier. Prior to putting Les Miserables onstage, as was the fashion then, Boublil and Schonberg released a recording of it as a concept album. This approach had already paid dividends for the English musical theatre team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber with Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, and Schonberg had already scored hit records in France.

 Three years after the Les Miserables concept album had led to the show’s original French production, it was heard by British producer Cameron Mackintosh after it was passed on to him by director Peter Farago.

 “Two years after the show closed in Paris, Cameron was organising his records and put it on,” Schonberg recalls. “and after that we heard he was looking for those crazy French guys, Schonberg and Boublil”

 While the pair worked on new drafts of Les Miserables, Mackintosh was riding high on the success of Cats, directed by Trevor Nunn, who had also overseen David Edgar’s epic staging of Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby, and knew how to put on a big show. Success was far from guaranteed, however, and the opening night of Les Mis was a critical disaster.

 “The critics were very bad,’ says Schonberg, actually using the v word eight times. “Cameron has a tradition of having a lunch the day after an opening night, and it was like a funeral. We thought it was finished, and during the lunch Cameron kept trying to call the box office to measure the scale of the disaster, but couldn’t get through. Eventually he received a message to say that the reason he couldn’t get through was that the show had sold 5,000 tickets, and in two weeks would be sold out.”

 Les Miserables went on to win an Olivier Award for the most popular show, while on Broadway it won three Tony awards.

 The current touring version is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell for a production reinvigorated for the show’s 25th anniversary in 2009. The result is a very 21st century Les Mis, which utilises projections based on paintings by Hugo created by son et lumiere auteurs Fifty-Nine Productions. The internationally renowned team led by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer, who have come a long way since their early work at the Traverse Theatre, the National Theatre of Scotland and with Stellar Quines Theatre Company.

 Having worked worldwide on the National Theatre’s production of War Horse and the 2012 Olympics, more recently 59 have been responsible for opening events of the Edinburgh International Festival, Deep Time, Bloom and the First World war-themed Five Telegrams. The latter projected images onto the walls of the Usher Hall accompanied by a thundering score by Anna Meredith.

 “There have been so many improvements to Les Miserable this year,’ says Schonberg. “That has a lot to do with technological developments which wouldn’t have been possible even five years ago.”

 This keeps the show fresh for several generations of theatre-goers, as was proven last week, when Schonberg met a woman who told him how she’d seen Les Miserables a staggering 300 times.

 “For Christmas she was taking her children and grand-children to see the show with hr again,’ he says.”

 What Les Miserables taps into, again, Schonberg isn’t sure about. All he can say is that “I think we did the right job, but it is the novel that is responsible for the success of the show, and for whatever reason, people seem to leave the theatre a bit different. People are scared for the future. They’re all looking for a bright tomorrow and waiting for the sun to shine, and people come out of the show perhaps believing they can be a better person.”

(x)

[princessgracekelly1956]

The Boston Globe - March 9, 1978

Vera Maxwell has styled a friendship with the princess 

By Marian Christy 

Globe Staff 

She's laughing. "People," says the buxom, white-haired woman, "think of me as the princess' secretary. Some people consider me her spokesperson." The laugh extends into ripples. "I'm just her friend." 

The speaker, fashion designer Vera Maxwell, 75, is talking animatedly about an unlikely friendship with Princess Grace of Monaco, an international elegante 26 years her junior. The friendship isn't professional. Princess Grace wears mainly one-of-a-kind French couture - mostly from Saint Laurent and Christian Dior-Paris. 

Maxwell, who has headed her own Seventh avenue company for 30 years, met the former Grace Kelly at a 1955 Neiman-Marcus awards luncheon. Maxwell was named best designer. Grace Kelly was cited for being the best-dressed of the generally flashy Hollywood crowd. 

"I admired her so," recalls Maxwell. "I was an older woman who looked at this beautiful young thing and was struck with her standoffish elegance. People were trying to paw her. She wasn't cold. She acted cool. It was a way to keep people from getting too close." 

The friendship was cemented later when Grace Kelly became Princess Grace and invited Vera Maxwell to vacation at the palace in Monaco. "People get the idea that when celebrities reach a certain point in life, they change. Well Grace didn't change. ..." 

Maxwell now visits with Princess Grace every six months. When the princess is in New York, she stays at the Maxwell apartment. 

About their continuing friendship: "We've really worked at it. It's a rare friendship. I admire her taste and ethics. In the '60s she was severely criticized in the London press for being too square. I admired her because she ignored the fact that reporters were saying square is bad." 

Is she a kind of mother substitute to Grace? The princess' mother, Mrs. John Kelly, lives in Philadelphia and is on good terms with her daughter. 

"Some of my feelings are motherly. I'd take care of her if I could. But she doesn't need taking care of . . . . 

"I admire Prince Rainier. He can lose his temper sometimes. Grace meets Rainier's shortness with humor and wit. He can get cross with the children. You know, all the normal fatherly-reactions. But Grace knows how to make him laugh." 

Vera Maxwell has many friends in the press corps, and was a recent intermediary between Princess Grace and several American journalists. Members of the New York press corps have, to quote Maxwell, "inferred" that Princess Grace hasn't "kept up" with her social, rival, Jacqueline Onassis. It is Maxwell rather than Princess Grace who answers the critics. 

"Grace has more grace and charm," says Maxwell. "Jackie has wasted her life. She lived the tragic circumstances of seeing her husband assassinated. But Jackie's life went out of control. What she did was search for the richest husband she could find." 

Maxwell was in Princess Grace's company when a promoter of the Edinburgh Festival asked her to read American poetry to honor the 1976 Bicentennial. "At first Grace said she didn't think she could do it," recalls Maxwell, who is an encourager. "We talked about it. Grace realized that readings are a new medium to put across a one-man show." Maxwell has invited promoters of New York's Town Hall to a party honoring Princess Grace on Friday night to explore the idea of similar poetry readings in New York. 

"Grace will also read Shakespeare," predicts Maxwell. "Dorothy Parker and Ogden Nash are one thing . . . selected works of Shakespeare are quite another." Maxwell says: "Grace was nervous when she started the show in Pittsburgh. She was perfection in Boston. She's ready for New York." 

Maxwell has been with Princess Grace on the current poetry tour which ended with a performance at the Loeb Drama Center at Harvard. "She looked enchanting," says Maxwell. "She's delicate. The world has had pornography, rah-rah-rah and political messages. She made poetry come alive. There's a big future in what she's doing." 

Princess Grace apparently has no plans to return to Hollywood to make a movie. "She's an ambassador for her country," says Maxwell. "If she makes movies she'd just be another actress." 

The next big occasion in the Grimaldi life is the marriage of Princess Caroline, 21, to Philippe Junot, 37, son of Michel Junot, president of Westinghouse-France and deputy mayor of Paris. Maxwell has been invited to the wedding, but will not be designing any of the fashions worn by the wedding party or the family.

Maxwell admits she doesn't approve of Junot. It isn't their age difference that bothers her. It's the fact that Junot seems to "support" Princess Caroline's love of a vibrant nightlife. 

"Caroline is very intelligent," says Maxwell. "She's really in love. And love is a forceful thing." 

The Rainiers are acutely aware of the "bad press" Caroline has received in Paris where journalists have emphasized her low-cut dresses, her see-through clothes, her passion for discotheques. "Grace says nothing to the press," says Maxwell. "She's smart. The less she says about that situation the better." 

Do the Rainiers approve of Caroline's upcoming nuptials, scheduled for late June? Maxwell doesn't want to be quoted but, in essence, indicates that approval is less than enthusiastic. 

The fear is that if Caroline is blocked, she will rebel. "We can only hope this marriage is a success," concludes Maxwell with as much diplomacy as she can muster. 

[lboogie1906]

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (born August 22, 1967) is an English actor, director, and former fashion model is known for his roles as Simon Adebisi in Oz, Lock-Nah in The Mummy Returns, Nykwana Wombosi in The Bourne Identity, Heavy Duty in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Kurse in Thor: The Dark World, Killer Croc in Suicide Squad, Mr. Eko in Lost, Malko in Game of Thrones, Hitu in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Dave Duerson in Concussion. His feature directorial debut, Farming, wrapped production in 2017 and had its world premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. He was born in Islington, London, to Nigerian parents of Yoruba origin, who were students in the UK. When he was six weeks old, his biological parents gave him up to a white working-class family in Tilbury, Essex. He went on to earn his BA from the University of London at large and a MA in Law from King's College London. While a university student, he worked in a clothes shop where he was introduced to the world of modeling. He was awarded an Honorary Ph.D. by Princess Anne, Chancellor of the University of London. His modeling career led him to Hollywood, where he began his acting career with a role in Congo. He was featured in the video for singer-songwriter Grayson Hugh's hit "Talk It Over". He guest starred in the second episode of season 8 of Monk and played Derek Jameson in The Thing. He portrayed Kurse in Thor: The Dark World. It was reported that he voices the lead character of Bilal. He co-starred in Suicide Squad, as the Batman villain Killer Croc He announced that casting on the film had begun with Damson Idris in the lead role as Enitan, Kate Beckinsale playing his abusive, neglectful foster mother, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as his teacher and mentor. The film went on to win the prestigious Michael Powell Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival for Best British Feature and Best Performance in a British Feature for Idris. He lives in Los Angeles. He is a Nichiren Buddhist and a member of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist association. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/ChjyxIRu7tNGkx38cEOSkS0qlAAqc71zzkhvUk0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ellenalexander-updates]

Model Entrepreneur Ellen Alexander: Success beyond the runway

Model Ellen Alexander may not be the typical advocate for a women-in-biotech movement: Supermodels have usually moved towards careers such as designers (Kate Moss for Topshop; Gigi Hadid for Tommy Hilfiger), wellness guru such as Gisele and Miranda Kerr or a nurse in the case of Lisa Davies, a former face of Marc Jacobs, after their days on the runway ended. Alexander is unique because she is preparing for her post-modelling career by becoming an entrepreneur now.

In one of her current projects, she is working on a special biotech project based in Russia with a friend who studied bioengineering at Harvard. This is an important project because right now, female chief executives account for just 10% of biotech’s top leaders. A BioPharma Drive analysis in 2019 of 180 leading biotech companies found that only 15 were led by women. The project is called “Create U Future,” that specializes in helping women have brilliant kids and she is also working on a tech project that is kind of an Airbnb for cars.

Never resting on her laurels, Alexander usually has many projects going at one time. Her inspirations for female entrepreneurs are her Instagram idols Gigi Hadid and Kylie Jenner, who she knew before they reached such popularity. They have enjoyed success in promoting their brands in social networks, with very modest start-up investments. Alexander’s projects include partnering with a Chinese company to sell products online and she also started a music company called GDP Music Group.

In another business venture, Alexander said that a friend created a tech company that is basically an Airbnb for cars, so she created a partner firm. “I see a future in technology,” she said and “I can never pass up on opportunities like these. Plus, most of my friends are in tech, so it’s the perfect scenario.”

As a model, Alexander has travelled the world in the past eight years and posed for covers of numerous magazines such as Shape, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, Maxim Belgium, L’Offciel and appeared on the pages of FHM. She was also featured in Runway, Product and Fashion events and photoshoots. She has worked with top brands and photographers on both the east and west coasts. Alexander has had success in many different fields—film, television, theatre and modelling—not only in her native Russia, but also in the UK and now the U.S. Her education began at a young age: Alexander trained at the world-renowned Chekhov Moscow Arts theatre school where she developed her skills, becoming a recognizable figure in the Moscow arts world.

After relocating to the UK, she received positive reviews for her performance as Phoebe in “The Catcher in the Rye” at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Alexander said that she became a world traveller at age 14.

“I was always independent and had my own money so I would fly to a shoot and then fly back five hours to return to Moscow.” After arriving in the U.S., she was hired as the lead role of Tatiana in the series “Gold Diggers.” Alexander is used to flying to many different countries for work, but she has been based in Los Angels since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alexander’s educational background is quite unique for a model. Alexander earned an M.B.A at Moscow’s Plekhanov Russian University of Economics where she majored in International Business and Law. She was an active participant in debates and other competitions. In fact, she was part of a project that looked into the possibility of presenting economic models to government officials. “I studied and applied structure and business plan writing,” Alexander explained that she also gained real-world experience while interning and working for businesses in Moscow.

As a result, Alexander was able to take this experience and education and “apply it to my work in the fashion industry: first in Russia, then in Europe and the U.S.”

From a young age, Alexander was exposed to science and engineering. Her mother has a Ph.D. in electrification of public transportation and is head of the department of Electrotechnics at Polytech University in Moscow. Her father works on a Russian space program that focuses on Mars. Currently, he is also writing a book about it.

Alexander’s grandfather was one of the leaders in the Russian space program and he worked with Sergei Korolev and Yuri Gagarin. Ellen’s grandfather also worked on the Cosmodrome and also on sending Soviet Union cosmonauts and the Moon shuttle to send animals to space. The Soviet Union and Russia launched monkeys between 1983 and 1996. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Soviet space program used a number of dogs for sub-orbital and orbital space flights. Two tortoises and a variety of insects were the first inhabitants of Earth to circle the Moon, on the 1968 Zond 5 mission.

Her parents always let her choose what she wanted to do, but they also desired for her to obtain the best education. They sent her to a school that specialized in physics and mathematics. “That’s how I developed my love of science and technology.” Her dream was to research the human body and find cures for untreatable diseases. “That has not happened yet, but who knows, maybe one day.” Alexander also stresses that her parents and grandfather taught her to strive to do bigger things to “help humanity.” Her grandfather always aimed to accomplish major things and “not just to stay in a small bubble.”

Now, she is aiming for a major accomplishment by investing $X amount in the “Create U Future” project. The project has several goals and studies in place including one about the human genome and one about three-way parenting which allows parents with genetic issues to have children. This is a new technique called mitochondrial transfer that has recently emerged to prevent the transmission of a certain class of genetic disorders. This technique is controversial, as it combines DNA from three individual to generate a so-called “three-parent baby.” The project also wants to do research to help older parents have children.

Alexander explains that it is not a commercial project for now, but she and her friend are working on an educational portal and further research for now.

The pages slugged ‘Brand Connect’ are equivalent to advertisements and are not written and produced by Forbes India journalists.

[simplyclary]

The Underrated Field of the Arts

(Photo credits: Stanford eCorner)

Music, Drama, Theatre, Film, Dance, Painting and Literature. The beautiful and colorful field of the arts. Underrated is an understatement for how this very free and expressive field has been treated by society for the longest time. Many of today's youth are continued to be shunned because of their passion for the arts, being told that they should focus on math and science instead. Believe it or not, many of people's favorite celebrities have also experienced this and has been considered an outsider because of this love for creativity.

One of my favorite actors, in particular, was vocal about how his passion for the arts had led him to drop out of school at the early age of 16 and pursue his own path in the world of theatre and acting. He is none other than Scottish actor Ewan McGregor, who is known among fans as the Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Christian in the musical Moulin Rouge, Mark Renton in Trainspotting and the voice of Lumiere in the live action Beauty and the Beast.

In a panel for the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2015, Ewan openly told the story of how his passion for the arts led him to drop out of school. He said that from the young age of 9, he wanted to pursue acting like his uncle Dennis Lawson, who played pilot Wedge in the original trilogy of Star Wars. Ewan was very pursuant about this passion that he was the only one in class who did arts and music, unlike the other students who did math and science. When he was told that he cannot do arts and music for higher levels, he became very unhappy, for it was all what he wanted to do during that time.

Everything changed for him during one rainy night when he was told by his mom while they were on the way home that if he wanted to leave school, he could. This made Ewan very happy and from then on, he started pursuing theatre and then eventually going to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. His first project outside drama school was a show called "Lipstick on your Collar". He did independent films until the time he landed the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi which catapulted him to stardom and the rest was history.

Hearing Ewan's story ignited the flame within me for wanting to write this entry about the arts, for like him, I am also one who is more interested in the arts than math and science. I pursue my love for the arts in a different way and that is by writing. I am an incoming journalism senior and so, hearing his story made me look back at myself about 5 years ago when I told my mom that I would go to university to pursue the liberal arts.

I was never a math genius or a science whiz, but I adored English and Literature a lot. Back when I was in 10th grade and everyone was prepping for 11th year, I rebelled against the odds and told my mom and my friends that I would not stay in the school, for the course that I want is not available there. The principal spoke to me and told me that he won't stop me if I really want to leave and I simply thanked him for his support. I still consider my choice to transfer to university as a good decision because who knows what would have happened to me if I didn't. I would probably not be happy because I would not be doing what I truly want. There's a made-up saying that goes "Fashion over Function" but with this type of situation, it is definitely "Passion over Function".

The arts has always been my sort of therapy, I sing when I'm down, I paint when I'm stressed and I indulge in books and movies when I'm bored. These are just few of the reasons why I have such a big love for this underrated field and I think it should be more appreciated in society. People are often shunned for their creative abilities by society and sad thing is, their craft will only be appreciated when they are no longer with us. The income from the arts may not be enough to suffice one in this capitalistic world, but it is enough to suffice the happiness and passion that is burning in the heart of the artist.