#manolo marin

[ao3feed-ncishawaii]

67.62. oz

by Promsie A dead marine is washed up on a Hawai'ian beach and very soon everything points to murder, drugs and a joint case for the FBI and NCIS. Lucy and Kate are still broken up, in fact they haven't spoken in months and Lucy would be happy to maintain that status quo. Whistler on the other hand is trying to make amends but going undercover with her ex is not how she wanted to achieve that. Is there still a chance for them? Or will this mission destroy everything? OR An Undercover AU. Updates every Friday. Words: 7347, Chapters: 1/14, Language: English Fandoms: NCIS: Hawai'i Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: F/F Characters: Lucy Tara, Kate Whistler, Jane Tennant, Jesse Boone, Kai Holman, Ernie Malik, Manolo 'Nolo' Barrera - OC Relationships: Lucy Tara/Kate Whistler Additional Tags: Case Fic, Slow Burn-ish, Action, Angst Era, post 1x20, Getting Back Together, Undercover AU, Hurt, there will be a lil bit of Comfort too via https://ift.tt/xzCbtFV

[indianfasttrack]

When and where FC Goa vs Mohun Bagan ISL 2024-25 FCG vs MBSG?

FC Goa’s recent performance has propelled them to fourth place in the standings, and a victory over the Mariners would elevate them to third after 12 matches, leaving them just one point shy of the top two positions, which guarantee a spot in the semifinals. Sports NewsGoa– Manolo Marquez’s FC Goa aims to cap off the year on a high note by taking on league leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant in…

[ferrolano-blog]

Manolo Monereo: En Francia se ha evitado que el partido de Marine Le Pen alcance la mayoría suficiente para cohabitar con el presidente Macrón. Conviene subrayarlo. El llamado Frente Republicano ha vuelto a funcionar más como “coalición en negativo” que como una defensa firme y clara de la República y sus libertades... pero el partido de Le Pen se ha convertido en la primera fuerza política del país, el bloque pro Macrón ha resistido mejor de lo que se esperaba y el Frente Popular es más la expresión de una respuesta defensiva a la convocatoria anticipada de elecciones que un proyecto social y programáticamente consolidado. La situación está muy abierta y las dificultades son grandes... pues lo que hay en todas partes es una crisis de las democracias realmente existentes y su progresiva conversión en regímenes políticos electorales, sometidos a la lógica del mercado capitalista y con una clase política cooptada por los grandes poderes... La tarea que han defendido y defienden los grandes poderes lo ha definido, como siempre, con precisión Macron: impedir el gobierno Le Pen y aislar a La Francia Insumisa... los que mandan y no se presentan a las elecciones saben que Le Pen es ya el recambio normalizado de las derechas, y que su tiempo llegará... Hace falta centralizar el poder y, a la vez, aprovecharse de los nacionalismos para crear un complejo militar-industrial desarrollado y una base social para impulsar la militarización de las relaciones sociales. Mélenchon es un problema precisamente por esto, porque defiende un patriotismo republicano, democrático y socialmente avanzado... Macron lleva años bloqueando el cambio en Francia. Ha tenido capacidad y habilidad para resistir la rebelión de los “chalecos amarillos”. La clave no ha sido tanto neutralizar el conflicto social como impedir que este se traduzca en alternativa política

[soylazaro]

Channel 4 "Idents" from ELLIOTT POWER on Vimeo.

Client: Channel 4 Agency: 4creative Production: Art Practice Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Creative Directors: Mike Skrgatic, Daniel Wolfe, Lynsey Atkin, Bafic

Directors: Elliott Power, Saman Aminzadeh, Optical Arts, Bafic, Mike Battcock, Will Dohrn, Daniel Eatock, Mike Skrgatic and James Allen, Verity May Lane, Maria Lax, The Line, Louis McCourt, Justyna Obasi, The Romantix, Dan Tobin Smith, Daniel Wolfe & Matthew Watson

Voiceover: John Joseph Holt 4Creative

Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Managing Director: Katie Jackson Executive Producer: Louise Oliver Senior Producer: Lauren Holden Production Manager: Hope Sutherland Junior Producer: Jazz Stradling Channel 4 Chief Marketing Officer: Zaid Al-Qassab Marketing Director: Amber Kirby Head of Brand Transformation: Matt Berry Marketing Lead, Brand Transformation: Simi Murthy Marketing Executive, Brand Transformation: Lana Camp Art Practice x Love Song Creative Director (Art Practice): Mike Skrgatic Creative Director (Love Song): Daniel Wolfe

Executive Producer: James Guy Producer: Bonnie Anthony Production Manager: Julia Guignabel Production Coordinator: Shirley Crawford Production Assistant: Katie Reid

Directors of Photography: Daniel Landin, Eponine Momenceau Moco Supervisor: Simone Tartaglia Moco Operator: Tomi Keeling 1st Assistant Director: Rob Blishen Production Designer: Arthur De Borman Art Directors: Matthew Fraser, Imogen Grant Toner Casting Directors: Kharmel Cochrane, Claire Catterson, Found Casting, Belinda Norcliffe Costume Designers: Hannah Edwards, Bratsk Collective, Ella Lucia Hair & Makeup: Lu Hinton, Ainslie Currie Editor: Fouad Gaber, Trim Editing VFX and Post Production: Time Based Arts Audio Post Production: String and Tins

Time Based Arts

Producer: Chris Aliano 2D Supervisors: Stephen Grasso, Leo Weston, Miguel Wratten CG Supervisors: Mike Battcock, Sam Osborne, Nick Smalley 2D Team: Manolo Perez, Jamie Crofts, Olivia O’Neil, Lucy Lawrence, Valeria Scalamandre, Eleonora Laddago, Bernie Varela, Chris Fraser, Dan Cowley, Tom Robinson CG Team: Ben Cantor, Nigel Timms, Bethan Williams, Ian Baird, Jordan Coles, Maxime Ponsart, Joe Ibbett, Teodora Retegan, Quentin Corker-Marin, Stephen Ross Grading: Max Ferguson Hook, Simone Grattarola

String and Tins 

Audio Post Production: String and Tins Sound Supervisor: Will Cohen Sound Designers: Lawrence Kendrick, Culum Simpson, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Adam Smyth, Joe Wilkinson, Adam Hare, Will Cohen, Mike Bamford Music Composers: Will Cohen, Culum Simpson, Adam Smyth, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Miink, Cal Swingler, J. Caesar, Matthew Watson, Daniel Freeman, Anthony Moore Music Supervisors: Laura-Leigh Smith and Mike Bamford Audio Producers: Laura-Leigh Smith and Rachel Hough

Optical Arts & Dan Tobin Smith

Founder / Creative Director: Dan Tobin Smith EP / Studio Director: Hannah May Creative Directors: Fabrice Le Nezet, Martin Pryor, Joe Jackson CG team: Nicolas Damour, Flora Macleod Creative Assistant: Minna Griffiths Production Assistant: Stephanie Skarbek

The Line 

Directors: Tim McCourt, Max Taylor Executive Producer: Laura Breaden Producer: Macarena Gaset

[mergingonthefreeway]

Channel 4 "Idents" from ELLIOTT POWER on Vimeo.

Client: Channel 4 Agency: 4creative Production: Art Practice Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Creative Directors: Mike Skrgatic, Daniel Wolfe, Lynsey Atkin, Bafic

Directors: Elliott Power, Saman Aminzadeh, Optical Arts, Bafic, Mike Battcock, Will Dohrn, Daniel Eatock, Mike Skrgatic and James Allen, Verity May Lane, Maria Lax, The Line, Louis McCourt, Justyna Obasi, The Romantix, Dan Tobin Smith, Daniel Wolfe & Matthew Watson

Voiceover: John Joseph Holt 4Creative

Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Managing Director: Katie Jackson Executive Producer: Louise Oliver Senior Producer: Lauren Holden Production Manager: Hope Sutherland Junior Producer: Jazz Stradling Channel 4 Chief Marketing Officer: Zaid Al-Qassab Marketing Director: Amber Kirby Head of Brand Transformation: Matt Berry Marketing Lead, Brand Transformation: Simi Murthy Marketing Executive, Brand Transformation: Lana Camp Art Practice x Love Song Creative Director (Art Practice): Mike Skrgatic Creative Director (Love Song): Daniel Wolfe

Executive Producer: James Guy Producer: Bonnie Anthony Production Manager: Julia Guignabel Production Coordinator: Shirley Crawford Production Assistant: Katie Reid

Directors of Photography: Daniel Landin, Eponine Momenceau Moco Supervisor: Simone Tartaglia Moco Operator: Tomi Keeling 1st Assistant Director: Rob Blishen Production Designer: Arthur De Borman Art Directors: Matthew Fraser, Imogen Grant Toner Casting Directors: Kharmel Cochrane, Claire Catterson, Found Casting, Belinda Norcliffe Costume Designers: Hannah Edwards, Bratsk Collective, Ella Lucia Hair & Makeup: Lu Hinton, Ainslie Currie Editor: Fouad Gaber, Trim Editing VFX and Post Production: Time Based Arts Audio Post Production: String and Tins

Time Based Arts

Producer: Chris Aliano 2D Supervisors: Stephen Grasso, Leo Weston, Miguel Wratten CG Supervisors: Mike Battcock, Sam Osborne, Nick Smalley 2D Team: Manolo Perez, Jamie Crofts, Olivia O’Neil, Lucy Lawrence, Valeria Scalamandre, Eleonora Laddago, Bernie Varela, Chris Fraser, Dan Cowley, Tom Robinson CG Team: Ben Cantor, Nigel Timms, Bethan Williams, Ian Baird, Jordan Coles, Maxime Ponsart, Joe Ibbett, Teodora Retegan, Quentin Corker-Marin, Stephen Ross Grading: Max Ferguson Hook, Simone Grattarola

String and Tins 

Audio Post Production: String and Tins Sound Supervisor: Will Cohen Sound Designers: Lawrence Kendrick, Culum Simpson, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Adam Smyth, Joe Wilkinson, Adam Hare, Will Cohen, Mike Bamford Music Composers: Will Cohen, Culum Simpson, Adam Smyth, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Miink, Cal Swingler, J. Caesar, Matthew Watson, Daniel Freeman, Anthony Moore Music Supervisors: Laura-Leigh Smith and Mike Bamford Audio Producers: Laura-Leigh Smith and Rachel Hough

Optical Arts & Dan Tobin Smith

Founder / Creative Director: Dan Tobin Smith EP / Studio Director: Hannah May Creative Directors: Fabrice Le Nezet, Martin Pryor, Joe Jackson CG team: Nicolas Damour, Flora Macleod Creative Assistant: Minna Griffiths Production Assistant: Stephanie Skarbek

The Line 

Directors: Tim McCourt, Max Taylor Executive Producer: Laura Breaden Producer: Macarena Gaset

[tonin-terets]

Channel 4 Idents from Optical Arts on Vimeo.

Optical Arts worked with 4creative and Art Practice to direct and create five new idents for Channel 4, following their new masterbrand launch.

The idents consist of 25 unique looping scenes, designed to reflect what life is like in the UK today – through the eyes of 17 creatives, artists, and filmmakers. Each scene was developed from an open brief which invited each creator to interpret one of five themes: Identity (who we are), The Land (where we live), System (what controls us), Release (how we escape) and Love (all that really matters), with the idents being divided up into 5 sets of 5 films, each with its own distinct style and voice.

Our work is included alongside that of a diverse range of hugely talented directors, creating a unique and ambitious project, portraying a snapshot of Britain today.

Two of our scenes highlight some of the dark realities that technical advancement brings - widespread digital observation, and machine control. Whilst the other two address more human themes - the effect of serotonin on the brain and the experience of a broken heart.

We are thrilled to see our work within these idents as part of this epic and memorable project. Channel 4 have made some of the most iconic idents in TV history, and we are delighted to play a small part in continuing that legacy with this work.

Optical Arts directed and created 4 scenes: Shattering Room, Chemicals, Robotic Fulfilment Centre and Digital Tracking. Dinner Party was directed by Dan Tobin Smith, the studio’s founder.

Credits

Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Creative Directors: Mike Skrgatic, Daniel Wolfe, Lynsey Atkin, Bafic Directors: Saman Aminzadeh, Optical Arts, Bafic, Mike Battcock, Will Dohrn, Daniel Eatock, Mike Skrgatic and James Allen, Verity May Lane, Maria Lax, The Line, Louis McCourt, Justyna Obasi, Elliott Power, The Romantix, Dan Tobin Smith, Daniel Wolfe Voiceover: John Joseph Holt OPTICAL ARTS & DAN TOBIN SMITH Founder / Creative Director: Dan Tobin Smith EP / Studio Director: Hannah May Creative Directors: Fabrice Le Nezet, Martin Pryor, Joe Jackson 1st AD: Rob Blishen Moco: Simone Tartaglia & Dennis Henry SFX: David Plewis for Asylum CG team: Nicolas Damour, Flora Macleod Creative Assistant: Minna Griffiths Technical Assistant: Elliott Lowe & Jack Lovell Production Assistant: Stephanie Skarbek ART PRACTICE X LOVESONG Creative Director (Art Practice): Mike Skrgatic Creative Director (Love Song): Daniel Wolfe EP: James Guy Producer: Bonnie Anthony Production Manager: Julia Guignabel Production Assistant: Katie Reid Directors of Photography: Daniel Landin, Eponine Momenceau Moco: Simone Tartaglia & Tomi Keeling 1st AD: Rob Blishen Production Designer: Arthur De Borman Casting Directors: Kharmel Cochrane, Claire Catterson, Found Casting, Belinda Norcliffe TIME BASED ARTS Producer: Chris Aliano 2D Supervisors: Stephen Grasso, Leo Weston, Miguel Wratten CG Supervisors: Mike Battcock, Sam Osborne, Nick Smalley 2D Team: Manolo Perez, Jamie Crofts, Olivia O’Neil, Lucy Lawrence, Valeria Scalamandre, Eleonora Laddago, Bernie Varela, Chris Fraser, Dan Cowley, Tom Robinson CG Team: Ben Cantor, Nigel Timms, Bethan Williams, Ian Baird, Jordan Coles, Maxime Ponsart, Joe Ibbett, Teodora Retegan, Quentin Corker-Marin, Stephen Ross Grading: Max Ferguson Hook, Simone Grattarola STRING & TINS Audio Post Production: String and Tins Sound Supervisor: Will Cohen Sound Design: Lawrence Kendrick, Culum Simpson, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Adam Smyth, Joe Wilkinson, Adam Hare, Will Cohen, Mike Bamford Music Composers: Will Cohen, Culum Simpson, Adam Smyth, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Miink, Cal Swingler, J. Caesar, Matthew Watson, Daniel Freeman, Anthony Moore Music Supervisors: Laura-Leigh Smith and Mike Bamford Producers: Laura-Leigh Smith and Rachel Hough

[uchujinphoto]

Channel 4 "Idents" from ELLIOTT POWER on Vimeo.

Client: Channel 4 Agency: 4creative Production: Art Practice Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Creative Directors: Mike Skrgatic, Daniel Wolfe, Lynsey Atkin, Bafic

Directors: Elliott Power, Saman Aminzadeh, Optical Arts, Bafic, Mike Battcock, Will Dohrn, Daniel Eatock, Mike Skrgatic and James Allen, Verity May Lane, Maria Lax, The Line, Louis McCourt, Justyna Obasi, The Romantix, Dan Tobin Smith, Daniel Wolfe & Matthew Watson

Voiceover: John Joseph Holt 4Creative

Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Managing Director: Katie Jackson Executive Producer: Louise Oliver Senior Producer: Lauren Holden Production Manager: Hope Sutherland Junior Producer: Jazz Stradling Channel 4 Chief Marketing Officer: Zaid Al-Qassab Marketing Director: Amber Kirby Head of Brand Transformation: Matt Berry Marketing Lead, Brand Transformation: Simi Murthy Marketing Executive, Brand Transformation: Lana Camp Art Practice x Love Song Creative Director (Art Practice): Mike Skrgatic Creative Director (Love Song): Daniel Wolfe

Executive Producer: James Guy Producer: Bonnie Anthony Production Manager: Julia Guignabel Production Coordinator: Shirley Crawford Production Assistant: Katie Reid

Directors of Photography: Daniel Landin, Eponine Momenceau Moco Supervisor: Simone Tartaglia Moco Operator: Tomi Keeling 1st Assistant Director: Rob Blishen Production Designer: Arthur De Borman Art Directors: Matthew Fraser, Imogen Grant Toner Casting Directors: Kharmel Cochrane, Claire Catterson, Found Casting, Belinda Norcliffe Costume Designers: Hannah Edwards, Bratsk Collective, Ella Lucia Hair & Makeup: Lu Hinton, Ainslie Currie Editor: Fouad Gaber, Trim Editing VFX and Post Production: Time Based Arts Audio Post Production: String and Tins

Time Based Arts

Producer: Chris Aliano 2D Supervisors: Stephen Grasso, Leo Weston, Miguel Wratten CG Supervisors: Mike Battcock, Sam Osborne, Nick Smalley 2D Team: Manolo Perez, Jamie Crofts, Olivia O’Neil, Lucy Lawrence, Valeria Scalamandre, Eleonora Laddago, Bernie Varela, Chris Fraser, Dan Cowley, Tom Robinson CG Team: Ben Cantor, Nigel Timms, Bethan Williams, Ian Baird, Jordan Coles, Maxime Ponsart, Joe Ibbett, Teodora Retegan, Quentin Corker-Marin, Stephen Ross Grading: Max Ferguson Hook, Simone Grattarola

String and Tins 

Audio Post Production: String and Tins Sound Supervisor: Will Cohen Sound Designers: Lawrence Kendrick, Culum Simpson, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Adam Smyth, Joe Wilkinson, Adam Hare, Will Cohen, Mike Bamford Music Composers: Will Cohen, Culum Simpson, Adam Smyth, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Miink, Cal Swingler, J. Caesar, Matthew Watson, Daniel Freeman, Anthony Moore Music Supervisors: Laura-Leigh Smith and Mike Bamford Audio Producers: Laura-Leigh Smith and Rachel Hough

Optical Arts & Dan Tobin Smith

Founder / Creative Director: Dan Tobin Smith EP / Studio Director: Hannah May Creative Directors: Fabrice Le Nezet, Martin Pryor, Joe Jackson CG team: Nicolas Damour, Flora Macleod Creative Assistant: Minna Griffiths Production Assistant: Stephanie Skarbek

The Line 

Directors: Tim McCourt, Max Taylor Executive Producer: Laura Breaden Producer: Macarena Gaset

[emzeciorrr]

Channel 4 "Idents" from ELLIOTT POWER on Vimeo.

Client: Channel 4 Agency: 4creative Production: Art Practice Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Creative Directors: Mike Skrgatic, Daniel Wolfe, Lynsey Atkin, Bafic

Directors: Elliott Power, Saman Aminzadeh, Optical Arts, Bafic, Mike Battcock, Will Dohrn, Daniel Eatock, Mike Skrgatic and James Allen, Verity May Lane, Maria Lax, The Line, Louis McCourt, Justyna Obasi, The Romantix, Dan Tobin Smith, Daniel Wolfe & Matthew Watson

Voiceover: John Joseph Holt 4Creative

Executive Creative Director: Lynsey Atkin Managing Director: Katie Jackson Executive Producer: Louise Oliver Senior Producer: Lauren Holden Production Manager: Hope Sutherland Junior Producer: Jazz Stradling Channel 4 Chief Marketing Officer: Zaid Al-Qassab Marketing Director: Amber Kirby Head of Brand Transformation: Matt Berry Marketing Lead, Brand Transformation: Simi Murthy Marketing Executive, Brand Transformation: Lana Camp Art Practice x Love Song Creative Director (Art Practice): Mike Skrgatic Creative Director (Love Song): Daniel Wolfe

Executive Producer: James Guy Producer: Bonnie Anthony Production Manager: Julia Guignabel Production Coordinator: Shirley Crawford Production Assistant: Katie Reid

Directors of Photography: Daniel Landin, Eponine Momenceau Moco Supervisor: Simone Tartaglia Moco Operator: Tomi Keeling 1st Assistant Director: Rob Blishen Production Designer: Arthur De Borman Art Directors: Matthew Fraser, Imogen Grant Toner Casting Directors: Kharmel Cochrane, Claire Catterson, Found Casting, Belinda Norcliffe Costume Designers: Hannah Edwards, Bratsk Collective, Ella Lucia Hair & Makeup: Lu Hinton, Ainslie Currie Editor: Fouad Gaber, Trim Editing VFX and Post Production: Time Based Arts Audio Post Production: String and Tins

Time Based Arts

Producer: Chris Aliano 2D Supervisors: Stephen Grasso, Leo Weston, Miguel Wratten CG Supervisors: Mike Battcock, Sam Osborne, Nick Smalley 2D Team: Manolo Perez, Jamie Crofts, Olivia O’Neil, Lucy Lawrence, Valeria Scalamandre, Eleonora Laddago, Bernie Varela, Chris Fraser, Dan Cowley, Tom Robinson CG Team: Ben Cantor, Nigel Timms, Bethan Williams, Ian Baird, Jordan Coles, Maxime Ponsart, Joe Ibbett, Teodora Retegan, Quentin Corker-Marin, Stephen Ross Grading: Max Ferguson Hook, Simone Grattarola

String and Tins 

Audio Post Production: String and Tins Sound Supervisor: Will Cohen Sound Designers: Lawrence Kendrick, Culum Simpson, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Adam Smyth, Joe Wilkinson, Adam Hare, Will Cohen, Mike Bamford Music Composers: Will Cohen, Culum Simpson, Adam Smyth, Jim Stewart, Kaspar Broyd, Miink, Cal Swingler, J. Caesar, Matthew Watson, Daniel Freeman, Anthony Moore Music Supervisors: Laura-Leigh Smith and Mike Bamford Audio Producers: Laura-Leigh Smith and Rachel Hough

Optical Arts & Dan Tobin Smith

Founder / Creative Director: Dan Tobin Smith EP / Studio Director: Hannah May Creative Directors: Fabrice Le Nezet, Martin Pryor, Joe Jackson CG team: Nicolas Damour, Flora Macleod Creative Assistant: Minna Griffiths Production Assistant: Stephanie Skarbek

The Line 

Directors: Tim McCourt, Max Taylor Executive Producer: Laura Breaden Producer: Macarena Gaset

[whatisonthemoon]

U.S., Philippines Kick off Largest-ever Balikatan Exercise as Defense, Foreign Affairs Leaders Meet in Washington (April 11, 2023)

▲ U.S. Marines with 3rd Landing Support Battalion, Army Soldiers, Navy Sailors, and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines listen during a rehearsal of concept brief in preparation for Balikatan 23 at Camp Agnew, Casigueran, Philippines on April 4, 2023.

from USNI news by Rene Acosta and John Grady

MANILA – The Philippines and the United States began the largest iteration of Balikatan, the annual military exercise involving Filipino and American troops, during a Tuesday ceremony at the Philippine military’s general headquarters of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino opened the exercise on Tuesday as defense and foreign affairs officials also met for the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington D.C., to discuss the direction of the alliance between the two countries.

“For the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in particular, this year’s Balikatan Exercise is most timely as we fast-track the enhancement of our capabilities for maritime security and domain awareness, as well as our employment concept of newly acquired equipment and weapon systems under our modernization program and application of newly developed doctrines – with the end-in-view of projecting a credible defense posture,” Centino said.

More than 17,600 American, Filipino and Australian sailors, Marines, soldiers and airmen will participate in the exercise, Enrique Manolo, secretary of foreign affairs, said in Washington, D.C., on Monday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The exercise illustrates the importance Manila places on internal security, Manolo said, and signifies another step in modernizing the more than 70-year-old alliance between the United States and the Philippines.

The increased emphasis on interoperability required to address new security challenges, primarily coming from Beijing, facing the alliance allows Manila “to shore up our defensive posture.”

“Balikatan provides unparalleled opportunities to demonstrate the strength and readiness of the Philippine-U.S. security alliance,” Lt. Col. Daniel Huvane, Balikatan Combined Joint Information Director, said in a news release from the American embassy in Manila.

Last year’s drills saw about 9,000 military participants in the annual exercise that began in 1991.

Philippine military public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said the 38th iteration of the bilateral exercise highlights four major events – a command post exercise, cyber defense exercise, field training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance.

Weeks before the exercise, the Philippine military said that this year’s phase would be the biggest, as U.S. armaments will even be in full use, including the Patriot and Avenger missiles and HIMARS.

This coming Thursday, U.S. and Filipino troops will also conduct a live firing of the U.S. anti-tank weapon Javelin, still as part of the recently concluded phase one of the U.S.-Philippines “Salaknib” exercise, which involved the Philippine Army and the U.S. Army in the Indo-Pacific, according to Philippine Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad.

An F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Figther, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, sits parked on the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) during a scheduled port visit at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo April 5, 2023. US Navy PhotoOn the eve of Balikatan’s opening, Filipino and American soldiers trained together in “bunker and room-clearing” operations as part of the opening salvo at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

“This year’s Balikatan will be the biggest ever, an indication of the growth of our alliance and how it continues to evolve to meet our shared goals,” Heather Variava, U.S. Chargé d’affaires in Manilla said on Tuesday. Baclor said the participating forces will enhance their joint and combined capabilities in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire exercise, urban operations, aviation operations, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

The Philippines emphasized the importance of Balikatan to both U.S. and the Philippine forces, as Licudine said it builds “interoperability, enhances capabilities, and demonstrates mutual defense of the Philippine sovereign territory.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declared: “Balikatan is an important opportunity to train shoulder-to-shoulder and build trust and confidence that enable our forces to respond to crises and contingencies as a team.” In Washington D.C., Filipino Department of National Defense Officer in Charge Carlito Galvez and Enrique Manolo held the 2+2 meeting with Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The U.S. State Department in a statement issued ahead of the meeting said Blinken and Austin would reaffirm Washington’s ironclad commitment to its alliance with the Philippines, which it said has “contributed to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”

Speaking at CSIS on Monday, Manalo reiterated the distance between the Philippines and Taiwan – about 90 miles – where tensions have been rapidly rising between the United States and China over the future of the self-governing island.

Chinese naval militia continue to harass and ram Filipino fishermen working in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, he said. Beijing warships and coast guard vessels are ignoring a 2016 international tribunal’s ruling dismissing its claims to much of the South China Sea. The Chinese are treating the region as its sovereign territory.

Beijing has built at least seven artificial islands on coral reefs that are capable of supporting maritime operations and military airfields. One of those man-made islands is in the Spratlys, off the coasts of the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Manolo added, “we feel the United States is an important partner” militarily and economically. He noted several times at the CSIS event the importance of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington in keeping the Indo-Pacific a safe and secure environment for maritime commerce. He indicated that the United States and other nations, possibly Japan and Australia, may soon begin conducting joint maritime patrol operations with the Philippines to secure its expansive ocean borders.

Manolo added that the Philippines has the fourth largest coastline in the world, and it’s hard to secure but vital to economic development. The secretary added that Manila also looks to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, as a forum to resolve differences peacefully. The association is developing guidelines on acceptable international behavior and mechanisms to avoid conflict in territorial and trade disputes. China is a member.

Included in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)were arrangements for the United States to establish nine facilities for future American operations. He said he will discuss what activities will be allowed at the last four added in the arrangement during the meeting in Washington with his counterpart, Blinken, and the two nations’ secretaries of defense.

The “2 Plus 2” meetings had been shelved for seven years when then-President Rodrigo Duerte promised he’d shift security priorities away from the United States and more toward China to bolster Manila’s sovereignty in regional politics.

A September meeting in New York between President Joe Biden and newly installed President Ferdinand Marcos that led to the new defense agreement clearly demonstrated the shift back toward the United States.

“We obviously have to work [WITH?] them,” Manolo said, referring to China. “Equity in the maritime commons” is a foreign policy goal as Manila is “on the threshold” of becoming a regional economic power. He welcomed public and private assistance in filling infrastructure needs for future development and growth. He pointed to how important Manila can be in delivering clean energy renewables with investments made to explore its deposits of important raw earth and other green minerals.

“Multilateralism must thrive” to avoid conflict, said Manolo.

But “we want to make [discussions with China] compatible with the U.S. alliance.”

Notes and links below

Japan to join Salaknib drills between PH, US armies - “Japan is joining a large-scale joint exercise between the Philippine and US armies for the first time, a top military official said, in the latest of the emerging trilateral defense partnership of the three nations.A handful of observers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will participate in Salaknib (shield in the Ilocano dialect) — an annual exercise led by the Philippine Army to strengthen the readiness and interoperability with its counterparts from the United States — which will kick off next week.”

Stop US and Chinese aggression in the Philippines! Turn imperialist wars into wars against imperialism! The US is complicit in war crimes

The WACL and CAUSA’s Role in the Ruthless Violence of US-Philippines Counterinsurgency

Death Squads in the Philippines by Doug Cunningham

Those Spared in Duterte’s “War on Drugs” May Go to Moonie Rehabilitation

[cidthecoatrack-blog]

Then I shall!

Produced by Guilermo del Toro, so that's a very strong place to start.

Not part of any pre-existing franchise, no sequels - is just an excellent standalone movie

About the Day of the Dead, but is not stereotypical. Treats it as a folk tale, incredibly well done.

The casting is on effing point. The lead is Diego Luna (excellent), female lead is Zoe Seldana (and you get to hear her sing!), other big strong dumb but big-hearted lead is Channing Tatum (perfect casting). The rest of the cast is freaking star-studded. Ice Cube, Ron Perlman, Hector Elizondo (probably recognize him from Princess Diaries), Danny Trejo, Placido FUCKING Domingo (yeah, the opera singer), Gabriel Iglesias, Cheech Marin, and a whole host of other Hispanic actors.

Animated, and by GOD is it gorgeous. Watch the scene of Manolo standing in the rain. The animation of the rain on him is BREATHTAKING

So many DIFFERENT animation styles. Yes, it's all computer animated, but to give you a nesting doll of flavor: A) "humans" who are telling/hearing the story, B) wooden puppets (a majority of what we see) - THE WOOD ANIMATION IS STUNNING, C) The Dead (beautifully artistic skeletons), D) the dieties (La Muerta, Xibalba, and the Candle Maker), E) don't forget the bandits and Chakal (also puppets, but made grotesque/have metal parts)

There is SO MUCH DETAIL in the way these characters are animated. Just little details they didn't HAVE to do, but they did anyway. Like how Xibalba has skulls for pupils. Or how the wooden puppets move LIKE WOODEN PUPPETS. Or (personal favorite) how the dead are skeletons with the bones just floating near enough (no tissue and all), and then they PLAY ON THAT and let the dead just arbitrarily detach their heads, arms, etc.

THE MESSAGING. OH MY GOD THE MESSAGING. You know how Turning Red and Encanto smacked us all in the face with "dealing with family trauma"? Yeah, this movie was a decade ahead of its time. Manolo's father wants him to be a bullfighter, as is the family tradition, and he is a GREAT bullfighter, but he wants to perform music instead. When he goes to the Land of the Remembered and meets his ancestors, he finds that no small number of his ancestors regretted being a bullfighter! (They all died fighting bulls). One very specifically wishes he could have been an opera singer. And Manolo's major conflict at the end? Fighting all the bulls that his family had slain, and ends up winning by APOLOGIZING to the bulls (with a freaking BEAUTIFUL song). And just EVERY single storyline has things with that much positivty. Even Xibalba, the evil villain god, who is also in love with La Muerta (and her him!), learns his lesson and apologizes (genuinely!) to La Muerta.

Let us not forget Maria, the female lead. The two male leads are competing for her (ugh, stereotypical, I know), but they are all childhood friends first and foremost. Maria is sent off to become "a Lady", and when she comes back, they literally comment on how "normal" she looks. Now, these are the animated, exaggerated wooden puppets, and she has what I'm pretty sure is a literal pencil for a waist, so I can't really claim "body positivity" here. But they don't play up how beautiful she is. And MAN is she independent. She does NOT put up with ANY toxic crap from her father, from Manolo and Joaquín, from the village, from anyone. And ultimately SHE is the one who leads the town to victory against the bandits (because one of the running jokes is the ridiculous list of skills she picked up becoming "a Lady". Like swordfighting. And kung fu.)

And HOT DAMN the comedy in this movie is *chef's kiss*. "Frosted" churros anyone? The priest turning into a luchadore. The nuns always speaking in musical chorus. "I immediately regret this decision!" Almost everything the grandma says and does. Very self-aware of the tropes they could play on and just chucking them right back at the audience as jokes. Splendid.

AND THE MUSIC. Most of the songs are covers, but beautifully done in music and style that fits the characters and themes of the movie. "I Can't Help Falling in Love" is downright unfair in how beautiful it is. "I Will Wait" covered in Mariachi style is fantastic. Manolo singing "Creep" is also very apropos and well-done. There are two original songs: "I Love You Too Much" and "No Matter Where You Are". Both SLAP, but there's additional fun: "No Matter Where You Are" is originally by the band Us the Duo. They literally sung this song AS THEIR WEDDING VOWS. AT THEIR WEDDING. WHERE THEY PREMIERED THIS SONG. And it's just this amazingly uplifting, positive, happy, beautiful song. (Personal bias: my wife and I love this song so much that it was our first dance at OUR wedding.) And yes, they play it after Manolo and Maria get married (sorry for the spoilers for the decade-old movie).

I could literally keep going on, but I'll leave it at that

So just so y'all know, The Book of Life (2014) is a fucking MASTERPIECE, is CRIMINALLY underrated, and should have won EVERY GODDAMN AWARD.

[saddayfordemocracy]

René Robert (4 march 1936 - 20 janvier 2022)

The flamenco photographer, René Robert, dies frozen before the indifference of passers-by after suffering a fall in the middle of Paris.

René Robert captured the magic of Camarón, the heel tapping of Manolo Marín and the transience of Paco de Lucía. The French-Swiss photographer who made history through the images he took of flamenco, and who He died at the age of 84. 

An artist who, for more than 50 years, captured the essence of flamenco art, in black and white images that exude art and aesthetics. However, although his life was based on lights, fringes and celebration, his death has been tragic, as he froze to death on a main street in Paris, after suffering a fall and losing consciousness. As reported by the journalist Michel Mompontent, Robert’s close friend, died after lying on the ground for several hours.

Robert went for a walk after dinner on Turbigo Street, located in the heart of Paris, around 9 at night. During this path, he collapsed unconscious on the sidewalk, and remained there until 6:30 in the morning (He dies for nine hours on the sidewalk!) when a homeless man called an ambulance to help him. However, he was in an extremely serious condition, with head injuries and severe hypothermia, for which he was transferred to the emergency room, but did not survive.

Murdered by indifference...

Rest in Power !

[jennerationken]

you still know 💙

[losvolumenes]

Llenos de gracia (Roberto Bueso, 2022)

[gacougnol]

Michel Dieuzaide

L'Académie de Manolo Marin

Séville 1988

[malkalaila]

3 March 2020. Ireland Tour Day 1

TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the Republic of Ireland today to kick off a busy start to their 3 day tour of the country. When the tour was announced it was said, 

“The Duke and Duchess will learn about local organisations working to support and empower young people and projects which provide opportunities to help them develop important life skills. Their Royal Highnesses will also hear more about Ireland’s conservation initiatives and efforts to protect its environment, with a particular focus on sustainable farming and marine conservation....

Throughout the visit, Their Royal Highness will meet a broad range of people, including the President, the Taoiseach and senior political leaders, children and young people, and those working in the creative arts, business and charity sectors.”   

via the palace press release. 

They met the President, Michael D. Higgins, and his wife Sabina Mary Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of the President of Ireland. 

They sat for tea at Aras an Uachtarain.

They met the Taoiseach, the Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar and his partner Matthew Barrett.

They rang the bell of peace which was planted on the grounds of Aras an Uachtarain in 2008 to mark 10 years since the Belfast Agreement. 

They laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance, dedicated as a memorial to all those who gave their lives for Irish freedom, and took a moment of silence.

They then attended an evening reception hosted by the UK ambassador at Guinness Storehouse’s Gravity Bar where William gave a speech. 

Now, onto my favorite part, fashion! I’m going to drop these collages here that I posted earlier today for the sake of brevity and go straight into discussion. 

Monochrome Kate strikes again! We saw every hue of green under the sun today it feels like. I’m usually wary of this kind of styling but Kate tends to pull it off with aplomb. I like the coat, not so much the dress. The combination of the print, the buttons, the pleats, the peplum, the mock neck, and the cuffed sleeves was too much. A simple round neck, nix the pleats, and switching to a solid color would have made a world of a difference. I added the picture above to compare the buttons on Kate’s dress (which match her coat) vs the one available from Alessandra Riche. 

The earrings are new and eye wateringly pricey. Now, assuming Kate’s usual jewelry pieces are things she pics herself, this price tag is a little out of left field, making me think it’s either a birthday or Christmas gift. They’re still a very pretty and substantial stud earring and I’m here for it even if she bought them herself because she needs some diamonds of her own (and can you imagine her passing them on to Charlotte when she’s older???)

Quick note, the collage says earrings are unidentified but they have been now, they’re from H&M and are the same pairs worn to the Royal Foundation event last year with the red Preen dress. 

For the evening event, Kate stuck to the color green (seriously, every shade of green under the sun today) and went sparkly with a dress by a new designer for her, The Vampire’s Wife. The dress is one that Princess Beatrice has worn in a different iteration but definitely the same material and color. 

Kate’s shoes stumped me for the longest time. When I saw them, I instantly thought they were Manolo’s but for the life of me I’m pretty sure Kate has only ever wore one other pair of Manolo’s and these are velvet so I already love them even though I really really hate the way the heel looks on Manolo’s.

As far as evening looks go, this is pretty classic Kate--sparkly and demure. I would have liked a different color just with all the green earlier today. I’m hoping tomorrow we get more color, I think I’m officially done with green this tour. 

[naomixhill]

1 April 2019

677 Parsons Ave – The former adult entertainment store turned vegan restaurant known for small plates and ornamental alcoholic beverages.   Unassuming from the outside, intimate and candlelit from the inside. I smirk as we walk in: a blonde wearing the new crewneck A-line Valentino dress with floral pailettes, accompanying her slightly blonder friend in a black turtleneck poncho that looks like a potato sack while sporting Manolo Blahnik suede pumps, is seated at a nearby table. Two men sit across from the blondes in non-descript blazers eating Semolina Pappardelle. When did the venture capital guys start bringing their Nieman Marcus Barbies to Parsons Ave at night?

We are seated at a communal table with the foursome to our right.  He orders marinated olives and an overpriced IPA. I hear myself order a Gin and Tonic because it’s what I always do: when I’m uncomfortable, when I’m relaxing, when I’m traveling for work, when I’m alone at a college bar on High Street – it’s always Gin and Tonic. He continues to tell me about his workday, a saga now continued from Grandview then to the Southern Orchards and now to a goddamn dinner table in the East Public. I can’t think of anything more excruciating than enduring an all vegan dinner with this J.P. Morgan analyst as he goes on and on and -

I wonder what he would think if I told him about the old place you and I would go in Philadelphia with the same candlelit fakery and pretentious people, pretending they aren’t eating $35 kale in the gentrified corner of Center City. I wonder what he’d think of the 1925 Lounge we’d frequent after swearing off the hipster lettuce restaurant; I loved that speakeasy inspired rap club with its women dancing in glass cutouts of the walls. 

I wonder what he would think if I told him about the time we went to a place just like this and you got so upset with me that night that you threw me down the stairs of our townhouse in Rittenhouse Square. I used a lot of makeup that year. 

Columbus is an interesting city. I let them call me Naomi here, a name I created to maintain anonymity from my past life.  Naomi likes playing the artistic poet to boring Midwestern financial analysts. She listens to jazz, cooks well, and can humor any political viewpoint. She never talks about New York, Philadelphia, or New Jersey, or any of the lives she led before this one.  

And so I smile and nod as he goes on and on and -