Daily Archives: December 28, 2019

Over the course of the past three years, we have witnessed an erosion of the values that many of us hold dear.

If one looked to only our national leaders, one might mistakenly conclude that values such as hard work, integrity, selfless service, courage and honesty are entirely missing from our national fabric. After all, arent these leaders elected to our nations highest level because they represent the best of us? But nowhere has this decline of decency been more patently noticeable than in the White House. How is it possible to hold these values dear and then elect someone we would not trust to be alone in a room with our daughters?

For those who have not been keeping track, the following is a brief timeline of examples we have seen on this crumbling road to perdition:

November 2015:

October 2016:

January 2018:

February 2018:

May 2018:

December 2018:

October 2019:

November 2019:

November 2019:

Any one of these actions is despicable. But, when taken in their entirety, a pattern emerges of a near complete absence of nearly every one of the values to which most of us aspire and hold so dear.

We claim to hold our highest of leaders to the highest of standards. So how is it that our nation has become so blind to the loss of what we purport to hold so dear? How did we get to a place where politics, favor-trading and fear mongering trump who we love, how we behave and when we stand up for all those around us? I can think of no other explanation for how we, as a fair and democratic nation, can continue to defend the illegal and amoral behavior that should be indefensible.

And perhaps you think it does not affect us; Washington is, after all, a nation away. Yet even in South Dakota, congressional members John Thune, Mike Rounds and Dusty Johnson leaders we elected to represent our values and way of life are supporting an agenda so far removed from that baseline one wonders where the loyalties really lay. What happened to those South Dakota values? How can any Christian or anyone guided by the Golden Rule treating others with love, fairness and compassion possibly behave as our president does? Moreover, how can others condone, let alone support, this?

This dichotomy is causing a gaping chasm in our nation. We are living in a new era, one marked by dishonesty, selfishness, infidelity, crudeness, bigotry, sexism, misogyny and homophobia an era in which all of this is accepted as the norm. In this new nation, the end always justify the means, and it matters little, if at all, whom we trample, cheat, abuse or belittle in order to achieve the desired end. However, these are not the values that represent me, and they are not the values I want taught to my children.

Alan L. Neville is a professor of education at Northern State University. The views are his and do not represent Northern State.

Read this article:

Neville: Where have our values gone? | News - AberdeenNews.com

The Riyadh Agreement challenged pessimism and proved that there can be a solution regardless of the size of disagreement

Starting from understanding its content and the conflicts that were not merely, as Western intellectual and media institutions claim and to which some Yemenis have objected, a Sunni-Shiite conflict or a proxy war, disregarding the particular Yemeni concern. It is also not only an internal bipolar crisis. The events in Sanaa in 2017 between the Houthis and their partner Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president, as they were in August 2019 between two allies. The difference between the two internal crises is that the Houthis killed Saleh to end the crisis. At the same time, Saudi Arabia sponsored an agreement between the Southern Transitional Council and the legitimate Yemeni government with the higher aim of liberating the country from the Iranian proxy and the Yemeni nightmare of a Houthi coup.

A disagreement over the solutionAgain: How and when will the crisis end? Examining the answers by the Yemeni government and its allies in decision-making, it boils down to the golden rule: Houthis do not understand any other language but that of power.

It justifies that only power liberated the vast areas of the country. Others, on the other hand, including the Americans, find that military pressure is the most effective way. In this, they agree with the alliance for legitimacy in Yemen that seems in its media discourse that it put military pressure on the Houthis and forced them to sit on the table to discuss a solution as their only option.

Another opinion, close to that of the UN special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and European powers, thinks that the humane aspect is the entry point into a peaceful solution and dialogue. Many Yemenis disagree with this for two reasons; first, never have Houthi conflicts (six wars since 2004) ended with a humane entry point followed by a political solution. Second, Houthis are not a group of old fighters that do not leave their caves and mountains, but have power over government facilities and are supported by foreign powers such as Iran and Hezbollah, with money, equipment, arms, and political, military, and media consultations.

Therefore, they will not compromise as easily as some may naively think.

Saudi Reconstruction as the Star of the YearFive years since the crisis in Yemen began in September 2014, when the Houthis carried out a coup against the government and took over power with the aid of Ali Abdullah Saleh, before he turned against them at the end of 2017 and the conflict between them ended with him being killed and his sons and relatives imprisoned, with some later being released.

Almost 85% of areas that were taken over by Houthis have been liberated, and a Yemeni government has been formed under circumstances that no government in the world would wish. That government then faced several changes and conflicts, beginning with its president, to its cabinet members and high officials in the economic sector such as the Minister of Finance and the heads of the economic committee and the governors of the central bank. At the end of the year, it faced military events and a disagreement with the Southern Transitional Council, whose leaders were former members and high officials in the same government.

This year Griffiths clearly expressed that there were people, he included, that think that it was possible to do better, according to what the UN website published.

Griffith mentioned to Asharq al-Awsat in an article published on 31 October 2019 that five indicators call for optimism. He said, "there are tangible indicators that call for hope in Yemen... We've seen in the last period a massive recession in violence in the North, the release of several prisoners and captives, and that the oil tankers were allowed to enter. Aid agencies were also allowed to provide aid to people in need in Ad-draihmi, in addition to serious talks being successfully conducted on the South (Riyadh Agreement), reaching an agreement that represents the first step towards a permanent peace process in the country. Accordingly, all of these indicators call for hope and reflect the good intentions of the parties involved, leading to tangible changes and real progress on the ground.

Riyadh AgreementIt seems that the events of a year were going to be disappointing, but some steps such as the Riyadh Agreement have changed that. The Agreement gave hope and revived optimism in the despair that dominated the most influential people in this issue, the Yemenis.

The conflict in Aden at the beginning of August was a shock, and everyone was following very tensely until Riyadh pushed for an agreement.

The Riyadh Agreement told Yemenis that dialogue and Agreement were still possible in the future, that it only needed a strong will, a sense of responsibility, and self-control. This is how the Yemeni government behaved during the events. The Southern Transitional Council also showed maturity when it took the political path to reach agreements and aims that give them the least of what they desire.

It is worth noting that Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, the deputy prime minister and the minister of defense, described the day the Riyadh Agreement was signed on 5 November 2019, as a glorious day. He said: "Every day the Yemenis come together is a day of joy for the Kingdom that has since the era of the founding King Abdulaziz and will always be cautious for Yemeni stability and its prosperity, believing that the wisdom of its people is above any challenge."

Houthi Violations and Terrorist BehaviorIt was not an average year. Many civilians were killed, and the Houthis escalated their repression and their clinging onto any idea that would loot whatever money is left for people in areas under their control. The Khomeini undertones that the pro-coup forces imposed on Yemeni culture have not changed. They have reached the illegitimate parliament in Sanaa, and even those parliament members who had not escaped the Houthi hell have started to complain about it, just like the Yemenis in areas under militia control are complaining about not being paid their salaries for 3 years.

In 2019, drone attacks came to the scene. Saudi Arabia prevented around 500 ballistic attacks by drones since the beginning of the crisis. Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the oil facilities in October, but Colonel Turki al-Maliki, the Arab Coalition spokesperson, said in a press conference that: "Saudi Arabia has evidence that the attack was not launched from Yemen as Iran's proxies have claimed," and that the Aramco attack did not target Saudi Arabia alone but also the international community and energy security.

Here is the original post:

A Year of De-escalation in Yemen and the Beginning of the End - Asharq Al-awsat English

What not to do when buying denim jeans

What not to do when buying denim jeans. With so many styles and options out there, why is it still so hard to find the perfect pair of jeans? How many women have stood in front of a mirror and hated every angle before declaring that they cant find their perfect pair?

But when you do find the right style for you, its magic. You love your jeans so much, you wear them until they have literally been worn out.

So how do you find the right pair for you? The sad thing about it is you do have to kiss a lot of denim-clad frogs before you find your dream pair of jeans.

Heres our tips on finding the right pair of jeans for you.

A golden rule to finding your prefect pair of jeans is to not follow seasonal trends. Trends in fashion come and go. While some denim jeans are fun to experiment with, finding a pair that hugs your figure and is flattering will always be in style.

Maybe you have your mind set on a style you like. Or think a certain shape wont suit you. Put all that doubt aside. You should be willing to try something unexpected.

You might find a new go-to style that you love. Try out similar brands and try on several pairs of jeans to find one you like.

This is a vital factor when shopping for denim. While the feel is important, the stretch and recovery are as well.

Stretchy jeans are meant to fit you snugly. If you are between sizes, buy jeans in a smaller size as they may become looser after multiple wears.

Look for a heavier fabric. A high thread count is a sign of a better-quality jean. Check the label for information. Denim brands that invest in high quality fabric often share details of their thread count on their product labelling.

You should always make sure that you new denim jeans are comfortable. After all, whats the point of buying clothes if they dont make you feel good. Make sure youre able to sit down and stand up with ease when shopping for denim.

Dont worry about a heavier fabric being uncomfortable. High quality jeans may feel stiff at first, especially if you are used to wearing cheaper denim. Once you break in your new jeans, they will soften and adjust to your curves, giving you a customisable fit that you dont get with cheap brands.

What not to do when buying denim jeans

Please follow and like us:

High quality jeans seasonal trends Stretchy jeans

Continued here:

What not to do when buying denim jeans - Fashion.ie

From the GOLO diet to JLos healthy eating plan (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Fad diets pop up on a regular basis, many of which are unhelpful and downright ridiculous.

If youre considering dieting, remember the golden rule: its not about starving yourself, and as with any lifestyle change, take care before making drastic changes to your food intake.

In the last year, weve explored the CICO diet (calories in, calories out), the milk diet (where you just drink milk every day, for four weeks please dont ) and carb cycling (which staggers the amount of carbohydrates that you consume).

We also investigated why ultra-processed foods are bad for us, how to make an easy Keto dinner and how the low FODmap diet can help those who suffer from IBS.

As its the end of the year, Google has just released searches for the most popular diets of 2019 and the results might surprise you.

Here are the diets that made the cut, and what theyre all about.

Intermittent fasting is technically not a diet, but an eating plan. It revolves around time restriction its not about what you eat, but when you eat it.

While there are many versions to choose from, the most popular tend to be 16:8 or 5:2.

With 16:8 you can eat during an eight-hour period, but outside of this time you are only allowed to consume non-calorie drinks. It has likely seen a boost after 50-year-old actress Jennifer Aniston, known for her toned frame, revealed that she follows this diet to keep her body in shape.

Meanwhile, 5:2 is focused on days; five days per week you have a normal diet, while only consuming 500 calories on the two other days. However, the time restriction is not set in stone; you can adjust the hours and days to suit your body type and needs.

The eating plan is meant to be help you get lean without having to restrict your food intake to specific foods, and some studies have shown that it can boost the bodys metabolism.

As the name suggests, this diet was named after a man called Dr Sebi, also known as Alfredo Darrington Bowman.

The herbalist developed an alkaline diet, which he believed would rid the body of mucus build-up and cleanse it.

This diet involves only consuming live and raw foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices. Essentially, everything that youd find in a Whole Foods isle.

Canned goods are a no-no, as are any animal products, soy, alcohol and fortified items (like cereals). You could also consider it a (very restricted) vegan diet.

Many high-profile celebrities who support the alkaline diet, including Victoria Beckham and Kate Hudson. Variations

There has been some controversy around this diet. Dr Sebi claimed it could cure Aids, as well as various forms of cancer and other illnesses, but there has been no evidence to support this.

Similarly, a man named Robert Young, who claims to have invented the alkaline diet, has been convicted of two charges of practising medicine without a license.

Make of that what you will, but if youre going to restrict your diet to such an extent, its best to chat to a qualified nutritionist or medical professional first.

Noom is also not technically a diet, but actually a weight loss app that offers two programmes; healthy weight loss and one that is tailored for diabetes prevention.

It utilises a traffic light system to tell you which foods are healthy, and which to avoid or eat less of. Once you sign up, you will also be paired with your very own health coach.

So, does it work? Medical News Today reviewed Noom earlier this year, and highlighted several studies which demonstrated mixed results, most quite successful.

For instance, a study from 2016 revealed that out of 38,921 Noom users, 77.9% lost weight with the help of the app. The app also contains features to help you monitor your weight loss, in order to keep you on track, and it was found that those who kept on top of this saw more consistent weight loss.

Now for the downside: Noom focuses on calories, rather than nutrients. As users cant check this in the app, it might be more difficult for them to ensure their body gets everything it needs, including vitamins, minerals and fats.

Whats more, according to MNT, not all Noom coaches are certified with the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching.

Youll also have to pay to use the app.

Heres the thing with calories: there are many factors that determine how many you are meant to consume each day so there is no one setting that works for all people.

This is dependent on your weight, height and how active you are on a day-to-day basis. By eating less calories, the stored fat in your body can burn off, but once again, counting calories often means that you forget about nutrients which are essential.

You need to get a certain amount of calcium and protein, vitamins and magnesium, and tailor the diet to your needs (i.e. the amount of calories yourbody needs). As an example, a lack of magnesium can lead to nausea, vomiting and fatigue, among other ailments.

According to a report by Public Health England in 2017, Brits should consume 1,800 calories per day. Prior to this announcement, this was recommended at 2,000 calories per day for women, and 2,500 for men.

This is only a guideline so speak to a personal trainer with nutritionist training or other professional to look over your personal diet, and how many calories you should stick to.

The GOLO diet has lost popularity; in 2016, it was the most searched weight loss method of the year.

It essentially revolves around insulin, and was put together by a team of experts including Jennifer Brooks, a chef who is board-certified in holistic nutrition and psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow, among others.

Those who wish to embark on the GOLO lifestyle needs to sign up on the website, and take part in the rescue programme which is said to repair your metabolism, balance hormone levels and achieve sustainable weight loss over the course of 30, 60 or 90 days.

This is done in three steps: calorie-reduction (around 1,300 to 1,800 per day), exercise and taking the GOLO Release supplement.

The latter is meant to be the defining element of the diet, which is perhaps unsurprising, given its trademarked and means customers need to come back or stick to GOLO to get access to it again.

GOLOs website boasts that many doctors are supportive of the diet, as well as glowing recommendations from users, but take this with a pinch of salt: self-promotion is easy. There is also not much in the way of studies to support the method i.e. that the supplement is of added benefit to people who are already managing a healthy diet and exercising.

Then again, the dietary plan in itself is quite inclusive, with a good level of nutrients included. Allowed foods include: fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, andhealthy fatsand of course fresh breads, pasta, and butter, according to the website.

It was created by reality TV star Heather Dubrow from The Real Housewives of Orange Country and her partner, plastic surgeon to the rich and famous, Dr Terry Dubrow.

There are three phases, each with a ,er, interesting names : red carpet ready, summer is coming and look hot while living like a human.

In short, this diet consists of intermittent fasting, but where it differs from the version weve explained above, this one includes dietary restrictions. Approved foods include vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats. You also need to consider how much you consume, and avoid processed foods.

On the plus side, alcohol is allowed.

Be cautious, as the couple claims their plan will activate the anti-aging ability found in your cells and have apparently compared this process, known as autophagy, to plastic surgery. Also, it may not be a pheasa

Once again, add a pinch of salt to this diet.

The Sirtfood diet allows dark chocolate, caffeine and red wine. OK, thats not all you need to know, but its a pretty great benefit, as far as diets go.

Heres why its OK: these foods contain sirtuin activators which are said to improve metabolism, and in turn, help you lose weight, as well as reverse aging.Sirt foods, as they are known, include the aforementioned delights, as well as berries, kale, matcha green tea, walnuts, rocket, strawberries, soy, and more.

As for the diet itself, there are two steps to follow.

During the first step, which consists of seven days, you only consume 1,000 calories per day (see 1,200 calories above for why this can cause problems). You are only permitted to eat one meal, which must feature a lot of sirt foods, as well as three green juices. This lasts for three days.

For the remaining four days, you can have 1,500 calories, includin gtwo sirtfood dishes, and one more juice (yay?) per day.During phase two, you can have three meals and one green juice per day.

Authors of the book about the Sirtfood diet claim it can turn on your skinny gene. Were not thrilled about this term to begin with, but there is also very little research to support it.

This diet has been around for a while in one shape or another, but its been revived this year (it last made Googles list in 2015).

Back then, it was referred to as the zero carb diet, and it has proven popular with celebrities.

Its pretty much what it says on the tin: no carbs, no sugar. However, not all people who use this diet completely limit themselves; some will have a small carb intake, while others cut it out completely.

That means no pasta, refined grains, bread, starchy vegestables, milk or fruits (which have natural sugar). Instead, youll be munching on fish, eggs, cheese, water and tea.

Heres the problem: carbohydrates fuel our bodies. They are broken down into glucose, which is then used by our muscles and our brain.

If you cut out carbs and sugar completely, energy levels will drop and you may feel tired, and suffer from low blood sugar.

It sounds a bit alien-like, but endmorphs are not from another planet.

The phrase was introduced by William Sheldon, a psychologist in the 40s, who outlined it as one of three body types. The two others are called ectomorphic and mesomorphic.

According to him, endomorphs have a lower metabolism, due to having a bigger bone structure, less muscle and carrying more fat in the bodies.

The main aspect of the endomorph diet is to avoid refined carbs and eat healthy fats from proteins and nuts, as well as carbohydrates, vegetables and whole-grain foods. This is intertwined with a mix of cardio and strength training.

Exercise and healthy eating, basically.

Were not all that surprised that JLo has made the list, after showing off her toned physique in Hustlers earlier this year.

While her character might be out partying and doing tequila shots on the regular, youll have no such fun on Jennifers diet. Alcohol and caffeine are strictly forbidden, as are sweets, processed and starchy foods.

If you need a snack, reach for the fruit bowl or munch on some vegetables. Other foods that JLo likes include fish, sweet potatoes and brown rice. Nutrients are key, with the actress and singer focusing on stuffing as much vitamins and minerals into her diet as possible.

But its not just about food she also works out on a regular basis.

All in all, it appears to be a pretty healthy approach, though theres nothing wrong in indulging in a cheat day now and again.

JLo, sometimes we need cake and tequila shots, OK?

MORE: Asda is giving away free vegetables to reduce waste

MORE: If you ate Christmas leftovers for breakfast, youre not alone

MORE: Woman enjoys first Christmas dinner after a lifetime of eating just sausages and ice cream

See the original post:

The most popular diets of 2019 revealed - Metro.co.uk

I sent letters to my Congressional representatives and to the Judiciary Committee chairs and ranking members on May 10, 2019. It is disgusting that their offices did not even acknowledge receiving the letters. So I sent another round of letters amidst the holiday season and summarize that letter for public consideration.

Our national situation continues on a precarious path of eroding public trust and faith in our government. As a registered Republican, I implore Congress to support the full disclosure and transparency President Donald Trump touted for so long.

His position has seriously changed on this after it was found out he withheld U.S. Congressionally approved defensive aid to Ukraine in order to ask for favors for his own personal use. That information was moved from one server to a more secure and secret server, evidence of a cover-up.

Following all the recent sworn testimony by the limited officials permitted to testify regarding Ukrainian demands from President Trump, the evidence shows a pattern of continuous obstruction of justice, contempt of Congress, bullying of the press and media.

Again, listening to the Presidents many sides of the same story and FOX news, Breitbart, etc., unfortunately the clear evidence so far has led me to conclude President Trump should be impeached as he willingly instructed his colleagues (in the Executive branch as well as personal attorneys, friends and family) to serve evil purposes contrary to law and the U.S. Constitution.

The House impeaches and a trial is held in the U.S. Senate. The House has pursued hearings and developed a compelling case that high crimes and misdemeanors have been committed by President Trump and his associates at the Presidents explicit and implicit direct abuse of power.

The Senate needs to objectively consider the evidence and convict or not convict. A free and open debate and cross examination will continue to make our country strong.

Let me say as a political scientist that such a high turnover rate in the highest levels of the Executive Branch as well as leaving many positions unfilled demonstrates that President Trump does not so much want to rule from evidentiary or factual background as much as just winging it that endangers the entire country and world.

His disdain of expert, informed intelligence and advice indicate a rigidity to rule by authoritarian actions. Facts do matter; no amount of tweeting or spinning can change them.

I need a strong response from our Congress to clearly state the American position about the need to follow the Golden Rule (Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. Matthew 7:12), and not the one that says The man with the Gold rules.

I would like to see and hear that Congress has the collective courage to take on objectively the largest menace to our freedom and republican form of government as embodied by the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and a history of gradual, yet continual human progress.

John C. JenningsFreehold Township

Original post:

Honesty in government is not an oxymoron - centraljersey.com

A Millennium of Turkish Literature, by Talat Halman, is a wonderful and beautifully written book, so thats a great place to start. Reading Nazim Hikmet is essential to understand not only how oppression works but also how strong is the struggle for freedom. Sabahattin Alis Madonna in a Fur Coat was released in English a few years ago, and its brilliant.

What do you read when youre working on a book? And what kind of reading do you avoid while writing?

Before I start a novel I do extensive research and I basically try to read everything I can find on the subject. I have spent long years in academia, and maybe that has given me a sense of discipline, which I normally lack. So depending on what I am planning to write, I read a lot and I think a lot. This could be anything: from Sephardic history to Ottoman architecture, from rare birds to lives of sex workers in Istanbul. Then, when I start writing the novel, I avoid reading novels, and I only read poetry for a while. Especially Walt Whitman, W. B. Yeats, Khalil Gibran, Anna Akhmatova and Rumi. I also love Maya Angelou and I must say Audre Lorde has a special place in my heart.

Has a book ever brought you closer to another person, or come between you?

Every novel that I have read has brought me closer to another human being, I believe. There are only very, very few books that I wish had never ever been written. One is The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Its full of dangerous lies and it paved the way for the Holocaust. Another horrible book is The Hammer of Witches, published in the 15th century. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people, mostly women, have been accused of witchcraft because of this nonsense, and killed, imprisoned or tortured. The Camp of the Saints, which is now widely read by the far right and its orators, is also full of hatred, racism and xenophobia.

What moves you most in a work of literature?

The voice, primarily. Both the art and the craft of storytelling. I love the waltz of the heart and the mind. The pessimism of the mind and the optimism of the heart, as Gramsci would say.

What genres do you especially enjoy reading? And which do you avoid?

I read everything and anything that speaks to me: political philosophy, neuroscience, cultural history. I also read graphic novels, comic books, cookbooks. Whatever interests me in that moment in time, I sit down and read it. I have no regard for so-called highbrow literature versus lowbrow literature. Never understood those distinctions. I have only one golden rule: I try to read as widely as possible, so rather than staying in the same mental comfort zone year after year, I like to travel across disciplines and genres and cultures.

Who is your favorite fictional hero or heroine? Your favorite antihero or villain?

Orlando is my all-time fictional hero/heroine. I also love the fact that Virginia Woolf calls that book a biography. As for a favorite antihero, Jay Gatsby, of course. The Great Gatsby is a remarkable book that needs to be revisited time and again.

More here:

The Turkish Novelist Elif Shafak Wants You to Read More Women - The New York Times

Dolly was there, almost, holding court despite her lack of humanness, as queer writers on assignment huddled giddily in front of her, awe-stricken by the realness of a fake Dolly.

I stood, out of body, piled into the country legends Chasing Rainbows Museum as the tech magic that is Dolly Partons hologram welcomed me to a Dolly shrine, perhaps the most holy site Ive visited seen since my parents took me to church as a kid. A regular experience at the museum, the 3D image of our honky-tonk goddess dove-coos about holding onto special memories and keepsakes; then, she asks you to remember one thing, breaking out some a cappella lines to let you know that I will always love you She blows kisses and bids farewell: Im outta here, she says. And poof, there she goes, melting into the most magical cloud of blue fairy dust, falling to the floor. Dolly transforms into a soaring butterfly. Because Dolly Parton.

When human Dolly descended upon a conference room at her DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, it was like shed just stepped out of a Saturday-morning cartoon or out of that holographic screen. She whooshed into our room of journalists with a hearty, Well hello eveybody! and zinged up to the front of a throng of already-seated journalists, making an astute observation on her jolly way: Yall like a bunch of kids: quiet, waiting for Ms. Dolly, Ms. Teacher, to come in.

Then Ms. Dolly got down to business, talking about her new Netflix anthology Heartstrings, where lessons are carefully taught with a steady hand and her unique ability to unify America, a topic explored in depth by Jad Abumrad on his podcast Dolly Partons America (having experienced Dollywood, including some of its otherworldly cinnamon bread, I can also say hes spot on in coining her universe the Dollyverse).

Expanding her ditties into full-on mini movies, the eight episodes produced for the series extend hearty lessons inspired by a mixture of both iconic and more obscure Dolly Parton songs; they gently and sneakily school the ignorant, the blissfully unaware and the downright bigoted, all told in Ms. Dollys preferred socio-political manner: through her stories.

The Jolene episode tells the tale of the eponymous misunderstood woman that Dolly fears will take her man in the song (played by Julianne Hough), though the episode concludes that its the cheating men who are the real problem. Forbidden love is the crux of Down from Dover, centered on a young black soldier and a white reverends daughter during the Vietnam War. The lesson of the Two Doors Down episode is classic Dolly because its the gay one. If youre a queer Dolly-head, you wont be surprised to discover her introduction to the episode, which spotlights a same-sex love story. But your homophobic uncle might be in fact, he might even finally learn what non-binary means and that transgender people are real people, all thanks to Ms. Dollys Queer 101 classroom introduction.

The Great Unifier, as shes been called, introduces every episode and it is always the best part of each installment. Here, she explains that even when she couldnt be with her blood family on the road, she was with a whole new family, with bands and crews that were made of all kinds of people who were different colors, gay, lesbian, transgender and all different faiths. But it didnt matter as long as we all loved each other and got along. And we did. And we still do. Because what it all comes down to is love is love, in road families and in real families. Now life might not always be a party, but you are better off if you can just enjoy yourself, have fun and accept and love the people around you.

What a wise teacher we have in Ms. Dolly. She reiterated a similar sentiment that day in the conference room, talking about the golden rule that is, once she hiked herself up to the stage. Im gonna need another lift, she chirped. These are not the kind of shoes you want to take chances in. These boots arent made for walkin. She stomped the floor, then we were off. According to Ms. Dolly, that rule is treating people right and that if know your values, your morals, and you know what to sacrifice and what not to, youll be all right. (When asked about granddaughter Miley Cyrus, she further illustrated this point by saying: People say you need to talk to Miley; I say, no, I dont need to talk to Miley. Let Miley be Miley, Ill be me and everybody needs to do their own thing.)

Heartstrings practices the golden rule, and like her brand emblem the butterfly, which is everywhere at Dollywood and at the DreamMore (even the toilet paper in my hotel room was butterfly embossed) happy endings are also ubiquitous in the Dollyverse. And so its no surprise that Heartstrings is an extension of that world. A world Netflix knew the streaming population needed more of, a series that Ms. Dolly said really did tug at your heartstrings.

In her mind, her songs are already movies anyway: I grew up way back in the mountains, and early in my early days we didnt even have electricity and we listened to the Grand Ol Opry on a battery radio. She didnt watch movies, and there was no TV, so to pass the time she would paint pictures in my songs and tell stories, she said. So it was just a natural fit, I thought, to do a series based on songs that Ive written.

Ms. Dolly couldve tapped into her most well-known songs for Heartstrings you may have noticed theres no Heartstrings episode centered on I Will Always Love You (maybe next time, she says) but aside from featuring a few of her biggest hits, we wanted to pick songs that are also different. She loves Westerns and dressing up in Wild West get-ups, so since shes Dolly Parton, she did a J.J. Sneed episode. Also, she loves dogs and so I had a little song I had written years ago called Cracker Jack so we wanted to get one of those in as well. We wanted to cover all the emotions.

At one point during the press conference Ms. Dolly sneezed, which is a non-story except that this was Dolly Parton sneezing, so it was an event. She asked for a tissue and whooped a laugh, teaching us all another lesson: even honky-tonk goddesses are susceptible to seasonal sickness. With this weather changin and all that, she said, before a man who was, I believe, a journalist but looked like he couldve easily been in one of these Heartstrings episodes passed her a tissue. She thanked him, calling him cowboy.

Like she was throwing the Cracker Jack dog a bone, she dangled the tissue out in front of our group of journalists, joking that she was going to fling it out so someone could sell it on eBay. Non-holographic Ms. Dolly, extraordinarily human at this point, called it star snot.

Watch Dolly Parton talk about Heartstrings below in the video below, from the shows premiere at Dollywood.

Read this article:

Life in the Dollyverse - pride source.com

Aimee Picchi, Special to USA TODAY Published 8:01 a.m. ET Dec. 21, 2019 | Updated 11:02 a.m. ET Dec. 23, 2019

Tipping your serverissecond nature at restaurants, but what about leaving a little something in other situations?It's a question that stirs confusion andanxiety more often during the holidays than at any other time of the year.

It turns out many Americans arent tipping their service providers at the holidays, according to a recent survey of more than 2,500 consumers by CreditCards.com. About half said they never tipped their childrens teachers or childcare providers, while 60% said they dont tip their mail carriers and another 70% said they dont tip trash collectors.

Many Americans arent tipping their various service providers at the holidays, according to a recent survey of more than 2,500 consumers by CreditCards.com.(Photo: AndreyPopov, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

If these are people who are helping you out throughout the year, it's a nice thing to do," saysTed Rossman, industry analyst at CreditCards.com.

It may not be entirely your fault that you're remiss in tipping. Many people are likely unaware of social norms that surround tokens of appreciation.

Rossman sayswhen he worked as a camp counselor, for example, parents often tipped him at the end of the summer. But his parents had never tipped because they didnt know about the tradition.

They found out they were being inadvertently cheap, he recalls.

Holiday tipping: Here's who you should include and how much you should give them

Travelers, beware: Automatic tipping is everywhere. Here's what you can do about it

Tipping norms are also rapidly changing due to the shifting economy, says Steve Dublanica, the author of Keep the Change: A Clueless Tipper's Quest to Become the Guru of the Gratuity and a former waiter.

Leaving a gratuity is now more widespread because of the rise of payment apps and gig economy jobs that didnt exist before smartphones, he says. On top of that, many workers are toiling in jobs that neither pay well nor come with benefits, which means theyre increasingly dependent on tips, Dublanica says.

That may be why tip creep is occurring in restaurants, coffee shops, and taxiand car services, he notes. A decade ago, the standard tip was 15%, but now the base service tip is considered to be about 20%, he says.

Consumers who snub tipping because they believe employers should pay their workers more are only hurting the workers, not the employers, he adds. Sometimes when people say, I'm not tipping, they are insulating themselves from the reality of the person in front of them.

Consumers who snub tipping because they believe employers should pay their workers more are only hurting the workers, not the employers.(Photo: Julia Thompson/USA TODAY)

Along those lines, not tipping at the holidays is terrible, Dublanica says. Offering a gratuity is the recognition that you are of value and of worth.

Workers who dont typically receive a tip but provide you a service throughout the year should receive a reward at the holidays, he adds. For instance, handymen, landscapers, dog walkers and babysitters are among those you should tip around the holidays.

Store closings: Who are the biggest victims of the retail apocalypse

For these workers, provide a tip thats equal to the cost of one service. That means if you have a personal trainer who charges $75 a session, tip the trainer an extra $75 before the holidays.

But, experts say, tipped workers like hairdressers and your favorite barista should also get a little extra at the holidays. A hairdressershould receive the cost of one service. Your favorite baristas or waiter should get a generous tip of around 40% on the price of a holiday meal or drink, Dublanica says.

There are a few cases when tipping gets tricky.Because they are government workers, mail carriers arent allowed to accept cash or gift cards that can be converted to cash. And any gift must be worth less than $20, according to postal regulations.

Food items, crafts or even a handwritten note can be a thoughtful holiday gift for your mail carrier, CreditCards.coms Rossman says. He pointed to a viral video posted on Facebook earlier this month that showed a delivery drivers reaction to a basket of sodas and snacks left out for him.

American hotels:: Here's how much and whom you should be tipping

He was so thankful and appreciative and surprised, Rossman says.

Tipping teachers, especially for families with teenagers, may also be tricky because families dont want to be seen as bribing the instructors for better grades or college recommendations, Rossman adds. But cards, food or small tokens of appreciation can be well-received without crossing any ethical lines.

Even so, because tipping is based on social norms, there are plenty of grey areas.

Dublanica says his final rule of thumb is the golden rule.He says: If it was you, what would you want?

Aimee Picchi is a business journalist whose work appears in publications including USA Today, CBS News and Consumer Reports. She previously spent almost a decade covering tech and media for Bloomberg News. You can find her on Twitter at @aimeepicchi.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/12/21/tipping-make-sure-youre-leaving-gratuity-your-service-providers/2687413001/

Original post:

Not tipping is 'terrible' during the holidays, but many Americans aren't doing it - USA TODAY

Ha! If it werent for the music I get introduced to by Lyft drivers, I would literally not listen to anything but Talking Heads and Broadway cast albums. Im always disappointed when they take note of my sensible shoes and reading glasses and turn the party off.

Theres a difference between radio that is simply not to your taste and radio that assaults the mind or senses. You can ask a driver to turn down the first and turn off the second. The golden rule of car radio is that drivers choose the soundtrackfrom a generally acceptable menu. Passengers shouldnt be exposed to excessive volume, profanity, screaming, insults, religious proselytization, or sexually explicit material. This is the case regardless of the demographics of either party. Earphones or buds are also your friend, and using a ride to catch up on voice mail, or listen to the news or a podcast, makes your request for quiet about you, not about the drivers choices.

Does this make you feel more comfortable? I must say, life gets a lot easier if you stop worrying what service providers think about you as a person. You want them to think well of you as a customerone who pays and tips well, gives relevant feedback, honors their time constraints, communicates clearly and respectfully, and so on. But its really OK if they think youre scatterbrained or awkward or have awful tasteor whatever. Silently judging the customers is part of the fun of every job. Dont take that away. Your drivers might think youre old and out of touch. So what? We live in an explosion of diversity and information. Everyones scope is necessarily limited.

Miss Conduct is Robin Abrahams, a writer with a PhD in psychology.

Visit link:

Advice: Can I ask my driver to turn off the music? - The Boston Globe

Whats the secret to a great roast potato for my Christmas dinner?Tracey, Guildford

Forget the turkey, sprouts and all the rest: the spuds are by far the best bit of any roast, Christmas or otherwise, and dont listen to anyone who tells you differently. They cover every base, from carbs, crunch and salt to fat, umami and delicious excess.

Theres not much of a secret to them, either, Tracey, so long as you use the right type of potato and the fats hot enough to begin with. While waxy ones crisp up nicely, they just dont hit the requisite level of softness inside, so for most of us that means using floury maris piper, desiree or king edwards, though if youre lucky enough to get your hands on some, kerrs pinks or golden wonder would be even better.

Once youve picked and peeled your potatoes, the next step is to boil them, which is where our modern kitchen gurus start dishing up confusion. Nigella boils them for only four minutes, Delia gives hers 10 and Jamies get 15, while Heston Bloomingheck takes his to the brink of disintegration by boiling them for up to half an hour, which is just an accident waiting to happen, and best avoided on this of all days. (Mind you, his tip to add the peeled skins to the boiling pot is bona fide genius, because it really does make the potatoes taste exponentially more, er, potatoey.) Some then dust their drained spuds in flour or even semolina (*hard stares La Lawson*) to help them crisp up, but theres no real need: so long as they go into very hot oil, theyll go crunchy enough anyway.

But enough of the culinary slebs, already: before we all reach for the Aunt Bessies, lets ask some folk who actually make roasties for a living. According to Steven Smith, chef/owner of The Freemasons Arms in Wiswell, Lancashire, When you think about it, the best part of a roastie is the bit submerged in fat, because its really crisp but stays all fluffy inside; the bits that arent under oil often dry out and go rock-hard.

These days, Smith doesnt actually roast his potatoes at all; he deep-fries them. While thats perhaps a bit much for the home cook and the uncharitable among us may well be asking, Isnt that a chip, then? Smith does this because it ensures consistency; hes clearly on to something, too, because his pub is always up near the top of the annual Top 50 Gastropubs list. Anyway, he says, the cooking medium isnt as pivotal as letting the spuds dry out properly first. We put ours uncovered in the fridge overnight, to give them time to lose all the moisture they pick up in boiling.

Nathan Richardson, head chef at the award-winning Guinea Grill in Mayfair, agrees with an overnight dry, but if thats not possible, give them at least an hour to cool and dry before roasting. This guy makes 200-plus portions each and every Sunday, so knows his way around a roastie better than most. And give them a shake to rough up the edges only once they are cool, or youll risk destroying them entirely and ending up with roast mash.

As for the fat you use, take a leaf out of Delias book and match it to what youre serving. Richardson uses dripping Why waste money on duck or goose fat when you can get a block of dripping for less than a pound? as befits a man who runs a kitchen famed for its steak, but whatever you use, he says, It has to be smoking hot before the spuds go in, because it coats them better and prevents sticking.

Its the finishing touches, however, that really set the professionals apart: Richardson dusts his roast spuds in dried thyme, rosemary, salt and white pepper, all ground to a fine powder, while Smith tosses his first in browned salted butter flavoured with garlic, thyme and rosemary before seasoning with yet more salt, rosemary and thyme.

Finally, as everyone knows, the golden rule is always to make way more than you think you need, because few mouthfuls are more pleasurable than a leftover roastie straight from the fridge. If I had my way, Richardson says, Id avoid eating them with roast dinner at all. Theyd make the perfect bar snack if only I could guarantee people wouldnt ask me to heat them up.

Do you have a culinary dilemma? Email feast@theguardian.com

Read the rest here:

Christmas dinner: whats the secret to the perfect roast potato? - The Guardian