Monthly Archives: April 2021

R

emember pirate radio? And its heyday in the early 1960s? Ocean going vessels or abandoned sea forts off the coast of England were used to broadcast a daily diet of rock/pop music in contravention of the BBC monopoly. These floating stations, their playlists and off the wall presenters were hugely popular with listeners.

Step up Paddy Roy Bates, a retired British army major and engaging entrepreneur. Bates set himself up as DJ supremo of Radio Essex on HM Fort Knock John, a disused anti-aircraft platform built during the Second World War off the coast of, you guessed it, Essex.

With a grappling hook and rope, he hoisted himself up onto the platform of Fort Knock John and singlehandedly evicted the pirate broadcaster in residence. Bates subsequently lived on this isolated outpost from 1965-1966, subsisting on tinned food, pumping out tunes 24 hours a day. But the whole operation was stymied when he was fined 100 for a violation of the 1949 Wireless Telephony Act.

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The story of the improbable micronation of Sealand - The Independent

"Straight From the Soul" is no random title for Hannah Baiardi's second release.

The pianist, singer and songwriter from South Lyon, who holds degrees in music and communications from the University of Michigan, considers the diverse eight-track set to be the most representative music she's put on record to date.

"I look at this as my debut," says Baiardi, 26, who recorded the album with producers Eric Wojahn and Josh Weichemann at Solid Sound Studios in Ann Arbor. "This is me. This is my unique sound -- completely my own sound." Jazz is at "Straight From the Soul's" heart, but it also showcases elements of pop and soul from influences such as Diane Krall, Sade, Seal and salsa -- and even a bit of rap on the track "Distant Land."

She's also joined by Detroit singer David Magumba on the smooth dance floor groove of "Let Go."

Hannah Baiardi's utopian song "Distant Land" gets your toe tapping and your groove on. Filmed in her native college town of Ann Arbor, MI, her quirky video conjures a nostalgia for childhood innocence and creative escape.

Original Music Composed by Hannah Baiardi 2020

Directed/Produced by Hannah Baiardi

Co-Directed/Cinematography by Santiago Bukovsky

Animation/Visual Leaf Effect by Alec Richker

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCutD_tHnvWYOHEpBYQ06Mzg

"I intestinally wanted to create a smattering of songs that didn't sound like they belonged on the same album," Baiardi explains. "There's a smattering of different influences, all put on album -- R&B and soul, a little bit of New Age, some jazz. I think it still sounds like one artist, though."

The only child of parents with "fantastic taste in music" but who do not play themselves, Baiardi's musical path started "from the moment I sat down at the piano" when she was three years old. "I kept begging my parents to get me a piano because I saw some friends playing it," Baiardi remembers. "I was transfixed." She began studying with a University of Michigan-Flint professor when she was seven, learning mostly by ear and listening to all the great jazz pianists she could find. "I shunned the classical route," Baiardi says. "That didn't feel like home...And as soon as I started singing and playing together I found it hard to separate the two."

Her teenage years were "not normal -- I was very driven," including tenures with the Michigan Youth jazz Ensemble and the Wayne State University All-Star Jazz, as well as at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. At U-M, Baiardi studied with Geri Allen, Ellen Rowe and Benny Green in the music school's jazz department. "Their mentorship meant so much to me in seeing where I differ from the straight jazz world," Baiardi notes. "It was like, 'Hey, there's this other side of my musicality' that I didnt get to explore until after university," including the likes of George Winston, Michael Franks and Quiet Storm R&B artists.

But her U-M studies did help Baiardi develop her improvisational skills, which served her well on her EP, "The Quietest Place," and even moreso on "Straight From the Soul."

"Improvisation is at the center of my composition," she explains. "Getting to work with instructors, other artists and really explore the idiom of jazz really opened my voice."

The new album -- which features contributions from Marion Hayden, Bill Lucas, Ryan King, Pete Siers and others -- includes Baiardi's 2019 single "Who Can Relate" as well as rearranged versions of a pair of Michel Legrand compositions, "The Windmills of Your Mind" from "The Thomas Crown Affair" and "The Summer Knows" from "Summer of '42." "Film music has always played a large role in my composition and arranging voice," Baiardi says. "I wanted to do my own arrangement of those, kind of unique that I hadn't heard before. The melodies are timeless. It's just beautiful music that can be made fresh, working with the arrangements."

Baiardi recorded "Straight From the Soul" under a variety of pandemic conditions, including virtual rehearsals with the other musicians. With the album's release, meanwhile, she has "just started getting back into my creative mode," and if Baiardi has her way there will be more music coming, and sooner rather than later.

"I have a while stockpile," she says with a laugh. "I have a folder called 'contenders' with a tremendous amount of material in there -- some more piano tunes, some with violin. I have songs coming up about social change and everything that's going on now. There's a lot of introspection going on. I wasn't feeling super-creative for awhile, but it's really coming back to me now."

Hannah Baiardi performs a virtual concert for the Ark Family Room Series at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 15 via Facebook Live. Donations go to the artist and venue. More information via theark.org.

Excerpt from:

Hannah Baiardi's new music comes "Straight From the Soul" - The Oakland Press

That brown flake that suddenly started moving on your counter isyikes!not a crumb, but a pesky ant that just alerted others to join its stead. If you have ants in your house, one of the first things you want to do is identify the entry point, which could be a window sill, a crack in the foundation, kitchen floor, or other seemingly microscopic entry points that ants (and other pests) are able to find.

So, to say cleanliness is important is an understatement. Ants are attracted to moisture and food, so they will try to make their way into a home to find those items. "Make sure that you are keeping surfaces, counters, and floors clean of crumbs or food," says Godfrey Nalyanya, Entomologist and Technical Services Manager for Western Exterminator. "It is also important to make sure you don't have any leaks around your pipes, take an inventory of your home to make sure any cracks or crevices are sealed, and properly seal and store food in your home." Ahead, discover expert tips that'll show you how to get rid of ants, once and for all.

Since ants are so small, they can get into a home through any cracks, crevices, or gaps throughout the entire house. Ants also get to the interior of the home around doors and thresholds, through cracks in the floor as well as through any penetrations, like pipes, that are not sealed properly, says Nalyana. If the ants are near a water source, make sure to remove the water or seal up any cracks.

"As a home inspector, I have seen many pest problems and the accompanying wood damagesuch as from carpenter ants," says Arie Van Tuijl, blogger at homeinspectorsecrets.com, a home maintenance blog. "I really like non-repellant sprays and baits to get rid of ants in living spaces. These sprays and baits don't kill ants immediately, but the ants bring the chemicals back home, and it will kill the entire colony."

For those that are natural-product inclined, consider lightly powdering window sills and floor corners with diatomaceous earth or 'DE.' "This material is a type of sedimentary rock (fossilized diatoms) and it will get absorbed into the ants and kill them through a process of dehydration," says Van Tujil.

Look for Natural Alternatives

"Cinnamon is a natural repellent for ants and other bugs. When inhaled, it prevents the ants from breathing properly and causes death," says Natalie Barrett, pest control expert at Nifty Pest Control, adding, "you can use cinnamon sticks, powder, or cinnamon essential oils." Vinegar is another natural alternative. "Mix equal parts of vinegar and water, place the mixture in a spray bottle, and spray on the ants directly," says Barrett. "The mixture will kill them and you can clean the area by collecting the dead ants using a wet wipe or damp cloth," they add.

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Dont forget the pepper. "Ants hate black pepper and cayenne pepper," says Barrett. "You can sprinkle pepper powder in the areas that ants most often occupy in your home or mix the pepper with water and use a spray bottle to spray the mixture. This combination is not deadly to ants but it will push them away from your home."

If youve treated the area but still see a few stragglers, dont be alarmed. "You can set traps to get rid of the remaining ants," advises Jen Stark, blogger at Happy DIY Home, a gardening and home improvement site. "Some traps will entice the ant to eat the poison and bring it back to the nest to kill the entire nest. However, keep these traps out of reach of your kids and pets to avoid accidents," she notes.

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How to Get Rid of Ants, According to Experts - HouseBeautiful.com

SANDWICH Things are coming to a head at the Tree House Brewing Company's soon-to-open Sandwich location.

Damien Lee Goudrew, one of the founders of the Charlton-based companyand listedmanager of the site, is expected to appear before the Sandwich Board of Selectmen Thursday evening for approval of a Farmer Series Pouring Permit and Entertainment License.

All other licensing requirements for thesite have been approved by the states Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

The company bought 98 Town Neck Road and the adjoining property at 3 Freeman Ave.through Landreau Realty, LLC for $1.275 million on Nov. 12.

On Nov. 19, the same real estate company bought 5 Freeman Ave., the closest beach house adjoining the property, for a little over $1 million.

The brewery taproomis expected to open by summer, pending the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the companys website.

The facility will include a taproom with resident food trucks and Tree House beers to go as part of anOn The Flydistribution service. The website says the company intends to open the facility "sooner" as an On The Fly location,or curbside pick-up of beer cans.

Previously: Tree House Brewing is coming to Sandwich

Beyond 2021, we are planning huge renovations that will transform this experience to something else altogether, the companys website says. Though we are not yet prepared to share those plans with you yet, we can assure you it will be something to behold.

A representative from the company declined to speak further on the project, saying it is the company's policy not to speak to the media.

The brewery location is a three-story, wood-frame building with a gross floor area of approximately 7,760 square feet, according to the pouring license. When allowed, there will be on-premise consumption on the first and second floors of the building.

The brewery will also include a deck overlooking the ocean, and the adjacent parcel at 3 Freeman Ave. will be developed to be an outdoor beer garden for on-premise consumption, the pouring license said.

The location will have about 258 seats, with an occupancy permit for 500 people for both indoors and outdoors.

Tree House is seeking permission through the entertainment license to haveradio and instrumental music, including a band with up to three instruments.

Let's talk food: Good Stuff at Cape Cod Restaurants

For the pouring permit, Tree House is seeking permission to have at least one brew tank on the premises and to serve only its own beer.

Tree House Brewery is also looking to expand in Deerfield to relieve the pressure of the home camp located in Charlton, the company's website said. The new location also isexpected to open this year.

The company still needs to get a building permit for the renovations planned for the Sandwich building, according to George Bud Dunham, the town manager. The site still needs final approvals from the building inspectorand the fire department before it can open, he said.

The town hasnt received a lot of feedback from residents about the brewery opening, Dunham said.

The major concerns have been about parking, because there is very little available on the site, Dunham said. Preliminary talks between the company andthe town indicate there will be a shuttle service to other public parking lots in town to help alleviate the problem, he said.

This location has had a streak of bad luck in staying open in the past. Before it was even considered for a brewery, there were a number of restaurants there including the Drunken Seal and Horizons that lasted just one or two seasons.

The place has a history of not being successful, David Sampson, a member of the Board of Selectmen, previously told the Times. The view is what people go for.

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Tree House brewery seeks final licenses to open in Sandwich by summer - Cape Cod Times

America becoming a majority-minority society, or no longer having a white majority, is a misleading narrative based largely on a confused interpretation of a constructed demographic statistic. The changing composition of America's population is being misinterpreted by the puzzling use of racial, ethnic, linguistic, ancestry and origin categories that increasingly make little sense.

Since the first U.S. census in 1790, when some data on race and ethnicity as well as categories differentiating between free persons and slaves were collected, the government has changed its definitions of racial categories more than 10 times. Nearly every census has collected racial data differently than the census preceding it. Also, in most past censuses people who were both white and another race, no matter how small the percentage, were counted as the nonwhite race.

In addition, census terminology for ethnicity data has changed, especially during the recent past. In 1970, for example, the Census Bureau added a question to one of its forms about Hispanic origin. In the 1980 census the term Spanish/Hispanic was added before origin or descent in a form sent to all U.S. residents. But in 1990 descent was dropped from the census question and in 2000 origin was dropped as well and the word Latino was added.

America's population census is an essential undertaking and importantly required by the Constitution for determining representation in Congress. However, beyond the basic enumeration, what subjects or questions are included in the decennial census is a political matter, which is increasingly being impacted by decisions of the courts.

Census questions about age, sex and place of residence typically raise few objections. However, the collection of other demographic characteristics, such as religion, race, citizenship, ethnicity and immigration status are often contentious and some are avoided. In addition, some Americans are distrustful of the census because of data privacy, confidentiality and misuse of certain data, as occurred in the past as well as more recently.

With respect to race and ethnicity, the Census Bureau adheres to the standards of the White Houses Office of Management and Budget (OMB). For the race question the five categories are: white, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

For the ethnicity question the two categories defined by OMB are: Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino. Also, its important to note that people who identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino may be of any racial category, including white.

Beginning in the 1960, census race was no longer determined by census takers, but based on self-identification. The self-reporting of more than one race began with the 2000 census, which provided an estimate of the country's multiracial population.

The Census Bureau stresses that its racial categories reflect a widely recognized social definition of race and are not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically or genetically. Also, the racial categories may include racial, national origin or sociocultural groups.

Throughout its history America has repeatedly experienced fears and concerns about its identity and being taken over or displaced by others. Those fears and an us versus them mentality continue today and are typically aimed at immigrants and their descendants and minorities.

Around the time of the nations founding, there were concerns that the English language might be displaced because of incoming Germans. Numerous other fears and hostilities towards minorities and immigrants followed.

Americas population is made up of hundreds of ethnic groups coming from around the world, not simply two, Hispanic and not Hispanic. For example, some numerous ethnicities in the U.S. are German, West and Central African, Irish and Italian.

Also, importantly, the country is not made up of a single homogeneous majority group, as is often reported. The majority category is a divisive narrative based on a constructed demographic statistic. It is formulated by lumping together groups with different ethnic backgrounds, such as Egyptian, English, Greek, Iranian, Italian, Moroccan, Turkish and Russian, and then providing them with a label typically based on their physical appearance and skin pigmentation, namely white."

More American couples are creating families across racial, ethnic and linguistic lines, thereby blurring ethnic and assigned racial boundaries. As a result, large and growing numbers of young people have two or more categories of ancestry and simply choose to identify themselves as American in the census.

One in seven U.S. infants, or 14 percent, were multiracial or multiethnic in 2015, nearly triple the level in 1980. This population group of mixed ancestry is projected to be the fastest growing group over the next several decades.

Over the past 250 years, one of the widely recognized strengths of America has been its ability to welcome immigrants from around the world and have them and their children become Americans. This strength is reflected in Americas traditional motto and inscribed in the countrys great seal and on its dollar, E Pluribus Unum, or out of many, one.

So, whenever the majority-minority society is mentioned, just remember it is based on a constructed demographic statistic, unlike measures such as age, sex or place of residence. As in the past, Americas population in 40, 50 or 100 years will consist of men, women and children with various ethnic, religious, cultural, linguistic and ancestral backgrounds. But there is one critical thing that those people will continue to share in common: they will proudly call themselves Americans.

Joseph Chamie is a consulting demographer, a former director of the United Nations Population Division and author of numerous publications on population issues, including his recent book, "Births, Deaths, Migrations and Other Important Population Matters."

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America's majority-minority confusion | TheHill - The Hill

Treaty tribes and our state salmon co-managers are looking ahead to another grim year of fishing because of poor ocean conditions that reduce marine survival and the ongoing loss of freshwater habitat.

Higher marine water temperatures, changing currents and a disrupted ocean food chain are the main causes of reduced ocean survival. The salmon that do return are often smaller than normal and females carry fewer eggs.

Queets River coho is one of the weak stocks driving fisheries constraints during this years North of Falcon process that sets salmon fishing seasons. While overall coho returns are expected to be better this year, the stock continues to decline despite a rebuilding effort that began in 2017. Coho from the Strait of Juan de Fuca tributaries and the Snohomish River are also failing to recover under rebuilding plans. Tighter conservation closures will likely be necessary to ensure escapement goals are reached to produce the next generation of fish.

Stillaguamish River chinook returns are expected to be low again this year. Skagit River summer and fall chinook are also concerning. The summer run is expected to return in low numbers that will constrain fisheries and require close monitoring to avoid a closure. This is especially worrisome because Skagit River summer and fall chinook are the most abundant and healthiest natural chinook stock in Puget Sound.

Chum salmon, traditionally one of the most plentiful salmon species, are expected to be dramatically lower this year in large part because of low marine survival from changing ocean conditions. Were particularly concerned about stocks from southern Puget Sound streams.

Tribal and state co-managers face increasingly difficult decisions because we must also factor in increasing seal and sea lion predation and the needs of southern resident orcas on top of the ongoing decline of salmon caused by changing ocean conditions and lost freshwater habitat.

Salmon were abundant in western Washington for millions of years. Their sheer numbers, naturally high productivity and plenty of good habitat made them resilient from the effects of disease, drought, poor ocean conditions and a host of other environmental factors.

We must rebuild that resilience if we are going to recover salmon, and we need properly functioning habitat to do that. One way is to focus on what we can do to improve freshwater habitat.

A new joint tribal/state riparian habitat initiative is taking that task on through a uniform, science-based management approach to restore and protect streamside vegetation. Trees, shrubs and other plants along streams help lower water temperatures, filter pollutants and reduce sediments that can smother salmon eggs.

The tribal and state salmon co-managers alone cant recover salmon. We need help from federal agencies, local governments, environmental groups, agriculture and others if we are going to be successful.

We also must continue to build resilience in the co-manager relationship created by the 1974 ruling in U.S. v. Washington that upheld tribal treaty-reserved rights and established the tribes as salmon co-managers with the state.

As salmon continue to decline, every decision carries greater potential impacts to fishermen and the resource. As a result, our co-management relationship is increasingly tested every year. Still, we remain committed to cooperative co-management because our history shows we are better together.

Lorraine Loomis is chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.

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Ocean conditions, lost habitat drive salmon concerns | Opinion | thereflector.com - The Reflector

Adults may have the option to be mask-free in much of Utah, but the lawmaker who sponsored the endgame law that lifted the statewide mandate says residents shouldnt expect K-12 schools to stop requiring masks this school year.

To move up the deadline to lift the K-12 order, wed have to do a special session, said Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield. The Utah Legislature, he added, has no plans to do that before the end of the school year.

As for next fall, Ray said he is optimistic that enough adults and teens will have been vaccinated against the coronavirus that Utahns will be protected by herd immunity.

By the end of the summer, this is going to be completely behind us, Ray said. I really think that, going into the fall, [all mask requirements are] not going to be an issue.

Heidi Matthews, president of the Utah Education Association, the states largest teachers union, is unwilling to predict that far ahead.

If the virus is still running [in the fall] and we still need to be having masks when were indoors, she said, well cross that.

The current public health order that governs Utahs coronavirus response statewide was put in place in January by Rich Saunders, executive director of the Utah Department of Health. The order was updated April 9, to run through June 15 and reflects the changes enacted by the COVID-19 endgame bill, HB294.

That measure targeted the statewide mask mandate, setting its expiration date as April 10. But the law sets the date of July 1 to lift other emergency orders related to COVID-19, which allows the K-12 mandate to stay in place.

(Even with the states order expiring, many businesses and organizations continue to require masks on their premises.)

A spokeswoman for Gov. Spencer Cox said the governor anticipate[s] the school mask mandate will continue until July 1.

For anyone unhappy with the continuing K-12 mask mandate, Ray said, Lets not blame the schools. Its a state health department mandate under the governor. The principal, the superintendent, nobody can change that requirement. Its got to come from the governors office.

Having a state-ordered mask rule, Matthews said, has absolutely taken the pressure off not only our educators, but our administrators and our school districts, in being able to say, This is what were expected to do.

UDOH also tells parents, in a list of frequently asked questions, that local officials, like a school board or county council, dont have the legal authority to end the mask requirement in schools before [June 15].

The health department notes that the mask rule remains in place for schools because there is no COVID-19 vaccine authorized for children under 16, not every adult working in schools has been vaccinated, and children can get sick from COVID-19 or transmit the disease to people at home.

Rays advice to parents who object to mask mandates for their children: Dont go to the schools and cause problems. Put your kids in a mask, or keep them home [and learning] virtually.

The two-week gap between the orders June 15 expiration and July 1 date to lift all emergency COVID-19 orders will mostly affect year-round schools, he said.

On Saturday, a group called Utah Parents United scheduled See My Smile rallies at school district offices across Utah, demanding schools allow kids to go unmasked immediately to coincide with the lifting of the statewide mask order.

The events drew handfuls of parents, with children in tow, in South Salt Lake, Farmington and other locations. Where there were rallies Saturday, organizers urged parents to accompany their children to school Monday and demand they be allowed to go maskless. A few parents, posting to the groups Facebook page, said they did that.

In Salt Lake County, spokespeople at Salt Lake City, Murray, Granite, Canyons and Jordan school districts said there was no widespread mask resistance Monday. Ben Horsley, spokesman for Granite, said a solitary protester stood in front of the districts South Salt Lake office for about an hour Monday.

Just a handful of students arrived at schools in the Canyons district without masks Monday, said spokesman Jeff Haney.

We operated exactly like we have since the start of school in August, he said. That is to say, students were reminded that masks were required and masks were provided to the students who did not have them.

Monday was the first day back from spring break at Canyons, and other than the heightened awareness of mask-wearing, Haney said, it wasnt much different than any other day of this school year.

Parents can seek exemptions from the K-12 mask mandate for students health reasons, such as asthma or allergies, Michelle Hofmann, UDOHs deputy director, has noted.

There have been 439 COVID-19 cases in Utah schools in the past two weeks, according to UDOH, and 36,605 cases related to schools during the entire school year.

UDOH issued a fraud alert Tuesday, warning against fake cards bearing the departments seal and Saunders signature that supposedly give the bearer an exemption to mask rules. Neither UDOH nor local health departments provide such cards, the department tweeted.

Matthews said teachers who are UEA members are as divided as the nation, in terms of the politicizing of masks, the freedom and the responsibilities, and that whole discussion.

We especially see that frustration in our rural areas, where the [case] numbers arent high, and they are able to follow that physical distancing so there has been significant frustration with the continuation of the mandate in schools, Matthews said. On the other side, particularly in urban areas, there is a clamoring for this to continue, because they know that it is working to bring the virus down.

Its clear that not all Utah kids will have access to vaccines by the time school starts again in the fall.

The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced on March 31 that a clinical trial found the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine one of three authorized for adults in the United States to be 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children 12 to 15.

The data is being studied by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Pfizer vaccine could be approved for adolescents as soon as July. If that happens, health experts say many teens could be vaccinated by the start of the next school year.

Younger children may have a longer wait. Clinical trials to determine the vaccines safety and dosage with small children have just begun, some of them in Utah. It may be a year or more before those trials produce data for the FDA to consider.

Were all weary of masks, Matthews said. However, she said, her concerns going into the next school year go past whether mask rules are in place in Utahs schools.

I think about all of the pressures that our educators have been under and the number of people who are rethinking education as a career, Matthews said. Its been hard to teach in this atmosphere, because were having to do things in so many different ways with so many technical difficulties, and concerns about reaching students.

What schools look like in the fall, Matthews said, has a lot to do with the ground we prep in these upcoming months, to lay the foundation for those best-case possibilities.

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Some Utah parents are protesting, but here's why Utah students will likely keep their masks on until summer - Salt Lake Tribune