RAVE to the mystery neighbor who softly practices jazz on the saxophone after dinner. It sounds like someone unwinding after a long day and the relaxation reaches out between our houses. Thank you for the music.

RANT to the person who threw a paver through the windshield of our car. Thanks a lot for wrecking my morning and messing up our week. Did you even think about the chaos you might cause to a busy family juggling three kids, three jobs and a parent with limited mobility? What happened to make you so inconsiderate, destructive and just plain mean? I hope you got $400 worth of enjoyment out of that moment, because thats how much we are paying for your little bit of fun.

RAVEtothe two young girls who walked around offering all the staffat an EvergreenHealth hospice center handmade beaded bracelets, some of which spelled out thank you. During an intense day as a hospice nurse, I was so touched by them. They made our day!

RANTto everyone walking in head-to-toe black clothing, glaring at me as I drive toward you. Trust me, I dont want to hit you, but I cant see you! I am driving as slowly and defensively as I can, but you need to do your part by being easier to be see at dusk and after dark. Well all be happier.

RAVEto the smiling lady who saw my need for a parking space at Alderwood mall and pointed out that she was leaving. Because of her kindness, I was able to be on time for my appointment.The world becomes a better place when we can do something to help someone else. This didnt cost her a thing, but to me, her kindness was immeasurable. I was pleased to pay this ladys kindness forward the next day.

RANT to our cable provider for canceling The Arts Channel from its list of programs. It was so relaxing to get away from the mayhem and violence of so many other channels. I realize not all the programs are enjoyed by everyone, but there was almost always something soothing at all times. Please consider returning The Arts Channel back to your list for oh so many of us!

RAVE to the Fred Meyer stores that have placed a recycling bin at their entrances for all those plastic bags and wrappers that we dont know what to do with. The instructions state specifically that they are not to go in general recycling bins.

RANT AND RAVERave to my late husband, who lived and died so courageously. Our 40 years together werent nearly long enough. Rant to phone scammers who are already preying on my loss, phishing for his information before hes even been cremated. Words cant express my disgust and despair.

See the article here:

Rant & Rave: Thank you to the mystery neighbor who softly practices their saxophone after dinner - Seattle Times

This week, our music critics have picked everything from Chastity Belt to Raphael Saadiq to Lavender Country. Follow the links below for ticket links and music clips for all of their picks, and find even more shows on our complete music calendar. Plus, check out our arts & culture critics' picks for the 73 best things to do this week.

Moe Ribbs Blues Band Five Chicago blues-loving Seattle musicians band together to play Mississippi Delta-inspired covers and originals. As the band puts it, "We can lay down some blues so greasy you had better bring a bib!"

188 Sullivan: Charlie Parker's New York in the '50s The D'Vonne Lewis Quartet will play the music of Charlie Parker (which you can also hear this week in Seattle Opera's production of Yardbird) and the Seattle Modern Orchestra will play the premiere of 188 Sullivan (which press materials describe as "Varese meets Bird").

Tove Lo, ALMA I associate Tove Lo with the horny, sweaty moments when youre collecting yourself in a club bathroom. Im wet through all my clothes / Im fully charged, nipples are hard / Ready to go, she purrs on her 2017 iconic BANGER of a track, disco tits. The Swedish princess of dark pop is touring in support of her most recent release, Sunshine Kitty. The record is a bit lighter in fare and sound for those accustomed to her grungy approach to hyper-pop, but the tropical-inflected track with Doja Cat, Equally Lost, is a punch in the face. Tove Lo will be joined by Finnish artist and frequent collaborator ALMA. JASMYNE KEIMIG

Death Cab for Cutie There is something inherently gray and rainy about Ben Gibbardled alt-rock band Death Cab for Cutie, which makes sensetheyre from Bellingham. They churn out some poignant ballads. Some barn burners. Some dark, Radiohead-flavored odes. This three-night stint to replace their September storm-out is ostensibly a hometown run, still supporting 2018'sThank You for Today, but also the super fresh (just released)The Blue EP. Three notable PNW acts open each night: Seattle blues-punk greats the Black Tones on Monday, Portland-based dreamily melodic indigenous rocker Black Belt Eagle Scout on Tuesday, and indie folk-rock singer-songwriter Laura Gibson on Wednesday. LEILANI POLK

Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group With 14 albums under his belt, the musician and actor has become an institution unto himself. Now, the acclaimed performer launches a new tour with his Acoustic Group. Together they cover a variety of genres, offering elements of country, folk, jazz, and even gospel.

PolyGras with Polyrhythmics and the Pulsations Spend Mardi Gras getting down to soulful, funky Afrobeat fusion with Polyrhythmics and the Pulsations (a.k.a West Seattle Soul).

Terror, The Warriors, Creeping Death, Dare, 2KLIX LA-formed hardcore heavies Terror will shred to death with support from the Warriors, Creeping Death, Dare, and 2KLIX.

Andy Shauf, Molly Sarle Toronto-based, Saskatchewan-raised songwriter Andy Shauf will come to Seattle with his new concept album, The Neon Skyline, which tells a story that takes over the place of one night. It becomes more rewarding the closer you listen, according to Pitchfork'sSam Sodomsky. He'll be joined by Mountain Man'sMolly Sarle.

Mardi Gras with True Loves and Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints will provide you with swing, country, and rock-inspired originals on Mardi Gras. They'll be joined bySeattle-based soul and funk group True Loves.

Raphael Saadiq A few years ago, Amy Winehouse's Back to Black (created with invaluable help from Mark Ronson and the Dap-Kings) reminded a whole bunch of (white) people about the vast aural pleasures of old-school soul. Legendary singer-songwriter-producer Raphael Saadiq has devoted most of his life to these pleasures, leading the chart-conquering new jack swingsters Tony! Toni! Ton!, producing the deep funk stew of D'Angelo's classic Voodoo, and, most recently, releasing his freakishly accomplished 2008 solo album The Way I See It. The latter is an impeccable dazzler that comes on like a one-man Motown show, with Saadiq playing all the parts, from mastermind Berry Gordy to songwriting factory Holland-Dozier-Holland to singing-songwriting superstar Smokey Robinson. That the end result manages to spring to its own 21st-century life is a testament to Saadiq's gifts. DAVE SEGAL

Kat Edmonson American vocalist Kat Edmonson makes what she refers to as "vintage pop," a genre blend of jazz and swing with traditional pop, chamber pop, '50s rock, blues, bossa nova, country-inflected pop, and folk music.

Albert Cummings Blues singer and guitarist Albert Cummings uses his decades of experiences to impart true stories and hardened tales of the genre.

Ron Artis II & The Truth The soulful blues singer and guitaristRon Artis II will come to Seattle with his band the Truth.

US3R Record Release Party with Static Shore & Jupiter Drake Seattle synth-pop artistUS3R will celebrate his newest record, Influence, with support from his friends Static Shore, Techno Mage, and Jupiter Drake.

Rapsody Grammy-nominated North Carolina MC Rapsody, who was featured on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, will come to Seattle on herA Black Woman Created This Tour.

Alter Bridge, Clint Lowery, Deepfall On their Walk the Sky Tour, forceful hard rock quartet Alter Bridge will promote their latest album of the same name, with Clint Lowery and Deepfall.

Big Bite, Dreamdecay, Old Dark House Local punks Big Bite will supply sludgy slacker rock before they head out on tour. They'll be joined by locals Dreamdecay and spooky duo Old Dark House.

Papooz, Fruit Juice I kinda love Papooz, a French band whose self-styled tropical groove sound puts me right in the middle of yacht rocks most fruitful period, the mid-1970s to early 80s. They churn out airy, easy, rolling soft prog rock that gives off deep Supertramp vibes, but there are also some ELO and 10ecc influences in there, too. Theres some sexy sax, piano-driven segues, and high-toned earnest vocals that veer into breathy and sometimes creamy falsetto heights. You can almost see the wide-leg pants and neck scarves in songs ranging from the soft bedroom ode Safe Into My Lovers Arms to Bubbles, which feels outer-spacey and expansive even at a mere three minutes, to the laid-back grooving, late-night disco breeziness of Night Sketches, the title track from their 2019 LP. LEILANI POLK

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Ladysmith Black Mambazo have a whole bunch of guys singing bass. That's the secret to their success. Okay, Paul Simon "found" them, and that's been the secret to their success in what we loosely term "the West." By 1986, though, when Ladysmith Black Mambazo recorded and performed with Simon, they already had more than 20 albums in their native South Africa. Now they have more than 50 albums. They never stop touring, and they've outlasted the racist apartheid system under which the older members grew up. They're still ambassadors to South African culture. And they make people happyboldly, unironically, and enthusiastically. ANDREW HAMLIN

Charlie Parker's 'Yardbird' Jazz icon Charlie Parker gets the operatic treatment in this Seattle Opera production ofDaniel Schnyder'sYardbird, a journey through limbo by Parker, who struggles to complete his last masterpiece amidst a series of flashbacks that showcases the glorious heyday of iconic NYC jazz club Birdland, as well as the failures and victories of Parker's dynamic life.

Big Brass Extravaganza: Skablins, Ten Man Brass Band, The Highsteppers Keep your Mardi Gras party spirit going strong with a night of brass withSkablins, Ten Man Brass Band, and the Highsteppers.

moe. moe. brings the concept of a progressive rock jam band to a new level for their first Seattle show in two years.

Stanton Moore, David Torkanowsky, James Singleton Stanton Moore is a giant of modern drumming whos been working out of New Orleans since cofounding one of that citys more popular jazz-funk ensembles, Galactic. He is also one of the key OGs in post-jazz rock outfit Garage A Trois, among a wide range of other gigs (including keeping beats on Street Sweeper Social Clubs eponymous debut) and solo endeavors. On this date, hell be with his trio, which includes bassist James Singleton (Nolatet, Astral Project) and venerable NOLA keysman David Torkanowsky. LEILANI POLK

Robyn Hitchcock For more than 40 years, Nashville-via-London guitarist/vocalist Robyn Hitchcock has been one of rocks wittiest and wiliest surrealists. Starting with the short-lived Soft Boys, Hitchcock achieved summits of strange and hook-wise psych-rock, especially on the 1980 classicUnderwater Moonlight. A long career leading the Egyptians and as a solo eccentric ensued, with songs veering from whimsical to sinister to absurd to morbid. Hitchcock has taken the twisted aesthetics of Syd Barretts Bike, John Lennons I Am the Walrus, and Frank Zappa/Kim Fowleys Help, I'm a Rock to shape his own eldritch catalog.Robyn Hitchcock, his most recent album, is robust sexagenarian rock that proves the mans lyrical and melodic chops remain exceptionally sharp. DAVE SEGAL

Donavon Frankenreiter with Christina Holmes Prolific touring musician Donavon Frankenreiter will play everything from surf-inspired serenades to bluesy funk on this stop on his Record Player Tour withChristina Holmes.

[untitled] 2 I love the [untitled] series. The concert happens later in the evening (10 p.m.) in the lobby of Benaroya Hall. Some attendees dress more casually for the event, while others dress to the nines because they're the kind of people who do that. The people-watching is excellent, and the music is always cutting-edge and daring. At this iteration, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and pianist Cristina Valds will present the work of four contemporary Latin American composers, including world premieres fromCarlos Sanchez-Gutierrez andJuan David Osorio. RICH SMITH

Shelf Nunny, WMD One of the most interesting acts on Alex Ruders Seattle-based Hush Hush label, Shelf Nunny (aka local producer Christian Gunning) specializes in down-tempo electronic music that unobtrusively gets funky while aspiring to chill you out and tickle that part of the brain that enjoys pretty, delicate melodies. At these tasks, Shelf Nunny excels with understated brilliance. For fans of Boards of Canada, Casino Versus Japan, and Mm. DAVE SEGAL

Beats Antique, David Starfire Oakland-based Beats Antique is a prime paradigm of three people with diverse talents banding together to create something uniquely fresh. CIA grad David Satori spent many years playing in a 10-piece Afrobeat band, and he juggles viola, guitar, banjo, melodica, and various instruments from around the world like the saz and electric cmb (a sort of Turkish banjo). Lifelong dancer Zoe Jakes started in jazz and ballet, settled on belly dancing that incorporates elements of tango, popping, and Indian styles, did stints with Yard Dogs Road Show and Belly Dance Superstars, and plays strap-on bass drum. Tommy "Sidecar" Cappel picked up drums young (he was beat-keeping by 6), and his jazz, prog, and metal influences were augmented by a Berklee education, and grew to encompass world music that included non-jazz rhythmic patterns of African and Arab music. All three are involved in electro production techniques, their resulting sound heady, mesmerizing, sonically bright and exciting, danceable, and just fucking cool experimental world fusion that's heavy on samples, sequencing, and percussives. LEILANI POLK

Mike Clark, Wil Blades, Skerik As a drummer with Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters, Mike Clark manufactured some of the most complexly funky rhythms of the funkiest decade ever: the 1970s. On albums such asThrust,Man-Child,Survival of the Fittest, andStraight from the Gate, Clark proved himself a key figure in fusion while also laying down many grooves sampled by hip-hop and electronic-music producers: Go straight to Herbies Actual Proof for actual proof. In addition, Clarks sessionography boasts dates with some of jazzs greatest: Joe and Eddie Henderson, Chet Baker, Bobby Hutcherson, Wayne Shorter, and many more. Now 73, Clark has made a lot of solid records since his 1970s heyday, such as 1992sThe Funk Stops Herewith Headhunters bassist Paul Jackson and 2010'sCarnival of Soul. He still packs a vigorous punch behind the kit. DAVE SEGAL

T.S.O.L., the Derelicts, Coffin Break, the Lucky Boys, Fully Crazed, Thee Deception, Kids On Fire, Convictions, the Scoffs Goddamn, yall, I can almost make my fucking word count just LISTING the bands playing across TWO stages on this big bill!!! El Corazon's stage will feature locals the Lucky Boys, denim-clad punks the Derelicts, and Coffin Break, plus Fully Crazed (metal tinged skate rock from Jaks Skate Team/ex-Dayglo Abortions/ex-ShutDownmembers). The Funhouse stage will feature local punks Thee Deception, fun pop punk from Kids On Fire, melodic punk from the Scoffs, and some Midwestern contemporary metal from Convictions. All are opening for original SoCal punk group True Sounds of Liberty! (T.S.O.L.!) Hella bands for a nice price. MIKE NIPPER

Chastity Belt, Loose Tooth The always-charming-but-also-kinda-sad post-party-punk quartet Chastity Belt is back, baby! Not that they went anywhere too far, but this is their first tour since calling off dates last year due to health reasons. Were glad theyre feeling better. Meeting as students in Walla Walla, the now-Seattle-based band hasnt released anything since their 2017 recordI Used to Spend So Much Time Alone, but they have some new stuff on the way. In the meantime, youre just going to have to play the jangly Cool Slut over and over while you tipsily get ready to go out. Ive heard that Different Now, the moody, 90s-inspired opener off their most recent album, is the perfect song to crack open a shower beer to. From a friend. JASMYNE KEIMIG

Falling In Reverse, Escape the Fate, The Word Alive Beloved by some and deeply questioned by others (Stranger staffer Mike Nipper called them "a wanna-be contemporary version of wanna-be '80s hair bands," for example), punky youngsters Falling In Reverse will come to Seattle on theirThe Drug In Me Is Gold Tour with support fromEscape the Fate and the Word Alive.

Joshua Radin & Friends with Ben Kweller and William Fitzsimmons Joshua Radin has the monopoly on emotionally resonant indie rock, and will be illustrating the reasons for his success in a set flanked by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ben Kweller and emo-folk songwriter William Fitzsimmons.

Lawrence NYC-raised sibling duo Clyde and Gracie Lawrence lead an eight-piece soul-pop band under their own name. Catch them in Seattle with LA duoMaro.

Paragon Live Presents Ruthie Craft Join up-and-coming soulful pop-rock artist Ruthie Craft and former American Idol competitor Ruthie Craft for an intimate performance.

Niyaz: The Fourth Light Project Deemed "an evolutionary force in contemporary Middle Eastern music" by the Huffington Post, trance music artist Niyaz pays tribute toRabia al-Basri, the first female Sufi mystic and poet, on herFourth Light Project. Hear it live on this tour stop.

Jeffrey Silverstein, Ancient Forest, Cat Positive, Surething Portland guitarist Jeffrey Silversteins Nassau duo with Justin Wilcox sounds like a cross between Durutti Column and a less bombastic Fleet Foxes. Their 2017 albumHeronelicits peaceful, easy feelings. Now on his own, Silverstein has cut an EP for the great Driftless Recordings titledHow on Earth, and the feelings are even more peaceful and easy. (He wrote these pieces while serving as an artist-in-residence at Souwester Lodge in Seaview, Washington.) Backed by laid-back drum-machine beats, Silverstein looses spangly globules of six-string magic while occasionally singing in hushed tones. He calls this stuff ambient-folk songs, but the emphasis is on the former word. Against the odds, Silverstein has created a sweet strain of chill-out tapestries thats as relaxing as a trip to your favorite nature retreat which may be in Seaview. DAVE SEGAL

Clapped! Local drag performer, musician, and nightlife icon Michete will throw a party in honor of her first public appearance after getting facial feminization surgery. The twist? Something may have gone horribly wrong. Find out for yourself and enjoy additional performances from Rowan Ruthless, Femme Daddy, and other locals for a night of drag, music from DJs Jane Don't and Joe Valley, and all the Tito's Vodka drink specials you can handle.

Paw Print: A Benefit Concert for Homeward Pet Adoption Center This showcase of local hip-hop artists Grieves, Mouse Powell, Campana, JAGA, and Diveyede will donate all proceeds to theHomeward Pet Adoption Center.

Mike Dillon Band with Brad Houser and Brian Haas Traditionalist jazz heads, beware: You could call what Mike Dillon does jazz in the broadest sense of the termthere are grooves, there are rhythms, and there are vibes. But Dillon is a percussive force of nature, not content to remain within the genre lines. In fact, the longer hes played, the weirder his music has become. He grunts, howls, murmurs in a devilish growl, groans, bellows, and pretty much creates a musical ruckus while playing drums and vibraphone, sometimes both at once, in firm and calculated strokes or full-on crashing and banging modes. The music that issues forth is a punk-caked, metal-shredded, post-jazz explosion with Dillons own added salt and vinegar. Hes a fucking beast, and a must-see, especially as joined by Brian Haas, the forward-thinking leader and keysman of super-heady post-jazz explorers Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (he also plays with Dillon in Nolatet) and bassist/horn player/New Bohemians founder Brad Houser, also a member of Critter Buggin with Dillon. LEILANI POLK

Provinces by Chris Icasiano with Brenda Xu and Nic Masangkay Filipino American percussionist and composer Christopher Icasiano presents his debut solo work, Provinces; two suites that explore "the complexity of cultural identity and community as a second-generation immigrant in Seattle." He'll be joined on stage by all-star musicians Tomo Nakayama, Alina To, and Lori Goldston, with additional support fromsongwriter Brenda Xu and producer/songwriter Nic Masangkay.

'The Church' with Mortiferum Chaos ensues in Dario Argento's film The Church when the staff and visitors of a haunted cathedralthe sight of a bloody medieval massacrefall victim to an unsealed crypt crawling with unholy monsters. This screening will be preceded by a live set from Mortiferum, who promise to "spew forth anguished slabs of death-doom filth of the most wretched order."

Black Plastic Clouds, ONOFF, Crooked Looks Experimental prog-rock band Black Plastic Clouds will take over Pioneer Square with support from ONOFF, coming all the way from Dublin.

Seattle Freeze Fest 2 Float between Black Lodge and Victory Lounge for all-ages sets fromDARK SMITH, WEEP WAVE, Antonioni, Beverly Crusher, Flesh Produce, Jayomi, Medejin, and other great local punk-rock and experimental bands.

Umphrey's McGee, Andy Frasco and The UN Umphrey's McGee purvey a heady, percussive-fleshed synthesis of jazz, funk, electro, metal, prog, and rock informed by both classic and modern influences, and salted with reggae, yacht-rock, pop, and blues. They also have a way of genre-jumping from one song to the next, or multiple times within the same song, while still remaining tight and focused. These guys dont jam, but practice calculated improvisation, with pre-determined key changes and a series of hand gestures and signals they employ while on stage to communicate their next move. This is the sort of band thats as likely to play covers of Talking Heads or Radiohead as King Crimson or Frank Zappa in a two-set show (they also do cover mash-ups), and though theyre 11 LPs deepthe latest is its not usyou must experience the Chicago sextet live to appreciate their full awe factor. LEILANI POLK

William Duvall of Alice in Chains Former Alice in Chains frontman William DuVall will show you what he's made of without his signature band.

Livingroom Concert: Tiffany Wilson Join up-and-coming soul artistTiffany Wilson for a cozy concert featuring songs from her sophomore release.

Lavender Country, Ashleigh Flynn & the Riveters Lavender Countrys Patrick Haggerty is everyone's favorite gay cowboy. This will probably be true for all of time, but its definitely true right now. Haggerty has had a popular resurgence ever since Lavender Country rereleased their nearly 40-year-old self-titleddebutrecognized as the first gay country album ever createdin 2014. Since then, hes been on a roll. Haggerty opened forgay country crooner Orville Peck at his most recent show in Seattle. And Lavender Countrys I Cant Shake the Stranger Out of You was recently coveredby drag star/country singer Trixie Mattel on her latest album. Go see Haggerty whenever you can. Youll leave verklempt. CHASE BURNS

Violins of Hope Music of Remembrance will present a concert featuring the Violins of Hope, a private collection ofstring instruments that belonged to Jews who played them before and during the Holocaust that have since been restored. This program will showcase musicby composers lost to the Holocaust, with violist Susan Gulkis Assadi, cellist Walter Gray, clarinetist Laura DeLuca,and violinists Mikhail Shmidt, Natasha Bazhanov, Artur Girsky.

Global Rhythms: Marc Ribot and Haram Dont read the comments, everyone tells you. Which does bring up the question, why does everybody still comment if nobodys supposed to read it? Well, I went against hive advice and got stung, because Marc Ribot got dismissed as boring surf clichs recycled. Im not sure why these guys cant create anything truly original. Man. With whom has Marc Ribot played? Everybody! Who keeps hiring him? Everybody! He shouldnt be able to impress us, let alone frighten us if he wants to! But he does! ANDREW HAMLIN

Thundercat The music of Los Angelesbased bassist/composer Stephen Lee Bruner (aka Thundercat) is transcendent. And thats a fact. His distinct blend of jazz, soul, and funk is fresh and cosmic while also throwing back to the likes of Sun Ra and Miles Davis. Having worked extensively with Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, Kendrick Lamar on To Pimp a Butterfly (for which Lamar won a Grammy for best rap/sung performance), Erykah Badu, and dozens of other contemporary musicians, Thundercat is as influential as he is technically accomplished. His most recent release, 2017s Drunk, is astonishing in its range and intimacylight some incense and float to Lava Lamp. JASMYNE KEIMIG

American Nightmare Harcore DIY five-pieceAmerican Nightmare will rip through Seattle with a mix of "traditional hardcore" from the American canon, British punky attitude, and emotional lyrics.

Echosmith Join indie-pop sibling ensemble Echosmith on theirLonely Generation Tour.

Excerpt from:

The 53 Best Music Shows in Seattle This Week: February 24-March 1, 2020 - TheStranger.com

If "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac makes you drowsier than a few sips of chamomile tea, then science fully supports it being your sleep anthem despite the myth that falling asleep to music is counterproductive to your needed eight hours of rest.

Jennifer Mundt, Ph.D., a certified sleep psychologist at the Northwestern Medicine Sleep Disorders Centre, confirms that there's nothing inherently healthy or unhealthy about falling asleep to music.

"Your musical tastes and preferences are most important, as well as how music affects you," Mundt elaborates. "The key is to make sure that [the music] does not actually interfere with you falling asleep or staying asleep."

For some, that may mean pausing the heavy metal and tuning into a softer melody; there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for getting some shut-eye. Mundt does suggest calming, relaxing, and mindless songs, though it's best to avoid soundtracks that could cause emotional responses or trigger thoughts.

Along with a specially-curated sleep playlist, she advocates for setting an automatic timer on your phone this way your REM cycle won't be disrupted by a shift in genre after you've dozed off.

Mundt isn't the only one in support of a good nighttime queue. According to Sleepadvisory.org, falling asleep to music can impact you the same way a lullaby would a child: "If listening to background noise becomes a part of your nightly routine, the positive effects can multiply."

Consistently listening to a soothing melody will not only relax you, but it'll train your body that soft music is a signal for rest.

The site even claims music between 60 to 80 BPM (think "Someone Like You" by Adele and "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz) are in the sleepy sweet spot, as they closely match our resting heart rate and soothe on a biological level.

Michael J Breus, Ph.D., backs this idea in an article entitled "The Many Health and Sleep Benefits Of Music" for Psychology Today, stating that calming music can also trigger sleep-friendly hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin while reducing sleep-stifling hormones like cortisol.

Now that we've busted that bedtime myth, you can catch me cocooned in my weighted blanket, eye mask on, humming along to Stevie Knicks kindly do not disturb.

Click here for more health and wellness stories, tips, and news.

Image Source: Getty / Westend61

Continued here:

Falling Asleep to Music Has Multiple Benefits Heres How to Pick the Right Track - POPSUGAR UK

Services and studies

Dayspring Church Apostolic Worship begins at 11:15 a.m. at the church, 2127 Doctors Park Drive, Columbus. On Sunday, the church will be inspired by, Redemption of The Lost. This is taken from Luke 15:4 where, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? is the action taken by the jailer. Every visitor will receive a free gift.

The Sunday Education Session starts at 10 a.m. and covers Forgiveness, Faith, and Service as shared in Luke 17:1-10.

Bible Study is Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and is a group session sponsored by Heart Changers International, LLC on Depression, Perfection and Grief with hand out questions. These help build our Personal Empowerment and walk.

Our Prayer of Power starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and is preceded with requests and instructions on prayer. The Celebrate Recovery Group session starts at 6:30 p.m. for about an hour.

Ignite is the Youth Growth Session that happens every third Friday.

For more information please call (812) 372- 9336, or email dayspringchurch@att.net.

East Columbus United Methodist Sunday events begin at 9 a.m. at East Columbus United Methodist Church at 2439 Indiana Ave. in Columbus, with fellowship time in the foyer with beverages and snacks. Worship begins at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School begins at 10:40 a.m. for all ages and Bible interests.

Faith Lutheran Pastor Todd Riordan will be preaching on Sunday at the 9 a.m. service, with Sunday school at 10:30 a.m.

Mens Bible study on Romans at Lincoln Square restaurant on State Road 46 West, 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday. Womens Bible study on Romans at Faith Lutheran from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Game night is Sunday, Feb. 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Faith.

Choir meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Preschool enrollment is open now and after school care is also offered, call 812-342-3587.

The church is located at 6000 W. State Road 46, Columbus.

First Presbyterian The final Sunday before the beginning of Lent is Transfiguration Sunday, when we reflect on that mysterious moment on the mountain top (Mark 8:27 9:8). The sermon will be titled Turning Point.

Worship begins at 9:30 a.m., 512 Seventh St. in Columbus. Infant and toddler care is available 9:15 a.m. to noon. The mens and womens support groups meet on Fridays at 7 a.m., and a second mens support group (working age men) meets every Monday at 6:15 a.m.

People in the community in need of a meal are invited to our hot meals offered Friday at 5 p.m. (please enter through the glass doors on Franklin). We are an LGBTQ-friendly church. Open and affirming to all.

Information: fpccolumbus.org

First United Methodist On Sunday, Feb. 23, at the 9 a.m. Traditional Service and 11 a.m. The Table, the Rev. Sarah Campbell will deliver the message, Mountaintop Views: Transfiguration Sunday at the church, 618 Eighth St. The scripture will be Exodus 24:12-18 and Matthew 17:1-9.

Sunday School for all ages begins at 10:10 a.m. Child care is available during the service.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the church will have an Ash Wednesday Worship Service at 7 p.m. This service marks a season of repentance and reflection leading to the joy of Easter morning.

Every Wednesday at noon from Feb. 26 to Apr. 8 there will be a Lenten organ recital at various churches throughout Columbus. Feb. 26 will feature Erik Matson at First United Methodist Church.

Information: 812-372-2851 or fumccolumbus.org.

Flintwood Wesleyan The church is located at 5300 E. 25th St.

Sunday services are Amplify (non-traditional) at 9 a.m. and The Well (traditional) at 11 a.m. Both Amplify and The Well are in the main sanctuary and led by the Rev. Wes Jones, senior pastor. Sunday School classes meet in their regular rooms at 10 a.m.

The Prayer Team meets at 8 a.m. Adult Choir Practice is 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday evenings Celebrate Recovery begins with a meal at 5:25 p.m. in The Friendship Center and the meeting starts at 6 p.m. upstairs in Curry Hall.

Connections, a ladies study group, is led by Pastor Teri Jones. The group meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 10 a.m. in The Friendship Center.

In the Beginning, a small group Bible study, meets Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. They are now meeting in the basement of the church in the young adult classroom. They are studying the book of Genesis. You can start at any point so new members are welcome to join.

Wednesday activities begin with a meal at 5:30 p.m. The program, iKids (Ignite Kids) On Fire For Jesus! starts at 6:15 p.m. This program is for kids in Pre-K through the sixth grade. The Prayer Team meets at 6:15 p.m. in the Prayer Room and youth meets at 6:30 p.m. downstairs in the church. Bible study is at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.

On Thursday, Cub Scout Pack #588 will meet at 7 p.m.

Small group Cover to Cover is a Christian book club that meets the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. to select a new book and discuss the book they just read. Group meets in The Friendship Center. If interested contact Kim Rutan at 812-343-2217 (call or text) or via email at flintwoodoffice@gmail.com.

March 8 is Baptism Sunday. If you wish to be baptized, please get in touch with Pastor Wes.

For further information, call 812-379-4287 or email flintwoodoffice@gmail.com. Church office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our website is flintwood.org.

Garden City Church of Christ On Sunday, at the 10 a.m. service, Garden City Church of Christ will continue the four-week sermon series called Mission: Possible (His Mission. Your World.).

This sermon series will offer clear Bible teaching designed to empower you to share your faith with people right in your own neighborhood. Discover Gods mission for your life, how to connect with people, how serving others can open hearts to the gospel, and how paying attention to your own spiritual growth can strengthen your witness.

Garden City Church of Christ is located at 3245 Jonesville Road, Columbus.

For more information, visit gardencitychurch.com or call 812-372-1766.

Grace Lutheran The Rev. John Armstrong will preach on Sunday. Worship is at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 a.m.

Alpha, an introduction to the Bible continues Tuesday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the topic Where is God when it hurts?

Searching Scripture continues Tuesday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the topic The Apostles Creed.

The church is located at 3201 Central Ave., Columbus.

Old Union United Church of Christ Scriptures for the 10 a.m. Sunday service will include Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, and Matthew 17:1-9. The message will be Lessons from the Mountaintop.

Sunday school will be at 9 a.m. with fellowship at 9:40 a.m.

The church is located at 12703 N. County Road 50W, Edinburgh.

Petersville United Methodist Church Guest speaker, Jonathan Ooms, Clay Township Fire Department fire chief, will bring the message at the 9 a.m. worship service on Sunday morning at the church, 2781 N. County Road 500E, Columbus.

The congregation will celebrate and commit to their 2020 Faith Promise program of extra mile giving for missions. Lector Bill Pershing will lead the congregation in scripture and Teresa Covert will present the childrens message.

Monday at 6:30 p.m., the Bakers Dozen Bible Study group meets at the Larry & Connie Nolting home and Journey Bible Study meets at the home of Chris Kimerling. Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. is choir led by Kathy Bush. Bible Study and Prayer group meets Thursday at 10 a.m. with Barb Hedrick leader. United Methodist Mens next meeting is Sunday, March 1 at 7:15 a.m. New members are always welcome.

Information: 812-447-9357 or 574-780-2379

St. Paul Lutheran Transfiguration Sunday will be celebrated at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 6045 E. State St., with Pastor Doug Baumans sermon entitled A Lamp Shining in a Dark Place based on II Peter 1:16-21 at the 8 and 10:45 a.m. services.

Children will process with Alleluia Banners that mark the beginning of the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday.

The Spanish Worship Service begins at 10:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Room led by Vicar Fickenscher.

The theme for the 6:45 p.m. Ash Wednesday Communion service will be based on Chief of Sinners Though I Be with Pastor Baumans sermon entitled Sin is Missing the Mark. Imposition of Ashes will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the church. Dinner will be served in the Fellowship Room from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a freewill offering.

Open enrollment for the 2020-2021 preschool and kindergarten registration continues. Classes are for children who are 3-, 4- or 5-years old by Aug. 1. Information: 812-376-6504 or stpaulcolumbus.org.

Financial Peace University classes continue at 6 p.m. at the church. Classes teach how to beat debt and make a plan for the future together. Information: philburbrink@gmail.com

Information: 812-376-6504.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus On Sunday at 10 a.m., Will You Harbor Me? will be presented by the Rev. Nic Cable and Lori Swanson. As a caring community, we are faced with the continued question of how we remain present to one another within our community and to those beyond our walls. What would it look like for UUCCI to be a harbor for any and all people looking for a place to feel loved and supported?

The church is at 7850 W. Goeller Blvd., Columbus.

Information: 812-342-6230.

Westside Community Pastor Dennis Aud will lead the service this Sunday at 10 a.m. at the church at the corner of State Road 46 West and Tipton Lakes Blvd. This Sundays sermon will be the second in a series titled, The Malicious 7: Anger.

The childrens program for birth through sixth grade meets at the same time as the 10 a.m. worship service.

For more information on studies or small groups that meet throughout the week, contact the church office at 812-342-8464.

Music

North Christian Church The church is looking for singers to join their Chancel Choir. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the church, 850 Tipton Lane, Columbus.

For more information, contact the Music Director, Travis Whaley, at music@northchristianchurch.com.

Events

Community Church of Columbus An eight-week parenting course entitled Parenting with Love and Logic is designed for parents of children ages 6 and under. The course will be offered at Community Church of Columbus, 3850 N. Marr Road, as part of the Tuesday Connection series. Dinner is also available each week at 5:30 p.m. along with child care at no cost.

Eckankar of Southern Indiana The meetings focus on an aspect of Eckankar and will feature readings from the books of Eckankar with group discussions of the spiritual principles at work in our lives. Please join others to bring more spiritual insight and divine love into our daily lives.

The Spiritual Discussion group meets the third Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship and light refreshments will follow. The meeting is at 7850 W. Goeller Blvd. Columbus located in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus building.

For more information about Eckankar please see eckankar.org

Information about this meeting: 812-418-8392.

Flintwood Wesleyan Our Heart of Ministries auction and dinner will be March 6 stating at 5:30 p.m. Lots of great items up for auction plus the best desserts in town. The dinner is free and all proceeds goes to fund local, regional, and global ministries.

First United Methodist Tuesday evenings through Feb. 25, the church will host a grief support group. Meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. The group will explore grief using Julie Yarbroughs book Beyond the Broken Heart: A Journey Through Grief. It will take place in the Blue Room (Room 216) at the church, and is open to anyone. To register, or for more information, call the church office at 812-372-2851.

On Feb. 23 at 6 p.m., FUMC will have its second Life Planning Seminar. This session will focus on Help On Legal Decisions for Healthcare, with Heather Means from Hospice leading the discussion. The session is free and open to anyone in the community. Call Rob Heathcote at 812-344-8437 with any questions.

Jonesville Christian Church The church will host the South Central Indiana Christian Mens Fellowship (SCICMF) on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

A meal of fried chicken with all the trimmings, desserts, and drinks will be from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. The program lead by Steve Gommel, retired from Driftwood Christian Church, will follow at 7:15 p.m.

The church is at 609 Commerce St., Jonesville.

North Christian Church The Centering Prayer Group that meets in the North Christian Prayer Chapel, Lower Level #6, on Friday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is a drop-in prayer group, meaning that you can come as your schedule allows. Familiarity with Centering Prayer and its spiritual practices is not necessary. For more information, consult the Centering Prayer page at northchristianchurch.com.

The church is hosting the senior project of a Columbus North High School student who is collecting items for children who are in the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. The CASA program helps children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect. Items being collected include things to help comfort the kids like stuffed animals, blankets, etc., and hygiene items like toothbrushes, shampoo, lotions, etc. Donations should be brought to North Christian Church 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday.

Petersville United Methodist Church Coming up Feb. 25 will be a Fat Tuesday meal at the church to raise funds for the Clay Township Fire Department. Serving will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

St. Paul Lutheran An eight-week grief support Bible study entitled, Hope When Your Heart Breaks continues on Monday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. in the churchs Conference Room. Those learning to live without a loved one are welcome.

See more here:
Religion news Feb. 22 - The Republic

CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TransUnion (TRU) announced today that Akshay Kumar joined the company as Executive Vice President, Global Technology Architecture & Strategy. In this role, Kumar is responsible for ongoing technology transformation efforts, including cloud enablement. He also oversees ongoing emerging technology evaluation globally. Kumar reports directly to Abhi Dhar, TransUnions Chief Information and Technology Officer.

Rapid developments in technology and consumer adoption are creating an industry inflection point. Organizations able to respond to that technology speed and complexity, and who are adept at executing in this environment, are the ones who will have competitive advantage, said Dhar. TransUnion, as a technology innovator, will benefit from having a skilled leader like Kumar join us. His track record of delivering tactical, strategic and security transformations creates benefit for consumers and customers alike.

Kumar joins TransUnion from Discover Financial Services, where he was Chief Data Officer and led the migration of Discovers data and analytics ecosystem to cloud. Prior to this role, he served as Chief Data Officer at Aetna, where he established a datascience practice alongwith the development of a 20+ Petabytesprivate cloud-based analytics platform. Kumar previously held roles with UBS Investment Bank, MBNA and American Express, and brings more than 20 years ofexperience as a business leader, innovator and technologist to the company.

Kumarholds an MBA and MS in Decision Information Systems from Arizona State University, a post-graduate diploma in Supply Chain Management from Stanford University and a BS in Chemistry from University of Delhi, India.

About TransUnion(TRU) TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing a comprehensive picture of each person so they can be reliably and safely represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good.

A leading presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people. http://www.transunion.com/business

The rest is here:
TransUnion Appoints Akshay Kumar to Oversee Global Technology Architecture and Strategy - Yahoo Finance

My lifes work has been serving those in need creating ways to better our communities by helping organizations and individuals to achieve wellness in their lives.

I think as a wellness professional, we sometimes put unrealistic expectations on ourselves. I think we need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, but I believe its important for people to know what we have gone through and what we continue to struggle with too.

I have taught yoga and personal trained clients for years I love the hands-on part of my job yet I have struggled with weight and stress management at various times in my life. I love yoga, but my personal practice has waxed and waned. Sometimes it has fallen flat completely.

I trained in guided imagery and it is one of my favorite aspects to teaching classes, yet I struggle with sleep and with shutting my brain off to focus on the positive.

I am as much a work-in-progress as the people that I am working to help. As wellness coaches and teachers, our job is to educate people and help them create a plan to reach their goals.

Yet, we all have dueling behaviors in our lives. Any good teacher, or writer for that matter, may probably tell you that we are constantly learning, addressing our own hypocrisies and finding out new things to teach sharing through our own experience.

Carl Jungs theory of the Wounded Healer refers to the story of Chiron, the Greek mythological figure (Centaur educator and healer), as the symbol of, [our] own hurt that gives a measure of [our] power to heal.

Harold Kushner, rabbi and author of Living a Life that Matters, states,

Good people will do good things, lots of them, because they are good people. They will do bad things because they are human. Harold Kushner

I lead womens self-esteem and empowerment workshops yet have at times felt less than or not worthy of certain things. Usually its when my life has been at its best, that I have a sudden fear of loss.

I used to teach a class to young men who were in jail and often said to them that those of us who have the best leadership skills have often had to overcome the most. We dont have to have had a perfect life, or even to be an all-perfect guru, in order to be a role model to others.

However, I also tell them, at some point we have to rise above it and learn from it, not keep repeating the same situation in our lives.

There are times in my life I felt that I was living a sham and that people would look at me as if all the training and knowledge I had didnt mean a thing anymore.

There are projects that pile up, the laundry that never seems to get put away, moments of unhealthy stressed-out behavior that pops up on occasion and days I (gasp!) skip the gym. I wont even go into the guitars and the stack of unopened Learn How to Play Guitar DVDs collecting dust in the corner.

Dont get me wrong, I get a lot done, yet Ive never felt caught up, in my life. There are times that I struggle to get through a library book to get it returned on time because I have so many projects going on.

Many days I feel torn between loving my beautiful life and the work that I get to do versus feeling as if I should be better, do better.

I look for wisdom from other sources.

Then I realize we dont necessarily need more information. Someone else doesnt always know better than we do. Its OK to be on a continuum. Its OK to be the bad yogi, with flaws and scars and funk.

Otherwise, what would we have to teach others from what we experience?

Namaste: I bow to the Divine in you, but I also bow to the messy, stress-y human in you too.

Jones is the owner of Liz Jones Wellness LLC, offering yoga, personal training and corporate wellness programs in Hunt and Rockwall counties. She can be reached at Liz@LizJones.co or through LizJones.co.

See original here:
TO YOUR HEALTH: 'Messy stress-y' just part of life's work - Herald-Banner

Updated February 24, 2020 16:54:20

Danielle is a modern woman with a penchant for "old world charms".

The self-described traditional wife, or tradwife for short, is part of an increasingly visible sect of women embracing and in some ways, reclaiming the title of homemaker.

Though some may see it as a homage to the 1950s "happy housewife", for many of the women involved in the tradwife movement, the premise is simple: choosing to be a wife, mother and homemaker should not be seen as a sacrifice, nor should taking pride in "keeping the house in order" be misconstrued as subservience.

"Traditional housewifery in the 21st century is not an example of oppression, but rather an example of liberation," says the mother of two from the midwest United States.

"The modern traditional housewife is the ultimate example of female autonomy. She's not being forced to stay home with the kids; but at the same time she's also not forced to work outside the home. She makes the choice."

Though it is hardly a new dynamic, its increasing visibility born largely out of its social media following in the United States and United Kingdom has catapulted it into the public consciousness.

And it is a concept fraught with contention.

From headlines like "Meet the women radicalised into complete subservience to men", to "Why I submit to my husband like it's 1959", it's easy to understand why the movement has proven so divisive and it is not a conflict created in a vacuum.

Certain elements of the movement openly espouse submissiveness which is seen to honour "the natural dynamics between man and wife" and regard the concept of feminism as an attempt to "repeal and restructure" the natural order.

Others have likened it to an extension of white nationalism, propagating the belief that women should focus on their "natural" duties of childbearing and housekeeping.

But many of those who champion traditional housewifery fear they have been mischaracterised both by those within the movement seeking to further their own personal brand, and the media itself.

While acknowledging that parts of the movement may be seen as a pushback to what they view as the "more damaging elements" of third wave feminism, they argue tradwives are not a homogenous hive mind, and baulk at those who "pervert traditional values by lowering themselves to servant status in their marriage".

"Instead of viewing their relationship with their spouse as a partnership, they view the husband as a king and live only to attend to his every beck and call," says Danielle.

"This is a caricature of traditionalism, and it does start to look like something resembling brainwashing."

For mother-of-three and self-described tradwife Nadine, who is currently pregnant with her fourth child, being a homemaker was a "clear condition" of what she wanted in a marriage a dynamic that she says has brought "a lot of calm" into her family's daily life.

But she concedes there may be others within the movement who do not view their own relationships as an equal playing field.

"I told my husband that if we ever got married and had children, I would want to be at home with them and that I would want him to be the money maker," she says.

"Black sheep happen in every aspect in our society. I'm sure there are traditional wives that didn't have a choice and that are 'prisoners' in their marriage or that even don't know there are other options."

Though they refer to themselves as traditional wives, some within the movement note there is no single archetype of a tradwife.

Bec, who lives in Adelaide with her husband and runs a Facebook group for women who share traditional values, says the unifying factor is their beliefs.

"There are divorced ones, single ones who aspire to being one, many have children, a number do not," she says.

"Some go for the self-sufficient family farm, others live in towns. The unifying factor is beliefs that society and the individual are best served from the preservation of the family unit, the careful raising of the next generation to hold these values and the reintroduction of home and faith as the centre focus of life."

Bec concedes she's somewhat of an anomaly.

While the UK and US traditional wife movements have amassed a significant online following, it's a concept that has largely flown under the radar in Australia.

"Three years ago, I was the only Australian that I knew of in social media, but one by one more have been popping out of the woodwork," she says.

"I don't know if it's a case of the Australian following growing, or just more women becoming equipped with the language to be able to identify with the movement.

"I personally know traditional wives who just call themselves stay-at-home mothers or Christian wives but have all the hallmarks of the traditional movement."

There is, of course, the invariable argument around the social, cultural, economic and political conditions through which such movements are created.

While many women and men would relish the opportunity to have more flexibility around their personal and professional lives, it isn't always feasible.

The rising cost of child care, among other expenses, also means staying at home isn't always a choice as much as it is a necessity.

"There's lots of different pathways that women can pursue now, and it's interesting how they want to narrativise that," says Mary Lou Rasmussen, a professor of sociology at the Australian National University.

"It seems to be a very privileged position to make Because really, in many situations, there is no option but for both people in the relationship to be working."

Danielle openly acknowledges the traditional lifestyle is "very much a luxury in the 21st century", and that not everyone can afford to stay at home.

But, in light of her family's financial position, she made the decision to do so not only in order to be more available to her children, but to ensure her husband could be too.

"He doesn't have to come home from work and make dinner for the kids, or give them a bath, because all four of us were gone all day," she says.

"Instead, he gets to come home and be a dad. He comes in the door, throws his jacket on the hook and wrestles with the kids, reads them stories, and makes blanket forts."

Steeped in the ideals of the traditional housewife, however, is a darker undertone.

The preservation of traditional family values has been used by some as a dog-whistle for whiteness, and as Annie Kelly noted in The Housewives of White Supremacy, "running alongside what could be mistaken for a peculiar style of mommy-vlogging is a virulent strain of white nationalism".

The phenomenon rose to notoriety in 2017, when Ayla Stewart a self-described tradwife and blogger issued a "white baby challenge" to her viewers, asking them to "have as many white babies as I have contributed".

"The highest goal for a white supremacist woman is to stay home, keep her husband happy, and produce as many white warrior babies as she can," says Jessica Reaves, an expert in Anti-Defamation League's Centre on Extremism and the author of its recent report on the links between misogyny and white supremacy.

"This all ties into white supremacists' obsession with replacement theory."

While some within the movement are conscious of its perceived association with the alt-right, they say it is remiss to suggest that it is in any way a shared value or commonality within the tradwife community.

Nikki, a self-described tradwife who runs a Facebook group geared towards traditional women, says the premise is "laughable".

"The traditional wife [and] homemaker community is made up of women from various religions, ethnicities, ages, and upbringings," she says.

"So assuming we are Nazis or white supremacists is laughable to me."

It is a sentiment echoed by Crystal, who runs a club for traditional housewives.

"Women of different races in my group, all coming together to share recipes, cleaning tips, jokes, talking about life," she remarks.

"I don't see how any of that makes us brainwashed or Nazis. Anyone who characterises it that just blows my mind, I don't understand it at all."

A number of women who identify as tradwives lament these connotations have become associated with the modern movement, and worry they will be typecast for their decision.

But through social media, they have found a network of like-minded women, where they can celebrate and commiserate the challenges of day-to-day life together.

"I would say it is empowering for many, especially since many of these homemakers or those who desire this lifestyle do not get the support from family or friends in their real life," says Nikki.

"To come online and find that support, to feel validated in their decision, is all these women want, that what they desire to do with their life and for their families is normal."

Danielle does not mince words she is not out to "try and win hearts and minds" about her lifestyle.

But she says meeting others who share her values helped her realise that she was not a "disgrace" for choosing a different path to other women.

"I think the tradwife community serves as a response by rational women who are digging their heals in and saying, 'No! I want to get married, I want to raise a family, I want to make a home for myself and my loved ones'," she says.

"I think the empowerment comes from the realisation that there are other women who want what you want, and you're not a disgrace to your gender if you don't want to live alone in an empty apartment for the rest of your life."

Topics: community-and-society, family-and-children, marriage, social-systems, gender-roles, australia, united-states, canada

First posted February 24, 2020 06:06:33

Originally posted here:
Tradwives have been labelled 'subservient', but these women reject suggestions they're oppressed - ABC News

We tend to associate entrepreneurship with opportunistic founders operating out of bustling Silicon Valley hubs or perhaps more specifically the five American tech giants whose combined market value, it was reported recently, has increased by $1.3 trillion in the past year.

In fact, entrepreneurship exists wherever you are. The sharing economy is producing millions of micro-entrepreneurs who are putting dormant assets to good use. Necessity entrepreneurs in the developing world are supplementing incomes, boosting economic growth, and extending products or services to those who need them.

And some like Cherie Blair will find other ways to be their own boss.

Mrs Blair is one of few First Ladies to convincingly step out of her husbands shadow. Perhaps thats because she was never in it: in the same year they met, she became a barrister, and was the only wife of a Prime Minister to work full-time while her husband was in office. She was a founding member of Matrix Chambers, and more recently set up Omnia Strategy.

Though the list of accolades is exhaustive, one senses that she is most proud of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which was set up in 2008 to unleash the potential of female entrepreneurs in developing nations.

If the Blair family felt melancholic on 27 June 2007, as removal men emptied their belongings from Downing Street in front of a huddle of cameramen and reporters, it did not show. Tony Blair himself had that day received an unprecedented standing ovation in the Commons. Opportunity awaited.

For Mrs Blair, the decision to set up a foundation focused on womens economic empowerment had personal experience at its core.

I was brought up by a mother who was a single parent with help from my paternal grandmother, she recalls. I witnessed how difficult it was for her when my father abandoned us. From a very early age I understood that a woman needs to be in control of her own money. I did it through the law as a self-employed barrister Ive essentially always been an entrepreneur.

Mrs Blair was a beneficiary of her time: the first of her family to go to university, where she thrived, taking first-class honours. During Tonys tenure as PM, she toured the globe visiting womens projects, and quickly realised the challenges that many faced.

All those personal reasons made me aware of this gap in the womens entrepreneurial space. If you can give women the ability to earn and spend their own money, then we see a transformative effect, she says emphatically. Help a woman and you tend to help a family. More than that a community.

The foundation has supported over 160,000 businesswomen across more than 100 countries since 2008. It creates teaching videos, internet forums and apps to help women who would otherwise not have access to training.

As Mrs Blair is acutely aware, the quantity and quality of entrepreneurship still rests on the rules in place that support or hinder it. This is especially true for female entrepreneurs.

In the UK, women are behind roughly one in three businesses, and the rate of entrepreneurialism has grown faster in the past decade among women than men. While this is encouraging after all, entrepreneurship offers an accelerated route to economic empowerment and gender equality we know that women-led firms tend not to reach the same scale as those led by men.

The barriers to growth, according to Mrs Blair, are the same regardless of geography. Just as we hear horror stories of venture capitalists asking female founders what their husbands think of the business here in the UK, two thirds of the women in the countries where the foundation operates have experienced stereotyping and discriminatory remarks.

The foundations chief executive, Helen McEachern, formerly of Action Aid, points to the enormous structural issues in many of these nations. The odds are stacked against women, and when it comes to economic power, we are moving backwards.

In fact, based on the current rate of progress, it will take well over 200 years to close the economic gender gap completely. To Mrs Blair, this is simply not good enough.

Automation has affected men, but also jobs traditionally held by women. New roles are more STEM orientated (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), where women are underrepresented. There is the perennial issue of childcare, against a backdrop of systemic views on what women and men should do.

The foundation is less concerned by the problem than its potential solutions. We are seeing more women enter what has historically been a male preserve. But while many developing nations have equal or higher rates of entrepreneurial activity among women than men, these are often vulnerable, informal micro-businesses.

Which is where the foundation comes in, to provide training, organise mentoring, and share knowledge, inspired by women across the world and supported by partners, donors and collaborators.

The opportunity here is huge, according to Mrs Blair. Women entrepreneurs could open new frontiers in every field of business, bringing us closer to solutions for the worlds most pressing problems, and transforming the way we live our lives.

Mrs Blairs understated offices, nestled in a quiet street in W1, are worlds apart from the nations where the foundation works. Sitting in her yoga gear, the trailblazing barrister, campaigner and author reels off statistics and anecdotes passionately.

She is inspired near-daily by the women she has encountered, but one touched her more profoundly than most. Dhanashree, an Indian micro-entrepreneur, lost her hand operating a noodle-making machine in her grocery store several years ago. The foundations workshops equipped her with the skills and confidence she needed to take her aspirations forward. She now runs a number of small-scale enterprises including dress-making and milk-selling.

The success of the foundation hinges on a willingness from mentors to give up precious time to support these women. But they are passionate to the point of gushing, McEachern says. Mentoring has long been viewed as one of the best vehicles for encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship, and has acted as a boon to female founders across the globe.

Nor is it a one-way street. With technology rapidly advancing, for instance, its not uncommon for mentors to be mentored by their mentee in areas such as coding, the hottest new apps, and social media.

Mrs Blair adds: Bank of America Merrill Lynch gives us over 100 mentors every year. They see it as talent development. And if youre a company doing business across the world, it gives employees insight into what life is really like in a given country.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the foundation would launch a new phase: a 10m mentoring campaign to help 100,000 female entrepreneurs in just three years. The 100,000 Women campaign was unveiled at Davos and has the backing of Hillary Clinton. Mentors will be paired with an aspiring entrepreneur in another country, provided with training, and asked to give two hours a month.

Their goal is ambitious, but as Clinton has said of the foundations work, it is the right thing to do.

Main image credit: Getty

View post:
Like a boss: Cherie Blair on helping women start their own business - City A.M.

BERLINA culture-clash movie with an erotic subplot, theres little doubt that Uisenma Borchus Black Milk (which premiered on Friday at the Berlin Film Festival), the Mongolian-German directors second feature, is an intensely personal project. Borchu emigrated from Mongolia to Germany with her family at the age of four and plays the central role of Wessi, a woman who returns as an adult to her homeland to explore her Mongolian identity and reestablish a relationship with her sister Ossi.

Upon her arrival at an austere, but certainly picturesque, home on the steppe, Wessi enjoys a warm reception from her family and neighbors. Theres a genuine conviviality shared by these hard-working nomads. Rather wistfully, Wessis father seems confident that her long exile in Germany hasnt alienated her from her peoples customs.

In some respects, Black Milk, despite some risqu elements meant to appeal to moviegoers who probably couldnt care less about Mongolia, sometimes resembles an ethnographic film. Great care is taken conveying the meticulous preparation of golden millet and the traditional process of slaughtering sheep. Non-professional actors are cast as nomads and the communal ambience within the yurt they share is precisely rendered. The local preoccupation with milk as the source of sustenance is treated as a near-mystical component of daily life. Yet, Borchus ostensible fealty to documentary realism notwithstanding, its also difficult not to feel that she, wittingly or unwittingly, is feeding into a Western audiences desire to view the rituals of daily life in Mongolia as charmingly exotic.

In truth, Black Milk belongs to a characteristically German, quasi-feminist cinematic subgenre: films like Margarethe von Trottas Marianne and Julianne or Angela Schanelecs My Sisters Good Fortune that highlight tensions and rivalries between sisters who nevertheless love each other. Rather predictably, its not long before the sisters tearful reunion is sullied by simmering resentments and a cultural gap thats not easy to bridge. Wessi, who is enamored of alluring clothes and makeup, has a beauty regimen that doesnt resonate particularly well with the more traditional Ossi, who Wessi chides for pining for an absent husband while pregnant. Ossi is also annoyed that her sister insists in participating in the slaughter of surplus sheep, a practice usually carried out exclusively by men. Even though the film belongs to the realm of art cinema, the sisters melodramatic spats are all part and parcel of the sort of personal entanglements that pepper more commercial culture-clash movies.

This superficially realistic film takes an almost magical-realist turn when a predatory male intruder visits Wessi and Ossis abode. Although Ossi fears that this aggressive man will rape them both, Wessi repels his advances with the eponymous black milk that spurts from her breasts. Its a somewhat odd and fanciful female empowerment motif to insert within the midst of a film that began with a documentary-like impulse to familiarize audiences with a cultural context that most Americans and Europeans know only from corny Hollywood epics such as 1965s Genghis Khan, in which Omar Sharif portrays the legendary 13th century Mongol emperor.

Although the festivals blurb hails their romance as transgressive, the couples meet-cute liaison is not much different than the flings women experience in movies where hooking up in bars instead of yurts drives the mating dance.

Of course, the main bone of contention between the sisters is Wessis unabashed attraction to Terbish, a handsome neighbor. Burchu seems unsure how to depict her heroines sexual agenda. The main sexual encounter between Terbish and Wessi is handled with restraint. But, although the festivals blurb hails their romance as transgressive, the couples meet-cute liaison is not much different than the flings women experience in movies where hooking up in bars instead of yurts drives the mating dance.

A film that wants to both educate and titillate, Black Milk doesnt quite succeed on either count. Borchus convincing performance as the lusty Wessi is this movies one unassailable asset.

See more here:
The Woman Who Repels Bad Men With Black Breast Milk - The Daily Beast

The U.S. federal governments disastrous response to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria illustrates a longstanding history of an exploitative domestic policy on the island. Recent earthquakes have not only rocked Puerto Ricos infrastructure but have emphasized the United Statess negligence of its own citizens. Journalist and Columbia University professor, Ed Morales, describes Puerto Rico as the symbol of marginalized communities all over the U.S. and the world. He joins activist and scholar Rosa Clemente to discuss the personal and political implications of the islands ongoing debt crisis, recovery efforts, and an intersectional movement that challenges the political establishment.

Laura Flanders: Rosa, I got to start with you because the last time I was looking at you, you were just back from the Island, you were saying, Were looking at a Puerto Rico for finance and not for people. What does it look like now?

Rosa Clemente: I still believe that the ultimate goal will be to have Puerto Rico, but no Puerto Ricans in it. And the more these two years have passed, with the work of Naomi Klein and Ed and Yarimar Bonilla really kind of laying out what we thought was potentially going to happen, but when you begin to read it and how theyve all contextualized it, its very real. And I think we have to understand, more, that there are a group of particularly young, white, rich men that want to try out all this cryptocurrency and Bitcoin and see Puerto Rico as the staging ground for that.

Get the news you want, delivered to your inbox every day.

Talk a bit about what this fantasy has been to you because this is personal, this is family fantasy.

Ed Morales: Theres a lot of people who knew that was a fantasy all along. But when you get to the average Puerto Rican, like my family and some people that I know, they really felt like the status was working for them on a certain level. They were able to have a middle-class home and a car and go shopping at malls like you have in the United States. But the economy of Puerto Rico was never self-sustaining, and the government has been in debt, going all the way back to the 70s, to ameliorate that.

Was it never self-sustaining? Never couldve been self-sustaining, or was it created [to be] not self-sustaining, which is to say dependent?

Morales: Yes, it was never self-sustaining because, well first of all, Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain for 400 years before the United States, and they were collaborators with the Spanish colonialism as well, and they were the ones who had most of the property in the sugar industry. But when the U.S. came in, they adjusted the tax laws to favor outside interest, and the U.S. sugar companies were able to take over most of the best land for sugar, and the U.S. economy started to dominate the Puerto Rican economy, and it was never really allowed to grow on its own. The Jones Act [made] it impossible for trade to happen. The U.S. set up Puerto Rico as a free-trade zone in the early 20th century, as a prelude to NAFTA in a way, by just there were no duties charged to the U.S. for imports from Puerto Rico, and then the U.S. dumped all of its consumer stuff, that it wasnt selling in the U.S., onto Puerto Rico.

Talk about the is it called the Downes Bidwell case, that determined the status, and contextualize that a little bit for us?

Morales: What happened in the 19th century, with a lot of territories that the U.S. acquired, which were put on the road to statehood, like a lot of the places in the middle of the country and in the West those were thought of as incorporated territories, which meant that they were on the paths [to] statehood. But at the end of the 19th century, when the U.S. decided to start this colonial empire and expand beyond its borders to maybe create a security zone in the Caribbean and to the South. Fighting the war with Spain, they acquired these territories filled with people who they mistrusted, or were just outright racist towards, because they were not white, they were mixed. Theres a lot of prejudice against mixed people as well. They would say things like, Mixed people have the worst aspects of both white and Black, so they did not consider Puerto Rico, or the Philippines, as candidates for statehood.

And they created this new category called unincorporated territory. And Downes v. Bidwell, which was decided on by two of the same Supreme Court judges that decided on Plessy v. Ferguson, which established separate but equal, they said that Puerto Rico was belonging to, but not a part of, the U.S. And so, what that allowed them to do was treat Puerto Rico in ways that was [an] advantage to the United States. For instance, they gave Puerto Rico the title of state so that it couldnt declare bankruptcy. They did it that way, but when it was to their advantage to consider Puerto Rico a foreign area, then they consider it as foreign and thats constantly still being done.

What has this scenario meant for you, your family, your life?

Clemente: So, I would say when the hurricane hit, my parents called and was like, Youre going, right? And I said, Yeah, I got to raise some money, but Im going. When I visited my titi in the hospital in Bayamn, at first, they werent letting anybody go in, they were very afraid of infections. And when they let me go in, I had to put on a hazmat kind of suit, so not to get other people sick. And she was in so much pain because she lost everything in the house and had broken her leg. She had an infection, and the nurse said, At this time, were only doing surgeries to save peoples lives right now. So, the part that my aunt was in was where, eventually, people would have to have amputation because they didnt even have medicine to stop the infection. So, its real, its visceral.

The older Ive gotten, I understand exactly what Puerto Rico is and the colonial status. So for me, when I got there in July and saw the unity of various, different Puerto Ricans you might believe in statehood, independence, colonial, you mightve been gone from the island, you might be coming back to the island from here, the United States it was like that moment I always prayed for. I was like, Oh, this is it. It reminded me of the struggle around Vieques. At one point, everybody mightve had a different political solution, but we knew, immediately, that Vieques has to we have to stop it from being a bombing range.

The U.S. base that the Navy was using for weapons testing.

Clemente: Right, and on May 1, 2003, that victory happened, and the U.S. Navy left. Now, to this day, theyve never cleaned it up. And at the moment, Vieques doesnt have a hospital, so anybody that gets sick in Vieques have to go to Fajardo.

But when I was at those protests to see the amount of young people, to see LGBTQ, trans Puerto Ricans, to see anarchist-leaning young people, to see feminists. I mean, even walking through old San Juan, they had changed all the names of the streets, put tags over them, like this is not Calle de la Fortaleza, now this is Calle Libertad.

Morales: It was like a new kind of nationalism for me. It was like an intersectional nationalism because a lot of the failings of nationalism, in the past, [have] been that its been too patriarchal, male-dominated. And so, this inclusivity of women who were at the forefront and LGBTQ people, I thought, was really encouraging and a model for what could happen in the U.S., or what is sort of happening in the U.S., a little bit.

Is there a chance that this whole Ricky Resign movement could stay focused on the systemic corruption that youre talking about and maybe the direction of development for the island?

Clemente: I think what a lot of people dont know is that before that, five days before, the FBI indicted Julia Keleher, the secretary of education, and her entire staff, for corruption, for stealing. Julia Kelehers the one that gave the go ahead to close over 200 schools in Puerto Rico. She also has ties to Betsy DeVos. So, its like, you peel one layer and youre like, Okay, right. And then this do we want a governor thats going to still represent the same type of corruption?

Ricky Resign, that movement, powerful enough to oust this governor, although maybe not get to the heart of everything. What happens to it now?

Clemente: Well, what has been happening, I think, also, that the intersection of particularly young, Black Puerto Ricans taking leadership, affirming who they are, I think thats always [an] important step toward liberation. And were seeing that really play out, culturally and politically, on the island, which is exciting. And now, they have been having peoples assemblies. Theres even people who are rewriting what a Puerto Rican constitution can look like. For me, those are signs of empowerment. Theyre signs that say we can no longer depend on some governmental structure or an elected official.

You write repeatedly, in the book, that there are ways in which Puerto Rico has been a canary in the coal mine for people in the U.S. Would you read a little part that speaks to that because over and over again, in your book, that comes across.

Morales: Even as the real crisis began to snowball in Puerto Rico, it would not become apparent to the United States, largely because there has been traditionally almost no media coverage, outside of The Laura Flanders Show, of the island, outside of the occasional crime wave or hurricane. In fact, awareness of the crisis would become widespread at first, only through the business press, which I had to spend hours going over. We saw a threat to not only American investors, but also the municipal debt market itself. But the mainstream awareness of Puerto Ricans as a people and a nation has created a formidable discourse, one that would emerge suddenly, to disrupt the stark silences and to directly or indirectly remind America that the loss Wall Street and Congress had worked so hard to externalize will not be so easily when the people who must pay for it are not as separate as had been thought. Through the debt crisis, as much as the United States tried to maintain its distance, Puerto Rico would finally become a permanent internal problem.

And that really symbolizes how Puerto Rico is a symbol of marginalized communities all over the U.S. and the world, that the debt crisis in Puerto Rico bears a lot of resemblance to the financial crisis of 2008 where they had all of these bad mortgages that they gave to people who couldnt afford to pay them back. Its a very similar mechanism.

Both of you, thank you for your book, Ed, its beautiful, and continue to do the reporting youre doing, Rosa, and well continue to play it.

Clemente: Thank you, Laura, for continuing to cover Puerto Rico.

Read the original here:
Puerto Rico's Uprisings Have Empowered a New Leadership Among the Oppressed - Truthout