Marianne

I am usually fairly skeptical of Netflixs percentile match recommendation engine which frequently gets things wrong, but as soon as I saw Marianne as the lead of my personal homepage, I knew I was going to watch it. A follow-up tweet from Stephen King endorsing it only cemented my decision.

The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorite Netflix originals ever, and if Marianne could match even a portion of its drama and dread, that would be worth my while. Instead, Marianne is far more creepy and unsettling than Hill House ever was, and while I wouldnt call it better, it is definitely a must-see for any horror fan, and something that brings to mind other horror features like Hereditary and It Follows than the This is Us with Ghosts vibe of Haunting of Hill House.

This is a French show, so that means subtitles on, and it follows the story of a young, famous horror author named Emma who turned her childhood nightmares into a best-selling book series. When shes called back home by disturbing events, we quickly realize that her titular villain, the long-dead witch Marianne, is not in fact a nightmare, but very real, and allegedly possessing the mother of her childhood friend. Marianne sends her care packages of skin and hair and teeth and its clear something has to be done.

Theres also a bit of an It vibe here, given that its one specific evil haunting a small town (Marianne, not Pennywise in this instance) and a group of friends the monster goes after using many of their greatest fears. But ultimately its on Emma to figure out what Marianne wants and how to get rid of her, but doing so does not come without its fair share of casualties among her family and friends.

Marianne

Some of the horror imagery here, deeply disturbing scenes where Marianne inflicts harm on those shes possessing or on others, is easily as memorable as anything seen in Hereditary, which sort of heralded this new era of ultra-messed up, yet artistic shock horror that was continued most recently in Midsommar. Hill House, for all its scares, was far from bloody or gross, but here, Marianne is both unsettling and sporadically gory in a way that will sear itself into your brain for quite a while to come.

If theres a downside to Marianne, is that I think it gets less effective as time goes on. The show loses something of value when Marianne eventually leaves its central host of Emmas friends mother and moves on to other targets, given that Mireille Herbstmeyers performance as the puppet of Marianne is easily the most memorable thing about the series. Once thats gone, Marianne becomes a bit less menacing, even if she has new bodies to snatch. None really create the same unease and terror as Herbstmeyer.

I very much enjoyed Victoire Du Bois as Emma, and her relationship with her assistant, Camile, but thats yet another aspect of the plot that sort of fades away as the final episodes near. Quite simply, the end isnt as good as the beginning, though theres enough of a cliffhanger here for another season, if thats whats in the cards.

Despite its issues near the end, I would recommend Marianne to any horror fan, and I dont want to get too much deeper into it, lest I ruin some of its best aspects. I am really loving the idea of longer form horror series (that arent made by Ryan Murphy) that were seeing these days, taking the vibes of my favorite horror films and translating them effectively to longer tail stories. Give both this and Hill House a look if you havent yet.

Follow meon Twitter,FacebookandInstagram.Read my new sci-fi thriller novelHerokiller, available now in print and online. I also wroteThe Earthborn Trilogy.

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Netflixs Marianne Is More Hereditary Than Haunting Of Hill House, And Deeply Disturbing - Forbes

Statistics Jersey is planning to produce annual reports on the general happiness and welfare of Islanders, based on models introduced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as the economic Gross Value Added measure is now viewed by some as outdated and a blunt instrument.

The Jersey Better Life Index, which has been produced in 2013 and 2018, includes a much broader ranges of measures to assess prosperity and well-being, such as environmental quality and life satisfaction.

Earlier this week Environment Minister John Young echoed the sentiments that more than just economic health needed to be assessed when he said that the Island should stop prioritising economic growth and financial interests over its environment.

On Wednesday Statistics Jersey released the latest figures measuring the Islands Gross Value Added figure, which is the estimated economic output or value of goods and services produced of all of Jerseys businesses and workplaces.

The report shows that the economy grew by 1.4% in real terms [taking into account inflation] last year, which was the fifth successive year of positive growth.

But Jersey has lagged severely behind Guernsey and the UK in terms of how its economic standard of living has grown over the last five years.

The GDP [gross domestic product] per person in Jersey of 43,470 has grown just 1% over the last half decade, compared to 7% in the UK and 12% in Guernsey, according to comparable figures.

Duncan Gibaut, head of Statistics Jersey, said that the Island was moving away from relying on GVA and GDP figures to determine the Islands performance because of their limited scope.

In 2013 based on the OECD model we did the first Better Life Index report and we did the same thing again in 2018, he said.

It is definitely the right direction to be heading in. GVA is an incredibly blunt instrument and it does not measure things like the well-being and sustainability of a jurisdiction.

The Better Life Index is less narrow and limited and includes measures such as health status, personal safety, environmental quality, life satisfaction, housing and civic engagement, which, of course, Jersey came bottom of everyone in this year.

We compare Jersey to 39 OECD countries in the report and to hundreds of regions as well. The OECD produces up-to-date data tables, so we are hoping to be able to produce this report every year from now rather, then the five years between the last two.

Jerseys total GVA last year was 4,707 million. The Islands productivity GVA per worker has fallen 23% since its peak in 2007, prior to the global financial crisis.

Originally posted here:
Are you happy? Government to measure Islanders wellbeing annually - Jersey Evening Post

Shakespeares King John is rarely performed but, on the basis of Eleanor Rhodes engrossing production for the RSC, it absolutely should be. The plot initially sounds a bit pedestrian: King John of England and the King of France battle for power, forge a tentative truce, and fight a whole lot more. But what a play this is: there are endless thrilling fights, spellbinding moments of reflection and devastating outpourings of grief. There is also a gradual erosion of belief in any sort of greater good as the divine right of kings and divinity itself fade away in the heat of battle.

Designer Max Johns has talked about approaching King John as a new play and the production tingles with a tangible sense of spontaneity. The show is loosely located in the mid 20th century but the set and costumes grow heavier and older disco lights replaced with flickering candles as the political squabbling turns deadly. There is jaunty dancing between the scenes, endless fashion parades (peaking with Katherine Pearces gold-decked Cardinal) and the mother of all food fights. Weaving everything together is David Gregorys enveloping sound design, which gradually darkens as blood begins to spill.

All these flourishes keep the energy pulsing but they also carry an important message: here is politics as performance. The connection is amplified by the fact that King John is played, brilliantly, by a woman. Rosie Sheehy portrays the King as a preening peacock, always on show when in public. When John addresses the citizens of Angers and implores them to recognise Englands authority, the crowd munches on popcorn, spectators to their own downfall.

As Johns power wanes, Rhode expertly emphasises the personal cost of politics. Charlotte Randle initially plays Constance as a crazed stage mum, but after her son is imprisoned she implodes with a grief that hollows out the theatre. Johns garments grow ever more oppressive until theyre eventually removed. All that pomp and ceremony melts away and the King is left in rags, vomiting blood in a rusty bathtub. As Philip the Bastard says: Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition!

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King John review blood and popcorn spill in riches to rags thriller - The Guardian

PORT JERVIS - Spider-Man, Wonder Woman and other heroes, haunters and character creators roamed the rooms of Port Jervis Free Library on Saturday, enticing 915 people to Fan Fest on the librarys 127th anniversary.

This is the biggest event the library ever had. We had a line waiting when we opened the door, said childrens librarian Danielle DeLorenzo, Collaborating with Haven for Heroes was a necessity. Theyre involved with the community and brought their fan base.

They brought out not only many people, but many colorful alter egos and demons needing exorcism. Spider-Man greeted a guest at the top of the library entrance stairs. Although concealed in Spider-Man garb head to toe, he revealed himself to be Manny Sepulveda, of Deerpark, who works for CASA, a dispute resolution program assisting children in foster care.

Growing up, I always had a place in my heart for Spider-Man. He was finding himself on a daily basis, trying to be a hero and trying to have friends, said Sepulveda. Wearing the mask brings out the innocence and brighter moments for kids.

Nearby, Wonder Woman, radiant in her regalia, explained her transformation from Natasha Carmona, of Goshen, social worker at Access Supports for Living.

Wonder Woman was an inner interest from movies, comics and TV, said Carmona. Three years ago I first put on a costume after my supervisor suggested it. She knew I was into it because I described clients like characters. Its a hobby to get my mind off work.

She is now involved with DC Comics cosplay, performance art involving costumes. Im thinking of starting an Orange County cosplay group, she said. If I attend fan fests, I could do that.

In a room nearby, creators of comic books and graphic novels displayed their work. Robert Geronimo, of Staten Island, showed off his popular Blood Realm, which he described as dark fantasy, influenced by Greek and Catholic mythology, like St. George and the Dragon.

But why so dark?

Its a way of exorcising my demons, he said. Im the son of a 100 percent disabled Vietnam War veteran affected by the severe trauma of real war. The trauma and horrors are passed on to the son. Hes a monster because war actions are hideous. I portray the trauma and gray line of war how no one wins. People put their own experiences on it, and I attracted a following.

Meanwhile, Al Nickerson, of Westtown, said he stopped drawing the graphic creations of others, which was his work at Marvel, DC Comics, MTV, Nickelodeon and "Sesame Street," so he could focus on his own characters. His new book, Sword of Eden, follows a 16-year-old on his first day of being a superhero. He searches for the Sword of Eden that cherubs used to drive the first humans from Eden, and then he looks for Noahs Ark.

James Kientopp, of Sparrowbush, described his book, Tales of Levinia, asrealistic fiction based on real people going through hardships who felt silenced, that their stories didnt matter.

This venture began with the support of his English teacher, Jeanne Corcoran, when he was a student at Port Jervis High School, from which he graduated in 2016.

I didnt come from much and felt I would come to nothing, he said. I was violently bullied emotionally, mentally, on the bus, on the internet, in texts. I was struggling to survive. Many were lonely and willing to take their own lives. By telling their stories, they were helped, though I was always afraid of fallout from reporting this and showing vulnerability.

But after he published his book, he said, a friends mother thanked him for saving the family. His friend had been planning to swallow pills, amid his parents tumultuous divorce, but when his mother read the book she was able to help him.

Being part of the book, he felt he amounted to something, said Kientopp. Its about raising your sword, showing them who you are and pushing back.

For DeLorenzo, the childrens librarian, the aim of Fan Fest was to get children to read.

We noticed that kids are often more open to reading graphic novels, she said. When we saw kids looking at Pokemon and anime, and we mentioned this event, they were excited. At the end of the day, we gave the community what they wanted.

With no misadventures, said Doug Garnham, Haven for Heroes co-owner.

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Heroes and demons lure crowd to Port Jervis Library for Fan Fest - Times Herald-Record

Libraries in the Royal Borough are a joy that the council offers but a service which large numbers of residents are not making the most of.

Misconceptions of eerily quiet spaces filled with rows of dog-eared books are keeping some people away from the 14 libraries the council maintains.

In anticipation of Libraries Week 2019 starting on Monday celebrating the role of the facilities in thedigitalworld library staff are keen to debunk these perceptions, particularly as the areas libraries are offering a wide variety of reading material online.

All people need is a library card and an app.

Dan Howick, reading development and library promotions officer, said: If youre travelling, commuting, its all just there for you and all you need is a library card number and youve got access to several thousand newspapers, magazines, e-books and audio books as well people dont know about it.

He added: Its everything youd see in WHSmith which youd spend six or seven pounds on but if you have a library card, which of course is free.

For those who prefer to turn the pages of real books the library strives to get new releases in including books being talked about in the press.

Dan added: We do have brand new books like Margaret Atwoods The Testaments: the sequel to The Handmaids Tale, which is about the biggest literary event of the year, and we have multiple copies.

Reading development and library promotions officer Jeanette Kemp added: Obviously, of course, we have the classics and the books that we should have, but also there is that rolling stock of new stuff coming in all the time in childrens and in adults.

For those who want to discuss their latest read there are the librarians.

Jeanette said: Its not just a big building full of books, its conversations about them.

Sometimes people come in and say I really like this book can you offer anything else?

While the library has a calm and peaceful atmosphere, it is also full of chatter with rhyme time and story time sessions for youngsters, knit and natter groups and more than 60 book clubs.

For anyone who prefers a quiet space in Maidenhead there is the Nicholson Room for quiet study.

Jeanette said: Its a safe place, a place of learning, a place where theres mutual respect and its free its pretty unique really.

It is an excellent service, added library supervisor Dalit Spitzer.

This is an actual joy that the council offers.

For some people a visit to the library is a more than just a pleasure trip, but serves as a space to tackle social isolation.

Dalit said: We see a lot of young parents, mostly mothers, maybe English is not their first language, maybe theyre new to the area this is a great way for young parents to socialise.

Theres a play area the children can play, or read a book if they want, but theres toys there for them and parents spend hours there, literally hours everyday.

Set over two floors Maidenhead Library is the Royal boroughs flagship service.

As well as books of every genre it offers the use of 16 public computers, a teenage area, access to Amazon lockers, daily newspapers, magazines and DVDs.

To find out more about the Royal Boroughs libraries go to www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200197/libraries

Go to the links below to find the apps you need to access the libraries digital offer, and to find out all the material you can download.

e-books and e-audio books

App- Libby or OverDrive (both apps have the same content provided by OverDrive - Libby is the newer app, OverDrive is the older version)

http://rbwm.lib.overdrive.com

eMagazines

App - RBdigital (Recorded Books Digital)

https://rbwm.rbdigitalglobal.com/

eNewspapers and eMagazines

App - PressReader

https://www.pressreader.com/

See the original post here:
Royal Borough's library service debunks musty misconceptions with reality of new book releases and vast digital offer - Windsor Express

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The following events are planned for adults, children, young adults, and their families in November 2019 at George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library, 8125 Ashlane Way, The Woodlands, Texas. All events take place at the George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library:

Featured Event

Monday, November 18th from 10:00-11:15 am - Play-Learn-Grow: A Family Place Library Parent/Child Workshop The workshop involves children from ages 1 to 3 and their caregivers. Spend time together, play in a playgroup atmosphere, make friends, and talk one-on-one with a specialist on child development. Heather Webster, Speech-Language Pathologist, of Webster Therapy Center will be our special guest discussing and answering questions on speech, hearing, and language development.

Computer Classes

Friday, November 1st and November 15th from 9:30-11:30am Open LabHave a question about your computer, phone, or tablet? Need help using a Microsoft Office program, Windows, or other software? Come visit the Computer Lab during Open Lab and our computer analyst, Brian, can help you find answers to your technology questions.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, November 5th, November 12th, November 19th, and November 26th at 9:30am Microsoft Word 2016 (Parts 1-4)Microsoft Word is the most often used application for creating documents such as resumes and letters. Join us as we learn Word in depth from start to finish.

Thursday, November 7th at 9:30am Introduction to SmartphonesWhat is an app? How do I download my pictures from my phone to my computer? These questions and more will be answered in this smartphones basics class. Bring a USB cable and your phone with you to class for assistance with your particular device. This class will focus on Android smartphones, but many of the principles discussed apply to iPhones as well.

Thursday, November 14th at 9:30am Email BasicsThis class will cover creating an email account, sending and receiving email, and organizing your mail. Join us for this introductory class.

Thursday, November 21st at 9:30am Learn a Language OnlineAre you interested in learning a new language such as Spanish, Japanese, French, or over 100 others, or in improving your English? Join us for an introductory class on your librarys free language learning software, Transparent Language. Learn how to understand, read, speak, and write another language using a device you already own. *Bring your library card for full access during class.

Monthly or Bi-Monthly Events at the Library- First and Third Friday, November 1st and 15th at 9:30am Needlecrafts: Knit & StitchCrocheters, knitters, embroiderers, quilters, and all textile artists welcome. Bring your own work-in-progress and supplies! Drop by Conference Room 222 on the second floor for inspiration and to meet fellow crafters.

Monday, November 4th from 5:30-7:00pm Girls Who Code Teen Girls Ages 12-17Join the Girls Who Code movement. Learn to code with girls like you and professional women from ExxonMobil. Space in the Computer Lab is limited and registration is required.

Tuesday, November 5th from 5:30-8:00 pm De-Stress Sesh Teens 13-17 Teens have an opportunity to decompress by coloring, journaling, listening to music, playing games, aromatherapy, and snacking. Registration requested.

First Thursday, November 7th at 2:00pm Adult Fiction Book ClubJoin us for a discussion of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. One of our favorite author is back with a story of two siblings with special ties to the amazing house of their childhood. After being forced out of this idyllic place, they struggle all their lives to recover. Dont we all wish to revisit the magical place of our childhood where things were as they should be?

Saturday, November 9th from 9:00am-1:00pm Teen Practice Exams Teens 13-17Take a free practice ACT exam through our partnership with Woodlands Test Prep. Test scores will be returned to participants along with suggestions on how to improve scores for when it counts. Space is limited. Register online through the link at http://www.countylirbary.org/calendar.htm.

Second and Third Tuesday, November 12th and November 19th at 1:00pm Adult Writers GroupIf you have a writing project you would like to start or a project you want to finish, Mitchell Writers Group might be a source of inspiration for you. Participants discuss each others work and offer supportive critique. Come join the fun!

Second Tuesday, November 12th at 1:30pm CrafternoonsJoin us in Community Room 102 for Crafternoons, an adult-focused craft program for adults and families to express their creativity! Each month will feature free crafts to create and take home, while supplies last. No advanced skills needed; just show up ready to have fun, meet other community members, and create something amazing! All ages welcome, but be aware that crafts are intended for adults. All supplies and instructions provided; no registration needed. Join us for our 2019 Retrospective and make a craft you missed or make your favorite craft from the past year again. Happy crafting!

Tuesday, November 12th from 5:30-8:00 pm Gaming Night Teens 13-17Teens gather to play games of all kinds, from classic board games to the newest video games. Snacks provided. Registration requested.

Saturday, November 16th from 10:00am-3:00pm Craft Fun Children 12 and youngerCome to the library for creative, self-directed craft activities for children. This event is a come-and-go activity and a child must be supervised by an adult.Tuesday, November 19th from 5:30-8:00 pm Scrabble Competition Teens 13-17Teens will compete playing the classic game Scrabble. Snacks provided and prizes awarded for 1st and 2nd place finishers. Registration required.

Third Wednesday, November 20th at 6:30pm Adult Evening Book ClubNot sure what to read next? Let us pick the book for you! The evening book club reads a mix of fiction and non-fiction selections and meets in Community Room 102 for a lively discussion of the current book. Octobers book of choice is Whiskey & Charlie by Annabel Smith, a captivating debut novel of brothers who have drifted apart and the accident that will determine their future.

Third Thursday, November 21st at 1:00pm Adult Nonfiction Book ClubPlease join us in Community Room 102 to attend and enjoy refreshments and the camaraderie of like-minded readers. Novembers selection is Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by award-winning author Patrick Keefe, a stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing in Northern Ireland and its devastating repercussions.

Tuesday and Wednesday, November 26th and November 27th from 10:00am-3:00pm Craft Fun Children 12 and youngerCome to the library for creative, self-directed craft activities for children. This event is a come-and-go activity and a child must be supervised by an adult.

Tuesday, November 26th at 5:30pm Movie Night Teens 13-17Pizza, popcorn, and movie candy will be served. Registration is required.

Weekly Events at the Library Mondays from 10:00am-12:00pm - Tiny Tots Library Play Time Ages 3 and youngerJoin us for a come-and-go Family Place Library weekly event that encourages play with educational toys and board books. Spend time together, play in a playgroup atmosphere, make friends, and visit with other parents. *There will not be Tiny Tots Library Play Time the week of November 25th.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00am, 10:30am, and 11:00am - Family Storytime Ages 3 and youngerThis story program is for children and a caregiver with an emphasis on stories and activities for toddlers. This program emphasizes early literacy skills and is a great way to meet other families with young children. *There will not be Family Storytime the week of November 25th.

Tuesdays at 1:30 pm - School Age Storytime Ages 4 and upChildren are introduced to new authors and illustrators and develop listening, thinking, participation, literacy, and social skills. * Children may attend story club by themselves, but a parent or guardian must remain in the library during the program. **There will not be School Age Storytime the week of November 25th.

Library Holiday ClosingNovember 11th - Veterans Day all MCMLS branches closedNovember 25th Thanksgivingall MCMLS branches close at 5pmNovember 27th-30th - Thanksgiving Early Closing all MCMLS branches closed

All current library events may be viewed at the MCMLS website - http://www.countylibrary.org**All events are free and open to the public****All events are subject to change without prior notice. Please check with the library to confirm the day and

More:
George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library, The Woodlands Texas, Announces Events For November 2019 - Woodlands Online

ThursdayOct3,2019at4:49PM

Oct 2 To the Editor:

This November, residents of Kittery have the opportunity to preserve the historic Rice Library by voting to approve a $5 million bond for renovation and expansion. By adding approximately 10,000 sq. ft., the project will more than double the existing space in the Rice building and make it accessible to those with disabilities. A new programming area will house in- and after-hours activities, ensuring that the library continues to be the heart of the community and an architectural anchor in the Foreside.

Currently staff and patrons move between two buildings, neither of which adequately serve the number of people wanting to participate in the librarys many offerings. Already the library hosts discussion groups of books and films, lectures on local history, movie nights, computer literacy workshops, andincredible as it soundsmore than 300 activities for children each year. The addition of an elevator and other elements to enhance accessibility in conjunction with space that can be reconfigured to house different sized audiences will result in increased patronage and expanded programming.

Your approval of the bond goes far beyond preserving the beloved Rice building. It reflects the values of a community dedicated to education and inclusiveness and will stand, as Mark Twain said of public libraries, the most enduring of memorials of Kitterys commitment to the future.

Susan Goodman

Kittery Point, Maine

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Preserve and improve Kittery's historic Rice Library by supporting bond - Seacoastonline.com

October is the month when attention turns to Halloween and spooky stories of ghosts and eerie happenings. Let me open the season with some tales of supernatural occurrences at the old Long Beach Main library, and I will leave it up to you to find out if the spirits have followed their beloved literary tomes to the new Billie Jean King Main library. They did before when the 1909 Carnegie library in Lincoln Park was torn down after a fire and its replacement built on the same site in 1977. But the BJK Main library is in a different location in the park. Will that make a difference?

Who are these literary spirits? Many were revealed by my fellow workers when I was gathering tales for my Haunted Long Beach books.

There was the lady in white dressed in a Victorian style dress, who hung around on the upper level of the library. Several people told me of seeing her in the area by Pacific Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.

One new employee sheepishly told me they were clearing books in the genealogy section of the library when she saw someone standing next to her. She considered it strange that the person was in the library before opening hours, but she thought it might be someone on the staff whom she hadnt yet met. She was about to say something, turned and saw that the person standing next to her was a young, transparent girl dressed in Victorian attire. The apparition, who appeared with a friendly smile, had her blond hair done up in curls. In the blink of an eye she was gone.

Do you remember Y2K, when everything related to computers was supposed to go haywire when we switched from 1999 to 2000? Well, in anticipation of any problems the Long Beach Civic Center was staffed for extra precaution on New Years Eve. A security guard was alone in the library around 3:30am on Jan. 1, 2000. He was on the upper level by the Central Reference area and chanced to look towards Pacific and Ocean. There he saw the outline of a young woman dressed in an old fashioned white dress. She was transparent, had her hands through the table, looking down as if she was reading something. The guard noticed she cast no shadow and he was certain her image was not caused by lights or passing cars. As he approached the stairs she disappeared. He claims he saw her several times and sensed a feeling of sadness about her. He also told me he would swear in a court of law about the validity of his sightings.

There was also an apparition which a library security guard and I saw one evening after closing. It wasnt the woman in white, who seemed to hang out on the upper level, but a male from an undetermined time period.

I was in charge that night, and had given all the other staff the A-OK to leave, when I heard our security guard yell at someone on the lower level. As I rushed to the stairs I saw the guard by the administration offices and a dark shape running across the floor towards the Miller Room, on the opposite side of the library. We both thought it was a homeless person looking for a safe, warm place to spend the night. As she patrolled the lower level I stationed myself at the top of the stairs to see if the person reappeared, trying to hide from her. Suddenly the elevator, which was on the lower level began rise. When the door opened on the upper level I expected to find our mysterious visitor, but when the door opened there was no one there. Roxanne, the guard that night, and I were both stunned, but she continued to search the entire downstairs level while I played lookout up above. No one was found.

Other ghostly happenings occurred at the old Main library. Elevators ran by themselves, opening doors to reveal nothing there except a cold presence. One staff member working in her office experienced strange rustling sounds coming from the back of the desk area when no one else was there. Once, library employees returned after a weekend of leisure to find the desk unit in the corner office completely collapsed and tossed about the floor.

Another eerie happening was recounted by an employee who was working after the library had closed at 5:30pm. Sometime between 6:30pm and 7pm, the public address system came on. She went and stood directly under one of the speakers to check that she was hearing correctly. There was some sort of faint noise. She hurried to the area of the library where the public address microphone was kept, but there was no one there. A minute later she received a phone call from the security guard asking if she had been using the public address system. He too had heard the same eerie voice over the intercom. Later, another security guard mentioned that the same thing occurred several times late at night when he was on duty and supposedly alone in the building. Later the librarys PA system was tested and no mechanical issues were detected. Eventually it was tied into City Halls public address system. After that whenever anything strange came over the intercom everyone dismissed it as another missive from City Hall.

Since 1909 a library has stood on the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Pacific Avenue in downtown Long Beachs Lincoln Park. Though it appeared to many that some of the original staff and patrons from the old Carnegie library continued to browse through the stacks in search of good reading material even after death, will they continue to do so at the new Billie Jean King Main library as they had at old Main? What of the ghosts old Main acquired library lovers who thought heaven was spending forever in the library they once loved? Will they relocate? There are a few factors that indicate that they may.

For one, those knowledgeable in ghost detection say that water is a good conductor of energy for spirits to make themselves known. The new BJK Main library is built over the citys first water source, which is why city founder William Willmore donated land for a public park around it. It wasnt much, just a boggy watering hole sufficient to supply a few sheep. Later James Rowland Cook, who built the first house in the city in 1882 (at 327 Pine), drilled for water and found a brackish, but drinkable source. Willmore promised buyers in his new city he would bring in a good supply of pure water. He kept his promise but went bankrupt in the process, relinquishing his claim to the city that would be renamed Long Beach.

Another factor that stirs up ghostly energy is change especially demolition and construction. When the old Main library is torn down, will paranormal phenomena become more observable on the site as construction crews take the building apart? Will the spirits decide to move to a more conducive atmosphere the nearby BJK Main library?

Perhaps, the spirits of old Main have already moved with the books they loved books that became like friends. They may want to be near books that helped them get a job, delivered lessons on how to overcome difficult times, gave instructions on how to raise their children or just provided entertainment. If you do run across a ghost at the new BJK Main library, let me know. It will make me happy to know that they have found a new home.

If youd like to learn more about library ghosts and other hauntings youll find more in my book Haunted Long Beach 2.

Also Ill be talking about the folks who inhabit our local cemeteries (from my book Died in Long Beach: Cemetery Tales) on Wednesday Oct. 9 at the Belmont Heights United Methodist Church (317 Termino) around 7:20pm. The Belmont Heights Community Association is hosting the program, and my presentation will follow their general meeting which starts at 7pm.

On Oct. 15, Ill be at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 E Britton Dr.) to give a 5:30pm presentation on my book Haunted Long Beach 2. Both programs are open to all and books will be available for sale (cash or check only) with proceeds going to support newspaper digitization.

If you cant make these two programs (they are quite different from each other) please consider taking the Historical Societys annual cemetery tour on Oct. 26. Enjoy October!

Visit link:
Bygone Days: The ghosts of libraries past The - Signal Tribune

CHICAGO, Oct. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --NetZoom, Inc., the maker of the most comprehensive NetZoomTM Visio Stencils Device Libraryfor documenting and diagramming network, data center assets, and audio-video devices, released new Visio Stencils for the following product lines:

Manufacturer / Product Line / Product #

Arista Networks

7020R Series

7020SR-24C2

Axis Communications

Camera Station

S2224

Barracuda Networks

NG Firewall

F380

Cisco Systems-Set 11

Cisco Web Security Appliance

WSA-S695-K9

Extreme Networks

VSP 7400

VSP7400-48Y-8C

Focusrite

RedNet Series

Rednet A16R

IBM-Set 7

Hardware Management Console

FC 0083 2461-SE2 HMC

Minuteman

EnteprisePlus Series

e1500RT2U

Onkyo

TX Series

TX-RZ820

Procera Networks

PacketLogic Series

IBS10G

Raritan Computer-Set 3

Dominion PX III

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That journey wasnt easy. After a nine-week, 50-date tour with Brother Ali in 2014, MaLLy felt creatively stalled. He continued performing material from his previous (and much darker) album, The Colors of Black, but he didnt know what direction his music would take next.

Then, in 2015, he reached out to a producer friend, PC, who sent him a few beats. The music had a calm, vintage vibe, and, when combined with lifestyle changes like going vegetarian, quitting alcohol, and taking up a Buddhist meditation practice, MaLLy began to write with more vulnerability and authenticity. Soon, songs about celebrating the present moment, empowerment, masculinity, and spirituality flowed freely. The process made him fall back in love with music making.

This album was like therapy, he says. It was truly a journey to find myself and proudly walk my own path as an artist. Instead of trying to look happy, this album was my ode to being happy.

We spoke to MaLLy about his metamorphosis ahead of his Oct. 5 release show at Icehouse.

City Pages: When you first stopped drinking, was your plan to make a permanent lifestyle change or did you just want to be more clear-headed for the album?

M: Initially, it was like a test for myself. I was like, Let me see if I can chill out for a week of not going out or having drinks on the weekend with friends. I woke up after the first week on a Saturday, and I was like, This feels great! Im not hungover. All my facilities are intact. Im not confused or angry or bitter. The day-after hangover feeling of depression and sadness wasnt there. I was like, Let me go another week. And then a month happened. Two, three, four, five months happened, and I was like, I think this is a full-blown lifestyle change. I just wanted to be clear-headed for life, not even just for the project, just in general. It had gotten boring, to be honest with you. After a while, I literally heard this voice in my head saying, What are we even doing this for?

People thought it was weird, too. They were like, Dude, youre not drinking? And youre not eating meat anymore? Whats going on? People thought I was in a cult. They thought something had gone wrong. I was like, No, I just decided I dont do that anymore. Nobody ever gets weird or questions if you stop smoking cigarettes. But with drinking, its everywhere. If you perform, they got drinks in the green room. Even if they dont, a fan wants to buy you a drink. You go to the afterparty. Theres happy hour if you work in a corporate setting. The company party. Its so abundant. Its like you almost dont think about it. Its just there. Its as easy as breathing air. I was like, Yeah, I just dont want to do this anymore.

[Now that Im sober] Im so present about things. Im not wishy-washy and confused. My mood is balanced. Life is completely different because of that. And I value myself and the people around me so much more now. Im really here with people. I can go to places and feel what it feels like to be in a certain environment because Im not numbed. Theres no veil over my essence or over my feelings. Im 100 percent there. Im tuned in. It definitely contributed to how the album turned out.

CP: The first track on the album honors your mother. How has your relationship with her shaped you?

M: Dear Mama is actually more of an ode of gratitude to both my mom and my grandma. The woman you hear speaking on the track is my grandma, from a voicemail she left me. I was having a down moment and she called me back to leave some encouraging words. When I listen back to that, thats like a tearjerker moment for me. Some of the stuff shes saying, like, God loves you and so do I, that hit me in the chest really hard. Both my mom and grandma have definitely been two pillars in my life as far as instilling some values: being honest, educating yourself, being a loving person, working hard. Being an only child, I got to spend lots of time with them. Theyve always been at the center of why I do a lot of things. I want to be the reflection of their investment. I want people, when they see me, to say, This dude is the product of strong mentors, ethics, and two beautiful, strong black women who never were rich but they have rich spirits, rich hearts.

My mom recently experienced her second bout of breast cancer in late 2018. Just going through driving someone to all of their appointments, making sure that the mastectomy was successfulit was a serious undertaking for those months, from the diagnosis to the surgery. I feel like it brought us closer. I think it let me know that my mom and my grandma are my real ones, theyre two of my favorite people in this world that have always shown love. If it wasnt for them, there wouldnt be me. Theyve always encouraged me to be the best at whatever it is that Im doing, as long as Im happy, thats all that matters. Which is why I say, Dear Mama / I hope you really like this, like, I hope you not only like the record but I hope that youre proud of the effort and the time and the investment that you put into me as a person, as a son, as an entrepreneur, as an artist. I hope that youre proud of the job that you did. I think this particular project is a reflection of their hard work as much as it is mine.

CP: Another one of the standout tracks on the album is Faces. What experiences informed that song?

M: My friend, Bambu, has a song on his album Prey for the Devil called Whiteface. I happened to be listening to his album one day. I felt like it would cool if I did, not necessarily a response, but a continuation, but instead of Blackface, I just wanted to call it Faces because its more of a metaphor of the different types of caricatures as well as faces of pain, experiences of racism, prejudice, and challenges in the world.

Parts of the chorus are kind of conflicting: They wanna see a smile with a black face / But everybody scared of the black face / They wanna see you die with your black face / This whole crowd fell in love with the black face. And its a mix of, like, people selling themselves out but then also other people wanting to take on those caricatures who have no experience or understanding of what its like to be in someone elses shoes.

I go on to say, Three years since I been called the [N-word] twice. That was a real experience that prompted that verse. The second verse goes on to really criticize mainstream America. Been ridiculed since middle school / a tear big enough thatd drop and fill a pool. That particular line comes from going to private school a majority of my life and being one of the only black students if not the only black student in my class, and really having a hard time with that, dealing with, Do I assimilate? How do I survive in this environment without stripping down and minimizing and giving up parts of myself just to get an education?

Then I go on: Pray for high-flying vultures if you drive five over. Its a criticism towards racism and referencing instances where blacks have been shot. I think there was an instance where an individual was making racist comments from a helicopter, saying, There goes the bad guy, on a police chase. Thats the high-flying vulture. And then the idea that if you drive five [miles] over [the speed limit] and get pulled over by the police, this potentially could be your last time on Earth.

So a lot of Faces is a critique of this integrated but super segregated world but then also doing some undertone criticisms of self, like: Whats the part Ive played in this? Where do I fall into the equation? Am I one of those faces that has rapped just to entertain people? But then also understanding that even if you entertain people, theres still that weird paradox that people are scared of you or people judge you from outer appearance. Having a black face is a very complicated thing.

CP: There are religious references all over this album. How does your faith influence both your life and your music?

M: Growing up, Id always had a relationship with God or with a higher power, more so looking at it like an energy or a vibe that governs how everything moves in the world. All living beings, to me, are manifestations of that. Were all an expression of the supreme. The world doesnt belong to us; we belong to it. Having that understanding since I was a young child andprayer, specifically, this idea of you can pray or you can worry. I started off at a young age practicing Christianity very lightly.

More recently, I saw an interview by Russell Simmons where he was describing clarity over cloudiness he used to get high and drunk and party hard and he stumbled upon meditation and realized that meditation for 20 minutes means more to him than a late night of drinking and getting high. When he said that he prefers clarity over cloudiness, that just stuck with me. I said, Wow. This is something that maybe I should explore. I was very curious, having more of a seekers mentality versus just having super hard, definitive roles of where I fit or where Im supposed to be spiritually.

A friend of mine introduced me to Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis. I went to a couple of meditation courses and started to practice meditation. Its like rewiring or retraining your patterns, your habits, how you see the world, how you see people, how you see yourself. For me, the way it started to spill over into the music was really not fighting, or trying to be perfect, with the material I was coming up with. Instead of trying to hide and come up with the slickest verse, why dont I just have a very honest verse about how I feel about my spirituality or how I feel about the world? Whats my perspective on how I acted towards women in relationships or friendships? Whats my relationship with my family? How do I feel about myself right now? And being able to have those real conversations. My spirituality practice, as well as the music, has served as a mirror for me to be able to live twice and reflect on things that have happened and speak to a lot of those situations.

CP: Throughout all these experiences, what have you learned about happiness?

M: Happiness comes from so many places on a temporary basis, like I got a big pay raise or I got a new car or I bought a new house or I got married or Im in a relationship or I put out a new album. Those are all slices of happiness, or things that create or incite happiness. Theres feeling it, but then theres the state of beingtrying to figure out, at this very moment, even if I dont have every single thing that Ive ever desired or ever wanted, am I good? Can I sit there and say, Im happy with my life?

The thing that Ive learned about happiness is its one thing to get there and experience it, but it takes effort and intention to maintain it. Happiness is available to all of us, within us. Im not trying to make decisions for people who might have mental illness. Maybe it is a different road or different challenge to get there. I dont have any mental illness that I know of, but in general terms, I do think happiness is available to us all. We have everything we need to get to that point or experience that. But I think it is a matter of putting the time in, of really counting your blessings, of understanding that happiness is here. Its not way across the room. Happiness is within all of us.

We put a lot of stock in external things. And the external stuff is the stuff that we cant control. If youre outsourcing your happiness into external things, into something thats volatile, thats always in flux, thats always fleeting, and thats impermanent, then youre at the mercy of the world.

MaLLyWith: Last Word, The Lioness, and Just WulfWhere: IcehouseWhen: 10:30 p.m. Sat. Oct. 5Tickets: $8/$10; more info here

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MaLLy embraces a vintage sound and new attitude on 'The Journey to a Smile' - City Pages