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Edward Parks, as Steve Jobs, and Wei Wu, as Kbun Chino Otogawa, in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. Courtesy Ken Howard/The Santa Fe Opera

If opera is going to grow as an art form in the 21st century, its going to need more than directors imposing quirky concepts onto familiar repertoire or composers retracing well-worn tracks of post-Romanticism. Its going to need the kind of musical and dramatic persuasiveness that enthralled the Santa Fe Operas audience on Saturday night at the world premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, a bracing opera by composer Mason Bates and librettist Mark Campbell.

This is an American tale told with American bravado. Steve Jobs was both adored and vilified as a person and as a corporate genius, but as the visionary behind the Apple computer empire he was ultimately responsible for the iGadgets (phone, pad, pod, ) that have become defining artifacts of modern life. The operas scenario extracts seminal chapters from his life story, casting him as both hero and villain, a man at war with himself. He develops his passion for engineering as a child, achieves technological breakthroughs in his familys garage and gleans ideas from his educational experiences. He has a relationship (and a daughter) with a woman he treats terribly, and he searches for inner peace through Zen Buddhism. He establishes and oversees his mega-successful corporation, he marries a supportive woman who helps tame some of his demons, he gets sick, he dies. Librettist Campbell shuffles these episodes and arrives at a nonlinear narrative that, on the face of it, seems somewhat random; and yet it unrolls with a strong sense of theatrical momentum and is not at all confusing.

What:The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

When:8:30 p.m. July 26; and 8 p.m. Aug. 4, 10, 15, 22 and 25

More information:Call 505-986-5900 or visit http://www.santafeopera.org

Simple, clear-cut, uncluttered and clean sings Jobs at one point, clarifying his design goals to an engineer. Director Kevin Newbury seems to have taken that as his own watchword, masterminding a production in which one scene flows to the next seamlessly, each employing visual details that support the thrust of the action rather than distract from it. Sets, lighting and projections (devised respectively by Victoria Vita Tzykun, Japhy Weideman and 59 Productions) work as a piece. Horizontal bars of multicolored fluorescence contain the space from above, sometimes echoed by thin pillars of light ranged near the sides of the stage. Brightly lit wall-height blocks skim fluidly across the stage as if in balletic choreography. Furnishings are limited to what is essential to the story: workbenches, office desks and chairs, nothing extraneous. The production capitalizes on the projection capacities made available through the theaters recent overhaul. The imagery of Jobs life is projected, often in energetic juxtaposition (circuit boards, press clippings, Zen calligraphy), and a scene where he does LSD with his girlfriend in an apple (!) orchard gets woozy indeed. This is in no way a costume drama, although Paul Careys realistic wardrobe designs help clarify the intermixed chronology and they even make clothing styles of the 1970s and 80s seem relatively unobjectionable, which is quite an achievement. Groups of employees or board members are moved about as precisely as the elements of the set.

Garrett Sorenson, as Woz, and Edward Parks, as Steve Jobs, in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. Courtesy Ken Howard/The Santa Fe Opera

Just before an early expanse in which we first see Jobs with his Zen master, Campbells libretto proposes a stage direction: If the back wall of the Santa Fe Opera House can open up for the next scene, that would be lovely. It could and it was, with the last sliver of the sun gleaming on the horizon of the Jemez Mountains. Quite a sun, sings Jobs mentor. Always loveliest when its leaving. And yet, having tapped the houses ace in the hole, Newbury does not overplay the hand. The point is made, the audience inhales the exquisite moment, and the stage soon reconfigures so the plot can move on.

Bates music tends to be powerfully optimistic, trading to some degree in sustained transcendence. The scores vivaciousness comes more from high-energy rhythms, often repeated in a post-minimalist way (John Adams may come to mind), and from a vivid sonic palette. A good deal of advance chatter focused on Bates use of electronic sounds, which he presided over from his computer setup in the orchestra pit. But its not like olden days when superimposing electronic sounds over an orchestra had an oil-and-water quality. Bates has spoken of how he considers modern electronica to be a further family of symphonic music-making strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, electronica and this score exemplifies his contention, with the electronic sounds weaving in and out of the integrated texture with a sense of inevitability. These are hardly unfamiliar sounds, to be sure. We hear them all the time in movie soundtracks, but Bates shows real expertise in using them to enlarge orchestral texture.

He had some challenges to meet. He has been almost exclusively an instrumental composer, building up a solid output of symphonic and chamber works but a vocal catalog that is limited to six choral pieces and two song cycles. An opera obviously requires skill in vocal writing, and Bates showed that he has the requisite chops to write effectively for lyric theatre. Indeed, this is not much of a stop-and-sing numbers opera. Although it includes some certifiable arias and ensembles, these seem crafted more to support the dramatic narrative than as opportunities for vocal display which is not meant as criticism. One also wondered how effectively Bates would navigate the sheer scale of operatic structure, since none of his concert pieces has extended beyond a half-hour and most run 15 minutes or less. But the question of whether he could maintain musical interest through a 95-minute operatic score (without intermission) seemed to some extent moot. The piece consists of a prologue and epilogue with 18 discrete episodes in between, so that averages out to four and three-quarter minutes per scene. Some are longer and some shorter, but with his succession of modestly scaled segments, Bates landed on an effective plan that was entirely achievable for a composer writing his first opera one that moreover helps define the works kinetic verve.

Edward Parks, as Steve Jobs, and Sasha Cooke, as Laurene Powell Jobs, in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. Courtesy Ken Howard/The Santa Fe Opera

Michael Christie conducted with precision and pizzazz, and a couple of orchestral interludes truly got the adrenaline pumping. One of them, at about the operas one-hour mark, accompanies projected images charting the meteoric rise of the company and its growing complication as a corporate organism. I wouldnt be surprised if it were extracted to stand as a frenetic orchestral showpiece in its own right.

The cast was uniformly commendable for their acting as well as their singing. In the title role, baritone Edward Parks is on stage practically the whole time. He appears in roles like Figaro in The Barber of Seville and Valentin in Faust, so he is obviously able to sing in an expansive operatic baritone style. But he didnt really do that here. He presented the part more intimately, as a lieder-singer might, with naturalness of style and exemplary diction. Subtle amplification underscored his performance, and indeed those of all the singers a logical use of electronic technology in a score such as this.

Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke was a pleasure to hear as Jobs wife, Laurene. Her rich, warmly covered tone was put to finest use in her climactic aria Humans are messy, awkward and cluttered, an anthem to empathy, one that may become embraced as a standalone piece. A similarly touching performance came from Wei Wu, as Jobs Buddhist mentor Kbun Chino Otogawa. This beautifully written role encompasses both wisdom and wry humor, and Wei Wus bass not particularly large but of velvety texture infused it with a feeling of profound comfort, a welcome anchor in the emotional turbulence that sometimes surrounded it. Garrett Sorenson conveyed substantial character development as Jobs fellow inventor and business partner Steve Wozniak; he began as a comical dork and ended up as a serious corporate grown-up, his bright tenor letting loose fully in the tenseness, and then fury, of his aria Goliath, in which he resigns from the company he has built with Jobs. Smaller roles were admirably conveyed by baritone Kelly Markgraf (as Jobs father), mezzo-soprano Mariya Kaganskaya (as a calligraphy teacher), soprano Jessica E. Jones (as Chrisann Brennan, Jobs girlfriend), and Jonah Sorenson (a nonsinging part upheld admirably by a young actor portraying the 10-year-old Jobs).

Edward Parks, as Steve Jobs, and Jessica Jones, as Chrisann Brennan, in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. Courtesy Ken Howard/The Santa Fe Opera

Bates and Campbell are not the only people charting a path for operas future, but one is more likely to find seriously creative new work in warehouses and experimental theatres than on a major opera stage. Santa Fe Opera and its general director, Charles MacKay, deserve congratulations for making such a piece available at this level. The day of the premiere, the company added an additional performance (on Aug. 22) to the six it had originally scheduled. That should help accommodate audience demand as word circulates about this charismatic piece. It will surely appeal to millennials, thanks to its dynamism in harnessing the technology of today to tell the story of technologys yesterday. But more traditional opera-lovers are bound to embrace it, too. Like all the finest operas, it is animated by a stimulating plot, it is brimful with compelling music, and not less important it has an ample heart.

Correction: A previous version of this review misidentified the actor playing young Steve Jobs. It was Jonah Sorenson in the role, not Asher Corbin.

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'The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs': Zen and the art of opera - Santa Fe New Mexican

The Triangle Offense, an existential basketball strategy so complex that it was quite simple, and so simple that it was maddeningly complex, died of complications related to confusion on Wednesday. It was years old.

The Triangle, also known as the Triple-Post Offense, the Sideline Triangle Offense, and the Trade-Me-Coach Offense, reportedly collapsed under the weight of its own pretension in the front office of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. But no one with the requisite training in astrophysics and Zen Buddhism could be located in time to provide resuscitation.

Its demise coincided with the decision by Knicks management to dismiss Phil Jackson, the teams president for the past three years and the Triangles closest living relative. Jackson was so attuned to its almost mystical intricacies that he became the Triangle whisperer although critics say that his channeling of the offense could not be understood at any volume of voice.

The Triangle Offense was born on the hardwood courts of the University of Southern California in the 1940s, the offspring of the universitys innovative basketball coach, Justin McCarthy Sam Barry. It was then raised and refined by one of Barrys many acolytes, Morice Fredrick Tex Winter, who attempted to capture its many mysteries in a book called The Triple-Post Offense, published in 1962.

Since the publication of Winters book, others have attempted to explain, clearly and concisely, what the Triangle entails. But many have gone mad in this pursuit; trying to do so is the basketball equivalent to gazing at the face of Medusa.

In 2014, Scott Cacciola of The New York Times provided a short primer, saying that the Triangle was predicated on reading and exposing soft spots in the defense. He continued:

The triangle and there is an actual triangle formed by the post, wing and corner players on the strong side of the court revolves around seven guiding principles that include maintaining proper spacing (about 15 to 20 feet between players), penetration by passing and the interchangeability of positions. Every player ought to be able to score, and from different angles.

In 2015, writer Nicholas Dawidoff in these pages immersed himself in the sacred text that was Winters book. Part of his search for enlightenment included asking the basketball analyst Jay Williams who played in the Triangle Offense while with the Chicago Bulls one season to explain.

You hand me a piece of paper and say, Jay, define the Triangle for me, its kind of like a kid with Magic Markers drawing a cartoon. Its all over the page. So many series of actions, I get lost trying to explain it. Now, give me four guys who know how to run it on the court, I can get out there and do it.

Still, even the harshest critics had to acknowledge that Jackson had carried out the Triangle Offense to astounding effect during his long basketball career. As the coach for the Chicago Bulls and then for the Los Angeles Lakers, his insistence on running the Triangle paid off with a combined 11 NBA titles.

(It is reported that Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, of the Bulls, and Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal, of the Lakers, also played roles in those championships.)

When Jackson joined the Knicks front office in 2014, he celebrated the Triangle Offense new to the city as the key to basketball success. Hopes were high, given that the once-proud Knicks had for years been adhering to a style of offense technically known as lousy.

But the Triangle Offense struggled to find acceptance in its adopted city, where even the most astute basketball fans did not appreciate the suggestion that watching a Knicks game meant keeping a protractor close at hand. Nor did it help that the Knicks star Carmelo Anthony was reluctant, if thats the word, to embrace the Triangle.

By November 2016, Anthony didnt even want to hear the phrase. Were just playing basketball, he said after yet another Knicks loss. Were making adjustments offensively regardless of what were running. At this point Im getting tired of hearing about the Triangle. Just getting tired of hearing about it.

The Knicks ultimately proved resistant, even allergic, to the mysterious charms of the Triangle Offense. During the three-year tenure of the Triangle whisperer, the team posted three losing seasons and never reached the playoffs. In order to survive, it seemed, the offense required elements that were in short supply in the Garden: discipline, patience, and flowing movement.

In addition to Jackson, survivors include a player in the post, one in the corner, one on the wing, and two on the weak side. Funeral services, which are private, will include a shaman, several popcorn-scented candles, and the ritual burning of a Chuck Taylor All Star high-top.

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The triangle - Manhattan Mercury (subscription)

Arasiyalil ithellam sadharanam appa (This is all commonplace in politics), says Gil Alon with a dramatic flourish, when his actor requests him to deliver his favourite Tamil punchline. With his smooth pate and a playful twinkle in his eyes, he could be easily mistaken for a suave villain in a Tamil noir film. At Koothu-P-Pattarai, the Israeli theatre artiste is enjoying a cup of coffee after the rehearsals of his latest production, Life of An Actor. Tamil konjam theriyum. I love languages. As an actor, I feel connected this way. When you go to another country, at least make the effort to understand the language. For me it is not an effort, it is joy.

Inspired by India

He travels across the globe hosting workshops. The association with India was so strong that he has kept coming back since 2000. It was love at first sight, says Alon about his first visit. I came here to study Zen Buddhism, as part of my course in Israel. My master had asked me to visit five Asian countries, and in India, he wanted me to experience the Osho ashram and study yoga in Rishikesh. The first thing he did in Mumbai was hold workshops for actors. When I arrived, it was the morning of Deepavali. I had to pass through slums on my journey from Mumbai airport to where I stayed. This dismal sight was accompanied with the sounds of fire crackers and festive celebrations. There is no logic to it. That was the moment, I fell in love. He has toured quite a bit with his workshops; some of the places being Dharamshala, Pune, New Delhi and Chennai.

Alon also globe-trots to create plays with local actors of that region. And, he ensures he stays at least for three months in that particular country. I need that time so that I can work without stress. I believe in a long-drawn process which is relaxed. I do not want to put pressure on anyone. That stifles creativity.

His first work in Chennai was Prahlada Charitram, a contemporary take on the mythological tale, scripted by Na Muthuswamy, the founder of Koothu-P-Pattarai. So, rock guitar music found its way into the play. The playwright also gave it a modern twist, by adding his share of sarcasm, criticism and revelations of untold truths. It was a strong play in many ways, observes Alon.

The audience is integral to his plays. In another KPP production, Six Characters In Search of An Author, the spectators had to shift across three venues. Life of An Actor, his latest production with Muthuswamys troupe, is a devised work on the life and hardships of actors. The cast perform before an audience, as if they are a jury for an audition. For me, audience should not come to watch, but to work. They must be involved in what is happening.

All in the mind

It could be the Zen master in him talking. Because, he chats about everything with a certain mindfulness be it his young days in the TV industry, the vibrant theatre scene in Israel or his happy experiences mentoring actors such Vijay Sethupathi, Somasundaram and Anand Sami.

Alon was 30 when he stumbled upon Zen philosophy. My TV show had made me famous; I was also doing a radio show, performing musicals and had my own rock band. But, something was sad and frustrating, and I decided to seek something parallely. When I encountered Zen, it felt like home coming, he smiles.

Staying in the here and the now; thats what is common to theatre and this school of thought, he feels. The fast-paced life kills creativity, says Alon. Creative thoughts can flourish when you are in a safe condition; when you know you will not be criticised or judged. My workshops also address this. I tell my participants not to be the best or number one, but be themselves.

(Life of An Actor will be staged at Koothu-P-Pattarai Trust, Virugambakkam, from July 31 to August 6 at 7 pm. For reservation, 044 65373633. It will also be staged at Roja Muthiah Research Library ,CPT Campus, Taramani, from August 7 to 12, at 6.30 pm. No reservations required)

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Zen and the art of acting - The Hindu

An aerobics competitor will be the only Bay of Plenty dancer to represent New Zealand in the 28th International Aerobics Championship in Arizona.

Catrin Pearce, 17, will be competing in her first international competition alongside 10 other New Zealanders from July 29 to August 2.

She will be competing in an individual women's performance in age group two, which is between the ages of 15 to 17 years old.

She says she is surprised and grateful that she was selected out of all the other dancers who trialed, and wants to make New Zealand proud.

She's worked really hard and has been a real role model for the sport in the area, says coach Rachel Harvey.

She is probably quite nervous, but she is a pretty good competitor, so I know she'll be fine.

Rachel, who is the coach for Bay Aerobics, says ever since she has been couching, she has never known of a Bay of Plenty gymnast to get into the New Zealand team.

I'm extremely proud and it's an amazing achievement for her.

Catrin applied for the role last year and had to meet a certain score to get selected to go to international competitions.

She found out earlier this year that she had met the qualifying score.

Rachel says it was a bit of a rush when they found out because she was originally going to compete in an Australia competition to get more experience in international championships.

Since it was her first trialing in an international competition, we thought we'd go for Australia, but then she ended up getting the qualifying score for the competition in America.

Catrin says her parents are very proud of her and she has been working extra hard during training sessions in Tauranga and Auckland to perfect her routine.

Catrin has been doing aerobics for five years, and since 2013 has won several national aerobics competitions in individual and trio performances.

Before doing aerobics, she originally competed in gymnastics, but stopped because of an injury on the bars.

I broke my arm and had to stop for a bit, and I got into aerobics to strengthen my muscles, says Catrin.

If Catrin wins her division in the first round she will be asked to perform her routine again to determine the international winner.

The International Aerobics Championship has been running since 1983 and has individual, mixed pairs, trio and teams in junior, varsity and senior divisions.

The championship will see 21 countries compete against each other for the top spot in their divisions.

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Bay aerobics gymnast goes to Arizona - SunLive

AA ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Alcoholics Anonymous can help if you think you might have a drinking problem. Call 888-607-2000 to talk to a member of A.A or aa-montana.org to find meeting times and locations. Some meetings are open to the public; some are closed for alcoholics only.

THE BADMINTON CLUB OF BOZEMAN meets from 9 to 11 a.m. every Monday and Thursday at the Hope Lutheran Church gymnasium, 2152 W. Graf for co-ed, casual, drop-in badminton. All equipment is provided; there is a $5 play fee. Contact Tom Carne at 624-6746 for more information.

BELGRADE SENIOR CENTER activities this week: Monday: movement in motion, 9 a.m. Tuesday: yoga, 9 a.m.; full body trim & tone, 10 a.m.; canasta, 12:30 p.m. Wednesday: food pantry bread; movement in motion, 9 a.m.; bingo, 12:45 p.m. Thursday: pinochle, 9 a.m.; blood pressure check, noon. Friday: yoga, 8 a.m.; movement in motion, 9 a.m.; 388-4711.

BIG SKY TOASTMASTERS meets every Tuesday at 6:45 a.m., Hope Lutheran Church, Bozeman. For more information visit bigsky.toastmastersclubs.org, or call (406) 579-0082.

BOZEMAN HOME-STYLE BRIDGE results for Tuesday, July 25. Three tables in play. Gene and Edie Renner won with 75 victory points. Bill and Sarah Bayless were second with 70 victory points.

BOZEMAN LIONS CLUB meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. at Johnny Carinos. Guest are welcome, 406-579-2899 http;//e-clubhouse.org/sites/bozemanmt.

BOZEMAN MASTERS SWIMMING CLUB is a fitness swimming group for adults. For details; Bozemanmasters.org or Janelle at 808-554-6815 for practice times.

BOZEMAN NOON ROTARY meets at 11:45 on Tuesday at the Holiday Inn on Baxter. This weeks program will be presented by Joshua Meyer, MSU Education USA Academy Program Director and foreign student delegation. Fellow Rotarians and guests are welcome. Lunch is $10.

THE BOZEMAN ROTARACT CLUB meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. Locations and programs change monthly depending on the speaker or social event. Meeting locations and upcoming service opportunities are listed at http://www.bozemanrotaract.org.

BOZEMAN SENIOR CENTER activities this week: Secondhand Rose store open to the public daily, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday: foot clinic; strength training, 8:30 a.m.; gentle aerobics, 9 a.m.; woodcarving, 9:30 a.m.; core, 10 a.m.; aerobics plus, 10:30 a.m.; mind/balance Tai Chi, 11:30 a.m.; duplicate bridge, pinochle, balance, 1 p.m.; yoga, 1:35 p.m. Tuesday: foot clinic; hiking program, 8:30 a.m.; creative writing, 10 a.m.; line dancing, 10:30 a.m.; Yang Tai Chi, 11:30 a.m.; strength training, 12:30 p.m.; bingo, cribbage, 1 p.m.; sign language/singing souls, 1:30 p.m.; guitar lessons, 2:30 p.m. Wednesday: strength training, 8:30 a.m.; gentle aerobics, 9 a.m.; watercolor painting, 9:30 a.m.; core, ukulele club, 10 a.m.; aerobics plus, 10:30 a.m.; National Coloring Book Day, 11:30 a.m.; bridge, 12:45 p.m.; pinochle, balance, 1 p.m.; gentle yoga, 1:30 p.m. Thursday; walking program, 9 a.m.; scrabble, 9:30 a.m.; canasta, 10 a.m.; Yang Tai Chi, 11:30 a.m.; strength training, 12:30 p.m.; bingo, pinochle, 1 p.m. Friday: strength training, 8:30 a.m.; gentle aerobics, 9 a.m.; core, 10 a.m.; aerobics plus, 10:30 a.m.; mind and balance Tai Chi, 11:30 a.m.; bridge, 12:45 p.m.; Skin Care seminar with Dr. Tkach, Euchre, 1 p.m. Meals and Meals-on-Wheels, call for arrangements. (586-2421).

THE BOZEMAN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP meets the 3rd Friday of the month, Bozeman Senior Center, 1:30 p.m.; Kathryn 388-2007 or Mary 539-7751.

BWAGs are on our summer schedule with all groups meeting at 8:30 a.m. Groups usually meet at the Museum of the Rockies by the horse, special outings may be at other times and/or places. Monday hiking, contact Jeanette-chall59715@hotmail.com; Tuesday hiking, contact Patti at 219-2315. Newcomers are always welcome. Visit our website http://www.bwags.org for more information.

CONNECTIONS free and anonymous HIV/Hep C testing and counseling. Rapid test results in 20 minutes. 6300 Jackrabbit #3, Belgrade, open M-F 9 a.m.-5 p.m., or call to meet privately; 813-8209 or 451-9995.

FOUR CORNERZ TOASTMASTERS CLUB meets Tuesdays, 12:05 p.m. at Zoot Enterprises Inc, 555 Zoot Enterprises Lane, Bozeman, MT 59718. At the meeting on Tuesday, July 25: Presiding Officer, Deborah Shields; Toastmaster, Steve Black; General Evaluator, Michelle Douma; Table Topics Master, N/A; Best Speaker, Susan Fisher; Best Evaluator, Joel Maroney; Best Table Topics Speaker, Charles Siebenga and Chrystina Katz. For information regarding our meetings, email club officers at 590590@toastmastersclub.org. http://fourcornerz.toastmastersclubs.org/

GALLATIN COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Frontier Home Health (conference room), 3810 Valley Commons Dr. #1. For more information call Joanne 223-0097.

THE GALLATIN VALLEY NEWCOMERS CLUB (GVNC) is a social and fund-raising organization that welcomes everyone whether they are new to the area or not. The August Luncheon is on Tuesday (not the usual first Thursday), Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. on the patio at Riverside Country Club in Bozeman and will be a social event, no program. Wear your hats! Reservations must be made by Friday, Aug. 4 on the GVNC website at http://www.gvncmt.org or by calling Debbie at 321-277-2178.

GALLATIN VALLEY TOASTMASTERS meets from 12:10-1:10 p.m. each Thursday at Owenhouse Ace Hardware, downstairs conference room, 8695 Huffine Lane, Bozeman. On July 20, 2017, Orlinda Worthington was Toastmaster and Steven Harris-Wheel was General Evaluator. Dillon Ecord won for Best Speaker and Trent Jackson won for Best Evaluator. Jamie Balke won for Best Table Topics speaker. Guests are always welcome. Follow us on Facebook.com/toastmasters4880 or contact us at http://www.4880.toastmastersclubs.org or (406) 570-5510.

LIBERTY TOASTMASTERS, 212 Discovery Dr. Suite 1, Bozeman, 6-7:30 p.m., free.Liberty Toastmasters, the only evening Toastmasters International club in Gallatin County, invites you to join us to sharpen your speaking and leadership skills. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 67:30 p.m. Join us for fun, fellowship and free speech.

MOMS CLUB OF BOZEMAN/BELGRADE: Weekly play groups include Fireflies at 10 a.m. on Mondays, Tater Tots at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Junior Jumpers at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays, Wobblers at 10 a.m. on Thursdays; Babies Playgroup at 9:30 a.m. and Little Explorers at 11 a.m. on Fridays. Visit http://www.bozemanmomsclub.com or call 219-1299 for more information or to sign up.

PATHWAY TO FREEDOM ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS meets on Monday (11th Step), Tuesday (12+12 book study) and Thursday (open meeting), 5:30 p.m., Church of Christ, 909 Nevada St., Belgrade, 406-600-0417. Open to the public.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association Resolve Bozeman, a volunteer peer-led support group, meets the first Monday of every month, in downtown Bozeman, from 6-7 p.m. For more information and location, email resolvebozeman@hotmail.com or call 406.209.2570.

SINGING SOULS SENIOR CHORUS meets every Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Bozeman Senior Center. A group of seniors that enjoy the friendship and community that comes from singing together; accompanied on guitar by Kate Bryan. Words provided. No memorization. Welcome new Members $5/week (if Able).

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Clubs, Sunday, July 30, 2017 - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle

A personal tour guide takes members of the 692nd Intelligence Surveillance Recognizance Group through the Iolani Palace during a tour for the Spiritual Enlightenment Series event.

Tech. Sgt. Heather Redman

15th Wing Public Affairs

How many opportunities have you had to learn about various faith practices, as well as their historical and cultural impacts within your community?

This was a question that Chaplain (Capt.) Ryan Ayers, 692nd Intelligence Surveillance Recognizance Group (ISRG), had as he moved into a venture to provide Airmen with knowledge on the spiritual impacts on cultures throughout history.

Wanting to incorporate cultural impacts into his ministry, Ayers put together a plan to facilitate groups of Airman on educational off-sites.

The Spiritual Enlightenment Series not only helps our Airmen learn about various faith groups, they also help facilitate an understanding of how religion influences cultural and policy throughout the world, Ayers said.

During the event, Ayers serves as the subject matter expert on spiritual education while supplemented by a historical site advisor or tour guide. Providing multiple subject matter experts allows Airman to receive the maximum benefit from the sites.

America is one of the few countries that is not heavily governed by spiritual leaders or advisors, Ayers said.

Bishop Fukuhara speaks to the Airmen of the 692nd Intelligence Surveillance Recognizance Group about the Buddhist faith and his personal experiences and spiritual journey in Phoenix Hall of the Byodo-in Temple. Courtesy photos by Staff Sgt. Bradley Whitehouse

This provides our Airmen to understand why faith plays an important role in decision making around the world, and how we can use spirituality to understand some of the political decisions world leaders make.

The Spiritual Enlightenment Series has proven to be very popular, with people of all faiths utilizing this opportunity to learn and understand others and their cultural beliefs.

These trips are awesome, I learn so much about different faiths and it helps me do my job better, one participant said.

Utilizing his expertise in world religion, Ayers reaches out beyond the tenants of his own faith to offer these events from multiple perspectives.

In February 2017, 30 Airman had the opportunity to visit the Valley of the Temples, on Oahu and gain knowledge of Buddhism.

In May, 30 Airman visited the Iolani Palace and learned of Christianitys impact in Hawaii and around the world. This was followed by a full tour of the palace where Airman received an up-close and personal experience of the rise and fall of the Hawaiian monarchy from a palace guide.

The next chapter of the Spiritual Enlightenment Series is scheduled for September and will include a visit to Polynesian Temple Ruins on the North Shore of Oahu. Airmen will receive an in-depth look at the effects polytheism has on culture while receiving a tour of the temple ruins.

Events like this will continue to become the norm for the 692 ISRG as part of the Faith Works program the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps rolled out in 2017. Events like this and other Chaplain lead programs will be able to build upon the ISRG Airmans knowledge and social engagements for the future.

Originally posted here:
692 ISRG participates in off-site spiritual enlightenment series - Hookelenews

When the Patriots officially begin their title defense in early September they'll be withoutRob Ninkovich. The veteran defensive end is expected to announce his retirement Sunday, reports ESPN.com's Mike Reiss.

Ninkovich, 33, was originally a 2006 fifth-round pick of the Saints. He signed with the Patriots in 2009, had four sacks in 2010, and by 2011 he had earned the starting job. From 2011-2016 he started 91 of a possible 96 games and registered 41 sacks. He also appeared in 17 postseason games, was the Patriots team captain in 2013 and 2015 and earned two Super Bowl rings.

Ninkovich retires from a Patriots squad that has the potential to be better than the group that won the Super Bowl in February. New England spent the offseason restocking a roster that was already among the best in the league. The Patriotssigned cornerback Stephon Gilmore and veteran linebacker David Harris, and traded for pass rusher Kony Ealy, who may have been acquired as insurance against Ninkovich calling it a career; Ealy now projects as the starter.

Ninkovich had been absent during Patriots' training camp for what coach Bill Belichick called personal reasons.

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Patriots veteran Rob Ninkovich expected to announce retirement Sunday - CBSSports.com

Spending rose for more than half of taxpayers during the first three years after claiming Social Security, according to a report based on tax data and analyzed by economists at the Investment Company Institute and the IRS.

Those with lower incomes were most likely to be spending more than they were pre-retirement. Middle-income earners spent about the same, and the higher-income earners spent slightly less.

The report didn't measure actual spending, but how much income an individual had left after taxes. It included salary and wages, Social Security benefits, and distributions from retirement accounts and pensions.

"For many individuals, retirement appears to be a multi-year transition rather than an action taken at a discrete point in time," the researchers wrote.

In fact, nearly half of people were still working three years after claiming Social Security.

Related: How do I know how much I'll need in retirement?

But this doesn't mean spending won't slow later in retirement, researchers said.

Of course, your spending could drastically fluctuate from year-to-year, especially if you plan to be retired for 30 years or longer. (Most people followed in this report claimed Social Security at age 62.)

It's tough to save for a moving target, but there is one rule of thumb experts recommend. It suggests people prepare to spend about 70% of your pre-retirement income in retirement.

People expect to spend less because they're no longer saving for retirement and your tax bill is likely to drop. Maybe your transportation costs will fall if you're no longer commuting to work. Or you could have your mortgage paid off.

But on the other hand, you'll have more time to travel and might spend more money on leisure activities -- which could be more likely in the beginning of your retirement.

Calculator: Will you have enough to retire?

The median taxpayer's spendable income at three years after claiming Social Security was 103% of their income from one year before collecting, the report said. It followed individuals from 1999 to 2010.

CNNMoney (New York) First published July 28, 2017: 10:43 AM ET

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Americans are spending more money after they retire - CNNMoney

Older adults employed in Clark County

Employed population

Year age 65 and older

1990 4.6%

1995 5.6%

2000 6.6%

2005 8.0%

2010 9.6%

2015 11.0%

2016 11.1%

Note: All years use second-quarter data.

Source: State Employment Security Department

In his nearly 40 years in the jewelry business, it hasnt been uncommon for Joe Lanning to work six days a week. Three of those days, he would drive back to work after dinner to chisel out a few more hours.

Long hours, he said, go hand-in-hand with running your own business, as he and his wife do at My Jeweler, 809 Main St. And, despite turning 70 this month, Lanning said he has no plans to retire, though he has cut back his hours.

I am going to work, probably, until I die, he said with a shrug.

There is no macabre tone to how he says it, nor any undercurrents of a workaholic. Lanning, a Portland native, has been working since he was a teenager. Retirement really doesnt appeal to him, he said.

I would be doing something anyhow, because I couldnt just sit, he said.

Lanning isnt alone. As baby boomers age, they seem to be retiring at a slower rate than prior generations. The reasons for this can vary, but financial planners and economists interviewed for this article say many either havent saved enough money or, like Lanning, simply feel too healthy to hang it up.

I think there are a lot of people of my generation that have worked since they were teenagers, and to stop what are they going to do? Lanning said. I think there are a lot of them that enjoy working. They just want to talk and be with people, rather than sit at home with a cat or a dog and have that for their only company.

While there isnt centralized retirement data for private industries, economists with the Employment Security Department do track workforce demographics.

A statistic called the employment-to-population ratio measures the number of employed persons of a specific age against the total size of that age group. For Clark County residents aged 65 and older, the number of people working has grown from 4.6 percent in 1990 to 11 percent today.

Factors contributing to such a rise seem tied with both the recession and generational trends, said Scott Bailey, a regional economist who examines Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties. In other words, baby boomers saved less, yet they are living longer.

One (reason for the increase in older people working) is they kind of say, Hey, I feel good. Im healthy. I like my job. Why quit? Bailey said. A second (reason) is them saying: Savings? What savings?

The trend isnt restricted to Southwest Washington. Almost 19 percent of people aged 65-plus in the country held at least a part-time job, according to a jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released this month.

The workforce participation rate for those older workers hasnt been that great since American retirees were first awarded Medicare benefits in the 1960s.

From April to June of this year, 32 percent of Americans ages 65 to 69 were employed. And the numbers of 70- to 74-year-olds working rose from 11 percent in 1994 to 19 percent.

Russell Brent, who owns Battle Grounds Mill Creek Pub, is one of those boomers who plans to keep working. Brent, 56, said he would like to be in a position to retire at 65, but he doesnt expect he will want to.

Seventy is the new 60, he said. My dad is 89 years old and holds a part-time job.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, by 2024, 36 percent of 65- to 69-year-olds will be active in the labor market.

Finances play a major factor in peoples decision to retire. Some have assumed that more people might retire with the economy, and stock market, swinging upward.

That doesnt appear to be the case, at least not decisively so, according to financial planners in Clark County. People may be feeling better about their retirement funds, but they weigh that against many factors, such as their family situation and health care costs and access.

The general trend is people are optimistic about whats going on with the economy, but I dont see more people retiring, said Matt Henderson, a financial adviser with Edward Jones in Battle Ground.

The reason may be because people try not to be reactive with their financial plans, he said.

I see people say, I want to work to age 65, and have an income of XYZ. If you get to XYZ before that retirement date, people still want to work, Henderson said. I havent heard a client come in and say Ive made an extra $20,000; Im ready to pull the trigger.

Business owners, like Lanning and Brent, might be in a better position to retire with the economys stronger performance.

Matt Bisturis, an attorney with Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt who helps business owners plan for retirement, said the recession created a pent-up supply of entrepreneurs who are interested in retiring. Now they could be sitting prettier because they could get a higher asking price when they sell their business.

I think theres a lot of people who put those transactions on hold three to five years ago who are now getting ready to pull the trigger, he said.

See more here:
Baby boomers in Clark County delay retirement - The Columbian

How much do you think it costs to retire?

One recent study pegged the average price tag of retirement at about $740,000. This number seeks to include all of your expenses, from health care and housing costs to travel and entertainment expenses.

Its a big number, but its important to remember that this is just an average. The reality is and this is certainly what weve seen in our experience is that the cost of retirement will vary wildly from person to person.

There are a number of factors that will affect how much your retirement will cost, including how healthy you are, how expensive your lifestyle will be and where youll live in retirement.

Perhaps the most important factor that will dictate how much youll need to save for retirement is the age at which you retire. The earlier you retire, the longer your retirement will be and, therefore, the more expensive your retirement will be. Depending on how early you want to retire and what your goals are for retirement, this could mean youll be tasked with accumulating a significant number in savings before you retire.

For those who are working toward an early retirement, here are four tips to help you reach your goal.

Those retiring early face two big hurdles when it comes to saving for retirement. First, you have fewer years to accumulate enough in savings for retirement. Second, you need your savings to last for a longer period of time. This means you need to save aggressively during your working years. A common rule of thumb is to save 10 to 15 percent annually for retirement. For those saving for early retirement, a better goal may be to save at least 15 to 20 percent of your income every year.

There is a tendency for peoples costs of living to increase as their income increases during their lifetimes. This is known as lifestyle creep. That doesnt necessarily mean that you have to keep your cost of living flat from year to year. Imagine youre making $50,000 and are saving 20% of your income ($10,000 in savings). If you get a $5,000 raise, continue to strive to save 20% of income. Youll increase the amount youre saving for retirement ($11,000) while also having $4,000 in additional income for lifestyle expenses.

Life is a series of ups and down. You may not be able to prevent the downs from occurring, but you can take steps to limit their impact. A diversified portfolio may help you withstand a major market downturn. Purchasing good disability insurance helps protect your or your partners income should either of you be no longer able to work. Having a strong emergency fund gives you the flexibility to pay for a sudden expense. Having these in place helps limit how vulnerable you are to these risks derailing your financial plan.

A couple retiring at age 65 will need to spend about $260,000 on health care expenses in retirement, according to Fidelity. Its a daunting number, and its even larger for those who are retiring early.

The best way to save for these costs is with a health savings account. An HSA allows you to make pre-tax contributions that grow tax-deferred. Plus, when you use the money for qualified medical expenses, the distributions arent taxed. No other vehicle offers so many tax incentives, which is why we typically advise people to max out an HSA if theyre eligible to contribute (you must be enrolled in a qualifying high-deductible health plan).

Even though we wrote these tips with those working toward an early retirement in mind, the reality is that these strategies may be important for everyone to consider, no matter when you plan to retire. Yet for those who want to retire early, its even more critical you have these elements in place to help work toward turning your dream of early retirement into reality.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

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Your Money: Dreaming of an early retirement? Here's how you can prepare - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press