MEADVILLE, Pa. (PRWEB) August 27, 2020

A Change of Season: A Novel: a riveting tale of four different men whose lives cross after a confrontation that leaves one dead and the others alive, yet facing the inevitable aftermath of this event. A Change of Season: A Novel is the creation of published author Russell Clarke, a writer who has worked for over thirty years in the education field. His written works typically examine the human condition, particularly as it relates to human relationships and the connections that people make.

Clarke shares, On March 26, 1982, two men in a mysterious black pick-up truck brutally attack two bikers on the deserted bluff roads just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis. One biker is killed instantly and the other is severely injured, and the lives of the four men are indelibly changed and linked together, forever.

A Change of Season accounts the final days of each of the men involved in this tragic confrontation and examines the philosophical and existential impact that such an immeasurable event had on each of their lives.

Craig Lerrib, the main antagonist, leads a life of unexamined indifference and unending carnal exploration and ends up morally bankrupt and alone, a reality that permanently alters all those who are caught in the dangerous pull of his orbit.

His partner in the black truck, Peter Doyle, a thoughtful man swept along by his desires, spends his life suppressing the guilt he feels for his part in the murder, as well as his own true sexual feelings, a process that leads to great existential searching and self-awareness, but also unrelenting loneliness and life-long isolation.

Alfred Whitman, the surviving rider, is never quite able to get past the physical impairments sustained in the attack, and he attempts to authenticate in the sterile world of pen and paper what was lost in the physical world of living, a corridor that leads to existential angst and unresolved religious questioning.

And in one last tribute, Alfred Whitman pens a short story in homage to the enigmatic young rider who lost his life that day, Thale, who, although dying at an early age, becomes the true protagonist of the novel and represents the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation that the other characters are lacking.

In a larger sense, A Change of Season examines the relationships and associations that we make as humans through the restricted prism of our own beliefs, and then explores how these connections struggle for survival in a world of endless opposing ideologies. A philosophical process of discovery as mysterious, and in some ways, as unknowable as the very setting of it all, the Mississippi River.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Russell Clarkes new book is an excellent exploration that shows what happens when lives carrying different beliefs and ideologies clash together. It is, without doubt, interesting for readers of all ages. View a synopsis of A Change of Season: A Novel on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase A Change of Season: A Novel at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about A Change of Season: A Novel, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.

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Russell Clarke's newly released A Change of Season: A Novel is a gripping book about human relationships and associations in a world of opposing...

Next month, Princes Sign O the Times is getting a huge deluxe reissue that includes 45 previously unreleased tracks from The Vault, which were recorded between 1979 and 1987. Some of these tracks have already been released, including Witness 4 the Prosecution (Version 1) and Version 2. Now another outtake has been released, an early studio run-through of Forever in My Life. This version was recorded with acoustic guitar at his home studio in 1986.

He had been up all night and he came upstairs. It was like 7:00 in the morning and he grabbed my hand and said follow me, and so I followed him downstairs, says then-fiancee Susannah Melvoin, in a statement. The sun was coming through the stained-glass windows and he pressed play, and that song came on and I looked at him and I got teary-eyed. And that was it. He didnt have to say anything.

Hear Forever in My Life below.

Princes 1979 self-titled album is featured on our list of the Top 150 Albums of the 70s.

Aug 27, 2020Jeff Terich

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Hear an early studio run-through of Prince's Forever in My Life - Treble

Tiffany Trump touched on a number of topics, including the failing economy of the country amid the pandemic and the false narrative promoted by media and tech firms. While the words delivered were her own, her speech was mocked on Twitter as many claimed that she tried to imitate her elder sister, Ivanka.

Being the sister who is more involved in President Donald Trump's administration, we get to see a lot more of Ivanka than Tiffany. As a result, people are more familiar with her speech patterns. Some eagle-eyed viewers noticed that Tiffany was trying hard to sound as sophisticated as her elder sister during her RNC speech. The following are some of the reactions on social media:

"Tiffany Trump trying to imitate Ivanka makes me sick And she really just said this: 'As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job.' OMG"

Tiffany Trump trying to imitate Ivanka makes me sick

And she really just said this: "As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job."

OMGpic.twitter.com/SNdcRKiKlD

"Watching Tiffany try and imitate Ivanka is truly the saddest thing Ive seen in a while except 178,000 DEATHS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS."

Watching Tiffany try and imitate Ivanka is truly the saddest thing Ive seen in awhile except 178,000 DEATHS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS. pic.twitter.com/rfrHhiMNbr

"If you closed your eyes and listened, this would sound just like Ivanka, which I am sure Trump is doing right now with a little lotion in his hands. @realDonaldTrump"

If you closed your eyes and listened, this would sound just like Ivanka, which I am sure Trump is doing right now with a little lotion in his hands. @realDonaldTrump

"Tiffany's been taking coquette lessons from the same Stepford speech coach who taught Ivanka to sound like a phone-sex role-play babysitter."

Tiffany's been taking coquette lessons from the same Stepford speech coach who taught Ivanka to sound like a phone-sex role-play babysitter. pic.twitter.com/g91d9MEIwT

"Tiffany had to say 'my father.' Watch out Ivanka, Tiff is coming for you."

Tiffany had to say my father. Watch out Ivanka, Tiff is coming for you.

"Trump Family Psychopathology: Ivanka Trump is Donald Trump's favorite child Tiffany Trump is ignored by Donald Tonight we saw Tiffany Trump trying her best to imitate Ivanka's #BodyLanguage, voice (including #ASMR), & syntax all in order to gain her father's attention"

Trump Family Psychopathology:

Ivanka Trump is Donald Trump's favorite child Tiffany Trump is ignored by Donald Tonight we saw Tiffany Trump trying her best to imitate Ivanka's #BodyLanguage, voice (including #ASMR), & syntax all in order to gain her father's attention

"I like to think that Tiffany is just making fun of the way Ivanka talks."

I like to think that Tiffany is just making fun of the way Ivanka talks.

"Now up: the forgotten daughter, Tiffany Trump. She is the Amanda Bynes of Ivankas."

Now up: the forgotten daughter, Tiffany Trump.

She is the Amanda Bynes of Ivankas.

"Tiffany Trump: There. After that speech Daddy has to like me best. I want to be his favorite! Ivanka Trump: Yeah, you might want to rethink that."

Tiffany Trump: There. After that speech Daddy has to like me best. I want to be his favorite!

Ivanka Trump: Yeah, you might want to rethink that. pic.twitter.com/LsyH9f1xX0

And that was not the only mockery of her speech that the youngest daughter of the president had to endure for the night. In her speech, she claimed to understand the sentiments of those who had lost their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic as she was fresh out of law school and was looking for a job herself.

"Like so many students across the world, I graduated from law school during the pandemic. Our generation is unified in facing the future in uncertain times and many of us are considering what kind of country we want to live in," she said. "As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job."

People were quick to point out the fact that she was the daughter of the richest president in history and was set to inherit a considerable sum of money from her father that could ensure that she would be able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle even if she never held a job for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, lawmakers were unable to get a deal approved that extended enhanced unemployment benefits.

As a result, jobless workers lost $600 in weekly income. Only a couple of states are currently taking advantage of a $300-a-week benefit from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"Tiffany Trump says she can relate to people out of work. She obviously inherited the no-self-awareness gene. #RepublicanConvention" one user said, while another said, "I just graduated & can relate to looking for a job/this entire family has absolutely no self-awareness or empathy/Tiffanys find something new version/they truly think the lesser ppl will just believe them."

I just graduated & can relate to looking for a job/this entire family has absolutely no self-awareness or empathy/Tiffanys find something new version/they truly think the lesser ppl will just believe them

"My god Tiffany. Family of four here. My gen z son who was supposed to go away for college is at home with us taking classes online. He lost his job teaching piano students. My speech therapy has ended reduced in half. You are not us. We are not you. check yourself" wrote another.

My god Tiffany. Family of four here. My gen z son who was supposed to go away for college is at home with us taking classes on line. He lost his job teaching piano students. My speech therapy has ended reduced in half. You are not us. We are not you. check yourself

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Tiffany Trump accused of trying to imitate sister Ivanka in her RNC speech to 'gain her father's attention' - MEAWW

Legacy in banking isnt just about mainframes, its also about people. The future of banking will be so different that many banks won't survive unless they clear out most or all of their executive suite, says a new report from Forrester.

The most important factor in future banking success is not customer experience, branch strategy or cloud utilization it is the banks self awareness, the new report concludes.

The biggest thing holding banks back plays out in their culture, said Alyson Clarke, principal analyst at Forrester.

Alyson Clarke, principal analyst,, Forrester

The problem with banks is they get in their own way because they want to be best at everything, they want to own everything. They have a reluctance to go to cloud, reluctance to partner and be part of a larger ecosystem, so they build all their own technology and the technology goes out of date.

Banks need to take a really hard look at their organization and see where they do well and where they do not and then invest, divest or partner with a fintech or even another banks. And they need to move fast.

If you wait too long you will fail. Some firms and some individuals, get that it can be very hard to move these big ships, so they may need a sweep of the executive suite. I hear all the timehow slow are these firms to change, cultures get in the way of decisions I hear We are still making a lot of money, were fine.

But she says the tipping point is happening now, and points to Google which recently announced partnerships with eight banks and credit unions: Citi, Stanford Federal Credit Union, BBVA, Bank Mobile, BMO Harris, Coastal Community Bank, First Independence Bank and SEFCU.

Google will build account opening like a mobile banking environment. As a customer I go in and pick the products, checking or savings, through an amplified Google Pay platform. On the back end, the bank is owning the product, moving money, but customer interaction is through the front end that Google is building. So whilst it looks like co-branding, will customers see the (bank) brand and care, or will they go to the marketplace and see who has the best interest rate and go with it?

That could leave the banks competing on price, which most companies want to avoid, except for challengers which have the latest, most comprehensive and least expensive technology. Clarke thinks customers will feel they are getting value from Google, in the form of financial management budgeting and rewards programs with incentives to use Google Pay. The Big Tech companies like Google are better than banks at collecting and analyzing data, she added.

We know Amazon and Google are masters of this, their businesses are built on data. They also are playing a different game than the banks.

The focus on data in banking is lets find out what we can about our customers and flog them another product. But banking is not like Amazon where you buy a product often. We buy financial products every three to five years. So when banks focus data energy on selling products, they are probably just annoying customers. They have have overestimated the importance of their banks brand in the consumers life.

The big tech companies arent all the same, except perhaps in wanting to get into banking services without becoming a regulated bank. Clarke said she was an outlier in her evaluation of the Apple card, saying other analysts were looking at it wrong.

For Apple, its a long-term play. You cant measure success on the same field as a credit card. Apple doesnt need revenue in the same way; they need an attraction to the brand. They want people buying more devices using Apple Pay, and they can turn up the dial on incentives and rewards when they want to.

Apple doesnt collect any user data, that concern for user privacy is part of its brand. Google, however, lives for the data to make money on advertising. Google is in an ecosystem of banks and merchants whom it is trying to keep happy, She sees increasing usage of Google Pay which is behind some other digital payment platforms. Google has access to the data they can sell back to merchants and assist with merchant reward programs.

These offerings are enablers to other things.

Their priorities are different from banks because their business models are different. For a bank that does get it, she points to Goldman Sachs and Apple in particular, which she describes as a partnership and a collaboration.

No bank will do this alone, she added. It is really, really critical that banks start to think about the future and the way they do business is not just them alone. Their partners could be fintechs, other organizations, tech vendors, they could even be other banks. The point is that it cant be done alone, and thats a really interesting and tough shift for many banks. Banks talk about partnerships, but it really is just a vendor relationship.

This offers both challenges and opportunities for community banks.

Some will succeed by creating niches, and they may understand their communities better than anyone else. However, they may also see they are not the best at building out the product, but so many dont trust anyone to be a partner.

You can see why she thinks executive suites may need comprehensive change.

Banks have to be nimble and adaptive, or they will keep having the same problems. The loop between technology and humans makes it hard for firms to keep up. You have to invest ahead of the change. You cant wait for it and follow it in the market. Banks face massive challenges in infrastructure, resources, interactions and talent pools, she added.

Originally posted here:
Banks May Need To Replace Executive Suites To Succeed At Digital Forrester - Forbes

It does not take much skill to put the aircrafts lift-vector on the other aircraft and yank on the Gs. In fact, if in doubt, just doing that will take care of 75 percent of the fight. But BFM is about being smoothly aggressive. Understanding the difference between when it is necessary to max-perform the aircraft and when it is time to preserve or efficiently gain energy back is key. In a tight turning fight, gaining a couple of angles at each merge can suddenly result in one aircraft saddled in the other aircrafts control zone working a comfortable rear quarter gun-tracking shot.

In true gamesmanship fashion, the guns-only BFM engagement was the setting for the AlphaDogfight contest. So what jumped out at me about the engagements? Three main points. First was the aggressive use of accurate forward quarter gun employment. Second, was the AIs efficient use of energy. Lastly was the AIs ability to maintain high-performance turns.

During BFM engagements, we use training rules to keep aircrew and aircraft safe. An example of this is using a hard deck, which is usually 5,000 feet above the ground. Aircraft can fight down to this pretend ground level and if an aircraft goes below the hard deck, they are considered a rocks kill and the fight is ended. The 5,000 feet of separation from the actual ground provides a safety margin during training.

Another training rule is forward-quarter gunshots are prohibited. There is a high potential for a mid-air collision if aircraft are pointing at each other trying to employ their guns. Due to the lack of ability to train to forward-quarter gunshots, it is not in most aviators combat habit patterns approaching the merge to employ such a tactic. Even so, it would be a low probability shot.

A pilot must simultaneously and continuously solve for plane-of-motion, range, and lead for a successful gun employment. It is difficult enough for a heart of the envelope rear-quarter tracking shot while also concentrating on controlling a low amount of closure and staying above the hard deck. At the high rates of closure normal for a neutral head-on merge, a gun envelope would be available for around three seconds. Three seconds of intense concentration to track, assess, and shoot, while at the same time avoiding hitting the other aircraft. The Heron Systems AI on several occasions was able to rapidly fine-tune a tracking solution and employ its simulated gun in this fashion. Additionally, AI would not waste any brain cells on self-preservation approaching the merge avoiding the other aircraft. It would just happen. The tracking, assessing, and employing process for a missile is not much different than the gun. I am pretty confident AI could shoot a valid missile shot faster than I can, given the same data I am currently presented within the cockpit.

The second advantage of AI was its ability to maintain an efficient energy state and lift vector placement. BFM flights certainly instill aviators with confidence in flying their aircraft aggressively in all regimes of the flight envelope. However, in todays prevalent fly-by-wire aircraft, there is less aircraft feel providing feedback to the pilot. It takes a consistent instrument scan to check the aircraft is at the correct G, airspeed, or angle-of-attack for the given situation.

Even proficient aviators have to use a percentage of their concentration (i.e. situation awareness) on not over-performing or under-performing the aircraft. AI could easily track this task and would most likely never bleed airspeed or altitude excessively, preserving vital potential and kinetic energy while also fine-tuning lift vector placement on the other aircraft to continue the fight if required.

Lastly is AIs freedom from human physiological limitations. During the last engagement, both aircraft were in a prolonged two-circle fight at 9 Gs on the deck. A two-circle fight is also referred to as a 'rate fight.' The winner is the aircraft who can track its nose faster around the circle, which is directly proportional (disregarding other tools such as thrust vectoring) to the amount of Gs being pulled. More Gs means a faster turn rate. 9 Gs is extremely taxing on the body, which the pilot in the contest did not have to deal with, either. A human pilot would have to squeeze every muscle in the legs and abdominals in addition to focused breathing in order to not blackout. During training, I maintained 9 Gs in the centrifuge for about 30 seconds. Then I went home and took a nap, and that was without being shot at. AI does not care about positive or negative Gs. It will perform the aircraft at the level required.

The truth is current aircraft have to be built to support the 'pile of human' sitting in it. The human will always be the limiting factor in the performance of an aircraft. I fight the jet differently now than I did as a junior officer when I was young and flexible. I have to fight differently. I know what my capabilities are to get a consistent and repeatable shot with the little bit of neck magic I have left to keep sight of the other aircraft. The fact that in the contest, the AI had perfect information at all times, and rules of engagement were not a factor, are not inconsequential details. I recognize that providing the amount of data and sensor fusion the AI would require to perform at the same level in a real aerial engagement (one that does not take place in cyberspace) is not a small undertaking and still a bit in the future. The rules of engagement discussion could fill up the syllabus for the entire semester of an ethics class, and will always be a touchy subject with regards to AI's involvement in war.

I am not an engineer, nor an ethics professor. Yet, as a pilot, I am intrigued. A computer model was able to react to the movements of a human pilot and effectively employ weapons. During the five engagements, the AI had 15 valid gun employments and the human pilot had zero. These results also hint at the AIs ability to avoid being shot while effectively employing its own weapons.

An AI-enhanced weapons employment system in my aircraft? I am not ready for Skynet to become self-aware, but I am certainly ready to invite AI into the cockpit. Hell, I am only a voting member as far as the flight controls are concerned in the Super Hornet anyways. If I put a control input in that is not aerodynamically sound (i.e. could result in a departure from controlled flight), the flight control system will not move the control surface or will move a different surface to give me the movement I am requesting. Who is flying who?

So, if tomorrow my seven-year-old daughter decides she wants to become a Naval Aviator, I am not going to shoot down the notion and go on a rant about the last generation of fighter pilots. I know there will be a Navy jet for her to fly. My future grandchildren, however? Saddle up kids and prepare yourself for some of Grandads wild tails of the greatest flight in Naval Aviation: the one-hour BFM cycle back to the Case One s**t-hot break. Those were the days!

Contact the editor: Tyler@thedrive.com

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Navy F/A-18 Squadron Commander's Take On AI Repeatedly Beating Real Pilot In Dogfight - The Drive

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson at the Canadian Summit '17 on Wednesday June 28, 2017. Veronica Henri/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Gov. Mike Huckabee, the father of former White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee, has some pretty interesting observations regarding Black Lives Matter. He speaks of a far more accurate designation Black Lives Matter More. He also finds an inherent trap in the name: If you disagree with the tactics or ideology of the organization, youre automatically considered a racist.

For example, in my town in Southern California, a bit bigger than Chatham-Kent, our Fourth of July parade was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise our huge fireworks display was cancelled. Yet for the third consecutive week in a row, the Black Lives Matter organization was given a permit to demonstrate, despite some pretty bad behaviour over the previous two events.

Likewise, the mayor of New York City was seen disrupting a funeral ostensibly because of the pandemic, but allowed BLM supporters or at least those who attended BLM events to loot, riot and assault people with impunity.

It seems that organizations and cities are falling all over themselves to placate the organization.

I dont understand the support, as ultimately they were founded upon a lie. Jonathan Caperhart of the Washington Post describes Michael Brown as an inappropriate symbol. And the Hands up, Dont shoot slogan that originated in Ferguson, Missouri was made up by a witness found to be a liar.

When two of an organizations leaders very openly describe themselves as highly trained Marxists and are very open about their plan of dismantling our society, then whats the attraction?

But their trainers apparently did a good job, because, as with Mao, one of their first objectives was to deface or destroy important parts of the existing culture.

One of their colleagues expressed a desire to burn the country down, and in that interview was prompted by an interviewer to clarify whether he meant that literally or figuratively. He seemed to not understand at first, and then said burning down the country was up to us.

Canadian Jordan Peterson saw this coming three years ago. He said what fed them was hatred, but we had to remember that ultimately they were like a clueless, rebellious kid that gets sucked in by the mob, and gets saturated with blood lust when behind a hammer and sickle flag.

Peterson said we should approach them in a spirit of peace, as hate creates more hate, ultimately hitting a flash point like we see today.

What theyre after is absolute power.

Im thinking its a bit late for peace.

Were upside down here. A couple saw their gate come down with rioters threatening to kill them, so they backed the crowd off. A district attorney threw corrupt charges them and not at the rioters.

As I pointed out, other legal groups are not allowed their U.S. First Amendment rights, but this organization is faced with no such barrier.

Its frustrating to see cops under the microscope, afraid to use reasonable force to stop looting and other crimes. A few weeks ago, Antifa announced on social media they were going to destroy a town located a bit north or me. A reception of well-armed citizens were waiting for them. Apparently that didnt keep a few of them from running off at the mouth and they got a hard lesson about threatening peoples home.

Its not the way we want to see things going, but if we keep treating them with some special dispensation its likely things will get worse.

Greg Scharf was born in Sarnia and lives in California

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Jordan Peterson saw this coming a while ago - Sarnia Observer

Watching the Republican National Convention has felt like falling into an algorithmically-driven rabbit hole of right-wing YouTube.

Instead of relying on former presidents or party nominees to give impassioned speeches on conservative values and policies, the RNC has been dominated by Trump-supporting culture warriors whose rhetoric sounds eerily similar to online discourse pushed by right-of-center (some decidedly far-right) social media stars.

The four-day political pageant even kicked off Monday night with a speech by a prominent conservative YouTuber, Charlie Kirk.

The 26-year-old Turning Point USA co-founder with close ties to the Trump White House called the president the "bodyguard of Western civilization." Whatever Kirk meant by "Western civilization" isn't exactly clear, but the term is an obsession of right-wing YouTubers like Dennis Prager, "Intellectual Dark Web" celebrities like Jordan Peterson, and the recently banned by YouTube alt-right philosopher Stefan Molyneux.

When Georgia State Rep. Vernon Jones spoke at the RNC of the Democrats' keeping Black people on their "mental plantation," I felt like I was listening to Candace Owens, the YouTube star and Trump favorite who started "Blexit" to convince Black people to abandon the Democratic Party.

Patrica and Mark McCloskey best known for drawing their guns on Black Lives Matter protesters outside their St. Louis home called congressional candidate and protest organizer Cori Bush a "Marxist liberal activist" during their RNC speech. Granted, Bush is a Democratic Socialist, but the McCloskey's deliberate and repeated invocation of Marx made me think of "cultural Marxism" an obsession of conspiracy theorists like former InfoWars editor-at-large Paul Joseph Watson.

Right-wing YouTubers like Ben Shapiro are positively obsessed with opposing left-wingers' goal of "equality of outcome" rather than "equality of opportunity." The latter phrase made it into both Jon Voight's RNC intro narration and Tiffany Trump's Tuesday night speech.

There's nothing particularly novel about hearing these things at an overtly partisan and propagandistic event. Conservatives don't like socialism, they like their "culture," and they can't understand why more Black people won't vote for them.

What's striking is how these phrases, which are repeated like mantras on right-wing YouTube, have made it to the big kids' table at the RNC.

One reason for YouTube rhetoric reaching prime-time could be that under Trump, the GOP's long flirtation with anti-intellectualism went into high gear. Thoughtful, principled Republicans were purged as "Never Trump cuck-RINOs." All that remains are Trump sycophants and a leader who openly flirts with dangerous online conspiracy theories like QAnon.

Filling the void are the conservative YouTubers, whose audiences are legion, and who are directed deeper into extreme content both by the site's algorithm and by the communities formed around these channels.

Hearing these phrases and bugaboos sprinkled throughout RNC speeches feels in some sense like a callback to their original sources. And they may be deliberate or inadvertent signals to young conservatives.

The message: We know who the conservative thought leaders are in the Trump era, and we watch their videos, too.

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The RNC is turning into one long right-wing Youtube video - Business Insider - Business Insider

It is a more diverse outfit than many of its detractors assume, John Dickie argues

Aug 29th 2020

The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World. By John Dickie.PublicAffairs; 496 pages; $32. Hodder & Stoughton; 25.

SINCE THEY first came to prominence in the alehouses of 18th-century London, the Freemasons have proved adept at self-promotion. From their blindfolded initiation ceremony, obscure rituals and symbols and infamous handshake, the organisation has grasped the powerful attraction of mystery as a recruiting tool. Today the secret society has around 6m members, most of them in America.

Conspiracists have long speculated that these individuals are part of a secret world order, with ties to the Illuminati and satanic cults. Debunking these theories is relatively easy, but in his new book John Dickie goes much further. Based on years of research into the archives of the Grand Lodges, he has produced a global history of the organisation, explaining how the brand spread far beyond Europe. The Craft is a fascinating tale of imperial trade, warfare and scientific progress which presents the Masons as a response to the broader development of the modern world.

In their simplest form the Freemasons are groups of (almost exclusively) men, who undertake to pursue a beautiful system of morality and self-improvement according to a symbolic code. Their society is united by pledges to defend rational, enlightenment values, and over the centuries has attracted many high-profile members, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Winston Churchill and Walt Disney. In this account, however, Mr Dickie veers away from celebrity biography to focus on the broader membership. His characters are idealists and misfitspolitical exiles and refugees, traumatised soldiers, addicts who have overcome their vices. Their organisation, says Mr Dickie, is essentially a network of patronage. But he emphasises how many Masons treat its values of friendship, respect, integrity and charity as genuine anchors in their lives, not simply as window dressing for a practical agenda.

It is tempting to see the Masons as an elite clique of white, male, middle-class gatekeepers. And that has often been true. But the outfit described in The Craft is more diverse. In early modern Europe, Mr Dickie writes, the Lodges were among the few places where men from different classes could socialise. The Masons wore (and still wear) gloves during their meetings so that no Brother can tell the difference between the hands of a Duke and the hands of a dustman. Slaves were forbidden to join, but several American branches, such as that led by Prince Hall, a black leatherworker from Boston, played a role in the abolitionist struggle. In theory the Masons do not accept females, yet Mr Dickie meets Olivia Chaumont, who in 2007 became the orders first transgender member.

Most books about the Masons speculate on the extent to which they have shaped history. Mr Dickie is more interested in the opposite question. He shows how reactionaries have consistently projected their darkest fears onto the society. In 18th-century Lisbon, as the Inquisition entered its decline, the Catholic authorities presented the Masons as an illicit gay cult. After the French revolution the English feared them as Jacobin agitators; Hitler and Mussolini ranked them among fascisms most dangerous foes.

For all that, in moments of violence and political chaos the Masons have tended to come out on top. Mr Dickie is also a historian of the Mafia, and he suggests a connection between Italian Lodges and organised-crime syndicates. Some leading Masons, such as Licio Gelli, the head of Italys P2 Lodge in the 1970s, have collaborated profitably with terrorists and money-launderers. According to a former Grand Master in Calabria, 28 out of 32 Lodges in the region were known to be controlled by the Ndrangheta as recently as the 1990s.

The Craft is a well-researched account that dismantles any lingering suspicion that the Freemasons are preparing for world domination. Almost all such calumnies assume they have some form of central governmentMr Dickie makes clear that there is no such thing. While the Lodges share some core principles, they are remarkably various. Masons have been revolutionaries and reactionaries, progressives and conservatives. By chronicling these shifts, Mr Dickie has turned legend into history.

This article appeared in the Books & arts section of the print edition under the headline "Inside the Lodge"

Link:
A global history of the Freemasons - The Economist

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kyle Massey, 29; Jason Priestley, 51; Jack Black, 51; Shania Twain, 55.

Happy Birthday: You are sitting in a unique position. You have the means to get what you want, but if you let the little things get to you, youll find it challenging to reach your destination. Concentrate on whats important, and pay attention to maintaining your values, sticking to your budget and achieving what you set out to do. Make self-improvement and expanding your interests your priorities. Your numbers are 5, 17, 22, 26, 33, 37, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Do your part to ensure completion of any project in which you participate. Dont let anyone coerce you into an argument. Take care of business, and move on to more enjoyable pastimes. Be moderate when involved in physical activities. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Get the lowdown before you agree to something someone wants from you. Put your plans first and foremost. You are responsible for what you accomplish, so make it count. Romance is in the stars, so take time to nurture a meaningful relationship. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make adjustments to your living space or arrangements. Dont put up with something or someone who brings you down or causes you grief. Keep your life simple, affordable and clutter-free. Call the shots and follow your dreams. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Its up to you how you use pent-up emotional energy. You can blame others for things you dont have or didnt do, or you can embrace what life has to offer and turn your ideas into something concrete. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Strategize and formulate the best plan possible before you leap into action. Being prepared will help you alleviate setbacks and interference. Someone from your past will vouch for you or recommend you for a job that is a perfect fit. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Shoot for the stars. Take on a new project, or take care of unfinished business. Today is about progress, closing deals and being responsible for your happiness. Participation will be what leads to being on the inside of any organization you join. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Face facts. If something isnt right, recognize the problem and do something about it. The longer you let someone push you around, the harder it will be to break away and do your own thing. Dont get angry; get moving. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Serious talks will resolve pending problems. Learn from similar experiences, and take care of business before someone beats you at your own game. You have plenty to gain if you are determined to do things your way. Romance is favored. 4 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Envision what needs to be done, and get started. Enlist people who can contribute valuable information conducive to reaching your objective. That will enable you to get ahead with your strategy. Be aware that someone close to you may offer false hope. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Reconnecting with someone who has inspired you will be enlightening. An open conversation will make you realize how much you have in common with each other and what you can accomplish as a team. A romantic celebration is encouraged. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Dont feel you have to abide by someones rules or follow someones lead. Aim to please yourself, not someone who is taking advantage of you. Living a lie will not help you get ahead. Someone will reveal a secret. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take the throttle, run the ship and dont look back. Say whats on your mind, and you will gain ground quickly. Share your feelings and intentions with someone you love. A commitment will lead to a new beginning. 4 stars

Birthday Baby: You are courageous, dependable and determined. You are competitive and savvy.

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Gemini: Ignore those looking to stir the pot or bring you down - The Bethel Citizen

JoJo delivered the best gift to her fans back in May in the form of 'Good to Know' her first album in four years and her first since departing Atlantic Records. The R&B album was promoted with the single 'Lonely Hearts' in April, with the single 'Man' being released previously in March along with a music video that had cameos from Ari Lennox, Tinashe, JinJoo, Francia Raisa and JoJo Gomez.

'Good to Know' dropped to widespread critical acclaim with many noting that JoJo's growth as a singer and songwriter was the crux of the release's mature, cohesive sound. JoJo has now returned with a deluxe version of the album, preceded by the release of a new single, 'What U Need'. The new album includes five new tracks, a feature from Demi Lovato on 'Lonely Hearts' and Tinashe on 'Love Reggae', and the omission of Tory Lanez from the track 'Comeback' following his recent involvement in the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.

Joanna Nolle Levesque, known to her fans as JoJo, debuted with the smash hit 'Leave (Get Out)' and her self-titled album in 2004. Her instant claim to fame was her unparalleled vocals, something most people could hardly believe was emerging from a 13-year-old. It shocked people even more when they learned the young singer was writing her own music. Cut to nearly two decades later and JoJo is still managing to floor audiences with both her vocals and songwriting. 'Good to Know' was most notable for its development of JoJo's artistry. The singer has steadily veered more into more overt sexual themes layered on top of some extremely sensual sounds, but in addition to the maturity in her lyrical themes, the growth in both JoJo's vocals as well as the production on her tracks is readily audible.

But 'Good to Know' is additionally JoJo's most personal record to date. In particular, she chronicles her turbulent journey in the music business, which included a decade-long legal battle for her freedom from her first label Blackground Records, on the album's opening lyrics "Look at me now..." and with that, it is evident JoJo's growth includes a recognition of her own worth and healing from the trauma of having her career "irreparably damaged," as her 2013 lawsuit against Blackground noted.

Standouts from the deluxe version naturally include the duet with JoJo and Lovato. Arguably two of the best vocalists of the current generation, this is a dream team nobody would have predicted we would see in this lifetime. But given the song's focus on self-improvement, self-love and escaping the clutches of codependency, it serves as the perfect vehicle for an epic collaboration. Lovato manages to keep up with JoJo on her most complex runs, a trait she is widely known for, and both singers belt and harmonize in perfect unison. It's a shame we may not get to see this track performed live any time soon, but at least we get to hear this masterpiece on this record for now.

The five new tracks including 'Love Reggae' featuring Tinashe are all absolutely gorgeous R&B tunes with a bit of pop layered in. 'X (1 Thing Wrong)', however, is easily the highlight from the new lot. The slowed-down reverb and bass-heavy track is one of the best R&B tracks to come out this year and has JoJo at her singing and songwriting best.

An overall highlight with this whole release is its stellar production that gives us some gorgeous instrumentals paired with vocals that aren't overproduced or polished to excess. Essentially, we get a rawness in JoJo's voice that truly highlights just why she is one of the best vocalists in the game. Additionally, getting to hear JoJo love herself, especially in light of everything she has been put through at the hands of the music industry executives, is an absolute treat. 'Good to Know' is a stunning release that deserves every bit of the acclaim it has received thus far, and the deluxe version just drives that point further home.

'Good to Know' is out now across digital streaming platforms.

Originally posted here:
'Good to Know' Review: JoJo forms dream team with Demi Lovato, Tinashe in sultry album that cut out Tory Lanez - MEAWW