Let’s go to New York City and see if the indie folk scene has its newcomers, and if those ones deserve a listen. Well, as usual, I found one which may fulfill your heart and your starvation for good music.
Adam Aronson is one of these guys you never heard of, just because he is new to the industry, but whom you at once put into your catalogue… And in your indie new songs’ playlist! Because he is good, he has a very personal atmosphere to share, and he knows how to make his music penetrate deeply into your emotional deep layers.
His new song, released today, has a melody that seem to come directly from the 70’s, with some sounds stemming from the 80’s, for a final perfectly modern product making a place for itself in the 2020s’ indie folk landscape. “Door Into Heaven” is a song about resilience. Adam says it relates “to the triumphant feelings that come with finding reliance in the face of adversity.” And man, it does the job!
Open the Door into Heaven with Adam Aronson
Accompanied by Nik Chinboukas on bass and Matt Zebrowski on drums, Adam gives a nice performance with a soulful voice that has a fresh aerial style and communicates well the enthusiasm he tries to find into more melancholic feelings. I know it looks like a dichotomic statement, But Adam’s challenge seems to be to fix life by overcoming tough feelings with your own personal energy and positiveness. And that is what he transmits: it’s possible, it’s nice, it’s life, it’s beautiful, and to hell with the hell.
And he does that with a style that has reminiscence of some of the best songwriters of all times. Jefferson Airplane, Lou Reed, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, are some of the names that crossed my mind when I heard the song for the first time.
Now if you are around NYC in September or October, Adam will be performing there, and you should find where and get there for a night. Meanwhile, here is his last song, “Door Into Heaven”:
Charles Michel said in his statement about Queen Elizabeth II: “Her inspiration has spanned generations”. Here is the full statement:
We remember a remarkable woman today. A remarkable human being. Who shouldered an immense responsibility over the past 70 years. Her inspiration has spanned generations. And touched the lives of so many.
While we all mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second, we also consider her reign. It has left a legacy like few others in European and global history. From the turbulent years of the Cold War well into the globalised era of the 21st century.
For many, she was an anchor of stability in a rapidly changing world. She was once called “Elizabeth the Steadfast”. She was indeed a wise leader who never failed to show us the importance of lasting values in this modern world – values like service, commitment, and tradition.
She once said: “grief is the price we pay for love”. She was respected, esteemed, and sincerely loved by so many around the world. Our thoughts are, first and foremost, with the King and the Royal Family, with the people of the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth.
For us in the European Union, her reign covered almost the full arc of post-war European integration. We will always remember her contribution to reconciliation among our nations after World War II and the Cold War. She had experienced the devastation of World War II and knew the importance of trust and cooperation among our countries.
Many of our past and present European leaders have experienced her warm hospitality. So did I at several occasions.
We will do our part to carry on her legacy. Her special legacy of building bridges and of building trust among nations.
Retba is not one of the most popular natural attractions in Africa, but it is definitely one of the most extraordinary. Located on the Cap Vert Peninsula less than an hour from the capital Dakar, the Pink Lake, as it is known locally, attracts visitors due to its unusual and rich color. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean only by wide sand dunes and predictably has huge levels of salinity. In comparison, during the dry season of the year, salt levels exceed those of the Dead Sea.
But where does the pink color of Retba come from?
The reason for this is the cyanobacteria that thrive in the lake due to its salinity. The bacterium emits a reddish hue as it attracts and absorbs the sun’s rays. This creates its unique color, which is most noticeable during the dry period from November to June. The bacterium is completely harmless to humans and swimming in the lake is allowed, but be aware of its characteristic heat, compared to warm syrup.
Workers scoop the salt with their bare hands from the bottom of the lake, put it in baskets and carry them to the shore
The pink lake is quite “shy” and does not reveal itself to everyone. Its color is very fickle and depends on factors such as light and algae. Few visitors have seen its bright pink appearance. Sometimes the lake looks darker, even brown in color.
Almost no living organisms manage to survive in the home of Retba salt, which reaches 40 percent
Therefore, the lake is mainly used as a tourist attraction and for the production of salt, of course. If you visit, you will witness the gleaners in the water and their huge mountains of salt on the shore. The locals scoop up the salt with their bare hands from the bottom of the lake, put it in baskets and carry them ashore. To protect their skin from the long hours in the water, the workers use shea butter, known in Senegal for its cosmetic properties, which is extracted from the karite tree. And as an attraction for tourists, sailing on a wooden boat is offered.
Despite the grueling heat and conditions, the local people are happy and relaxed
Retba is not the only pink representative of lakes on Earth, but it is the largest natural pool of its kind. Its area is about 3 square km, and the maximum depth is 3 meters. On Australia’s Middle Island, there is another similar phenomenon – the mysterious and isolated pink Lake Hillier, the depth of which reaches a remarkable 600 meters.
Photo: Workers remove the salt with their bare hands from the bottom of the lake, put it in baskets and carry them to the shore / iStock by Getty Images
Cat fur generally does not harm humans, but some owners may be sensitive to purring animals and suffer from allergies. Although there is a perception that people are allergic to cat fur, this is not entirely the case.
The sources of allergens that cause some people to suffer from the proximity of a cat are the saliva and urine rather than the fur of the cat.
When meowing animals wash themselves by licking their fur, they can spread particles of hair at home, which are called dander. Because cat dander spreads absolutely everywhere, humans can be sensitive to it, but it is generally not the cause of an allergy in itself. The cat got it off her fur after licking herself to clean her fur. So she spread allergens from her saliva on it, as a result of which – many people can start to sneeze.
To reduce the spread of cat dander at home, you should brush the fur of the meowing pet regularly. This, along with regular house cleaning, can help desensitize your pampered pet.
Safe control of cat hair and dander
You may not like it when your cat sheds fur on your sofa or you find cat hair on your favorite sweater, but as we said – cat hair itself is not a health risk.
Dander is flakes on the cat’s skin
Whether you have a long-haired or a short-haired cat, there is no way to stop shedding. However, you can significantly reduce its shedding and spread throughout the home by brushing it. Regular grooming of a cat’s fur should ideally happen on a daily basis, although this depends on the season and the type of fur that the pet friend has.
Bathing at regular intervals can also greatly alleviate the situation if your home is covered in cat fur. Nutrition is just as important, as quality food is not only important to the health of your meowing friend, but is also a factor in keeping his coat healthy, shiny and beautiful.
How to confirm your allergy to cats?
Allergies that people suffer from have different dimensions. Some people may sneeze or feel itchy eyes in the presence of a cat. More severe symptoms may include wheezing. These reactions can occur if a sensitive person enters a room where a cat has been, even if the cat is not present.
Allergies and sensitivities can be difficult to determine because most people are exposed to multiple possible allergens at once. The best way to confirm a suspected cat allergy is to see a doctor for an allergy test.
Reducing exposure to cat hair
There are several ways to reduce exposure to cat dander and make your home more comfortable for someone sensitive to cats. If you are the one with allergies, delegate the bathing and brushing of the cat to someone else. Home hygiene is also a very important factor. Regular cleaning of surfaces to remove cat dander will greatly relieve your symptoms.
Don’t forget to wash your hands regularly, and as an additional measure, experts recommend keeping the purring pet out of the bedroom.
Although it can be a challenge, confining the cat to one part of the house can provide the most relief for someone who is allergic to cats. Placing the litter box near a window, frequent airing, hand washing and house cleaning can greatly help you live with a purring pet. However – if your allergy is severe and your life seems to be becoming complicated and even dangerous – you may want to consider whether it is okay to continue living with your furry pet and whether to find another loving home. As difficult as this decision is, it is important for your health.
In the Synod Cathedral in San Francisco, Archimandrite Cyprian has painted the iconostasis and complete interior according to the traditions of ancient Moscovy and northern Rus. If we listen to opinions concerning this iconographic style, then along with enthusiastic comments, unfortunately, one can also hear such remarks that testify to the ecclesiastical bad manners of secular critics and to their misunderstanding of the very principles of icon-painting.
Making the demands of icon-painting that can only be made of secular art, incompetent critics look at ancient icons and observe in them a violation of the laws of perspective, erroneous anatomy, non-observance of proportion.
For a correct understanding of ancient icon-painting, it is absolutely necessary to get rid of the view that it is some variant of secular painting. The principles of secular art and the principles of iconography are not only different but even opposed.
Secular painting depicts the real world, the three-dimensional world which is subject to the laws of space and time. Iconography depicts another world, a transcendental and eternal world where the laws of perspective, anatomy, fluctuation of light and shade are powerless. In iconography “there is no material nature; neither days nor nights nor gravity nor space in the human sense, nor time … The terrestrial sun never rises and sets in the celestial land of unutterable Light. And that is why changes from one tone to another, in colorful combinations, are absent. … And that is why the subjects do not cast a shadow, and we do not become aware of their weight, and their size is not subject to spatial perspective.” (Serge Makovsky)
For a correct understanding of icon-painting, it is necessary, first of all, to bear in mind that being a powerful subsidiary means of prayer for man, it must follow those demands whick flow from prayer and not those which flow from secular art. Prayer, according to ascetic rules, must be “unseen”, i.e. not arouse any clear pictorial image in the imagination. An icon must be so painted that it stimulates only one reverential feeling of presence before the Lord, and not the imagination of the Lord Himself. (the same can be said concerning the portrayal of the Mother of God, the angels and the saints.) Therefore, whereas secular art is more valuable the more it arouses a vivid picture in the beholder, iconography is more valuable the less it acts upon the imagination of the person praying.
The second ascetic rule of prayer is abstention from every attempt to attract one’s heart to participation in it by means of artificial arousal in the heart of premature conditions of special compunction or a sweet feeling of divine grace. One absolutely ought not to be concerned with tender sentiments during prayer. They come by themselves without any of one’s own efforts, exclusively by the action of God’s grace. The main concern during prayer must only be full concentration of attention on the contents of the prayer. The Holy Fathers say that one’s whole mind must be devoted to every word of the prayer. And in the course of time, such attention to prayer brings the heart into participation. The only feeling during prayer that is recommended by the ascetic rules is weeping and contrition for one’s sins. A contrite awareness of one’s sinful infirmity leads one to humility and repentance, that is, to that which is the necessary condition for correct spiritual perfection.
Now such ascetic restraint upon one’s imagination and the stirrings of one’s heart during prayer is at first achieved in a dry, tight and narrow way. But, according to the words of Christ, it is only by the “strait gate” and “narrow path” that one can enter the Heavenly Kingdom. Our natural forces, corrupted by sin, untransformed by the grace of God, cannot lead us to true feelings of sanctity. In their place, one erroneously often takes the flushes of blood and nerves for prayerful ecstasy. Such flushes have nothing in common with a genuine state of grace. The real presence in our heart of the grace of God is characterized by amazing peace, but not by flushes (Gal. 5:22). The voice of God is the voice of a “gentle breeze” (3 Kings 19:11-12), and not of excitement.
In complete conformity with this rule of prayer, iconography must not be concerned with the portrayal of the spiritual state of holy persons. Feelings of holiness and states of divine inspiration must be unknown to the humble iconographer, imbued with an awareness of his own sinfulness.
When secular painters, unacquainted with the ascetic rules and not having humility, daringly attempt to depict states of holiness only on the basis of their imagination, then instead of divine inspiration, an unhealthy hysteria inevitably results upon the canvas. It is well known how one talented painter who attempted to portray the feelings of the holy apostles at the moment of the descent of the Holy Spirit, as a matter of fact depicted an ecstatic dance of pagan priests and not the divinely inspired state of the holy apostles.
The only state which prayer and the prescribed form of an icon permit is humility and repentance. The bent figures of saints, the ascetic sternness of their faces, the prayerful inclination of the head and position of the hands – all this wonderfully evokes penitence and the seeking of the Heavenly Jerusalem.
The ancient icon constitutes one indissoluble whole with the church and subordinates itself to the architectural design. Therefore, in almost all ancient icons, “in keeping with the architectural lines of the church, mortal figures were sometimes excessively rectilineal; sometimes, on the other hand, they were unnaturally curved – in conformity with the lines of the arch. Being subject to an urge upwards for a high and narrow iconostasis, these icons sometimes became excessively elongated, the head being disproportionately small in comparison with the body, later becoming unnaturally narrow in the shoulders with the emphasis on the ascetic exhaustion of every figure (Prince Eugene Trubetskoi).
The design of an icon conveys one of the central ideas of Orthodoxy. “In that supremacy of architectural lines over the human figure, which is observed in it, is conveyed the subordination of man to the idea of the church, the predominance of the ecumenical over the individual. Here man stops being self-sufficient in his personality and is subjected to the general architecture of the whole” (Prince Eugene Trubetskoi).
The first powerful stimulus which made the Russian people acept Christianity was the beauty of Orthodox churches. The envoys of the holy Prince Vladimir, as the chronicle relates, standing in the cathedral of the Holy Wisdom in Constantinople, could not say where they were – in heaven or on earth. And this unearthly beauty, which affected the Russian people on the threshold of their Christian history, became the main inspiration for their subsequent church culture. In no other area of spiritual culture did the Russian people attain such high achievements as in the area of iconography, ancient example of which are now recognized as an unequalled contribution to the world treasure-house of art.
On Monday, September 5, Serbian Patriarch Porfiry presented Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with the golden degree of the Order of Saint Sava – as a reward for his efforts in defending Christianity in Hungary and throughout Europe, promoting Christian values, as well as because of his personal contribution to the friendship between the Hungarian and Serbian peoples.
At the awarding ceremony, the Serbian Patriarch emphasized that Viktor Orbán is a unique statesman in Europe who “fights for the soul of Europe” and whose words are listened to by other peoples, including the Serbs.
In accepting the award, the Hungarian Prime Minister emphasized that he was proud to receive it from his brother, a Serbian Orthodox Christian. “We are peaceful people, we want peace, but there is really a war for the soul of Europe, and without Christian unity – including Orthodoxy – we cannot win this battle,” the prime minister said.
St. Sava was the first archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It awards the distinction in his name to ecclesiastical and secular figures of outstanding merit.
Serbian Patriarch Porfiry wrote on his Facebook page:
“Today at the seat of the Government of Hungary, in the presence of Bishop Irinej Bački, member of the Holy Synod of Bishops, and Metropolitan Luka, Bishop of Budinski, I awarded the Prime Minister of Hungary, Mr. Viktor Orbán, with the highest award of the Serbian Orthodox church – Order of Saint Sava, first degree.
The high award was presented to Mr. Orbán as a sign of gratitude for the affirmation of traditional Christian values, for the selfless support of the Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Buda, and for an outstanding personal contribution to strengthening the friendship between our two neighboring nations.
Worthy!”
Source: hungarytoday.hu
Featured photo: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán
This week, California launched “its most aggressive effort yet to combat climate change,” the New York Times reports.
The publication added: “Lawmakers have passed numerous bills designed to reduce emissions and divest from fossil fuels.”
Lawmakers “approved a record $54 billion in spending to fight climate change and passed sweeping new restrictions on oil and gas drilling, as well as a mandate that California stop adding CO2 to the atmosphere by 2045,” the paper explained, adding:
The bills, passed late Wednesday night at the end of a hectic two-year legislative session in Sacramento, marked a victory for Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has sought to cast himself as a climate leader as he boosted his national profile and began attracting speculation about a possible run for the White House.”
Under the new legislation, the state “will now have to cut emissions by at least 85% by 2045, offsetting any remaining emissions by planting more trees or using still-expensive technologies such as direct air capture,” the paper said, noting that “legislators had previously set a legally binding goal for California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.”
Inside Climate News reports that the state has also passed legislation banning new oil and gas wells from being built less than 3,200 feet from homes, schools, nursing homes and other so-called “sensitive receptors.”
While nature gives man true beauty, he increasingly turns to the artificial. Among the mass of tasty but low-quality products, it is difficult to find something that is beneficial for the body. That is why in recent years the call for healthy and environmentally friendly products has become almost a trend.
Honey has become one of the most sought-after honeys, and rightly so. All the healing properties of honey are indisputable. Most doctors recommend regular and systematic use of bee products. It strengthens the cardiovascular system, supports the healthy functioning of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. In addition, honey is a powerful force in the fight against certain diseases.
Hundreds of years ago, honey was revered by healers, rulers and commoners. With the daily consumption of bee products, you can purify the blood, strengthen the immune system and protect yourself from colds and heart diseases. Do you suffer from insomnia? Drink milk with honey before going to bed and the problem will stay in the background. No appetite in the morning? A glass of water and a tablespoon of honey will give you a feeling of fullness for several hours, protect your stomach and saturate your body with vitamins and trace elements. The trace elements in the composition of honey are responsible for the health of the whole organism:
– Potassium and magnesium in it preserve youth;
– Iron and manganese contribute to the proper absorption of food; – Nicotinic and ascorbic acid, carotene, vitamins of group B, contained in honey, strengthen the nervous system, increase resistance to various infections and visual acuity;
– Glucose and fructose increase glycogen reserves, having a beneficial effect on liver function and significantly improving tissue metabolism.
– Honey is a powerful antimicrobial agent with a broad spectrum of action. The antibacterial components of honey work synergistically to effectively fight a variety of microorganisms, including multi-drug resistant bacteria.
– It also has an antiviral and antiparasitic effect and plays a role in the anti-inflammatory effect on the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, and also has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system and the nervous system.
– Honey finds its application in athletes, as it allows you to quickly inactivate free radicals formed during sports activities.
– Thanks to the high content of polyphenols, it helps prevent vascular atherosclerosis, that is, it has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system.
Honey is quickly absorbed by the body and provides an instant boost of energy, so it is often recommended to be eaten during recovery from illness or during periods of intense mental or physical stress. The composition, taste and color of the different types of honey depend on the type of plant source, the geographical area, the climate and the different types of bees involved in honey production, as well as the methods of processing and storage.
What can go wrong with corn? It’s delicious, it has a variety of uses, it’s nutritious – what else do we need to know about boiled corn? Want to know about the potential side effects of eating too much corn?
Not only will we detail the consequences of eating too much corn, but we’ll also let you know how corn is not a vegetable! Yes, you got it right! Corn is not a vegetable, but it is a food grain. Originally grown in Central America and Mexico, corn is now widespread throughout the world.
Whether you eat it as roasted corn on the cob or its kernels boiled, buttered, salted or pureed in soups and sauces, corn is one versatile ingredient that can be a good healthy food option at any time. Besides the common yellow corn, other varieties can be brown, purple or blue. Apart from these, could there be another darker shade of corn? Is there any possible risk associated with eating too much corn?
While you may enjoy the subtle sweet taste of corn, it is wise to be aware of the potential health issues associated with its consumption. Read on to learn more.
Corn is full of nutrients that promote overall health. However, the side effects of corn related to excessive consumption should also be noted.
Corn can aggravate pellagra, bloating, flatulence and cause stomach upset. It can also cause tooth decay and increase the risk of osteoporosis and weight gain. Excess starch in corn can also cause lethargy.
It is also not suitable for people with diabetes. Most of these so-called negative effects of corn can actually be counteracted with a balanced diet. For the rest, well, just watch the portion size! Therefore, moderate consumption is recommended.
Is corn good for the lungs? Yes, eating corn in moderation is good for the lungs.
Is the boiled corn sour? Yes, boiled corn is sour. If mixed with oil, it can further worsen acidity symptoms and cause heartburn.
What is the best time to eat corn? Corn can be a healthy addition to any meal of the day. However, many prefer it as an afternoon snack.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a press conference on September 7 that during the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the importance of peace in the Western Balkans was once again confirmed, reports Kosovo-online.
Erdogan said he was very pleased as the agreement was signed when it comes to crossing administrative lines with only ID cards of Serbian and Kosovo citizens and said that Turkey is ready to provide support in any way to reach a solution in the relations between Belgrade and Pristina. He added that he hoped that an agreement would be reached on the registration numbers as soon as possible, as well as on other problematic issues.
“We have always sincerely supported solving problems through dialogue and will continue to do so,” Erdogan said.
He emphasized that his visit to Serbia will bring special results both for the two countries and for this region.
The President of Turkey thanked Vucic for his hospitality and stated that the talks were extremely fruitful.
He also added that the two presidents exchanged views on the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Our relations with Serbia, which are at an excellent level, are developing every day. Serbia will be the sixth country whose citizens will be able to travel to Turkey only with an ID card with a chip,” Erdogan added.
He said that the first steps on this topic have been taken since yesterday in BiH and added that the agreements will be signed at the UN General Assembly.
“Our economic relations are the driving force of our cooperation, the volume of our trade exchange continues to grow steadily despite the pandemic. Last year, the growth was 33 percent, and the overall target is five billion dollars in trade exchange,” Erdogan said.
The Serbia-Turkey business forum that we will be attending is, in his opinion, an indication of our goodwill, the Turkish president added, and stated that Turkish companies have $800 million worth of jobs in Serbia.
“When it comes to the Novi Pazar-Tutin road, it is the result of Vucic’s visionary approach. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency is implementing 350 projects in Serbia and we will soon start the renovation of the Bayrakli Mosque,” Erdogan announced, saying that every year millions of citizens travel to Turkey via Serbia.
