In this emotional equivalent to an ultramarathon, its key to have some stress-reducing strategies available that work quickly and efficiently to help you hit the reset button.

Heres why: Struggling with chronic worry gets in the way of effectively managing your emotions. Unfortunately, many people who experience distress try to escape their unpleasant emotions by distracting themselves in ways that ultimately backfire.

If you suspect you might be one of them, ask yourself whether you have a tendency to judge your emotions its a common thing to do. But it can fuel a vicious loop of feeling, then avoiding the feelings and feeling even worse. Pushing away feelings is like trying to force a beach ball underwater: They will pop back up. Instead, notice and normalise difficult emotions; ideally, negative feelings, including fear, can motivate us to solve problems.

So rather than dealing with anxiety and uncertainty by getting lost worrying, then chasing short-term fixes with longer-term consequences, such as procrastinating or using food to cope, its helpful to experiment with quick strategies that will empower you. These strategies are not necessarily a cure, but can help lower the intensity of overwhelming emotions, allowing you to recalibrate to better deal with challenges you face.

Focusing on relaxing sounds reduces stress. In research spearheaded by Dr Veena Graff, an assistant professor in the department of anesthesiology and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania, pre-operative patients were assigned either to music medicine listening to Marconi Unions Weightless or prescribed a benzodiazepine. Remarkably, serene music proved nearly as effective in easing patients jitters as the medication option, with no side effects.

To honour your unique taste, explore different options and create a playlist that you find comforting when you need a break. Keep in mind that although it can seem cathartic to hear songs that validate your emotions (for example, listening to lyrics about heartache while feeling lonely), research on inducing varying mood states concludes that we can improve our experience with a more uplifting soundtrack. Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear, as Dr Oliver Sacks wrote in, Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain.

Marsha Linehan, a professor emeritus in psychology at the University of Washington, popularised an exercise in dialectical behaviour therapy to regulate intense emotions that involves immediately lowering your body temperature by creating a mini plunge pool for your face. This sounds odd, but it activates your bodys dive response, a reflex that happens when you cool your nostrils while holding your breath, dampening your physiological and emotional intensity.

To do it, fill a large bowl with ice water, set a timer for 15 to 30 seconds, take a deep breath and hold your breath while dipping your face into the water. While this isnt conventionally relaxing, it will slow your heart rate, allowing blood to flow more easily to your brain. I love watching my clients try this over our telehealth calls and seeing firsthand how quickly this shifts their perspective. Just being willing to do this, I tell my clients as they prepare to submerge, is a way to practice being flexible.

One of my favourite ideas that never fails to fill me with gratitude, no matter what else is happening, comes from the mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn, who likes to say, As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than wrong with you. In The Healing Power of the Breath, Dr Richard Brown and Dr Patricia Gerbarg offer a range of exercises to promote resilience. One of my favourites: Slow your breathing down to six breaths a minute by consciously inhaling and exhaling (to practice this timing, you can use a secondhand and inhale for five seconds, exhale for five seconds, and repeat four times, or try a guided recording). Paced breathing offers a host of physiological benefits, like reducing your blood pressure, which helps promote a sense of tranquility. When people tell me it feels challenging to breathe in a certain way when they feel panicked, I tell them to start with alternative soothing activities, like music, and work their way up to paced breathing.

Another way to stay present rather than spin into a crisis is to notice if you are engaged in thinking that isnt helping you. Our interpretations of events supercharge the intensity of our emotions. After all, anticipating, This will go on for years! in a moment of anguish will only inspire more hopelessness. But mindfulness, or learning to see more clearly as opposed to jumping to conclusions, is a nice remedy for anxiety. One brief way to enter the moment is known as anchoring, a popular strategy.

Start by physically centring yourself by digging your heels into the floor this evokes a feeling of being grounded in reality.

Then take a moment to observe: What am I thinking? Feeling in my body? Doing?

Then ask yourself: Is my response: a) Helpful? b) Aligned with my values now? Or c) Related to future worries or a past problem?

While we can get stuck in specific thoughts, stepping back to more generally decide if those thoughts are helpful can get us out of rumination mode. It may also help to tape a list of these prompts on your computer to remember to take a step back and refocus when your thoughts are only making things worse.

If you struggle with physical sensations of anxiety, like muscle tension and feeling like you cant get enough air, a counterintuitive yet important way to manage is to practice bringing on those sensations in more quiet moments to improve how you tolerate stressful ones.

Learning to repeatedly welcome physical symptoms allows you to stop seeing them as catastrophic. In a recent therapy group I led on Zoom, my clients prepared to try this by ordering thin coffee straws. I set my timer for a minute as they pinched their noses and tried to breathe only through the straw.

We also worked on replicating the other sensations they associated with fear, like muscle tension, dizziness and shortness of breath. We held a plank, spun in circles and ran in place. Some people were surprised that the practice experience was worse than the anxiety they normally felt. Others found it was similar, which felt liberating they didnt have to wait for the feelings to catch them off guard and instead could purposefully habituate themselves to them.

Recently, at the end of a long day of video calls with patients, my five-year-old daughter asked, When will the germs go away? After removing my three-year-olds sneaker from my one-year-olds mouth, I saw a request from a client about an urgent check-in. I practiced paced breathing and pulled up our nightly dance party playlist (by request: Justin Timberlakes Cant Stop the Feeling) before discussing my daughters feelings and returning to work.

Now I hope you create your own plan with the strategies above. By practicing managing your emotions, youll experience a sense of freedom in your life. I dont know about you, but Id chase that over any mindless short-term alternative. The New York Times

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Quick, stress-reducing strategies to help you better deal with challenges and anxieties - The Irish Times

Send your events to pgriffin@thedestinlog.com at least 2 weeks in advance if possible.

Rock the Docks

Rock out on the Destin harbor, and make this summer a hit with a free Scenic Heights concert at 7 p.m. Aug.15 at HarborWalk Village. On-site parking is $10.

Wednesday Night Concert Series

Sit back and enjoy a free evening of music from 7-9 p.m. Aug. 19 with Courtyard Saints on the Events Plaza Stage at the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Aug. 26: Dion Jones and The Neon Tears

Sept. 2: Will Thompson Band

Sept. 9: The Blenders

Sept. 16: Geoff McBride

Sept. 23: Bay Bridge Band

Sept. 30: Forrest Williams Band

Bubbly Baytowne Canceled

An evening full of free champagne and shopping begins at 5 p.m. Aug. 20 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Stop in various retail merchants as you enjoy a selection of premium champagnes. This event is free and for 21 and up only.

Concerts in the Village

Enjoy the music of M-80's at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, 4323 Commons Drive W in Destin. Gates open at 6 p.m., and concerts begin at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door with general admission $15/adult and free to MKAF members and kids under 12. Visit https://francesroy.xtensio.com/CIV2020Rescheduled to see changes due to CUVID-19.

Sept. 10: Casey Kearney

Sept. 17: The Shakedown

Sept. 24: The Bonehoeffers

Oct. 1 : Pickled Pickers

Oct. 3: Shania Twin

Oct. 8: Emerald Gold

Human Trafficking Awareness March

Circuit 1 Human Trafficking Task Force for Walton, Okaloosa, Bay, Santa Rosa, and Escambia counties will hold a Human Trafficking Awareness March at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Fort Walton Beach Landing Park. Care baskets will be put together for Human Trafficking survivors in our area. Those attending are asked to donate to the baskets. Call 850-598-1708 for more information.

Sip N' Stroll

A book signing with Jason Lindblad will be held during the gallerys Sip N Stroll from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 4. Send in the Nouns is available for purchase at J.Leon Gallery and Studio, 13370 US Hwy. 98 in Miramar Beach.

Baytowne Art Walk

The Annual Baytowne Art Walk will be from 5-10 p.m. Sept. 4-6. Stroll the Village streets and browse a variety of artwork from both regional and local artists. Enjoy live music throughout the festival from local artists and a spectacular fireworks show over the lagoon on Sunday at 9:15 p.m.

Celebration of Freedom

The DeFuniak Springs Business and Professional Association is hosting a delayed 4th of July celebration on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. The event will begin with a parade at 3 p.m. around the Lakeyard on Circle Drive. Prizes will be awarded for best floats. To enter call Carolyn Mora at 850-892-3950 or 850-974-6774. Celebration will continue at 5 p.m. with opening ceremonies and entertainment by Shane Owens in the Lakeyard Amphitheater. Fireworks will conclude the celebration at approximately 8:15 p.m.

International Talk Like A Pirate Day

Ahoy Matey! Join The Village of Baytowne Wharf for an evening full of adventure from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 with special guest Captain Davy. Come dressed in your best pirate costume and get ready for a scavenger hunt, magic show, costume contests, and much more.

Throwback Thursday Cinema

Grab your lawn chairs and enjoy a relaxing evening with the Throwback Thursday featured film, 101 Dalmations at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Redd's Fueling Station

Redd The Singing Bartender is back on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with a live band Fridays at Redds Restaurant on 30-A. It is located in Blue Mountain Beach behind Sallys By The Sea Store gas station convenience store, 2320 W County Hwy. 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. Dinner table reservations suggested. Call or text 850-325-0252. Check out the menu at http://www.reddsbar.com.

Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam

The eighth annual Country On The Coast festival in Panama City Beach will be March 26-28, 2021. Tickets for the three-day event are available at http://www.GulfCoastJam.com.

Seabreeze Jazz Festival

Tickets are on sale at http://www.seabreezejazzfestival.com for the 2021 Seabreeze Jazz Festival April 21-25. 2021, at Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater in Panama City Beach. Or charge by phone at 855-233-6714.

Grand Boulevard Farmers Market

Grand Boulevard Farmers Market takes place every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grand Park in the heart of Grand Boulevard in South Walton. Bring your shopping bag and load up on local produce, eggs, jams and pies. Homemade soap, good olive oil, and pickled things are all there for the taking.

Rosemary Beach Farmers Market

Come browse the 30A Farmers Market in Rosemary Beach on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The local farmers market takes place on Sundays year round, and Thursdays throughout the summer months, in North Barrett Square along Scenic 30A.

More here:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Aug. 15 - Destin Log

A bad high can come with either physical symptoms or those that express themselves as paranoia, stress and discomfort.

One exercise said to work when dealing with anxiety is breathing. / Photo: fizkes / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Bad highs are common, but they express themselves differently depending on the person.

For some, the symptoms might be physical, such as nausea or dry mouth; for others, the symptoms can express themselves as paranoia, stress and discomfort. All of these reactions can lead to anxiety, which can quickly transform into being overwhelming if action is not taken.

A bummer high can be absolutely terrible, but its side effects have not been shown to be dangerous, especially if a person remains calm. Remember, no matter how bad it gets, the feelings are temporary and ones attitude can have a huge impact.

One exercise said to work when dealing with anxiety is breathing. If a person is overthinking things after a smoke, take some deep breaths and count them in your head. Place one hand on the chest and the other on the stomach, breathe deeply and focus on how the belly seems to inflate and the chest stays still. This kind of belly breathing is said to be effective in helping to reel in the brain and make a person feel present.

One exercise said to work when dealing with anxiety is breathing. / Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto Getty Images/iStockphoto

Cannabis heightens all sensations, which is one reason its so great. But when a person is having a bad high, this makes it particularly difficult to stay present and rational. One thing that can help is to put on relaxing and soothing music, even something without lyrics to help prevent overthinking, while taking deep breaths.

If feeling anxious and too high, a vigorous workout will likely stress you out even more. Some peaceful music or a background yoga video can assist with some light stretching to help focus on how the body feels. Stress and tension is held in the body, too, so the stretching will likely make it easier for to relax, no matter how anxious a person is feeling.

Taking a shower, either with hot or cold water, is likely to help switch mood. / Photo: yogenyogeny / iStock / Getty Images Plus yogenyogeny / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Showers are great things when high. If the water is warm, it can signal to the body that its time to wind down and relax. If the water is cold, it can wake you up and zap your brain into action. Try both and see what works, but either option will surely help switch mood.

The oldest trick in the book is also said to be the most effective. While sleeping is not convenient during certain occasions, its the quickest way of getting rid of a bad high, especially if a person is feeling drowsy and woozy.

If youre having a bad high and are with trusted friends at your home, set up an alarm and catch a half-hour nap. Although you might not be completely recovered, you will likely feel way better and prevent an anxiety spiral.

The FreshToast.com, a U.S. lifestyle site that contributes lifestyle content and, with their partnership with 600,000 physicians via Skipta, medical marijuana information to The GrowthOp.

Want to keep up to date on whats happening in the world of cannabis?Subscribeto the Cannabis Post newsletter for weekly insights into the industry, what insiders will be talking about and content from across the Postmedia Network

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5 ways to cope with cannabis-induced anxiety - The GrowthOp

Arms and the Man, directed by Ben Natan, will be performed Friday, August 14 at 7 p.m. on the No Exit Theatre Collective Facebook page. All shows in their Fortnightly Reading Series are abridged to run less than 90 minutes, with a Q&A with the artists to follow.

Ben Natan, co-artistic director, founded NETC to give theatre artists a space to work on their craft during the pandemic.

This show is the first in their LOVE AND CONSEQUENCES micro-season.

Arms and the Man follows Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Euripides' Iphigenia in Aulis, William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing and Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler in their Fortnightly Reading Series.

The cast will feature Jackie Alexis as Raina, Meagan Sisler as Bluntschli, Daniel Cabrera as Sergius, Kym Zlogar as Louka, Tessa Ramirez-Keough as Catherine, Keith Hale as Major Petkoff, Kassandra Perez as Nicola/Bluntschli's Friend, Emma Josephine Rucci, Swing. Technical directed by Daisy Phillips. Script managed by Caity MacNeill.

Honoring the activist roots of theatre and their artists is at the core of No Exit Theatre Collective. They seek to affect change with their work. With each production they put on, the creative team selects a social justice organization to support. Their support comes from their virtual tip jar.

This week, they will be supporting the Wallace Foundation, with 20 percent of the tips from their virtual tip jar. The Wallace Foundation provides artistic opportunities and resources for underserved and less privileged communities.

"Recently, one of our members lost a close loved one. In order to honor their memory, we are supporting the Wallace Foundation for this week's show. At NETC, we believe in radical accessibility and know what truly makes an artist is the chance to be creative," said co-artistic director Ben Natan.

Their virtual tip jar is where you can support their work. Each show week, 20 percent of tips go toward the organization selected by the creative team. The remainder of that money is equally split among the artists involved in the production.

On off-weeks, the funds from this tip jar go towards supporting the collective - buying rights to shows, upgrading their streaming capabilities, and expanding their team. Any funds that remain roll over to the following week's performance. Their tip jar is on Venmo, @NoExit-TC.

You can find constant updates by subscribing to their newsletter. Subscribe for constant updates on their collective, straight to your inbox. Their newsletter is written by editorial director Ryanne Salzano.

Related Articles

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No Exit Theatre Collective Presents George Bernard Shaw's ARMS AND THE MAN in Live-Streamed Reading Series - Broadway World

The warship is pulled from alongside the naval dockyard at Haulbowline Island by a tugboat before gently gliding under its own steam through the shimmering waters of Cork harbour.

nder the gaze of St Colmans Cathedral and the picturesque seaside town of Cobh, the L George Bernard Shaw turns its bow towards the ocean for another patrol over the horizon in the area of the Atlantic known as the cocaine highway into Europe.

The ships powerful engines pick up speed as it traverses the channel at the harbour entrance overlooked from either side by the old forts of Camden and Davis propelling it into the mercifully flat expanse of the ocean. The sky is azure; the sunshine glorious.

The first thing that our military mariners learn when they go to sea is not to take the Atlantic for granted; rather it is a mercurial beast, with mountainous waves and swells that can push a ship and its crew to the limits of their endurance.

The Irish Independent has been given exclusive access and a bottle of sea sickness pills to spend several days on the 67m patrol vessel to witness first-hand what the Naval Service calls a maritime defence and security operation.

Whenever we have visitors, the weather is good and the ocean is calm, but this is the exception and it is deceptive, the captain, Lieutenant Commander Phil Dicker, tells us as he supervises the bridge.

Out here we have some of the roughest, stormiest seas in the world, with waves of over 24 metres in the north-west Atlantic regularly recorded in huge swells, which can make life pretty uncomfortable boarding a yacht carrying a drug shipment in a force-seven gale is not for the faint-hearted.

The veteran sailor, who has more than 20 years service, knows what he is talking about. On a winters night in 2008, he took part in a major operation resulting in the seizure of over 750m worth of cocaine when the Naval Service intercepted the yacht Dances with Waves in the midst of gale-force winds and seven-metre waves 240km off the south coast.

It was one of Europes biggest maritime seizures of a drug that has been the source of violence and devastation on the streets of Irish towns and cities.

The captain sets a course that will take the patrol 200 miles south-west of Fastnet Rock to the edge of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which has some of the worlds richest fishing grounds, and is the busiest shipping lane between the Americas and western Europe.

The 90-metre warship was commissioned last year and is the newest addition to the fleet, the fourth of its class, purpose-built for the Irish Naval Service. The ships are named after famous Irish literary figures: the others are the Samuel Beckett, the James Joyce and the William Butler Yeats.

The George Bernard Shaw carries enough fuel, safety equipment, support systems and essential supplies to ensure its 55 personnel are self-sufficient for up to four weeks at sea. It also bristles with enough firepower to start a small war.

About an hour off shore, Lt Cmdr Dicker issues the order to the gunnery crews to prove the ships weapons which, in laymans terms, involves test-firing them. After establishing a safe cordon around the ship and with no other vessels on the horizon, the ship erupts in gunfire. The primary weapon, the powerful Oto Melara 76mm cannon at the bow, fires a deafening fusillade that obliterates a target buoy several kilometres away. It can accurately fire up to 85 rounds a minute at a target 20km away.

For a while, the George Bernard Shaw feels like it is engaged in a full-scale battle as its two deadly 20mm Rheinmettall cannons join the barrage in chorus with two more 12.7mm heavy machine guns and four smaller general-purpose machine guns. There is no doubt that this is a ship not to be tangled with.

Its engines also make it one of the fastest ships operating in the Atlantic, delivering up to 23 knots with an operational range of 6,000 nautical miles. The on-board generators can supply enough electricity to power a small town.

The ship is also equipped with an array of information technology and state-of-the-art detection and tracking systems capable of monitoring the movements of all vessels within the EEZ. It also collates intelligence that is pooled and shared by various agencies including the Air Corps Maritime squadron, who support their Naval Service colleagues operating two versatile Casa 235 aircraft.

This is our day-to-day business in the navy where we patrol the Irish EEZ and beyond when we are required to. Our role is to protect the vast natural resources within that 200-mile radius which belong to the Irish State, including fossil fuels, fisheries, renewable energy. Fish conservatively worth up to 2bn a year are extracted within our waters every year, so our job is to ensure that this resource is adequately policed and protected, says Lt Cmdr Dicker as the firing ends and the voyage resumes.

The Irish Navy is the States only law enforcement agency out here and we are its sentinel on the high seas; the ship is the equivalent of the garda patrol monitoring the road and who is using it. This is our beat and we are the roadblock, using a ship that is an agile and resilient resource with a crew that possesses all the expertise and the firepower, if necessary, to carry out whatever mission we are assigned.

The ship has a responsibility to uphold Irish and EU sovereignty, but today the emphasis is on drug trafficking, which is one of the Naval Services top operational priorities. Over the past 12 years, its men and women have been directly involved in the interception of more than 2bn worth of cocaine.

A big part of what we do involves drug interdiction operations and we are on constant alert for suspicious vessels. The crew members on watch are encouraged to be curious just like the dedicated garda and investigate any ship on our screens that is acting out of the ordinary, says Lt Cmdr Dicker.

If we spot something suspicious, as we regularly do out here, the information is relayed back to Naval Ops in Haulbowline for a full background check on the vessel to see if it is on any international suspect lists. Unless I am specifically told not to intercept the vessel, I will go and find out who it is and what they are up to as a matter of course.

Today we are headed into the southerly most part of our area of operations, which is the main route for cargo ships between Western Europe and North and Central America. Consequently, it is also the main cocaine smuggling route into Europe. It is the international drug dealers Route 66 or cocaine highway and they tend to hide in plain view.

The Naval Service is a member of a Joint Drugs Task Force with the garda and customs, which in turn plays a key role in the EU-funded Maritime Analysis Operations Centre (Narcotics) Maoc (N) which is based in Lisbon and headed by former garda assistant commissioner Michael OSullivan.

Maoc is responsible for co-ordinating the collective police, naval, air force and customs resources of seven nations to combat the trafficking of cocaine along Europes western coastline, which is also the main source of supply for Irish gangs such as the Kinahan cartel.

In a recent interview with the Irish Independent, OSullivan described the Irish Naval Service as the unsung heroes in the fight against international drug trafficking

The Irish Navy go out there on the high seas in all weathers at short notice to track suspect vessels we are monitoring we would be blindsided without them, the former drug squad detective said.

As it continues its journey, the George Bernard Shaw receives an urgent message from Naval HQ ordering them to locate and track a suspicious ship that is crossing the Atlantic from the US and headed for Western Europe. While it later turns out to be an exercise, the vessel of interest suddenly elevates the patrol to mission status.

The suspect ship is outside the EEZ, in the southwest approaches to the zone. The requirement for the operation is for us to maintain a covert presence and we are now working up to the highest state of readiness that the ship comes to, says the captain. We have proven our weapons, weve proven all our systems on board and made sure our boats and machinery are working correctly so that the platform, as we term it, is fit to fight.

The first phase of the operation is for the George Bernard Shaw to locate the vessel and covertly monitor its progress over the horizon using high-tech radar systems.

As this is an intelligence-led operation, sent down from Maoc and the Joint Task Force, the Naval Service must be prepared to board the vessel and arrest the crew if ordered to do so. Alternatively, they will hand it over the covert surveillance to one of their other navy partners. The service conducts operations like this on a regular basis but for security reasons they are rarely made public.

Over the next 24 hours, the crew prepares for every eventuality. Every member can multitask. Cooks double as machine gunners, while electricians are also members of armed boarding crews.

The second phase of an operation like this is the boarding phase, which will involve an armed team in high-speed rhibs [rigid-hulled inflatable boats] and they will go covertly to maintain the element of surprise, get on board very quickly, secure the crew and the ship, says Lt Cmdr Dicker.

The next is the search phase, where we conduct an initial search to determine if there is an illegal cargo on board, and then we are into the diversion phase, which is to put a crew on board to bring the vessel back to port. At the same time, a second navy ship would be dispatched to the area with members of the garda and customs to make formal arrests.

As the shadowing operation takes the warship deeper into the Atlantic, the specialist armed teams practise their shooting skills and boarding drills.

As the operation enters its third day, the ship receives new orders: find out what flag the vessel is flying. This will require sending a surveillance team under the cover of darkness. The George Bernard Shaw is now more than 300 miles from Cork. At 10.30pm, after the sun has dropped down below the horizon, the boarding crews depart the mother ship in two high-powered rhibs and disappear into the eerie darkness.

The boats will travel up to 16 miles over the horizon and creep up on the target ship, obtain images and return without the suspects ever knowing they were there. It is a nervous time as the George Bernard Shaw remains in total darkness and in radio silence, waiting for the teams to make it back safely.

We are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean if something goes wrong here, there is very few people I can call. It is a time when we need absolute focus, says the captain.

Then, about 90 minutes later, two tiny dots of light can be seen in the dark distance signifying that the surveillance teams are on the way home with information to send back to base and to their partners in Maoc.

The exercise that has just taken place is similar to an operation co-ordinated by Maoc two years ago that led to the seizure of over two tonnes of cocaine by the UKs National Crime Agency off the coast of Cornwall.

A Naval Service vessel and an Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft shadowed a catamaran carrying the cocaine from South America for a British crime syndicate as it sailed close to Irish waters.

When todays mission is over, the captain radios the skipper of the suspect ship to inform him that he had been used in a surveillance exercise. He asks if they had detected either the George Bernard Shaw or the rhibs; they had seen nothing out of the usual.

Lt Cmdr Dicker is happy with the outcome. That for us is mission accomplished. It means that our level of readiness and training are up to standard for the real thing.

Petty Officer Aileen Hanna, the head chef on the L George Bernard Shaw, has laid down the gauntlet to fiery celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay: could he could cook for the ship's crew in the middle of an Atlantic storm?

The senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) has the distinction of becoming the Naval Service's first female chef after joining up 18 years ago, following in the footsteps of her grandfather and father, who were also in the navy.

But PO Hanna is also a trained machine-gunner, which makes her more than a match for Ramsay, who is famed for his temper tantrums in the kitchen.

Every day on patrol, seven days a week, Aileen and her able cooks Alex Pluchart and David Onderko - both of whom are originally from Poland - prepare an average of 120 meals for a hungry and very appreciative crew of officers, NCOs and sailors.

Having spent four days at sea, we can understand why the cook is the most important person on the ship, even in the eyes of the captain. The grub is as good as anything served in a top-notch civilian eatery.

"It doesn't matter what sort of weather we are in, we still have to be in here working every single day. After 18 years of experience, I know how to make an omelette in a force-10 gale, but it's not nice," PO Hanna says.

"The food is what keeps people going when things are tough. It is not an easy life at sea. There are fabulous moments and I have great memories, but it is hard work and it is our job to keep morale up.

"We cater for different tastes and needs; we are the hub of the ship and we take pride in that. People can't go out and order a chipper or luxuries like that, so we try to make things as nice as we can here."

But like everyone else on board, PO Hanna and her staff are also trained to do other important jobs on board.

"We need to be able to do almost everyone else's job on board. I fire machine guns, I handle the ammo, I do firefighting, I do damage control; you need to be able to multitask on board an Irish Navy ship. It keeps the job interesting. I love it.

"I would love to see Gordon Ramsay cooking in a force-10 gale down in the galley, frying an egg and then make his way to the deck and fire off shots like Alex does," she smiles confidently, standing next to Alex, who has just fired 100 rounds from her general purpose machine gun.

Now there's a challenge for you, Gordon.

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Paul Williams: Life on the high seas with the maritime drug busters - Independent.ie

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 74th Independence Day by unfurling the national flag at the majestic Red Fort on Saturday (August 15) and address the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument. Since India secured independence from the British colonial on this day 73 years ago, the day holds a great significance for every Indian citizen.

Two nations were carved out of India 73 years ago, but ahead of that several developments took place. The DNA report has delved deep into the pages of history to inform you about those incidents and also about the key architects of the partition and independence including first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Lord Mountbatten, who was the last Viceroy of India, set the design of the partition. He considered Jawaharlal Nehru to be a leader who followed principles but when someone firmly presented his argument, Nehru would immediately submit. He viewed India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as sensible and a firm leader, but Mohammad Ali Jinnah was very stubborn and nobody could influence him.

When the news of India's partition started spreading in June 1947, there was a panic situation in Karachi, where people withdrew Rs 6 crore from their bank accounts.

A robbery took place in Delhi's Viceroy House, where Lord Mountbatten's military advisors lived, but thieves could never be caught. Notably, Viceroy's House is today's Rashtrapati Bhavan.

As the situation in the country began to deteriorate amid strikes and riots, 70 Hindus were kidnapped from Rewari in Haryana.

Indian leaders were worried about these developments, but Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was concerned about his cigars. He wrote a letter to one Yunus of Dehradun asking him where were the cartons of his cigars. Notably, when India was burning in the fire of partition, Jinnah was more concered about getting his cigars.

By the end of June 1947, riots started spreading across the country, and curfew was imposed in cities like Gurgaon, Dhaka and Lahore. Jinnah, however, was interested only in knowing how much money was left in his bank account. Bombay and Lahore branches of Bank of India told him that there were 7 lakh 97 thousand, 149 rupees, 12 ana and 3 paise left in his accounts.

In the first week of July, an American citizen came to India to meet Mahatma Gandhi. He asked Mahatma for his autograph, but Gandhiji asked him to pay Rs 20. After bargaining, Gandhiji agreed to give him autograph for Rs 15 and got this amount deposited in the Harijan Welfare Fund.

As Indian Army was also to be divided between the two nations, the Government of India announced a new pay scale for the soldiers and fixed a monthly salary of Rs 3000 for the post of General while Rs 35 was fixed for a soldier with class 10 qualification.

With Jinnah's stubbornness, Lord Mountbatten was very upset. The latter wrote a letter to Jinnah's daughter Patricia and said her father was stuck in a situation from which it is very difficult to come out in a respectful manner. Further, he wrote that he too had ruined everything because of his over confidence. He also expressed his disappointment that despite working so hard, he made a huge mistake in understanding Jinnah, and he wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

After a meeting of top leaders in the first week of July 1947, Mahatma Gandhi referred to George Bernard Shaw in his prayer meet. Bernard Shaw used to say that an Englishman is never wrong, he does everything according to principles. He serves the King but beheads the Monach using the principle of democracy. Therefore, which principle they would apply to leave India, Mahatma guessed.

On July 12, 1947, when Justice TL Shevde took oath in Nagpur wearing a Gandhi cap, a British judge asked him if he slept wearing a Gandhi cap? To this, Justice Shevde replied "yes" like you sleep wearing a hat on your head.

The next day in a press conference, when Mohammad Ali Jinnah was asked if he could tell how would he make Pakistan a modern democratic country. Jinnah said when did I say that? I never said that.

Ahead of partition, when 470 Indian Civil Service officials were asked what did they want? 400 of them opted for retirement on 15th August, while 40 decided to stay in India and the rest 30 went to Pakistan.

The British government wanted its flag, Union Jack, to be included in the flags of India and Pakistan. Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah refused to accept this. On August 14, the British flag from the Lucknow Residency was removed and sent to London. This British flag was continuously waving there since 1857.

Notably, Rs 2 lakh was sanctioned for organizing the events related to Independence Day in Lucknow.

In Mumbai, a name plate with M A Jinnah - Bar At Law was also removed from a chamber of lawyers. This was the name plate of Mohammad Ali Jinnah who was also an advocate.

India got independence at midnight, but the reason behind was no less interesting. A telegram from Lord Mountbatten was sent to Britain suggesting that it was advised by some Indian astrologers who considered it auspicious.

When someone asked Jinnah about role of the army in Pakistan, he became very angry. He stared at the person from top to bottom and said that there will be a government of citizens in Pakistan and those who diffe have no right to come to Pakistan. But his claims proved wrong like the rest of his claims and the army ruled in Pakistan for 33 years.

By the first week of August 1947, the number of refugees in Delhi swelled to 80,000, and there was a shortage of food. Schools were run in two shifts so that studies were not impacted.

During this time only, it was decided that the Prime Minister's official residence would be at 7 Prithvi Raj Road in Delhi, but 7 Race Course was later made the official residence of the Prime Minister of India. This is curently renamed as 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

Interestingly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which was established in 1928 as cricket was very popular in India. The then BCCI chairman Anthony de Mello had suggested that the partition should not divide the cricket team as it would affect the spirit of the game.

See more here:
Independence Day Special: Interesting developments ahead of August 15, 1947 - Zee News

A slew of major festivals are coming at you social distance-style this weekend, from the Seattle Design Festival to the Seattle Tattoo Expo, along with a special Best Coast streaming show, Pike Place Market's Dine & Donate event, and a reading with Akwaeke Emezi. Read on for all of our top picks for virtual and in-person events, or check out our guides to movies to stream this weekend. For event more options, check out our complete streaming events and protests & resistance calendars, as well as our guides to outdoor and socially distanced things to do this summer and anti-racism resources and events.

Othello International Festival in a Box Budding South Seattle soccer players and general fun-havers (and their families) can scoop up boxes filled with all the trappings of a cute summer day: art supplies, Sounders soccer balls, a jump rope, sidewalk chalk, seed starter kits, snacks, and COVID-related safety stuff like masks and hand sanitizer. The day after claiming parcels from the no-contact drive-through, participants can tune in to a livestreamed soccer clinic on Zoom with the Sounders themselves. New Holly Gathering Hall (Othello)

Solitude Social Club Hugo House's bookish happy hour gives the digital floor to guest writers every Friday evening. This week, tune in to hear how author Sharyn Skeeter (Dancing with Langston) is finding happiness and meaning through literature during this period of isolation.

Virtual Sanctuary Tour - Animal Enrichment Say hello to sweet rescue goats, llamas, and other residents ofPasados Safe Haven on this virtual tour.

Idol Across America Live Virtual Auditions For the first time since the show's inception, American Idol auditions will take place across all 50 states (virtually, of course).

NITE WAVE Best '80s Party Ever! This high-energy virtual show is an '80s jukebox, complete with hits from Duran Duran, INXS, the Cure, New Order, Depeche Mode, and more. Donations will benefit Northwest Harvest.

Rave the Vote With DJ sets, educational segments, and calls to action broadcasted live on Twitch, this virtual voter registration drive and dance-music festival features electronic music heavies like A-Trak, Analog Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Yaeji, and many others.

Vote Ready Live Reward yourself for registering to vote (or for having already registered) by enjoying live virtual performances by acts like the War on Drugs, Waxahatchee, Hand Habits, and Grizzly Bear's Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear.

Island Theatre Ten-Minute Play VIDEO Festival Bainbridge's Island Theater will host its ninth annualTen-Minute Play Festival online, promising 11 plays in two back-to-back one-hour programs. Perfect for those who miss the theater but whose attention spans have been jumbled up during quarantine.

Akwaeke Emezi with Esm Weijun Wang Returning to Elliott Bay for the first time since the release of her debut novel Freshwater,Akwaeke Emezi will talk about her well-received latest book,The Death of Vivek Oji, in which a Nigerian woman copes with the unexpected loss of her son. She'll be joined in conversation withEsm Weijun Wang.

Moss Volume 5 Launch The Pacific Northwest-based literary journalMoss (which once featured a poem by The Stranger's own Rich Smith) will celebrate its fifth volume with a virtual reading with novelist andjournalistOmar El Akkad, writer and scholarBeth Piatote, poet and editorMalcolm Friend, andMosspoetry editorAshley Toliver.

NAACP Arts, Culture & Entertainment Festival The NAACP will kick off its 111th Annual Convention with a virtual festival celebratingBlack brilliance, powered by its Hollywood Bureau. Along with showcasing rising Black talent, the festival will invite speakers, artists, and actors to touch on social and racial justice through the lens of television, film, music, and more.

Welcome to El: An Intimate Night of Comedy with El Sanchez Beloved local comedian El Sanchez recorded an intimate, hilarious show at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center just before the quarantine took effect. For those who missed it, the show is now on demand!

Auction of Washington Wines Online Auction & Virtual Gala Bid on a variety of wine-themed events and experiences through this live virtual auction and gala, whose proceeds will benefitSeattle Children's and Washington State University's Wine Science Research (who knew!).

Pike-Pine Summer United Get 10% off your bill at local bars and eateries like Amandine Bakeshop, A Pizza Mart, Bateau, and tons of other places on Capitol Hill moving into Phase 2 of reopening by mentioning The Stranger's Pike-Pine promotion. Various locations (Capitol Hill)

Pike Place Market Dine & Donate Pike Place Market turns 113 years old this month! The occasion is usually marked by Sunset Supper, where over 100 local restaurants, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and other market vendors commune on the cobblestones as the sun goes down. But since it's postponed until next year, make a pledge to dine at a participating restaurant (like Caf Campagne, Matts in the Market, orPikes Pit Bar-B-Que) and donate to the Power of Pike Place Recovery Fund. Various locations (Downtown)

Organic Mango & Sticky Rice Pop-Up A quintessential Thai treat is coming to Wallingford for a sunny window of time. Stop by this pop-up for a whole mango with lots of coconut milk and freshly made sticky rice in your choice of classic coconut, pandan, or Thai tea. 1714 N 44th St. (Wallingford)

59th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival While COVID has closed off many opportunities to enjoy live music the way we used to do, it's also opened up a ton of opportunities to enjoy experiences we likely would have never gotten around to seeing in ye olden times (of 2019). The Philadelphia Folk Festival (now in its 59th year) is a pretty big deal, but not a lot of Portlanders usually have it on their radar. But for 2020, now you can bring that fest to your TV with a couple clicks, and that means enjoying live music from Los Lobos, Allen Stone, Shakey Graves, Ben Gibbard, Rhiannon Giddens, Ivan Neville, and many, many more. It's not just live music, either: The Philadelphia Folksong Society is planning on adding campfire open mics, zoomable campsites, a craft show, and all the things that make going to a fest feel likegoingto a fest.

Best Coast - Streaming Show! Former Stranger music contributor Megan Seling once wrote, "People have called Best Coast 'chillwave,' but that term is as illusive as 'hipster,' soI like to think of the lo-fi band as 'beachcore.' Dont get that confused with Jimmy Buffett, thoughBest Coast are more magical than novelty. There arent any songs about margaritas (I dont think), but their relaxed, fluid pop is slightly distorted and fuzzy, like the sonic equivalent ofa lens flare glowing in the corner of all your vacation photos." On the 10th anniversary of their first album,Crazy For You, they've put together a mini-concert documentary and virtual birthday party with some surprise special guests, which will be available to watch for 72 hours after its premiere.

Saint Joan Despite George Bernard Shaw's trenchant atheism, his classic depiction of the Maid of Orleans stresses her strength, bravery, faith, and humanity in the face of political and religious oppression. The original date of this production, staged by Mathew Wright, was canceled due to COVID-19. This is a digital rendition.

Savage Love - On Demand If you missed the June 4 live virtual edition of Savage Love, the beloved sex advice column and podcast byThe Stranger's own Dan Savage, you can now watch it anytime you want on-demand.

Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation The Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation, presented by Velocity Dance Center, will move online this year, allowing you to register for the whole festival or mix and match to build your own schedule. Just like the past 26 festivals, this one will feature a week of intensive and drop-in workshops, including one with local dancers Morgan Thorson and Fox Whitney.

The Art of Protest Artists likeDre Gordon, Lynda Sherman, Kerstin Graudins, Andrea Marcos, Colleen Maloney, Kate Hoffman, Eileen Jimenez, and many others show work dealing withsocial, ethical, economic, environmental, racial, health, and political issues facing the world. Columbia City Gallery Opening Friday

Seattle Deconstructed Art Fair The Seattle Art Fair was canceled, but a bunch of local galleriesmany of which are in Pioneer Squareare taking it upon themselves to keep the tradition alive while abiding by social distancing guidelines with a DIY, self-guided version featuring exciting new pieces by artists like Anthony White.

Big Day of Play Seattle Parks and Recreation's Get Moving Initiative presents this online (and TV- and radio-broadcasted) event encouraging families to celebrate their neighborhood communities by tuning in to live performances from local artists (like R&B singer Josephine Howell), taking part in fitness activities, watching dance performances, and more.

Dog Days of Summer Witness the thespian talents of local cats and dogs (or just fawn over their cuteness) in this free virtual show.

Maynard House Historic Home Tour Join theSouthwest Seattle Historical Society for a virtual tour of the Maynard House, which has been around since before Seattle was even called Seattle.

Paws for a Cause: Virtual FUNdraising Pawty! All proceeds from this virtual fundraiserwhich includes bingo, a pet talent show, trivia, a remote scavenger hunt, and an auctionwill benefit theAmerican Cancer Society.

The Princess Bride Join your pals atDistant Worlds Coffeehouse for a virtual screening of the most quotable love story of all time, The Princess Bride, via Zoom. If you're so inclined, you can stop by and order an Inigo Montoya Mocha (righteously delicious hot or iced) and a treat to go (or via third-party delivery).

Pig & Pint with Stoup Brewing Rhein Haus is roasting a whole pig and serving it with tasty sides and pints of brews on draft from Stoup Brewing. Dine in at their bier hall or outdoor biergarten, or order ahead for pickup. Rhein Haus (Capitol Hill)

BritCon Cosplay Contest 2020 If your interests lie somewhere in between Anglophile and extraterrestrial, get yourself logged onto this virtual fundraiser for BritCon, Bellevue's geeky convention celebrating British sci-fi and fantasy media. Your cosplay could win you prizes, so long as at least 70% of your look is made by you.

HDLSC Presents: The Rock Show Wear your saddened heart and smeared eyeliner on your sleeve at this virtual High Dive concert withGreen Lake Basement, who will be churning out emo and pop-punk bangers galore.

NVCS Jai Ho! India Independence Day Bollywood Dance Party Jai Ho! stalwart DJ Prashant will lay down those high-energy Bollywood remixes at this virtual dance party celebrating India's Independence Day.

Black Lives Matter Book Club Muse overKhalil Muhammad'sThe Condemnation of Blackness in this virtual Black Lives Matter book club with Ada's Technical Books.

Robin LaFevers in conversation with Leigh Bardugo Escape intoRobin LaFevers's final installment of her His Fair Assassin series, which may contain just enough Frenchdrama and familial betrayal to make you forget about our current reality for a couple of hours. The author will join Third Place Books and fellow writerLeigh Bardugo for a discussion online.

August Spasm: The South Park Swap Meet! Support artists and small businesses in Seattle's South Park neighborhood at this in-person shopping event co-presented by the Punk Rock Flea Market. Be sure to wear a mask and keep your distance. Hand sanitizer will be available for all customers. Big Top Curiosity Shop (South Park)

Justice for Breonna Taylor and Vanessa Guillen Virtual 5k Participate in this virtual 5K to raise money for the GoFundMe pages of Breonna Taylor (whose murderers have still yet to be charged) and Vanessa Guillen (who was brutally murdered by a fellow soldier).

Semi-Virtual Evergreen Half Marathon and 5 Mile Run, jog, or walk, a half- or five-mile course in this "semi-virtual" race.You'll have two days to complete the race at your own pace (and while staying socially distant).

Bob's Corn Sunflower Experience Thirty-seven varieties of sunflowers are blooming and ready to be picked across the Snohomish farm's 12 acres. Pick a bouquet, grab something to eat, and shop from sunflower-themed crafts from local vendors in this year's social distancing-accommodated rig. Bob's Corn and Pumpkin Farm (Snohomish)

Seattle Tattoo Expo 2020 The Pacific Northwest is a legendary province for permanently decorated flesh, but it's not the only one. This two-day expo hosted by Hidden Hand Tattoo will return, virtually this time, featuring seminars and other online events with professional ink-givers from all over the world.

Seattle Design Festival Now in its 10th year, Design in Public's Seattle Design Festival will switch over their programming to the internet to continue to explore how urbanism, architecture, and design can further justice, ecology, and community. Look forward to livestreamed webinars and discussions, a weekly "Thinkercyze" virtual challenge, and even in-person displays throughout the city that you can visit while social distancing.

BrasilFest Virtual 2020 Get a glimmer of Brazil's African, Portuguese, and indigenous roots with virtual folk music performances, food demonstrations, and dance classes.

Eric Swalwell with Denny Heck - Endgame: Inside the Impeachment of Donald J. Trump California congressmanEric Swalwell will join Town Hall and fellow politician Denny Heck with insights from his new book, Endgame, which outlines how he and his colleaguesresisted, investigated, and impeached our unfortunately still-sitting president.

A Virtual Summer Social to Benefit The Washington State Governor's Mansion Foundation Get dolled up at home (or don't) and enjoy live music by Beethoven,Ravel, Debussy, and other famous composers performed bySteinway Artist Judith Cohen.

The Royal Room Staycation Fest with Beyond Captain Orca! "Beyond Captain Orca!have established themselves as a cosmic force in the Seattle underground-rock scene," wrote Dave Segal a couple years ago. See them live on the Royal Room's virtual stage.

Stern Grove Festival Enjoy live sets fromLos Lobos, Michael Franti, Ben Gibbard, Tarriona "Tank" Ball (from Tank & the Bangas), and other well-known music-makers at the 83rd season of San Francisco'sStern Grove Festival, taking place online for all to see.

Jacqueline B. Williams & Friends Historian and longtime Capitol Hill resident Jacqueline B. Williams will revisit her 2001 bookThe Hill with a Future: Seattles Capitol Hill 1900-1946. She'll be joined byNan Little and Capitol Hill Historical Society co-founders Rob Ketcherside and Tom Heuser.

Virtual Lecture: Ghost of the Northern ForestA Visual History of the Great Gray Owl What does a year in the life of the Nordic American Great Gray Owl look like? Author and photographer Paul Bannick will show you, based on his own research.

Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation's Virtual Furry 5K 2020 You and your real or imaginary dog can help raise money for the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation's Help the Animals fund at their annual Furry 5K fundraiser. It's virtual this year, which means you can stay socially distant and post about your route on social media.

Hempfest Online Event The Hempfest team will try out their new livestreaming platform and show you "a sample of [their] new web presence."

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The 49 Best Things to Do in Seattle This Weekend: August 14-16, 2020 - TheStranger.com

Amazon's Audible has unveiled an audiobook service that lets listeners jump to "the good parts."

Related: Audible's top 10 bestsellers of all time

America's favorite way of curling up with a book?In a driver's seat,of course.Inrush hour traffic.

Erma Bombeck, to start Monday with a smile. "The 7Habits of Highly Effective People," to stiffen your spine for the quarterly meeting. "Dune," for when you wish you were livingon a different planet.

Which might make you wonder howthe Newark-based company Audible not leastresponsible for this extraordinary change in our reading habits is faring, now thatCOVID has taken so many commuters off the road.

Not to worry. When the gods of innovation close a door, they open a window.

"The listening time wasstarting to go down, because road travel was so restricted, particularly topping out in April," said DonKatz of Montclair,thevisionary founder of Audible.

Don Katz, founder of Audible(Photo: Audible)

But of course, all those people notstuck in traffic arenowstuck at home. So aretheir kids. And there, waiting for them, is Audible available any time, thanks to Echo and Alexa.

"Parents in particular began to focus their kids on Audible listeningbecause no one was very happy with the idea of kids having school screen time, social screen time, and TV entertainment," Katz said. "Focusing on an audio experience became very powerful."

It's one more example of the strikingadaptability of Audible thecompany that, since 1995, has made audiobooks and other spoken-word content available on multiple platforms to people who didn't know they needed it. And now can't do without it.

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"I often say to people, if you want to understand Audible, think of the pleasures of being read to as a child," Katz said.

Did you love bedtime stories as a kid?

Well, how would you like it ifAnne Hathaway, Kate WinsletorSamuel L. Jackson read to you?

And if you like stories, how about nonfiction? Current events? Self-improvement? Get-ahead-in-business books? And if you like listening in cars, and while youjog, how about airplanes (Audible has kiosks in many major air hubs)?

"The Sandman," from Audible(Photo: Audible)

And if you like books, how about podcasts? Radio programs? Newspapers and magazines, read to you as you drive? Original content, like the new 11-hour audio version of Neil Gaiman's classic graphic novel "The Sandman," with Gaiman,Riz Ahmed,Bebe Neuwirth,Andy Serkis and many others? And if you like that, how about new works specially commissioned by Audible, featuring local authors, read by local actors?

"I was invited by Audible to write a play for their online platform," saidChisa Hutchinson, a Newark playwright whose "Proof of Love," performed by Maplewood's Brenda Pressley, dropped in July2019.

"Audible, I feel, is really doing the work, as far as trying to make its presence a benefit to the people who work here," Hutchinson said. "They're the real deal."

In this,as in so many other things, Audible is thinking innovatively and thinking big."Positively disruptive companies tend to come from new models," Katz said.

"Positive Disruption" is Katz's favoriteterm of business art.

It's his phraseforupending in a good way the status quo.Challenging received wisdom. Casting overboardthosesandbags called The Way Things Are Done.

It's what has enabled himto turn whatused to be a niche market recorded books, once confined to a few highbrow enthusiastsand educatorsfor the blind into a powerhouse corporation that was sold to Amazon, in 2008, for a reported $300 million (it's worth much more now, Katz says).

Audible is nowthe world's largest producer of downloadable audiobooks. It is also, along with Prudential, Mars Wrigley, PSE&G, and a few others, one of the anchor corporations that are investing in and betting on thenew Newark.

Audible's campus(Photo: Audible)

"It wasn't about saving the audiobook business," Katz said. "Basically I thought, when I started the company, there are 93 million Americans who drive to work alone. It's about time arbitrage. How do you make value of time?I focused on the 93 million people and the hundreds of millions of hours a week that was not consideredvaluable time."

Now, to many of us, the commute is our golden hour the moment when we can breathe a sigh of relief, crank the air conditioning, and get back to "Into Thin Air" (read for you by author Jon Krakauer) or "Pride and Prejudice" (read for you by Rosamund Pike).

"Pride and Prejudice," from Audible(Photo: Audible)

And Katz's vision embraces something larger than spoken words.Audible aims at nothing less than to remake with some help the city of Newark, its corporate home since 2007.

"Audible is the way we probably want most corporations to operate," saidAisha Glover, president andCEO of the Newark Alliance. "In collaboration with the community, and really thinking about their impact."

And beyond Newark? The rest of the world could also use some help. And not just with itsreading.

"I just thought, what if we actually took the concept of a business, and the capitalist system that underwrites it, and what if we could be an active catalyst for social change?" Katz said.

Katz the classic visionary businessman might almost strike you as a characterout of one of Audible's books(there are 550,000 titlesin 38 languages).

"Dodsworth," for instance the auto magnate in Sinclair Lewis' 1929 novel (read for you by Grover Gardner) who dreams of motorized summer camps to caravan kids across the U.S. Or Undershaft, the munitions tycoon in Bernard Shaw's 1905 play "Major Barbara" (read for you by Kate Burton, Roger Rees and others) who builds an entire model village for his workers.

Not to mentionthe real-life Utopians of Silicon Valley: Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and lots of other prophetic thinkers, also the subject of books available on Audible.

Don Katz(Photo: Audible)

"To have a companythat pursues meaning that can transcend what we do is kindof core to why I'm stillworking," Katz said.

He is, these days, executive chairman of the firm Bob Carrigan is the CEO but in terms of vision, Katz is still the one steering the ship. And Katz, who haslived in Montclair since 1989 with his wife Leslie Larson (they have three grown children), still delights in innovation. Apparently, it's in his DNA.

"I grew up with a very progressive entrepreneur father, who died when I was still in my formative years," Katz said (his fatherSidney M. Katz owned Kay Musical Instruments, an originator and leading maker of electric guitars). "I was only 19. There are a lot of studies that say that entrepreneurs have various characteristics. One of them is a level of fatherlessness."

Happily, Katz found a second father.And that's where the story of Audible really begins.

Ralph Ellison is one of the giants of American literature. His 1952 novel "Invisible Man" was a game-changer: one of the first widely-read books to put readers of all backgrounds into the shoes and the soul of an African-American narrator.

And he just happened to be teaching at New York University when Katz came there from his Chicago home, in 1970, to major in English. By 1972, Katz had become one of his special proteges."He was a part of my life in so many ways," Katz said.

Ralph Ellison(Photo: XXX PBS/PHOTOFEST)

From Ellison, Katz learned about thecultural debtAmerica owes to its Black writers, storytellers, musicians something he already had an inkling of from his Chicago years, and which stayed with him when, years later, he chose Audible's corporate headquarters (Newark is 49.7 percentAfrican American).

"Ralphwas a master student of American culture, and particularly how Black culture is deeply entwined in the best of who we are," Katz said.

The other thing he learned from Ellison was the primacy, in American literature, of the spoken word.

Americans, characteristically, write the way we talk."You don't know about me without you have reada book by the name of 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'; but that ain't no matter," is how Mark Twain begins "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Or this, from Ellison: "I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me."

"I knew the reason Stephen Crane and Mark Twain wrote like Americans, versus Henry James who is a contemporary,"Katz said."They listened to this rich polyglot storytelling culture that was very singular to the American experience."

Thetelling, and hearing, of stories is the very essence of Audible. Andit's asold as Homer. Older. For most of human history until the invention of the printing press human beings took their literature, like their medicine, orally.Ellison himself, who died in 1994,was a great storyteller. He had, Katz said, a voice that sounded "like a coal car coming out of a mine."

"He had this beautiful Oklahoma way of diction." Katz said, "Ralph is sort of the intellectual godfather of Audible."

To the study of literature, Katz added economics (at The University of Chicago and the London School of Economics). Alsopractical journalistic experience, asawriter for Rolling Stone and Esquire.

Don Katz's Rolling Stone press pass(Photo: Audible)

"Rolling Stone was not just the rock and roll magazine of my generation," Katz said. "Iwas part of a very disruptive journalistic institution."

With this equipment, he was ideally suited to write books that celebrated the rebels and trailblazers of corporate culture:"The Big Store: Inside the Crisis and Revolution at Sears" (1987), and"Just Do It: The Nike Spirit in the Corporate World" (1995). But it wasn't until 1995 that he himself became a large-scale disruptor.

"My wife called it a non-toxic midlife crisis," Katz said. "I was 43 years old whenI started it. The weird thing is, there is now a lot of evidence that over-40 entrepreneurshave a better batting record."

It was a simple thought he had, while jogging in Riverside Park in New York, listening to a cassette player. What if there was a better way to listen to books?One that incorporated the newest technology, rather thanclunky tapes?

The result a combination of his inspiration and some of the best technical know-how in Silicon Valley was the original Audible Mobile Player.

The Audible Mobile Player(Photo: Audible)

It wasa digital audio device, predating the iPod by more than four years,that could store up to two hours of proprietary content the equivalent of two cassettes, with no rewinding. It went on sale in 1997 for $99.

"We invented this player before the term MP3 players was even a thing," Katz said. "It was a very early-stage, relatively primitive device. The iPod was what broke out this category."

Now, 23 years later, Audible content is available on a broad range of platforms: Android and iOS smartphones, desktop computers, iPads, Amazon Fire tablets, smart speakers, on Kindle (some models)and elsewhere.

Having reinvented the reading experience, Audible went on to reinvent itself.

Beginning in a small doctor's office in Montclair, the company enlargedand migrated toa building across from Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, and thenfinally in 2007 to Newark. And not by accident.

"We went to a city that had decades of structural deprivation, Katz said. "I mean, Newark is the story of the fix being in, frankly, for Black peopleand immigrants in particular, going back to Reconstruction We came with about 120 people,and the first thing we did, we decided we could have our paid interns all be studentsfrom Newark."

Today, there are1,800 local employees working in their three downtownsites. Audible has madea $500 monthly housing subsidy available to those who move to Newark and thus choose to become an activepart of the city's rebirth. In 2015, Katz founded Newark Venture Partners, which is working to transform the city into a tech hub.

Audible's Innovation Cathedral(Photo: Audible)

In 2019 they opened their "Innovation Cathedral," an 80,000-square-foot headquarters retrofitted from the 97-year-old Second Presbyterian Church on James Street. Since April, Newark Working Kitchens, a project they spearheadedin collaboration with other Newark companies, has been taking the city's COVID crisis by the horns by funding 25 local restaurants, manyeconomically hurting,to make free meals for some 10,000 local residents who can't leave home.

"This is keeping the lights on, honestly," said Sean McGovern, third-generation co-owner of McGovern's Tavern on New Street. "If we weren't doing this, in terms of our bottom line, we'd be completely boarded up Audible is a tremendous corporate citizen."

Behind all thisisan invisible man.

The ghost of Ralph Ellison, who taught respect for the spoken word and for the unsung, underserved communities who brought itto life in America must be smiling. At any rate, Katz hasn't forgotten to leave offerings for his guiding spirit.

"Invisible Man," from Audible(Photo: Audible)

A conference room, dedicated to Ellison, can be found at Audible's One Washington headquarters.In 2016. Katz presented a "Jazz in the Key of Ellison" program at Newark's NJPAC. And of course, "Invisible Man" is available as an audiobook. Read for you by Joe Morton ("Brother from Another Planet") a Montclair neighbor.

"Joe Morton is a terrific actor and a friend," Katz said. "He's fantastic."

Jim Beckerman is an entertainment and culture reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access tohis insightfulreports about how you spend your leisure time,please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email:beckerman@northjersey.comTwitter:@jimbeckerman1

Read or Share this story: https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/columnists/jim-beckerman/2020/08/12/newark-nj-based-company-audible-reinvented-our-reading-experience-with-audiobooks/3301122001/

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Audible transformed how we read. Now, the NJ-based company is out to change the world - NorthJersey.com

A new week in Phase 2 means a mixed bag of events happening virtually, in-person (modified to accommodate physical distancing, of course), and, sometimes, a combination of both. We're here to guide you through our top picks in every genrefrom the world premiere of Thin Skin, a new film by The Stranger's Charles Mudede, to the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and from MoPOP's POP+ Punk series to a virtual Nectar concert with J GRGRY. In addition, check out our guides to supporting black-owned businesses and artists in Seattle, educating yourself through anti-racism resources, and donating to social justice causes. Find even more events on our complete streaming events calendar and our resistance & solidarity calendar, and check back on Friday for a roundup of the best local virtual events this weekend.

Reboot rePresents: ADs from Annex, Dacha, ReAct, MAP! Curious about what the future holds for local theaters that have been affected by COVID-19? Join host Harry Turpin for a virtual catch-up with artistic directorsDavid Hsieh (ReAct Theatre),Peggy Gannon (MAP Theatre),Madison Jade Jones (Annex Theatre and Dacha Theatre), andJasmine Joshua (Reboot).

Virtual Forum on Ranked-Choice Voting North Kitsap Indivisible and Indivisible Bainbridge Island will teach you about ranked-choice voting, a process in which, as you might have guessed, voters have the option to rank candidates in order of choice. Theorganizers will argue that this reform has the power to "[make] your vote more powerful, [make] campaigns more civil, and [ensure] that your vote isn't wasted."

The Stranger Presents: Collide-O-Scope The mind-melting video compilationextravaganza also known asCollide-O-Scope will streamobscure oddities from film, VHS, music videos, and other forms of media live on the internet.

Olmstead Trivia Night The Capitol Hill bar will host trivia in-person and over Zoom every Monday night henceforth. The winners get cash! Olmstead (Capitol Hill)

PLZ Rave From Home: 005 Local chiptune artist and EDM producer Graz will bring the rave to wherever you're currently social distancing via Twitch.

Susan Hough with Sandi Doughton Pasadena-basedresearch seismologist Susan Hough will join Elliott Bay with her new book,The Great Quake Debate: The Crusader, the Skeptic, and the Rise of Modern Seismology, in which she breaks down both sides of an early 20th-century debate between scientistsRobert T. Hill and Bailey Willis over whether or not Southern California is particularly prone to earthquakes. (Turns out it is.)

Camille Simone: U Don't Have to Love My Body, I Do Check out empowering work by local fashion designer Camille Simone on local clothing store Sassafras's Instagram. Closing Tuesday

Genocide Today: The Uyghurs in China Uyghurs, the Turkic Muslim minority in western China, have long been persecuted by the Chinese government to a degree that many classify as genocide, citing the use of artificial intelligence to incarcerate Uyghurs by the masses, sterilize women, harvest body organs, and more inhumane actions. Learn more about the crisis in this virtual Holocaust Center for Humanity talk withEllen J. Kennedy, the founder of World Without Genocide.

Virtual Tomodachi Gala The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington's annual gala will move online. Learn about the center'snew online offerings (including its Seattle Japanese Language School), see their newly installed elevator, and enjoy some live entertainment.

Nathaniel Rateliff An intimate livestreamed performance of Rateliff's solo LPAnd It's Still Alright, front-to-back, preceded by a one-on-one interview withRolling Stone's David Fricke. Proceeds benefit Ratecliff's Marigold Project, which "supports community and nonprofit organizations working on issues of economic and social justice."

David Litt David Litt, a former speechwriter for Obama and a former head writer for Funny or Die,will join the King County Democrats with insights from his new book, Democracy in One Book or Less, which touches on partyreform, strategies to ensure Democratic wins in 2020, and priorities for 2021.

Somaiya Daud with Arkady Martine Fans of Arabic poetry and fantasy worlds filled with princesses and rebel vengeance should tune in to this virtual chat with authorSomaiya Daud, who will read from her debut young adult novelMirage. She'll be joined by sci-fi author (and city planner)Arkady Martine.

Nude Kitchen Crystal Barbre and Madeline Owens teach this weekly virtual figure-drawing class for artists of all levels.

Thin Skin World Premiere Thin Skin, a new film directed by The Stranger's Charles Mudede (Police Beat, Zoo) and co-written by Lindy West and Ahamefule J. Oluo, stars Oluo as a man weighed down by divorce, family drama, and the bureaucracy of his corporate job, who finds solace after hours as a trumpeter in Seattle's jazz clubs. The film will have its world premiere at the Bentonville Film Festival, with a cast and crew Q&A the following day.

POP+ Punk MoPOP's fandom takeover series explores different pop culture moments and themes through a plethora of online experiences. This time they're roughing things up with the music, fashion, activism, and culture of punk scenes throughout history.This week kicks off with a panel discussion on Tuesday and an Instagram Live takeover with Rain City Rock Camp on Thursday.

The Daily Show Writers Standup tour A special livestreamed evening at the Nowhere Comedy Club, starring the comics behind the jokes that make you laugh nightly onThe Daily Show. Featuring Kat Radley, Randall Otis, Devin Delliquanti, and Joseph Opio.

Virtual Silent Reading Party with Special Guest Kary Wayson Thefirst worldwide silent-reading partywas such a huge success that we're making it weekly. Every Wednesday at 6 pm we're going to throw these parties, at least until stay-at-home is over.Attendees at the first Zoom silent-reading party included famous actors, writers, composers, artists, families, teenagers doing their homework, people staring into space listening to the music because it was just so beautiful, cats, and even one household on Orcas Island that was eating dinner and decided to broadcast the reading party as their background music. (What a brilliant idea!)It wasn't just a great party to be at. Behind the scenes, this was a roaring success as well.The Strangerbrought in revenue from the reading party for the first time ever, our musicianPaul Matthew Mooremadeten timesmore on Venmo tips than he's ever made in the tip jar at the Sorrento (thank you for your generosityhedeservesit!), and hundreds of people at the party have written us emails, clamoring for more. CHRISTOPHER FRIZZELLE

Seinfeld Trivia Test your knowledge of Seinfeld, the beloved TV show about nothing, at this trivia night.

Lunchtime Tunes with Market Busker Charlie Beck For a mid-week treat on your lunch break, tune into Facebook Live to hear Pike Place buskers doing their thing.

David Sheff: The Buddhist on Death Row David Sheff recounts the story of Jarvis Jay Mastersa man who, before he was sentenced to death in 1990, had transformed his life and became dedicated to helping others while in prisonin his new book, The Buddhist on Death Row. He'll join Town Hall for a virtual talk.

59th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival While COVID has closed off many opportunities to enjoy live music the way we used to do, it's also opened up a ton of opportunities to enjoy experiences we likely would have never gotten around to seeing in ye olden times (of 2019). The Philadelphia Folk Festival (now in its 59th year) is a pretty big deal, but not a lot of Portlanders usually have it on their radar. But for 2020, now you can bring that fest to your TV with a couple clicks, and that means enjoying live music from Los Lobos, Allen Stone, Shakey Graves, Ben Gibbard, Rhiannon Giddens, Ivan Neville, and many, many more. It's not just live music, either: The Philadelphia Folksong Society is planning on adding campfire open mics, zoomable campsites, a craft show, and all the things that make going to a fest feel likegoingto a fest.

Virtual Tour of Meeker Mansion Check out the nooks and crannies of the historic Southend mansion without leaving your house. This virtual event with Pretty Gritty Tours is free.

Organic Mango & Sticky Rice Pop-Up A quintessential Thai treat is coming to Wallingford for a sunny window of time. Stop by this pop-up for a whole mango with lots of coconut milk and freshly made sticky rice in your choice of classic coconut, pandan, or Thai tea. 1714 N 44th St. (Wallingford)

Virtual Sky Tour with Pierce College Science Dome Take a virtual tour of the night sky viareal-time telescope observations captured with the Slooh telescope network.

HDLSC Presents: neither Bears nor Forest Enjoy a live set from local pop/R&B sextet Neither Bears Nor Forest, which features members fromSky Cries Mary, the Long Winters, and Voyager One.Donations will benefit King County Equity Now.

Lucinda Williams There are very few American singer/songwriters whove been able to transcend the purgatory of genre and cross over into national treasure territory. While debating nominees, one should consider Lucinda Williams, who has written a ubiquitous Grammy jam (Mary Chapin Carpenters Passionate Kisses), a universally acclaimed Americana masterpiece (Car Wheels on a Gravel Road), and produced a fruitful catalog that includes collaborations with legends like Ramblin Jack Elliott and Elvis Costello. Like a twangier Chrissie Hynde wearing well-worn cowboy boots, lost in the Laurel Canyon wilderness, Williams expertly glides between steely grit and tender grandeur, shedding tough layers to expose vulnerable heartstrings and then wrapping them back up with swathes of faded denim.

Music Gives: Together For St. Jude SupportSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital and be treated to an evening of live music from the likes ofTim McGraw and Brad Paisley, with "culinary content" from well-known chefs thrown into the mix.

NVCS presents: J GRGRY Have you seen that movie Velvet Goldmine? With Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a David Bowie stand-in, Ewan McGregor doing his best Iggy Pop impersonation, and a youngish Christian Bale trying to keep up with the punk/glitter rock of it all? Okay, well imagine if that film somehow birthed a band. I think J GRGRY would be it. In early performances, members of the LA-based outfit would wiggle around to their electro-pop dance music, covered in body paint reminiscent of that low-key fictionalized Bowie flick. JASMYNE KEIMIG

Raise The Cakes! Online Concert Fundraiser Local food truck My Sweet lil Cakeshad their tangerine-colored trailer stolen, and we'd all like to see them back on the curb selling hotcakes as soon as possible. Tune in to this livestreamed Retro Earth Studio fundraising concert, where you can help cover the losses by donating to their GoFundMe.

Speakeasy! Former Stranger staffer Callan Berry, the creator ofPolice Reports Illustrated and a person who is good at making cocktails, will teach you how to mix up a boozy concoction and draw a little comic every other Thursday. He'll also answer your most pressing questions.

XALT: Digital Premiere + Dance and Tell Watch all-new dance films from Whim W'Him's XALT program, featuringphysically distant choreography by Penny Saunders and Olivier Wevers. In addition to sharing interviews and clips about the making of the dances, the hosts will also introduce the new IN-with-WHIM streaming service, where you'll be able to watch the program even if you miss the premiere.

Candace Robb: A Choir of Crows Just as a newarchbishop is about to take the throne in 14-century York, two bodies are found on the grounds of York Minster, and the captain of the city bailiffs is called to investigate. Hear more fromCandace Robb's new mystery in this livestreamed conversation with fellow authorsMichelle Urberg and Marian Seibert.

Virtual Book Talk: Deep River w/ Karl Marlantes Described in press materials as "a stunningly expansive narrative of human suffering, courage, and reinvention," Karl Marlantes will join the National Nordic Museum for a reading of his new novelDeep River. The event is part of Nordic Sl.

Welcome to El: An Intimate Night of Comedy with El Sanchez Beloved local comedian El Sanchez recorded an intimate, hilarious show at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center just before the quarantine took effect. For those who missed it, the show is now on demand!

Pike-Pine Summer United Get 10% off your bill at local bars and eateries like Amandine Bakeshop, A Pizza Mart, Bateau, and tons of other places on Capitol Hill moving into Phase 2 of reopening by mentioning The Stranger's Pike-Pine promotion. Various locations (Capitol Hill)

Doe Bay Fest Local artists have been invited to post up in the Orcas Island-adjacent Doe Bay resort (which is currently operating at 50% capacity) to bring live music to the people throughout the summer. Catch sets in-person from performers like local favorites Kate Olson and Evan Flory-Barnes this week. Doe Bay Resort (Olga)

Saint Joan Despite George Bernard Shaw's trenchant atheism, his classic depiction of the Maid of Orleans stresses her strength, bravery, faith, and humanity in the face of political and religious oppression. The original date of this production, staged by Mathew Wright, was canceled due to COVID-19. This is a digital rendition.

Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation The Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation, presented by Velocity Dance Center, will move online this year, allowing you to register for the whole festival or mix and match to build your own schedule. Just like the past 26 festivals, this one will feature a week of intensive and drop-in workshops, including one with local dancers Morgan Thorson and Fox Whitney.

Seattle Deconstructed Art Fair The Seattle Art Fair was canceled, but a bunch of local galleriesmany of which are in Pioneer Squareare taking it upon themselves to keep the tradition alive while abiding by social distancing guidelines with a DIY, self-guided version featuring exciting new pieces by artists like Anthony White. Various locations

See the rest here:
The 39 Best Things to Do in Seattle This Week: August 10-13, 2020 - TheStranger.com

By IANS

NEW DELHI: Actress Priyanka Copra executive-produces Evil Eye, which is one out of eight spinechilling and interlinked films that constitute the upcoming original OTT series, Welcome To The Blumhouse.

The eight films will have a common theme centred on family and love as redemptive or destructive forces.

The first two films -- Veena Sud's "The Lie" and Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr.'s "Black Box" -- will drop on October 6. These will be followed by Priyanka's "Evil Eye", and "Nocturne", written and directed by filmmaker Zu Quirke, on October 13.

The rest of the slate will be unveiled in 2021.

Based on playwright Madhuri Shekar's award-winning production, "Evil Eye" is directed by Elan Dassani and Rajeev Dassani, and stars Sarita Choudhury, Sunita Mani, Omar Maskati, and Bernard White. It shows how a seemingly perfect romance turns into a nightmare when a mother becomes convinced that her daughter's new boyfriend has a dark connection to her own past.

"The Lie", written and directed by Sud, stars Mireille Enos, Peter Sarsgaard and Joey King. It is about two desperate parents trying to cover up a horrific crime by their daughter, which leads them into a complicated web of lies and deception.

"Black Box" stars Mamoudou Athie, Phylicia Rashad and Amanda Christine. It is about a single father, who, after losing his wife and his memory in a car accident, undergoes an experimental treatment that causes him to question who he really is.

"Nocturne" is written and directed by Zu Quirke. Starring Sydney Sweeney, Madison Iseman, Jacques Colimon and Ivan Shaw, the film takes one inside the halls of an elite arts academy, where a timid music student begins to outshine her more accomplished and outgoing twin sister when she discovers a mysterious notebook belonging to a recently deceased classmate.

To be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, the thematically connected original series is produced by Jason Blum's Blumhouse Television and Amazon Studios.

"We are excited to launch 'Welcome To The Blumhouse' with this exhilarating and provocative slate of original films for the first time ever. These chilling stories have something for everyone -- ready to fright and delight genre fans and newcomers alike," said Julie Rapaport of Amazon Studios.

Read the original here:
Priyanka Chopra's 'Evil Eye' headed to OTT platform - The New Indian Express