Congratulations to Nicholas and Kim from America & Vietnam!

Love knows no borders, has no nationalities, and doesn’t need a visa. Nicholas and Kim can certainly attest to this. He writes: “Kim and I first met each other on Zoosk in October 2017. She was from Vietnam and had traveled to the US for a business trip. We met in person and connected instantly! It felt

The post Congratulations to Nicholas and Kim from America & Vietnam! appeared first on Zoosk.

about.zoosk.com/en/blog/success-stories/congratulations-nicholas-kim-america-vietnam/

In ‘Three Tall Women’ and ‘Yerma,’ Stunning Portraits of Women on the Verge: REVIEW

Two of the best productions in New York right now are knocking the wind out of audiences with vivid and bracing insights into the female psyche.

Edward Albee’s 1994 Pulitzer winner Three Tall Women, which opened last night in its Broadway premiere, receives a magnificent revival from director Joe Mantello, featuring master class performances from screen legend Glenda Jackson, the incomparable Laurie Metcalf, and Alison Pill, as one woman looking back on life from her deathbed. Across town at Park Avenue Armory, London’s Young Vic production of Yerma, a modern adaptation after Federico García Lorca, introduces American audiences to a virtuosic Billie Piper, as a woman gradually consumed by her struggle to conceive.

We meet Albee’s three women in a tastefully lavish pre-war bedroom (designed by Miriam Buether) belonging to the eldest among them, as formidable as she is fragile at just north of 90, brilliantly played by Jackson. With the matter-of-fact wit and grit that is Metcalf’s signature, in the play’s first part she plays the woman’s nurse and de facto sole companion. Pill is a young lawyer who’s come to look in on the old woman’s unpaid bills, clearly an outsider to the pat routine between caregiver and charge.

The play’s pivot point, which Mantello finesses with a visual flourish, finds all three playing the elderly character (said to be modeled on Albee’s adoptive mother) at different stages of her life, reflecting on her path and the choices she’s made.

As a firebrand facing death, somewhat helplessly in the first part and with great circumspection in the second, Jackson delivers an intricate, razor-sharp performance that already feels like theatrical legend. Metcalf is in top form in both roles, punching every syllable with vigorous interior life. Nearly as headstrong but far more naive, Pill’s younger characters are most often on the receiving end of hard-won wisdom, as the actress holds her own against two towering greats. The synergy among all three is a marvel, lifting Albee’s meditation on the mortality to soaring heights.

The beginnings of life are the focus of writer-director Simon Stone’s arresting and sensory-pounding Yerma, a deft modern update of Lorca’s 1934 poetic drama. Billie Piper plays a successful London journalist (called simply ‘Her’ in the script) who’s just moved into a new house with her not-quite-husband John (Brendan Cowell). (“Follow the lesbians,” John says of gentrification.) She’s just north of 30, and as they lie sprawled on their new floor swigging Veuve Clicquot, broaches the subject of kids for the first time. John makes a gallant show of stomping on her birth control pills as they agree to start trying.

Stone’s production is set between panes of glass in what essentially looks like a terrarium meant for humans (scenic design is by Lizzie Clachan). Seated on either side, audiences observe from a sort of scientific remove — but the action behind the divide feels startlingly real. As days, months, and years pass in blackouts between scenes, her determination only grows more intense as her prospects of becoming pregnant grow increasingly remote. Meanwhile, her sister Mary’s (Charlotte Randle) ambivalence toward parenthood only seems to make Mary more fertile, and their mother Helen (Maureen Beattie) is the furthest from maternal among them.

Tracing a spiral that turns on hopes and anguish faced by countless women, Piper’s performance is a tour-de-force from blithe start to bitter end. The entire cast, like Stone’s visually surprising production, is fine-tuned to optimize the story’s jolting emotional impact, by drawing us in so close we could press our noses against the glass.   

The spring arrival of these two visceral, thought-provoking productions focused squarely on the experiences of women feels like the season’s first gusts of fresh air.

Recent theatre features…
Chris Evans and Michael Cera Are Men in Uniform in Kenneth Lonergan’s Superb ‘Lobby Hero’: REVIEW
Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane Star in Electrifying ‘Angels in America’: REVIEW
A Slushy ‘Frozen’ Opens on Broadway: REVIEW
Jimmy Buffett Serves up ‘Margaritaville’ on Broadway, Tequila Goggles Sold Separately: REVIEW
Liberal Guilt Gets an All-White Canvas in Joshua Harmon’s ‘Admissions’: REVIEW
An Outdated Rerun in Off-Broadway Bow of ‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’: REVIEW
‘Cruel Intentions: The Musical’ Is a Wicked Delight for ‘90s Lovers: REVIEW
How to Save Civilization from Certain Disaster? Take a Cue from ‘SpongeBob’ on Broadway (Yes, Seriously): REVIEW

Follow Naveen Kumar on Twitter: @Mr_NaveenKumar
(photos: stephanie berger, brigitte lacombe)

The post In ‘Three Tall Women’ and ‘Yerma,’ Stunning Portraits of Women on the Verge: REVIEW appeared first on Towleroad.

In ‘Three Tall Women’ and ‘Yerma,’ Stunning Portraits of Women on the Verge: REVIEW

Troubling Reports Surround Family of 8’s Fatal Plunge Off California Cliff

Jennifer Jean Hart and Sarah Margaret Hart, both 38, and their children Markis, 19, Abigail, 14, and Jeremiah, 14, of Woodland, Washington were killed when their SUV plunged 100 feet off a California cliff on Monday.

Three other children, Hannah, 16, Sierra, 12, and 15-year-old Devonte, who was the subject of a viral photo last year which showed him embracing a Portland police officer, are still missing and presumed dead.

The Oregonian reports:

The crash occurred days after authorities in Washington tried to visit the family home multiple times after receiving reports of abuse and neglect concerning the children.

At a news conference Wednesday, Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman said officials have “every indication to believe” all six children were in the vehicle when it went off the cliff.

“We have no evidence and no reason to believe this was an intentional act,” Allman said. He also said there are no skid marks or brake marks indicating why the vehicle went off the cliff. He said an investigation is ongoing.

The sheriff appealed for the public’s help in retracing where the family had been in recent days.

Dana and Bruce Dekalb, who were neighbors of the Harts, reported the family to Child Protective Services, they said, because some of the children, including Devonte, had come to them asking for food and telling them they didn’t want to go home.

KGW adds:

Clark County sheriff’s deputies returned to visit the home Tuesday, after they received a request from California authorities to check on the home. They told California authorities it appeared the family left on a temporary trip. No one was there, but animals and family belongings were still at the home.

One of the mothers pleaded guilty to charges of domestic assault in 2011, after police in Minnesota said Sarah Hart hit one of her daughters.

A teacher initially called police after seeing bruises on the 6-year-old girl’s stomach and back. According to court documents, the girl later told a detective and social worker that her mother hit her, leaving bruises.

Detectives followed up with Sarah and Jennifer Hart. According to the criminal complaint, Sarah admitted to a detective they had recently started spanking one of her daughters to deal with her behavior. She said she brought her daughter into a bathroom, bent her over a tub and hit the girl.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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Troubling Reports Surround Family of 8’s Fatal Plunge Off California Cliff

Trump Tweets Fresh Attack on Amazon

Donald Trump attacked Amazon on Twitter Thursday morning. A report on Axios on Wednesday that he was obsessed with taking down the company sent the stock plunging more than 4 percent on Wednesday.

Tweeted Trump: “I have stated my concerns with Amazon long before the Election. Unlike others, they pay little or no taxes to state & local governments, use our Postal System as their Delivery Boy (causing tremendous loss to the U.S.), and are putting many thousands of retailers out of business!”

I have stated my concerns with Amazon long before the Election. Unlike others, they pay little or no taxes to state & local governments, use our Postal System as their Delivery Boy (causing tremendous loss to the U.S.), and are putting many thousands of retailers out of business!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2018

The post Trump Tweets Fresh Attack on Amazon appeared first on Towleroad.

Trump Tweets Fresh Attack on Amazon

Trans Visibility Means Letting Them Play Sports

Professional and college athletics make it so difficult for openly transgender people to participate that most don’t even try, writes Brit Fryer.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2018/3/29/trans-visibility-means-letting-them-play-sports

California Lawmaker Admits Using Slur for Gay Colleague

Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, already accused of sexual harassment, is facing more fire now.

www.advocate.com/politicians/2018/3/28/california-lawmaker-admits-using-slur-gay-colleague

The Voice’s Molly Stevens Apologizes for Calling Kelly Clarkson ‘Small-Minded’

Stevens took umbrage at Clarkson favorably comparing her to lesbian singers Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls while also omitting a comparison to Patty Griffin.

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2018/3/28/voices-molly-stevens-apologizes-calling-kelly-clarkson-small-minded

Six Ways to Make Passover More Inclusive

On Friday night, Jews around the world will sit down to celebrate the start of Passover, a weeklong holiday commemorating the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, as recounted in the Bible in the book of Exodus.

Passover is marked in a variety of ways in the Jewish community, including with a seder. A seder, which means “order” in Hebrew, is a ritual feast that proceeds in a specific order and  includes eating certain foods, reading, sharing stories and singing.

Here are a six easy ways to make your seder more inclusive.

Introduce Yourselves Using Pronouns – At the start of the seder, ask guests to introduce themselves with their names and preferred pronouns. You can also add the pronouns to name tags or place cards if you are using them.

Add an Orange to the Seder Plate – At the center of every Passover seder is a seder plate, on which is displayed several symbolic items representing the Exodus. Adding an orange to your seder plate is a tradition that began to recognize the important of LGBTQ inclusion in the Jewish community, and has expanded to symbolize the importance of embracing and including other marginalized groups in our community — including people of color and women.

Add Miriam’s Cup to the Table – Every seder includes Elijah’s Cup, an untouched cup of wine left for the prophet. Consider adding a cup of wine for Miriam to your table as well to symbolize the role women play not only in the past, but the role they continue to play in the present.

Use Inclusive Language – Many haggadot (the plural of haggadah — the book that is used to conduct the seder) use gendered language, including referring to our “forefathers” or to God as a “He”. When you read these passages, use language that is inclusive of everyone being discussed. For example, use “ancestors” instead of “forefathers,” or when we tell the story of four sons who ask four questions, use inclusive terms like “children” or “youth”  instead of “sons” to make sure all genders and identities can ask the questions.

Welcome Everyone – At the beginning of the seder, many haggadot include an Aramaic prayer – Ha Lachma Anya – that includes the line “kol dichfin yetei v’yechol,” or “everyone who is hungry is welcome to come and eat.”  Ask the seder participants who they’d like to ensure is included in the prayer – for example, people living with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ people, people who have been incarcerated and others.

Be Thankful– Anyone who’s been to a seder loves the song Dayenu! It’s fun and upbeat and also signals that it’s almost time to eat. It’s also a list of things we have to be thankful for. Ask your seder participants what modern freedoms they are thankful for.

Holidays can be a difficult time for those who are not fully out or comfortable sharing their truth with their community. Coming Home to Judaism and To Self is a guide to help LGBTQ Jews who are seeking to reconnect with their faith and build more inclusive communities. The guide reflects a wide spectrum of personal experiences and the variety of Jewish responses to welcoming LGBTQ families and friends in their communities.The guide also offers strategies for the LGBTQ faithful seeking enriching and meaningful lives in the Jewish faith.

To learn more about creating an LGBTQ-inclusive seder, visit Keshet’s website.

Visit HRC’s Faith Positions to learn about the record and positions of all branches of Judaism on LGBTQ equality.

www.hrc.org/blog/six-ways-to-make-passover-more-inclusive?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

GLAAD and country star Ty Herndon set to bring 3rd Concert for Love & Acceptance to Nashville this June in partnership with CMT

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-and-country-star-ty-herndon-set-bring-3rd-concert-love-acceptance-nashville-june

Get more out of Skype Interviews with the new shared whiteboard

One of the unique features of Skype Interviews is the real-time code editor, which allows the interviewer to assess a candidate’s ability to code without the use of any third-party applications—dramatically improving their shared coding experience. As a direct result of your feedback, we’ve added a digital whiteboard that allows the interviewer and candidate to illustrate diagrams, visualize problems, and showcase scenarios.

Now when you launch Skype Interviews, the whiteboard icon will light up in the sidebar. Simply click it to display the wide range of editor tools that are available. The whiteboard displays the cursor movements of both participants, allowing you to follow each other’s train of thought much better.

Whiteboard editor tools

The digital whiteboard offers a wide range of tools you can use to sketch out complex scenarios, showcase flows, and save the final whiteboard so you can access it again. Here are just a few tools you will see when you launch the whiteboard:

Pencil tool—Use the pencil to sketch out a more complex scenario or setting. You can change the stroke width and color using the property configuration buttons in the center of the tool bar.

Shape tools—If you want to illustrate a diagram to showcase a flow in a scenario, then we’ve got you covered with our rectangle, circle, and line tools. Make sure to also label the objects using our text tool, which will allow you to freely write any text in a given area.

Archive whiteboard—At the end of the interview session, you can save a copy of the whiteboard and archive it for future reference. The saved SVG file can be opened on both Window and Mac computers.

The real-time digital whiteboard makes interviews overall a more collaborative experience—one where the participants will able to visualize their thoughts and ideas, and read back key takeaways after the fact. Our goal to make Skype Interviews the universally accepted tool for all video call interviews—regardless of distance, technical, or non-technical—pushed us to innovate further. Since Skype Interviews is still in preview, it’s critical we continue to hear from you. Your input will help shape the future of this feature. To provide feedback, go to Skype.com/interviews and click Send feedback.

Start your interview today with Skype Interviews!

The post Get more out of Skype Interviews with the new shared whiteboard appeared first on Skype Blogs.

blogs.skype.com/news/2018/03/28/get-more-out-of-skype-interviews-with-the-new-shared-whiteboard/