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Fatuma Adar is thrilled to be offering a Black Out night for Shes Not Special, her upcoming show with music opening next week for a five-night run at the Tarragon Mainspace Theatre.

In fact, shes so excited about the special May 26 performance aimed at Black audiences that shes recording that night for comedy album posterity.

Its especially important after a similar Black Out night last winter during the National Arts Centres run of Aleshea Harriss acclaimed play Is God Is resulted in controversy.

When conservative voices like Jonathan Kay and Jordan Peterson criticized the single night as exclusionary and racially segregated (even though the idea of Black Out nights originated in 2019 at Jeremy O. Harriss acclaimed Broadway production Slave Play), right-wing American media picked up the story a reaction that made Adar, the writer/composer of last years Dora Award-winning musical Dixon Road, roll her eyes.

First of all, these people (who criticized Black Out nights) dont go to the theatre, said Adar. The times when Ive felt most segregated have been when Im at a show and nobody looks like me. Black Out nights are a great time to not think about being policed or watched.

I didnt have a lot of access to theatre growing up, she continued. I was taken to movie theatres and felt comfortable there. But I didnt know about theatre. There are so many questions around it. Am I supposed to be here? Do I need to mind my Ps and Qs? Were developing more diverse work onstage, but there hasnt been as much focus on developing diversity in the audience. And I think Black Out nights help with that. Theyre a celebration.

Adar, who released a film version of Shes Not Special directed by Graham Isador at 2022s Next Stage Festival, after the Omicron COVID-19 wave prevented a live version, wants people of all backgrounds to have fun and let loose at the new version of the show.

The energy around identity shows can sometimes be a little sombre, she admitted. This is just going to be a fun time. We have a live band, which will let me live out my rock star fantasies. Roya (DelSol, the director of photography on the digital version) has created more videos and projections. I want people to relax those tense shoulders they often have at plays as if theyre going to a comedy club or a concert.

Click to expand

While full of hilarious satire, Shes Not Special also deals with some serious hot-button subjects, like the pressure put on Black artists to represent their entire race in one show. And the temptation, guided by well-meaning white liberal artistic directors, to exploit any trauma in their background for dramatic dividends.

Adar, who jokes that as a Black Muslim woman shes a triple threat, is encouraged by the kind of diversity shes seeing onstage these days.

Within a few months, weve had three options of Black operas to see, she said. And in terms of Black plays, you are now able to say, This is more comedically my style or That serious play is more my taste. You have this wide variety of options rather than this one play having to speak to everyone. Audiences are getting to know the difference between, say, a Kanika Ambrose play (like our place) or something director Weyni Mengesha is working on. Im excited about the specificity of voices.

Another sacred cow she goes after in Shes Not Special is the arts granting system, in which artists are encouraged to check off certain boxes. As a producer, she argues theres an inherent flaw in that.

I think (granting agencies) are assuming if they dont have specific boxes checked they wont have any works representing certain voices, she said. But I dont think thats true. Its like with acting awards. If you have people of all genders included, many assume just white men will get nominated even if theyre not making the best work. I think all this has more to do with the assumptions of the cultural gatekeepers.

Having impressed cultural titans like Bo Burnham and her childhood idol Fefe Dobson the latter contributed a message for Shes Not Special Adar is getting more comfortable with positive critical attention, despite her history of impostor syndrome.

One thing she loves about working in live theatre, and more recently TV, is the fact that its collaborative, a big bonus after developing so many works in isolation during the pandemic.

With Dixon Road I remember thinking, Sure I can be self-critical and feel like I dont deserve something, but ultimately that kind of negative self-talk diminishes the efforts of all these other people doing so much work around me.

Correction May 18, 2023: This article was updated to correct that Shes Not Special will have a five-night run at Tarragons Mainspace Theatre, not Extraspace.

Read more from the original source:
Yes, Fatuma Adar is having a Black Out night at Shes Not Special but she wants everyone to have fun at her show - Toronto Star

This will be the final week on the road recruiting for most of the Kansas coaches. They will use the next seven to 10 days to start winding down and get ready for the camp season.

But before that happens, they will have an important visitor on campus.

Jonathan Kamara, one of the top prospects in Arizona, confirmed to Jayhawk Slant he will take an unofficial visit this weekend.

I'm just looking forward to seeing everybody, Kamara said. I've talked to a majority of the staff and people in the recruiting department office. Im ready to match names to face and just see and greet everyone.

Kansas cornerbacks coach Jordan Peterson started recruiting the Phoenix area last year and quickly built relationships. Desert Edge High School has been one of the main schools he targeted when he landed in Phoenix last May.

Peterson is recruiting the area this week and will visit the school again.

It has been really fun getting to know him, Kamara said. He's a happy person and his energy is unmatched. Every time he seems excited and it's amazing.

Kamara picked up an offer from Kansas in February. He said Peterson told him they like his physicality for his size and how well he moves.

He plans to take his unofficial visit this weekend with his uncle.

At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, he was an All-Metro selection last year and is receiving a lot of interest from college coaches. Two of his recent offers came from Texas and Iowa State.

It was crazy getting the offer from Texas because knowing the history behind the program and just how historic everything with the program is, he said.

Kamara is expected to visit Kansas twice in the next two months. He has an official visit scheduled with KU at the end of June when he will visit with two of his teammates Aundre Gibson and Deshawn Warner.

Gibson, a cornerback, committed to the Jayhawks in the spring.

He just said he loved it up there and it's different up there, Kamara said of Gibson. He said the excitement about us (Desert Edge players) is crazy and they think they have something good going on with us and that we can go be great up there."

There has been a lot of attention from Big 12 schools and Kansas State is another school who offered. Kamara said a lot of coaches are reaching out and more attention could come this week.

This week I could get more offers because they have a showcase and a lot of schools are coming out to see me, he said.

See the original post:
Jonathan Kamara ready for Kansas visit this weekend - Rivals.com - Kansas

The premier Bitcoin event of 2023, Miamis annual conference, is struggling to attract attendees, possibly due to high ticket prices and decreased excitement in the crypto industry.

Bitcoin2023, the premier event of its kind, is currently taking place in Miami. However, the worlds largest Bitcoin conference is having trouble getting attendees through the door.

According to its website, the conference is expecting only 15,000 in-person attendees as the conference kicks off today. Thats down from 26,000 last year.

Photos from the event also look sparsely attended. And Twitter commentators have bluntly acknowledged disappointing turnout. One of them, Bitminer Factory, wrote in a Tweet on Thursday morning: The lower attendance at #Bitcoin2023 compared to last year reflects the impact of the crypto winter. However, its important to note that true believers are still here.

Does the crypto winter really deserve a lions share of blame for the less-than-stellar numbers? Perhaps that is a simplification.

The crypto industry is well-known for being awash with money, even in bad times. But now, the cost of tickets may be putting people off. The price for a general admission ticket is set at $999, while an Industry Pass that grants exclusive access to the Official Networking App is available for $2,299.

While the price range is not vastly different from other events in the industry, potential attendees are likely feeling less flush than they did in the spring of 2022.A factor that organizers might have taken into consideration.

Excitement about crypto is likely down from last year, too.

The price of Bitcoin is only around $1,000 less than it was a year ago. Although, last June, the markets were still recovering from a seismic crash caused by the collapse of Terra/Luna. The original cryptocurrency had reached its all-time high only the previous November.

This years Bitcoin2023 shows no signs of the star power of Serena Williams or world-famous psychologist Jordan Peterson. Instead, attendees can enjoy an obscure member of the Kennedy dynasty, also-ran presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, and outlandish conspiracy theorist Eric Weinstein.

The good news: Michael Lewis, the renowned business author who had direct personal exposure to the collapse of FTX, will also be in attendance.

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Excerpt from:
Nobody Is Attending the World's Largest Bitcoin Conference - BeInCrypto

Modified May 14, 2023 23:45 IST

Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines has disclosed that Lia Thomas' female teammates were asked to adjust to trans athlete's presence or seek counseling to help them with it.

Thomas is the transgender swimmer who won a women's NCAA Division I championship in 2022, despite never competing against women until the 2021-22 season.

Gaines tied Thomas for fifth place in the womens 200-meter freestyle final at the 2022 NCAA swimming and diving championships. She has since been Gaines outspoken about preserving womens sports for 'biological' females.

In an interview with Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, Gaines disclosed that her teammates were not allowed to take a stance against Thomas' presence on the team, with the college administration even recommending counseling for anyone uncomfortable with the situation.

Gaines also stated that everyone on the team was 'emotionally blackmailed' into adjusting to Thomas' presence, and they were even warned with dire consequences if they didn't toe the line.

Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines is suing NCAA Division 1 championship and transwoman Lia Thomas.

Gaines, who has always been outspoken in her views, claimed that she was assaulted when she visited the San Francisco State University to speak about her views opposing the inclusion of transgender athletes in womens sports.

After Thomas was honored for Women's History Month, Gaines took exception to it and stated that the trans athlete was "an arrogant cheat" who stole the NCAA title from "a hardworking deserving woman."

Lia Thomas responded to her statements by calling the 23-year-old a 'pampered child', and even mocked her in a TikTok video. Following this, Gaines, through her lawyers, filed a $2 million lawsuit against Thomas citing her suffering from the 'fraud'. In a statement, she said:

Originally posted here:
Riley Gaines reveals Lia Thomas' female teammates were asked to seek counseling if they were 'uncomfortable seeing male genitalia' - Sportskeeda

Noom

Instructions: Pay seventy dollars a month to count calories in an app and receive daily reminders that celery is less calorie dense than cake frosting.

Pros: Fleeting sense of accomplishment from signing up and paying for a service.

Cons: Ruin brunch by assessing the calorie density of your friends meals; targeted ads for Noom for the rest of your life.

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Instructions: Eat minuscule portions of your favorite foods with a vintage seafood fork. Serve poached pears at dinner parties. Start wearing scarves and smoking a pack of cigarettes a day; hiss at fat people.

Pros: A single tarte tatin from the farmers market can last up to five days.

Cons: Clarins anti-aging serum is no match for cigarettes. Also, youre starving.

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Instructions: Incorporate large intervals of not eating into your day and/or week (e.g., eat all meals within a window of six to eight hours).

Cons: Ruin brunch by skipping it in favor of a twenty-ounce buttered coffee and telling everyone about your new podcast. Hangry mood swings.

Pros: Unlike with other diets, hangry mood swings happen at predictable times.

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Instructions: Eat 70 percent fat by combining eggs, bacon, nut butters, and artificial sweeteners into uncanny valley analogs of real foods. Say, Im in ketosis, to excuse a host of unpleasant interpersonal behaviors.

Pros: Finally put all those leftover mayonnaise packets to use; weekly grocery shopping can eventually be replaced by a single Arbys party platter and a bag of almonds.

Cons: Excruciating bowel movements once every six days; scurvy.

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Instructions: Add half a grapefruit to every low-fat, low-calorie meal. Add whole grapefruits in between meals to maintain homeostasis.

Pros: Generous bulk discount from Sunkist; no more scurvy.

Cons: Ruin brunch by explaining how grapefruits interaction with Zoloft has sent you to the ER multiple times; soft teeth; diarrhea.

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Instructions: Practice portion control by eating only free samples. Get upward of 15,000 steps per day by walking laps through a cavernous warehouse.

Pros: Discovery of Kirkland Signature Cashew Clusters.

Cons: High risk of derailing diet and over-drafting checking account from regularly purchasing Kirkland Signature Cashew Clusters; Wednesday samples are mostly Tide Pods and flavored seltzers.

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Instructions: Consume only uncooked, plant-based foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds soaked in water). Maintain unblinking eye contact with anyone eating bacon.

Pros: God-like sense of superiority.

Cons: Impossible to talk about eating nut cheese with a straight face; blood transfusion for iron deficiency not covered by insurance; targeted ads for the ASPCA; ruin brunch with horror stories about concentrated animal feeding operations.

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Instructions: Before your Costco membership expires, order a fifty-pound bag of Purina Complete Rabbit Pellets. Eat them like popcorn. Drink a gallon of water a day from a bottle with a ball bearing at the end of an angled metal spout.

Pros: Simplest meal planning of any diet; siblings estranged during raw vegan phase may reconcile during rabbit pellet intervention.

Cons: The level of vitamin A in rabbit pellets causes blurred vision and hair loss in humans in an order of magnitude worse than from a weekly Tide Pod washed down with mango-lime seltzer.

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Instructions: Eat only prime, organic, grass-fed beef and drink only water. Hiss at French women.

Pros: Diseases you were never diagnosed with have magically disappeared.

Cons: Excruciating bowel movements once every ten days; meat sweats; ruin brunch by talking about Jordan Peterson.

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Instructions: Emulate our paleolithic ancestors by eating only foods that could be obtained by hunting and gathering.

Pros: Local cave system maintains baseline temperature of 50F year round (expedient housing option after going bankrupt from all that Jordan Peterson beef); new bow-hunting skills useful in the event of societal collapse.

Cons: Local cave system inhabited by Burning Man enthusiasts; no electrical outlets for your podcasting equipment; ruin brunch by trying to take a sponge bath in the First Watch bathroom.

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Instructions: Once a week, inject your abdomen, upper arm, or thigh with the contents of an unlabeled syringe delivered by mail.

Pros: No targeted ads on the dark web.

Cons: Semaglutide takes twenty years off your body and adds them straight to your face; DEA watchlist; pancreatitis; you are no longer invited to brunch.

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Instructions: Eat what appeals to you when you are hungry. Stop when satisfied (or not).

Pros: Regained hours of time and attention.

Cons:

More:
The Pros and Cons of Diets I Have Tried - McSweeney's Internet Tendency