Urban meyer

ULAANBAATAR - Ulaanbaatar's urban music scene is buzzing with a new vibe created by a hip-hop duo mixing into their sound the traditional art of throat singing, or "Khoomei," as Mongolians refer to it. Rap group Fish Symboled Stamp, named for a fish-shaped seal traditionally used to brand horses in the landlocked nation, incorporates the nearly 1,000-year-old vocal tradition of communities across Siberia and Central Asia. Khoomei means "pharynx", and performers imitate the sounds of nature, emitting a melody of harmonics alongside a continuous drone, UNESCO, which added the art form to its intangible heritage listing in 2009, says on a website describing it. Lead bass vocalist Sanjjav Baatar, 32, founded the group with rapper Battogtokh Odsaikhan, 30, in 2010, when they started experimenting with music styles. Finding the voice that best suited them took some time. "I couldn't understand what voice I should use," Baatar said. "One day my partner said, 'Why don't you rhyme … [Read more...] about Mongolian Melody: Hip-hop Duo Splices Traditional Singing and Urban Beats

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has a fresh spring in his step after the Republicans defied the odds and professional political prognosticators by picking up 15 seats in the 2020 congressional elections. McCarthy, who has his eyes on the majority in November 2022, approached the 2020 congressional elections differently than Republicans in recent history have traditionally targeted congressional electoral efforts, and his moves paid off—and not only infuriated but befuddled the beltway pundit class. For the first time since 1994, in 2020 no GOP incumbent running for reelection lost. Meanwhile, McCarthy blew away fundraising records previously set by former House Speaker Paul Ryan—astonishing since he did it from the minority. Usually, House political leaders do better raising money from the majority. That’s not to mention the most significant development which is a freshman class entering Congress in 2021 that represents perhaps the most diverse in party history with the most … [Read more...] about Exclusive: After 2020 Gains, Kevin McCarthy Eyes House GOP Majority, Speaker’s Gavel in Midterms

Sen. Bob Menendez Robert (Bob) Menendez Senate confirms Thomas-Greenfield as UN ambassador The Memo: Biden bets big on immigration Biden pushes expanded pathways to citizenship as immigration bill lands in Congress MORE (D-N.J.) on Tuesday reintroduced legislation that would require public companies to disclose the racial, ethnic, gender and veteran composition of their corporate boards and senior management. The bill, the Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act, aims to address shortcomings in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) diversity disclosure rule. “For too long corporate America has fallen short in racial, ethnic and gender diversity. Without greater diversity in top corporate positions, the U.S. will fail to compete with other leading economies and stall our nation’s progress towards full inclusivity,” said Menendez, the highest-ranking Latino in Congress. ADVERTISEMENT The House passed the legislation in 2019, … [Read more...] about Menendez reintroduces corporate diversity bill

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Tom Vilsack Tom Vilsack USDA: Farm-to-school programs help schools serve healthier meals OVERNIGHT MONEY: House poised to pass debt-ceiling bill MORE to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the second time. The Senate voted 92-7 to confirm Vilsack. He is the 32nd Agriculture secretary and the ninth member of President Biden Joe Biden Hoyer: House will vote on COVID-19 relief bill Friday Pence huddles with senior members of Republican Study Committee Powell pushes back on GOP inflation fears MORE ’s Cabinet to be confirmed by the Senate. Vilsack previously served for eight years as head of USDA under former President Obama. Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders Sanders has right goal, wrong target in fight to help low-wage workers Democrats in standoff over minimum wage Sanders votes against Biden USDA nominee Vilsack MORE (I-Vt.), voted against Vilsack’s nomination, … [Read more...] about Senate confirms Vilsack as Agriculture secretary

Denver wants to see fewer cops and more social workers and behavioral health specialists showing up to calls about homeless encampments. Over the next few weeks, the city will begin redirecting non-emergency calls made to 911 about unsanctioned encampments in Denver to the city’s 311 helpline instead. “The goal is to not have a public safety response to something that is not a public safety issue,” said Mike Strott, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Hancock’s office. “This is the next step we are taking in a series of steps to create an alternative response.” Homeless encampments in Denver have been a source of friction between residents and those who set up camp on sidewalks or parking lots, and neighbors often call 911 as more tents and tarps appear and trash builds up. The city has had an urban camping ban in place for nearly a decade, though enforcement of it has been challenged in court and complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. Police aren’t always the right people … [Read more...] about Denver wants police to be less involved in calls about city’s homeless encampments