Casting couch

The casting couch, casting-couch syndrome, or casting-couch mentality is the trading of sexual favors by an aspirant, apprentice employee, or subordinate to a superior in return for entry into an occupation, or for other career advancement within an organization. The term casting couch originated in the motion picture industry, with specific reference to couches in offices that could be used for sexual activity between casting directors or film producers and aspiring actors. It is not to be confused with the adult entertainment industry where such actions may be a prerequisite, although many pornographic films and pornographic websites play on the casting couch theme and allude to similarities one may find in casting couch scenarios in the film industry.

The term is now often used to refer to other industries besides entertainment, though careers which are highly desirable and traditionally difficult to break into, such as the movie, television and music industries, have been the subject of casting couch stories in popular culture. Such trading of favors can be an abuse of power—possibly even statutory rape—and can become a wider sex scandal if deemed newsworthy.

Confessions

Confessions, the plural of confession, may refer to:

Books

Music

Albums

Confessions (Lecrae song)

"Confessions", styled "Confe$$ions", is a Christian hip hop song by Lecrae from his album Gravity, released on September 4, 2012. Lyrically, the song critiques the pursuit of wealth and expresses the emptiness and lack of peace that comes with materialism.

Lyrics and style

StupidDOPE called "Confe$$ions" "a deep, hard hitting, thoughtful number that finds Lecrae speaking from his heart while he hangs out and shows us the wolves", and AllHipHop explained the song as addressing the hollowness of lots of money with no peace. The BoomBox stated that "The old saying 'money can't buy you happiness' isn't further from the truth for Lecrae, who raps about companions who have the game twisted about what's really important".Allmusic described Lecrae as taking on bling culture with a Christian-based message "in the unexpected, brittle style of a beatnik poet or Saul Williams on Def Poetry Jam." Stylistically, the song features a dramatic, slow-tempo beat, and DaSouth described it as carrying "a burdened aroma of ecclesiastical despondency with an uncredited Bruno Mars-esque chorus (no diss at all)".

Confessions (Pillar album)

Confessions is the sixth album, from the Christian band Pillar. The album was released on September 22, 2009, by Essential Records.

Musical style and concepts

Rob Beckley commented about the album, "I had never had goose bumps listening to our own music before, but this album is just on a whole different level. We're indebted to everyone who played a role in pushing us out of our comfort zones. And I couldn't be more proud of our band."

Beckley further describes the concept as, "1 John 1:9 says, 'If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' Every song on this album could be broken down to 'If you just confess.'" Under this umbrella, recurring themes on Confessions include unity, commitment and perseverance.

When Blaine Barcus, VP of A&R, Provident Label Group talked about the album he spoke highly of it saying, "the album features songs which range from muscular, guitar-driven gut rock to beautiful, orchestral ballads. "Confessions is the kind of album that will make CHR radio listeners fans of rock music. The goal was that every single song on this album would be a great fit for radio, and I think the overall project reflects that goal. Rob and the guys poured themselves into the music and this project really delivers.”

Couch

A couch or sofa is a piece of furniture for seating two or more people in the form of a bench, with or without armrests, that is partially or entirely upholstered, and often fitted with springs and tailored cushions. Although a couch is used primarily for seating, it may be used for reclining and napping.

In homes, couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den, sitting room or the lounge. They are also found in hotels, lobbies of commercial offices, waiting rooms, and some bars.

The term couch is used in North America and Australia, whilst the term sofa is generally used in the United Kingdom. The word originated in Middle English from the Old French noun couche, which derived from the verb meaning "to lie down". It originally denoted an item of furniture for lying or sleeping on, somewhat like a chaise longue, but now refers to sofas in general.

Other terms which can be synonymous with the above definition are settee, chesterfield, divan, davenport, lounge, and canapé. The word sofa is from Turkish derived from the Arabic word suffa for "wool", originating in the Aramaic word sippa for "mat". The word settee comes from the Old English word, "setl", which was used to describe long benches with high backs and arms, but is now generally used to describe upholstered seating.

Écouché

Écouché is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.

Village of Ecouche Introduction

Écouché stands out today for the monumental church, a very rare Republican altar, several medieval merchants' houses, a number of original towers, a network of well-conserved lanes and – a reminder of the ordeal of World War II and the Liberation – a Sherman assault tank.

Écouché is the administrative centre of a canton in the Sub-Prefecture of Argentan, which starts just six kilometres away. Not so long ago, the population of the two towns' respective inhabitants were more equal.

Sites

Church

Revolution Altar to Reason

Halle

Towers

Medieval porticos

Mossadi Sherman tank

History timeline

The origin of human settlement remains obscure. It can be supposed that the Gauls(Celts) and the Gallo-Romans recognised the advantages of the site, but the earliest written documents available that mention SCOTETUM date only from 1066 (a grant of tithes from Gacé and Écouché by William the Conqueror to his wife Mathilda at the Ladies' Abbey (Abbaye aux Dames ) in Caen).

Couch (surname)

Couch is a surname. "Couch" has two different origins: it is a Cornish name thought to have derived from Cornish "cough" (red) and to have been a nickname for a redheaded man (the usual Cornish pronunciation is "cooch"); there is also an English name Couch which probably originated as a name for a maker of beds or bedding. The English name Couch has the variant forms Coucha, Couche, Coucher, Couchman and Cowcha.

Notable people with the surname include: