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__label__wiki	0.878008	0.878008	Field Notes: Until Honeymoon We Do Part Arts & Entertainment March 13, 2019 hailong01 0 Until Honeymoon We Do Part Pawel Franckiewicz (right) and his husband, Carlos Gonzalez Vega, included a three-month break from each other in the middle of their yearlong honeymoon. By Danielle Braff Irene O’Brien and Mel Maclaine had the time of their lives on their honeymoon. But during their 2016 trip, the Dublin-based couple didn’t share the same bed, they didn’t eat a meal together nor did they officially consummate their marriage during their honeymoon. That’s because Ms. O’Brien, 37, a stylist and writer, and Mr. Maclaine, 40, a golf and corporate photographer, took separate honeymoons, otherwise known as solomoons or unimoons. After their wedding, Ms. O’Brien celebrated in Canada, while Mr. Maclaine and his friends flew to France. Irene O’Brien at Niagara Falls, who spent her honeymoon away from her husband, Mel Maclaine. “Neither of us wanted to be where the other one was,” Ms. O’Brien said. “We each came back to Dublin full of stories, buzzing of our trips and truly delighted to see each other again to share the memories: It was the perfect imperfect honeymoon.” Whether newlyweds are unwilling to compromise on a vacation, or because work is taking a precedence over romance, it appears some honeymooners are forging their own path post-wedding. Separately. “Frankly, the idea of separate honeymoons may signal the continued evolution of marriage,” said Jessica Carbino, an online dating expert based in Los Angeles who is also a sociologist for the dating app Bumble. “Given the recognition that for most couples today, marriage and partnership is considered all-consuming, with the partner needing to fulfill every role — physical, spiritual, emotional and sexual — perhaps separate vacations is a recognition among some couples that all expectations cannot be met by a single person.” Mel Maclaine (far right) spent his honeymoon with friends watching the Republic of Ireland play soccer in the European Championship in France. Ms. O’Brien said that she and her husband briefly contemplated honeymooning together, but Mr. Maclaine wanted to spend his time watching the Republic of Ireland play soccer in the European Championship. Ms. O’Brien had never attended a Republic of Ireland soccer game, and realized that she wouldn’t be the ultimate companion for him on this trip. So off to France he went for his honeymoon. And for her honeymoon, Ms. O’Brien visited a friend in Toronto. “I had been dying to go over and visit her in her new life for ages, but with the wedding approaching, the months had flown by and there had been no opportunity,” Ms. O’Brien said. The honeymoon gave her that opportunity. But is it a chance that should be seized? Helen Fisher, a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute, which conducts research on relationships, said she thinks that taking separate honeymoons — for any reason — is a big mistake. When couples take vacations together, she said, they can trigger all three brain systems: romantic love (which stimulates your dopamine system), feelings of deep attachment (orgasm boosts your oxytocin levels which are linked with attachment) and sex drive. Even if you have been living with your partner for a decade, a wedding is one of the biggest transitions in your life. “Perhaps I’m old-fashioned, but I think it should be marked,” Ms. Fisher said. “You are at a new stage in your life when you marry, and you are missing out on triggering the three most valuable brain systems for a lasting relationship.” Sometimes, however, work gets in the way. After their wedding in December 2011, William Powers, 48, and his wife, Melissa Crane Powers, a 41-year-old international development consultant, took separate honeymoons that they tacked onto post-wedding work trips. He went to Paris and she to the Dominican Republic. William Powers and his wife Melissa Crane Powers took separate honeymoons. He went to Paris and she to the Dominican Republic. Mr. Powers, an author and senior fellow with the World Policy Institute, walked past the Eiffel Tower sans his new bride, and when he phoned her, feeling romantic, she was busy in a meeting. “It’s a very individualistic, modern practice of efficiency over everything else,” Mr. Powers said. “I think that it’s tied with workaholism and being on the work-and-spend treadmill when you can’t even coordinate one of the most important times of your life together.” Mr. Powers came to this realization post-honeymoon, and decided to slow down his life, penning the book “New Slow City” (New World Library, 2014). The couple moved from New York City to Bolivia, where they currently live. Work also interrupted Ann Abel’s South East Asia 2008 honeymoon, which ended up being half-traditional-honeymoon, half unimoon. Ms. Abel, who lives in Lisbon now but was based in New York, had just been laid off from her job at a travel magazine, so she had plenty of free time for a honeymoon. But her ex-husband’s vacation time was limited. So she spent half of her honeymoon with him, and half without. “We had been together for eight years before getting married, so we didn’t need to be in bed all day,” said Ms. Abel, who is now a freelance travel writer. Some couples prefer this unimoon-honeymoon combo. Pawel Frackiewicz, 33, an environmental engineer from Hamburg, Germany, got married in April 2017, and then took a yearlong honeymoon with his husband, Carlos Gonzalez Vega, who works in aviation. But their honeymoon included a three-month break from each other in the middle. “We did it because we like to travel alone, we thought we would be fed up with each other after three months together in India, which by the way, was not the case, and I wanted to do volunteer work and Carlos didn’t want to spend so much time in one place.” While many may be quick to judge those to decide to take unimoons, it might not necessarily be a bad thing, said Lisa Marie Bobby, a psychologist and the founder and clinical director of Growing Self Counseling and Coaching in Denver. One indication of a healthy relationship is individualization: a strong sense of self, self-confidence and the knowledge of your needs and values. It’s also the comfort in being in a close relationship with someone who is different than you, Ms. Bobby said. “While taking separate honeymoons may seem extreme, highly individuated couples may view their independence and separate experiences as a strength of their relationship,” Ms. Bobby said. “Having your own life is, after all, a wonderful way to be an interesting, vibrant and genuinely satisfied person. All of which are qualities that will sustain a long-term relationship.” With or without the traditional honeymoon. Continue following our fashion and lifestyle coverage on Facebook (Styles and Modern Love), Twitter (Styles, Fashion, and Vows) and Instagram. Children May Be Grown, but Parenting Doesn’t Seem to Stop Even Billy Eichner Likes This Guy	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1741
__label__wiki	0.628458	0.628458	I think today’s top story is a must watch, it’s a short video explaining the fascinating way in which trees communicate. Another amazing example of how complex and interconnected our planet is. In the same theme, we have two articles discussing importance of biodiversity. One calls for a Paris style agreement to protect biodiversity and in a Q&A style article, Dr Palmer eloquently explains why that is important. While this discussion is happening, we hear that deforestation increased dramatically in 2017 and, in the next article, a proposal to ask companies to help with their protection through our consumerist society (more evidence of the power of your buying habits). More news also, on plastics and eliminating them. How trees secretly talk to each other \| BBC News (Video 1:47) Trees talk and share resources right under our feet, using a fungal network nicknamed the Wood Wide Web. Some plants use the system to support their offspring, while others hijack it to sabotage their rivals. How to talk about climate change: 5 tips from the front lines \| World Economic Forum I have spent almost my entire working life in climate science and policy, social enterprise, government, and now philanthropy. Over time, I have seen public communication as increasingly important. Why? Greenhouse gas emissions need to decrease fast if we are to have any chance of keeping global temperature rises below dangerous levels, and it is hard to see how this will happen without greater, and more urgent, engagement with society. We need more people talking about climate change more often, because we need to break out of the current climate echo chamber. Meet America’s new climate normal: towns that flood when it isn’t raining (Book talk) USA – It isn’t raining when I arrive in Shorecrest, and there isn’t a storm offshore; the day is as clear and as blue as the filigree on a porcelain plate. But the streets are still full of water. I watch as a woman wades ankle deep across Tenth Avenue. She has gathered her long russet-colored skirt in her right hand, and in her left she holds a pair of Jesus sandals. When she reaches the bus stop, she sits and puts her shoes on. ‘I’ve been here 20 years. When I first moved we used to flood once a year, maybe twice. Now it’s constant.’ Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Scientists call for a Paris-style agreement to save life on Earth \| The Guardian Let’s be honest, the global community’s response to the rising evidence of mass extinction and ecological degradation has been largely to throw crumbs at it. Where we have acted it’s been in a mostly haphazard and modest way — a protected area here, a conservation program there, a few new laws, and a pinch of funding. The problem is such actions — while laudable and important — in no way match the scope and size of the problem where all markers indicate that life on Earth continues to slide into the dustbin. Biodiversity is the ‘infrastructure that supports all life’ \| The Guardian Dr Cristiana Pașca Palmer, UN assistant secretary general and executive secretary of the convention on biological diversity, discusses Half Earth, a future biodiversity agreement and where to find the money to save life on Earth. The world lost an area of tropical forest the size of Bangladesh in 2017 \| Mongabay According to new data, tropical countries lost 158,000 square kilometers (39 million acres) of tree cover in 2017 – an area the size of Bangladesh. The 2017 number is the second highest since the dataset began in 2001, and only a bit lower than the record high in 2016. Experts attribute the upward trend in tree cover loss primarily to continued land clearing for agricultural purposes. A most unlikely hope: How the companies that destroyed the world’s forests can save them \| Mongabay (Commentary) In the age of Trump, lamenting the lassitude of governments may be satisfying, but it does little to solve our planet’s foremost existential crisis. It is for this reason that the hopes of billions of people now depend on the very companies most responsible for environmental destruction… At the end of the day, even the worst deforesters can be persuaded to stop and act effectively — if they hear enough from their customers and investors. In this commentary, Mighty Earth CEO Glenn Hurowitz writes that he feels confident these companies can make a difference because they’ve done it before. Orangutans have been adapting to humans for 70,000 years \| The Conversation If you are very lucky you might have seen an orangutan in the wild. Most people have only seen them on television. In either case the animal was probably deep in some remote forest, as yet untainted by people. This is the image we associate with these critically endangered animals: vulnerable, dependent on pristine habitats, and incapable of coexisting with people. But that view may be wrong. Study of reefs reveals benefits of keeping global warming in check \| SMH Keeping global temperature increases to the lower end of the Paris climate accord would make a dramatic difference to the severity of coral bleaching by mid-century, according to research to be presented to the UN’s World Heritage Committee. Plant response to rising CO2 levels may alter rainfall patterns across tropics \| Mongabay Stomata – the tiny pores through which plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen and water – are closing up everywhere on earth as atmospheric CO2 levels rise. This change in plant structure results in more water being stored within plants, and less being released to the atmosphere. In a recent study scientists posit that the reduction in water released by stomata through transpiration will result in changing rainfall patterns across the tropics. Researchers used climate models to test the hypothesis, noting that while reduced transpiration will occur everywhere, tropical climates in different regions respond differently. Curious North Coast: Fears for the survival of northern long-nosed potoroo due to development \| ABC News AUSTRALIA – A new study shows the northern long-nosed potoroo, found on the north coast of New South Wales, could soon be extinct. The study, named The decline of the Northern Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous Tridactylus on the far north coast of New South Wales, is about to be published in scientific journal Australian Zoologist. PHOTO: Several Long-nosed Potoroos have been released in the Booderee National Park on the South Coast. (Kristian Golding, Flickr.com) Garden Bird Survey key research for recording species numbers \| Stuff.co.nz NEW ZEALAND – Every year for more than a decade, Jan Walker sits in her living room, looks out at the birds in her garden, and counts. The Christchurch resident is one of thousands who participate in the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, kicking off on Saturday and running until July 8. “I think it’s a very worthwhile thing to do, it’s important for people to get interested in the natural life around them,” Walker said. India’s Low-Carbon Transition, According to Montek Singh Ahluwalia \| World Resources Institute (Podcast 19:56) Montek Singh Ahluwalia played a key role in economic reforms that put India on a sustained, high-growth trajectory, before retiring in 2014 as deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, a cabinet-level position. In a recent visit to World Resources Institute, he presented to staff on how India can make its next economic transition, to high-efficiency, low-carbon growth—and addresses the vested interests that will need to be addressed before that transition can be made. Plastic-free campaigns don’t have to shock or shame. Shoppers are already on board \| The Conversation AUSTRALIA – With Coles and Woolworths supermarkets phasing out single-use plastic bags at their checkout counters, and Queensland and Western Australia bringing in bans on single-use plastic bags for all retailers from July 1, a long overdue step is being taken towards reducing Australia’s plastic waste. However, it is only a small step, and much still needs to be done to tackle the problem. It is therefore useful to explore what strategies might be effective in informing the public about the issue, and in changing people’s consumption and littering behaviour. Compostable plastic bags trialled in South Australia as bans loom in other states \| ABC News AUSTRALIA – It sounds too good to be true — a plastic bag made from corn starch that breaks down with food waste and leaves no remnant plastic to make its way into the oceans. As more states prepare to ban single-use plastic bags from July 1, these “compostable” light-weight bags for fruit and vegetables are being trialled in two South Australian supermarkets. With incentives, industry could tackle Australia’s waste crisis \| The Guardian AUSTRALIA – A team of researchers at the Centre for Sustainable Materials, Research and Technology (SMaRT), at University of New South Wales have developed a range of technologies to reform waste into valuable materials to be used in existing and new manufacturing processes. ‘Plastic is like a demon’: Mumbai to clean up by jailing repeat offenders \| SMH INDIA – On Mumbai’s Versova beach, it was once hard to see the sand amid the endless sea of plastic bags and trash. The long stretch of coast had essentially turned into a dumping site until volunteers banded together to clean it up. A few months later, olive ridley turtles began nesting there for the first time in 20 years. Now municipal authorities are taking a new step in the battle against the plastic waste that afflicts Mumbai and so many other cities across the country by criminalising the use of plastic bags with fines of up to $US366 ($495) and jail sentences for repeat offenders. Environment leaders renew climate commitments at global summit \| Climate Action Programme The world’s climate leaders have gathered in Vietnam for a major meeting on the environment. The summit, hosted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), takes place every four years and brings together 183 member countries, business leaders and UN agencies, among others. Queensland plastic bag ban sees inmates and Girl Guides roll out new boomerang bags \| ABC News AUSTRALIA – Ellie has only been sewing a few months but she is powering her way through the production of fabric shopping bags ahead of Queensland’s state-wide ban on single-use plastic bags. She is one of the women at the Townsville’s Correctional Centre making up the reusable bags for Boomerang Bags Whitsundays. The project has been filling their time and provided the women with a way to contribute to society during their confinement. Housing and car industries should be ‘ashamed’ of climate record \| The Guardian UK – The CCC’s annual report, published on Thursday, found the UK is on track to miss its legally binding carbon budgets in 2025 and 2030, due to lack of progress in cutting emissions from buildings and transport. It also said ministers were spurning low-cost options, such as onshore windfarms, home insulation and tree-planting, meaning people would end up paying more than needed to fight climate change. See also: Young will pick up climate change bill, advisers warn \| BBC News	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1743
__label__cc	0.647422	0.352578	:: Anarcho-Capitalist Categorical Imperatives :: Via AnCaps: Law & Enforced Unnatural Order Things Are Getting Scary: Global Police, Precrime and the War on Domestic ‘Extremists’ Subject: Things Are Getting Scary: Global Police, Precrime and the War on Domestic ‘Extremists’ Wed Oct 21, 2015 10:23 pm Are you afraid that the government is plotting to confiscate your firearms? Do you believe the economy is about to collapse and the government will soon declare martial law? Do you display an unusual number of political and/or ideological bumper stickers on your car? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be an anti-government extremist (a.k.a.domestic terrorist) in the eyes of the police. As such, you are now viewed as a greater threat to America than ISIS or al Qaeda. Let that sink in a moment. If you believe in and exercise your rights under the Constitution (namely, your right to speak freely, worship freely, associate with like-minded individuals who share your political views, criticize the government, own a weapon, demand a warrant before being questioned or searched, or any other activity viewed as potentially anti-government, racist, bigoted, anarchic or sovereign), you have just beenpromoted to the top of the government’s terrorism watch list. I assure you I’m not making this stuff up. Police agencies now believe the “main terrorist threat in the United States is not from violent Muslim extremists, but from right-wing extremists.” A New York Times editorial backs up these findings: Law enforcement agencies around the country are training their officers to recognize signs of anti-government extremism and to exercise caution during routine traffic stops, criminal investigations and other interactions with potential extremists. “The threat is real,” says the handout from one training program sponsored by the Department of Justice. Since 2000, the handout notes, 25 law enforcement officers have been killed by right-wing extremists, who share a “fear that government will confiscate firearms” and a “belief in the approaching collapse of government and the economy.” So what is the government doing about these so-called terrorists? The government is going to war. Only this time, it has declared war against so-called American “extremists.” After decades spent waging costly, deadly and ineffective military campaigns overseas in pursuit of elusive ISIS and al Qaeda operatives and terror cells (including the recent “accidental” bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan that left 22 patients and medical staff dead), the Obama administration has announced a campaign to focus its terror-fighting forces inwards. Under the guise of fighting violent extremism “in all of its forms and manifestations” in cities and communities across the world, the Obama administration has agreed to partner with the United Nations to take part in its Strong Cities Network program. Funded by the State Department through 2016, after which “charities are expected to take over funding,” the cities included in the global network include New York City, Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis, Paris, London, Montreal, Beirut and Oslo. Working with the UN, the federal government will train local police agencies across America in how to identify, fight and prevent extremism, as well as address intolerance within their communities, using all of the resources at their disposal. What this program is really all about, however, is community policing on a global scale. Community policing, which relies on a “broken windows” theory of policing, calls for police to engage with the community in order to prevent local crime by interrupting or preventing minor offenses before they could snowball into bigger, more serious and perhaps violent crime. The problem with the broken windows approach is that it has led to zero tolerance policing and stop-and-frisk practices among other harsh police tactics. When applied to the Strong Cities Network program, the objective is ostensibly to prevent violent extremism by targeting its source: racism, bigotry, hatred, intolerance, etc. In other words, police—acting ostensibly as extensions of the United Nations—will identify, monitor and deter individuals who exhibit, express or engage in anything that could be construed as extremist. Consider how Attorney General Loretta Lynch describes the initiative: As residents and experts in their communities, local leaders are often best positioned to pinpoint sources of unrest and discord; best equipped to identify signs of potential danger; and best able to recognize and accommodate community cultures, traditions, sensitivities, and customs. By creating a series of partnerships that draws on the knowledge and expertise of our local officials, we can create a more effective response to this virulent threat. Translation: U.S. police agencies are embarking on an effort to identify and manage potential extremist “threats,” violent or otherwise, before they can become actual threats. (If you want a foretaste of how “extreme” things could get in the U.S.: new anti-terrorism measures in the U.K. require that extremists be treated like pedophiles and banned from working with youngsters and vulnerable people.) The government’s war on extremists, of which the Strong Cities program is a part, is being sold to Americans in much the same way that the USA Patriot Act was sold to Americans: as a means of combatting terrorists who seek to destroy America. For instance, making the case for the government’s war on domestic extremism, the Obama administration has suggested that it may require greater legal powers to combat violent attacks by lone wolves (such as “people motivated by racial and religious hatred and anti-government views” who “communicate their hatred over the Internet and through social media”). Enter the government’s newest employee: a domestic terrorism czar. However, as we now know, the USA Patriot Act was used as a front to advance the surveillance state, allowing the government to establish a far-reaching domestic spying program that has turned every American citizen into a criminal suspect. Similarly, the concern with the government’s anti-extremism program is that it will, in many cases, be utilized to render otherwise lawful, nonviolent activities as potentially extremist. Keep in mind that the government agencies involved in ferreting out American “extremists” will carry out their objectives—to identify and deter potential extremists—in concert with fusion centers (of which there are 78 nationwide, with partners in the private sector and globally), data collection agencies, behavioral scientists, corporations, social media, and community organizers and by relying on cutting-edge technology for surveillance, facial recognition, predictive policing, biometrics, and behavioralepigenetics (in which life experiences alter one’s genetic makeup). This is pre-crime on an ideological scale and it’s been a long time coming. For example, in 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released two reports, one on “Rightwing Extremism,” which broadly defines rightwing extremists as individuals and groups “that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely,” and one on “Leftwing Extremism,” which labeled environmental and animal rights activist groups as extremists. Incredibly, both reports use the words terrorist and extremist interchangeably. That same year, the DHS launched Operation Vigilant Eagle, which calls for surveillance of military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, characterizing them as extremists and potential domestic terrorist threats because they may be “disgruntled, disillusioned or suffering from the psychological effects of war.” These reports indicate that for the government, anyone seen as opposing the government—whether they’re Left, Right or somewhere in between—can be labeled an extremist. Fast forward a few years, and you have the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which President Obama has continually re-upped, that allows the military to take you out of your home, lock you up with no access to friends, family or the courts if you’re seen as an extremist. Now connect the dots, from the 2009 Extremism reports to the NDAA and the UN’s Strong Cities Network with its globalized police forces, the National Security Agency’s far-reaching surveillance networks, and fusion centers that collect and share surveillance data between local, state and federal police agencies. Add in tens of thousands of armed, surveillance drones that will soon blanket American skies, facial recognition technology that will identify and track you wherever you go and whatever you do. And then to complete the circle, toss in the real-time crime centers being deployed in cities across the country, which will be attempting to “predict” crimes and identify criminals before they happen based on widespread surveillance, complex mathematical algorithms and prognostication programs. Hopefully you’re getting the picture, which is how easy it is for the government to identify, label and target individuals as “extremist.” We’re living in a scary world. Unless we can put the brakes on this dramatic expansion and globalization of the government’s powers, we’re not going to recognize this country 20 years from now. Frankly, as I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the landscape has already shifted dramatically from what it was like 10 or 20 years ago. It’s taken less than a generation for our freedoms to be eroded and the police state structure to be erected, expanded and entrenched. Rest assured that the government will not save us from the chains of the police state. The UN’s Strong Cities Network program will not save us. The next occupant of the White House will not save us. For that matter, anarchy and violent revolution will not save us. If there is to be any hope of freeing ourselves, it rests—as it always has—at the local level, with you and your fellow citizens taking part in grassroots activism, which takes a trickle-up approach to governmental reform by implementing change at the local level. Attend local city council meetings, speak up at town hall meetings, organize protests and letter-writing campaigns, employ “militant nonviolent resistance” and civil disobedience, which Martin Luther King Jr. used to great effect through the use of sit-ins, boycotts and marches. And then, while you’re at it, urge your local governments to nullify everything the federal government does that is illegitimate, egregious or blatantly unconstitutional. If this sounds anti-government or extremist, perhaps it is, in much the same way that King himself was considered anti-government and extremist. Recognizing that “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” King’s tactics—while nonviolent—were extreme by the standards of his day. As King noted in his 1963 “Letter from Birmingham City Jail”: [A]s I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a bit of satisfaction from being considered an extremist. Was not Jesus an extremist in love—“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.” Was not Abraham Lincoln an extremist—“This nation cannot survive half slave and half free.” Was not Thomas Jefferson an extremist—“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” So the question is not whether we will be extremist but what kind of extremist will we be. Will we be extremists for hate or will we be extremists for love? So how do you not only push back against the police state’s bureaucracy, corruption and cruelty but also launch a counterrevolution aimed at reclaiming control over the government using nonviolent means? https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/things_are_getting_scary_global_police_precrime_and_the_war_on_domesti Subject: Re: Things Are Getting Scary: Global Police, Precrime and the War on Domestic ‘Extremists’ Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:29 pm The “Extremist” Smear We are seeing a lot of people or groups being denounced these days for “extremism” or “extremist rhetoric.” As Ayn Rand pointed out long ago, in her article “Extremism” or The Art of Smearing, holding an extreme position is not immoral. It is only the substance of the position one holds that can be good or evil. To be extreme in one’s position merely means one is being consistent – and it is this consistency that is being denounced, whether the people using the label realize it or not. The implication is that only “moderates” (another anti-concept) are good, while the “extremists” are evil. And what does being a “moderate” actually mean? Pragmatism. If “extremism” is by definition immoral, than all laissez-faire capitalists are immoral. All advocates of inalienable rights are immoral. We are being equated with the murderers of al Qaeda, and the irrational religionists of the conservative movement – because we are “extreme” in our defense of individual rights, just as they are extreme in their quest to murder all who will not submit, or in their advocacy of creationism. http://www.newclarion.com/2009/04/the-extremist-smear/	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1747
__label__wiki	0.60579	0.60579	Toyota Rallye International Vert de Montreal Defending champion Toyota Canada participates with a Prius plug-in hybrid Prius and two Rallye International Vert de Montreal, as part of the Alternative Energies Cup FIA. Raymond Durand, FIA champion twice, will lead this year Prius Three Prius Toyota Canada Inc., two plug-in hybrid, will participate in the Rallye International Vert de Montreal in 2011 in order to defend the record of first place in the 2010 hybrid categore and demonstrate to Canadians and drivers around the world powertrain hybrid Prius plug-Toyota is effective and powerful. The Rallye International Vert de Montreal is a green three-day rally 600 km which puts vehicles of technology to challenge to be as efficient as possible. The meeting this year, to be held from September 30 to October 2, will oppose fuel-efficient vehicles that use alternative energy sources or fuels such as gas, electricity, propane, biofuel and diesel . The rally will start at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve then go through Lachute, South Shore, Boucherville and downtown Montreal, with the fall colors in the background. Toyota currently leads in the hybrid of Alternative Energies Cup Manufacturers' Cup 2011 FIA who travels the world each year category. The rally is the 8th International Montreal stage of the Alternative Energies Cup FIA and its only Canadian stage. This unique North American event ratified by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and its Canadian representative, the National Sports Authority (ASN), is part of the Alternative Energies Cup, an FIA World Championship which took place in more than 10 countries during its five years of existence. "We are here to defend our title and we believe in the qualities of our vehicles and our drivers, stated Stephen Beatty, Director and Senior Manager Chief Environment Toyota Canada Inc. No other vehicle tech n has proven as the Toyota Prius, which is present on Canadian roads for 10 years and has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. We are confident that the Prius Plug is again ready to meet this challenge Ecological this year. " The Toyota Prius Plug-in is based on the unmatched environmental performance of Hybrid Synergy Drive (Hybrid Synergy Drive ®), while providing the necessary flexibility to meet the needs of drivers. " This is Raymond Durant will lead the Prius with the Christian Fine browser. He won the FIA championship two years in a row and wins Rally in Monaco, San Marino has, Belgium and Iceland. This is Vinh Pham, an engineer working on Toyota Canada technologies and advanced powertrains, which will drive the Prius plug-in hybrid. It will be accompanied by seasoned rally driver Peter Nytko, who also works at Toyota Canada, as navigator. Mr. Pham participated regularly racing Sigma Racing Time Attack Series driving the Team Lexus IS 300, and he participated in the design of the Team Lexus GS 450h who won in 2007 and 2008 Targa Newfoundland Rally in the hybrid category. The second plug-in hybrid Prius will be led by Mathieu L'Estage and Yanick Napert, an experienced duo who participated in the rally racing for 10 years across Canada. To follow the blog posts, view photos and read updates on the Prius Plug-in green Rallye International de Montreal, visit the Facebook page of Toyota Prius Plug Canada: www.Facebook.com / ToyotaCanadaPriusPlugin. The 5th edition of the Rallye international vert de Montreal Winners of Green International Rally of Montreal Toyota clinched the first place in the Rallye international vert de Montreal Race of alternative energy: from Montreal Monaco for Prius PHV Toyota Canada wins third title Rallye International Vert de Montreal Toyota Canada vying for a third consecutive title at the Rallye International Vert de Montreal Six world champions departing the next F1 season! Cadillac has designated Barack Obama The Super Production Challenge, a series that has the wind in its sails Deep Orange Mazda 3 Concept 3 +3 configuration Volvo is a profitable manufacturer	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1749
__label__cc	0.725784	0.274216	You’ve probably already heard about it. The TTC is making its way into Vaughan and things are about to change drastically. “But is change always a good thing?” You ask. Well, historically speaking, when a TTC station is involved the answer is a resounding yes, especially when it comes to investment opportunity and the value of real estate property. The “red pin effect” – which alludes to those seen on Google Maps demarcating the spots at which TTC stations lie – suggests that where the Toronto Transit Commission goes, developments follow and subsequently flourish; but where’s the proof? Don Campbell analyst and author of a 27-page report on the real estate focused implications of the TTC’s new installation says that resale value of the homes and residences in the vicinity of the new Vaughan Metro station will see a forecasted 10-20% increase. If that’s not enough for you The Real Estate Investment Network ranked Vaughan among the 11 communities in its Top Ontario Investment Towns 2014 report due in large part to the new station and surrounding square; still not enough for you? The new Vaughan Metro Centre that will be built alongside the new station is set to create 11,000 new jobs of which a minimum of 5,000 will be office positions. From artisan dining experiences, local purveyors of sundry and handcrafted goods, and galleries to world-class theatres, lifestyle options, and now transit Vaughan is truly becoming a place that can tangle with Toronto when it comes to urban living. With the addition of new jobs and with them a stream of youthful, inspiring, and trail-blazing inhabitants this is the new place to be in Ontario. So, you’re convinced; but how do you get in on the action? Well, as you’d expect at this point there are a plethora of new purchase options available in the area; but be weary of quantity as it often means a lack of quality. If you’re looking for a refined, convenient, close, and incredibly well-built space in the area, look no further than Avenue on 7, Vaughan’s most exciting new condo development. It’s the perfect example of Vaughan’s movement toward an urban-styled hub without losing any of its already deep cultural character. They’ve brought on renowned II by IV Architects who’ve worked exclusively in Toronto until this point, so the building will have an entirely different feeling from anything available in the area. This is downtown uptown. If you’d like to learn more, you can register at www.Avenueon7.com. This entry was posted in Blog on February 8, 2015 by admin. ← Meet Vaughan’s new Metropolitan Centre Rooftop Pool →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1751
__label__cc	0.749429	0.250571	bikelaw What is an e-scooter? September 30, 2018 ArizonaBikeLaw 5 Comments Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter Just what is an e-scooter? … what rules of the road apply? For our purposes here, an e-scooter is an electric powered “kick” scooter that is sized to accommodate up to most adults; with weight limits being typically 220lbs. They travel on level ground up to about 15mph. A very popular model, the Xiaomi which is no longer sold at retail is said to be typical, and the basis for most of the scooter sharing companies, a la Bird, Lime, etc. This article IS specifically trying to get to the bottom of what definitions and requirements may or may not apply. It IS NOT intended to delve into traffic safety; nor the relative merits of dockless sharing systems A few of the primary recurring questions are: May(/should) escooters be ridden on sidewalks? May(/should) escooters be ridden in the street? May(/should) escooters be ridden in a bike lane? Is a helmet required? What, if any, are age restrictions? Any equipment requirements?(e.g. lights, horn/bell?) Although they have been around for years; the have recently become explosively popular and far more common in places where so-called dockless sharing has been made available. In particular Tempe (and probably neighboring Scottsdale?) where at least three companies have put hundreds of the devices onto the city’s streets; Bird, Lime, and Razor. Tempe is a small-ish land-locked city bordering Phoenix that’s dominated by Arizona State University. Arizona Revised Statues UPDATE 2019 (#ars) For before/up to 2019, see below. UPDATE: SB1398 PASSED both house and senate (unanimously, by the way) and was signed by governor 4/22/2019 A bill has been introduced into the 54th1Reg session (spring 2019) that would clarify and classify most operational aspects of escooters in state law; only if passed, of course! SB1398 – miniature scooters; electric standup scooters The bill markup is very hard to read because of the way markups are generated, there are multiple versions of two affected statutes. The general approach springboards off the ebike bill (2018) structure. It defines two new devices, electric miniature scooter and electric standup scooter (let’s call them EMS and ESS); as well as tweaks the existing motorized skateboard. (all in 28-101, the def’ns statute) It then simply tacks on these new devices to the existing ebike statute(28-819, from last year); in other words EMS and ESS, like ebikes, would also be “granted all the rights and privileges and is subject to all of the duties of a person riding a bicycle.”; explicit relieved of any licensing, registration, title, administrivia. But then it gets odd: “AN ELECTRIC STANDUP SCOOTER MUST HAVE A UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION THAT CONSISTS OF LETTERS OR NUMBERS, OR BOTH, AND THAT IS VISIBLE FROM A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST FIVE FEET…SHALL BE USED IN THIS STATE TO IDENTIFY THE ELECTRIC STANDUP SCOOTER ” This sounds a lot like a license plate; yet there’s no enabling legislation for that, thus creating a weird enforcement situation. (e.g. city of Phoenix requires a license plate for all bicycles but stopped issuing them decades ago; law is still on the books!) Aside from that some of the definitional stuff doesn’t seem clear, e.g. “IS POWERED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR OR HUMAN POWER, OR BOTH.” would seem to say a scooter without an electric motor is still defined as an ESM or ESS; is that what was intended? The speed clause seems a bit fuzzy; are the speeds mentioned (20 and 10mph) meant to be design capabilities, or operational? If the former it would seem there’s no way to know what speed a motor+human power could produce. First hearing on bill was 2/13/2019. Video is available at the bill’s link above; the heavy hitters were there (both bird and Lime); nothing was mentioned about the “unique identification” that seems problematic to me. It flew through committee… curiously Cities of Chandler and Peoria registered as against but didn’t speak. Prime sponsor is Tyler Pace (R-Mesa). Arizona Revised Statutes (current as of 2018) The devices seem to have no relevant definition in the ARS. They cannot be a bicycle, if for no other reason that the wheel-size requirement excludes them; this also rules out the possibility that they can be any other derivative form of bicycle, such as moped or motorized bicycle, or the new e-bike definition. Other possibilities are Motorcycle, but lack of a seat rules that out. The do fit the definition of a motorized skateboard, but that only states that such devices are not motor vehicles; and there are no other references in ARS to them. 7. "Bicycle" means a device, including a racing wheelchair, that is propelled by human power and on which a person may ride and that has either: (a) Two tandem wheels, either of which is more than sixteen inches in diameter. (b) Three wheels in contact with the ground, any of which is more than sixteen inches in diameter. 38. "Motorcycle" means a motor vehicle that has a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and that is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground but excludes a tractor and a moped. 39. "Motor driven cycle" means a motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor that produces not more than five horsepower. 41. "Motor vehicle": (a) Means either: (i) A self-propelled vehicle. (ii) For the purposes of the laws relating to the imposition of a tax on motor vehicle fuel, a vehicle that is operated on the highways of this state and that is propelled by the use of motor vehicle fuel. (b) Does not include a personal delivery device, a motorized wheelchair, an electric personal assistive mobility device, an electric bicycle or a motorized skateboard. For the purposes of this subdivision: (i) "Motorized skateboard" means a self-propelled device that has a motor, a deck on which a person may ride and at least two tandem wheels in contact with the ground. (ii) "Motorized wheelchair" means a self-propelled wheelchair that is used by a person for mobility. One might wonder, if not for wheel-size thing, might they fit the definition of an e-bike? No, because buried in the e-bike definition is “equipped with fully operable pedals”. They might, then still be a motorized bicycle or moped because neither of those have a pedal requirement (these categories are all rather inconsistent) — but that’s just a hypothetical; their wheels are like 8″ or something, far below the 16″ minimum. One might also wonder that maybe these are actually simply motor vehicles; but within the definition of MV it excludes something called a motorized skateboard, which would fit (two tandem wheels and a deck). It’s also possible the legal parsing of “self-propelled” would exclude it; is the kicking required, meaning it’s not self-propelled? Lacking any applicable regulation, next stop would be to look for local ordinances. Ug; that’s nearly impossible to do thoroughly, there are at least dozens of sets of local ordinances, that of course depend on knowing exactly where you are (are you in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert or Mesa? These cities and towns all have unique codes, and I might ride a bike in three or four of these in the same day on a regular basis). One thing about state statute is clear, Bicycle lanes are for the “exclusive use” of bicycles (28-815C), so unless otherwise stated in a local ordinance any/all of other gadgets may not use a bike lane. DUI? Hit-and-run? Notably, one documented case of DUI, along with hit-and-run (and other) charges have been filed by city of Tempe against an escooter rider regarding an incident that occurred October 28. 2018 “Shelton Begay, 28, was seen riding in lanes of traffic on Rural Road near Broadway Road when he was involved in a collision with a southbound vehicle in another lane”. The cases show up on the city court’s site (but not supreme court case search). Given the ambiguous status of escooters in ARS, it’s not completely clear how those charges should apply. More about the ever-popular topic of BUI on a bicycle see here. Recently DUI-attorney Cantor (whose position regarding bicycle-DUI I’ve disagree with) was quoted in a news article raising doubt about the charge, saying he’s filing a “friend of the court” brief which I think is the right thing to do, maybe we’ll get some actual clarification on the issue. Since Tempe is a hotbed, it’s certainly a logical place to start. Before Tempe’s passage of new e-bike regulations in 2017, I would have though the Motorized play vehicle would be applicable: Sec. 19-1. - Definitions. Motorized play vehicle means a coaster, scooter, any other alternatively fueled device or other motorized vehicle that is self-propelled by a motor or engine and which is not otherwise defined in Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 28, as a "motor vehicle," "motor-driven cycle" or "motorized wheelchair." Sec. 19-22. - Prohibited operation. No person shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard: (1) On any sidewalk in the City, except for use in crossing such sidewalk by the most direct route to gain access to any public or private road or driveway; (2) In any city parking structure or city park, except for use on public roadways within such park; (3) On any public property that has been posted or designed by the owner of such property as an area prohibiting "skateboards"; (4) On any public roadway consisting of a total of four (4) or more marked traffic lanes, or having an established speed limit of greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour; or (5) On any private property... One legal hair splitting with this def’n might be what does self-propelled mean? Does “kicking” to get the thing going mean that it’s not self-propelled? — if so then this def’n can’t apply. And if that were/is the case, then operating for transportation would be very restricted. No sidewalks, and almost all streets would be completely off limits (because of the 25mph posted restriction). Leaving perhaps only residential streets as the only legal place to operate… but… Tempe has a different definition of bicycle than the state (well, how does that work?), and in 2017 enacted new ordinances governing supposedly e-bikes, but it was actually much more broad; it included an odd new definition, the light motorized vehicle: Sec. 7-1 Definitions Bicycle: A device propelled by human power which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels or having three (3) wheels in contact with the ground. Electric bicycle: A two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts (1 h.p.), the maximum speed of which on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor, is 20 mph. Light motorized vehicle : All gas or electric powered, two- or three-wheeled vehicles with a gross weight of less than one hundred twenty (120) pounds and a maximum speed of thirty-five (35) miles per hour that are not an electric bicycle or an electric personal assistance mobility device. So it (still) can’t be an e-bike in Tempe even though there’s no wheel-size restriction, because the e-bike def’n in Tempe, like the state, requires fully operable pedals. There is, however, another odd (according to my way of thinking) category, the light motorized vehicle (LMV), that seems to fit escooters. This is a relatively unrestricted designation, LMVs are more-or-less treated like bicycles under this designation, since an LMV rider “is granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a bicycle rider under state and local law”. They may be ridden on any roadway open to bicycles regardless of posted speed limits or number of lanes (which is every road in Tempe. Only fully-controlled limited access highways prohibit bicycles), if there is a bike lane they may ride in it. Sidewalk use is permitted, but limited to human power only (how would that be enforced?); Helmets are required but only for persons below 18 (and i think the minimum age is 16, i need to look up). See Chapter 7, Article VI for the full list. Note that the LMV def’n does NOT say anything about “self-propelled”. There is an urban legend floating around; this was repeated to me 2nd hand as coming from Tempe police officer: scooters are only allowed on streets (perhaps streets posted above a certain mph?) with bike lanes or somesuch. Other variations of this same theme are that escooters are only allowed on sidewalks along streets with no bike lanes. This seems to be wholly untrue; as noted above there is the play-vehicle restriction to 25mph streets but that says nothing about bike lanes. As of early 2019, and ongoing, Tempe in the process of re-vamping everything to do with dockless sharing (both bicycle, and e-scooter, and presumable future e-bike) including rules of the road type restrictions; to the extent there’s confusion, that would be a good opportunity to clarify. Here is a proposed ordinance as of April 2019 which totally revamps rules of the road Chapter 19 (traffic and motorized play vehicles; what happened to Chapter 7, Bicycles?) 36-1 Definitions. Motorized play vehicle means a coaster, scooter, any other alternatively fueled device, or other motorized vehicle that is self-propelled by a motor or engine, gas or electric, and which is not otherwise defined in Title 28, Arizona Revised Statutes, as a motor vehicle, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, motorized wheelchair or electric personal assistive mobility device. Motorized skateboard means a self-propelled device that has a motor, gas or electric, a deck on which a person may ride and at least two tandem wheels in contact with the ground and which is not otherwise defined in Title 28, Arizona Revised Statutes, as a motor vehicle, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, motorized wheelchair or electric personal assistive mobility device. 36-64 Motorized skateboard and motorized play vehicle; prohibitions; disclosure requirements. A. No motorized skateboard or motorized play vehicle may be operated on any public sidewalk, roadway, or any other part of a highway or on any bikeway, bicycle path or trail, equestrian trail, or shared-use path... The rules in Phoenix governing motorized skateboards and “play vehicles” are rather draconian. The only reasons i can think of that these rules wouldn’t apply are the self-propelled question; and the “not otherwise defined” possibility… though I don’t think either of those pan out. There are four, and only four, “Person Types” that can be involved in a traffic crash per the ACR (Arizona crash report form; a standardized form used throughout Arizona). Pedalcyclist eScooterists would then have to be… Drivers. This would somewhat consistent with the current taxonomy of defining riders of motorized bicycles as drivers, also. Previous PostChandler police investigating collision that killed bicyclistNext PostDriver jumps curb, kills Mesa man on sidewalk 5 thoughts on “What is an e-scooter?” Augsburg says: Thanks for the research and posting this article. E-bikes suffered for a long time (and still do to a certain extent) from a lot of misinformation held by the public and lawmakers, and laws were passed in Arizona with out the benefit of sound knowledge behind those laws. Only recently have some of the challenges uninformed legislation pose for e-bikes started to be reversed. Too bad, because I like seeing e-bikes available as a transportation option for those of us living in urban areas. Similarly, a lot of concern has sprung up around e-scooters. I am generally more pro-regulation than the next person and I don’t mind seeing e-scooters coming under some legal scrutiny – but with hopefully more thought than what occurred with e-bikes early on. I don’t have an e-scooter and do not plan to get one. Even so, I see them as a great solution compared to the automobile. The single largest safety threat to us cyclists is the automobile. I think everyone can agree that collision with an automobile while on a bicycle will likely result in serious injury or worse. Therefore, I believe anything that promotes non-auto-oriented transportation is good for cyclists. And e-scooters could be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new types of personal transporation we will encounter in the near future. Based on recent news and weather reports, Arizona is seeing more and more days with air pollution alerts each year, with significant consequences to public health. The automobile (that is with an internal combustion engine) plays a significant role in degradation of Arizona’s air quality. E-bikes and e-scooters have no emissions, and even the electricity used to charge them can be produced emission free. Many of the objections I’ve heard about e-scooters have to do with how station-less e-scooters were brought into the urban landscape by companies looking to profit from their use. Some people have felt that the station-less e-scooters, and station-less bike share for that matter, have caused blight in many downtown areas. In some cases, the companies bringing scooters and bike share were only trolling for personal data that could be garnered when users signed up for and use their phone apps. Apparently, that user data can be sold, producing more revenue than the e-scooter rental. Bottom line, I hope Arizona carefully regulates e-scooter use, but in an informed manner that recognizes the benefits e-scooters will provide to cyclists and the public at large. I’ll throw another wrench in the works by announcing that I’ve just bought an electric skateboard. I’ll be riding it around Phoenix in the same fashion as I do my bike, so it’ll be interested to see how law enforcement react. In my experience the average Phoenix PD officer has very little knowledge of the specific laws governing bicycles, so it think it’ll be a total crapshoot with an electric skateboard! Also, could “Motorized play vehicle” be any more demeaning? Bryan Armstrong says: There is much to be made right when it comes to the regulating of slow moving vehicles. Accepting them by the drivers of cars should be the first thing to deal with. There being no uniform acceptance as to whether or not they are to be on the streets or the sidewalks makes it very unsafe and unpleasant to travel by these means. I have been riding motor assisted bicycles sense 1988. My experience has been colorful and twice almost death dealing. Most officers seeing me ride do not hinder me. There are some that seek to stop my riding by this means and will do underhanded things in their attempts. Unfortunate but true. I ride using all the laws applicable to motor vehicles with one exception, which is to ride to the far right as is safe to ride in an effort to stay out of drivers way. When I am riding major streets I ride in the gaps between the groups of cars that occur due to traffic lights. I pull off the road when a surge of cars comes up behind me so as to keep living. I stick to side streets whenever I can and will travel at speeds of up to 25 MPH whenever I feel it is safe and no officers are around. I do not believe it to be safe to travel any faster than that because I want to live and I don’t want to hurt or kill anything I might unavoidably hit due to the many things that could happen. I hit a dog while traveling about 21 MPH and it was not anything nice for me or the dog. Any faster and I believe things could have been life threatening. I ride and give everything I encounter the right of way because I want to live and I feel it is better for all involved. I ride through all the mentioned cities in the article and figure in the bad cop citations and confiscating of bikes a part of the operation costs of this type of travel. I want to do my part to stop killing the earth and this is the price. My most fear that I will be killed by a driver that is not alert and hits me from behind. I believe that a mirror, speedometer, front and rear lights are a must and a loud horn is wise as well. I do not ride using a helmet as I feel that hearing whats around me is very important and has saved my life more than once. I have been hit by cars 3 times, the last time being the worst event. While traveling at about 4 miles an hour along side stopped cars that were backed up from the stop light a driver became impatient and gunned their car making a hard right to get out of the back up, hitting me square in my hip as I was right at the front right corner of their car when they made this move. $366.000.00 dollars and a month and a half in the hospital later I came home to a long form ticket for riding with a 49 1\2cc motor on my bike (legal limit is 48cc) Long form ticket is a ticket given a person that is not there for one reason or another that can be pursued by the court for up to one year from the issuance by the officer. I was never called in to court over this ticket. The driver was not issued any ticket by the officer. I ride as if everything is out to get me and everything can come out of everywhere instantly. My life depends on it. I could be dead right in many circumstances but I would still be dead so I push no right of way issues and give in to any aggressive behavior by automobiles. I can put a dent in a car, a car can kill me dead…. Added some Phoenix ordinances… e-scooters are yet another slow moving vehicle when operated on roads (see slow by nature); here are some thoughts on how they should be regulated Steven Goodridge said in a facebook postWhen considering regulations for electric scooters, there are some fundamental principles of vehicle traffic regulation to keep in mind. 1. The primary purpose of vehicle regulation is to protect the safety of other, innocent users of the shared road system, with the balanced objective of preserving the freedom of all travelers to reach their destinations. 2. The greater the potential of a vehicle to injure others, e.g. due to speed and/or mass, the stronger the regulation that may be warranted. 3. There is no minimum speed capability or minimum mass requirement for vehicle use on normal roadways. Only fully controlled access highways, which do not directly serve destinations, and which are redundant to other roads in NC, are prohibited to bicycles and mopeds. Farm tractors, bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and other slow vehicles are permitted to operate on ordinary rural roadways and city streets, and their drivers all follow the same basic rules of movement to avoid collisions, which includes being prepared to slow or stop for slower traffic ahead at all times. 4. Because pedestrians are more vulnerable than are users of motor vehicles, and because pedestrians do not expect motorized traffic in pedestrian spaces, motorized vehicles are generally prohibited from pedestrian spaces such as sidewalks. Devices such as motorized wheelchairs that are designed to assist people with a disability impairment to move slowly within confined pedestrian spaces and which do not present a safety hazard to other pedestrians are a necessary exception to this. Roadways, not sidewalks, are designed to accommodate the kinematic and dynamic maneuvering characteristics of normal wheeled vehicles from bicycles to trucks. 5. If a particular vehicle class has specific equipment or registration requirements under state law for operation on public ways, those requirements apply to operation ANYWHERE within the public right of way, not just on the roadway portion. A vehicle that cannot be legally operated on the roadway due to unsafe/insufficient equipment or lack of registration may not be operated on the shoulder or sidewalk where it would present an even greater public hazard. 6. Low-speed vehicles are an ever-present part of the traffic mixture on ordinary (non-freeway) roads. If interactions between low-speed and higher-speed traffic on a particular ordinary road is deemed unreasonably unsafe, unpleasant, or inconvenient, the prudent remedy is to change the road in ways to reduce conflicts and/or speeds, and not to prohibit users of lower speed vehicles from accessing the destinations served by that roadway. Allowing electric scooters to be operated on roadways according to the movement rules for vehicles, and according to the equipment requirements for mopeds, would seem consistent with these principles and with existing state law. (Scooter equipment may need to be upgraded with a bar-end mirror and a better rear lamp, however, and some registration procedure may be needed.) Operators who violate the movement rules for vehicles may be ticketed. A case may also be made to treat electric scooters more like electric bicycles given their light weight, and as such there may be some pedestrian spaces where operation of electric scooters and electric-assisted bicycles is acceptable. In contrast, to ban 15-mph-electric scooters from roadways while allowing them to be driven among pedestrians on sidewalks, which some communities (such as Charlotte, NC) have done, is to turn the principles of vehicle traffic regulation upside-down.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1752
__label__wiki	0.502977	0.502977	Negev Bedouin rally in Tel Aviv against government-approved relocation plan Protesters object to the cabinet's approval of plan addressing ongoing dispute between the state and the Bedouin over land ownership rights. By Zafrir Rinat, Ha'aretz, Sept. 20, 2011 Negev Bedouin who oppose new government proposals to relocate some of the region's Bedouin residents and give official status to other currently unrecognized Bedouin communities brought their protests to Tel Aviv on Monday. They were joined by several hundred additional activists, including representatives of organizations active in social and human rights issues. The protesters are objecting to the cabinet's approval two weeks ago of a plan that would address the ongoing dispute between the state and the Bedouin over land ownership rights. Although the plan grants official recognition to some unrecognized Bedouin communities, it also calls for the relocation of 30,000 Bedouin to recognized villages. Monday's demonstration started at a building on Rothschild Boulevard that has become a center of the social protest movement. Among those attending the gathering was Sheikh Sayah Al-Turi of the unrecognized Al-Arakib village, which has been demolished and rebuilt 29 times. From there, the demonstrators marched to the government offices in the vicinity of the Defense Ministry headquarters. "We have to tell the truth. Did we invade the State of Israel or did the State of Israel invade our land and the land of our ancestors when the state was established?" Al-Turi asked, adding that while the Bedouin wanted to forget what happened with the establishment of Israel in 1948, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to revive the issue. "[Netanyahu] said the Arabs in Israel have a high standard of living, but I live in a village without running water, electricity or medical services," the Bedouin leader said in reference to his unrecognized village. Al-Turi said the Bedouin were not prepared to move to other land. "I don't understand how Netanyahu wants to make peace with the Palestinians and with the Arab countries if he is incapable of creating good relations with the Arab citizens of his country," Al-Turi added. Photo: Bedouin protesting in Tel Aviv on Monday. Sign says, “Bedouin land taken, given to cronies.” Photo by: Moti Milrod Labels: Al-Arakib, demolition, Palestinians, Praver Report Discrimination against Bedouin in Israel reaches unprecedented scale in the Netanyahu govt's new plan - Policy Brief offers an alternative solution The Campaign for Bedouin-Jewish Justice joins with the Association for Civil Rights (ACRI) and the many in Israel who were appalled to learn that the Netanyahu government voted on Sept. 11, 2011 to approve the Praver Plan to address the problem of unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev. Rather than recognizing the systemic violations of the rights of the Bedouin, the Praver Plan continues the discrimination of one of the most disadvantaged communities in Israel, at the very time when a mass Israeli protest movement has been calling for social justice for all citizens. The Praver Plan, which was prepared without any consultation whatsoever with the Bedouin community in the unrecognized villages, will lead to the needless uprooting of tens of thousands of Bedouin from their homes, in flagrant violation of their human and civil rights. An Alternative Master Plan, submitted by the Regional Council of Unrecognized Bedouin Villages and Bimkom - Planners for Planning Rights, proposes to keep all 35 unrecognized villages intact and to connect them to infrastructure and services, while saving Israel massive amounts of resources necessary for uprooting villages that have existed since before the State was established. Only an approach based on respect for the human rights of the Bedouin population, that includes them in the process, will bring about a lasting solution for all residents of the Negev, both Arabs and Jews. The Campaign for Bedouin-Jewish Justice is working with our allies in Israel - including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), Rabbis for Human Rights, Bimkom, and the Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality - to build support in Israel and the U.S., both with the public and with NGO and government officials, for the Alternate Master Plan and to stop the Praver Plan. To Read the 4-page summary Policy Brief on this issue, click here. The Policy Brief, titled “Principles for Arranging Recognition of the Bedouin Villages in the Negev,” provides an overview of the Negev Bedouin, the Goldberg and Praver Plans, and guiding principles for the proposed alternative solution. Help support our efforts to stop the expulsion of tens of thousands of Bedouin in Israel, gain recognition for the Negev Bedouin villages, and ensure respect for the human rights of the Bedouin citizens of Israel. Posted by Jewish Alliance for Change at 2:24 AM No comments: Labels: demolition, discrimination, expulsion, Goldberg Committee, Praver Report Jerusalem Post editorial criticizes Netanyahu govt's new plan for the Negev Bedouin The new plan approved this week by the Netanyahu government on the Negev Bedouin “contains a number of critical faults that, if not addressed swiftly, could lead to a further deterioration of relations with an increasingly alienated Beduin community. "Beduin have already vowed to call a general strike in protest against the plan, and other Arab Israelis might join in. At a time when Israel is facing numerous challenges abroad, from Turkey and Egypt to the Palestinian bid for statehood in the UN, it would be highly advisable to avoid a clash with the Beduin, a population that is rapidly growing (the average Beduin woman has between five and six children) and is relatively loyal (many Beduin men serve in the IDF)." The Negev Beduin Jerusalem Post - EDITORIAL While it might not be realistic to meet all demands, a more serious effort needs to be made on the part of the gov't to open up channels of communication with the Beduin community in the Negev. The Beduin population of the Negev has a list of genuine gripes against a cabinet decision Sunday to evacuate tens of thousands of Beduin from “unrecognized” villages such as al-Arakib and Tavil Abu Jarwal and resettle them in “recognized” and relatively urbanized locations such as Rahat, Hura, Tel Sheva and Kuseife. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was right when he stated that “given the situation in the Negev, the time has come to act.” Unfortunately, the NIS 6 billion, five-year plan approved this week contains a number of critical faults that, if not addressed swiftly, could lead to a further deterioration of relations with an increasingly alienated Beduin community. Beduin have already vowed to call a general strike in protest against the plan, and other Arab Israelis might join in. At a time when Israel is facing numerous challenges abroad, from Turkey and Egypt to the Palestinian bid for statehood in the UN, it would be highly advisable to avoid a clash with the Beduin, a population that is rapidly growing (the average Beduin woman has between five and six children) and is relatively loyal (many Beduin men serve in the IDF). Conflict with the Beduin might also have international ramifications. Prof. James Anaya, the UN’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, recently issued a report criticizing the Israeli refusal to recognize the rights of Beduin to land in the Negev. The State of Israel has a moral obligation to provide the 200,000-strong Beduin population of the Negev with basic services such as roads, water, electricity and garbage collection. Besides, their demands are not outrageous. They make up about 30 percent of the population of the Negev and if all their land demands of about 600,000 dunams (60,000 hectares) – in addition to about 200,000 dunams already recognized by the state back in 2003 – are met they would receive a total of 5% of the land in the Negev. In October 2007, former Supreme Court justice Eliezer Goldberg was chosen to head an eight-man committee that included two Beduin representatives living in “recognized” villages in the Negev. In December 2008, the Goldberg Committee presented a list of recommendations worded in conciliatory language. Statements such as “there is no justification for the state to treat the Beduin residents in these communities differently from the way it treats the rest of the citizens of the state,” and that Beduin have a “historic connection” to the Negev were received positively by the Beduin community as a basis for dialogue, though certain aspects of the report were criticized. Where possible, wrote the Goldberg Committee members, an effort should be made to recognize the dozens of “unrecognized” villages throughout the southeastern Negev in the triangle created by Beersheba, Dimona and Arad, where the vast majority of Beduin now live, after being expelled from the western Negev in the years following the establishment of the state. The committee also recommended a generous compensation program in cases where recognition was unfeasible. But for two years none of the Goldberg Committee recommendations were implemented. Eventually, a new body, the Prawer Committee, was formed. Devoid of Beduin representation, the Prawer Committee issued recommendations that were eventually adopted by the cabinet and have turned out to be bad for the Beduin. As pointed out by Dr. Suleiman Abu Bader, director of the Robert Arnow Center For Bedouin Studies and Development at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, perhaps the biggest flaw in the Prawer Committee was its “top down approach” that made absolutely no attempt to incorporate the Beduin community in the decision-making process. While it might not be realistic to meet all demands, a more serious effort needs to be made on the part of the government to open up channels of communication with the Beduin community in the Negev. Perhaps it is not too late to return to the positive atmosphere created by the Goldberg Committee’s approach that came close to striking a balance between recognition of Beduin historic rights to land in the Negev with the Zionist ideal of settling the area with Jews and “making the desert bloom” with the fruits of Jewish labor. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=237708 Posted by Jewish Alliance for Change at 12:17 AM No comments: Labels: demolition, discrimination, expulsion, Goldberg Committee, human rights, Praver Report NYC Lunch and Learn - 9/23: The New Netanyahu Gov't Plan for the Negev Bedouin: A Harsh Blow to Human Rights in Israel A discussion with Dr. Yeela Livnat Raanan Former Director of Bedouin Rights Advocacy, Shatil: Leading Social Change, An Initiative of the New Israel Fund, Beersheva, Israel Date: Friday, September 23, 2011 Time: 12:30-1:30 pm Location: Offices of Rabbis for Human Rights-North America / Human Rights First, 333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, NY Bring your lunch; desert will be provided. RSVP to: office@rhr-na.org Dr. Livnat Raanan will explain the new plan for the Negev Bedouin community just approved by the Netanyahu government, and now being debated by the Knesset. If enacted by the Knesset, the plan will involve expelling 30,000 Bedouin from their homes, demolishing 20 “unrecognized” villages. It will deprive the 200,000-strong Bedouin population of much of their land and livelihoods, containing the entire Bedouin community in a small part of the Negev. Dr. Livnat Raanan will report on the great challenges facing Israel’s most disadvantaged community, discuss possible scenarios and lay out a different approach that human rights groups in Israel and the US are urging the Israeli government to adopt. Sponsored by the Campaign for Bedouin-Jewish Justice: A Project of Rabbis for Human Rights-North America and the Jewish Alliance for Change, and Jewish Voice for Peace http://www.rhr-na.org/get-involved/attend-an-event/view/32.html?Itemid=28 Labels: demolition, discrimination, events, expulsion, human rights, Praver Report Israel approves plan to uproot 30,000 Bedouin, by Joseph Dana, +972 Magazine The approval of the ‘Prawer Plan’ concerning Bedouins in the Negev desert demonstrates that Israel’s principle of divide and rule, which has been perfected in the West Bank and Gaza, also applies to citizens of Israel living inside 1948 boundaries. Perhaps the most violent component of Israel’s control over non-Jewish inhabitants since the founding of the state has been the (unequal) distribution and allocation of resources. In Area C of the West Bank, the area designated for full Israeli military and civilian control by the Oslo accords which makes up the majority of land in the occupied territories, Israel has demonstrated its ability to control the Palestinians of the West Bank through the allocation of resources such as water, electricity and building permits. In the West Bank village of Susya, for example, Palestinians are forced to purchase water at rates close to 10 times higher than an Israeli living in Tel Aviv. Their wells are destroyed by Israel’s civilian administration due to lack of permits which are almost impossible to obtain and many living structures are deemed illegally built and subject to demolition. The deprivation of resources leaves Palestinians helpless in the face of bureaucratic measures which even Kafka could not have imagined. The point of this system is clear, make Palestinian life in area C villages so unbearable that they their only option is to move into cities in Area A, under Palestinian Authority control. The unclaimed land is then expropriated by Israel using out of date Ottoman laws. This amounts to an effective use of the classic colonial practice of divide and rule given the fragmented nature of Area A cities in the West Bank and the settlements which form almost natural barrier between them. Interestingly, this is not just happening to West Bank Palestinians. Something similar is taking place to non-Jewish citizens inside Israeli territory. This morning, Israel authorized the controversial “Prawer Plan” concerning the resettlement of Bedouins in the Negev Desert. Authored by Ehud Prawer, head of the Policy Planning Department at the Prime Minister’s Office, the report contradicts an earlier report on how to resolve settlement issues in the Negev desert. The first report, penned by former Justice Eliezer Goldberg, demanded that Israel make every attempt to respect Bedouins living in the Negev, noting in particular the need to allow them to remain in their villages and homes. The Prawer report, which has been criticized by the Israeli civil liberties outfit, the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, has proposed that as many as 30,000 Bedouins be removed from their homes and villages, against their will and for little reason. Removal has been approved by the government according to a report in today’s edition of Haaretz (Hebrew). The decision to evacuate as many as 30,000 Bedouins and relocate them to large Bedouin towns such as Rahat, Khura and Ksayfe with some financial compensation has been called by some a “declaration of war on the Bedouin.” It is actually a long time coming if the experience of the Bedouin village of al Arakib is any indication. The village has been destroyed almost 30 times by Israel in an effort to make way for a new Jewish National Fund forest in its place. During the height of the hopeful J14 tent protests this summer, demands for better Bedouin rights could be heard filling conversations even in the heart of Tel Aviv’s Rothschild boulevard tent encampment. However, hope has taken a backseat in recent days as many of the tent protesters’ demands for Bedouin rights have been dropped, ignored or simply disappeared. Israel policies of divide and rule, based on classical colonial principles, are not limited to its occupied populations. The adoption of the Prawer plan by the Israeli government has shown that Israel uses this mechanism of control to subjugate all non-Jewish inhabitants under its control from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea regardless of the status of their citizenship. Reprinted from +972 Magazine Labels: Al-Arakib, discrimination, expulsion, Goldberg Committee, J14 social protest movement, Palestinians Netanyahu gov't to approve plan to contain Negev Bedouin, forcibly relocating 30,000 people, reducing Bedouin land by two-thirds "The plan is to concentrate them in certain areas, where they will receive land and till it…" No, these are not the words of a Czar regarding the future of the Jews in the land. These are the words of David Rotem, an Israeli Member of Knesset from the Yisrael Beitenu party, deciding the future of the Bedouin, citizens of Israel, and the indigenous people of the Negev. His version of the Praver plan will be voted on by the Israeli government on Sunday, September 4th. (Link to Hebrew, "On the way to approval: large cut in lands for Bedouin, YNET, 9/1/11). [Editor's note: The first report in Ha'aretz's English edition online whitewashed the story, omitting key passages from the Hebrew version, as we show here. About forty-eight hours later Ha'aretz English edition published an updated story under the headline: "Negev Bedouin to ask UN for help to quash Israeli transfer plan; Cabinet delays vote on plan to move thousands to recognized Negev towns," 9/5/11, which rectified some of the omission, but still left out some of the most provocative portions of the original Hebrew edition report.] I don't know where to begin… That the Bedouin have owned and used the Negev land for centuries before the establishment of the state of Israel? That since the establishment of the state of Israel, their wish has been to become a legitimate part of their state? That the policies of the state of Israel over the last 60 years have brought them to penury, living in tin shacks, at the threat of even these being demolished at the whim of a bureaucrat? That the land they are holding on to now is no more than 3% of the Negev lands – and that the policies of oppression and destruction are in order to further reduce these lands to only 1.5% of the Negev land. That on average a Bedouin farmer can use no more than 3 dunams (1 dunam = 1/4 of an acre) to support his family of 10, while a Jewish farmer in the Negev has no less than 30 dunams, and at times even 1,000? So let’s remember how we got to where we are now: Retired Supreme Court judge Eliezer Goldberg listened to many voices, and together with a small committee put together "the Goldberg Report" in 2008 under the auspices of the Olmert Government. This report, while using positive rhetoric, such as "the villages must be recognized, as much as possible," also recommended that Bedouins should not receive land beyond Route 40, re-establishing the norm that Bedouins, while being citizens, are not really a fully legitimate part of our country. The Bedouin community, which had fully cooperated with the Goldberg committee, was disappointed. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert assigned Ehud (Udi) Praver to create a plan implementing the Goldberg Report recommendations. Praver's plan was released a couple of months ago. This plan did not implement the Goldberg Report recommendations, but rather created a completely new plan. In developing this new plan, NO BEDOUIN were consulted. NONE. Creating a plan for a community, without even thinking of considering their voice, is a strong statement – indicating that Israel still perceives the Bedouin as less than citizens. It also means that the chance of implementing the plan is really low. The Praver plan includes massive violent enforcement, concentration, no clear statement as to the recognition of villages, use of "divide and rule" tactics intended to split the community, and no option for the community for negotiations. The end result was to be – reduction of actual use of land by the Bedouin community from 300,000 dunams to no more than 200,000. Naturally, the leadership in the Bedouin community felt betrayed yet again, and together with organizations such as ACRI (the Association for Civil Rights in Israel) and Bimkom: Planners for Planning Rights, expressed their disapproval of this plan. But, evidently, that was not important to Prime Minister Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu: his concern was the criticism from the Right. It is with sadness, disappointment and a feeling of intense distaste that I write of the next steps decided upon by Netanyahu: Netanyahu gave Yaakov Amidror, the director of the National Security Council (NSC), the mission to "correct" Praver's plan. Yet again, the Bedouin are treated not as citizens, but as a security issue. In addition, Foreign Minister Liberman assigned MK David Rotem, Chairman of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee in the Knesset, to study the plan, and insure it is in accordance with his party’s (Yisrael Beitenu’s) line. MK Rotem is demanding that the maximum amount of land allowed to remain in the hands of the Bedouin be no more than 100,000 dunams, and that another 300 paramilitary police be assigned to enforce the relocation and containment of the Bedouin. There are 100,000 Bedouin living today in the villages, an agricultural people and young population with an annual growth of about 5%. The entire land they utilize is 300,000 dunams – used for their homes, their livestock, and their agriculture. Rotem is demanding that it be reduced to 100,000 dunams. By contrast 50 newly established Jewish single family ranches in the Negev have received about 1,000 dunams each from the State. The words of MK Rotem "...concentrate them, there they will till their land", are extremely ironic pending this planned process of dispossession. MK David Rotem's opinions on Arabs are well known. For example, he presented a law conditioning Israeli citizenship on service in the Israeli army. Now the Bedouin – who have no say in the plans for their future within their own country – have to accept the plans created for them by a person of MK Rotem's views. I don't believe it is possible, even with the use of massive force: police brutality, bulldozers, arrests, fines, demolitions, and village erasures – to evict the Bedouin from their lands and contain them. We are about to step into a very dark era in Israeli history, making the Bedouin community suffer tremendously before the government will change its ways. Eventually, at some time in history, Israel will realize that its treatment of its Bedouin population must be one of inclusion and dignity. But I am fearful of what will happen until then. For more updates see the website of Dukium, the Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality, a group of concerned Arab and Jewish residents of the Negev engaged in collaborative Jewish-Arab efforts in the struggle for civil equality and the advancement of mutual tolerance and coexistence. Please take initiative and do what you can to help change Israel's treatment of its Bedouin population. Recognition Now calls on the Government of Israel to integrate the Arab-Bedouin community of the Negev into the region based on the principles of partnership, equality, human rights, and a future of prosperity for all the Negev residents. For more information: Dr. Awad Abu-Frieh, deeretna@gmail.com, Halil El-Amour, ycantmeetu@hotmail.com الاعتراف الان Recognition Now הכרה עכשיו اللجنة الشعبية لحقوق العرب في النقب הוועד הציבורי למען זכויות הערבים בנגב ص. ب 5730 بئر السبع ת"ד 5730 באר שבע Posted by Jewish Alliance for Change at 7:57 PM 1 comment: English edition of Ha'aretz whitewashes Israeli govt plan to expel 30,000 Negev Bedouin The English edition of Ha'aretz has again whitewashed a major story about the Negev Bedouin from the Hebrew edition: the sub-head in the Hebrew reads in part (omitted from the English version): "The plan involves evacuating 30,000 people from their homes. Bedouin: 'This is a declaration of war.'" Is Israeli reality too ugly for delicate Western ears? The English headline sounds positively charming, as if this is all good: "Israeli cabinet set to vote on approval of unrecognized villages," a headline which grossly misrepresents what the Israeli government is about to approve: the NON-RECOGNITION OF MOST BEDOUIN VILLAGES AND THE FORCIBLE EXPULSION OF THEIR RESIDENTS. (For background on this vote on the "Praver Plan," see "Cabinet Ministers will vote on the evacuation of 30,000 Bedouin from their homes," Ha'aretz Hebrew edition translation by Campaign for Bedouin-Jewish Justice). And the English version omits the sub-head in the Hebrew original which makes clear that the Netanyahu-Lieberman government's plan involves forcibly relocating 30,000 Bedouin Israelis. This fact is relegated to the last sentence of the English version, and is attributed to the NGO Bimkom, relegating it to secondary importance, as if it isn't a significant facet of the government's plan - not worthy of a headline. Ha'aretz has belatedly rectified these omissions by publishing in the English edition a report under the headline: "Negev Bedouin to ask UN for help to quash Israeli transfer plan; Cabinet delays vote on plan to move thousands to recognized Negev towns," 9/5/11. Labels: demolition, expulsion, Ha'aretz, Praver Report Israeli social protest leader tells 300,000 at TA rally: whether you're an evacuee from Gush Katif, or Bedouin, situation must change Dafni Leef, who founded the "J14" social justice protest movement, spoke at length to 300,000 Israelis "about solidarity between all sectors in Israeli society, a new civic identity, and a political movement free of the right-vs-left discourse." Over 450,000 Israelis marched at protests for social justice held all over the country. Whether you’re an evacuee from Gush Katif (in Gaza) or a Bedouin, she said, or a child whose parents can’t afford to send him on a school trip, the situation for you, too, must change. See "Over 400,000 in largest protest in Israel's history" at +972 magazine Here is Dafni Leef's inspiring speech to the largest protest in Israel's history: Speech given at mass rally in Tel Aviv’s Kikar HaMedina 3 September 2011 Daphni Leef was the person who initiated the J14 movement in Israel by pitching the first tent. Hebrew original - Translated by Sol Salbe of the Middle East News Service, Melbourne, Australia Something tremendous, something huge has happened during this summer. Summer 2011 has been the great summer of Israel's new hope. This hope was born, as many hopes are born out of a sense of despair, of alienation. It was born out of the disparities that none of us could handle; disparities that have become well-nigh insurmountable. The Israeli society that is present here - and, it is important to say, that part of Israeli society that had chosen to stay at home tonight – has reached its red line. Then it rose up and said: Enough! No more! You can fool some people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time. This summer we woke up and refused to march towards the precipice with our eyes shut. This summer, we opened our eyes, and those eyes are not going to close again. We have chosen to be. We are not invisible. If they can only understand numbers, then I would remind them today that there are more than seven million people, and every one of those people has a heart. There used to be a sign at Rothschild Boulevard [home of the original encampment-tr] that said: every heart is a revolutionary cell. It's true. Each of us forms a one person’s campaign headquarters. We were confronted with a great obstacle course this summer. What hurdles didn’t they place in front of us. In what way didn’t they try to break us apart. The first thing they said about us was that we were spoiled kids who ate Sushi and smoked the hookahs. From that we learnt that our elected officials instinctively choose not to treat our actions with respect. Their first reaction was to say - it's nothing, nothing significant, just a bunch of kids. At that stage we only had the Rothschild encampment. They called us vague and dreamy. The resulting outcome: tent encampments were popping up all over the country. They had no choice but to figure it out that this is something bigger, something that belonged to all of us. A miracle has happened here. My generation grew up with the sense of being alone in the world. It's us facing the screen. The other is our enemy, which is our competitor. We grew up with the feeling that we live in a race which could not win; that we cannot lean upon on anyone else. We were taught that it was either you or the other. That’s capitalism – a competition that never ends. The fact that it is precisely this generation - the most solitary and withdrawn generation – that stood up and took action is nothing short of miraculous. The miracle of Summer 2011. Ergo, everything that we thought, everything that they taught us is not true! What happened here is precisely what needed to happen. We were all closed in, each one in their own circle, the circle of dissatisfaction, of a sense of absurdity. And suddenly we started to talk, and more importantly, we started to listen. So they told us that we were the extreme Left. They tried to pigeonhole us. How do they know who I am? How do they know who you people are? Where did they get the hutzpah to make those assertions anyway? The best answer to their contention did not come from me and my friends. It came from the encampments that were established in the Hatikva neighbourhood, Jesse Cohen, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Shmona, Modi’in, Rahat, Qalansawe, in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beit Shean and Yeruham and dozens of other places. All of us right throughout the country understood that there is no Left or Right, we all had to serve. They told us go to the periphery. What a terrible and condescending statement. What exactly is "Go to the periphery"? This contention seems to suggest that there are no people there, only wilderness and silence. And you know what, how fortunate we were that they sent us to the periphery. We discovered there what we had already known - the whole country is full of pounding hearts. I went there and found new friends, for life. And anyhow what exactly is "Go to the periphery"? The State of Israel has been banging up the periphery in a systematic and orderly fashion from the day it was founded till today. Look at Education, health, infrastructure, housing, welfare, culture saying "go to the periphery" is the height of hypocrisy. To speak of this periphery is to remain stuck in the old repulsive discourse. It’s the discourse that tells people that they are being shunted to the sidelines: you are a long way away, your needs are not as important, your demands are not as important. This summer we have proven to everyone that there is no such thing as the periphery – We are all at the centre! Every single one of us! We have reduced the physical distance between us and we found that it is a good thing, we want to stay close. They will fail to split us apart. Then came the security escalation. But even the missiles that landed did not destroy this protest movement. On the contrary - they showed just how strong and how genuine is the movement. The fact that we did not fold over, and I have said that before, is the most exciting thing about this protest. The time has come for the term “security situation” to cease being an intrinsic value. It needs to revert what if is – a situation , and a situation that needs to be changed. Missiles fell and we were quiet for a few days, we marched in silence. And then they spoke and said that the protest is fading out. Instead of recognising the fact that we empathised with the pain of a million Israelis living under the threat of missiles, that we felt the hurt of the people who were killed and wounded and whose homes were destroyed. But instead of understanding that we are with those Israelis, instead of seeing that silence comes from love, they said that "the protest is ebbing". They tried to turn our solidarity into a manifestation of folding down. Frankly, it was sad. How does any Israeli government dare engage in such divide-and-rule games. This is the government has forsaken its residents - the elderly , the sick, the immigrants, the weak. How can it then come to us with such a claim? Israeli governments have divided us for years, and when we finally joined up together and indicated that we are no longer willing to just sit there and gaze at the television, they told us that we lack a sense of solidarity? We lack solidarity? Look at what is going on??? When one talks about security, one talks about securing the life of human beings - how does this square up with the Israeli government's policy of abandonment of its citizens? I'm 25 years old and my most memorable memories are of this country: the Second Lebanon War, the terrorism of the Second Intifada, friends who were killed then, the Rabin assassination and Gilad Shalit. Not to mention that I belong to the third generation of the Holocaust. That is the state of my consciousness - moments and memories that are all intertwined with death, bereavement, pain, fear, the feeling that everything is temporary. Proud to be Israeli At the Afula rally [on 13 August] I saw someone holding a sign: "I have been proud to be an Israeli had 31 days". Well, I am standing in front of you here and I've been proud to have been Israeli for seven weeks. I feel that between us we're putting together our self-esteem as a society. To saythat I deserve something means that the other also deserves it as do all of us. This summer brought a lot of good moments and memories - of hope, of change, of fraternity, of listening. A discourse of life has been created here. This is the most important awakening here. We are not here just to survive, we are here to live. We are not here just because we have no other place to go to. We're here because we want to be here. We choose to be here, we choose to be in a good, just society. We want to live in a society; we don’t want to be a collection of disjointed individuals each sitting in front of one box called a television, and every four years, place a piece of paper in another box, called the ballot box. We are here, not because we have no other country. We're here because this is the country we want. Without any of us noticing it, people have began returning from abroad. Suddenly there as a feeling around that something is happening, something that nobody wants to miss. We have created a new discourse here. This is what the new discourse is about: we have replaced pity with compassion. We’ve replaced charity with justice, handouts with welfare, and consumer with citizen. Instead of talking about waiting we talk about changing and instead of talking about being alone we talk about being together. It's the biggest thing we did here this summer. I don’t know what you think, my friends, but I think the process is irreversible. We will not go back! We are marching forward, towards a better future, a more just country. “Social justice.” We are all trapped in some sense in terms of our social status, where we live, our religion, and gender. Then I realised it is not just that we're imprisoned, it is that they have locked us up. We all have an overdraft, but us having an overdraft is in the interest of the banks, it’s in the interest of the country's entire economic system. It’s in their interest to keep us in some form of distress. This because when there is distress there is no hope, and when there is no hope there is no prospect for change and when there is prospect for change there is nothing to live for. But this summer, day after day, week after week, we went out into the streets and made it clear, not only to the government, but also to ourselves, that there is something to live for! And once we understood that, once we started to think about tomorrow together, we were all set free! Because things must change What will happen tomorrow? Everyone asks what will happen tomorrow. What about the tents, what will happen with the protest movement? Where are we heading and what we are doing and what’s next and saw on. All this yearning for a fateful day, a victory picture, a decisive moment - there is no such thing, friends. Was there one fateful day in which the disparities in our society had become unbearable? Was there triumphant moment for swinish capitalism? Can we put our finger on a single privatisation that went too far? There was no such moment. It was a process. Even now, there is moment - there's a process. Our process is just starting now. We have demands to the government and its head that things must change. If you are a resident of [the development town of] Yeruham - things must change. If you are a child whose parents have no money for the annual school excursion - things must change. If you are a pensioner or a Holocaust survivor - things have to change. If you are a Gush Katif evacuee - things must change. If you are a Bedouin - they must change. Forty per cent of us are considered to be "financially fragile". That means that forty per cent of us cannot deal with an unexpected expense: a child dental care, a plumbing mishap, an injury. We all live on the edge, on the dot, enticed to take another loan, consume more, save less. Our life has become a war of economic survival, while the state has forsaken our pensions for stock market games, and has privatised more basic services. Do you know which is the worst turn of phrase? It’s the little guy. There are laws against insulting a public servant, but there's no law against insulting the citizenry, and we have been insulted enough in recent years: they have pushed into poverty, played cat and mouth games with us and set us at each other. The ministers who are meant to discuss ameliorating the situation are y the very ministers responsible for, among other things, the worsening of our situation in the first place! I don’t know what you, but I do not like people laughing at me and I do not like those who fudge around while dealing with me. We have established a different discourse The citizen is not the little guy! The citizen is the big guy! To be a citizen, a big-guy citizen, and comprehend its significance is the biggest challenge facing us. This campaign’s demands are on the realisation that are no longer willing to be “little citizens” consumers, we are no longer willing to be just a target audience, only a sector, only a decile. We will no longer willing to ensconce ourselves in our little bunkers and fight our own individual battle of existence. That era is over. From now on there is something new. Now we're together. We are demanding a change and we are demanding to be part of that change. We have established a different discourse, a discourse of hope, of sharing, of solidarity and responsibility. I want to ask the prime minister and all politicians: Look at what happened here, look at what is happening here, is that what you want to beat? Is it something you can beat? You have been chosen by the people. You ought to be listening to the people. This protest, it gave so much hope to so many people is this the hope that you want to break? Is this what you want - to dispel the hope? You'll never succeed! And after we had cleared all these hurdles and their spin failed, what form of attack remained in their armoury? Attack me personally. This whole thing started with a person who took action. I put up my tent in Rothschild Boulevard with a personal feeling of being or ceasing to be. A man who was very dear to me, Alex, had killed himself. He was a poet, he wrote that even if you have a heart of gold, you cannot change the world. Two months before the whole thing started he could not take being be here any more, he chose to cease being. We all have a place How could it be such a dreamer, an idealist, felt that he had no more room in this world? If there is no room for him in this world, than probably there is none for me either. And my heart ached. My heart was broken. What kind of world is it with no room for dreamers, idealists and poets? What kind of world is forcing them out? It's a world of poverty. We all dream and we all have the right to dream. Being poor is not only not having enough money to complete the month or being homeless. To be poor is to be so fundamentally preoccupied with these things, that you do not have the ability to dream, think, learn or hug your children. So I started this thing. But once I started it, it is no longer just mine. It's not just my story, this is the story of multitudes of people who rose up and started to walk, rose up and began to act. We all chose to be. We chose to be here. Here we are. This summer we learnt that we all have a place, that tomorrow would be what we'll make it to be. We don’t need somebody else to determine who we are, we know very well who we are. And after this summer we know is permitted to dream. More than that, we realised that dreaming is a must! To dream is to be! Seven weeks ago I was 25 years old young woman struggling alone to realise her own dreams - to make films. Last week they attacked me from every direction, and almost managed to take me go back to when felt alone. I do not know what you, but I just started my protest. I'll be here while it is necessary. I want to show Alex that yes, you can change the world, anyone can. You just need to believe, stand up and do. The responsibility is on all of us, rise up and walk and walk and talk and never give up. By us all going to the street, we found the home! Labels: J14 social protest movement Negev Bedouin rally in Tel Aviv against government... Discrimination against Bedouin in Israel reaches u... Jerusalem Post editorial criticizes Netanyahu govt... NYC Lunch and Learn - 9/23: The New Netanyahu Gov'... Israel approves plan to uproot 30,000 Bedouin, by ... Netanyahu gov't to approve plan to contain Negev B... English edition of Ha'aretz whitewashes Israeli go... Israeli social protest leader tells 300,000 at TA ...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1754
__label__wiki	0.809506	0.809506	15 Bytes \| In Memoriam \| Visual Arts Anna Campbell Bliss (1925 – 2015) By 15 Bytes on October 14, 2015 • ( 4 Comments ) When she turned 90 in July, Anna Campbell Bliss was, as always, active. She had a show up at CUAC that she shared, as she did most everything, with her husband, Robert, and was hoping to begin new work soon at her west-side studio. I gave her a mystery by Donna Leon—an author she liked because the books are set in Venice where she and Robert had traveled (though she confided she would prefer something “with a little more spice, you know?”) Tuesday morning Robert Bliss called to say we had lost Anna. Hard to believe the irrepressible, irreplaceable artist, as well known for her shrewd mind as for her impeccable color sense and the art that manifested it (often accomplished with computers before most of the world knew they existed) would no longer share her deep and far-reaching thoughts with us. – Ann Poore A memorial Mass will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Anna Campbell Bliss in her studio, 2012. Photo by Zoe Rodriguez. Anna Campbell Bliss: Avoiding the Obvious by Laura Allred Hurtado This article appeared in Artists of Utah’s 2014 publication Utahs 15: The State’s Most Influential Artists In a career spanning more than six decades, Anna Campbell Bliss has created a large body of work, from which “intersection” has consistently emerged as a theme. In concept and in style, Bliss’s artwork draws upon mathematics, science, architecture, calligraphy, choreography, computer technology, color theory, pattern, and form. In sum, it is smart work, thinking work, work that emerges at the plane where disciplines intersect and that requires both a visual and intellectual engagement from the viewer. Of this intersection, Bliss says, “I approach art as exploration. I seek connections between nature and constructed environments, poetry, and math. Use of the computer must be balanced with the more intuitive tradition of artistic expression. Often the most exciting ideas emerge at the intersection where more than one disciple meets.” Her life’s work, both within her studio and within the community, has been one of seeking out and building intersections, constructing sites of this particularly-balanced space where interests of more than one discipline lie, colliding in abstract angles and rich dialogue. Her interdisciplinary model was mirrored first in the community she and her husband, Robert Bliss, found at the Walker Art Center while living in Minneapolis, a city she described as, “a stimulating place” that was progressive in its interest in art and modernism. Scaling back further, Bauhaus pedagogical theories are ubiquitous with cross-discipline dialogues and comprehensive workshop, a school of thought which Anna had first-hand training. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley in art history and mathematics, she pursued a graduate degree in architecture from Harvard in the early 1950s. In her early design training, Bliss learned from pioneers of this seminal modernist movement, studying under Bauhaus giants such as Walter Gropius at Harvard and working with Gyorgy Kepes on color and light theory at MIT. Since her arrival in Utah in 1963, Bliss has cast a wide net and thought broadly about intersections of conversations and community. Recognizing the need for financial support at the Salt Lake Art Center, she started the Contemporary Arts Group, designed to create dialogue and foster support for the Utah art world. Such a group was built with artists in mind but also included engineers, poets, chemists, dancers, architects, and mathematicians. She met many of these involved at the University of Utah, the epicenter of Bliss’s intellectual community, where her husband Robert Bliss was serving as Head of the school of architecture. Such a diverse group of thinkers expanded the notion of traditional art supporters, extending the range of support for art and widening the conversation of art making in Utah. Reflecting Bliss’ style, the group not only focused their interest in fine art, but also supported and explored modern dance, poetry, literature, and theatre. Like a predecessor to The Leonardo, Salt Lake’s museum of art, science and technology, Bliss’s group organized several conferences and panel discussions surrounding the topic of new technologies, and investigating the blurry boundaries of art and science. Noting the ripple of influence from Bliss’s academic notion of intersection, interaction and integration, art historian and curator Mary Francey, wrote in her book Anna Campbell Bliss, Intersections: The Art of Anna Campbell Bliss that, “Bliss’s vision of interconnectedness of design with environment has transferred to the community and, to a large extent, increased our awareness of the relationship of objects and images to the spaces they occupy.” In her film Arc of Light: A Portrait of Anna Campbell Bliss, Cid Collins Walker described Utah as a cultural desert – for Bliss, a site of cultural exile. While disparaging, this is perhaps true. Utah certainly did not offer the same modernist aristocracy that Cambridge played host to, but Bliss’ more recent comments are more optimistic than that of the film. She speaks of her efforts to look towards other disciplines within the state that were at the cutting edge of the field, most notably the University of Utah computer science department and Utah’s technology sector. “There were many talented people doing quite important work, in the very early stages of programming,” she says of Utah’s early tech world. Starting first with the Omega computer, Bliss said her interest was less about the equipment but more about an interest in a field ripe for exploration. Her experience with Utah’s tech community, therefore, softened her views of the state’s cultural potential. [slideShowProSC width=”600″ height=”500″ album=”556″] Her computer-based mural Windows, fittingly made for the Data Processing Center at the Utah State Capitol in 1989, integrates computer algorithms and was nominated and became a finalist for the Computer World Smithsonian Award and both Scientific American and Science magazines reviewed the work. According to art historian Katherine Metcalf Nelson, “Windows is a unique effort to bring the computer into the mainstream of art for a major mural. The computer was the inspiration, the subject matter and the major tool in creating the art. Textures and patterns with a mathematical base were programmed in the “C” language for plotting and transfer photographically to serigraph screen.” Such investments and investigations of technology as process, as medium, and as subject matter, are now quite commonplace, as the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art’s 2013 exhibition Analogital suggests. In addition to integrating technology, Bliss’ work reflects an intense interest in color theory, especially as framed by her mentor, Josef Albers (of whom her husband had been a student of at Black Mountain College) and his well-known Interactions of Color. But her color investigations aren’t simply derivative of Albers. Throughout her early work as an architect and while she was in grad school, architecture companies consistently hired Bliss as a consultant on large-scale architectural projects. While designing a building for the VA Hospital, she researched diligently to create a space that would help cultivate feelings of calm and peace for those WWII vets. While in Utah and after shifting her focus to painting from architecture, Bliss pursued areas that she felt Albers had yet to investigate. An example is Color/Light/Module, 1976 a twelve-foot tall 60-foot long screen print on wood panels. Such a monumental scale informs the work creating a totality of color in ones field of vision. Works like Trellis and Celebration take painting off the wall, off the pedestal, and into one’s physical space. In sum, they become architectural, creating an intersection between one discipline and another. Light of Grace, a 40 foot by 40 foot stain glass wall designed by Bliss for the St. Thomas Moore Catholic church in Sandy is perhaps the most monumental example of her interest in intersecting color and architecture. Using a grid like pattern, Bliss filled that church with an array of blues, greens, purples, and pinks, some of which filter directly towards the center alter, using color to create a sense of reverence, of devotion. It is Bliss modernizing Abbott Suger while simultaneously historicizing Albers. Not satisfied to simply make work, Bliss has also pursued her color interests into a larger discourse. She served on the Intersociety Color Council, an interdisciplinary committee that engaged various professionals that had some concern for color in their practices, including textile manufactures, photographers, paint manufactures, interior designers and, of course, architects. Additionally, throughout her career Bliss wrote several scholarly articles on the subject of color in a variety of publications including, Design Quarterly, Utah Architect, AIA Journal, Leonardo, The Designer and Color Research and Application. Given her scholarly background, Bliss’s mural for the Cowles Mathematics Building at the University of Utah represents a near complete threading together of the artist’s many intellectual intersections. Not only does the site itself reference her undergraduate degree in math but also the University of Utah itself reflects the adopted intellectual community. Much of the work was created on computers and was made from a variety of different materials, some aluminum plates, some hand painted, some etched by lasers and some silk screened — a multiplicity of voices emerging from a variety of techniques. Its mathematical subject matter is also multivocal: Fibonacci numbers, Babylonian sequences, Mayan sculptural numbers, Islamic calligraphy, Renaissance golden mean, Grecian classic ratios, dance, jazz compositions, Chinese triangles all combine to create a romantic ode to mathematics and a lovely self-portrait of the intellectual complexities and depth of vision possessed by Bliss. Another significant contribution of Bliss is her persistent legacy as an artist, continuing to create well past retirement age, doggedly pursuing an artistic vision for decades. It is significant to note that Bliss was 64 years old when she received her first major commission, Windows. At the typical retirement age for most professionals, Bliss’s career as an artist had finally received substantial public recognition, her work had been acquired into major collections and she had the opportunity to appear in major exhibitions (the US Installation at the VII Biennial in San Paulo, Brazil in 1963 to name one), but Windows marked a major benchmark of accomplishment and contribution. Through the decades, she has continued to pursue opportunities that would allow her vision to reach its full scope and potential. Amazingly, at 89, she recently opened a show stocked full of new works. She is still working, still asking questions, still intersecting within the larger dialogue. In 2009, Bliss told art critic Ben Fulton, “I’m not interested in the literal. The unknown—pushing something beyond a boundary—is what draws me. That, and the challenge to myself to avoid the obvious.” If we are lucky, we will have the opportunity to watch her continue to do so for some time to come, and continue to learn from her how to avoid the obvious and to engage, interact, and intersect through dialogue and art production. Categories: 15 Bytes \| In Memoriam \| Visual Arts Tagged as: Anna Campbell Bliss, by Ann Poore, by Laura Allred Hurtado Reading Ripley: Weller Bookworks stages a reading of Phyllis Nagy’s The Talented Mr. Ripley “Now it belongs to the people”: Juan Pablo Gasca at Charley Hafen Gallery Frank McEntire says: Anna left her mark on me and many others with her keen mind, creative energy, steady hand, and community building spirit. She will be missed. Knowing Anna was a privilege. Her ongoing dedication to advancing her work, up until her last days is an inspiration to me. David Pace says: Anna was a board member of Repertory Dance Theatre, a donor and patron, and worked early on with the company experimenting with dance and movement as it related to her art. We will miss her. M Ray Kingston - FAIA says: Anna Bliss carried with her, in her life and remarkable work, a remarkable understanding between the relationships of Art and Science. She was Cool, in the best sense of the word, cool in her work, her personal relationships, and always with a commanding style. She was also Tough in her philosophy and style. I was honored, several decades ago, to be invited to her Westside Studio, to talk with her, to see her ‘tools’, and to leave with one of her beautiful pieces, which to me, was a generous homage to Albers. It graced the walls of ENTELEKI – Architecture Planning & Research (now FFKR Architects), keeping a commanding eye on the office and staff. She has my deepest respect.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1756
__label__wiki	0.777416	0.777416	Universe’s First Molecule Detected Around A Dying Star Posted on April 17, 2019 April 17, 2019 / astrobob / News / The first atoms and first molecule (helium hydride) formed several hundred thousand years after the Big Bang. The first generation of stars followed 180 million years later. N.R.Fuller, National Science Foundation Trillions of degrees. That was the temperature a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. So darn hot it took 380,000 years for it to cool down enough for individual protons and neutrons to come together to form the first atoms. Cool is a relative term. The temperature at the time simmered around 6,700° F (3,700° C), not exactly a spring afternoon. About three-quarters of those early atoms were hydrogen, the simplest element, and most of the remainder helium. Most of the early universe was made of the simplest atoms, hydrogen and helium. The red balls inside each atom are protons; the blue ones are neutrons. NASA / Ames Research Center Hydrogen is the simplest atom with a single positively-charged proton for a nucleus orbited by a negatively-charged electron. Helium has two protons and two neutral particles called neutrons in its core orbited by two electrons. Atoms join together to form molecules. When lots of atoms join in a variety of ways, complex molecules result. Structure of human hemoglobin. Hundreds of individual atoms make up the curled ribbons. Richard Wheeler / CC BY-SA 3.0 Our bodies are made of a mix of simple molecules like water (H2O) and complicated ones like hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen to our blood cells and carries away carbon dioxide “waste” to our lungs. Hemoglobin looks like this: C2952H4664N812O832S8Fe4. That’s right — 2,952 carbons atoms, 4,664 hydrogens, 812 nitrogens, 838 oxygens, 8 sulfurs and four irons. A big molecule for a big job. To get the ball rolling toward complex matter and life, individual atoms have to link up. Since the early universe was mostly hydrogen and helium you won’t be surprised to learn that hydrogen and helium came together to make the first molecules. It wasn’t easy. More like an arranged marriage than freedom of choice. Helium doesn’t like combining with anything. It’s holds on so tightly to its electrons, you have to apply a tremendous amount of energy to pry one away so another atom can hook in. But in the extreme heat of the early universe, it happened and helium hydride or HeH+ was born. Because of its fragility however, it didn’t last long — one of the reasons it’s been nearly impossible to find. Helium hydride forms when reluctant helium (left) bonds with hydrogen in a hot, high-energy environment. NASA/Ames Research Center Long before the molecule was detected in space, it was concocted in a lab in 1925. Now for the first time, after decades of searching, scientists have discovered it in space for the first time using NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy or SOFIA. The observatory is a specially outfitted aircraft that flies above much of Earth’s atmosphere to make sensitive observations in infrared light. Air blocks much of the infrared, a type of light that we sense as heat. Cutaway illustration showing the SOFIA observatory in action with a team of astronomers and instruments in the rear of the plane. NASA / Ames Research Center SOFIA found modern helium hydride in the planetary nebula called NGC 7027 located 3,000 light-years away in the Northern Cross. As a sunlike star ages into a white dwarf, it expels its atmosphere as a beautiful, flower-form cloud called a planetary nebula. The discovery is important for the same reason the recent photograph of the black hole in the galaxy M87 is — we know that helium hydride can exist in space. Theory predicted it would and now we have proof it does. That’s a big deal. “This molecule was lurking out there, but we needed the right instruments making observations in the right position — and SOFIA was able to do that perfectly,” said Harold Yorke, director of the SOFIA Science Center, in California’s Silicon Valley. Helium hydride turns out to be a crucial molecule. As the early universe continued to expand and cool, hydrogen atoms interacted with helium hydride to make molecular hydrogen (H2) — two hydrogens bonded together. This molecule is primarily responsible for the formation of the first generation of stars. Hydrogen molecules helped to cool the clouds of collapsing gases, so that gravity could draw the material into stars. As those early suns aged, they forged these simpler substances into more complex elements in their cores including carbon, the backbone of the hemoglobin molecule. For all you know, some of those first-generation carbon atoms might be swimming around in your very own blood. Illustration of planetary nebula NGC 7027 and helium hydride molecules. In this planetary nebula, SOFIA detected helium hydride, a combination of helium (red) and hydrogen (blue), which was the first type of molecule to ever form in the early universe. NASA/SOFIA/L. Proudfit/D.Rutter Astronomers suspected that even if the original helium hydride might forever elude detection, the planetary nebula NGC 7027 would be a good place to look for current-day material. Ultraviolet light radiating from the exceedingly hot dwarf star (342,000° F / 190,000° C) star strips electrons from hydrogen and helium around the star, creating the right conditions for helium hydride to form. In 2016, scientists boarded SOFIA and flew to 45,000 feet (13.7 km), high above the interfering layers of Earth’s atmosphere. A recent upgrade on one of its instruments enabled them to tune into the frequency of helium hydride similar to how you’d tune in an FM radio station. Bingo! They picked up the signal loud and clear. With that, astronomers have that much more confident they’re on the right track when it comes to figuring out the chemistry of the early universe. Meteoroid Strikes Eject Ghostly Plumes Of Water From The Moon Full Broken Snowshoe Moon Shines Tonight And Friday	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1757
__label__wiki	0.664606	0.664606	Meet Deuce Lutui, vegan By now, you’ve undoubtedly heard the coach Pete Carroll dropped a bit of a dietary bombshell on Friday by proclaiming that Deuce Lutui had become a vegan. You’ve probably also heard the skepticism that statement created. As in, “Really, a 340-pound vegan?” Mike Sando at ESPN.com was among those not biting. “I followed up with Carroll twice in an effort to make sure the coach wasn’t joking,” Sando wrote on his NFC West blog. “He stuck with his story, but conceivably could have been kidding.” Carroll was not kidding. How do we know? We went to the source today and got the word from Lutui’s vegan-consuming mouth. “It’s true,” said Lutui, a veteran offensive lineman who signed with the Seahawks in free agency last month. “And coming into the offseason, this is the best shape I’ve ever been in. I credit that vegan diet.” As proof, Lutui not only pointed to his weight, he pulled up his shirt and offered, “I can finally see a six-pack there.” Lutui said he’s already at his game weight (340 pounds), a process that usually takes him much longer. How is it that a large lineman who obviously likes to eat – and needs to eat to maintain his size and strength – found his way to veganism? “My whole family is vegan,” he said of his wife, Puanani, and their four children. Lutui then cracked the slightest of smiles before adding, “It’s a little different from the Tonga traditional cuisine. But it’s a lot of education, really, that has kind of opened that insight for me. “If you were to go to my house and open up the fridge, you’d see all-vegan, all-natural products. I’m glad I’ve educated myself about what’s going in my mouth. I’ve educated myself, and that’s what’s causing my fitness and how I’ve really taken care of myself physically. And it’s also taken a toll on me mentally, just to really be disciplined.” Carroll also coached Lutui at USC, before the Tongan-born lineman was selected in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Cardinals. “Deuce Lutui, he is a joy to have out here,” Carroll said. “He has got such a great spirit. He always did. We looked at opportunities to get him on this club just because of that. He looks good. His weight is down – I mean, way down from where he can be. He’s a vegan, too, now, so he has really made a big turn, if you can imagine, yes.” Added Lutui, “It’s beautiful, and it’s true. I’ve gone vegan.” May 7, 2012 – 3:01 pm Tags: Deuce Lutui, Pete Carroll Comments Off on Meet Deuce Lutui, vegan	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1760
__label__cc	0.611448	0.388552	DVD: The Punisher (2004) That stuff I said about TWISTED being the worst movie of the year? Forget it. This is what I get for reordering my Netflix queue when I’m sick. THE PUNISHER was part of April’s bring-a-covered-dish-best-served-cold potluck, along with KILL BILL, Vol. 2 and MAN ON FIRE. I saw the other two in the theater, so it’s not like I have anything against revenge fantasies. This one is based on the Marvel comic character who, it should be noted, began as a villain. FBI agent Frank Castle (Tom Jane) starts down his bloody road after his entire extended family is massacred. It’s another sign of Hollywood inflation. In the original DEATH WISH, an attack on his wife and daughter that led to his wife’s death was enough to transform Charles Bronson into a vigilante. Now the Castle family reunion has to be strafed with machine guns, because otherwise we might not think the bad guy deserves it. It’s not that THE PUNISHER is incompetent, although that’s certainly true. Every character behaves stupidly, none more so than preening baddie John Travolta, who hardly seems worth Castle’s efforts. Some of the characters’ actions beggar belief; writer/director Jonathan Hensleigh has a woman leave a purse containing a pair of Harry Winston earrings in her car while she goes to the movies. Not once, but twice. The tone is wildly inconsistent. We get incipient alcoholism and ‘comic’ fight scenes that drag on forever. The dialogue sucks. For most of its running time, the movie is a lousy action film deserving of the MST3K treatment. But the climax - which involves an act of violence against Travolta’s character that is a.) excessive, b.) filmed in loving detail, and c.) being perpetrated against American serviceman overseas – did something that no movie in a lifetime of movie-watching has ever done. It awakened feelings of moral revulsion. Feelings that only intensified when Hensleigh capped the mayhem with a joke, and then closed with an image of Castle as a hero. I suppose some congratulations are in order. This movie actually made me feel unclean. TV: C-SPAN I stumbled onto a rebroadcast of one of the 1984 debates between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale last night. Quick thoughts: 1. I was unnerved by the amount of time devoted to the issue of terrorism, in the wake of the attack on the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon. Mondale accused Reagan of ignoring intelligence, Reagan spoke of using U.S. troops to bring democracy to the Middle East. Different candidates and locations, same problems. 2. Reagan acknowledged the difficulties in combating suicide bombers who were convinced that their actions would lead them to paradise. It’s a note of realism lacking in the current debate. 3. Reagan also said that international cooperation had led to an end of the problem of skyjacking. If only. 4. If I hear any questions on Thursday night that are half as tough as those posed in ‘84, I’ll be enormously surprised. Miscellaneous: Link Matthew Klam’s cover story in the New York Times Magazine is widely seen as the death knell for blogging. Or at least for the coolness of it. It’s a fun read, though. Klam finds it hard to fathom that the cutting-edge types he profiles (like Wonkette) would give up their cachet for a gig in mainstream media. Not to point too fine a point on it, but duh. Isn’t that why anybody starts a blog? Let me remove all doubt: I, Vince Keenan, am available for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and alternative weekly thinkpieces. Book: Fade to Blonde, by Max Phillips (2004) Ha... Graphic Novel: The League of Extraordinary Gentlem... Movie: The Last Shot (2004) This movie, loosely... Movie: Shaun of the Dead (2004) The filmmakers ... DVD: The Punisher (2004) That stuff I said abou... Operation Travolta: Michael Keaton Look fast in... DVD: Quai des Orfèvres (1947) Director Henri-Ge... DVD: Twisted (2004) And a new contender for wor... Movie: Sky Captain & The World of Tomorrow (2004) ... Book: The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett (192... Website Update: Practice The latest installment... TV: Rated R: Republicans in Hollywood AMC aired... Cable Catch-Up: The Seven-Ups (1973) Producer P... Movie: THX 1138 (1971) The first feature from G... Movie: Cellular (2004) Nobody exemplifies the B... Cable Catch-Up: Vampyr (1932) There are single ... TV: Bands Reunited I would call this VH-1 show ... Miscellaneous: Seasons in the Sun Now that summ... Book: Absent Friends, by S. J. Rozan (2004) Thi... Movie: We Don’t Live Here Anymore (2004) It doe... DVD: Harvard Man (2002) Diaries, particularly t... DVD: Millennium Actress (2002) A reclusive scre... Cable Catch-Up: Innerspace (1987) I keep waitin... DVD: Pennies From Heaven (1981) Let me say up f...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1762
__label__cc	0.563588	0.436412	Education Week's blogs > Inside School Research See our Research news coverage Sarah D. Sparks From achievement gaps and teacher evaluations to homework and student engagement, Education Week reporters help you understand the education research behind big policy debates and daily classroom concerns. « Study: Broader Data Use Could Improve Parent Involvement \| Main \| New Research Center Focuses on College Remediation » National Board: Sequestration Hinders Research Funding By Sarah D. Sparks on June 3, 2013 2:54 PM The fallout of sequestration has made for some scrambling at the U.S. Department of Education's research agency, with plenty of high-quality research proposals that cannot be funded. The Institute of Education Sciences budget is $31 million lower in fiscal 2013, or more than 5 percent, lower than in fiscal 2012. IES Director John Easton reported at today's meeting of IES' advisory group, the National Board for Education Sciences, that the agency is working to prioritize funding in its remaining grants. Among the changes: • The National Center for Education Research took a $9.9 million budget cut, and was able to award 49 of the 80 applications which peer reviewers had deemed to be of "excellent or outstanding quality" in the fiscal 2013 grant cycle—about 16 fewer grants than it planned to award before sequestration. • The National Center for Special Education Research awarded grants to 18 highly rated projects out of the 45 highest-rated proposals (of hundreds of total applicants) it received for fiscal 2013, following a $2.6 million cut. It had planned to award an additional three grants. "It's pretty sobering," said Bridget Terry Long, the chairman of the advisory board. "We just have to be more strategic. There have always been limited resources; now they are just extremely limited. There were a number of outstanding proposals that were not funded, and that's just the situation right now." Commissioners of IES' research centers are in some cases "funding down the slate," or continuing to award grants to highly rated proposals already received in the 2013 grant cycle, during the 2014 grant cycle. "I think if you applied this year, got very good feedback but were not funded, it makes sense to reapply," said Long, who is also a professor of education and economics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. But, she warned, "these applications take a substantial amount of time" and researchers with proposals rated lower this year or those with brand-new projects may want to hedge their bets by seeking other grants as well. "If you have a good project, the work can't stop and you just do the best that you can," she said. The National Center for Education Statistics also was cut, by $5.7 million, leading to delays in data collection in its kindergarten longitudinal study, parental involvement, early education, and adult education studies, and also leading it to cancel the 2013 teacher compensation survey. Also, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which was cut by $6.8 million, will not test 4th or 12th grade civics, U.S. history, or geography as scheduled in 2014, though NCES will test those subjects in 8th grade. Deborah Speece to Leave Special Ed Center This Monday's meeting was also the last for Deborah L. Speece as commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research. She's leaving the job after joining in August 2011, following a two-year search. Speece's deputy commissioner, Joan McLaughlin, will step in as acting commissioner as of July 1. "Joan has been a great asset to the National Center for Special Education Research. Her background and experience in special education and early childhood is extensive, and her willingness to take on this new role makes Joan the perfect choice to serve as acting commissioner," Easton said in a statement. "The other commissioners and I look forward to working closely with Joan as we continue to advance IES's mission to provide rigorous and relevant research aimed at improving education outcomes for all students." McLaughlin has also led IES programs in early intervening services—early education programs for young children at risk of being identified for special education—and, before coming to IES, headed evaluations of multiple federal education, early education, and food-aid programs for the research group Abt Associates Inc. economics and education research education research federal education research NCER special educcation Speece Building Growth Mindset in the Classroom: Assignments From Carol Dweck How Should Districts Plan for Future Students? 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__label__wiki	0.545535	0.545535	Educating The Girl Child In India Safeena Husain, Founder, and Executive Director Educate Girls speaks to BW Education's Deputy Editor, Dr Waqar Ahmed Fahad through an exclusive email conversation, few excerpts from the interview are placed below Safeena Husain, Founder, and Executive Director Educate Girls Q. How did Educate Girls come into existence? While women account for nearly half of India’s population, more often than not they cannot contribute towards the progress and development of the country due to lack of education. According to Census 2011, the female literacy rate is 65.46% as compared to a male literacy rate of 82.14%. Patriarchy and gender-based discrimination, systematically exclude girls from school thus denying them the advantages of autonomy, mobility and economic independence that boys enjoy. In spite of the Indian Government's substantial commitment to education, millions of girls are still out of school. Especially in rural and tribal communities, many girls lack access to quality education and have minimal understanding of their rights. Education can open doors for these girls giving them an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. For me, the pivotal moment was when I was on an assignment setting up a clinic in Nainital, where my father had accompanied me. In a conversation with the women in the village there, when my father mentioned that I was his only child, the women expressed such deep sorrow for him as if it were such a curse to have a daughter. This very brief interaction brought to light the scale of the problem. This incident stayed with me for several days and I could not hold myself from thinking about the other girls living in such communities who are often seen as a liability and a burden. It is my strong belief that if girls living in marginalized communities are educated, they will have the skills and confidence to enter the formal economy, gain employment, make informed choices and transform their lives. So, after a decade of work in underserved communities across South America, Africa and Asia, I decided to return to India to work on girls’ education. I started a small test project in Pali district of Rajasthan. Success led to the initiation of a 500-school pilot project and Educate Girls was subsequently founded in 2007. Educate Girls’ focus is on mobilizing communities for girls’ education. Strongly aligned with the ‘Right to Education’ Act, Educate Girls is committed to the Government’s vision to improve access to primary education for all children, especially young girls. By leveraging the Government’s existing investment in school, Educate Girls presently works in remote, rural and tribal regions of India with a three-prong focus – increase enrolment of out-of-school girls, increase their retention and improve learning outcomes of all children. Q. As mentioned by you that it is the world’s first Development Impact Bond in education, can you please explain how the model works? A Development Impact Bond (DIB), which is complementary to traditional funding, represents a new way to encourage private sector investment to fund development programs that are 100% focused on measurable impact. The Educate Girls DIB is the world’s first DIB in education. The three-year project (2015 -2018) was implemented in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. The project reached over 7,000 children, covering 166 schools across 140 villages. In our model, Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), as an outcome payer, promised to pay back the investor, UBS Optimus Foundation (UBSOF), the original investment amount plus extra returns as long as the agreed targets were delivered by Educate Girls (the service provider). The Educate Girls DIB targeted increased enrolment of marginalized girls and children's progress in literacy and numeracy. Outcomes were assessed by an independent evaluator, IDinsight, over the course of the three-year tenure. The image below shows how this multi-party contract worked: Results were measured and evaluated in two key areas: (1) Enrolment Outcomes: Enrolment is deﬁned by the percentage of out-of-school girls (between age 7 to 14 years) enrolled in school by the end of the third year. Educate Girls performed a door-to-door primary survey identifying out-of-school girls, ensuring an accurate target group at the start of the intervention. IDinsight independently veriﬁed the accuracy of the enrolment list by sampling a portion of the lists and conducting school and household visits (2) Learning Outcomes: Students’ learning was measured through in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) using the ASER test, a widely used test of basic numeracy and literacy. In the case of Educate Girls DIB, the test measured three proﬁciencies: Hindi, English and Mathematics for students in grades 3, 4 and 5. The tests were administered to students before and after Educate Girls’ intervention. IDinsight measured the impact based on learning gains from one test to another, between students enrolled in the program and in nearby control villages. Q. How did you manage funding and other resources for the programme? Did you also get support from the government? For the DIB program, Educate Girls received a budget of US$ 270,000 from UBS Optimus Foundation based on pre-agreed targets. A local team consisting of staff, frontline workers and village-based volunteers implemented the program on the ground. Educate Girls signed a MoU with the Government of Rajasthan that allowed us to implement the DIB program in the government-run schools in Bhilwara. Therefore, Government is one of our most important stakeholders. We would have not been able to achieve the impact had it not been for their continuous support. Q. What is the overall reach of the programme, in terms of number of children and geographies? The Educate Girls DIB program was implemented in 166 schools across 140 villages in Bhilwara (Rajasthan) and reached 7,300 children. Q. Did you use any innovative teaching tools/ methods under this programme? A razor-sharp focus on outcomes in the DIB program, motivated every single team member to think deeply about the barriers to achieving the set targets. The financial and operational flexibility inherent in the DIB, led to a host of creative, innovative solutions to address these barriers. The Educate Girls’ DIB program collected a lot of data on activities. Close analysis of this data and an improved performance management helped the teams to draw insights that were helpful in planning course-corrections. Data has helped to identify gaps in program delivery, define areas where the greater focus was needed and tailor the approach to plug these gaps. To give you an example: After the Year 1 assessment, Educate Girls saw less than expected change in learning levels among children. So we carefully studied the learning data for each child. Upon detailed analysis, we found that these children, who are first-generation school-goers, did not clearly understand some basic concepts. So we decided to shift our approach from being classroom-focused to now being group-focused, with each group put together based on the competency levels of children. The remedial curriculum that we used in the first year was revamped with the help of a pedagogy expert. The new curriculum, called Gyan Ka Pitara (repository of knowledge), was designed keeping in mind the needs of marginalized, first generation school going children. It is focused on building micro-competencies in English, Hindi and Math and includes interactive tools, activities and games and worksheets for every child. Q. What were the major challenges faced during the implementation and execution of the programme? The structure of the DIB is so complex that it was natural for it to be time-consuming - while it took Educate Girls and Instiglio nine months to put the initial proposal together, it took around three years for the DIB to materialize. Alignment is a challenge in a multi-party contract such as the DIB. While all participants were aligned on the big vision, we had to be aligned on the smaller details of implementation, the M&E methodology, payment structure and so on. Also, since the Educate Girls DIB is the world's first in education, there was no template available for us to do a research and gain knowledge. Because of this being an unprecedented transaction, we had to constantly regroup, question and renegotiate. Our baseline relied on flawed secondary sources of data, so we conducted our own baseline at the beginning of the project which delayed our contract. One of the greatest risks with a pay-for-performance contract is the exclusion of externalities. For instance, we didn’t foresee that the government would close or merge schools; there will always be things you can’t foresee. We were working with tribal, rural communities that may not have appropriate age-proofs and other documents for validation of information. The children of these families are first-generation learners who will never be able to learn at the same pace as children in urban regions - so it was important for us to evolve a DIB structure with a thick layer of empathy around it because there are going to be challenged on the ground. For Educate Girls as the service provider on the field, it has been a tough project to implement. The DIB has brought a razor-sharp focus on outcomes and has forced us to adapt and evolve as we progressed. Our team members, especially those on the ground, had never before seen such an elaborate dashboard of data so it took us some time to train them. There were other problems around logistics that came up from time to time because of the difficult, rural geography of the region. Q. What are the results of the first DIB in education and how Educate Girls overachieved them? The evaluated, final results presented by IDinsight suggest that the Educate Girls DIB surpassed both target outcomes to achieve: 116% of the enrolment target (768 or 92% of eligible out-of-school girls identified in the program areas were enrolled in school). 160% of the learning target (learning levels for students in program schools grew 79% more than their peers in other schools– almost the difference of an entire additional year of instruction.) In particular, the following corrective measures between year two and three were instrumental to achieve the outcomes: shifting from a classroom-focused to a group-focused approach, where each group was based on the competency levels of the children. implementing an improved child-centric curriculum focused on building micro-competencies in year three, where each child’s progress was tracked and individual-centric exercises were conducted to increase learning gains. increasing the number of teaching sessions overall, including sessions during the holidays and home visits to reach students who were frequently absent from school and needed tutoring dividing high capacity classes into groups and conducting sessions accordingly working more closely with individual families and ultimately focusing on outreach for all harder-to-enroll girls. Home-based visits, together with village-based meetings to influence the entire communities’ mindset toward girls’ education, has enhanced enrollment of older, harder to enroll out-of-school girls. Q. What are your next plans, considering the results of the DIB are out and you have successfully overachieved the targets? Are you looking to expand it to other states as well? The success of the DIB has put us in the spotlight and right now, we are focused on sharing our learnings with a larger set of audience, be it the impact investing community, the service providers as well as the Government. We are excited to be invited to be a part of important events across the globe and drive a larger conversation around ‘innovative finance.’ The DIB has cultivated a culture of adaptability, transparency, problem-solving and most importantly, accountability, across the organisation. Between 2019 to 2024, Educate Girls will expand operations to cumulatively reach over 16 million children living in rural, educationally backward geographies of India. We believe the lessons from the DIB will go a long way in delivering value at scale. To give you an example, the new child-centric curriculum focused on building micro-competencies in English, Hindi and Math, developed during the DIB will now be implemented in other schools with Educate Girls’ intervention. Data-based, decentralized decision-making that evolved during the DIB will now be applied in other program districts in problem-solving. Participating in the DIB is helping us to build an organisation that has an outcomes’ focused approach where all activities are evaluated against clearly defined results. We are forcing ourselves to think more deeply about the barriers and enablers to achieving those outcomes and most importantly, be accountable to every single child in the program. girl child education	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1769
__label__wiki	0.56524	0.56524	IIT And IIM Graduates Earning Way More Than Their Peers, Studies Confirmed Responses collected from 114 engineering colleges across India during the first six months of 2018 India’s elite engineering colleges are worth priceless. Graduates of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) receive an average salary offer of Rs 11.1 lakh per annum, which is $16,000 and nearly 140% higher than the Rs 4.7 lakh that basic-level engineers make in the country, said a research by Mettl, an online assessments platform . 09 August, 2018 by Muskan Sharma Our Ranking Of Institutions More Credible Than International Models The research is based on the responses collected from 114 engineering colleges across India during the first six months of 2018. According to a report, “IIT’s penchant for quality intake, top-notch infrastructure, and fine faculty is what draws the employers towards them.” Not just the top Indian companies but even international behemoths like Apple and Microsoft, too, come to IITs for recruitment. The salary offers at the new IITs, formed in and after 2008, are far lower as compared to the older IITs – Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kharagpur, Roorkee, and Kanpur – which are deemed “top.” Computer Science or Information Technology are the most lucrative among the various streams of engineering. On average, IT engineers make Rs 6.7 lakh a year, while those pursuing electrical, mechanical or civil engineering earn far lesser. Machine learning offers the most rewarding jobs with an average annual pay upwards of Rs 18 lakh among computer science and IT roles. At the master’s level, too, there’s a clear leader. Commended as the world’s toughest B-schools to get into, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) far exceeds other management colleges in terms of pay scales. Graduates from the top IIMs like Ahmedabad or Bangalore earn Rs 20.6 lakh per annum at the entry level, which is 121% higher than the Rs 9.3 lakh graduates get on average in India, Mettl’s survey of 80 MBA colleges revealed. However, unlike the IITs, the IIMs are not beating the rest by a mile. Students from the country’s top private colleges, such as Management Development Institute, Gurugram, and Mumbai-based SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, make nearly as much as those from IIMs. Ideal for candidates who have both, an MBA and a B Tech degree, roles like IT consultant, product head, and chief technology officer, have the most attractive pay packages, Mettl found. While they face criticism for the high-pressure and sometimes uninspiring learning environment, the resources and networks available to students of the IITs and IIMs are priceless and securing a job or funding comes easier to them. Higher pay scales are add-ons. IIT alums iim placement salary payment	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1770
__label__wiki	0.929659	0.929659	Late Judge is honored by many at burial today Bench and Bar gathered in large numbers at the funeral of the late Mr. Justice Saint-Pierre this morning. The cortege left the family residence, 2330 Park avenue, at 8:50, proceeding to St. George’s Church, where a solemn mass, fully choral, was celebrated. The cortege was met by the Rev. Father Piche, parish priest, and the celebrant of the mass was the Rev. Father Amie Prud’homme, of St. Louis de France Church, assisted by the Rev. Fathers Leperriere and MacLeod. The chief mourners were Guillaume, Henri A. and George Saint-Pierre, sons, Lorenzo Belanger and Alex. Prud’homme, sons-in-law, G. E. A. Cholette, and Arthur Lesieur, brothers-in-law; Charles A. Wilson, M. P., K.C., Bruno Wilson, Adolphus Wilson, Henri Saint-Pierre, Joseph Saint-Pierre, Raoul Prevost, Delphis Prévost, Wilfrid Giguerre, George Leger, Rene Leger, Willfrid Boileau, Edward Cholette, Arthur Surveyer, Fabien Senecal, Joseph Gates and Alcide Senecal, nephews; Louis Normandin, Henri E. Archambault and Leon Gravel, cousins. Among others present were Acting Chief Justice Archibald and ex-Chief Justice Sir Charles Peers Davidson, Mr. Justice Charbonneau, Mr. Justice Guerin, Mr. Justice Demers, Mr. Justice Robidoux, Mr. Justice Marechal, Mr. Justice Lane, Mr. Justice Panneton, Mr. Justice Martineau, Mr. Justice Bruneau, Mr. Justice Mercier, Mr. Justice Weir, Mr. Justice Lamothe, Mr. Justice Coderre, Mr. Justice Pouliot, Mr. Justice Chauvin, Mr. Justice McDougall, Mr. Justice J. B. Archambault, Mr. Justice LeBer, Judge Lanctot, Judge Saint Cyr, Judge Choquet, [illisible] Martin, K.C., [illisible] J. G. Emard, K.C., J. L. Archambault, K.C., F. J. Duran, K.C., Louis Loranger, K.C., Paul St. Germain, K.C., N. K. Laflamme, K.C., T. Rinfret, K.C., R. Genest, L. Houle, Charles Laurendeau, K.C., W. Simpson Walker, K.C., Damien Masson, M.D., L. J. Filion, H. Gerin Lajoie, Paul Lacoste, K.C., Alec. Lacoste, Jean Beaudouin, J. L. St. Jacques, K.C., High Constable Saint Mars, J. Messier, Deputy Protonotary, L. A. Bedard, L. D. Gareau, Jos. Surveyer, K.C., Alban Germain, [illisible] ... Many Members of the Bench And Bar Present at the Mass Held at St. George’s Church Many of the former associates of Justice St. Pierre, as well as his brother judges, attended the services which were held over his body at St. George’s Church at 9 o’clock this morning. The body was taken from the home, 2330 Park avenue, to the church followed by a large number of mourners and after the celebration of mass by Rev. Father Prud’homme, vicar of the church of St. Louis de France, the internment took place at Cote des Neiges. Rev. Fathers Peyriere and McLeod assisted the requiem mass. Among those who attended the services the following: Mr. Justice Chevier, Mr. Justice Bruno, Mr. Justice Pouliot, Mr. Justice Lamothe, Mr. Justice Archibald, Mr. Justice Lane, Mr. Justice Charbonneau, Mr. Justice Mercier, Mr. Justice Archambeault, Mr. Justice Demers, Mr. Justice Guerin, Mr. Justice Marechal, Sir Charles Davidson, Judge Lanctot, Hon. Rudolph Lemieux, Mr. Jos. Archambault, K.C., H. Prefontaine, Paul Mercier, Rudolph Monty, J. A. Ouimet, Philippe Hebert, Dr. J. A. St. Denis, A. St. Mars, Eugene Raymond, J. L. Laurendeau, J. A. Martin, Dr. V. C. Gaboury, J. H. Emard, Charles Laurendeau, Dr. Beaulieu, P. Migneault, R. G. Delorimier, Dr. D. Masson, Ernest Pellisier, N. J. Leblanc, J. C. Parent, G. F. Senecal, C. Borris, Alfred Rousseau, L. P. St. Louis, R. Cusson, J. H. Leduc, J. A. Trudeau, P. O. Brabant, J. Beaudouin, David Lavoie, Raoul Prevost, W. F. Walker, F. Christian, H. G. Lajoie, Armand Douin, Henry Viau, G. A. Marchand, R. Raymond, C. Gascon, O. Robert, J. St. Denis, J. E. Couteau, H. Lajoie, E. C. Lecan, J. F. Lemieux, J. G. Quesnel, William Patterson, K.C., William Story.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1771
__label__cc	0.702702	0.297298	CancerCode.org Experimental Drug Shows Promise for Certain Breast Cancers SUNDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) — An experimental drug designed to treat patients with a specific kind of breast cancer known as HER2-positive appeared to boost survival compared to the standard treatment, a new study shows. The drug, known as trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), is in the final stage of research necessary before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can approve its sale. For now, it is only available in clinical trials. “The drug worked. It was significantly better than a very effective approved therapy for HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer,” study author Dr. Kimberly Blackwell, a professor of medicine and an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Duke Cancer Institute in Durham, N.C., said in a news release from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. “Also, as a clinician who takes care of a lot of breast cancer patients, I’m pleased that this drug has very little dose-limiting toxicity,” she added. “Patients don’t lose their hair from this drug. For patients facing metastatic breast cancer, this is a breakthrough.” Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer have a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 that promotes cancer cell growth. The drug T-DM1 is a dual drug made up of the antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) and the cytotoxic drug emtansine (DM1). In the study, nearly 1,000 patients received either T-DM1 or a regimen of capecitabine (Xeloda) and lapatinib (Tykerb), a combination referred to as XL. They took the assigned treatment until the disease got worse or side effects became unmanageable. After two years, 65.4 percent of those who took T-DM1 were alive, compared to 47.5 percent of those who took the other treatment. The median progression-free survival time was 9.6 months for those who got T-DM1, compared to 6.4 months for the others. Several side effects were more common in the T-DM1 patients, including a low platelet count, but the regimen was generally well-tolerated, the researchers said. Those who got the standard treatment were more likely to experience diarrhea, stomach upset and redness, swelling and pain in their palms and the soles of their feet. Dr. Daniel Hayes, clinical director of the breast oncology program at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, said the study “suggests that T-DM1 will provide us with yet another effective and meaningful agent to use in women with HER2-positive breast The study was scheduled to bepresented Sunday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago. Data and conclusions presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. For more about breast cancer, see the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Cancer Treatments (42) Codes (29) Depression And Anxiety (1) Disease Illness (5) Men's Issues (2) Copyright © 2019 www.CancerCode.org	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1772
__label__wiki	0.635065	0.635065	Tools could aid research in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s A team of University of Missouri neuroscientists are inching closer to developing the tools needed to decipher the brain. In 2015, the team received a National Science Foundation Early Concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award to investigate a newly discovered class of proteins that are turned on by heat. Now, the team has published a new paper that demonstrates how these proteins can be used as tools to regulate the activity of individual neurons in the brain through changes in temperature. These tools will advance fundamental brain research and potentially lead to “deep brain stimulation” treatments used for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients. “Thermogenetic tools, which utilize heat to act as a ‘switch’ to turn neuron functions on, are expanding the horizons of brain research by allowing us to control specific neurons in the brain and measure behavioral changes,” said Troy Zars, professor of biological sciences in the MU College of Arts and Science. “The goal of this fundamental research was to identify more of these special proteins, laying the foundation so that, in the future, scientists have a better understanding of how neuronal circuits function.” The research team was led by Zars, as well as Mirela Milescu and Lorin Milescu, who both are assistant professors of biological sciences at MU. The team included four undergraduate and four graduate students. Together, the researchers focused on a family of genes that encode taste receptors found in fruit flies. Surprisingly, some of these taste receptors also are activated by heat and thus play a role in detecting environmental temperature. First, the students in Mirela Milescu’s lab investigated the thermosensitivity of these proteins and identified one member of the family, called Gr28bD, as a prime candidate for thermogenetics. Then, Lorin Milescu’s students used live-imaging techniques and software developed in their lab to demonstrate that the Gr28bD protein can, through temperature differences, modulate the brain activity of fruit flies. Finally, the flies were tested in Dr. Troy Zars’ lab for temperature-dependent behavior. Using a specially designed heat chamber that allows precise control of the environmental temperature, the Zars’ students were able to show that the Gr28bD protein can control behavior in these flies, using temperature as a “brain switch.” “Gr28bD could become a powerful tool in controlling neuronal activity and studying how neuronal circuits function,” said Benton Berigan, a graduate student in Lorin Milescu’s lab. “Since this protein is not found in any mammal, it emerges as a good candidate for the development of novel thermogenetic tools to be used for basic research and potentially one day in humans.” Further study of thermogenetics could lead to the development of deep brain stimulation tools as a part of the national Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) project, Zars said. This research highlights the power of translational precision medicine and the promise of the proposed Translational Precision Medicine Complex (TPMC) at the University of Missouri. The TPMC will bring together industry partners, multiple schools and colleges on campus, and the federal and state government to enable precision and personalized medicine. Scientific advancements made at MU will be effectively translated into new drugs, devices and treatments that deliver customized patient care based on an individual’s genes, environment and lifestyle, ultimately improving health and well-being of people. The study, “The Drosophila Gr28bD product is a non-specific cation channel that can be used as a novel thermogenetic tool,” recently was published in Scientific Reports. Aditi Mishra, Autoosa Salari, Kayla C. Miguel, Marzie Amirshenava, Abbey Robinson, Jenna Lin and Benjamin C. Zars all contributed to the study. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (Grant: 1535790). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies. Shot fired on Church Street	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1773
__label__cc	0.578741	0.421259	Jim Baggett, BPL Archivist, wins Alabama Library Association award Birmingham, Ala.- Longtime Birmingham Public Library Archivist Jim Baggett received the 2019 Eminent Librarian Award Thursday, April 4, during the Alabama Library Association annual conference in Point Clear, Ala. The recognition is in honor of his many contributions to the library industry in Alabama as head of BPL's Department of Archives and Manuscripts, and as archivist for the City of Birmingham. Baggett holds a Masters of Library and Information Studies degree at the University of Alabama a Master’s Degree in Public History from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Baggett has served as president of the Society of Alabama Archivists, Chair of the Jefferson County Historical Commission, and as a trustee for several historical associations. Known for his knowledge of the civil rights movement in Birmingham and other historical events in Alabama, Baggett has presented lectures across the United States and Europe. He has been featured on Alabama Public Television, Alabama Public Radio, National Public Radio, and C-SPAN. Baggett has written two books about Alabama history, edited three others, and written downs of articles in various publications. Baggett also writes the "Reading Birmingham" book column for the online news site BirminghamWatch. Baggett lives in Birmingham with his wife and daughter.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1774
__label__wiki	0.577035	0.577035	Finding a sense of place: community, art and the UK riots. Alasdair Thompson 24 August 2011 Finding a sense of place: community, art and the UK riots.2011-08-24T08:55:22+01:00 England & Wales 3 Comments What is it that makes a community? We talk a lot about communities in political discourse but to what do we actually refer when we use the term? After the riots across England recently we heard a lot of commentators from the left and the right talk about how the rioters had turned on their own communities. For the right this was evidence of the ‘mindelssness’ of their action; they couldn’t possibly be political because instead of making demands of government they were simply ‘terrorising’ their own communities. For the left this was evidence instead o their alienation; they had no way to make their voices heard and were lashing out undirectedly. And, of course, the unrest only happened in deprived communities, places where there was unemployment and where essential services were being cut. There were no riots in Chelsea or Knightsbirdge. But both those narratives are too simplistic, too generalising, too eager to fit the story to their own conceptions. Because these rioters didn’t turn on their own communities. Community is about much more than a shared geography, it requires shared experience, shared culture, shared hopes and prospects. Writing on Open Democracy last week Owen Hatherley remarked that where the riots occurred are not places of total poverty — London is not Paris, with its segregated and excluded banlieue — but places where wealth and poverty rub against one and other, where multiple communities exist simultaneously — often where the dominant, gentrified middle class are oblivious to the existence of anything else, detached from any sense of place and ignoring the poverty they help to perpetuate around them. The vast majority of those charged following the riots are under 25, 90% of them unemployed. Are they really part of the same community as a middle aged small business owner? Do they share the same culture and face the same future? Are Footlocker and Ladbrokes really part of anyone’s community? Does Anyone feel pride in their local Currys or Tesco? But Owen was wrong about one point. Edinburgh doesn’t wall off its poor in Muirhouse or Leith. Well, certainly not in Leith. Because Leith must surely be an archetypal example of the mix of wealth and poverty that Owen describes. A place that can boast the best restaurants in the city, and the red light district and scrapyards, gentrified, converted flats and unconverted 60s tower blocks, traditional pubs full of men who still work at the docks, and modern bars with designers who work on converted barges. I love the contrasts in Leith, and love living here, but how do I find a sense of community amongst it all? I have no historical or family connection — in any recent past at least — I work 5 miles across the city at the university, most of my friends live in other areas and live much of my generation I seem to move flat at least once a year. In such circumstances it’s all to easy to disconnect, to find one or two pubs and cafes and shops you like and discount the rest, ignore your neighbours save for a passing nod in the stairwell because you’ll never have time to get to know them anyway and find community not in locality but work and politics. Last week I visited the Fruitmarket Gallery for a detour by the comedian Josie Long in response to the latest collection of works by the American artist Ingrid Calame. It’s a brilliant exhibition that takes the most minute details of modern urbanity and reinvents them as works of abstract beauty. (Ingrid traces the patterns around us most of us ignore, the pebbles and scrapes and scuffs on a car park or factory floor, or the bottom of the LA river, and fills them with the most vibrant colour in pencil and oil and enamel.) What struck me more than the artwork itself, however, was Josie’s commentary that accompanied it. What is best in Ingrid’s work is the way it forces us to re-examine the environment in which we live, to break out of the fixed routines we construct for ourselves and see our cities afresh. And, as Josie told us, it’s something we can, and should, take with us into our everyday experience. Take a deliberate wrong turning on the way to work, go into the cafe you wrote off for no reason for lunch, go running in a part of town you don’t know and watch the city rush up to you unexpectedly before you can fit it into your pre-exisiting categories. Because it is only by violently forcing ourselves to confront our relation to our surroundings that we can begin to understand them and see outside of the structures we have created to enclose our existence. And by which we can start to interact across the different communities that overlay our localities. Art / Media, community, Culture, derive, Fruitmarket Gallery, geography, Ingrid Calame, Josie Long, Leith, locality, Owen Hatherley, place, poverty, psychogeography, situationism, space An open letter to the labour movement: support the strike, don’t cross the climate picket line How investing in communities can be a vehicle for progressive change Elon Musk and the Bourgeois Space Adventure About Alasdair Thompson Alasdair co-founded Bright Green Scotland in 2009. View all posts by Alasdair Thompson → 3 Comments Already Alyson - August 24th, 2011 at 1:49 pm none Comment author #11322 on Finding a sense of place: community, art and the UK riots. by Bright Green I’m definitely not saying that we should ignore the issues, or that geographical communities aren’t relevant, it’s just that we need to find new ways of organising those communities – preferably ones that don’t rely too heavily on nuclear families to hold them together. I don’t have the answers, but at the moment I’d settle for having a better idea of what the questions are. Alyson - August 24th, 2011 at 12:02 pm none Comment author #11320 on Finding a sense of place: community, art and the UK riots. by Bright Green There’s a lot to think about here, particularly for me as another Leith resident, because it raises questions about my own lifestyle. How do we turn living in that area into anything other than an extended form of poverty tourism? It’s a difficult question, and one which is making me genuinely uncomfortable. We’re obviously part of the problem, but for all our privilege, there are barriers preventing us from getting more engaged. I’m starting to wonder if the traditional image of a geographical community is part of the problem too. As younger adults with no children, mostly single, and no relatives living locally, there isn’t an established role for us in a community, and the networks we build amongst ourselves aren’t recognised as genuine communities by other people. Society doesn’t fit the same mould as it did a hundred years ago, and communities have to evolve as well, otherwise more and more people will be excluded. This isn’t so much about placing blame for social problems, but about looking for a solution. It’s all very well saying that we should join in, but it’s a lot more difficult to figure out how. Alasdair Thompson - August 24th, 2011 at 1:01 pm none Comment author #11321 on Finding a sense of place: community, art and the UK riots. by Bright Green It is difficult to see an answer to these questions. I certainly don’t think I can offer one, but I think it is an issue that deserves more attention. I agree that community has changed a lot over the last century, but I don’t think we can ignore the need to find ways to rebuild a sense of local community. Any genuinely democratic polity requires some form of geographic organisation, at a human scale. And for that to be successful and be able to engage with everyone who lives in the area there has to be some sense of shared experience. I think there’s a real need for us to create new spaces for democratic engagement, to find new ways to connect people with where thy live and the people with whom they share that space. I’m still trying to think about how you achieve that, though. « No shock doctrine for Libya Jonnie Marbles Prison Blog – Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Wandsworth »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1777
__label__wiki	0.528616	0.528616	Veldkos & imifino: Assessing knowledge about wild edible plants in Gansbaai, Western By: jaci van Niekerk Categories:News Wild indigenous vegetables and edible plants grow abundantly across Africa and have traditionally played an important role in household food security for rural South Africans. Lila Kelly reports back on her recently completed Honours project: My Honours research project analysed differences in knowledge about wild edible plants within two Western Cape communities in the Overberg region. Through an engagement with locals who have grown up in the Gansbaai area and Eastern Cape migrants currently living in Gansbaai, my results reflected that knowledge of wild edible plants is being lost. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted, where interviewees reflected on their relationship with the land upon which they were raised, and the ways in which this connected them to wild foods. My findings suggest that individuals who were raised in rural areas and played in natural areas as children possess significantly more knowledge about wild edible plants than those who were raised in urban areas and played in gardens. Aspirations towards modern, urban lifestyles also reflected a disregard and loss of knowledge about wild edible plants. This was largely found to be linked to socio-cultural distinctions. For the Eastern Cape participants, ‘wild foods’ were associated with rural poverty. The connotations of wild foods with poverty created a stigma for wild indigenous vegetables in the Western Cape, where participants held jobs and were not interested in consuming reminders of their impoverished rural upbringings in the Eastern Cape. Many of the participants acknowledged that plants which grew wild were the ‘healthiest foods’ to eat, yet still chose not to eat them due to lack of time, energy and a perception of a lack of access to wild indigenous vegetables in the Western Cape. For the Western Cape participants, the reminders of wild foods were strongly connected to ‘sweet memories’ of being a child and playing in the wilderness, but lacked any connections to food security. This was largely linked to the types of wild foods harvested within the Western Cape, mainly berries or small fruits which were not cooked. These harvests were considered to be veldkos, meaning food which is picked and consumed in the bush. This stands in contrast to the leafy greens which are used in the Eastern Cape for traditional cooked meals which are referred to as imifino. Differences in knowledge did not exist for wild edible plants that were known to be commodified, such as the sour fig, which is sold in bulk on the side of the road across the Overberg region. These findings suggest that the survival of wild edible plant knowledge requires a multi-faceted approach which acknowledges the complex overlap of ‘traditional’ and ‘modern’ culture that is rapidly emerging in urbanising areas. As migration from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape continues to reshape the socio-cultural make-up of Western Cape urbanity, it is critical to engage with spatial distinctions about the consumption of food. Furthermore, more work needs to be done to establish childhood connections to the land and to nature. The reflections from childhood by the participants indicate that a relationship with the land manifested organically in previous years, but is currently being disrupted by urbanisation and exposure to modern technology. Thus, seeking ways of facilitating the process whereby children can feel connected to nature will enable not only increased food security, but also break cultural misperceptions about what it means to ‘eat well’ in modern society. Envisioning a resilient future for farmer-led seed systems in southern Africa Seeds under siege: It’s time to support traditional systems	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1784
__label__wiki	0.661548	0.661548	Harriet Imler Clark Harriet Imler was born June 1, 1843 at Deer Creek, Pickaway County, Ohio, the tenth of twelve children of her parents, George and Sarah Betz Imler. Her parents, both born in Pennsylvania, were “Pennsylvania Dutch” and spoke the German language. Exactly when the Imler family moved to Allen County is not known, but they were living in Shawnee township by the September 1850 agricultural census. William and Harriet (Imler) Clark date unknown The Imler family was members of the Saint Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church in Shawnee Township, Allen County. The first church was a log structure, and the church services were conducted in the German language. The earliest records of the church are lost, except for an 1844 list of founding members. George Imler is not on this list, indicating the family was still in Pickaway County. In 1851 a frame building was erected and George Imler appears on the donor list for that building. Allen County was heavily wooded when the first settlers arrived and most families lived in log houses. The following was taken from a history of German Township written by S.D. Crites in 1909 and printed in the Lima (Ohio) News on May 29, 1909. The Crites and Imler families were neighbors. “The typical cabin was built of round logs, chinked and daubed, enclosing one room fifteen by eighteen feet. There was but one door and opposite it a window. The door was of split plank, hung on wooden hinges with a wooden latch which was fastened within to a string. The string in day time protruded without through a small hole but at night was withdrawn within. Hence the old saying when inviting friends to call: ”You will find the latch string out.” On the interior the floor was of puncheons, the hearth was of rock usually of nature’s own hewing. The fireplace was wide, and deep enough to receive logs eight or even ten feet long. There was an iron crane or wooden pole in the chimney to which was attached a chain which ended in a hook. From the hook was suspended a pot which was used for various purposes. The other cooking utensils were a skillet, iron teakettle, a dutch oven and a wooden tray. A chest contained the linen and wearing apparel of the family. Over the door rested the indispensable flint lock, on a rustle rack. In the rear of the room stood a bed with a curtain around its legs to conceal the trundle bed used by the children. The loft was reached by means of a rough ladder at the rear of the room. The loft served the purpose of dormitory, larder and tool house. It was a private bedroom. It also contained the winter supplies: hominy, corn, pumpkins, seeds of all kinds, jerked venison, dried corn and fruits, hickory nuts and walnuts. The tools were a maul and wedge, crosscut saw, drawing knife, an auger, a frow and a broad ax. The roof of the cabin was covered with clap-boards held in place by ridge poles.” On February 5, 1861 Harriet, aged 17 years and four months, and William Clark, aged 27 years and four months were married by the Justice of the Peace at Allen County, Ohio. Eight months earlier on the June 1860 federal census, widower, William Clark and his two small children were living with his former in-laws, the John Searfoss family. William, who was illiterate, had no real nor personal property. Why would a 17 year-old girl marry a penniless, illiterate, widower, ten years her senior and with two small children? Was it love or a means to get out of her parent’s home? I doubt we will ever know. Whatever the reason, Harriet remained close to members of the extended Imler family throughout her lifetime. Harriet’s first child, James William Clark, (grandfather of Bud Renschler) was born October 5, 1863 in Allen County. He was followed by Genetta, born after the Civil War in 1867. In September 1864 Harriet’s husband, William Clark, along with three of her brothers, Amos, James and William Imler enlisted in the 180th Ohio Infantry. William Imler died on 28 Mar 1865 at New Bern, North Carolina. He left a widow and four small children. He is buried at Amanda Baptist Cemetery in Allen County, Ohio. Amos Imler died of disease on 12 June 1865 in McDougall General Hospital at New York Harbor, leaving a widow and one small son. He is buried in Cypress Hill National Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY. Harriet’s husband William Clark, and her brother James Imler both survived to return home. However, William, who had contracted diphtheria and bronchitis while stationed at Camp Stoneman, Washington, D.C. and was treated at Douglas Hospital, later received an invalids pension for the damage to his health. For many years I was unable to locate William and Harriet Clark on the 1870 federal census. It wasn’t until Familysearch.org indexed the 1870 census that I located them at Compton, Kane County, Illinois. William Clark, age 37, owned no real estate and only $200 worth of personal property. Mary age 18 and Abraham age 12 were listed as having attended school the previous year. James was age 6 and Genetta age 2. All were born in Ohio, so the family hadn’t been in Illinois long, and they didn’t remain there much longer. Why they went there and why they left no one knows. It is not on the route from Allen County, Ohio to southern Nebraska where the family moved next. Clarice Clark Renschler Bugg told me stories about her grandparents which I wrote down. (She would not allow me to tape record her reminiscence.) This is her story. “The Clarks homesteaded in Nemaha County, Nebraska. They brought two covered wagons filled with possessions, William drove one and Harriet the other. A cow was tied behind each wagon. One of the wagons was lost along the way while fording a river. It turned over and sank with all the goods and one horse. This was a terrible loss to the family.” William built a sod house on the Nebraska homestead. “The roof was constructed from slabs—the first piece of wood cut from the side of a tree with the bark still attached. A heavy screen was placed over the slabs to hold straw, and over the straw a layer of sod was placed. The window frames were wood and the floor was packed clay. One day William and Harriet were out milking and the two boys, Abe and James, were studying. Nettie, a small pre-school child, about 3 years-old, had often observed her father light his pipe by sticking a piece of straw into the stove and using it to light his pipe. She took a piece of straw, lit it in the stove, then touched the burning straw to a piece of straw hanging down from the low ceiling. The entire ceiling was soon ablaze and the children barely escaped with their lives. The house was completely gutted leaving the family with only the clothes on their backs. Needing shelter, they immediately cleaned the interior, plastered the walls, replaced the windows and installed a wood floor to cover the clay one.” The family lived in Nebraska about a year after the fire. The land in Nebraska was hilly and the soil clay. There was no source of water nearby. Grandma Clark later said she would never again live on a farm without a creek running through it. Dissatisfied with the Nebraska farm, the family moved to Jewell County, Kansas in October 1871, where William Clark filed for a 160 acre homestead in Section 2, Township 3 South, Range 6 West. This land is located in Grant Township, Jewell County, 2 miles north and 1 ½ miles east of Formosa, Kansas. There were few trees on the prairie, so they built another sod house. On April 1, 1878 William filed his homestead proof at the Jewell County courthouse in Mankato. In it he stated that he had a wife and four children; he had settled on the land on the 2nd day of October 1871 and built a house thereon 16 by 24 feet, with 2 doors and 3 windows, dirt roof, dirt floor and had lived in the said house since October 1871. He had plowed and cultivated 40 acres of land and made the following improvements: “built a stable, hog pens, granary of pine, broke hedge rows, peach orchard, and dug a water well.” He received his patent one year later and filed it in Volume 15, page 28 of Jewell County deeds. It is unknown when the Clark family built a frame house to replace the soddie. Pioneering in Kansas was just as difficult as pioneering in Nebraska. However, during the decade of the 1870s rainfall was sufficient to raise reasonable crops. On the 1875 Jewell County agricultural census William, age 41, has 160 acres, 127 of it prairie. In 1885 120 acres are still uncultivated indicating poor quality land. The Clark family was barely making a living. In 1881 William Clark applied for a pension because of disability suffered during the Civil War. In 1885 both Harriet’s step daughter, Mary Elizabeth Clark, and her daughter, Genetta Viola “Nettie” Clark, married Harriet’s nephews who had followed the Clark family to Kansas. Mary Elizabeth Clark married George Christian Imler, son of Harriet’s older brother William Imler, who had died during the Civil War. George was 24 years old and Mary was 31 years-old when they married at Mankato in April 1885. Nettie Clark married, on June 27, 1885 at Mankato, her first cousin, Elijah B. Imler, son of Harriet’s brother, Amos who had also died during the Civil War. “Lij” as he was called, was a widower with a 4 year-old son. And, he was ten years older than 17 year-old Nettie. But she didn’t have many choices as she was four months pregnant. The 1890s were hard years for farmers on the great plains, commodity prices were low, and railroad freight rates were unreasonable because farmers had no other way to get their grain to market. And, the country was in a depression. Then a severe drought struck in 1894 and farmers raised nothing. In the fall of 1895 William and Harriet, along with their son James and his family, Nettie and Elijah Imler, Mary and George Imler and an unrelated Roy Jones family formed a small wagon train and moved to Van Buren, Arkansas. The story is that a nephew of Harriet’s living there wrote describing how good life was there. On the way down to Arkansas they were floating across a river and one of the wagons floated so far down river the bank was too steep to get out, so they threw some things out and kept floating until they found a low bank. On April 19, 1897 William Clark, aged 64 years and two months, died at his home on Crowell Mountain in Van Buren County, Arkansas. He had gone out to the barn to lift up a colt that was down and he dropped dead from a heart attack. He is buried in the Crowell Cemetery in an unmarked grave. When Pat and I went there many years ago, the cemetery was in timber, hidden from the road which was merely a path up the mountain. Most of the graves were marked with fieldstones. Clarice told me that the day of his funeral it was raining heavily, the grave filled with water, and the casket, which floated, had to be weighted down with rocks. Harriet Imler Clark after 1897. On November 27, 1897 in Clinton, Arkansas, Harriet answered questions for a widow’s pension application. She stated “There was no public record kept of my husband’s death. He died very suddenly and I had no time to get a doctor to show the cause of his death.” She received $12 a month pension until her death. When the Clark family returned to Jewell County, Kansas in 1898 Harriet moved back to the Clark farm which had been rented out. To settle William’s estate, his children, Abraham Clark and Mary Imler, by his first wife, and Harriet’s children James Clark (our ancestor) and Genetta Imler conveyed their interests in the farm to their mother for her lifetime. Upon her death the four heirs were to divide the estate. Nettie, a widow and her children lived with Harriet. They are shown in her household on the 1900 federal census of Jewell County. On March 13, 1901 Harriet’s granddaughter, Lulu Imler, aged 15, died at Harriet’s home and was buried in the Balch Cemetery between the Clark farm and Formosa, Kansas. I do not know her cause of death and the brief item that appeared in the Formosa New Era newspaper did not give the cause of death. Between 1909 and 1913 Harriet mortgaged her farm four times for a total of $4,540. What she did with the money I do not know, but suspect Nettie’s family got it. On August 18, 1913 Harriet signed a Last Will and Testament willing to “Janetta” Viola Imler all her interest in the farm. To Hugh Imler, “Janetta’s” son, she willed all her personal property. She gave her son, James Clark, $1. Harriet died five days later on August 23, 1913 and was buried in the Balch Cemetery. But the story doesn’t end there. In November 1913 Genetta V. Imler petitioned for letters of administration for her mother’s estate. The farm was valued at $7,000, the house at $300, and personal items, including three cows and two calves, at $182. Well, Mary E Imler, and Abraham Lincoln Clark, children of William Clark by his first wife, and James Clark, son of William and Harriet Clark weren’t going to give up their share of their father’s estate. On December 2, 1914 they sued “Jenette” Imler in Jewell County District Court and won. The farm was divided four ways. But of course the mortgages had to be paid, the lawyers, and the court fees had to be paid. Each of the four received about $500. Grandson, Hugh Imler, received his grandmother’s personal property, including a new $98 top buggy that hadn’t been paid for and was part of the bills paid by the estate. Grandma, Clarice Clark, Renschler, Bugg reminisced about her grandmother at various times and some of the stories she told me were: Grandma Clark had asthma and the doctor advised her to smoke a corn cob pipe twice a day, which she did. Harriet never returned to Ohio to visit her family, but several of them came out to Kansas to visit her. Harriet could speak German but didn’t want anyone to know that. One time a German immigrant was traveling through the country and stopped at the neighbors. The neighbors didn’t understand German, so they brought the immigrant over to Grandma Clark and she translated. Harriet was ill about two weeks before she died. Her skin turned yellow. The family thought her gall bladder ruptured a couple days before her death. Clarice was unable to attend her Grandmother’s funeral because she had just born her first child, a still-born boy and she was in poor health. And the last story. When I first visited Balch Cemetery in the 1970s I took Grandma Bugg along. I was surprised to find that several family member’s graves had markers, but Grandma Harriet Clark’s grave was unmarked. Clarice admitted nothing, but I was later told by other grandchildren, all now long dead, that Harriet’s grave had been marked by a stone ordered by Nettie. When she lost the court case, Nettie refused to pay for her mother’s grave marker, the other children refused to pay because they hadn’t ordered the stone, and eventually the stone mason removed the marker from her grave. In 2002 a great-granddaughter placed a stone on Harriet’s grave and although William is not buried there, his name is engraved on the stone as well. Posted on June 2, 2017 June 5, 2017 Leave a comment	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1790
__label__wiki	0.836016	0.836016	TAG: Lauri Stevens Social Media Quick Tip: Is Facebook Truly a Public Forum? It’s the kind of lawsuit that’s been anticipated and predicted by many, especially within law enforcement. Earlier this week, the Honolulu Police Department was named in a complaint over deleted Facebook posts. According to the Associated Press, the deleted posts were made by members of a gun group and the lawsuit indicates the deletions on the part of HPD were “arbitrary.” The HPD has a posted takedown policy on its Facebook page and the exact content of the deleted posts isn’t public at this time. Legal experts seem to agree that it boils down to whether the Facebook page is truly a public forum. William Lasser, a professor of political science and a first amendment scholar at Clemson University, explained that the roots of the definition of public forums go back to the 1930s, when courts defined public forum in terms of it being a physical or literal space. But the definition, he said, has been expanded in the decades since. “You could endlessly complicate this,” he said and explained that the definition of public forum is generally a government-controlled space, but there are exceptions to that. He said, for example, prisons and military bases are not public forums. The definition can also include spaces not generally open as public forums that the government has declared to be public forums. It can also include a space which would not otherwise be a public forum, but is being used as a public forum and has gone unchecked by government and becomes public forum by default. If the page is determined not to be a public forum, Lasser said, “the government can pretty much regulate speech there for any rational purpose.” The legal issue, he said, is “whether through action or inaction the police department has welcomed robust public debate on issues. If they have, it becomes a public forum, but that’s not to say that even in that case they can never restrict speech. It’s just that they would need a compelling governmental interest.” The question of whether there’s a compelling government interest was also pinpointed by Rick Joyce, a Washington, D.C., based attorney and chair of the communications group at Venable, LLP. “The problem I think they might have is whether someone did made a decision based upon what was said,” Joyce said, “and if so, did the police department have legitimate government interest to remove it?” The fact that a police department posts a takedown policy could help its case. Related story on LawOfficer.com: Social Media Quick Tip: Give Your Facebook Page a Takedown Policy Lasser likened it to a bulletin board where you can post a notice, but have to get approval first. “You can’t have it both ways though, and posting a takedown policy doesn’t by itself immunize oneself from the public forum doctrine,” Lasser said. “Time, place and manner restrictions on speech are permissible but the dividing line between time, place and manner can’t be based on content.” The constitutionality of such a takedown policy is key, Joyce said. Any policy that allows someone to “pick and choose” to delete content could be problematic. “They ought to have a department attorney take a look to see if in broadest terms that takedown policy conforms with relevant first amendment precedents,” Joyce said. “The first amendment may not be established in the cloud or in new media, but the question as to whether there’s a government interest at stake is pretty well establish.” Issues such as this one have stifled some police departments’ willingness to use Facebook. The case is thought to be the first of its kind to begin to answer these tough questions as to how a police department, or any government organization, can use a social network to provide for open dialog and how far it can go to limit or otherwise affect that dialog. This Social Media QuickTip was previously published on LawOfficer.com QuickTips, SM Use Social Media Quick Tip: Claim Your Community If a community page exists for your department, here’s how you can claim it It’s possible your police department has a page on Facebook that no one associated with the department created. I’m not referring to pages created by impersonators. That’s a different Quick Tip. However, sometimes pages are created by Facebook when someone selects an associated interest or when someone checks in to a location. Those pages are called Community Pages, and they’re accompanied by a briefcase or a geo-location pin as an icon. For example, search “Sacramento Police” on Facebook and, in addition to the real department page, you’ll find a page Facebook created. If such a page exists for your police department, you can claim it. First you must convince Facebook that you’re the official representative and become the admin. Then you can merge it with your real page. In the upper right corner of the page, click on the round asterisk-looking pull-down menu. Select Is this your business? Fill in the information and click Continue. You will then have to choose a method to verify you can claim the page. Once Facebook reviews your request and accepts it, you’ll be made the administrator of the page. You can then merge it with your current page. To merge two pages they must have similar names and the same address. Go to the page with the most Likes. Click Edit Page Then Update Info Then Resources If you have two pages that qualify to be merged, you will see a link offering you to Merge duplicate pages. When completed, the Likes and Check in From the page with the fewest Likes will be incorporated into the page with most Likes. Everything else on the old Community Page will go away. Facebook, QuickTips ConnectedCOPS Awards Finalists press release LAwS Communications announced finalists in the ConnectedCOPS™ Awards, a new awards program for law enforcement using social media. The ConnectedCOPS Awards were created with the intent of recognizing the great work being done with social media in six categories, by individual sworn officers and law enforcement agencies. Winners will be announced at The SMILE Conference™ in Richmond, Va. on September 10, 2012. “The ConnectedCOPS Awards are setting the bar for law enforcement agencies and officers,” said Lauri Stevens of LAwS Communications. “Until now they had nothing to gauge their work against. Now they will have examples of excellent work to strive to equal or improve upon.” Joseph Porcelli, the director of engagement services for GovDelivery and GovLoop said, “LAwS Communications through the ConnectedCOPS Awards has filled the needed gap to recognize the contributions made by law enforcement organizations and individuals, which up until now have not received the credit they deserve.” The ConnectedCOPS Awards finalists are: Social Media Incident Management Award (Individual or Agency) (Sponsored by Nixle) Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California New South Wales Police, Australia Queensland Police Service, Australia Social Media Investigator Award (Individual) (Sponsored by LexisNexis) Detective Ian Barraclough, Vancouver Police Detective Mark Fenton, Vancouver Police Detective Patricia van Dalen, Dutch Police, The Hague Award of Excellence at a Large Agency Reykjavik Metropolitan Police, Iceland Toronto Police Service, Canada Award of Excellence at a Small Agency Billerica Police, Massachusetts Redlands Police, California Redwood City Police, California Top Cop Award (Individual) Gordon Scobbie, Deputy Chief Constable, Tayside, Scotland Henk Van Der Linden, Rotterdam Police, Netherlands Peter Sloly, Toronto Police, Canada Stuart Hyde, Chief Constable, Cumbria Police, UK Leadership Award (Individual) Constable Ed Rogerson, Harrogate Police, North Yorkshire, UK Constable Scott Mills, Toronto Police, Canada Sergeant Jay Turner, Hamilton Police, Canada Sergeant Rob Sutton, Portsmouth City Central Police, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK Special Constable Tom Stirling, North Yorkshire Police, UK The first annual ConnectedCOPS Awards will be presented at the sixth Social Media the Internet and Law Enforcement (SMILE) Conference on September 10-12, 2012 in Richmond, Va. Winners in the above six categories will be honored and their achievement recognized. The SMILE Conference brings together one of the largest assemblages of law enforcement professionals from around the world to address the topics of social media strategy, reputation management, policy and other issues pertaining to community outreach. The three-day event will also emphasize information sharing and homeland security. The sixth SMILE Conference is hosted by the Richmond Police Department. There will be a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, September 11, to further explore and discuss issues concerning social media and law enforcement that could not be fully addressed during the plenary session. For more information please visit http://www.TheSMILEConference.com. The international panel of judges are: Sponsor Representatives Nixle – Travis Scott, Vice President LexisNexis – Susan Crandall, Marketing Lead, Law Enforcement International Media Partners The Social Media Monthly – Bob Fine, Publisher PoliceProfessional.com – Paul Lander, Editor in Chief PoliceOne.com – Doug Wylie, Editor in Chief LawOfficer.com – Dale Stockton, Senior Editor Public Communications Worldwide – Susan van Barneveld, CEO International Support Partners Crime Stoppers International – Michael Gordon Gibson, President Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) – Gordon Scobbie, National Social Media Lead, UK Police Futurists International – Joe Grebmeier, Board Member GovDelivery and GovLoop – Joe Porcelli, Director, Engagement Services For award criteria, rules and judging information see http://www.ConnectedCOPS.net/ConnectedCOPSAwards. About LAwS Communications LAwS Communications has been providing interactive media advice to law enforcement since 2005. Open Source communication technologies available today allow organizations to efficiently gather and distribute information like never before. LAwS Communications works with law enforcement professionals to help make sense of the tools available, help agencies craft a plan and social media policy as well as provide the training needed. LAwS Communications can help law enforcement organizations not only understand why an agency should take advantage of social media technologies, but also how to leverage these vast resources. LAwS Communications is located in Newbury, Massachusetts. It is a subsidiary of Stevens & Associates Inc. For more information, please visit http://lawscommunications.com. ConnectedCOPS Awards, SM Use ConnectedCOPS Awards 2012: Finalists announced for Leadership Award The ConnectedCOPS Leadership Award finalists have been determined. Approximately two dozen nominations for 21 officers from three countries were received for this award. The finalists in this category are pioneers, have demonstrated exemplary leadership and have mentored their peers. Dale Stockton is a Senior Editor at Law Officer magazine, and one of seven judges for this category. “Leadership is so incredibly important in public safety, especially when you’re entering a relatively new area like social media,” he said, and added “It is really encouraging to see so many powerful examples of individuals who have stepped up and are leading the way for others.” ConnectedCOPS Leadership Award This award is given to the individual officer up to and including the rank of Sergeant (or its international equivalent) at any worldwide law enforcement agency who has singularly demonstrated exemplary and selfless leadership in the use of social media to improve public safety and/or enhance his or her agency’s community engagement and reputation. This individual is creative, innovative and fearless and shares what s/he knows by mentoring others, participating in public speaking opportunities and leading by example. Because there were so many great leaders nominated in this category, the judges selected five finalists. They are listed below in no significant order: Special Constable Tom Stirling, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom Special Constable Tom Stirling worked diligently to bring the North Yorkshire Police Service into digital communications on his own time by designing a mobile application. He then taught himself how to program the app resulting in “NYP mobile”, the first mobile app in policing in England, all at no cost to his department. His work has earned him the “Outstanding Police Communicator” Award from the Association of Police Communicators and has been emulated by other departments. Police Constable Ed Rogerson, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom Police Constable Ed Rogerson is regarded as possibly the first officer in the UK to use social media for community engagement. Rogerson is nationally and internationally known for his use of social media and is often cited as an example of best practice. He regularly speaks at professional events about his use of social media in policing. His work has gained him near celebrity status among youth in the UK as they recognize him from Twitter and YouTube. Constable Scott Mills, Toronto Police Service, Canada Constable Mills is highly regarded as a global leader in police adoption of social media. One of his foremost qualities is that he works in service of others, in relentless pursuit to improve public safety and support others to do the same. Mills is the quintessential pioneer and has put in countless hours, he has endured much criticism from those who don’t or won’t understand, and yet he persists. Through his sincere and consistent approach, Mills has even gained support and a considerable following from unlikely groups, including gang members and activists. Sergeant Rob Sutten, Portsmouth City Central Police, United Kingdom Sergeant Sutten has been the leader and champion at the Hampshire Constabulary in the UK for his groundbreaking local use of Twitter. He is said to be innovate, charismatic and jovial. With his media department, he developed a fictional character called “Ninah” to develop crime prevention messages for children and incorporated humor and games. Ninah also tweets real-time updates about committed offenses, the thrill of her chase, as well as the arrest and result of conviction. Sergeant Jay Turner, Hamilton Police Service, Canada Sergeant Turner has taken Twitter use to a new level and is widely regarded as innovative and humorous. Because of the strength of his messaging on Twitter, he has significantly improved the public communication from HPS to citizens. Sergeant Turner mentors others at HPS, having personally developed five of the agency’s seven accounts, overcoming reluctance from his colleagues and supervisors. This is the final awards category to be announced this week. Finalists in the other awards categories were announced earlier in the week on this blog and can be found at the links provided below. Winners will be announced September 10th at The SMILE Conference™ in Richmond, Virginia. Previous finalists were announced earlier this week: Top Cop Excellence at a Small Agency Excellence at a Large Agency Social Media Incident Management The ConnectedCOPS Awards were created by LAwS Communications with the intent of recognizing the good work being done by individual officers and law enforcement agencies with social media. The international law enforcement community will be considered for these awards. Any officer or agency anywhere in the world is eligible. ConnectedCOPS Awards, SM Tools, SM Use ConnectedCOPS Awards 2012: Finalists Announced for Top Cop Award The ConnectedCOPS Top Cop finalists have been determined. A dozen of the planet’s top police executives in five countries were nominated for this award. The finalists in this category have demonstrated exemplary leadership and have mentored their peers. Joe Porcelli is Director of Engagement Services for GovDelivery and GovLoop and was one of seven judges in this category. “Judging this award has been an inspiring experience,” he said, and added “I strongly encourage everyone to appreciate the drive, innovation and persistence they each have demonstrated in service to their fellow citizens.” ConnectedCOPS Top Cop This award is given to the sworn law enforcement executive of the rank of LT (or its international equivalent) and up, at any worldwide law enforcement agency who has demonstrated significant and sustained executive leadership to further the use of social media and Internet technologies in law enforcement. This individual is a risk-taker and a pioneer in his or her promotion and use of social media in policing. The recipient of the Top Cop Award also gives his thought leadership and expertise freely to others. We have four finalists and they are (in no order of significance): Deputy Chief Peter Sloly, Toronto Police Because he was so quick to see the benefits of implementing social media into police operations, Deputy Chief Sloly was among the earliest of adopters of open source technology into law enforcement. Some of the first professional police gatherings to address the topic had, and continue to have, Deputy Sloly as their main speaker. He continues to share this enthusiasm and leadership expertise widely to an international audience. He is said to “walk the talk” and has lead the Toronto Police Service to be considered among the best in the world with social media. He leads up and down to create an atmosphere of openness, and encourages all to participate in a Service of 8,000 members. Deputy Chief Constable Gordon Scobbie, Tayside Police & ACPO In addition to his duties as DCC in Tayside, Gordon Scobbie serves as the ACPO appointed Social Media Lead for Police for all of the United Kingdom. DCC Scobbie daily gives of his time and wisdom to help his colleagues learn to also lead with open source technologies and to embrace “what they don’t know” in order to better embrace input. Scobbie has traveled internationally to speak to his peers at several major law enforcement conferences and has successfully convinced many of his colleagues to take the risks necessary to gain the many benefits of social media. He is one of few voices to stress engagement over all else in order to also realize the full potential of social media in policing. Chief Constable Stuart Hyde, Cumbria Police CC Hyde has lead the Cumbria Constabulary’s social media program to be among the finest in the UK. Chief Hyde is the President of the Society for the Policing of Cyberspace, Vice-President of the High Tech Crime Consortium and was instrumental in the creation of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). CC Hyde gives regularly of his time to support charities including the Blue Lamp Foundation, Marie Collins Foundation and regularly jumps into very cold water to support Comic Relief and Sport Relief. Inspector Henk van der Linden, Rotterdam Police Inspector van der Linden is a strong force in the strategic use of social media in policing in the Netherlands. As a project manager for the Rotterdam Police, he is an innovative and inspired leader and from that he was a leader in the adoption of social media by the Dutch Police. He is the co-founder of the “9 domains of social media”, a program being used as a guideline for the use of social media in law enforcement for the Dutch police and internationally. Because of his incredible work, the Dutch police are considered a European front runner in social media and policing. Finalists in the other awards categories will be announced throughout this week on this blog. Check back to see the finalists for the Leadership Award tomorrow. Winners will be announced September 10th at The SMILE Conference™ in Richmond, Virginia. Disclaimer: DCC Gordon Scobbie also served as a judge on these awards. He did not judge, nor did he have access to nominee information for, this category.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1800
__label__wiki	0.815591	0.815591	Covr Financial Technologies announces Michael Kalen as Chief Executive Officer Kalen brings deep insurance and financial services leadership experience to Covr Boise, ID—March 20, 2018—Michael Kalen has joined Covr Financial Technologies, a digital, multi-carrier life insurance platform for financial institutions, as its chief executive officer, Covr Board Chairman Brian Finn announced. In announcing the naming of Kalen as the new CEO, Finn said, “As a veteran insurance executive with a strong track record of building insurance and financial services businesses, Michael is uniquely qualified to lead Covr’s growing management team. Michael understands first-hand the challenges facing carriers, banks and insurance technology businesses and can collaborate with them to find practical solutions that will propel Covr’s growth.” In announcing the Kalen appointment, Finn noted that Kalen’s in-depth experience in financial technology and sales will make him a meaningful addition to Covr’s executive team. Kalen is an executive advisor with Aquiline Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm investing in businesses across the financial services sector in banking and credit, insurance, investment management and markets, and financial technology and services. Before that, for seven years, he was CEO of insurance marketer Futurity First, transforming it into a market leader in life and annuity distribution. Prior to that, he was president of The Hartford Life’s US Life Insurance business, the Number One seller of life insurance through financial institutions and banks. His experience also includes serving as senior vice president of insurance and estate planning at Prudential Securities and senior roles with Prudential Financial. “In partnership with insurance carriers,” Kalen said, “Covr has brought simplicity to the insurance purchase process through its unique digital platform for financial institutions, direct to consumer platform and other digital offerings. By simplifying insurance buying, Covr’s technology has greatly enlarged the insurance sales space. I am looking forward to making the Covr platform a leading insurance marketing channel.” Kalen is a frequent speaker on InsurTech and FinTech innovation and an advisor to several early stage companies as well as sitting on the board of trustees of Life Happens, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Americans take personal financial responsibility through the ownership of life insurance and related products, including disability and long-term care insurance. He has a BA in Management from the University of Delaware and an MBA in Finance from Columbia University. The Covr platform connects life insurance products from nearly twenty major insurers to financial institutions and financial advisors, enabling them to offer insurance protection that is simple, straightforward and transparent to their customers. The Covr Advisory Board includes: Chairman Brian Finn, former president of Credit Suisse First Boston; Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of Ellevest as well as senior executive roles at Bank of America, Citigroup and Smith Barney; Hans Morris, managing partner, Nyca Partners, chairman of Lending Club, formerly president of Visa; Brady Dougan, former CEO of Credit Suisse; Greg Fleming, CEO Rockefeller Capital Management and former president of Morgan Stanley Wealth and Asset Management and COO and president of Merrill Lynch; Gary W. Parr, senior managing director at Apollo Global Management; Neal Wolin, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury and former executive vice president and general for The Hartford Financial Services Group; and Matt Muta, vice president, IT Innovation and Commercial Technology, Delta Air Lines, formerly Microsoft’s global managing director for Hospitality and Travel. ABOUT COVR FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES Covr is a digital life insurance platform that makes it easy to protect what matters most: you and your family. Covr partners with financial institutions that share the belief that life insurance should be both simple and transparent. Through Covr’s technology, financial advisors and their customers can research and purchase affordable life insurance from well-known insurance companies without the hassles of the traditional process – all within a matter of minutes. Covr’s investors include four leading venture capital firms: Nyca Partners, Commerce Ventures, Connectivity Capital Partners and Contour Venture Partners. Offices: Boise and Hartford. The Covr Advisory Board includes Chairman Brian Finn, former president of Credit Suisse First Boston; Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of Ellevest as well as senior executive roles at Bank of America, Citigroup and Smith Barney; Hans Morris, managing partner, Nyca Partners, chairman of Lending Club, formerly president of Visa; Brady Dougan, former CEO of Credit Suisse; Gary W. Parr, senior managing director at Apollo Global Management; Neal Wolin, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury and former executive vice president and general for The Hartford Financial Services Group; Robert Kerzner, President and CEO of LIMRA, LOMA and LL Global and former executive vice president, life division of Hartford Life, and Matt Muta, vice president, IT Innovation and Commercial Technology, Delta Air Lines, formerly Microsoft’s global managing director for Hospitality and Travel. Posted in Press Releases	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1804
__label__wiki	0.731039	0.731039	Life Insurers Draw on Data, Not Blood As seen in the Wall Street Journal on January 12, 2017. By:Leslie Scism In October, Dan Finkelstein, a 37-year-old father of three, set out to explore buying life insurance. He went online, and to his surprise in about 20 minutes he was the owner of a $750,000 policy. Just a year ago, Mr. Finkelstein’s purchase would have taken a month and required blood and urine samples and other medical analysis. “I was definitely surprised how easy it was,” says Mr. Finkelstein, a computer-systems architect in Ellicott City, Md. He obtained his policy through Haven Life, a startup owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. More companies, including Haven Life, are trusting algorithms—using answers provided by applicants and data pulled from prescription-drug databases, motor-vehicle records and other sources—to reveal nearly as much about many people as analysis of blood and urine. So confident are these companies, they are making some of the industry’s best prices available for the algorithm-driven policies. Mr. Finkelstein is paying $394 a year, one of the lowest rates currently available on a $750,000 policy for a mid-30s male, according to price-comparison websites. The firms are making a calculated bargain: Obtaining less information than before to get a deal done is better than selling nothing at all. Sales of individual life-insurance policies have declined more than 40% since the 1980s, according to industry-funded research group Limra, and about 30% of U.S. households have no life insurance at all, up from 19% in the earlier period. “The industry should be willing to take on this risk in order to drive a better customer experience and reverse the trend of declining life-insurance ownership,” said Mark Sayre, head of Haven Life’s policy design. The need to go online is a sign of the times. Decades ago, life insurance was a cornerstone of families’ finances, but the proliferation of mutual funds in the 1980s provided savings alternatives. Then sales-practice scandals in the 1990s prompted many insurers to shrink agent fleets. MetLife Inc. began online sales of policies up to $100,000 in 2011, but suspended the effort, saying improvement is needed. Numerous insurers sell small policies without medical exams, but often charge steep rates. Mr. Sayre said Haven Life is monitoring “the experience as it emerges” to look for potential changes in evaluating applicants. Traditionally, insurers have used blood, urine and other medical analysis to find indications of conditions that can lead to early deaths, including problems related to the kidneys, heart and liver, and diabetes. To manage potential risks of going online, insurers say they have guardrails in place. For starters, the firms say they can divert an online applicant back to the conventional application process if health issues surface. In addition, the electronic-only systems are mostly limited to people 45 and younger, a subset that has relatively low mortality as cancers and heart diseases typically kill older people. Insurers also typically cap the real-time policies at $1 million to limit their exposure. Among data being tapped are prescription-drug databases, which provide access to medication histories. Insurers and their reinsurers say they have made strides designing algorithms to reflect that drugs can be prescribed for entirely different health matters. An anti-nausea drug, for instance, works for both chemotherapy patients and pregnant women, reinsurer SCOR says. Its methodology takes into account such things as an applicant’s age, overall drug profile, dosages, prescribing doctor’s specialties and medical information from other sources. Other resources include “Risk Classifier,” a predictive-modeling tool developed for insurers by RELX Group’s LexisNexis Risk Solutions unit. It taps into motor-vehicle records; bankruptcy, criminal and other court documents; professional licenses; college-attendee records; property deeds and tax filings; liens and evictions and other records. “Markers of a very stable lifestyle indicate a good risk,” said Elliott Wallace, who helped create the LexisNexis tool. He singled out positive indicators such as years of residence at a single address and regular credit activity. Algorithmic-based underwriting is subject to the same state and federal oversight as conventional underwriting. Insurers must obtain permission from consumers to obtain personal information, and under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, databases must provide consumers opportunity to correct errors. For younger people, motor-vehicle records are especially important because traffic fatalities are a larger proportion of overall mortality, Mr. Wallace said. High mortality rates are most strongly correlated to driving while impaired, according to research by reinsurer Hannover Re . License suspensions and revocations, and reckless driving, are next in line. Digital data sources are far cheaper than conventional medical analysis, which can top $150 per applicant, insurers say. As insurers migrate online, they are often partnering with web-savvy firms. In November, Protective Life Corp. began selling term life with fintech lender Social Finance Inc. SoFi considered expanding into various types of insurance before settling on life, because, “quite frankly, the customer buying experience is the most outdated,” said Andrea Blankmeyer, vice president of finance. Ladder Financial Inc., which is backed by the venture capitalists behind LendingClub Corp., launched real-time term-life sales Jan. 10 with Fidelity Security Life Insurance Co. and Hannover Re. Other insurers are getting in on the action through Covr Financial Technologies, an Idaho firm that provides an online life-insurance sales platform to banks and financial-advisory networks. Covr’s advisory board includes some prominent financial-services veterans: Brady Dougan, a former chief executive of Credit Suisse Group AG; Sallie Krawcheck, co-founder of digital investment firm Ellevest, and Gary Parr, a senior executive at Apollo Global Management LLC. Banner Life, a U.S. unit of Legal & General Group PLC, is rolling out its new digital system slowly, with human underwriters reviewing algorithmic decisions before policies are issued. The process takes about a day. “It’s a delicate transition,” said Troy Thompson, the unit’s chief actuary, who says growing industry use of algorithm-based underwriting “may transform the business.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1805
__label__wiki	0.838548	0.838548	The Bourne Cinema Filmography: Park Chan-wook, "Thirst" (2009) Thirst (Bakjwi). 2009. Directed by Park Chan-wook. Written by Park Chan-wook and Chung Seo-kyung, based on the novel "Thérèse Raquin" by Émile Zola. Produced by Park Chan-wook and Ahn Soo-hyun. Cinematography by Chung Chung-hoon. Edited by Kim Sang-bum and Kim Jae-bum. Music by Cho Young-uk. Production design by Ryu Seong-hie. Costume design by Cho Sang-kyung. Sound design by Kim Suk-won and Kim Chang-sub. Cast: Song Kang-ho (Sang-hyun), Kim Ok-vin (Tae-ju), Kim Hae-sook (Madame Ra), Shin Ha-kyun (Kang-woo), Park In-hwan (Father Noh), Oh Dal-soo (Young-du), Song Young-chang (Seung-dae), Mercedes Cabral (Evelyn). Park Chan-wook’s latest film, the vampire movie Thirst (opening in U.S. theaters today), claims as its literary pedigree Émile Zola’s classic novel Thérèse Raquin. The combination of this lofty source material with a lurid tale of a priest turned vampire who eagerly, though not without pangs of conscience, succumbs to the pleasures of the flesh, is an irresistible (to some) confluence of highbrow art and lowbrow exploitation. This perhaps made it inevitable that it would win a prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival – it won the Jury Prize (third place), shared with Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank. The film’s protagonist, Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) is a devout priest who regularly gives last rites to terminal patients at a hospital. His daily exposure to the dying makes him long to do more to alleviate the suffering he sees daily. To that end, he travels to an unnamed African country to subject himself to an experiment that is meant to develop a vaccine for a mysterious disease called the “Emmanuel Virus.” He comes down with this virus, the main symptoms of which are coughing up blood and breaking out in large pustules on the skin. He dies as a result, but is miraculously brought back to life by a blood transfusion that turns him into a vampire. Sang-hyun still carries the virus, but when he drinks blood, his lesions and boils disappear. Upon his return to Korea, he becomes a legend as the sole survivor of the experiment, and people believe he has great healing powers and implore him to cure them. At the hospital, Sang-hyun has a chance meeting with Kang-woo (Shin Ha-kyun), an old childhood friend. Kang-woo, who has an unspecified mental disability, lives at home with his mother (Kim Hae-sook) and his wife Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), who was taken in by his mother as an orphaned child, and has since become a slave to the family. Tae-ju longs for escape from her circumstances, forced to be both wife and mother to Kang-woo and having to listen to the sentimental old Korean tunes her mother-in-law plays incessantly. Tae-ju tempts the priest into breaking his vows of chastity, in sex scenes that have become a major selling point of the film. Later, she finds out he is a vampire – initially repulsed by this, she becomes drawn in, and latches onto this as her means of liberation from her domestic prison. In Thirst, Park supplies all the elements of his previous films that have pleased audiences and divided critics: the copious gushing blood, the rending of flesh, and the baroque style that were hallmarks of his so-called “revenge trilogy” – Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance. After a brief thematic departure with the oddball and very charming mental hospital romantic comedy I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK, he returns to his previous mode with this new film. In a way, Thirst combines elements of both the revenge trilogy and I’m a Cyborg. Comic elements combine with the bloody vampire tale to very unsettling and disorienting effect – it becomes a different film from scene to scene, and sometimes minute to minute. At one point it’s a somber religious parable; at another it is a blackly absurdist domestic comedy; at yet another it is a Double Indemnity-style film noir; at still another it is a distinctly Korean melodrama (although heightened to parodic effect). Unfortunately, on the evidence of this new film, Park’s style is beginning to yield diminishing returns. The film is all over the place tonally, and the wildly disparate elements on display – reflected in the film’s production design, a chaotic East-meets-West mélange of brightly-colored hanbok (Korean traditional clothing), designs inspired by French artist Odilon Redon, and colonial-era Japanese architecture – never jell into anything substantial. We’ve seen the vampire tale many times before in the cinema, and in the past this has resulted in some very haunting and beautiful films, for example Dreyer’s Vampyr and Nosferatu (both the Murnau and Herzog versions). All the familiar vampire folklore, such as aversion to sunlight, sleeping in a coffin, the search for human blood, is replicated in Thirst, albeit with significant modifications. The vampire’s repulsion by garlic would presumably not have made sense in a Korean context, garlic being such an essential component to Korean food. Park adds a twist by having his protagonist be a priest, whose transformation into a vampire through a blood transfusion is the beginning of his passage from faithful servant of God to animalistic hell-bound vampire. (The Korean title of the film is “Bat.”) Of course, since the vampire in this story is a priest, fear of the cross doesn’t come into play. This idea has great potential – the struggle between dedication to his faith and the urges that are a result of his transformation promises to be very compelling. However, Park never takes this scenario anywhere beyond this high concept idea; there is such an arch air to the proceedings that it all ultimately becomes incredibly hollow and superficial. This is certainly not the fault of any of its performances – the film boasts some very strong supporting actors, and while Song Kang-ho is always compelling to watch (although he is restrained by Park and co-writer Chung Seo-kyung’s muddled script), the true revelation here is Kim Ok-vin (Dasepo Naughty Girls, Voice), transforming herself into a sexy and lithe live-wire who embodies her sexually awakened character with gusto and energetic brio. A word to the wise: those expecting extended torrid sex scenes between Park and Kim will be sorely disappointed; as is usually the case in film publicity, this aspect of the film was ridiculously over-hyped, both during and after production. The main problem with Thirst, even beyond its overlong repetition and slack pace, is that there is never any real internal struggle evident in the character of Sang-hyun; he succumbs quite easily to sin – too easily. This superficiality extends to just about everything else we see – since there is very little at stake for anyone, it is very hard to care about any of the characters or what happens to them. This was certainly not the case with the revenge trilogy; despite Park being vilified from many corners for his depictions of extreme violence, this was in the service of a serious engagement with the moral issues explored in the films. In Thirst, Park seems content with having his characters be merely pieces on a chessboard, puppets to be moved around in ways that clearly amuses him, but precious little of that translates to us in the audience. Thirst, in the end, is all style and very little substance. Posted by Author: Christopher Bourne at 9:53 PM 1 comment: Links to this post Labels: Korean Cinema, New Releases, Park Chan-wook, Reviews, The Bourne Cinema Filmography The Bourne Cinema Filmography: Shin Sang-ok, "Mother and a Guest" (1961) Mother and a Guest (Sarangbang sonnimgwa omoni). 1961. Produced and directed by Shin Sang-ok. Written by Im Hee-jae, based on a novel by Joo Yo-seob. Cinematography by Choi Soo-young. Edited by Yang Seong-ran. Music by Jeong Yoon-ju. Art direction by Kang Seong-bum. Cast: Choi Eun-hee (Mother), Jeon Young-seon (Ok-hee), Kim Jin-kyu (Mr. Han), Han Eun-jin (Grandmother), Do Geum-bong (Maid), Kim Hee-gab (Egg Vendor), Shin Young-kyun (Uncle), Heo Jang-kang (Fortune Teller). One of four films Shin Sang-ok released in 1961 (the others were Seong Chun-hyang, Prince Yeonsan, and Evergreen Tree), Mother and a Guest remains one of his most celebrated and enduring films. Flush from the success of Seong Chun-hyang, Shin’s big-budget adaptation of the classic pansori tale that was a massive box-office hit, he decided to embark on a more intimate, small-scale project, and Mother and a Guest, an adaptation of a beloved short novel by Joo Yo-seob, scripted by Im Hee-jae (who also wrote the screenplay for Seong Chun-hyang), perfectly fit the bill. A potent melodrama revolving around the perennial conflict between traditionalist and modern values, the film centers on the titular mother, a young widow (portrayed by the luminous Choi Eun-hee, Shin’s wife and frequent star) whose largely self-imposed moral strictures are upended by the arrival of houseguest Mr. Han (Kim Jin-kyu, a popular actor of the time who also appeared in several of Shin’s films), a friend of her brother-in-law who awakens desires in the widow she thought were long dead, or perhaps never experienced. This slowly evolving love story is refracted through the perspective of the widow’s six year-old daughter Ok-hee (Jeong Young-seon), an adorable moppet who is one of the most endearing characters of her kind ever portrayed on film. She introduces herself and her family at the beginning of the film and provides a running voiceover throughout. This aspect of the story is a carryover from the original novel, which is also narrated by this character. In fact, the original cut of Mother and a Guest was adapted very faithfully from the source material. However, Shin ran into a problem when this version resulted in a running time barely longer than an hour, which was considered too short for release. As a solution, Shin and Im added a subplot involving a relationship between the widow’s domestic servant (Do Geum-bong, another frequent Shin star who passed away recently) and an egg vendor (Kim Hee-gab), which serves as a comic counterpoint to the melodramatic main plot. Other elements were added that broke with the young daughter’s point of view, such as a key scene between the widow and a fortuneteller (Heo Jang-kang), and a brief scene in which the widow poses in front of a mirror wearing a man’s hat. Mother and a Guest, much like many of Shin’s other films, brilliantly combines a seemingly self-effacing and invisible style derived from classic Hollywood montage with complex and nuanced characterizations and visual parallels and contrasts that enhance this deceptively simple tale. The central heroine, as embodied by Choi Eun-hee, functions as the self-sacrificing, traditional woman common to Korean melodramas of the time, which was a particular specialty of Choi, who played this sort of woman in many films, for Shin and other directors. In this film, however, she goes far beyond this typical characterization to convey much deeper shades to this portrayal. One example is the scene in which she parades before the mirror wearing Mr. Han’s hat, after she chases her maid out of his room. She takes advantage of this brief private time to display a saucy, irreverent and sexy side to herself, free – however briefly – from society’s (and her own) constraints on behavior, expressed visually by wearing part of a man’s clothing. Even her own insistence on wearing the hairstyle and dress of a married woman even though she is a widow becomes less a capitulation to patriarchal, Confucian standards than an expression of her incredibly strong will – there is much evidence in the film that others see the mother, as well as the other inhabitants of the “widow’s house” (so called because all the women, including the maid and the mother-in-law, are all widows), as somewhat peculiar and behind the times. The rigidly moralistic beliefs of both the mother and her mother-in-law, which make it impossible for the mother to fully express the love she clearly feels for her boarder, are portrayed in the film as a function of class. While the widow and the houseguest are kept strictly separated through most of the film (one exception is a scene in which Mr. Han holds a sick Ok-hee in his arms while her mother sits beside him), the maid and the egg vendor are much freer to act on their attraction to one another, going all the way sexually (though of course, screen standards being what they were in Korea at the time, this happens off-screen) after a very funny scene in which the egg vendor cures the maid’s indigestion with his “medicine hands” and then proceeds to use those hands for more carnal purposes, leading to the maid’s pregnancy. This sort of plot mirroring is reflected visually throughout the film – Shin in fact places characters in front of mirrors in key scenes: One example of the film’s visual parallels is an early scene in which Mr. Han and Ok-hee go on a plein air painting outing, during which they stand on a hill, and Ok-hee calls out to her mother in the distance: – a sequence echoed in the film’s last scene, when Ok-hee and her mother watch the train which will carry Mr. Han to Seoul, far from their rural village: Mother and a Guest, which Shin did not consider to be his best film (many, including myself, would beg to differ; Evergreen Tree, which I have not yet seen, was Shin’s personal favorite) is a charming, lyrical work whose delicate beauty unfolds with each viewing. It is one of the great classic works of Korean cinema, as well as world cinema. It is available on DVD as part of the “Shin Sang-ok Collection” box set, which also includes A Romantic Papa (1960), Seong Chun-hyang (1961), Deaf Samryongi (1964), and One Thousand Years Old Fox (1969). This set can be purchased from HanBooks. Posted by Author: Christopher Bourne at 4:02 PM No comments: Links to this post Labels: DVD Reviews, Korean Cinema, Korean Cinema Classics, Reviews, Shin Sang-ok, The Bourne Cinema Filmography New on DVD: Hitoshi Matsumoto's "Big Man Japan" Big Man Japan (Dai-Nipponjin). 2007. Directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto. Written by Mitsuyoshi Yakasu and Hitoshi Matsumoto. Produced by Akihiko Okamoto. Cinematography by Hideo Yamamoto. Edited by Soichi Ueno. Music by Towa Tei. Production design by Yuji Hayashida and Etsuko Aiko. Visual effects direction by Hiroyuki Seshita. Sound by Mitsugi Shiratori. Cast: Hitoshi Matsumoto (Masaru Dai-Sato/Dai-Nipponjin), Riki Takeuchi (Haneru-no-ju), Ua (Manager Kobori), Ryunosuke Kamiki (Warabe-no-ju), Haruka Unabara (Shimeru-no-ju), Tomoji Hasegawa (Interviewer/Director), Itsuji Itao (Female Niou-no-ju), Takayuki Haranishi (Male Niou-no-ju), Hiroyuki Miyasako (Stay With Me), Daisuke Miyagawa (Super Justice), Takuya Hashimoto (Midon), Taichi Yazaki (Dai-Sato's Grandfather), Shion Machida (Dai-Sato's Ex-wife). Hitoshi Matsumoto's wonderfully weird monster mockumentary Big Man Japan is out today on DVD. Below is what I wrote on this film when it screened at last year's New York Asian and Japan Cuts film festivals. A hilarious and inventive kaiju eiga repurposed for the modern media landscape, Big Man Japan showcases the considerable talents of its writer-director-star Hitoshi Matsumoto. It begins as a rather odd mock-documentary about 40-ish loner misfit Dai-Sato (Matsumoto), whom a camera crew follows as he goes on ordinary, quotidian tasks. There are little hints of something stranger going on, such as the sign outside his door that reads “Office of Monster Prevention” and the obscene graffiti spray-painted on his wall directed toward Dai-Sato. A brick is thrown through his window as he is interviewed by the crew. Eventually these odd details are explained when he goes to an electrical plant, where he is juiced by massive amounts of electricity and blown up to literally monstrous proportions. Now a towering figure dressed in purple shorts and sporting an Eraserhead-meets-Kid ‘n’ Play haircut and product-placement tattoos, he fights a series of monsters in epic televised battles, bashing them with a stick. Alas, his fights are quite unpopular; the late-night home-shopping show regularly trounces him in the ratings. His opponents are perhaps the strangest motley crew ever assembled in the annals of monster movies: the Leaping Monster (a head – that of popular actor Riki Takeuchi – and a single leg); the Stink Monster, which emits a stench equivalent to 10,000 piles of human feces; the Evil Stare Monster, with a single eye hurled as a weapon. “Dai-Nipponjin” (“Big Man Japan”), as he is known in his battles with the monsters, is victorious at first – until a mysterious unidentified foe with red skin kicks the crap out of him, causing him to run away and making him even more of an object of public ridicule. Dai-Sato’s problems don’t end there: he frequently clashes with his manager (pop star Ua) over her indifference to him as a person, and who seems to regard him as little more than a money machine to keep her in expensive cars and clothes. He is divorced and estranged from his daughter, and his grandfather (who was also a monster fighter) languishes in an assisted-living facility. In contrast to the love the public showered on his fighter forebears, Dai-Sato is treated with contempt and derision by his audience, who sees him as an irrelevant and outdated nuisance. Big Man Japan has a remarkably controlled tone that treats its outlandish premise with a hilariously deadpan seriousness, creating a rounded character that has a level of poignancy. Matsumoto, a popular comedian in Japan, spent six years writing and directing his feature debut, and it is mostly a successful one. The film is marred only by the fact that the pace sags a bit in the midsection as the premise becomes repetitious and begins to wear a bit thin. However, it redeems itself with its deliriously absurd denouement, a last-minute rescue that is the cherry on top of the madness. Big Man Japan can be purchased from Amazon. Labels: DVD New Releases, DVD Reviews, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Japanese Cinema, Reviews 2009 Japan Cuts Festival Review: Eriko Kitagawa's "Halfway" Halfway (Harufuwei). 2009. Written and directed by Eriko Kitagawa. Produced by Shunji Iwai and Takeshi Kobayashi. Cinematography by Shinichi Tsunoda. Edited by Eriko Kitagawa and Shunji Iwai. Music by Takeshi Kobayashi. Cast: Kie Kitano, Masaki Okada, Junpei Mizobata, Riisa Naka, Takao Osawa, Miho Shiraishi, Hiroki Narimiya. (Note: this review has been cross-posted on Twitch.) “Go Don’t.” In a late scene in Eriko Kitagawa’s lovely and bittersweet high school romance Halfway, love-struck senior Hiro (Kie Kitano) scrawls these two Japanese characters on a piece of paper, a gesture that perfectly expresses her confusion over whether to let her boyfriend Shu (Masaki Okada) go to college in Tokyo, far from her hometown of Hokkaido. Hiro, in the waning days of the school year, has finally landed the dreamy basketball star she has been pining after for a very long time. This happens by very serendipitous circumstances, when she feels faint while watching Shu at a game and has to see the school nurse. Hiro relates excitedly to her friend Meme (Riisa Naka) her intention to finally tell him how she feels, and soon after goes to sleep. When she awakens, she talks of her dream in which she finally gets the courage to express her love to Shu. Unbeknownst to her, Shu has been listening, also at the nurse’s office to fix a nosebleed. Later, Shu approaches Hiro and asks her out. Hiro plays coy at first, but finally cannot hide her excitement that her dream has come true. This euphoria comes to an abrupt end when one of Shu’s friends tells her that he has applied to Waseda College in Tokyo, while Hiro is set to attend a local university. This scenario would at first seem to contain the hoariest of dippy romantic clichés that have infected a thousand teen films before this one. However, TV drama writer (Long Vacation, Beautiful Life, Orange Days) and first-time filmmaker Kitagawa has constructed from these unpromising materials an exquisite film that feels as if this story has been told for the first time. Halfway is uncannily attuned to the rhythms and subtle changes of this young couple’s relationship, with all the petty squabbling, mind games, self-conscious posturing, and unbridled emotionalism this entails. Suggesting a distinctly Japanese brand of mumblecore, Halfway uses improvisation and ad-libbed dialogue to make what we see on screen feel almost like a documentary. With its nearly entirely handheld camera, and very long exchanges of dialogue, the film beautifully captures the delicate nature of the brief moment of time the film depicts. Kitagawa is a protégé of Shunji Iwai, who served as producer, co-editor, and mentor on this project, and who has crafted some potent romances of his own (Love Letter, April Story, Hana and Alice). But while Iwai’s own films, as great as some of them are, sometimes feel aesthetically distanced, lending them a somewhat ersatz quality, Kitagawa tells her tale with an often painful directness. Her film at times seems to be a direct riposte to the way stories like this are often presented. She even includes that most shopworn scene of love stories, the train-platform farewell, transforming it with a wry understatement that serves to make the scene deeply moving. Kitagawa’s images, shot in digital HD (again like much of American mumblecore) possess a restless immediacy that perfectly mirrors the ever-shifting emotions of its characters, as we watch them literally grow up before our eyes. Halfway, the closing night film of the Japan Cuts Festival of New Japanese Film, heralds a major new talent and is a must-see. It screens at Japan Society on July 12 at 7pm. Click here to purchase tickets. Posted by Author: Christopher Bourne at 9:06 AM No comments: Links to this post Labels: Eriko Kitagawa, Film Festivals, Japan Cuts Festival, Japanese Cinema, Reviews Breathless (Ddongpari). 2008. Produced, written and directed by Yang Ik-june. Cinematography by Yun Jong-ho. Edited by Lee Yeong-jeon. Music by The Invisible Fish. Production design by Hon Zi. Cast: Yang Ik-june (Sang-hoon), Kim Kkot-bi (Yeon-hee), Jeong Man-shik (Man-shik), Lee Hwan (Yeong-jae), Park Jeong-soon (Seung-cheol), Lee Seung-yeon (Hyeon-seo), Kim Hee-soo (Hyeong-in), Choi Yong-min (Hyeong-seok), Yoon Seung-hoon (Hwan-gyu), Lee Jin-sook (Sang-hoon's mother), Kil Hae-yeon (Yeon-hee's mother). Yang Ik-june’s astonishing debut film Breathless is an indelibly potent depiction of the daisy chain of domestic violence and how it swallows up everyone in its wake, told through the stories of two people whose lives and psyches have been scarred by the violence in their homes. The film’s worldview is neatly encapsulated in the pre-credits opener: a man punches and kicks a screaming woman out on the street in front of a handful of shocked observers, who nevertheless do not attempt to intervene. Another man stalks into the scene, breaking up the fight by beating up this aggressor. After he is done, he squats in front of the woman, and instead of comforting her or expressing his sympathies, spits in her face, and begins smacking her. “Why do you just take it?” he asks her repeatedly between slaps. He then stops to smoke a cigarette … and falls out of the frame as he is struck by a blow from someone off-screen. Cue title. This audacious start to an even more audacious film lets us know exactly what we are in for: an extremely violent and incredibly profane film (there are more verbal obscenities per minute than any routine Andrew Dice Clay ever dreamt up; Breathless is a virtual language manual of Korean cuss-words) that is as raw and uncompromising as art gets. That first scene is our introduction to Sang-hoon (Yang Ik-june), a petty gangster who works as the main muscle and debt enforcer for his partner, loan shark Man-shik (Jeong Man-shik). Sang-hoon is the dictionary definition of a short fuse, reveling in his job stomping down deadbeat borrowers, demolishing outdoor food stalls, and breaking up student demonstrations. Sang-hoon’s unrelenting rage against the world expresses itself in his endless lashing out against any and all of his perceived enemies, and being around him becomes an occupational hazard for the other gang members who work under him, as he often fails to differentiate between his own men and those who he has been sent to beat up. The reasons behind Sang-hoon’s anger are shown through brief flashback scenes from his childhood, in which we learn that his family existed under the thrall of their abusive father Seung-cheol (Park Jeong-soon), who beat their mother regularly in front of the children. One of his violent episodes led to the deaths of both Sang-hoon’s mother and sister, for which Seung-cheol spent fifteen years in jail. Sang-hoon’s father now lives alone in a small apartment, supported largely by Man-shik, who feels sorry for the old man, and being an orphan, wishes he had a father. Sang-hoon bitterly mocks Man-shik for his largesse, and continues to make his father pay for his crime by periodically storming into the apartment to beat his father whenever the rage inside him becomes too great to bear. One day, Sang-hoon meets his match in Yeon-hee (Kim Kkot-bi), a high-school girl who confronts him with expletive-rich invective after he accidentally spits on her school uniform as he passes her by. Sang-hoon responds in his usual manner – punching her in the face and knocking her out. When Yeon-hee comes to, she continues her harangue, demanding that he make up for it. Thus begins a very combative friendship between the two. They don’t tell each other the truth about their lives, but they recognize each other as kindred spirits, and are eventually bound together by the violence that is a daily part of their lives. Yeon-hee claims to be a rich girl who hangs out with Sang-hoon out of boredom, but the truth is that she must endure a tortured home life, left after her mother’s death with a senile, violent father (Choi Yong-min) and an equally violent brother, Yeong-jae (Lee Hwan), who constantly threatens, insults, and demands money from her. Yeon-hee helps to bring out a more benevolent side to Sang-hoon, a side we also see as he becomes a father figure to his nephew Hyeong-in (Kim Hee-soo) and gives some of his earnings to Hyeong-in’s mother, Sang-hoon’s half-sister Hyeon-seo (Lee Seung-yeon). Sang-hoon and Yeon-hee are able to steal some moments of happiness while on a mall outing with Hyeong-in, or having a late-night drink. However, these brief respites are few and far between, and the violence in both of their lives escalate, especially after Yeong-jae joins Sang-hoon’s gang, Sang-hoon being unaware of who he is. Events are set into motion leading to tragic consequences. Writer, director and star Yang Ik-june has created a nervy, brutal, yet tender and heartfelt film that crackles with invention, humor, restless – and yes, breathless, energy. It is also a deeply personal film for its creator, and while he declines in interviews to give specifics on the autobiographical elements, his total investment and symbiotic connection to this material is evident in every frame. Yang has said that he made this film as a form of therapy, to deal with the rage he has often felt in his life. To that end, he made great personal sacrifices to bring this project to fruition, borrowing from family and friends and even selling his house to raise the money to make the film. Yang aims in Breathless to give viewers as painfully visceral an experience of violence as possible. He refuses to depict this violence in the cool and stylized way it is often portrayed, especially in other Korean films dealing with gangsters. Yang shows us that violence indeed hurts, with every punch, every bat to the legs, every bottle broken over a skull, every hammer to the head. And it hurts not only the perpetrators and victims, but those forced to witness it, especially children. Yang presents it all with a mostly handheld camera, and such niceties as aesthetic framing and carefully composed mise-en-scène are clearly less important to Yang than in getting the experience of violence across in the most direct and unadorned way possible. This will prove to be too intense for some – festival screenings of this film are often met with audience walkouts. However, Breathless’ unflinching examination of this subject is the film’s most valuable asset. While the film’s domestic violence theme will resonate with audiences anywhere, it has special meaning in a Korean context, where domestic violence is as great a problem as it is rarely discussed in public. The continuing legacies of Confucianism and patriarchy all too often translate into men asserting the dictatorial control over families that they lack elsewhere. In one telling scene, Sang-hoon walks in on one of his deadbeat clients beating his wife in front of their children. As he pulls the man off his wife and begins beating the man, Sang-hoon rails against “fathers in this country” who are “all fucked up … They’re pathetic fucks, but when it comes to family, they’re Kim Il-sung.” This deeply affected audiences in Korea who saw the film at last year’s Pusan International Film Festival; Yang says many in the audience were moved to tears. Not surprisingly for a film made by an actor, the performances in the film are uniformly impressive. Yang Ik-june embodies his character in a way that beautifully conveys both the brutality and poignancy of this “shit fly” (the literal translation of the film’s Korean title), this marginal and unsavory figure we end up at the film’s conclusion deeply caring for. Kim Kkot-bi, as Yeon-hee, is a revelation, as commanding a screen presence as Yang, and delivering a wonderfully nuanced and complex performance. Jeong Man-shik is also great, and very funny in the scenes in which he trades profane repartee with Yang. Much like the Godard classic that the English title of this film evokes, Breathless heralds the debut of a fully-formed major talent that shows the promise of greater things to come. Breathless screened as part of the New York Asian Film Festival, where it received the jury award for Best Debut Feature. Labels: Film Festivals, Korean Cinema, New York Asian Film Festival, Reviews, Yang Ik-june 2009 New York Asian Film Festival/Japan Cuts Review: Koki Mitani's "The Magic Hour" The Magic Hour. 2008. Written and directed by Koki Mitani. Produced by Chihiro Kameyama and Yoshishige Shimatani. Cinematography by Hideo Yamamoto. Edited by Soichi Ueno. Music by Kiyoko Ogino. Production design by Yohei Taneda. Costume design by Ikuko Utsunomiya. Sound by Tetsuo Segawa. Cast: Koichi Sato (Taiki Murata), Satoshi Tsumabuki (Noburo Bingo), Eri Fukatsu (Mari Takachiho), Haruka Ayase (Natsuko Shikama), Toshiyuki Nishida (Teshio), Fumiyo Kohinata (Kenjuro Hasegawa), Susumu Terajima (Hiromi Kurokawa), Teriyuki Kagawa (Jun), Keiko Toda (Madame Ranko), Keisuke Horibe (Bambi), Kiichi Nakai (Toru Iwata), Yoshimasa Kondo (Konno), Kon Ichikawa (Film Director). Koki Mitani’s latest film The Magic Hour is an entertaining and beautifully designed tribute to movies and movie-making that revels in its artificiality. Early in the film, Natsuko (Haruka Ayase), a nightclub waitress, remarks that the elements of the story – gangsters, guns, cement overshoes, a boss’ moll – all make the town seem like a movie set. At the film’s outset, nightclub manager Bingo (Satoshi Tsumbuki) has run afoul of yakuza boss Teshio (Toshiyuki Nishida) by having an affair with the boss’ girlfriend Mari (Eri Fukatsu). Bingo saves them both from being the proverbial feed for the fishes by claiming to be an acquaintance of Della Togashi, a famous hit man known as the “Phantom Assassin,” whom Teshio would like to meet. Not actually knowing the assassin at all, and unable to find the real deal, he comes up with the idea of asking Murata (Koichi Sato), a stuntman, bit part actor, and aspiring star player, to stand in for the assassin. Bingo must keep up a double ruse, convincing Teshio that the actor is the hit man, and also making Murata believe he is in a film. The film’s scenario echoes other films such as Bowfinger and, more recently, Tropic Thunder, in which much humor is mined from the idea of tossing actors unknowingly into dangerous real-life situations. All the complications that one would expect, and then some, ensue. All the visual elements of this film – its cinematography, production design, and canny recreations of old movies – are top notch, as are the spirited performances of its cast, especially Koichi Sato, Eri Fukatsu, and Haruka Ayase. The Magic Hour is an immensely pleasing homage to 1930’s and 1940’s Hollywood screwball comedy, a mode familiar to this popular film and stage director, and a hallmark of his previous films, such as Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald (1997) and The Wow-Choten Hotel (2006). The film’s spirit of movie love is quite infectious, and it ultimately becomes an endearing ode to cinema, reinforced by the presence of the late, legendary Japanese director Kon Ichikawa in a cameo. The film’s very title is a film term, referring to the time just before sunrise or sunset in which there is an especially aesthetically pleasing quality to the light that makes anything filmed at that time ethereally beautiful. (Perhaps the most celebrated film associated with this time of day is Terence Malick’s Days of Heaven.) As movie-obsessed as The Magic Hour is, there is also a very theatrical feel to the film, which makes sense given Mitani’s experience directing for the stage. Mitani is an unabashed acolyte of Billy Wilder, and this is very evident in the high farce the film indulges in, which reaches ever more absurd proportions as the film progresses. If there’s any fault to be found in this film, it’s in the overabundance of riches – its huge all-star cast, the multiple twists and complications of its scenario – that make The Magic Hour an overstuffed cornucopia that Mitani has a little trouble sustaining over its two hour-plus length. Nevertheless, the film was deservedly a massive hit upon its release in Japan last summer, solidifying Mitani’s status as a unique comic auteur. The Magic Hour, a co-presentation of the New York Asian Film Festival and the Japan Cuts Festival of New Japanese Film, screens at Japan Society on July 5 at 12pm. Click here to purchase tickets. Labels: Film Festivals, Japan Cuts Festival, Japanese Cinema, Koki Mitani, New York Asian Film Festival, Reviews 2009 New York Asian Film Festival/Japan Cuts Review: Hajime Kadoi's "Vacation" Vacation (Kyuka). 2008. Directed by Hajime Kadoi. Written by Dai Sako, based on a short story by Akira Yoshimura. Produced by Kazuhiro Koike. Cinematography by Hiroyuki Okimura. Edited by Naoki Kaneko. Music by Teruyuki Nobuchika. Production design by Chiharu Hashimoto. Sound by Kazuo Numata. Cast: Kaoru Kobayashi (Toru), Hidetoshi Nishijima (Kaneda), Nene Otsuka (Mika), Shuji Kashiwabara (Otsuka), Ren Osugi (Mishima), Shun Sugata (Sakamoto), Shusei Uto (Tatsuya). Hajime Kadoi’s contemplative second feature Vacation explores the relationship between Toru (Kaoru Kobayashi), a prison guard at a high-security facility, and Kaneda (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a condemned prisoner soon to be executed for murder, who has spent most of his years in prison appealing to the authorities for clemency. The “vacation” of the title is granted to Toru for volunteering for the traumatic task of assisting in Kaneda’s execution by leading him to the death chamber and holding his legs as he is hanged. Making this much harder for Toru is the fact that he has developed an unexpressed fondness for this quiet prisoner, who spends his days in his immaculately furnished cell drawing in his sketchbook. For his efforts, Toru is given a week off to have a brief honeymoon with his new bride, divorced single mother Mika (Nene Otsuka), accompanied by her young son Tatsuya (Shusei Uto). The film is elliptically edited, jumbling its chronology in a way that is not obvious at first, but gradually becomes more apparent as the film progresses. This fractured-narrative strategy serves to throw the contrasts between the scenes of the couple on their vacation and the execution that has made this outing possible into much sharper relief than a strictly linear presentation of events would have. Much of the film focuses on the long-time employees of the institution, which are quite a motley bunch, most notably the cynical, wisecracking Mishima (Ren Osugi), the green rookie Otsuka (Shuji Kashiwabara), and the soon-to-be retired Sakamoto (Shun Sugata). Despite the brutal elements of their work, they all look upon this as a job like any other, and though what they see daily no doubt takes its toll on them, they remain stoic in the face of it. Also striving for stoicism is Kaneda, Prisoner #350, who concentrates on his drawing and collecting photographs ripped out of magazines for inspiration. However, he has gradually become beaten down by the futility of his appeals for clemency; his exhaustion is so complete that when his sister visits, he can no longer bring himself to even speak a word to her. When the word comes down that his execution will proceed, all his careful calm evaporates in an instant. Toru, meanwhile, is learning to get used to his new life as a married man, in an arranged marriage (set up by his sister) to a woman he barely knows, with a son who is aloof and initially resentful of the man who will be his new father. Mika, for her part, is still feeling Toru out but is cautiously optimistic that marrying him is the right decision, yet still worrying about how this will affect her son. The film alternates between the realms of Toru’s domestic situation and his work at the prison, connecting them in ways that sometimes unnecessarily drive home the parallels between them, for example making both Kaneda and the young Tatsuya have an artistic bent, and mirroring shots of an ant crawling across a tatami mat in both narrative strands. However, these details may also be in the film’s source material, a short story by Japanese novelist Akira Yoshimura, who also wrote the novel that was the basis of Shohei Imamura’s film The Eel. Vacation, however, is as far from the anarchic earthiness of Imamura as one can get, its visual compositions almost fastidious in their stark, antiseptic qualities. The performances are mostly restrained and often unnervingly calm, with Ren Osugi popping up every now and then to bring some needed comic relief. While Vacation admirably avoids the temptation to become a simplistic polemic against capital punishment, this strategy, along with the distancing effects of its jumbled timeline and cool austerity, unfortunately robs the film of the heat that would make it a much more emotionally resonant experience. Vacation, a co-presentation of the New York Asian Film Festival and the Japan Cuts Festival of New Japanese Film, screens at Japan Society on July 3 at 4pm. Click here to purchase tickets. Labels: Film Festivals, Hajime Kadoi, Japan Cuts Festival, Japanese Cinema, New York Asian Film Festival, Reviews 2009 Japan Cuts Festival Review: Gen Takahashi's "Confessions of a Dog" Confessions of a Dog (Pochi no kokuhaku). 2006. Written, directed and edited by Gen Takahashi. Produced by Seizou Tamura and Gen Takahashi. Cinematography by Ryu Ishikura and Masahide Iioka. Music by Urara Takai, Jun Murakami, and Naoto Ogura. Production design by Akira Ishige. Sound recording by Masami Nishioka. Cast: Shun Sugata (Takeda), Hironobu Nomura (Ichi Yamazaki), Jun Kawamoto (Kusama), Harumi Inoue (Chiyoko Takeda), Kunihiko Ida (Kitamura), Gen Idemitsu (Mie), Honoka Asada (Nana), Hans van der Lugt (Foreign pressman). A very lengthy feature (three hours and fifteen minutes) which, like Ryosuke Hashiguchi’s film All Around Us (also screening as part of Japan Cuts), deals with the criminal justice system in Japan, and that is as deliciously engrossing as it is disturbing, Gen Takahashi’s Confessions of a Dog is perhaps the most devastating indictment of Japan’s police ever committed to film. Following in the great tradition of, and likely inspired by, Sidney Lumet’s stories of police corruption such as Serpico and Prince of the City (which this film is most analogous to), Confessions of a Dog maps out with surgical precision the anatomy of police crimes, and the system which supports and enables them. We are privy to these events through the eyes of Takeda (Shun Sugata), an initially diffident beat cop who is plucked from his duties at a koban (neighborhood mini-police stations common to Japan) by an assistant police inspector who takes a shine to this hulking, silent officer. At first, Takeda is puzzled and disturbed by the practices he sees and is encouraged to participate in, such as taking bribes and brutally beating suspects, but soon he becomes as adept at stomping criminals and taking kickbacks as the rest of them. The litany of outrages depicted on screen is numerous: besides the bribery and brutality, we see blackmail, sexual harassment, filing false expense reports, staged drug arrests, planting evidence, using underage prostitutes, and assaulting reporters who get too close. Most of the film’s action revolves around a massive drug operation run out of the police department, making the police in this film little more than yakuza wearing different outfits. Even more outrageous than the police corruption on display is how the other parts of the criminal system, including the judiciary, and also the mass media collude to keep this rotten system in place. Judges are easily cowed and manipulated to produce the results that the police want. The same goes for the media; investigative journalism is actively discouraged by editors, as we see in a parallel story in the film of Kitamura (Kunihiko Ida), a journalist who tries to uncover the police drug operation and is thwarted at every turn by his bosses. The police feed their press statements to pools of reporters, known in Japan as “kisha clubs,” who take them at face value with no questions or challenge, and uncritically parrot these statements to their respective outlets; one police official likens this to feeding their dogs. Completed in 2005, but only released in Japan late last year, Confessions of a Dog has a fictional story, but the details come from actual incidents observed and reported on by freelance investigative journalist Yu Terasawa, who has publicly lobbied for major changes on how the police are covered in the press, and for greater freedom to fully investigate corruption. Very few have seen the film in Japan, due both to its controversial subject matter and lengthy running time. The film’s length, in this case, is a major asset, allowing us to become fully immersed in the vast conspiracy this film depicts, and becomes a great showcase for the towering lead performance given by Shun Sugata, whose progression from ethical cop, to dirty cop, and finally to a broken and betrayed man are rendered with compelling force and substance. In the film’s Japanese title, “Pochi no kokuhaku,” “pochi,” or “pooch,” is slang term for a cop, and ultimately Takeda is the “dog” of the title, giving his confession inside an empty jail cell, with no one to hear him or care. Confessions of a Dog screens as part of the Japan Cuts Festival of New Japanese Film at Japan Society on July 9 at 7pm and July 11 at 2:15. Gen Takahashi will appear in person for a Q&A at both screenings. Click here to purchase tickets. Additional reading: an interview with Gen Takahashi on the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan website. Labels: Film Festivals, Gen Takahashi, Japan Cuts Festival, Japanese Cinema, Reviews Scenes From a Marriage All Around Us (Gururi no koto). 2008. Written, directed and edited by Ryosuke Hashiguchi. Produced by Hiroki Ohwada, Yuji Sadai, Takeo Hisamatsu, Masayuki Miyashita, and Yoshiro Yasunaga. Cinematography by Shogo Ueno. Music by Akeboshi. Production design by Toshihiro Isomi. Sound by Takeshi Ogawa. Costume design by Kumiko Ogawa. Cast: Lily Franky (Kanao Sato), Tae Kimura (Shoko Sato), Mitsuko Baisho (Shoko's mother), Susumu Terajima (Shoko's brother), Tamae Ando (Shoko's sister-in-law), Yuichi Kimura (Natsume), Akira Emoto (Yasuda), Norito Yashima (Kanao's boss), Minori Terada (Yoshizume), Yosuke Sato (Hashimoto), Hirofumi Arai (Defendant -- Trial for the Murder of Elementary School Students), Ryo Kase (Defendant -- Trial for the Murder of a Preschool Girl), Megumi Yokoyama (Witness -- Trial for the Murder of a Kindergartener), Reiko Kataoka (Defendant -- Trial for the Murder of a Kindergartener), Noriko Eguchi (Neighbor). One of the best selections this year of both the New York Asian Film Festival and the Japan Cuts Festival is Ryosuke Hashiguchi’s All Around Us, a beautifully observed film that examines the vicissitudes of the relationship between a married couple – Kanao (Lily Franky), a courtroom sketch artist, and Shoko (Tae Kimura), an editor at a publishing house – against the backdrop of the larger Japanese society from 1993 to 2001. At the film’s outset, the tone is lightly comic, as Shoko puts Kanao on a strict schedule of sex three times a week, and also a curfew, because of her suspicions that he is cheating on her – which are probably not unfounded, as evidenced by early scenes in which Kanao openly flirts with women at his shoe-repair shop. Kanao is a somewhat isolated person, estranged from his own family and saddled with in-laws who don’t show him much respect. During a family dinner, Shoko’s mother (Mitsuko Baisho) leans toward her daughter and whispers, “You can do better.” Shoko resists her family’s opposition, perhaps sensing that Kanao’s easygoing nature balances out her control-freak tendencies. Soon after, a friend of Kanao’s introduces him to a new line of work, as a courtroom artist for a local television station. At first, this promises to be the latest in a series of jobs Kanao casually drifts into, but he soon takes to the work, and he now spends his days in the courtroom observing trials for some of the most heinous crimes: serial killers, cannibals, and cult mass murderers, as well as their victims, fall under his artist’s gaze, as he picks up the telling details that he sketches and presents to the public to satisfy their insatiable curiosity. While Kanao becomes a more responsible, stable person due to his new calling, Shoko begins making an opposite trajectory, unable to cope with the death of their infant daughter and sinking into a deep depression. Kanao, as much as he wants to help her, is ultimately at a loss as to how to do so, and can only observe his wife getting worse, much as he observes the criminals in the courtroom. Hashiguchi, one of the few openly gay filmmakers in Japan, returns after a seven-year hiatus from directing with his best film to date. While the subject matter of his latest film would seem to represent a break with his previous gay-themed features, such as A Touch of Fever (1993) and the film festival favorite Hush! (2001), All Around Us retains the qualities of humor and astute observation that run through all his films. At once sweepingly panoramic and microscopically intimate, Hashiguchi’s fourth feature parallels the pains and struggles of the married couple at its center with the changes in Japan itself, touching on such major events as the 1990’s economic collapse, the 1995 subway sarin gas attacks, and others. Also attesting to Hashiguchi’s care in accurately detailing the specific time period he covers is the fact that the courtroom trials we see in the film are based on actual cases of the time. Shoko’s trauma of the death of her child and the subsequent devastation to her psyche mirrors (perhaps a bit too neatly in the film’s scenario) Japan’s economic collapse and the violence and desperation that follows, at least as can be evidenced from the increasingly grisly criminal testimonies that Kanao observes in the courtroom. At almost two and a half hours, All Around Us is patient and subtle in its examination of the married couple it follows, leaving the major dramatic moments mostly off-screen, instead conveying them through synecdochic details: the altar for their dead child; the parenting manuals left in the trash; spilled rice in a sink representing Shoko’s mental unraveling. Shot with a burnished glow and a gorgeous palette (appropriately for a film in which art plays such a large role), All Around Us boasts great performances across the board, but especially by those of its two anchors – veteran character actress Tae Kimura, who compellingly registers Shoko’s changing mental state and eventual healing with astute precision, and Lily Franky, a real-life illustrator and author (his memoir Tokyo Tower became a popular television series, and later an equally celebrated film), whose appealingly deadpan performance paradoxically conveys an emotional depth that is a revelation and endlessly fascinating to watch. All Around Us, a co-presentation of the New York Asian Film Festival and the Japan Cuts Festival of New Japanese Film, screens at Japan Society on July 2 at 8:45 and July 5 at 2:45. Click here to purchase tickets. Labels: Film Festivals, Japan Cuts Festival, Japanese Cinema, New York Asian Film Festival, Reviews, Ryosuke Hashiguchi The Bourne Cinema Filmography: Park Chan-wook, "Th... The Bourne Cinema Filmography: Shin Sang-ok, "Moth... 2009 Japan Cuts Festival Review: Eriko Kitagawa's ... 2009 New York Asian Film Festival/Japan Cuts Revie... 2009 Japan Cuts Festival Review: Gen Takahashi's "...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1809
__label__cc	0.58869	0.41131	Q&A with children's author Debbie Levy and illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton Debbie Levy is the author and Vanessa Brantley-Newton is the illustrator of the children's book We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song. Levy, who lives in Maryland, has written many children's books, including Dozer's Run and Imperfect Spiral. Brantley-Newton, who lives in North Carolina, has illustrated many children's books, including One Love and The Girl Who Heard Colors. Q (for Debbie Levy): Your new book tells the story of the song "We Shall Overcome." How did you decide to write about the song, and what type of research did you do? DL: I began gathering string on the life of this song years ago, as “We Shall Overcome” and issues related to “We Shall Overcome” kept popping up during research on other books for young readers that I was writing. These included a book about bigotry, a biography of Lyndon Johnson, and a book about the lives of enslaved people on southern plantations. So I began filing my discoveries away. What went into the files, especially early on, wasn’t specifically or only about the song “We Shall Overcome.” In working on my book about plantation slave life, for example, I was captivated by first-person narratives of formerly enslaved people describing their songs and music. And I was struck by this observation by Frederick Douglass, from his autobiography: I have often been utterly astonished. . . to find persons who could speak of the singing, among slaves, as evidence of their contentment and happiness. It is impossible to conceive of a greater mistake. Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by tears. The precise words and tune of “We Shall Overcome” don’t date back to slavery days, but for me there is an undeniable connection between this song, which has so frequently been sung to embolden those fighting for justice and to comfort those who have suffered, and the songs of which Frederick Douglass spoke. I found, and the book chronicles, a history of voices upon voices singing songs that evolved into “We Shall Overcome,” with people making changes in lyrics and melodies to suit their circumstances. I wanted to create a book that could reach even the youngest readers, and put them in touch with the humanity and history of an activity they all know something about: the activity of singing. My research for this 32-page picture book was as far-ranging as any research I’ve done, and I’ve done a lot of research as a lawyer, editor, and writer. The sources range from songbooks to academic studies; from decades of newspaper articles (here’s a favorite headline from a 1967 New York Times article: “Popularity of U.S. Rights Hymn Irks German Reds”) to liner notes from LP records; from books about the civil rights movement to articles about African American song traditions to interview transcripts. Q (for Debbie Levy): Was there anything else that particularly surprised you in the course of your research? DL: Before I started my research, I had no idea that “We Shall Overcome” has been sung by schoolchildren in India for years. I believe that you are more likely to find kids in a school in Mumbai who know this song, and who have sung it at school assemblies, than if you go into a school in this country. Q (for Debbie Levy): For your picture books, do you work with the illustrator in the course of creating the books, or do you each work independently? DL: We work independently, although there is some consultation and fine-tuning by both author and artist as the final book comes together. I do not choose the illustrator—my publisher does. I wrote the manuscript for this book first, it was accepted for publication (by Disney/Jump At The Sun—back in 2008!), and then the publisher sought out just the right illustrator. I’m thrilled with my publisher’s choice of Vanessa Brantley-Newton for this book. Her illustrations are vivid, lively, and interesting, hitting what I think is just the right note for a book seeking to engage young people. Plus, I love her use of collage elements in many of the illustrations, because the layering of collage underscores the theme that this song’s story is the product of many people and many voices coming together over the course of many years. Q (for Debbie Levy): You've written for different age groups, both fiction and nonfiction as well as poetry. Do you have a preference? DL: I love it all. Really. Here’s my preference: writing things that get published. Q (for Vanessa Brantley Newton): How did you end up illustrating We Shall Overcome, and what were the images that first came to mind when you started on the project? A: I have known Joann Hill for years. She is just one of the editors over at Jump At The Sun (Disney Hyperion). Every opportunity we got to work together either she was moving from one publishing house to the next or we just kept missing each other. One day my agent, Lori Nowicki, called and said there is this wonderful book that I think you will be perfect for. It's by Debbie Levy and you would be working with Joann Hill. I didn't know about Debbie, but I knew Joann and this was finally my chance to work with her. I was excited out of my mind! I didn't know that she had moved to Disney, but was still just over the top happy to finally get to work under her. I drove up to NYC to meet with Joann and her wonderful staff. We talked about this beautiful story. Debbie is an excellent writer and paints word pictures. The words to the story almost read like a song. Debbie's words help bring forth the images that you see in the book. I am a child of the ‘70s, but I remember what my parents dressed like and how they dressed us. I remember the cars and houses and furniture. Being able to recall all of this helped me a great deal in creating the illustrations for We Shall Overcome. I never want to create images that incite anger or rage, but images that show a situation and cause the person looking at it to feel empathy for the people or person that they are reading about. To give a visual of their world at a certain time and place. Some of the things that came to mind were when my family and I moved into an all white and German neighborhood back in the early ‘70s. My parents went to work and school to give us a better life. We moved to the town of Irvington, N.J. We were the second black family on the street. We were not well received. My dad drove a beautiful black ‘67 Caddy and for almost a year the cops would often stop him and ask him what he was doing in the neighborhood. The cops seemed so huge and scary. We saw racism in action. Those things are indelibly printed on my brain in pictures. The look on my father’s face and the look on theirs. It was painful to remember, but when I began to read the words of the story, I felt such hope and inspiration. Debbie is brilliant! Q (for both): What are you working on now? DL: I’m working on revisions for a book set during the Civil War due to be published in fall 2016 by Disney-Hyperion (the same publisher as We Shall Overcome). It’s called Soldier Song, and it tells the true story of Union and Confederate troops who were camped on opposite sides of the river after the Battle of Fredericksburg, each side making music, sometimes in a battle of the bands, until one song, “Home Sweet Home,” joined them together. Gilbert Ford will be illustrating. And I’m enjoying doing events—festivals, schools visits, conferences—for We Shall Overcome and for a picture book that came out this past summer. That book is Dozer’s Run, published by Sleeping Bear Press. It’s the true story of a Goldendoodle who broke through his fence to join a half-marathon being run to benefit cancer research—and ended up inspiring the human runners, crossing the finish line, getting lost and then found, and raising more money for the cause than any other runner that day. I love this story and I love doing events with Dozer and his owner. Dozer has now been certified as a therapy dog, and we can take him to any size group, from the youngest kids to oldsters, and know that he will be a gentleman. VBN: I am working on a few new books. One with Scholastic Inc. called A Birthday Cake For George Washington, as well as a reader series called Katie Fry Private Eye and a few other books as well. My desk stays full and I am excited about that! Q (for both): Anything else we should know? DL: Surely I’ve said enough! Thanks, Deborah, for asking me to participate in your blog. VBN: That I look forward to the future and the chance to do it all again with the magnificent Debbie Levy. I get Debbie and I believe that Debbie gets me. It was a joy to work with Joann Hill and I look forward to the chance to do it again and again. --Interview with Deborah Kalb. Debbie Levy and Vanessa Brantley-Newton will be participating in the Lessans Family Annual Book Festival at the JCC of Greater Washington, D.C., which runs from November 6-16, 2014. For an earlier Q&A with Debbie Levy, please click here. Robinson October 23, 2014 at 12:40 PM Congratulations Debbie Levy and Vanessa Brantley on a job well done. After reading this interview I can’t wait to pick up my own copy of We Shall Overcome: the Story of a Song, and Dozer's Run. I have three dogs of my own and I am a complete sucker for dog books!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1812
__label__cc	0.554712	0.445288	answeredquestions.html?_page=0&_properties=answer.isMinisterialCorrection,legislature,legislature,registeredInterest,answer.answeringMember&hansardHeading=Asylum:%20Finance To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason his Department decided to move the provision of financial support to asylum seekers from post offices to Aspen cards. <p>The functionality of the Aspen card was thoroughly tested prior to its rollout in May 2017 and there were a number of factors which influenced the decision to move to a payment card from Post Offices.</p><p>Primarily, the sub-contractual arrangements were coming to an end, and the Asylum Registration Card (ARC) used for identification and payment purposes was being upgraded. Other factors included improved convenience and accessibility for service users, and a reduction in processing costs associated with reduced cash handling.</p> To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much financial support was paid to asylum seekers through post offices in each of the last five years. <p>Post May 2017 all funding for financial support was paid to asylum seekers via ASPEN cards and prior to that Home Office records do not indicate whether financial support was paid via a Post Office, a card or in cash/vouchers to asylum seekers.</p> To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department's contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through an Aspen card will expire. <p>The Home Office’s contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through an Aspen Card will expire on 27 November 2019 (with the option to extend for a further 6 months to 27 May 2020).</p> To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse is of the contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through Aspen cards. <p>The Home Office does not publish data on the costs to the public purse for the contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through Aspen cards.</p> To ask Her Majesty's Government whether funding currently dedicated to asylum matters will be ring-fenced following the UK's departure from the EU. Lord Roberts of Llandudno <p>There are currently no plans to apply a ring fence to asylum payments in this financial year.</p><p>Any new restrictions to departmental spending would be agreed with HM Treasury. Any further changes would form part of the Spending Review discussions taking place this year for financial year 2020-21 onwards.</p><p> </p> Baroness Williams of Trafford Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department undertook a Data protection impact assessment (a) or (b) after the introduction of the Aspen card in asylum support arrangements. <p>The introduction of Aspen (2016) pre-dates the requirement for a data pro-tection impact assessment (DPIA), which was introduced as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Appropriate legal advice was nevertheless obtained prior to the scheme being launched. In line with good practice, a review of current practice is being conducted to ensure that it is compliant with the GDPR, which will include the completion of a DPIA.</p> To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has held discussions with the Information Commissioner on the effect of the introduction of the Aspen on (a) data protection and (b) an individuals privacy. <p>The introduction of the Aspen Card and its effect on data protection and privacy has not been discussed with the Information Commissioner.</p><p>As part of the project, consideration was given to the privacy aspects of the scheme. The terms and conditions relating to Aspen usage received appropriate legal scrutiny prior to being published and make it clear that personal data will be used only for the prevention of fraud and to preserve the integrity of the scheme which includes ensuring the welfare of card users</p> To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have had their asylum support (a) suspended and (b) discontinued as a result of information obtained by the monitoring of the usage of an Aspen card. <p>Where evidence comes to light that would suggest a supported asylum ap-plicant has access to alternative accommodation and support, we would invite the applicant to give an account of their activity.</p><p>Evidence can come from a number of sources, including Aspen usage data. Suspension and any subsequent discontinuation of support due to a breach of conditions carries a right of appeal. Data is not held in a publishable format.</p> To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial support mechanisms his Department has in place to support asylum seekers. <p>The Home Office ensures asylum seekers are not left destitute by providing appropriate support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The support package usually consists of free, furnished accommodation (with utility bills and council tax paid) and a weekly cash allowance to meet other essential living needs. But those who find accommodation through friends or relatives may be provided with the allowance only. <br> <br>The level of the allowance, currently set at £37.75 per week for each person in the household, is reviewed each year to make sure it is sufficient to cover essential living needs.</p><p>The most recent assessment of the adequacy of the asylum support rates is set out in a report published in March 2018, which can be found at:<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers.%20" target="_blank"> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers. </a></p> # Counting has been applied to this query. PREFIX dcterms: <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> PREFIX parl: <http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#> SELECT DISTINCT ?item WHERE { ?item a parl:WrittenParliamentaryQuestion ; parl:answer ?ans . ?item parl:hansardHeading "Asylum: Finance" . OPTIONAL { ?item dcterms:date ?___0 . } } ORDER BY DESC(?___0) ?item OFFSET 0 LIMIT 10	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1819
__label__wiki	0.735997	0.735997	answeredquestions.html?_pageSize=50&_page=0&_properties=tablingMember.label,houseId,AnsweringBody,answer.questionFirstAnswered,legislature To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to A connected society: A Strategy for tackling loneliness – laying the foundations for change, published 15 October 2018, what progress has been made on his Department’s commitment to run a series of industry events, conferences and seminars to promote the role of design in wellbeing, including tackling loneliness and to publish case studies and evidence. <p>Tackling loneliness was a large focus of a community vision event that my Department hosted with 40 Birmingham residents in February</p><p>The Department worked with residents to develop a vision for their homes and neighbourhoods. The Department wanted to use this vision to bring communities together to tackle people's experience of loneliness; which can have a massive impact on their wellbeing. <br> <br>In February, the Government held the Better Design for Better Places national conference in Birmingham. Attendees explored how to use design to promote and support people's health and well-being through discussions, and the Government selected a case study on tackling loneliness to be presented. <br> <br> In the keynote speech at the conference, Lord Bourne referenced the importance of creating places which can help to tackle loneliness.</p><p> </p> To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much HM Courts and Tribunals Service has spent on (a) courts translation services and (b) Capita Translation Services in each of the last 10 financial years. Bolton South East Yasmin Qureshi <p>HMCTS was created on the 1 April 2011. We are unable to provide information for financial years prior to that date. This question has been interpreted to mean costs for all language services, both translators, and interpreters provided in a court setting, and for printed materials available in HMCTS buildings.</p><p> </p><p>The contract with Capita commenced on 30th January 2012, and ended on 30th October 2016. The new Language Services Contracts commenced on the 31st October 2016, with services provided by thebigword Group Limited, Clarion Interpreting and The Language Shop.</p><p> </p><p>The spend by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service on courts translations services was as follows, by financial year:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Total Cost (£)</p></td><td><p>Capita Charges (£)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12 (Commenced from 30th January 2012)</p></td><td><p>7,080,332</p></td><td><p>1,440</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>4,955,510</p></td><td><p>1,083,181</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>7,305,324</p></td><td><p>6,501,870</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>7,431,045</p></td><td><p>7,182,866</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>7,111,949</p></td><td><p>6,548,023</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>9,683,794</p></td><td><p>4,264,196</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Our most recent statistics show language service requests are at their highest since the new contract was introduced in 2016 the clear majority – 97% - were fulfilled. It is vital that victims, witnesses and defendants understand what is happening in court to ensure justice is done, and we will always take steps to ensure a qualified interpreter is provided when needed.</p> Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi Persecution of Christians across the Globe Independent Review To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the evidential basis was for the downgrading of the impact of persecution of Christians in the Middle East between the the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians and (a) Interim and (b) Final Report. <p>This is an independent Review. As the Foreign Secretary has stated, the findings of the report make for harrowing reading and we are concerned about the situation for all Christians, including those in the Middle East. The report states that further evidence will be published and will be available incrementally from 15 July on the Review's website.</p> Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) charged and (b) convicted as a result of Operation Gull in Northern Ireland in the last two years. <p>The Home Office does not publish statistics on request for Operation Gull.</p> Iran: Baha'i Faith To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on reports of the closure of a Baha’i-run elder care centre in Karaj, Iran. <p>We are aware of reports indicating that Baha'i owned businesses are being targeted for closure, including reports of the attempted closure of a care centre in Karaj, Iran. We remain concerned about the continued harassment and mistreatment that the Baha'i and other minority groups face.</p><p>We support the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran's assessment that discrimination against the Baha'is in Iran is legally sanctioned by a lack of constitutional recognition and the absence of other legal protections for adherents of this faith. We regularly call upon Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to protect freedom of religion or belief.</p> Sub-Saharan Africa: Water To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Millennium Development Goal targets on access to clean water by 2020 will be met in sub-Saharan Africa. <p>The Millennium Development Goal targets for clean water in sub-Saharan Africa were not met by the 2015 deadline. Between 2015 and 2018, DFID supported 17.5 million people in Africa to access clean water and/or better sanitation. For example, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, over 2.7 million people gained access to clean water with DFID’s support between 2015 and 2018. In Ethiopia, DFID supported 1.9 million people to access clean water and/or better sanitation.</p> To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what outcomes NHS England plans to achieve for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities during the lifespan of the NHS Long Term Plan. Newcastle upon Tyne North Catherine McKinnell <p>Aspirations for children and young people are set out in the NHS Long Term Plan and the recently published Implementation Framework. Services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and learning disabilities and autism are separate workstreams under the new Children and Young People Transformation Board.</p><p>Funding to deliver the improvements set out in the Long Term Plan will be provided through clinical commissioning groups allocations and additional service development funding.</p> Biography information for Catherine McKinnell Special Educational Needs: Finance To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding NHS England has allocated to improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities during the lifespan of the NHS Long-Term Plan. Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK: Redundancy To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the publication of its final report on the effectiveness of programmes to protect former SSI steelworkers from long-term unemployment. <p>The Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) Task Force, funded by the Government to support individuals and businesses directly affected by the closure of SSI in Redcar, has published 3 annual reports (the most recent in 2018) setting out progress with helping the people affected by the liquidation of SSI. Further details are at: <a href="https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/SSITaskForce" target="_blank">https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/SSITaskForce</a></p><p> </p><p>The Task Force has commissioned the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to analyse the outcomes of workers affected by the closure.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP has been working to identify; quality assure; integrate and securely store and handle data on former SSI UK employees and workers in its supply chain to fulfil the commission of the Task Force. The department’s analysis will innovatively combine data from the official receiver; local tracking data from collected by Job Centre Plus; DWP/HMRC administrative data; and published ONS data.</p><p> </p><p>The analysis is currently being finalised and will be published in due course by the Department for Work and Pensions.</p> Reading West Biography information for Alok Sharma To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2019 to Questions 272897 and 272898, what assessment she has made of whether the feedback of Presenting Officers has led to (a) an increase in successful mandatory reconsiderations for claimants, (b) more correct decisions resulting in fewer successful appeals and (c) fewer claims reaching appeal stage. Peter Kyle <p>Feedback from Presenting Officers has contributed to our new approach which includes contacting claimants, where appropriate, to see if there is information that would enable us to change the decision ourselves. To support this, we are investing additional time for communication, evidence gather and review. This approach supports our aim - to make the right decision as early as possible - so claimants don’t need to progress to the Appeal stage.</p><p> </p><p>It is still too early to assess the full impact of this approach. However initial feedback has been positive and the recently published PIP Official Statistics up to April 2019 showed an increase in the proportion of decisions changed at the Mandatory Reconsideration stage since the approach was implemented.</p> Biography information for Peter Kyle To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report of the Committee on Climate Change entitled, Progress in preparing for climate change, published on 10 July, for what reasons good progress was not made in any of the 33 sectors assessed by that Committee on actions needed to manage climate change risks. <p>The Government welcomes the report by the Committee on Climate Change. We are committed to taking robust action to improve resilience to climate change, and will formally respond to the Committee’s detailed recommendations in October, in line with the timetable set out in the Climate Change Act.</p><p> </p> David Rutley Biography information for David Rutley Prisons: Mental Health Services To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the mental health of prisoners. <p>NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently working across the entire criminal justice pathway to develop and improve services for offenders with mental health difficulties.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with partners to intervene at the earliest opportunity to ensure that offenders receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.</p><p> </p><p>Liaison and Diversion Services operate in police stations and courts to identify and assess people with vulnerabilities including mental health issues. Where that individual is subsequently sent to prison the receiving prison will have the relevant information of the individual’s mental health needs to inform the reception healthcare staff so that they can implement appropriate interventions as soon as possible after they arrive.</p><p> </p><p>Health services are available across the estate where assessment identifies treatment needs.</p><p> </p><p>The service specification for prison mental health services was reviewed in 2017-18. This review, led by clinicians in conjunction with stakeholders and informed by experts with experience, was published in March 2018, with all new services being commissioned against it from April 2018. The new specification includes the Royal College of Psychiatrists Quality Network for Prison Mental Health Services standards, ensuring equity of quality across the estate.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently consulting on revised Transfer and Remission guidance to ensure that new clinically developed timescales are set which ensure timely and appropriate access to mental health treatment in hospital when necessary, in a clinically safe and well managed way. The consultation ends on 19 July 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The NHS Long Term Plan committed to a new service to support people leaving custody to remain engaged with community-based healthcare services. The reconnect service will support continuity of care when people return to the community.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> Biography information for Zac Goldsmith Prisoners: Mental Illness To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the prison population with mental health problems. <p>No estimate has been made of the proportion of the prison health population with mental health problems.</p><p> </p><p>Currently a closed system is used to record clinical data in prisons. The Health and Justice Information Service system, being rolled out between 2018-20, will have the ability to share information with community healthcare services; this is integral to the collection of relevant data that is quality assured and robust.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> Aviation: Taxation To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a green tax on air travel which would be invested in environmentally-friendly transport infrastructure. Paul Farrelly <p>The UK plays key role in multilateral action on aviation emissions, such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and levies a tax on aviation, Air Passenger Duty (APD), one of very few countries to do so.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst APD is not primarily an environmental tax, it ensures that a sector responsible for approximately 7% of UK greenhouse gas emissions paid tax of £3.6 billion in 2018-19 on its activities. This is particularly important in the absence of any duty on commercial aviation fuel or VAT on airline tickets, in line with international convention.</p><p> </p><p>APD receipts fund our vital public services and other Government priorities, including tackling climate change.</p> Biography information for Paul Farrelly National Gallery: Conditions of Employment To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of employment tribunal decision, Ms A Braine and others v The National Gallery: 2201625/2018. Dulwich and West Norwood <p>Following the decision of the Employment Tribunal, the National Gallery paid a total of £158,000 (inclusive of VAT) in backdated holiday pay to those individuals who were found by the Tribunal to have had ‘worker’ status while providing education services for the Gallery.</p><p> </p><p>In common with all publicly funded cultural institutions, the National Gallery operates independently and at arm’s length from Government. Arm’s Length Bodies are required to adhere to all relevant employment law, but their individual staffing structures and contractual arrangements are decisions to be taken solely by the gallery’s executive and trustees.</p><p> </p><p>I understand, however, that the National Gallery disputes the way in which aspects of this case have been characterised, including the notion that the employment tribunal was a test case for the ‘gig economy’ in the arts. More broadly, the 2017 Mendoza Review of Museums in England considered in detail the nature of employment in the museums sector; the Review Team found no evidence of widespread poor practice or insecure employment in the museums sector.</p> Taunton Deane Rebecca Pow Biography information for Rebecca Pow Biography information for Helen Hayes Museums and Galleries: Conditions of Employment To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the extent of (a) poor employment practice and (b) insecure work at publicly funded cultural institutions. To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the employment tribunal decision, Ms A Braine and others v The National Gallery: 2201625/2018 on other publicly-funded cultural institutions. To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to tackle (a) reports of poor employment practices, (b) insecure work and (c) the gig economy within publicly-funded cultural institutions. State Visits: USA To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent from the public purse on (a) security, (b) accommodation and (c) transport for family members of President Trump during his visit to the UK in June 2019. Cardiff Central Jo Stevens <p>As part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's transparency programme, the cost of the State Visit to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be published on the gov.uk website before the end of the year.</p> Rutland and Melton Sir Alan Duncan Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan Biography information for Jo Stevens Legal Aid Scheme: Solicitors To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the reform of legal aid on average annual earnings of legal aid solicitors. <p>On 7 February 2019, the Government published the Post Implementation Review (PIR) of Part 1 of The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-implementation-review-of-part-1-of-laspo" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-implementation-review-of-part-1-of-laspo</a></p><p> </p><p>The review did not look at the earnings of individual solicitors, but reported instead on the impact on legal aid providers, including solicitors firms and individual barristers.</p>	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1820
__label__cc	0.697349	0.302651	Home » Resources » Baltimore and Ohio Railroad timetable Baltimore and Ohio Railroad timetable Resource Type: Image \| Posted on 9th March 2012 by Liam Physick This is a timetable, dating from 20th May 1830, from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The Baltimore and Ohio, known as the B&O, was one of the oldest railways in the United States, and linked Baltimore, Maryland to the Ohio River at Wheeling (then in Virginia, now in West Virginia), and was later extended to Parkersburg, also now in West Virginia (West Virginia split off from Virginia in the American Civil War, when it opposed secession). It was set up because it was necessary for Baltimore, as a fast-growing port, to connect with the western states, as New York had done by opening the Erie Canal in 1820. In 1827, group of 25 businessmen decided that the best way was to build a railway: the Maryland General Assembly authorised the creation of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on 28th February that year, and the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company was chartered by Virginia on 8th March. Construction began on 4th July - Independence Day - 1828 and opened on 24th May 1830: several extensions were made, with the Wheeling terminus being opened on 1st January 1853, and in 1835, a Washington Branch, connecting the Railroad to the federal capital, was opened. The Company supported the Union in the Civil War (Maryland was a slave state, but remained loyal to the Union, although many Marylanders sympathised with the Confederacy - among them was John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln) and was of major strategic importance in that conflict, as it connected Washington, DC to the North. The B&O suffered 143 raids by Southern forces. In later years, the B&O incorporated many smaller railways. Since 1987, it has been part of the CSX Transportation. This image was donated to Metal by the B&O Railroad Museum, which opened on 4th July 1953 (as the Baltimore and Ohio Transportation Museum), and which displays railway artefacts from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including 250 pieces of rolling stock, four nineteenth-century buildings and one mile of track, on which rides are offered from Wednesday to Sunday from April to December, and on weekends in January. In 1961, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Its website can be found at www.borail.org Tagged under: heritage railways, rolling stock, canals, timetables, slavery, american civil war, baltimore and ohio railroad, erie canal, b&o railroad museum	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1826
__label__wiki	0.733752	0.733752	Call for entries: Feature Documentary Film Producing Workshop In June 2018, the American Film Showcase (AFS) will host 5-7 teams of emerging documentary producers and their filmmaker partners (10-14 participants total) from African countries (participants must be proficient English-speakers) for a six-day workshop focused on documentary film producing. Produced in collaboration with U.S. Consulate in Cape Town and the Encounters Documentary Festival (the oldest and leading documentary festival in Africa), participants will travel to Cape Town, South Africa to learn the ins-and-outs of producing a feature length documentary film with the support of American film experts. All costs related to the program will be covered by AFS. The workshop will be led by Roger Ross Williams and Heidi Fleisher.In June 2018, the American Film Showcase (AFS) will host 5-7 teams of emerging documentary producers and their filmmaker partners (10-14 participants total) from African countries (participants must be proficient English-speakers) for a six-day workshop focused on documentary film producing. Produced in collaboration with U.S. Consulate in Cape Town and the Encounters Documentary Festival (the oldest and leading documentary festival in Africa), participants will travel to Cape Town, South Africa to learn the ins-and-outs of producing a feature length documentary film with the support of American film experts. All costs related to the program will be covered by AFS. The workshop will be led by Roger Ross Williams and Heidi Fleisher. Roger Ross Williams: The first film that Roger Ross Williams directed was Music by Prudence, which won the 2010 Academy Award® for documentary short subject. He is the first African American director to win an Academy Award. Williams next directed the feature documentary God Loves Uganda, was shortlisted for a 2014 Academy Award. Williams is currently working on several projects including a feature documentary about the prison industrial complex for CNN Films and the BBC, a documentary about the legendary Apollo Theater, and a VR series based on his personal story called Traveling While Black for The New York Times. He is also the chief storyteller for Johnnie Walker whisky. His latest film Life, Animated has received countless accolades including over a dozen awards at film festivals around the world, DGA and PGA nominations, and was most recently nominated for the 2017 Academy Awards. Williams serves on the board of Docubox Kenya, and recently, Williams became the trustee of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa; the first major museum in Africa dedicated to contemporary art. Williams serves on the Alumni advisory board of the Sundance Institute and the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Heidi Fleisher: Heidi Fleisher is an independent American documentary film producer and consultant who has spent the last 20 years in France, and who now spends her time between Los Angeles and Paris. She spent the year 2015 – 2016 as Head of International Sales and Acquisitions for ARTE Sales, the distribution arm of the European broadcaster ARTE, where she was in charge of curating the catalogue, managing the sales department and handling the Asian market. Prior to joining ARTE, for over 10 years Heidi provided creative, editorial and strategic consulting to documentary filmmakers in order to help them navigate the international market, develop, and finance their films. In parallel she worked with Sunny Side of the Doc for several years to create and implement training initiatives for emerging producers in Brazil, China and France, and has also participated as a project tutor and panelist at various international markets. Juggling yet another hat, she spent two years working as a buyer for the Japanese company Tokyovision and broadcaster Nippon TV from 2013 – 2015. Heidi’s most recent film as a producer is the feature-length documentary Don’t Breathe directed by Nino Kirtadze and co-produced by ARTE France, which premiered at TIFF in 2014. Arrival Date: May 31 Program Dates: June 1 – June 6 Departure Date: June 7 Feature Documentary Film Producing Workshop Content In this workshop, 5-7 pairs of one producer and one documentary filmmaker from the region will explore strategies and techniques for producing a feature documentary. With the guidance of the American mentors, the workshop will walk participants through such topics as international financing (both preliminary and production, as well as grants), creative producing, the role of the producer, distribution and sales (including emerging digital platforms), pitching, and film festivals. Mentors will also guide participants in making the right professional connections, taking full advantage of their presence at a major documentary film festival. There will also be opportunities for participants to view films at and spend time exploring the Encounters Documentary Festival. Programmatic Goals A primary goal of this workshop is to offer documentary producers and filmmakers in the region a more in depth knowledge base and understanding of the skills needed to produce a documentary film, from a film’s conception, to it’s completion, through its subsequent sale and distribution. A secondary goal will be to create a space for dialogue and collaboration among content creators from across the region who may be facing shared challenges. All participants will come from African countries and must be proficient English-speakers. U.S. Embassies from Botswana, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, , Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe may nominate up to three teams of one emerging documentary producer and one filmmaker for the workshop. Interested teams within the Encounters Film Festival’s network are also welcome to apply. This workshop will be project-based, so potential participants should be nominated based on one specific project that they would like to discuss in the workshop. Ideal candidates are film producers and filmmakers who are in development for their first feature documentary film. They should have experience with producing at least one or two short documentaries in the past. Participants are expected to come to the workshop with a clear vision for a project they are hoping to produce and ideally, they will already have some footage to share. All nominations should be submitted to: AFSEncounters2018@gmail.com Selection Timeline Submission Deadline: April 2 Final Participant Decision: April 20 From Participants: 1. Each team member’s resume / CV of no more than two pages and with contactable references. 2. One-page personal statements including social themes of interest to participants. (One personal statement per team member) 3. Links to past work,. 4. A treatment or outline of the project the participants are hoping to focus on in the workshop. No more than three pages. 5. Any audio visual material related to the participants project. For questions, contact: Steffan Horowitz – AFS Programming Coordinator shorowitz@cinema.usc.edu Deborah Matthee – U.S. Consulate, Cape Town MattheeDL@state.gov Tarha McKenzie – Encounters Documentary Festival Coordinator AFSEncounters2018@gmail.com You can find the details on the website for ease of reference: http://www.encounters.co.za/call-for-entries-feature-documentary-film-producing-workshop/ Website: www.encounters.co.za Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EncountersDocFest/ Twitter handle: @EncountersDoc Instagram handle: @encountersdoc Tarha McKenzie Festival Coordinator © 2019 Gauteng Film Commission	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1829
__label__wiki	0.750707	0.750707	View Points ammonnews.net Ministry of Energy: Global oil prices climb in July's second week Tourism revenue at $2.6 billion in first half of 2019 Jordanian missing in Turkey found: Foreign Ministry 8th session of the Joint Jordanian-American Committee concludes Experts call for more aid to Jordan for Syrian refugees Kingdom welcomes Chinese companies, JIC says PM reveals gov't plans to make kindergarten mandatory in 2020 Jordan participates in Palestinian refugees conference in Cairo Netanyahu warns of ‘crushing’ retaliation after Hezbollah chief’s remarks Normal summer conditions forecast for three days Turkish ambassador commends Jordan's successful policy in region ‘Spider-Man’ soars with $185.1 mln over six-day holiday weekend DJ set to be first African in space killed in bike crash Plane carrying Kashmir message flies over Headingley ‘Toy Story 4’ repeats at No. 1 over ‘Annabelle,’ ‘Yesterday’ Hotter than Death Valley: Europe burns, sweats in record heat For the first time in Jordan .. International Artificial Intelligence Driving License Home View Points [5/14/2013 1:24:23 PM] By Jafar M Ramini May 1st. Standing in front of the Foreign Office in the London sunshine I shivered at the memory of the massacre of Ein El Zeytoun 65 years ago. Ein El Zeytoun, like Deir Yassin, and many other villages and towns in Palestine at the time, was wiped off the face off the earth. The entire population was massacred by Jewish terrorist groups while the British mandatory forces looked the other way. I am reminded of the quote by Edmund Burke: “For evil to flourish,” he wrote, “it only takes a few men to look the other way.” Engulfed in sadness and the memory of what has been lost and destroyed, I started to reflect on the dishonourable role the British establishment played and is still playing in the catastrophe that continues to unfold in Palestine. What we call Al Nakba. Many believe that Al Nakba started in 1948. Having seen the award-winning and eye-opening documentary on Al Jazeera ‘Al Nakba’, first aired in 2008 and now being repeated, I beg to differ. If the Nakba signifies the expulsion of Palestinians and seizure of their land by force, then the ‘Nakba’ began long before 1948. It actually began in 1840, when the then British Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston wrote to his ambassador in Constantinople, urging him to solicit the support of the Ottomans, who then ruled over Palestine, to facilitate Jewish immigration into the country. At the time no foreigners were allowed to own land in Palestine and the number of Jews were fewer than 3000. Fast forward to the formation of the World Zionist Organisation in 1897 when Palestine was first targeted as the preferred choice for the establishment of a Jewish Homeland. Theodor Herzl, the founder of Zionism, approached Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the already ailing Ottoman Empire asking if Palestine might be for sale: This was his response: "Please advise Dr Hertzl not to make any serious move in this matter. I cannot give up even one small patch of land in Palestine. It is not something that I own as a part of my personal estate. Palestine in fact belongs to the Muslim Nation as a whole. My people have fought with their blood and sweat to protect this land, let the Jews keep their millions and once the Caliphate is torn apart one day, then they can take Palestine without a price. To have the scalpel cut my body is less painful than to witness Palestine being detached from the Caliphate state and this is not going to happen." Sultan Abdul Hamid II Having failed in their quest an alternative had to be found. And that, of course, was the British Empire. Two learned Rabbis were dispatched to Palestine to check the feasibility of the project. Their conclusion was, and I quote: “The bride is beautiful, but she is married to another man.” What those two Rabbis realized was that the ‘other man’ represented a well-established and advanced Palestinian society firmly rooted in its soil. So much for the rallying cry for the Zionists. “A land without people for the people without a land”. By 1907 the Ottoman Empire was considered to be the ‘sick man of Europe’. The British Empire, however, was at its most powerful. Anticipating the vacuum in Arabia that would need to be filled on the demise of the Ottomans, the British decided that their interests would be well served by creating a new state in Palestine, friendly to Europe, but hostile to its neighbours. The Zionists saw the opportunity for their proposed homeland for the Jews and seized it with both hands. In the same year Chaim Weizmann, one of the first British Zionists and later to become the first President of Israel, visited Palestine and within three years had bought thousands of dunoms of land, mostly from Arab absentee landlords, in Marj ibn Amer, the most fertile part of Palestine, and my birthplace. This sale, to The Jewish National Fund, had terrible consequences for the Palestinian farmers. They were forcibly removed off their land and overnight found themselves to be homeless, aimless and with no prospects. To me, this is when the Nakba started. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the British were looking for willing collaborators in Arabia to ensure their victory over the Ottomans and establish a firm presence in Arabia. They found them in Sharif Hussein Bin Ali of Mecca who delegated the task to his son, Prince Faisal ibn Al Hussein. Prince Faisal offered to facilitate the war effort in return for Arab freedom and independence. He did not stop there. The sweetener was to offer Palestine as a homeland for the Jews. This was reaffirmed after the war, during a conference between Prince Faisal and Chaim Weizmann in Paris and the document became known as the Faisal/Weizmann agreement. It kick-started a litany of Arab betrayal and capitulation to the west and to Zionism. As if not to be outdone in the betrayal stakes by his rivals, the Hashemites in Hijaz, Sultan Abdul Aziz al Saud wrote to British High Commissioner to Baghdad, Sir Percy Cox; "I am the Sultan Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud al-Faisal and I concede and acknowledge a thousand times to Sir Percy Cox, delegate of Great Britain, that I have no objection to giving Palestine to the poor Jews or even to non-Jews, and I will never ever violate their [the UK] orders.” Isn’t it ironic how the Ottomans, our rulers at the time, would spill blood to protect us, while our brother Arabs were falling over themselves to give Palestine away. In 1915, a secret memorandum was presented to the British cabinet under the title, ‘The Future of Palestine.’ It was drafted by Sir Herbert Samuel, the first dedicated Zionist to become a minister in the British Government, who, astonishingly, did not advise the setting up of a Jewish homeland at this time, but did advise that Palestine should be annexed to the British Empire after the war, with sympathies towards the establishment of such a home-land. November 2nd 1917, is the date carved on every Palestinian heart, when the infamous Balfour Declaration, written in the form of a letter was sent to Lord Walter Rothschild. The British Government, in their infinite wisdom, vehemently adhered to their promise to establish a Jewish home in Palestine and totally ignored their promise to protect the rights of the indigenous Palestinian population. At that time, Palestine was 10% Jewish and 90% Muslim and Christian Palestinian Arabs. In the Al Jazeera documentary, Avi Shlaim, Jewish historian said: “Britain had no moral or political or legal right to promise the land that belonged to the Arabs to another people. The Balfour Declaration was both immoral and illegal.” What I find interesting is the stance of the American administration of President Woodrow Wilson. At the end of the First World War, he sent a delegation to the Middle East to investigate the situation in Palestine. The report was decisive, saying that if America was to adhere to the principles of self determination, then the fact that 9/10th of the population was non Jewish and emphatically against the proposal, then this project should be cancelled. The report went on to say that if the Zionist programme were to proceed a force of at least 50,000 soldiers would be required even to initiate the programme. “In view of all these considerations, the project to make Palestine a distinctly Jewish commonwealth should be given up.” I can’t help wondering what happened to the moral fibre of the USA between then and now. Under the Sykes/Picot agreement Palestine was placed under British Mandate in 1922. Its first High Commissioner, the self same British Zionist, Sir Herbert Samuel, set about implementing all the trappings of a Jewish state under the auspices of what was being called a Jewish homeland. Hebrew became an official language, a separate Jewish education system was set up, Jewish ministries of energy, water and power were established and most crucial of all, the establishment of a Jewish army, with access to British training and equipment. The town of Tel Aviv was given autonomous status. During Samuel’s tenure Jewish immigration to Palestine was growing at a break-neck speed. But it reached its peak in 1933 when more than 175,000 Jews emigrated to Palestine. All of this was happening while the Palestinians were denied any freedom or civil rights. And this wasn’t a Nakba? In 1929 the beleaguered Palestinians showed their first act of defiance. They announced a general strike and raised black flags. The British Government’s answer to that legitimate protest was to hang the three leaders of the resistance; Hijazi, Zeir and Jamjoum. Their graves are still in Acre with the message to Arab leaders: “Never trust foreigners.” If only the Arab leaders had listened then. And would listen now. Nevertheless the atrocities continued. Thousands were arrested and hundreds were murdered. Houses were demolished and life was made impossible for the Palestinians. Does that sound familiar? Even Qassim al-Husseini, the 80 year old former Mayor of Jerusalem was beaten so badly by the British soldiers that he died from his wounds. A senior British police officer, John Faraday was reported by his own subordinates as being unjustifiably brutal and vicious. The British Authorities’ response was to award Faraday the King’s Police Medal, praising his role in Palestine. I remember my late mother saying to me, that during that crucial time in Palestine, when the British constantly raided the houses of those they suspected of resistance, if even one spent cartridge was found the head of the household was thrown into jail. Another general strike in 1936 lasted six months, the longest in history. What ensued was nothing short of calamitous. Their fellow Arabs urged the Palestinian leadership to come back, sit at the negotiating table and give the British the benefit of the doubt. The irony of all of this is that now, over 70 years later, we are still waiting for those good intentions to materialize. Between 1936 and 1937 the British killed 1000 Palestinians. 37 British were killed and 69 Jews. As a reward to the Palestinians for being ‘reasonable’ Lord Peel headed a Royal Commission on Palestine and offered a 3-way partition plan. One third to be the Jewish state, two thirds to be an Arab state, merged with Trans-Jordan and the area between Jerusalem to Jaffa remaining a mandated territory. The Zionists liked the Peel proposal because it fell in with their plans of ethnic cleansing of Palestine. The principle of transfer could lead to a 100% Jewish state. When the Palestinian leadership rejected the plan the British disbanded the high command and exiled its leaders, leaving the Palestinians leaderless to defend themselves. So much for the so-called democratic process. Some might ask, why did the Palestinians turn down the Peel Plan? All very well in hindsight. Why wouldn’t they when they already owned 94% of the land? Surely justice would prevail. Of course it didn’t. By pretending to accept the Peel Plan, and appearing to be magnanimous the Zionists accelerated their ethnic cleansing and theft of Palestinian land which continued all through WW II. After the war, the Zionists did not like the pace by which their expansionist plans were proceeding and considered their benefactors, the British Forces, as being in the way. They turned on them with venom; terrorism, burning and murder, the most infamous of which was the bombing in 1946 of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. 91 people were killed, 46 injured. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say. In 1947, the UN decided to partition Palestine yet again. As the world reeled in shock over what had happened to the Jews and other minorities during the holocaust, the United Nations, possibly with a mixture of sympathy and guilt, gave over 56% of Palestine to the Zionists and 43% to the Palestinians. The plan was rejected by the Arab side, the Zionists, while pretending to accept it, continued with their campaign of terror against both the British and the Palestinians, while portraying themselves as the victims. By this time the British Government, exhausted and fraying at the edges decided to cut and run, abandoning their moral and legal duties towards Palestine. They left the unprotected civilian population to the mercy of the Zionist forces. None was shown. With the British gone and no credible Palestinian or Arab force to stop them the Zionists went into a frenzy of destruction and killing. The culmination of all this was the most horrendous crime against humanity, the massacre that was the village of Deir Yassin. Menachem Begin, leader of the Haganah gang that perpetrated this horror, later to become a Prime Minister of Israel, saw the massacre of some 200 men, women and children as a propaganda victory. “The Arabs began to flee in terror, even before they clashed with the Jewish forces. The legend was worth half a million battalions to the forces of Israel.” The Arabs had no option but to act. Ill-equipped and ill trained Arab armies embarked on a disastrous adventure that resulted in total defeat of the Arab forces and the loss of 78% of the land- mass of Palestine. Of the remaining 22%, the West Bank of the River was usurped by Jordan and Gaza by Egypt. Even then the Nakba was not complete. There were more horrors in store for the Palestinians. They continue today, 65 years on. As British historian, Arnold Toynbee observed: "The tragedy in Palestine is not just a local one; it is a tragedy for the world, because it is an injustice that is a menace to the world's peace". At the very least, the British owe us, the Palestinians, a huge debt of honour, which is long over-due. 1 fatla douar 5/14/2013 3:47:29 PM Palestine was sold ... horribly torn, raped ... in front of a indfferent world ... how could we forget the massacres, bloody massacres carried out in the villages, the screams of women, children and the slaughter against the old ... free men must speak .. silence is complicity that history will never forget ... 2 imandadoush 5/14/2013 3:54:02 PM Your massage is Great so right full of History memories about people who where the reason of Nakba 3 Nina Iversen 5/14/2013 8:00:43 PM Mr. Ramini, this is an excellent article. I have saved it in order to have all the great facts you give us here. However, it is sad to read about how a nation was stolen, and betrayed by the world. 4 sandra chennell 5/14/2013 8:14:16 PM What can I say, first of all thank you for such a wonderful article. And on this 65th anniversary of Nabka it is so important to reflect on the war crimes committed by Israel with the help of Britain and the USA. I admire and love the Palestinan people for their courage, and cry for all the lost lives. We must continue to let the World know what is happening. 5 Abu Amro 5/14/2013 8:49:05 PM Wonderufl article, in fact im so proud by person like you which shows and remembers the whole world by palestinian suffering and who is the responisible for that. 6 Omar Faris 5/14/2013 10:19:19 PM Thank u dear Jafar you gave very good picture..and we shell return to our Palestine... 7 Imad 5/15/2013 3:08:18 AM Thank you Jafar. Our future can only be better by strengthening our resilience and strong believe in our eternal tie to our home land Palestine. Palestine is ours, we, the Palestinians, nothing can alter this very fact, ever. Yes the Nakba was preceded in many conspiracies and political manipulations in which the British governments played the dirtiest roles, which ended with the massive immigration of foreigners to our home land, but history tends to make corrections. And it will do that again. 8 Saba Shabbir 5/15/2013 3:33:49 AM Excellent article by Jafar Ramini, reminding and informing us of the atrocities committed by the British, not just in 1948 but those that continue today by their complicity and simply turning the way. The perfect quote ed by Jafar in his article by Edmund Burke: “For evil to flourish,” he wrote, “it only takes a few men to look the other way.” 9 New Yorker 5/15/2013 9:07:12 AM "bought thousands of dunoms of land, mostly from Arab absentee landlords" Arab in this quote refers to Palestinians. Yes, Nakba started when Palestinians started the selling of their Land to the Jews.It never stopped and it continues to this day. 10 Alexandra 5/15/2013 12:04:30 PM I read this article with a sense of great shame. That the British, who are still admired and welcomed anywhere in the Arab world, perpetrated such a coordinated and determined destruction of the historic land of Palestine and its people makes me feel sick to my stomach. Jafar Raminis calm presentation of the facts, peppered with quotes and references from those who played significant parts in this tragedy,should be required reading in every household and every school. The truth must be told. 11 JaneRG 5/15/2013 5:31:43 PM Wonderful article. Shared. 12 Daniel Dewulf 5/15/2013 5:39:49 PM The more I read about the Palestinian tragedy the more I revolt against so much atrocities against Palestine. Great Britain is to blame to have protected always the terrible inhuman zionists. They are also to blame for the second world war. Daniel Dewulf. 13 Ingjerd Johansen 5/15/2013 7:28:31 PM A very good article Jafar, pinpointing the historical injustice that has been brought upon the Palestinian people. As a westerner I feel a shame for the way your people has been made to suffer. We need a solution upon this conflict today, and it is a shared international responsibility to help see that happen. Every child has a right to peace, and every people has a right to a homeland where they can live in safety and prosperity. The Palestinian people need a territory to be called your own. 14 Anna Elliott 5/16/2013 1:06:08 PM Painful as it is to read that,as a British subject our responsibility for the brutal annexation of Palestine,goes back historically much farther than I knew;I can only be grateful to you Jafar,for giving us this valuable,and informative article. 15 maggie roberts 5/16/2013 2:59:58 PM Thanks Jafar. The Japanese expunged their role in WWII from their school books, now times changed. The history/truth of the Palestinians should be taught in all our schools,academies and especially churches. It is a history built on lies and deceit. NO god would act or say such immoral things as gods chosen or a promised land. Perpetuated myths, taken advantage of by zionists. 16 Maryvelma O'Neil 5/17/2013 10:24:10 AM I am reading The First Crusade by Peter Frankopan and One Palestine, Complete by Tom Segev. The former states that the First Crusade (1099) brought with it the "establishment of colonies in the Middle East." Fast forward to the Balfour Declaration of 1917 in Segevs book. "Here was one nation promising another nation the land of a third nation," wrote Arthur Kostler. He called it an unnatural graft - a "white Negro." No wonder: the progenitors were Imperialism and Zionism. 17 Robert Awwad 1/24/2014 2:34:14 AM Excellent article. It makes me angry though to see how a civilized super power like the UK allows the massacre of hundreds of thousands Palestinians to allow a bunch of convert jews from Europe to steel their land and establish a racist fascist state on it. Germany paid compensations to make up for the jewish holocaust, what did the UK do to compensate for the palestinian holocaust???? 18 Ghadban 7/21/2014 2:11:19 AM Salaaaam Ammon Youtube IPad Application Office Games Copy Right Ammonews.net Powered by SpeedMethods.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1835
__label__wiki	0.750959	0.750959	Journal's Council Editor's Column CHILDREN AND THE "DARK SIDE" OF THE INTERNET Romano Prodi 3.0 The third (and best) phase of Prodi’s political life Combating desertification Alexander Kramarenko Andrey Davydenko Sergey Filatov Alexander Moiseev Vladislav Gulevich Igor Pellicciari MFA Russia News The main foreign policy news Afghanistan Argentina art ASEAN Australia Brexit Britain China cultural curator EU Europe European Union exhibition festival France Germany Greenland India Iran Israel Italy Japan JCPOA Libya Macedonia museum NATO New Zealand Pentagon Poland Russia sanctions Sea of Azov Syria Turkey Ukraine US USA war Archive material "We are preparing the world's elite!" Author: Alexander Moiseev, columnist for "International Affairs" magazine The first meeting of the Supervisory Board of the world famous training center in Russia, the People’s Friendship University of Russia (PFUR)was held with the participation of the Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko. Later she met with representatives of the student body. The Supervisory Board was established here in connection with the transition of the status of the University to that of an autonomous state institution. Among the participants on the Supervisory Board, in addition to Valentina Matvienko were: First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Natalia Tretiak; Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education Gregory Balykhin; Rector of the PFURVladimir Filippov , as well as other no less famous names in science and politics, such as a graduate from this university Vladimir Platonov and General Director of JSC "Russian Space Systems" Gennady Raikunov, and others ... The first topic at the meeting was the election of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the People's Friendship University. At the suggestion of the head of the Council of Natalia Tretiak, Valentina Matvienko was elected unanimously. Then the Rector of the PFUR, Doctor of Mathematical Sciences, Professor Vladimir Filippov conducted a detailed presentation of the University. He told the audience about the history and the present structure of the Peoples' Friendship University, and gave a full picture of its activities. “Created 55 years ago, the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia is a large and unique public institution for higher education, said the Rector. Our motto is "We are preparing the world’s elite "! Outside of our country the PFUR is widely known for its achievements in the educational process, research and international relations. To date, we have trained more than 18,000 students, of which about six and a half thousand are citizens from 152 other countries. It is the only university in Russia with such a versatile structure that provides the fundamental education upon which graduates of the PFUR can successfully realize themselves in all nations of the world, including in developed countries, in such spheres as in manufacturing, business, science, and public administration," said Vladimir Filippov. Every year the PFUR is among the top five universities in Russia and in the top 500 universities in the world. For more than half a century, the PFUR has prepared the world's elite, as evidenced by the success of 80,000 graduates in 170 countries. Today the PFUR has 5000 employees, more than 2,500 teachers, including more than 500 doctors of science and about 1150 PhD’s. The PFUR offers students excellent living accommodation (although the Rector acknowledged that the university still lacks about 1000 places), a beautiful campus with clinics and medical centers, a fitness center, Interclub, and its own television station and periodicals. A working plan was approved at the Council meeting, and economic and financial issues were discussed. This was noted as a positive course for the management of the University for greater transparency and openness of the financial and economic activities of the structures of the University. It was particularly noted that the PFUR’s budget reached 5.7 billion rubles in 2013, including extra budgetary funds. The State has allocated 2,355 billion rubles for the further development of the University, and 1,332 billion rubles have been returned to the University in tax rebates. The Supervisory Board approved the activities of the University. In connection with the expiration of Vladimir Filippov’s term as Rector of the PFUR, the Council meeting decided to propose to the founder of the University, the Ministry of Education and Science, that Vladimir Filippov be reappointed as Head of the University. After the completion of the work of the Supervisory Board, Chairman Valentina Matvienko held meetings with leaders of student associations and fraternities of the PFUR. The questions from the foreign students were based on the problems associated with improvements in the visa regime and the international situation. The meeting was held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere. Valentina Matvienko gave clear answers to all the questions put to her. Category: Experts Views: 3 788 \| Print version \| Russia and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region are interested in the development of multilateral and mutually beneficial cooperation Moscow - Tallinn: a partnership that strengthens the relationship between the cities The Integration Club under the Chairman of the Federation Council, presented its Annual Report for 2013 Russia and Greece define further plans on bilateral cooperation Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko: "The 21st Session of the APPF is a big step forward" 557: 30 seconds to mars. "We are preparing the world's elite!"17 October 2014: "We are preparing the world's elite!"! лучшие комедии. "We are preparing the world's elite!". © "International Affairs". 2009–2018	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1836
__label__cc	0.607972	0.392028	The institute of laser for graduate studies at the university of Baghdad received a number of the instructors and students at the department of laser engineering and optical electronics at the university of technology to keep abreast with the laboratories at the institute that are equipped with the latest equipment and laser clinics where they expressed their admiration of its advanced level in line with the scientific curriculum and the technological development. This visit is not the first of its kind at the level of educational institutions, preceded by visits to various government departments and health and engineering institutions. The institute of laser for postgraduate studies is considered as a specialized one that attained great scientific achievements that treated people in clinics and gained the scientific creativity award from the university of Baghdad since universities are a life plant of the leaders of higher education in Iraq who contribute in its progress to keep up with other educational institutions in the developed countries. College of administration and economics holds a course entitled " studies of the economic feasibility "	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1838
__label__wiki	0.544243	0.544243	Xaser \| Article about Xaser by The Free Dictionary https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Xaser (redirected from Xaser) Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms. [acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation], device for the creation, amplification, and transmission of a narrow, intense beam of coherent lightlight, visible electromagnetic radiation. Of the entire electromagnetic spectrum, the human eye is sensitive to only a tiny part, the part that is called light. The wavelengths of visible light range from about 350 or 400 nm to about 750 or 800 nm. ..... Click the link for more information. . The laser is sometimes referred to as an optical masermaser , device for creation, amplification, and transmission of an intense, highly focused beam of high-frequency radio waves. The name maser is an acronym for microwave amplification by stimulated emission of r Coherent Light and Its Emission in Lasers The coherent light produced by a laser differs from ordinary light in that it is made up of waves all of the same wavelength and all in phase (i.e., in step with each other); ordinary light contains many different wavelengths and phase relations. Both the laser and the maser find theoretical basis for their operation in the quantum theory. Electromagnetic radiationelectromagnetic radiation, energy radiated in the form of a wave as a result of the motion of electric charges. A moving charge gives rise to a magnetic field, and if the motion is changing (accelerated), then the magnetic field varies and in turn produces an electric field. ..... Click the link for more information. (e.g., light or microwaves) is emitted or absorbed by the atoms or molecules of a substance only at certain characteristic frequencies. According to the quantum theoryquantum theory, modern physical theory concerned with the emission and absorption of energy by matter and with the motion of material particles; the quantum theory and the theory of relativity together form the theoretical basis of modern physics. ..... Click the link for more information. , the electromagnetic energy is transmitted in discrete amounts (i.e., in units or packets) called quanta. A quantum of electromagnetic energy is called a photonphoton , the particle composing light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, sometimes called light quantum. The photon has no charge and no mass. About the beginning of the 20th cent. ..... Click the link for more information. . The energy carried by each photon is proportional to its frequency. An atom or molecule of a substance usually does not emit energy; it is then said to be in a low-energy or ground state. When an atom or molecule in the ground state absorbs a photon, it is raised to a higher energy state, and is said to be excited. The substance spontaneously returns to a lower energy state by emitting a photon with a frequency proportional to the energy difference between the excited state and the lower state. In the simplest case, the substance will return directly to the ground state, emitting a single photon with the same frequency as the absorbed photon. In a laser or maser, the atoms or molecules are excited so that more of them are at higher energy levels than are at lower energy levels, a condition known as an inverted population. The process of adding energy to produce an inverted population is called pumping. Once the atoms or molecules are in this excited state, they readily emit radiation. If a photon whose frequency corresponds to the energy difference between the excited state and the ground state strikes an excited atom, the atom is stimulated to emit a second photon of the same frequency, in phase with and in the same direction as the bombarding photon. The bombarding photon and the emitted photon may then each strike other excited atoms, stimulating further emissions of photons, all of the same frequency and all in phase. This produces a sudden burst of coherent radiation as all the atoms discharge in a rapid chain reaction. Often the laser is constructed so that the emitted light is reflected between opposite ends of a resonant cavity; an intense, highly focused light beam passes out through one end, which is only partially reflecting. If the atoms are pumped back to an excited state as soon as they are discharged, a steady beam of coherent light is produced. Characteristics of Lasers The physical size of a laser depends on the materials used for light emission, on its power output, and on whether the light is emitted in pulses or as a steady beam. Lasers have been developed that are not much larger than a common flashlight. Various materials have been used as the active media in lasers. The first laser, built in 1960, used a rubyruby, precious stone, the transparent red variety of corundum, found chiefly in Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka and classified among the most valuable of gems. The Myanmarese stones are blood red, the most valued tint being the "pigeon's blood. ..... Click the link for more information. rod with polished ends; the chromium atoms embedded in the ruby's aluminum oxide crystal lattice were pumped to an excited state by a flash tube that, wrapped around the rod, saturated the rod with light of a frequency higher than that of the laser frequency (this method is called optical pumping). This first ruby laser produced intense pulses of red light. In many other optically pumped lasers, the basic element is a transparent, nonconducting crystal such as yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG). Another type of crystal laser uses a semiconductor diodediode , two-terminal electronic device that permits current flow predominantly in only one direction. Most diodes are semiconductor devices; diode electron tubes are now used only for a few specialized applications. ..... Click the link for more information. as the element; pumping is done by passing a current through the crystal. In some lasers, a gas or liquid is used as the emitting medium. In one kind of gas laser the inverted population is achieved through collisional pumping, the gas molecules gaining energy from collisions with other molecules or with electrons released through current discharge. Some gas lasers make use of molecular dissociation to create the inverted population. In a free-electron laser a beam of electrons is "wiggled" by a magnetic field; the oscillatory behavior of the electrons induces them to emit laser radiation. Another device under development is the X-ray laser, which presents special difficulties; most materials, for instance, are poor reflectors of X rays. Applications of Lasers The light beam produced by most lasers is pencil-sized, and maintains its size and direction over very large distances; this sharply focused beam of coherent light is suitable for a wide variety of applications. Lasers have been used in industry for cutting and boring metals and other materials as well as welding and soldering, and for inspecting optical equipment. In medicine, they have been used in surgical operations. CDs and DVDs read and written to using lasers, and lasers also are employed in laser printers and bar-code scanners. They are used in communications, both in fiber optics and in some space and open-air communications; in a manner similar to radio transmission, the transmitted light beam is modulated with a signal and is received and demodulated some distance away. The field of holographyholography , method of reproducing a three-dimensional image of an object by means of light wave patterns recorded on a photographic plate or film. Holography is sometimes called lensless photography because no lenses are used to form the image. ..... Click the link for more information. is based on the fact that actual wave-front patterns, captured in a photographic image of an object illuminated with laser light, can be reconstructed to produce a three-dimensional image of the object. Lasers have been used in a number of areas of scientific research, and have opened a new field of scientific research, nonlinear optics, which is concerned with the study of such phenomena as the frequency doubling of coherent light by certain crystals. One important result of laser research is the development of lasers that can be tuned to emit light over a range of frequencies, instead of producing light of only a single frequency. Lasers also have been developed experimentally as weaponry. See S. Leinwoll, Understanding Lasers and Masers (1965); F. T. Arecchi and E. O. Schulz-Dubois, Laser Handbook (1973); J. Walker Light and Its Uses (1980). A device that uses the principle of amplification of electromagnetic waves by stimulated emission of radiation and operates in the infrared, visible, or ultraviolet region. The term laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, or a light amplifier. However, just as an electronic amplifier can be made into an oscillator by feeding appropriately phased output back into the input, so the laser light amplifier can be made into a laser oscillator, which is really a light source. Laser oscillators are so much more common than laser amplifiers that the unmodified word “laser” has come to mean the oscillator, while the modifier “amplifier” is generally used when the oscillator is not intended. See Maser The process of stimulated emission can be described as follows: When atoms, ions, or molecules absorb energy, they can emit light spontaneously (as with an incandescent lamp) or they can be stimulated to emit by a light wave. This stimulated emission is the opposite of (stimulated) absorption, where unexcited matter is stimulated into an excited state by a light wave. If a collection of atoms is prepared (pumped) so that more are initially excited than unexcited (population inversion), then an incident light wave will stimulate more emission than absorption, and there is net amplification of the incident light beam. This is the way the laser amplifier works. A laser amplifier can be made into a laser oscillator by arranging suitable mirrors on either end of the amplifier. These are called the resonator. Thus the essential parts of a laser oscillator are an amplifying medium, a source of pump power, and a resonator. Radiation that is directed straight along the axis bounces back and forth between the mirrors and can remain in the resonator long enough to build up a strong oscillation. (Waves oriented in other directions soon pass off the edge of the mirrors and are lost before they are much amplified.) Radiation may be coupled out by making one mirror partially transparent so that part of the amplified light can emerge through it (see illustration). The output wave, like most of the waves being amplified between the mirrors, travels along the axis and is thus very nearly a plane wave. See Optical pumping Structure of a parallel-plate laser Continuous-wave gas lasers Perhaps the best-known gas laser is the neutral-atom helium-neon (HeNe) laser, which is an electric-discharge-excited laser involving the noble gases helium and neon. The lasing atom is neon. The wavelength of the transition most used is 632.8 nanometers; however, many helium-neon lasers operate at longer and shorter wavelengths including 3390, 1152, 612, 594, and 543 nm. Output powers are mostly around 1 milliwatt. A useful gas laser for the near-ultraviolet region is the helium-cadmium (HeCd) laser, where lasing takes place from singly ionized cadmium. Wavelengths are 325 and 442 nm, with powers up to 150 mW. The argon ion laser provides continuous-wave (CW) powers up to about 50 W, with principal wavelengths of 514.5 and 488 nm, and a number of weaker transitions at nearby wavelengths. The argon laser is often used to pump other lasers, most importantly tunable dye lasers and titanium:sapphire lasers. For applications requiring continuous-wave power in the red, the krypton ion laser can provide continuous-wave lasing at 647.1 and 676.4 nm (as well as 521, 568, and other wavelengths), with powers somewhat less than those of the argon ion laser. The carbon dioxide (CO2) molecular laser has become the laser of choice for many industrial applications, such as cutting and welding. Short-pulsed gas lasers Some lasers can be made to operate only in a pulsed mode. Examples of self-terminating gas lasers are the nitrogen laser (337 nm) and excimer lasers (200--400 nm). The nitrogen laser pulse duration is limited because the lower level becomes populated because of stimulated transitions from the upper lasing level, thus introducing absorption at the lasing wavelength. Peak powers as large as 1 MW are possible with pulse durations of 1–10 nanoseconds. Excimer lasers are self-terminating because lasing transitions tear apart the excimer molecules and time is required for fresh molecules to replace them. The term solid-state laser should logically cover all lasers other than gaseous or liquid. Nevertheless, current terminology treats semiconductor (diode) lasers separately from solid-state lasers because the physical mechanisms are somewhat different. With that reservation, virtually all solid-state lasers are optically pumped. Historically, the first laser was a single crystal of synthetic ruby, which is aluminum oxide (Al2O3 or sapphire), doped with about 0.05% (by weight) chromium oxide (Cr2O3). Three important rare-earth laser systems in current use are neodymium:YAG, that is, yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12) doped with neodymium; neodymium:glass; and erbium:glass. Other rare earths and other host materials also find application. Semiconductor (diode) lasers The semiconductor laser is the most important of all lasers, both by economic standards and by the degree of its applications. Its main features include rugged structure, small size, high efficiency, direct pumping by low-power electric current, ability to modulate its output by direct modulation of the pumping current at rates exceeding 20 GHz, compatibility of its output beam dimensions with those of optical fibers, feasibility of integrating it monolithically with other semiconductor optoelectronic devices to form integrated circuits, and a manufacturing technology that lends itself to mass production. Most semiconductor lasers are based on III–V semiconductors. The laser can be a simple sandwich of p- and n-type material such as gallium arsenide (GaAs). The active region is at the junction of the p and n regions. Electrons and holes are injected into the active region from the p and n regions respectively. Light is amplified by stimulating electron-hole recombination. The mirrors comprise the cleaved end facets of the chip (either uncoated or with enhanced reflective coatings). See Electron-hole recombination, Semiconductor, Semiconductor diode Monochromaticity When lasers were first developed, they were widely noted for their extreme monochromaticity. They provided far more optical power per spectral range (as well as per angular range) than was previously possible. It has since proven useful to relate laser frequencies to the international time standard (defined by an energy-level difference in the cesium atom), and this was done so precisely, through the use of optical heterodyne techniques, that the standard of length was redefined in such a way that the speed of light is fixed. In addition, extremely stable and monochromatic lasers have been developed, which can be used, for example, for optical communication between remote and moving frames, such as the Moon and the Earth. See Frequency measurement, Laser spectroscopy, Light Having achieved lasers whose frequencies can be monochromatic, stable, and absolute (traceable to the time standard), the next goal is tunability. Most lasers allow modest tuning over the gain bandwidth of their amplifying medium. However, the laser most widely used for wide tunability has been the (liquid) dye laser. This laser must be optically pumped, either by a flash lamp or by another laser, such as the argon ion laser. Considerable engineering has gone into the development of systems to rapidly flow the dye and to provide wavelength tunability. About 20 different dyes are required to cover the region from 270 to 1000 nm. Free-election lasers The purpose of the free-electron laser is to convert the kinetic energy in an electron beam to electromagnetic radiation. Since it is relatively simple to generate electron beams with peak powers of 1010 W, the free-electron laser has the potential for providing high optical power, and since there are no prescribed energy levels, as in the conventional laser, the free-electron laser can operate over a broad spectral range. a genus of plants of the family Umbelliferae. They are tall perennial herbs with twice- and thrice-ternate leaves. The petals are white, with tips that curl inward. The fruits are ovoid or elongated, with thickened ribs. In Europe and Southwest Asia there are three species; one species, Laser trilobum, is found in the USSR—in the European USSR and inthe Caucasus—growing in light forests, along forest edges, and in thickets. The young shoots are used in cooked formas food. The fruits contain an essential oil. a source of electromagnetic radiation in the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet regions that is based on the stimulated radiation of atoms and molecules. The word “laser” comes from the acronym for the expression in English “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” The term “optical quantum generator” is also used in the Soviet literature. The development of lasers (1960) and, somewhat earlier, of masers (1955) served as the basis of development of a new trend in physics and technology called quantum electronics. In 1964 the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to the Soviet physicists N. G. Basov and A. M. Prokhorov and the American physicist C. Townes for work in quantum electronics. The laser as a light source. The laser has a number of unique properties that are associated with the coherence and high directivity of its radiation and are absent in the radiation of “nonlaser” light sources. The power radiated by a hot body is determined by its temperature T. The greatest possible value of the radiation flux attainable for an ideal blackbody is W = 5.7 × 10−12 × T4 watts per sq cm (W/cm2). The radiated power increases rapidly with increasing T and reaches extremely high levels for high T. For example, each square centimeter of the sun’s surface (T = 5800° K) radiates W = 6.4 × 103 W of power. However, the radiation of a heat source propagates in all directions from the source—that is, it fills a solid angle of 2π radians. The formation of a directed beam from such a source, which is accomplished by means of a system of apertures or optical systems consisting of lenses and mirrors, is always accompanied by a loss of energy. In no optical system can a radiated power greater than that in the light source itself be produced on the surface of an illuminated object. In addition, the radiation of a heat source is nonmono-chromatic and fills a broad range of wavelengths (Figure 1). For example, the radiation spectrum of the sun encompasses the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared bands. Monochromators, which make possible the separation of a comparatively narrow region from a continuous spectrum, or low-pressure gas-discharge light sources, which produce discrete narrow atomic or molecular spectral lines, are used to increase the monochromaticity of the radiation. However, the intensity of radiation in the spectral lines may not exceed the radiation intensity of an ideal blackbody whose temperature is equal to the excitation temperature of the atoms and molecules (Figure 1). Thus, in both cases the radiation is made monochromatic at the expense of extremely large energy losses. The narrower the spectral line, the lower will be the radiated energy. A different situation exists in the radio-frequency region. Sources of radio waves are capable of forming high-power directed and monochromatic radiation. The difference between Figure 1. (1) Radiation spectrum of an ideal blackbody at temperature T = 104 °K: (λ) wavelength, (v) frequency of oscillations, (l) radiated power. (2) Spectral lines of a low-pressure gas-discharge source at an excitation temperature k = 104 °K for atoms or molecules. radio-wave sources and nonlaser light sources is fundamental in character. Antennas—radio-wave radiators powered by a common generator of electrical oscillations—can be stimulated coherently. Atoms and molecules are the elementary radiators of light waves. The radiation of any light source represents the aggregate effect of the radiation of a vast population of atoms and molecules, all of which radiate entirely independently of each other (incoherently). The incoherence of the radiation of atoms is related to the independence and randomness of the elementary events of atomic excitation and to their random distribution in space. Collisions are the main reason for the excitation of atoms in hot bodies and in a gas discharge. The moments of collisions are randomly distributed over time, leading to random distribution of the phases of the waves radiated by individual atoms—that is, to incoherence of their radiation. The problem of developing a source of coherent light was solved only with the advent of the laser, which makes use of a fundamentally new method of de-exciting excited atoms that makes possible the production of coherent light beams with very small divergence, despite the incoherent character of the excitation of individual atoms. If the radiation intensity of the laser is compared with that of an ideal blackbody in the same spectral and angular ranges, extraordinarily high temperatures are produced that exceed by a factor of billions or more the temperatures actually attainable with thermal light sources. In addition, the small divergence of the radiation makes possible concentration of the light energy in negligibly small volumes by means of ordinary optical systems, thus creating extremely high energy densities. The coherence and directivity of the radiation open up fundamentally new opportunities for the use of beams of light where nonlaser light sources cannot be used. Principle of operation. An excited atom may jump spontaneously to a lower energy level, radiating a quantum of light in the process. The light waves radiated by hot bodies are formed precisely as a result of such spontaneous transitions of atoms and molecules. The spontaneous radiation of the various atoms is incoherent. However, radiation events of another type exist, in addition to spontaneous emission. Upon propagation in a medium of a light wave with a frequency ν corresponding to the difference of some two energy levels ∊1 and ∊2 of the atoms or molecules of the medium (hν = ∊2 − ∊1 where h is Planck’s constant), other radiation processes are added to the spontaneous emission of particles. The atoms at the lower energy level ∊1 move to level ∊2 as a result of the absorption of photons with energy hv (Figure 2,a). The number of such transitions is proportional to ρ(v)Ni, where ρ(v) is the spectral radiation density in ergs per sq cm and N1 is the concentration of the atoms located at level ∊1 (the population of the level). The atoms at the higher energy level ∊2 are stimulated to move to level ∊1 under the action of the quanta hν (Figure 2,b). The number of such transitions is proportional to ρ(v)N2, where N2 is the concentration of atoms at level ∊2. As a result of the ∊1 → ∊2 transitions, the wave loses energy and is attenuated. However, as a result of ∊2 → ∊1 transitions, the light wave is amplified. The resulting change in the energy of the light wave is defined by the difference (N2 − N1) Under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium the population of the lower level N1 is always greater than that of the upper level N2. Therefore, the wave loses more energy than it acquires, that is, absorption of the light takes place. However, in some special cases, conditions may be created under which a population inversion of levels ∊1 and ∊2 takes place, in which N2 > N1. In the process the stimulated ∊2 → ∊1 transitions predominate and deliver more energy to the light wave than is lost as a result of the ∊1 → ∊2 transitions. In this case the light wave is not attenuated but rather amplified. Figure 2. (a) Quantum transitions corresponding to the absorption of a wave, (b) transitions corresponding to induced radiation The waves radiated by the atoms as a result of the forced ∊2 → ∊1 transitions are identical to the primary wave with respect to the frequency v, the direction of propagation, and polarization and phase and consequently are coherent with respect to each other, regardless of the way in which the excitation of the atoms at level ∊2 took place. It is the coherence of the stimulated radiation that leads to the amplification of the light wave in the medium with a population inversion rather than merely to additional radiation of new waves. A medium with a population inversion of some pair of levels ∊1 and ∊2 that is capable of amplifying radiation of frequency ν = (∊2 − ∊1)/h is usually called an active medium. The spontaneous radiation of one of the excited atoms of an active medium (that is, of an atom at level ∊2) may, before leaving the volume V, induce transitions of other excited atoms and, consequently, be amplified (Figure 3). It is essential that the amplification depends on the path traveled by the wave in the medium (on the direction). If the active medium is placed in a very simple optical resonator—that is, between two parallel semitransparent mirrors placed at a certain distance from each other, as in a Fabry-Perot interferometer (Figure 4)—conditions will be most favorable for a wave traveling along the axis of the interferometer. As it is amplified, it will reach the mirror, be reflected from it, and travel in the opposite direction, continuing to be amplified; then it will be reflected from the second mirror, and so on. During each “passage” the intensity of the wave increases by a factor of ekL, where k is the amplification factor in cm−1 and L is the length of the wave’s path in the active medium. If the amplification over the distance L is greater than the losses experienced by the wave on reflection, with each passage the wave will be amplified still further until the energy density p(v) in the wave reaches some maximum value. The increase in p(v) stops when the energy expended on excitation of the atoms cannot compensate for the energy released as a result of the stimulated transitions, which is proportional to p(v). As a result, a standing wave is formed between the mirrors, and a flux of coherent radiation emerges through the semitransparent mirrors. Figure 3. Amplification of a light wave by atoms of the active medium A Fabry-Perot interferometer filled with an active medium with a sufficiently high amplification factor is the simplest laser. Optical resonators of other types—with plane or spherical mirrors, with combinations of plane and spherical mirrors, and so on—also are used in lasers. Only some specific types of oscillations of the electromagnetic field, which are called the resonator’s natural oscillations, or modes, can be stimulated in optical resonators that provide feedback in a laser. The modes are characterized by frequency and shape, that is, by the spatial distribution of the oscillations. In a resonator with plane mirrors (Figure 4), mainly types of oscillations that correspond to plane waves propagating along the axis of the resonator are excited. Such a resonator makes possible the production of highly directional radiation. The solid angle ΔΩ in which the radiation flux is concentrated can be made ~(λ/D))2, where D is the diameter of the mirrors. For λ ≈ 1 micron (μ) and D = 1 cm, the quantity (γ/D)2 is approximately equal to 10−8 (for heat sources ΔΩ ~ 2π). Figure 4. Active medium in a Fabry-Perot interferometer An optical resonator imposes limitations on the spectral composition of the radiation. For a resonator of given length L, waves of frequencies ν = (c/2L)n, where c is the speed of light and η is an integer, are excited in the resonator. As a result, the radiation spectrum of a laser is usually a set of narrow spectral lines with intervals between them that are identical and equal to c/2L. The number of lines (components) for a given length L depends on the properties of the active medium—that is, on the spontaneous radiation spectrum in the quantum transition used—and may reach several tens or hundreds (Figure 5). Under certain conditions it is possible to single out one spectral component (that is, to produce single-mode generation). The spectral width δvl of each of the components is determined by the energy losses in the resonator and, above all, by the transmission and absorption of the light by the mirrors. Since the quantity δνι can be made many times smaller than the width of the spectral lines of the spontaneous radiation of the atoms, the radiation of a laser in single-mode operation is characterized by high monochromaticity. Figure 5. Modes of an optical resonator Modern lasers are distinguished according to the method of producing a population inversion in the medium, or, in the jargon, by the method of pumping (such as optical pumping, the electron-collision method, and chemical pumping; see below); according to the working medium (solid dielectrics, semiconductors, gases, and liquids); according to the resonator design; and according to the mode of operation (pulsed or continuous). The differences are determined by the requirements of the lasers’ uses, which often make totally different demands on their characteristics. Methods of producing a population inversion. Selective excitation of atoms, which ensures the preferential population of one or several energy levels, is necessary for the production of an active medium. One of the simplest and most effective methods is optical pumping, which was used in the first ruby laser. The ruby is a crystal of aluminum oxide, Al2O3, with an additive (approximately 0.05 percent) of Cr3+ ions, which replace atoms of aluminum. The energy levels of the Cr3+ ion in ruby are shown in Figure 6. Absorption of the light corresponding to the blue and green regions of the spectrum transfers Cr3+ ions from the ground level ∊1 to excited levels that form two broad bands (1) and (2). Then the nonradiative transition of these ions to levels ∊2 and ∊′2 is accomplished in a comparatively brief time (~ 10−8 sec). In the process the excess energy is transferred to lattice vibrations. The lifetime of Cr3+ ions at the ∊2 and ∊′2 levels is 10−3 sec. Only after this period do the ions return once again to the ground level ∊1. Radiation in the red portion of the spectrum corresponds to ∊2 → ∊1 and ∊′2 → ∊1 transitions. If a ruby crystal is illuminated by the light of a source having sufficiently great intensity in blue and green parts of the spectrum (pumping bands), accumulation of Cr3+ ions takes place in the ∊2 and ∊′2 levels, and a population inversion of these levels with respect to the ground level ∊1 occurs. This made possible the development of a laser that runs on ∊2 → ∊1 and ∊′2 → ∊1 transitions and generates light of wavelength λ ≈ 0.7 μ. Figure 6. Structure of energy levels of a ruby crystal: (∊1), (∊1). (∊2′) levels of the Cr3+ ion To create a population inversion of levels ∊1 and ∊’2 with respect to ∊1, more than half of the Cr3+ ions must be transferred to the ∊2 and ∊′2 levels in a period not longer than 10−3 sec. This imposes great demands on the power of the pumping source. Xenon flash lamps are used as such sources. The duration of the pumping pulse is usually about 10−3 sec. In this interval several joules of energy are absorbed in each cubic centimeter of the crystal. The optical pumping method has several advantages. First, it can be used to stimulate mediums with a high concentration of particles (solids and liquids). Second, it is extremely selective. For example, in a ruby the part of the radiation spectrum of the pumping tubes that is responsible for excitation of the Cr3+ ions is mainly absorbed. All other radiation falls into the region of transparency and is absorbed to a relatively slight degree. Therefore, the ratio of the total energy applied per unit volume of the working substance to the useful energy expended to create a population inversion of the levels is determined mainly by the specific features of the system of levels used. All other energy losses are reduced to a minimum. In a ruby only the part of the energy that goes to excite the natural oscillations of the crystal lattice as a result of nonradiative transitions is lost (the wavy arrows in Figure 6). The reduction of parasitic energy losses is essential for reducing the thermal loads on the substance. The specific energy of the generation pulse in solid-state lasers is as high as several joules from each cubic centimeter of matter. Approximately the same amount of energy remains in the working substance. For a monatomic gas at atmospheric pressure, 1 J of energy corresponds to a temperature of 10,000°K. As a result of the great heat capacity of a solid, the release of approximately 1 J/cm3 of energy produces heating by tens of degrees. Low efficiency is a shortcoming of the optical pumping method. The ratio of the pulse power of the laser to the electric power fed to the exciting lamp is no greater than a few percent at best because of the incomplete use of the spectrum of the exciting lamps (of the order of 15 percent) and as a result of losses to the conversion of electric power into light energy in the lamps themselves. The method of creating an active medium directly in an electrical discharge in various gases has become widespread. The possibilities of producing high-energy generation pulses by this method are limited primarily by the low density of the working medium; it is easier to produce a population inversion in comparatively rarefied gases. However, this method does make possible the use as the active medium of very diverse atomic and molecular gases and mixtures of them, as well as various types of electric discharges in gases. As a result, it has been possible to develop lasers that operate in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. In addition, stimulation in an electric discharge makes possible the realization of a continuous mode of laser operation with high efficiency of conversion of electric power into the power of laser radiation. In the most powerful continuous-wave gas-discharge laser, which uses a mixture of the molecular gases CO2 and N2 (with a number of other components as additives), the mechanism of effecting population inversion is as follows. The electrons of the gas-discharge plasma, accelerated by an electric field, excite oscillations of N2 molecules upon collision. Then, as a result of collisions between excited N2 molecules and molecules of CO2 the population of one of the oscillatory levels of CO2 takes place. This facilitates the formation of the population inversion. All stages of the process are very efficient, and the overall efficiency reaches 20–30 percent. Subsequently it proved possible to develop a gas dynamic laser using a mixture of CO2 and N2 in which the gaseous mixture is heated to a temperature k ~ 2,000°K and forms a supersonic flow that expands upon emerging from the nozzle and thus is rapidly cooled. A population inversion of the working levels of the CO2 arises as a result of the fast cooling. The efficiency of conversion of thermal energy into the radiation of a gas dynamic laser is low (~1 percent). Nevertheless, gas dynamic lasers are extremely promising, since the task of developing large high-power lasers is facilitated in this case and the question of the efficiency of the laser is much less acute when thermal energy sources are used than in the case of electric-discharge lasers. Upon combusion of 1 g of fuel (such as kerosine), energy of the order of 10,000 J is released; the electric power stored in the capacitors feeding the flash lamps is of the order of 0.1 J/cm3 of volume of the capacitors. Since the chemical bonds of molecules are exceptionally energy-consuming accumulators of energy, direct use of the energy of chemical bonds to excite the particles—that is, to create an active laser medium as a result of chemical reactions—is promising. The reaction of hydrogen or deuterium with fluorine is an example of chemical pumping. If a small number of F2 molecules are dissociated in some way in a mixture of H2 and F2, the chain reaction F + H2 → HF + H, H + F2 → HF + F, and so on occurs. The HF molecules formed as a result of the reaction are in an excited state, and for a number of quantum transitions the conditions for a population inversion are satisfied. If CO2 is added to the initial mixture, lasers operating on CO2 transitions (λ = 10.6 μ) may be devised, in addition to lasers operating on HF transitions (λ ~ 3 μ). Here the vibrationally excited HF molecules play the same role as N2 molecules in gas-discharge CO2 lasers. In this case a mixture of D2, F2, and CO2 proves to be more efficient. In this mixture the ratio of conversion of chemical energy into the energy of coherent radiation may reach 15 percent. Chemical lasers may run in both the pulsed and continuous modes; various types of chemical lasers, including some that are similar to gas dynamic lasers, have been developed. The production of an active medium in semiconductors has proved possible by various methods: (1) by injection of current carriers through a p-n junction, (2) by excitation by electron collision, or (3) by optical stimulation. Solid-state lasers. There are a large number of solid-state lasers, both pulsed and continuous-wave. The ruby laser (see above) and the neodymium-doped glass laser (using glass with an additive of Nd) are the most common pulsed lasers. Neodymium-doped glass lasers operate at a wavelength of λ = 1.06 μ. The production of comparatively large and optically highly homogeneous rods up to 100 cm long and 4–5 cm in diameter has proved possible. One such rod is capable of producing a generation pulse with an energy of 1,000 J in a period of the order of 10−3 sec. The ruby and neodymium-doped glass lasers are the most powerful pulsed lasers. The total energy of the generation pulse reaches hundreds of joules for a pulse lasting 10−3 sec. A pulse generation mode with a high repetition frequency (up to several kilohertz) has also been achieved. Lasers using calcium fluoride, CaF2, with an additive of dysprosium, Dy, and lasers using yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), Y3A15O12, with additives of various rare-earth atoms are examples of continuous-wave solid-state lasers. Most such lasers operate at wavelengths λ from 1 to 3 μ. The possibility of realizing the continuous mode in such lasers is usually associated with the fact that the excited level ∊2, not the ground level ∊1, is the lower level of the working transition (Figure 7). If level ∊2 is sufficiently remote from the ground level ∊1 in terms of energy (and in comparison with kT, where k is the Boltzmann constant and k is the temperature) and is characterized by a sufficiently short lifetime, a population inversion for levels ∊2 and ∊3 can be created by means of comparatively low-power optical pumping units. In some such lasers generation is accomplished by sunlight pumping. A typical value of the generation power of solid-state lasers in continuous mode is about 1 W or fractions of a watt, and for YAG lasers it is of the order of tens of watts. If special steps are not taken, the generation spectrum of solid-state lasers is comparatively broad, since multimode generation usually takes place. However, single-mode generation may be produced by introducing discriminators into the optical resonator. As a rule this entails a significant reduction in the generated power. Figure 7. Typical diagram of the levels of the active medium of a continuous-wave solid-state laser The difficulty of growing large single crystals or founding large samples of homogeneous and transparent glass led to the development of liquid lasers, in which additives of atoms of the rare earths are introduced into a liquid rather than into crystals. However, liquid lasers have shortcomings and therefore are not used as extensively as solid-state lasers. Generation of narrow and supernarrow pulses. If a flash lamp with pulse width Δtp ~ 10−3 sec is used to pump a solid-state laser, the generation pulse lasts approximately the same time. The slight delay of the start of generation relative to the flash lamp results from the fact that, in order to develop generation, some threshold value of the population inversion must be exceeded, after which the amplification for one pass through the active volume begins to exceed the total energy losses to reflection of the beam from the resonator mirrors, parasitic absorption, and light scattering. When the pumping power is sufficiently great the threshold of generation is reached in time t « Δtρ. When the width of the laser pulse is Δtl ≈ Δtρ, the mode of laser operation is called the free-running mode. Reduction of the pulse width Δtl is important for a number of applications, since for a given pulse energy the peak laser power increases with decreasing pulse width. The modulated quality factor (Q-spoiled) method, in which the Q-factor of the resonator is modulated, has been developed for this purpose. The method consists in the following. First, optical pumping is carried out and the start of generation is artificially impeded. This may be done by placing an optical shutter in the resonator. When the shutter is closed, generation is impossible, and energy accumulates in the resonator in the form of a growing number of excited atoms. If the shutter is then quickly opened, the entire stored excitation energy, or most of it, is de-excited in the form of a narrow light pulse. The width of such a laser pulse Δtl is determined by the speed with which the shutter opens or, if the speed is sufficiently high, by the time necessary for the establishment of an electromagnetic field in the resonator. Various types of optical shutters are used, among them mechanically rotated mirrors and prisms and electrically controlled Kerr and Pockels cells. Pulses with a duration Δtl ~ 10−7− 10−8 sec are usually produced by optical shutters. The total pulse energy in the Q-spoiled mode is less than in the free-running mode. Nonetheless, the power gain resulting from the reduction in Δtl is several orders of magnitude. The use of translucent filters as shutters has opened up new possibilities for reducing the pulse width of lasers. A weak solution of dye usually serves as the filter, and the concentration of the absorbing component is chosen in such a way that when the light intensity is sufficiently great, saturation is achieved and the solution becomes transparent (is clarified). The placement of such a filter in the resonator increases the threshold of generation: when pumping begins, excited particles begin to accumulate in the active volume; the intensity of their spontaneous radiation also increases. As long as this intensity (taking into account amplification in one pass through the active volume) is less than the clarifying intensity, the absorption in the filter impedes the development of generation. As soon as the clarification level is reached, the shutter is opened automatically and the development of generation is no longer impeded in any way. The use of translucent filters has made possible the production of giant light pulses with a duration of as little as 10−9 sec and an energy of the order of tens of joules, corresponding to a power of about 1010 W. If single-mode generation is accomplished, a single amorphous giant pulse is observed. In all other cases giant pulses have a complex structure. For example, for a neodymium laser they are a sequence of much narrower pulses lasting about 10−11− 10−12 sec. The origin of such a structure may be explained as follows. The spontaneous radiation of neodymium atoms in glass is characterized by a very broad spectrum, Δν ~ 1012 Hz (Δλ ~100 Å), that is, it is the sum of a large number of monochromatic oscillations with frequencies in the interval Δν and with random phases. Therefore, the radiation intensity changes randomly over time (Figure 8), and the characteristic time scale of the entire pattern—that is, the duration of typical bursts—is of the order of the quantity 1/2πΔν. Phasing-in of laser modes has been found to be possible by introducing a nonlinear component into the resonator, such as a translucent filter. In the ideal case, when all modes are phased, the laser radiation assumes the form of a regular sequence of pulses of width 1/2πν. The interpulse intervals are determined by the length of the resonator, that is, are equal to the period 2 L/c. This method of producing supernarrow and exceptionally powerful pulses is called the mode self-synchronization method. In practice, the phasing of all laser modes is very difficult. Usually it is possible to phase in only some modes. In this case the pattern of formation of supernarrow pulses is complicated. Figure 8. Intensity of spontaneous radiation of the active medium of a neodymium laser as a function of time. The horizontal line gives the intensity that causes the filter to become transparent. The actual process of the formation of supernarrow pulses by means of a translucent filter takes place approximately as follows. At the initial stage of development of generation the radiation is a random process. If the clarifying intensity corresponds to a horizontal straight line (Figure 8), the filter will be deactivated by beams whose intensity is greater than the clarifying intensity. After each such beam passes, the filter once again begins to absorb. Naturally, generation may develop in this manner only if the filter has a sufficiently short time lag. Otherwise, several other successive, weaker peaks will be passed by the filter after each strong peak. The filter may be chosen in such a way that it will be deactivated only by the strongest bursts. This makes possible the separation of individual supernarrow generation pulses (Figure 9), using some additional apparatus. The energy of each such pulse is usually low, but it can be increased significantly if the initial pulse is amplified by a second laser or several lasers operating in the amplification mode and differing from lasers in the generation mode by the absence of the mirrors or some other reflecting elements that form the resonator. All possible factors causing reflection are eliminated by selection of an appropriate design. The technique of forming supernarrow pulses and of their subsequent amplification makes possible the production of generation pulses with a duration of the order of 1011—1012 sec and a peak power of the order of 1012-1013 W. Further shortening of pulses by at least severalfold may be expected from the neodymium-doped glass laser. However, the measurement of the duration of such short time intervals is difficult. The power is limited by the strength of the laser materials themselves and runs as high as 1012-1013 W, which greatly exceeds the capacity of the most powerful modern electric power plants. The development of methods of forming narrow and supernarrow pulses has opened up a new class of optical phenomena, such as the self-focusing of light, induced light scattering, parametric conversion of light frequency, and frequency mixing. These phenomena and their applications are the subject of nonlinear optics. Gas lasers. The high optical uniformity of gases is their main advantage as an active laser medium. Therefore, gas lasers are of greatest interest for scientific and technical applications for which the highest possible directivity and monochromaticity of radiation are of the greatest necessity. A large number of various types of gas lasers using quantum transitions of neutral atoms, molecules, and ions with frequencies ranging from the ultraviolet to the remote infrared parts of the spectrum were developed soon after the first gas laser, which used a mixture of helium and neon (1960). For example, hydrogen lasers operate at λ = 0.17 μ, lasers using Ne3+ and Ne2+ ions operate at λ = 0.2358 μ and λ = 0.3324 μ, and water-molecule (H2O) lasers operate at λ = 27.9 μ and λ = 118.6 μ. Among the continuous-wave lasers operating in the visible and near infrared regions of the spectrum, the helium-neon laser is most widely used. It is a gas-discharge tube enclosed in an optical resonator and filled with a mixture of helium and neon. It generates radiation with λ = 0.6328 μ, that is, in the red part of the spectrum. Such tubes typically are several dozen centimeters or 1–2 m long and several millimeters in diameter. The generated power is usually tens of milliwatts. The helium-neon laser can also operate on a number of transitions in the near-infrared region—for example, at λ = 1.152 μ and λ = 3.39 μ. Extremely low divergence (diffraction divergence of the light beam) can be achieved comparatively simply in lasers. The argon laser is the most powerful continuous-wave laser in the visible part of the spectrum. It uses an electric discharge in argon with high current density (up to several thousand A/cm2). It operates on quantum transitions of the argon ion in the blue and green regions of the spectrum: λ = 0.4880 μ and λ = 0.5145 μ. The generated power is tens of watts. The argon laser is much more complex in design than the helium-neon laser (gas cooling and circulation are needed). The carbon dioxide laser (CO2; λ = 1.06 μ) is the most powerful gas laser. In the continuous mode the carbon dioxide laser attains a power of tens of kilowatts. A large number of pulsed gas lasers that generally operate in the transitional mode of discharge formation have also been developed. Some of them produce comparatively high peak powers (of the order of 10 kilowatts) in the narrow-pulse mode (with a pulse width of about 10−9 sec). The carbon dioxide laser can also operate in the pulsed mode, producing a power of 1010 W. Gas lasers are capable of producing much higher monochromaticity of radiation than lasers of any other type. However, a number of difficulties of both a technical and fundamental nature arise in the attempt to increase the monochromaticity and stability of the frequency of laser radiation. The various types of noise that lead to “wobbling” of the laser frequency may be divided into two groups: the technical factors, which affect the natural frequencies of the resonator, and the physical factors, which affect the frequency of the amplifying transition. Vibration of the resonator mirrors and a change in the length of the resonator as a result of thermal expansion belong to the first group; the influence of external electric and magnetic fields and fluctuations of the properties of the active medium and pumping power belong to the second. Corresponding methods of protection are used to reduce the role of most of these factors. For example, special methods for automatic tuning of the resonators using magnetostriction phenomena and the piezoelectric effect are being developed. The basis of these methods is a servome-chanism, which reacts to any change in the resonator parameters and effects appropriate compensation. Fluctuations of the pressure in the active volume are the most important factor limiting the stability of laser frequency. The shape of the spectral line in a given gas depends on the pressure, since collisions of atoms and molecules in the gas lead to widening and displacement of the spectral lines that are proportional to pressure. Fluctuations in pressure lead to fluctuations in the frequency of the amplifying quantum transition. Therefore, the active gas must be kept at the lowest possible pressure. On the other hand, a decrease in pressure leads to a decrease in the amplification factor of the medium. This contradiction can be resolved in part by the method of stabilizing the laser radiation frequency by means of an absorbing cell placed in the resonator. The absorbing cell contains a gas whose spectral absorption line covers the line corresponding to the amplifying transition of the active medium. For example, in the helium-neon laser, methane (CH4) is such a gas for the line λ = 3.39 μ. Stabilization of the laser radiation frequency with respect to the frequency of the absorption line of methane has proved possible under conditions in which the pressure of the absorbing gas is much less than that of the active gas. The relative stability of the radiation frequency, Δν/ν ~10−13-10−14, has been achieved by using an absorbing cell. Semiconductor lasers. Semiconductor lasers occupy a special place among lasers in the visible and infrared bands in terms of a number of characteristics. Very high amplification factors (of the order of 102-103 cm−1) may be produced in semiconductors; therefore, a semiconductor laser can be made very small—of the order of fractions of a millimeter. The visible and near infrared regions may be covered almost entirely by GaAs, CdS, InAs, InSb, ZnS, and other semiconductor lasers. Semiconductor injection lasers are characterized by very high efficiency of conversion of electric power into coherent radiation (close to 100 percent) and can operate in the continuous mode. An output of the order of 10 W is achieved at the temperature of liquid helium, and about 4–5 W is reached at the temperature of liquid nitrogen. Heterojunction injection lasers, which operate in the continuous mode at room temperature, producing an output of the order of 5 × 10−2 W with an efficiency of up to 25 percent, are particularly promising. Larger volumes of semiconductors may be excited in injection lasers using electron-beam excitation than in the case of injection through p-n junctions. Here the peak output may reach 1 MW, with an average output of the order of 1 W. The efficiency in electron-beam excitation cannot exceed 30 percent. Shortcomings common to semiconductor lasers are comparatively low directivity of radiation, caused by small size, and the difficulty of producing high monochromaticity. The latter difficulty is associated with the great width of the spectrum of spontaneous radiation in amplifying recombination transitions. Semiconductor lasers are used to greatest effect when the requirements for coherence and directivity are not very great but small size and high efficiency are essential. Semiconductor lasers surpass all other types of lasers in terms of energy density of radiation and degree of efficiency. The possibility of tuning the radiation frequency and of controlling the light beam—that is, modulation of light intensity with a time constant of about 10−11 sec—is an important property of semiconductor lasers. Uses. Simultaneously with the invention of the first lasers, various trends in their use began to develop. The development of lasers eliminated the qualitative difference between optics and radio electronics. Thus, in principle, all radio-engineering methods may also be realized in the optical band, and the smallness of the wavelengths of laser radiation opens up a number of additional prospects. High-power lasers make possible the study of various phenomena during the interaction of high-intensity light with a medium that previously were totally beyond the reach of experiments. In studies on the molecular scattering of light, laser sources have greatly expanded the possibilities of experimental techniques and, in particular, have made possible the study of the properties of liquid and solid helium (such as second-sound attenuation and the bound states of two rotons in liquid helium) and the conduct of the first studies of the kinetics of the motion of certain biological entities, such as the simplest bacteria. The extremely fast relaxation processes in condensed mediums with a relaxation time of the order of 10−13 sec may be studied by means of narrow and supernarrow pulses. The possibility of forming supernarrow light pulses with a width of 10−11—10—12 sec is also of great importance for high-speed photography and a number of other methods of investigating highspeed processes. Unified optical standards of length (wavelength) and time (frequency) may be created using a helium-neon laser, which has a highly stable frequency. To measure the absolute value of the frequency of the helium-neon laser (3.32 μ) the frequency is measured, after conversion, in the units of frequency of the klystron (0.074230 × 1012 Hz). This makes it possible to obtain a highly accurate value of the speed of light, c = 299,792,456.2 ± 1.1 m/sec. The exceptionally high effective emission temperature of lasers and the possibility of concentrating energy in a negligibly small volume have opened up unique possibilities for vaporizing and heating matter. The heating of plasma to temperatures sufficient to produce thermonuclear reactions—that is, the production of thermonuclear plasma—is a very important task. Temperatures of 20 × 106 °K have been attained. Under the same experimental conditions, with appropriate selection of the chemical composition of the vaporizing target, it is possible to produce a point source of high-intensity × radiation with an output of the order of 109 W and a pulse duration of several nanoseconds. It is possible that intensive point neutron sources may be developed. Laser-beam heating of plasma has proved to be an effective method of producing multiply charged ions of various elements. The spectra of many multiply charged ions that are of interest to astrophysics have been produced and investigated under laboratory conditions for the first time by this method. Powerful lasers have also come to be used in manufacturing. The welding, hardening, cutting, and drilling of various materials are possible by means of such lasers, with very high precision (up to a few wavelengths) and without inducing in them the mechanical stresses that are inevitable during ordinary treatment. Materials of any hardness—metals, diamonds, rubies, and so on—can be processed. Lasers are beginning to be used in the cutting of gas pipes. Great possibilities are opening up for laser technology in biology and medicine. Methods of laser radar and communications are being intensively developed. Range-finding of the moon by means of ruby lasers and special corner reflectors that have been placed on the moon has made possible an increase in the accuracy of measurement of the earth-moon distance to several centimeters. The total energy consumption in this process is of the order of the energy released upon combustion of a dozen matches. Communication with a satellite has been accomplished by means of a semiconductor laser. Laser methods of geodetic measurements and recording seismic phenomena are being developed. Laser gyroscopes and range finders have been developed and are in use. A great deal of attention is being paid to the development of tunable lasers. Various types of parametric light generators exist: lasers using induced light scattering and injection lasers operating in a single mode. As a result, virtually the entire range from λ = 1 mm to the visible band has been covered, and a resolution of 10−2−10−3 cm−1 has been achieved. The extensive use of such lasers in spectroscopy makes possible in many cases the elimination of the need for monochromators, spectrographs, and other equipment. Laser spectroscopy should be of particularly great importance in the study of short-lived products and of chemical reactions and biological transformations. Encouraging results have been produced in the directed stimulation of chemical reactions. Lasers make possible selective excitation of one of the natural oscillations of a molecule. Molecules have been found to be capable of entering into reactions that cannot be stimulated or are difficult to stimulate by conventional heating. Powerful tunable lasers in the near infrared region of the spectrum are needed to realize all the existing possibilities in this area. New methods of producing a population inversion (forced-ionization discharge) have made possible an increase in the pressure in the active medium of molecular gas lasers to 10–20 atmospheres. At such pressures the vibrational and rotational levels of the molecules overlap as a result of collisions, thus opening up new possibilities for tuning laser frequencies. Optical methods of handling data transmission and storage, holographic methods of recording information, and color projection television are being intensively developed with the aid of laser technology. Kvantovaia elektronika: Malen’kaia entsiklopediia. Moscow, 1969. I. I. SOBEL’MAN [′lā·zər] (optics) An active electron device that converts input power into a very narrow, intense beam of coherent visible or infrared light; the input power excites the atoms of an optical resonator to a higher energy level, and the resonator forces the excited atoms to radiate in phase. Derived from light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A device that uses the principle of amplification of electromagnetic waves by stimulated emission of radiation and operates in the infrared, visible, or ultraviolet region. The term laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, or a light amplifier. However, just as an electronic amplifier can be made into an oscillator by feeding appropriately phased output back into the input, so the laser light amplifier can be made into a laser oscillator, which is really a light source. Laser oscillators are so much more common than laser amplifiers that the unmodified word “laser” has come to mean the oscillator, while the modifier “amplifier” is generally used when the oscillator is not intended. See Amplifier, Maser, Oscillator A laser amplifier can be made into a laser oscillator by arranging suitable mirrors on either end of the amplifier. These are called the resonator. Thus the essential parts of a laser oscillator are an amplifying medium, a source of pump power, and a resonator. Radiation that is directed straight along the axis bounces back and forth between the mirrors and can remain in the resonator long enough to build up a strong oscillation. (Waves oriented in other directions soon pass off the edge of the mirrors and are lost before they are much amplified.) Radiation may be coupled out by making one mirror partially transparent so that part of the amplified light can emerge through it (see illustration). The output wave, like most of the waves being amplified between the mirrors, travels along the axis and is thus very nearly a plane wave. Most semiconductor lasers are based on III–V semiconductors. The laser can be a simple sandwich of p- and n-type material such as gallium arsenide (GaAs). The active region is at the junction of the p and n regions. Electrons and holes are injected into the active region from the p and n regions respectively. Light is amplified by stimulating electron-hole recombination. The mirrors comprise the cleaved end facets of the chip (either uncoated or with enhanced reflective coatings). See Semiconductor When lasers were first developed, they were widely noted for their extreme monochromaticity. They provided far more optical power per spectral range (as well as per angular range) than was previously possible. It has since proven useful to relate laser frequencies to the international time standard (defined by an energy-level difference in the cesium atom), and this was done so precisely, through the use of optical heterodyne techniques, that the standard of length was redefined in such a way that the speed of light is fixed. In addition, extremely stable and monochromatic lasers have been developed, which can be used, for example, for optical communication between remote and moving frames, such as the Moon and the Earth. A device that emits a powerful beam of coherent light in an intense beam; used, for example, on building projects to provide a means of ensuring that construction is along a straight line, or to ensure that the construction is carried out to precisely the same height. 1. a source of high-intensity optical, infrared, or ultraviolet radiation produced as a result of stimulated emission maintained within a solid, liquid, or gaseous medium. The photons involved in the emission process all have the same energy and phase so that the laser beam is monochromatic and coherent, allowing it to be brought to a fine focus 2. any similar source producing a beam of any electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared or microwave radiation (hardware) (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) The type of light source used in a laser printer. (Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation) A device that creates a uniform and coherent light that is very different from an ordinary light bulb. Many lasers deliver light in an almost-perfectly parallel beam (collimated) that is very pure, approaching a single wavelength. Laser light can be focused down to a tiny spot as small as a single wavelength. Laser output can be continuous or pulsed and is used in myriad applications. Gas lasers are used to cut steel and perform delicate eye surgery, while solid state lasers create the ultra-high-speed, minuscule pulses traveling in optical fibers traversing the backbones of all major communications networks. Light traveling in an optical fiber is impervious to external interference, a constant problem with electrical pulses in copper wire. See optical fiber and saser. A laser is an optical oscillator, which is made out of a solid, liquid or gas with mirrors at both ends. To make the laser work, the material is excited or "pumped," with light or electricity. The pumping excites the electrons in the atoms, causing them to jump to higher orbits, creating a "population inversion." A few of the electrons drop back to lower energy levels spontaneously, releasing a photon (quantum of light). The photons stimulate other excited electrons to emit more photons with the same energy and thus the same wavelength as the original. The light waves build in strength as they pass through the laser medium, and the mirrors at both ends keep reflecting the light back and forth creating a chain reaction and causing the laser to "lase." In simple laser cavities, one mirror has a small transparent area that lets the laser beam out. In semiconductor lasers, both mirrors often transmit a beam, the second one being used for monitoring purposes. Laser Action The combination of spontaneous emission first, and then stimulated emission, causes the laser to "lase," which means it generates a coherent beam of light at a single frequency. Who Invented It? In 1957, the laser was conceived by Gordon Gould, a graduate student in physics at Columbia University. When Gould filed for patents in 1959, he found that Columbia professor Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow of Bell Labs had already filed for them. The year before, AT&T had, in fact, demonstrated a working laser at Bell Labs. In 1977, after years of litigation, a court awarded Gould rights to the first of three patents and later to all of them. He finally reaped millions in royalties. Developing the Laser This photo of the development of the helium-neon laser was taken at AT&T's Bell Laboratories in 1964. (Image courtesy of AT&T.) Ashkin, Arthur atom laser atomic gas laser blue laser carbon monoxide laser CO laser dark laser distributed feedback laser excimer laser fiber laser fiber optics glossary holographic storage Injection Laser ion laser xanthochroism xanthochroite xanthoconite xanthoma xanthomatosis Xanthomonas citri xanthomycin xanthone xanthophore Xanthophyceae xanthophyll xanthophyllite Xanthophylls Xanthoproteic Reaction Xanthopsia xanthorhiza simplicissima Xanthorrhoea xanthosiderite xanthoxenite Xanthus and Balius Xantusiidae XAPIA Xaser Xavier de Maistre Xavier, Chico Francisco Candido Xavier, Saint Francis Xavier, St. Francis Xaw x-axis XBAR xbeeb xbm x-brace X-bracing Xbridge X-chromosome XCMD Xcopy XAP-TP XAP1 XAP104 Xapakdy Integrations Systems xApp Xapp Resource and Program Management xApps Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence xApps Resource and Portfolio Management XAPS XAPWG Xar Xara Web Style XARC Xarkiw XARP Xarrin Advanced Technologies Xarxa de Televisions Locals Xarxa Telemàtica Educativa de Catalunya XAS XASMDS XASS Xatai Xathoma Xathz's Minecraft Server Manager Xatral Xatral, Xatral XL Xattrs XAUAT XAUI Xauth Xaveer De Geyter Architects Xaverian Brother Xaverian Brothers Xaverian Brothers High School Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools Xaverian Missionary Fathers Xavex Online Xavien Timer Accessory Kit	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1839
__label__cc	0.586357	0.413643	Robert E. Jensen JENSEN, ARMSTRONG, CADE, BELL, GILLIHAN, BENNETT, ALBERT Posted By: Treva Patterson (email Date: 4/1/2006 at 14:15:56 Winterset Madisonian Robert Jensen, Winterset Robert Earl Jensen, 81, of Winterset died April 27, 2003, of cancer at Madison County Memorial Hospital in Winterset. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winterset with Pastor Steve Koch officiating. Visitation will he held from noon to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, April 30) at Collins Oak Park Chapel in Winterset with the family present from 6-8 p.m. Burial of the cremains will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Fairview Cemetery, Madison Township, Madison County. Robert Jensen was born Feb. 28, 1922 in Dallas County to Herman R. and Nora L. (Armstrong) Jensen. On June 12, 1955, he and Gladys Cade were united in marriage at the Trinity Lutheran Church of rural Van Meter. Bob had been a clothier for Wright's Clothing Store and later Oliver Dry Goods for over 40 years. He had been a resident of Winterset for the past 63 years, having previously resided in DeSoto. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Gladys, of Winterset; a son, Christopher Jensen of Earlham; a brother, John Jensen of DeSoto, four sisters, Margaret Bell and Maxine Gillihan both of Des Moines, Ruby Bennett of Chandler, Ariz. and Virginia Albert of Van Meter; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Middle River Hospice. Madison Obituaries maintained by Kent Transier	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1848
__label__wiki	0.658999	0.658999	Home / Cases / Challenge to the NCBS Clawback from families on social assistance (Chokomolin, Lance, & Prine v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, et al.) Challenge to the NCBS Clawback from families on social assistance (Chokomolin, Lance, & Prine v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, et al.) Since the implementation of the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) by the federal government in July 1998, the province of Ontario deducted the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) portion of this benefit from income assistance paid to families with children who are receiving social assistance. ISAC represented three individuals in a Charter challenge to this deduction (commonly referred to as the “NCBS clawback”) that was filed in December 2004. The applicants were sole support parents who were subject to the NCBS clawback. They argued that the clawback discriminated against them because of their status as social assistance recipients. The applicants also argued that the clawback unfairly affected women, sole support mothers, persons with a disabilities, Aboriginal people, and people belonging to a racial minority, as members of these groups are more likely than others to have low-income and to need to rely on income support through social assistance. Since the application was initially filed, changes to the program have reduced the negative impact on social assistance recipients and the challenge was discontinued.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1855
__label__wiki	0.630989	0.630989	Home / Cases / Social Security Tribunal: Participation in Appeals in the Public Interest Social Security Tribunal: Participation in Appeals in the Public Interest Prior to April 2012, a body called the Review Tribunal had the responsibility to hear appeals of decisions about Canada Pension Plan (CPP) issues. That Tribunal was replaced with the Social Security Tribunal (SST) in April 2012. ISAC applied to the Federal Court of Appeal to argue that the SST made a legal error when it refused to allow us to participate (“intervene”) in a hearing on a “new facts” CPP-Disability application. This case raised two important issues. First, it raised the legal question of the ability of organizations that represent the public interest to intervene in hearings at the SST. ISAC’s application to intervene in the “new facts” application was done to ensure that the SST was aware of the potential impact of its decision in that case on persons with disabilities who need income supports, and to make sure it heard legal arguments from their perspective. When cases before the SST raised important legal questions that affect many people, not just those involved in the case, it is crucial that organizations that represent the public interest are heard. Interveners present information that can allow the SST to understand the potential consequences of their decisions and provide the benefit of different perspectives on the legal questions. This can help the SST ensure it makes the right decisions. If the SST’s decision to not allow ISAC to participate stands, there is a risk that public interest interveners will not be able to bring their perspectives and arguments to cases before the Tribunal in the future. The second issue was the question of access to justice for people whose cases became part of a backlog when the SST was created. When the SST opened its doors in 2012, it received a backlog of tens of thousands of cases from the Review Tribunal. It was expected that the SST would hear those old cases. However, the federal Department of Employment and Social Development Canada took the position that “new facts applications” that were more than a year old before the SST came into being would have to be dismissed. “New facts applications” are cases that had been denied by the Review Tribunal but had new facts that could show that they did, in fact, qualify for benefits. If Employment and Social Development Canada’s position on these cases is adopted by the SST, many people who started such “new facts applications” will be denied the right to present that new evidence merely because the Review Tribunal did not hear their case in time. The case was heard on June 2, 2016. Before that time, the Social Security Tribunal Appeal Division had rendered its final decision on the merits of the underlying application. Therefore, ISAC’s application to intervene was rendered moot. While the Federal Court dismissed ISAC’s application for judicial review, the Court did note that the SST had failed to engage with the real issues in the case, and did not provide proper reasons underlying its decision. The decision of the Federal Court can be found here: Income Security Advocacy Centre v. Mette, 2016 FCA 167 (CanLII), https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fca/doc/2016/2016fca167/2016fca167.html?resultIndex=2	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1856
__label__wiki	0.883576	0.883576	Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa Genealogy Website Links Interviews of Italian-Americans in Iowa Luigi Jacopetti – Des Moines’ Italian Pioneer Anthony L. Sarcone – a Real ‘American Citizen’ Iowa’s Christopher Columbus Monument Dedication of Columbus Park in Des Moines Old St. Mary’s Church in Des Moines History of the Society of Italian Americans Club The History of the Vittoria Lodge St. Joseph Altar Celebration St Valentine’s Day Halloween in Italy Traveling to Italy Eighty-one years ago, on June 28, 1936, Des Moines Mayor Joseph Allen officiated at the dedication services of Columbus Park, formerly Walker Park, on Des Moines’ south side. Over 1,000 people were in attendance at the dedication ceremonies, which were sponsored by the Columbus Club in cooperation with all the other Italian-American societies in the city. A bronze plaque was unveiled during the ceremony and presented by John Rossi, chairman of the celebration, to Mayor Allen who in turn presented it to E. Lee Keyser, parks commissioner. Dr. Walter Kirch, of the Columbus Club, delivered the principal address of the afternoon before the formal dedication services. During his brief talk, he stressed particularly the value of citizens of Italian descent to the United States. Before speaking in English, he said a few words in Italian for the benefit of the older persons attending. He told them how he liked his country to the extent that he was made an American citizen three weeks earlier. “In spite of the fact that the Italian people in this country came here for the most part, poor, uneducated and ignorant of English, they have by hard work and thrift in the last 70 years achieved an economic and political importance in this country that demands consideration. This should be used constructively and not for political graft,” said Dr. Kirch. Dr. Kirch said that the Italians have contributed to the building of America by their very thriftiness which enabled them to survive on the low wages which industry found necessary to pay in the early building stages. He urged that Italians retain their racial pride. Joseph Petosa, master of ceremonies,introduced all of the speakers on the program during the day. Mayor Allen congratulated the Italian-Americans of this city for their hard work and perseverance before presenting the plaque made by the Columbus club to the Parks Commissioner, Mr. Keyser. Mr. Keyser accepted the plaque stating that it was a great pleasure to have the opportunity of participating in the celebration in honor of the occasion. He said he hoped that Columbus Park would become a center for all reunions for the Italian-Americans of the city as it was named for their very illustrious countryman and discoverer of America. Henry HasBrouck, Commissioner of Public Safety, another guest of the club, also said a few words commending the club and the group for its splendid attention and interest in the park and in all things that had to do with the civic life of the people of the community. He said that he was most happy to be able to attend the celebration Sunday and hoped to attend every one in the future held at the park by this and any other group. “I feel that the Italian-Americans of our city have done enough for the city of Des Moines to be entitled to this recognition of their great countryman,” concluded Mr. HasBrouck. With no further speeches on the program a 50-piece band played a number of selections and the young peopIe joined in the athletic contests of the afternoon on the park grounds. Prizes were awarded to the winners of these games and contests by Dr. Ralph DeCicco, president of the Columbus club. A dedication dance was held at the Societa Stemma D’Italia hall in the evening. Joe Gazzo and his orchestra played for the American dancing from 9 till 11 pm, while Arthur Nizzi and Joseph Zanotti, accordionists, played for the Italian folk dancing from 7 to 9 pm. With the dedication of Columbus Park completed successfully, the Columbus Club began laying plans for the erection of a memorial for Columbus in the capital city of Iowa. The Columbus memorial was eventually dedicated on Columbus Day, 1938 at the State Capitol grounds. – from the American Citizen newspaper, July 3, 1936. An Evening in Puglia BRAVO Recognition Another Plate On The Table Polk County Recognition Mitten Tree 1. Italian American Festival of Iowa 2. Vittoria Lodge 3. Society of Italian Americans 4. Italian American Women of Iowa Telephone 515-280-3719 Email DeFazio@iaccofia.org zeeCorporate Theme	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1861
__label__wiki	0.755733	0.755733	An aeroplane on the beach! Ynyslas, June 1940 During summer 2012, RCAHMW staff recorded a series of interviews with people who had a direct connection to the former rocket development site at Ynyslas, Ceredigion (NPRN 408393). One interviewee, Mr. David Williams, recalled the story of the day an aeroplane was forced to land on the beach. Here is a transcript: DW: ….one of ours luckily! Nothing very exciting, it was only an aeroplane used for towing air-borne targets. The aeroplane was flown from Tywyn where there was a military base and an airstrip and they were flown for the anti-aircraft training base at Tonfanau near Tywyn. So that was everlasting flying up parallel to Borth beach, two or three miles out, maybe a bit more. And that was being everlasting shot at, you know. So there we are, that used to go up and down. It was just there, you know, eventually it was just part of the scenery again. MP: Do you know why it landed on the beach? DW: Yes, the aeroplane that landed on the beach wasn’t actually from Tywyn, the same type of plane a Hawker Henley. It was a Hawker Henley on loan to the Rolls Royce Company as a test bed for the Rolls Royce vulture engine which was being developed at that time. Being put into, or hopefully into, the Avro Manchester – forerunner of the Lancaster and it was put into a Hawker Henley to fly round the country to test it. The engine broke down and it landed in Borth and they had to put another engine in. That also broke down. I’ve got all the documentation – a man came here researching it all and kindly gave me copies of all the Rolls Royce details of it. Almost immediately after that, they planted railway lines all along the beach. Whether that was coincidence or what – or whether they thought if we could land here, the Germans could land too. How many people would have known about that really? A lot of people would just think that’s an aeroplane on the beach and that’s it, you know. After the recoding had finished Mr. Williams said that whenever he discussed the incident, he often sensed that people did not believe his story. On an unrelated search through the RAF Medmenham aerial photographic collection, we came across a shot that was taken on 14 June 1940. An aircraft on an aerial photographic reconnaissance training flight (Ref MWO7), happened to record an image of the stranded aeroplane on the beach (Frame D 21), and confirmed Mr. Williams’ story. By Medwyn Parry Labels: Coastline Wales, Military Wales, Royal Commission, WWII Job Vacancy - Enquiries & Library Assistant Re-opening of the Royal Commission’s Library, Sear... Interpreting and visiting the archaeology of Skome... Centenary of the Nissen Hut Welsh Slate at the Hay Festival Royal Commission's Book on Welsh Slate Industry Sh...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1864
__label__cc	0.654928	0.345072	Psychological Effects of Software Engineering Tenets 14. May 2019 dalealleshouse Software Comments (0) Many organizations define software engineering tenets (aka core values or principals) that serve as Organizations often attempt to define software engineering tenets (aka core values or principles) that serve as a static mental and behavioral model to guild employees. Tenets are a powerful tool capable of inspiring people toward a common goal. However, poorly designed tenets can just as easily unite a community on a myopic quest toward inefficiency. Tenets are essentially a simplified model of a problem space that reduces the cognitive load associated with decision making. The intent is to provide a shorter path to a good decision. These models often become a deeply ingrained component of engineers' psyches which are subject to the human proclivity of self-defense. Unfortunately, models that are overly-simplistic or inaccurate provide a shorter path to a bad decision that may be defended with disregard toward reason. This is why it's important to avoid tenets that promote silver bullet thinking or preclude reasoning from the engineering process. Humans’ Affinity Toward Their World View Humans have a deeply ingrained psychological need to categorize and simplify the world around them. Notice the deliberate use of the word need; it's much more than a mere idiosyncratic proclivity. Reducing complex phenomena to comprehensible models that can be conjured up by a single word or phrase makes the world tractable. Conflating new experiences with known phenomena provides the ability to quickly predict the behavior of the environment and the objects therein. The inevitable consequence is that models become part of the psyche: a deeply ingrained component of one’s world view. The whole of cognition rests upon this ability. This is the thesis of Douglas Hofstadter's seminal paper Analogy as the Core of Cognition. It would be easy to make a case that the many of humanity’s prodigious accomplishments are a consequence of this need. Unfortunately, the same case could be made for many of humanity’s most heinous atrocities. Often, the simplified models humans create to predict the behavior of their environment are incomplete or inaccurate. These models are often expanded well beyond what is appropriate (see the concept of illusory correlation as defined by Stanvoich). To make matters worse, humans pugnaciously defend their world view as a self-defense mechanism (refer to Jonas Kaplan's body of work for a more comprehensive treatment of the theory). Self-defense operates at a baser level with indifference toward reason. This is essentially what Max Planck was referring to when he said, "An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: What does happen is that the opponents gradually die out”. The Oatmeal illustrates this concept beautifully with his "You're not going to believe what I'm about to tell you" comic (https://theoatmeal.com/comics/believe). Human's ability to overcome this self-defense mechanism is a debate that reaches back to the 1700s with Kant's subject-object distinction. The argument comprises the very essence of the modern/post-modern philosophical dichotomy. The conclusions that have evolved out of these two lines of thoughts are truly astounding. Drawing any sort of conclusions about objective reality is well beyond the scope of this humble article. That is best left to the purview of philosophers. However, for the purpose at hand, there are a few salient points that can be accepted as fact: Humans need models to make the world tractable Models can be incomplete or inaccurate Models become part of human's world view Humans default to a bellicose attitude when protecting their world view To relate these concepts to defining software design tenets, consider the interactions between software professionals and projects as a microcosm of the interactions that humans have with the world. The Software Engineering Microcosm Modern software professionals find themselves submerged in ambiguity. An epiphenomenon of the industry's relative adolescence is that the marketplace of ideas hasn't had enough time to standardize on best practices. There are seemingly countless competing concepts battling it out as you read this. Unless you can predict the future, there is no way to tell which ones will emerge victorious. Furthermore, the industry is severely lacking in meaningful empirical studies so it's hard to even define what "victory" means. Coupling all of this with ever-shrinking timelines, ever-evolving external security threats, ever-expanding feature requirements, and relentless pressure to generate revenue and things quickly appear unmanageable to the ablest of people. The plight is analogous to the struggle of an underprivileged juvenile trying to build meaningful models of the world without proper guidance. Surely not an impossible task, but success (depending on how you define it) is statistically improbable. Make no mistake about it, the software industry needs simplified models in order to impose order on the chaos. The problem is, the industry has evolved a particularly pernicious tendency toward overly simplistic models. Typically, the models look something like this: Company X is an industry leader, they use Technology/Pattern Y, therefore Pattern Y is the solution to software productivity. Unfortunately, software professionals are still questing for the proverbial "silver bullet" which Fred Brooks denies the existence of at all. Examples of fashionable mental models following the pattern above are virtually endless. Those who were programming in the early nineties (as was this author) undoubtedly remember the promised panacea of CASE tools. Next came n-tier architecture with its unfettered flexibility. Many espoused Ruby and other dynamically typed languages as the one true way because they lowered the barriers to entry. Conversely, proponents of languages such as Haskell proselytized expressive types systems as the end of the software crisis. There is undoubtedly much missing from the list. The latest silver bullet fervor is channeled toward micro-services and twelve-factor apps. Without a doubt, there is someone reading this who is feeling dissonance because their world view has just been challenged. The author sympathizes with said reader because he has been in his/her shoes. As a young engineer, the author was challenged by a senior engineer on the efficacy of n-tier architecture. The immediate response was, "You are simply afraid of change and new paradigms. This is the RIGHT way to build software". It's amazing how time and experience changes one's perspective. To summarize the key points: There is much ambiguity around best practices in modern software engineering Software professionals often adopt mental models that equate to silver bullet thinking; and this is irresponsible When mental models become part of a software professional's world view they become defensive of them; and this reflects personal bias which must be acknowledged and questioned if one is to every grow because nothing is static Don't make the mistake of interpreting this piece as an attack on any particular architectural pattern. Every model mentioned has undeniable merit. The underlying fallacy stems from silver bullet thinking that espouses the RIGHT (and suggestively ONLY) way to build software. The RIGHT Way to Build Software A reasonable person could challenge the thesis of this article by enumerating the benefits of their said model and asserting that it may not be a silver bullet, but it is certainly a superior approach - so it is, therefore, the right way to build software. The glaring fallacy in that reasoning is that it attaches value propositions outside of a context. This is what Micheal Glinter would classify as Level One Thinking. Robert Glass has written extensively on this topic in several books and articles. In his book Software Creativity 2.0 he states the following concerning silver bullet thinking: "we have those who proclaim each new idea that comes along as the solution to software productivity. ... These people, I would assert, are the level one thinkers. Some perceive them as strong because they see a solution clearly and move swiftly toward it. Others see them as simplistic, for they ignore the complexity in the problem and seem unable to accept the ambiguity." Unfortunately, the second law of thermodynamics applies to software: there is no such thing as a free lunch. Architectural patterns are nothing more than a series of trade-offs. Two pertinent points follow from this assertion. The first is that any person who only enumerates advantages without also explaining the cost of said benefits, simply DOES NOT have a deep understanding of the architectural pattern or is selling something. The second is that it is nonsensical to weigh trade-offs outside of a context. Each project has unique requirements that give meaning to trade-offs. No trade-off is always best, but it may be best for the use case in question. Evaluating trade-offs outside of a context is not only nonsensical, it's also destructive and the pernicious effects are virtually never-ending. It diverts the focus from the software's true purpose of providing value to end users to arbitrary patterns. Concisely stated, it prioritizes the process above the product. This equates to wasted efforts and resources. Furthermore, once engineers' adopt an overly-simplified mental model, they are psychologically incentivized to pursue and perpetuate it. There is no “right” way to build software Every approach is a series of contextual trade-offs It's nonsensical to evaluate trade-offs outside of a context Evaluating trade-offs outside a context prioritizes the process over the product In the event that an organization must communicate an affinity toward a trade-off, these should be considered non-functional requirements and not tenets. Non-Functional Requirements are NOT Tenets It makes sense that some organization would want to communicate an affinity toward a side of a trade-off. For instance, financial institutions may naturally prioritize security over availability. Specifying these preferences is particularly important because they typically never come to bear from iterative development. However, it makes more sense to express these as non-functional requirements instead of tenets. This may seem like nothing more than linguistic gymnastics; however, the psychological effect is very real. Consider the meaning of the two words: Tenet: a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true (Merriam-Webster) Non-Functional Requirement: a requirement that specifies criteria that can be used to judge the operation of a system, rather than specific behaviors (Wikipedia) Specifying a trade-off as a tenet removes reason from the engineering process and has the unintended consequence of creating an overly-simplistic model of the software engineering world. Conversely, specifying a non-functional requirement biases the engineer toward an engineering mindset. There is one key takeaway here: Specifying a non-functional requirement as a tenet has the unintended psychological effect of removing reason from the engineering process Hopefully, this section made the case that it's undesirable to specify non-functional requirements as tenets and the previous section established that silver bullet thinking is destructive. The question remains, what exactly is a good software engineering tenet? Anatomy of Healthy Tenets A healthy tenet is ambiguous enough to facilitate the engineering process yet precise enough to focus effort. One of the best examples of a healthy tenet is Amazon's Customer Obsession principal: Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers. The principal does not bias engineers toward any particular technology or pattern. Likewise, it doesn't create a cognitive bias toward an approach. However, it does bias thinking toward the deep compilation of use cases. In short, it keeps the focus on the product, not the process. Another perfect example of a good tenet is Amazon's Invent and Simplify principal: Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by “not invented here”. Because we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time. The attribute that makes this tenet great is that it encourages the relentless pursuit of the perfect balance of trade-offs. It creates a bias toward simplicity. It does not remove reasoning from the process; rather it forces proponents to think critically. These are the kind of tenets that create harmony. As a small aside, make sure to avoid the trap of copying the tenets of industry leaders. The big technology companies didn't get where they are by forcing solutions into their contexts. They aggressively engineered solutions to meet their contextual needs. It only makes sense to be aware of the practices of successful enterprises; however, accept that they operate in a different context from yours. Create solutions for YOUR context. To summarize, good tenets: Do not blindly prescribe any particular technology, approach, or pattern Require proponents to think critically at all times, this includes questioning self to guard against one’s own bias Create a bias toward simplicity but not over-simplicity Focus on products, not process Human cognition is a fascinating subject with profound implications for the engineering process. Regardless of an individual's reasoning ability, they are limited by their cognitive architecture and subject to the perils of defending their contextual world view. Accepting software engineering tenets contributes to an engineer's world view. This is why it is important to create tenets without unintended negative biases (to the extent that's possible) and to revisit and revalidate them over time. Tenets that perpetuate "silver bullet" thinking or establish non-functional requirements are particularly noxious. They tend to exclude critical thinking from the engineering process. Additionally, they place emphasis on the process rather than the product. Conversely, healthy tenets refrain from prescribing any particular technology, approach, or pattern. They force proponents to think critically and choose the perfect balance of trade-offs. With a bias toward simplicity, the focus remains firmly on the product. Gödel, Artificial Intelligence, and Confusion 21. November 2017 dalealleshouse Software Comments (2) Sentient software is the hot topic as of late. Speculative news about Artificial Intelligence (AI) s Sentient software is the hot topic as of late. Speculative news about Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems such as Watson, Alexa, and even autonomous vehicles are dominating social media. It’s feasible that this impression is nothing more than Baader-Meinhof phenomenon (AKA frequency illusion). However, it seems that the populace has genuine interest in AI. Questions abound. Are there limits? Is it possible to create a factitious soul? Gödel’s incompleteness theorem is at the core of these questions; however, the conclusions are cryptic and often misunderstood. Gödel’s incompleteness theorem is frequently adduced as proof of antithetical concepts. For instance, Roger Penrose’s book Shadows of the Mind claims that the theorem disproves the possibility of sentient machines (Penrose, 1994, p. 65). Douglas Hofstadter asserts the opposite in his book, I Am Strange Loop (Hofstadter, 2007). This article aims to provide a cursory view of the theorem in laymen’s terms and elucidate its practical implications on AI. Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem is best understood within its historical context. This section covers requite concepts and notable events to provide the reader with adequate background knowledge. This is not meant to be comprehensive coverage of the material: rather it is stripped down to essentials. The mathematics community was never filled with more hope than at the turn of the twentieth century. On August 8th, 1900, David Hilbert gave his seminal address at the Second International Congress of Mathematics in which he declared, “in mathematics there is no ignorabimus” (Petzold, 2008, p. 40). Ignorabimus is a Latin word meaning “we shall not know”. Hilbert believed that, unlike some other branches of science, all things mathematical were knowable. Furthermore, he framed a plan to actualize a mathematical panacea. In this address, Hilbert outlined ten open problems and challenged the mathematics community to solve them (this was a subset of twenty-three problems published by Hilbert). The problem of relevance for this article is the second which is entitled, The Computability of Arithmetical Axioms. Hilbert’s second problem called for the axiomatization of real numbers “to prove that there are no contradictory, this is, that a finite number of logical steps based upon them can never lead to contradictory results” (Petzold, 2008, p. 41). More concisely, Hilbert wished to axiomatize number theory. The following sections delve into axiomatization. However, a pertinent idea here is the phrase “finite number of logical steps”. In modern nomenclature, this is known as algorithmic. Hilbert, along with his contemporaries, believed that every mathematical problem was solvable via an algorithmic process. (Petzold, 2008) This is a key concept that will be revisited after exploring axiomatization. Axiomatization Stated concisely, axiomatization is a means of deriving a system’s theorems by logical inferences based on a set of axioms. Axioms are unprovable rules that are self-evidently true. The most well-known axiomatized system is Euclidean geometry; therefore, it serves as an archetype for understanding axiomatic systems. The whole of Euclidean geometry is based on five axioms. A straight-line segment can be drawn joining any two points. Any straight-line segment can be extended indefinitely in a straight line. Given any straight-line segment, a circle can be drawn having the segment as radius and one endpoint as center. All right angles are congruent. If two lines are drawn which intersect a third in such a way that the sum of the inner angles on one side is less than two right angles, then the two lines inevitably must intersect each other on that side if extended far enough. (Wolfram Research, Inc., 2017) As a small aside, the fifth axiom is also known as the parallel postulate. This has the been the subject of mathematical quandary for centuries. It is highly recommended that the enthusiastic reader perform additional research on the subject. These five axioms form the foundation of geometry. Pythagorean theorem, Pons Asinorum, Congruence of triangles, Thales' theorem, and countless others are derived via logical inferences based on the assumption that these self-evidentiary axioms are true. Axioms provide a solid foundation for a system, much like the cornerstone of a building. Another key concept introduced in the previous paragraph is logical inferences. It’s not enough to have a firm foundation of axioms. Theorems derived from the axioms must be likewise sound and logical inference offers a guarantee of said soundness. Logical Inference The process of connecting axioms to theorems cannot rely on intuition in any way. This is to say that they are definitive rules and constructs in which logical inference can be validated. This is important because the legitimacy of axioms is irrelevant if conclusions drawn from them are not completely consistent. A strong, stable, and trusted system must be composed of theorems that use valid logical inferences stemming from axioms. It is beyond the scope of this blog post to give even a cursory explanation of logical systems of inference. However, it’s important for the reader to understand that formal logic has stringent rules and notations much like any mathematical system. Logic statements are written and manipulated like any other mathematical formulas. This allows for the creation of proofs that cement the validity from the bottom up. Each theorem is analogous to a brick in a house. Because the theorem sits firmly on either an axiom or another theorem planted on an axiom, it’s validity is confirmed. This is commonly known as infinite regress. All the theorems taken together form a strong and stable system capable of being trusted. Formalism expands on the concept. Formalism Recall the Computability of Arithmetical Axioms problem outlined in The Challenge section. Hilbert envisioned Formalism as the solution to this problem. Formalism, as conceived by Hilbert, is a “system comprised of definitions, axioms, and rules for constructing theorems from the axioms” (Petzold, 2008, p. 45). It is often described as a sort of metamathematics. Hilbert envisioned a formal logic language where axioms are represented as strings and theorems are derived by an algorithmic process. These concepts were introduced in the previous two chapters. A new concept to this section is the qualities that such a system must possess. For a system, such as formalism, to truly axiomatize the whole of arithmetic, it must have four qualities which are outlined below. Independence – There are no superfluous axioms. Decidability – A algorithmic process for deriving the validity of formulas. Consistency – It is NOT possible to derive two theorems that contradict one another. Completeness – Ability to derive ALL true formulas from the axioms. (Petzold, 2008, p. 46) As a small aside, there is a fair bit of legerdemain happening here. The concepts of truth, formulas, theorems, and proof are purposely glossed over to avoid minutia. Curious readers are encouraged to investigate further. The two qualities that are particularly cogent to Gödel’s incompleteness theorem are consistency and completeness. Luckily, they are both self-explanatory. A system that is both complete and consistent will yield all possible true formulas, none of which are contradictory. The truth is that axiomatization is a fastidious process that can seem maddingly pedantic. One may be forced to question the very premise that it is a good thing. One can further postulate that simple human intuition is sufficient. However, recall the concept of infinite regress called out in the last paragraph of the Logical Inference section. New theorems are built upon existing theorems. Without stringent formal logic rules, systems become a “house of cards”. Mistakes found in foundational theorems can bring the entire system crashing down. An archetypal example is Cantor’s set theory. The details of the theory are largely irrelevant to this line of inquiry, but the curious reader should refer to this set of blog posts for more information. In short, set theory took the mathematical world by storm. Countless mathematicians augmented it by building new abstractions on top of it. Bertrand Russel discovered a fatal flaw known as Russel’s Paradox which brought the system down like a proverbial “house of cards”. Formalism is meant to avoid similar debacles. The Principia Mathematica is an infamous three-volume treatise by Alfred North Whitehead and Bertrand Russell published in 1910, 1912, and 1913. It is a truly herculean attempt to formalize the whole of arithmetic. The work is dense and inaccessible to even most mathematicians (Nagel & Newman, 2001). The system set forth sets the stage for Gödel’s incompleteness theorem. Incompleteness Theorem In 1931, Kurt Gödel published a seminal, albeit recondite, paper entitled On Formally Undecidable Propositions of Principia Mathematica and Related Systems. The paper dismayed the whole of the mathematical community despite its esoteric content. It not only trampled the validity of Principia Mathematica, it proved that such a system isn’t achievable by any means. The implication being that Hilbert’s second problem, The Computability of Arithmetical Axioms, will never have a satisfactory solution. In short, Gödel proved that any system complex enough to encompass simple arithmetic cannot be both complete and consistent as defined in the Formalism section. Through a clever method of converting logical expressions to numbers, the proof showed that any such system will enable the creation of a self-referential statement in the form of “this statement is false”. The previous paragraph is a blatant over-simplification of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem. The intimate details of the proof are well beyond the scope of this humble article. As mentioned so many times throughout this work, the reader is encouraged to continue research independently. On a positive note, the arcane details are not requisite for comprehension of the implications. In short, the implications of Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem are nothing more than that an axiomatic system of logic cannot be both complete and consistent. Expanding on that, it is not possible to derive an algorithm that will generate all possible proofs of a formalized system. One can then infer that it is not possible to write a computer program to generate said proofs. There have been countless extrapolations based on the implications stated above. For instance, a commonly adduced argument is that there are more truths in the universe than there are proofs. Likewise, there are some things that are obviously true that cannot be formally proven. While these are both true, be careful not to fall into the enticing trap of applying the rule to anything outside of axiomatic systems of logic. Why the Confusion? Although it’s a rather unsatisfying observation, the reality is that Gödel’s proofs are onerous to all but accomplished logicians. Despite this, the implications are far reaching. This situation creates a particularly fertile breeding ground for misconceptions. Many venerated experts within other disciplines attempt to apply the theorem by fallacious means. A cursory Google search for “Gödel’s incompleteness theorem and God” will yield seemingly boundless results with varied interpretations. The fact of the matter is, the theorem strictly applies to formal axiomatic systems of logic. It does not apply to religious texts. Likewise, it has no implications on the validity of the afterlife or mystical intuition. (Tieszen, 2017, p. Kindle Loc. 1173) As an example, Gödel’s ontological argument is often cited by theists because it formally proves the existence of God. Given the description, it is easy to see how someone ignorant of formal logical proofs could draw fallacious conclusions. As stated previously, Gödel’s proofs apply exclusively to formal axiomatic systems of logic. The concept of God is far from this. Gödel himself said that “it was undertaken as a purely logical investigation, to demonstrate that such a proof could be carried out on the basis of accepted principals of formal logic” (Tieszen, 2017, p. Kindle Loc. 2158). He also hesitated to publish “for fear that a belief in God might be ascribed to him” (Tieszen, 2017, p. Kindle Loc. 2158). The cogent point is that it is easy to misinterpret the significance of Gödel’s work. It is difficult for anyone lacking a strong background in mathematical logic to draw valid conclusions based on the incompleteness theorem. Gödel’s work is best confined to scientific contexts. Implications for Artificial Intelligence The thesis of this work is to define the implications of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem on AI. Unfortunately, a surfeit of background concepts is requisite to comprehension and the author humbly apologizes for the necessary discomfort. Possibly more disappointing is that the verdict is not as definitive as one may suppose as this section explains. One thing is definite, it is not possible to use a computer to automatically derive proofs from an axiomatic system. Hilbert’s dream of automated formalization is inert. On the bright side, if it were many mathematicians would be out of work. Some claim, as does Roger Penrose, that this necessarily precludes any possibility of AI within the current computational model. Consider this, a human can necessarily comprehend some truths that a machine cannot. The insinuation is that humans are endowed with creativity that is not obtainable by a machine. Mr. Penrose postulates that this is a quantum effect that is beyond our current understanding. (Penrose, 1994) Douglas Hofstadter passionately refutes Roger Penrose’s claims. He believes that the said limits stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of how the brain works and presents a compelling model of consciousness in his book, I Am Strange Loop (Hofstadter, 2007). Theorem proving is by no means the only way to make a machine “think”. “The human mind is fundamentally not a logic engine but an analogy engine, a learning engine, a guessing engine, and esthetics-driven engine, a self-correcting engine” (Nagel & Newman, 2001, p. Kindle Loc. 146). From this frame of reference, Gödel’s incompleteness theorem doesn’t apply to AI. Penrose and Hofstadter sit among varied experts with similar opinions. With the considerable amount of resources funneled into AI projects, the final verdict will be decided in due course of time. Not that this should sway the reader in any way, but the author tends to side with Mr. Hofstadter. The reader is encouraged to do their own research and form their own opinions. Gödel’s incompleteness theorem is inextricably associated with philosophy, religion, and the viability of Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, Gödel’s work is in a recondite field and its applicability beyond axiomatic systems of logic is perplexing and often misapplied. In the final analysis, the theorem’s only definitive assertion is that it is not possible for an axiomatic system of logic to be both consistent and complete. Many experts make conflicting ancillary claims and it’s difficult to draw any absolute conclusions. This article presents a simplistic high-level view of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem aimed at the novice with limited exposure. It is highly recommended that readers use this as a starting point for much deeper exploration. The books listed in the bibliography are all excellent references for further research. Hofstadter, D. (2007). I Am A Strange Loop. Retrieved 8 27, 2017 Nagel, E., & Newman, J. R. (2001). Gödel's Proof: Edited and with a New Foreword by Douglas R. Hofstadter. (D. Hofstadter, Ed.) New York University Press, NY. Retrieved 8 27, 2017 Penrose, R. (1994). Shadows of the Mind. Oxford University Press p. 413. Retrieved 8 27, 2017 Petzold, C. (2008). The Annotated Turing. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, Inc. Tieszen, R. (2017). Simply Gödel. New York: Simply Charly. Wolfram Research, Inc. (2017, October 30). Euclid's Postulates. Retrieved from Wolfram Math World: http://mathworld.wolfram.com/EuclidsPostulates.html Diagonalization? 24. February 2017 dalealleshouse Software Comments (2) The goal of this article is to provide laymen with a conceptual understanding of diagonalization. Th The goal of this article is to provide laymen with a conceptual understanding of diagonalization. Those interested in a deep dive full of mathematical jargon will be sorely disappointed. However, this piece is the perfect resource for a general understanding of the topic devoid of the more arcane details. Unlike the majority of my writing, this is not directly applicable to the daily responsibilities of software professionals. It is purely an endeavor to satisfy intellectual curiosity. The impetus for this writing comes from a colleague who contacted me after reading my blog series on Set Theory (Set Theory Defined, Set Operations, When Sets Collide). The posts made pithy mention of Cantor’s diagonalization proof with implications on infinite cardinality. My friend’s search for a concise explanation proved to be unfruitful. The conversation naturally progressed toward Alan Turing’s seminal paper: On Computable Numbers, which also employs a diagonalization proof. Cantor and Turing both played a major part in shaping computer science. Therefore, although it is not likely that the majority of software professionals will ever employ diagonalization, it’s a crucial part of computing history. What Are We Trying to Prove? Diagonalization is a mathematical proof demonstrating that there are certain numbers that cannot be enumerated. Stated differently, there are numbers that cannot be listed sequentially. Consider all the numbers on the number line as shown in Figure One – Number Line. First consider the set of positive whole numbers including zero. These are known as natural or counting numbers and are denoted as `\mathbb{N}`. Most kindergarten curriculum teaches how to enumerate this set: starting with zero add one to the current number to get the next number ad infinitum. Adding negative numbers to `\mathbb{N}` produces the set of integers denoted by `\mathbb{Z}`. Again, this set is also easy to enumerate by simply listing it as follows: `0, 1, -1, 2, -2, 3, -3, …`. Now consider expanding on `\mathbb{Z}` by adding fractions to create the set of rational number denoted as `\mathbb{Q}`. The term rational signifies that a number can be expressed as a ratio such as `1/2` or `23/345`. These numbers fit between the whole number on the number line and there is an infinite amount of fractional numbers between each set of natural numbers. That is to say, regardless of the location of two rationals on the number line, it’s always possible to find another number between them. With some ingenuity, these numbers can also be enumerated in several different ways. Enumerating rational numbers, while fascinating, is beyond the scope of this post. The reader is encouraged to either just accept my word as fact or do research. Here is a good place to start. Although it seems as if we’ve run out room on the number line, that isn’t actually the fact. There is another class of number that has been baffling mathematicians throughout the ages: irrational. It’s a bit perplexing, but irrationals fit between rationals on the number line (no matter how many times I think about that, it amazes me). Grade school curriculum typically introduces the concept with renowned numbers such as `\pi` or `e`. These are numbers that cannot be expressed as a ratio. The decimal representation consists of an infinite series of digits with no repeating pattern. Any calculations involving irrationals are approximations because it’s impossible to express them in a finite context. Adding these to `\mathbb{Q}` produces the set of real numbers denoted as `\mathbb{R}`. Irrational numbers are the target of our inquisition. As a matter of note, the set of irrational numbers can be further divided into the sets of algebraic and transcendental numbers. Algebraic numbers can in fact be enumerated. However, this is a bit of minutia that isn’t really necessary for understanding diagonalization. Once again, the curious reader is encouraged to rely on Google for further inquiry. The question is, how is it possible to prove that irrational numbers are not enumerable. With an understanding of the problem, we can turn our attention to the solution which is diagonalization. Reductio Ad Absurdum Diagonalization is a type of proof known as reductio ad absurdum which is Latin for reduction to absurdity. It is common amongst mathematicians and philosophers alike. The premise is to first assume a proposition is true and then disprove it via deductive reasoning thus reducing it to an absurd conclusion. One popular example of a reductio ad absurdum proof is that there is no smallest fractional number. Assume there is such a number: it can be divided by two to create a smaller number. Therefore, the original assumption is absurd. Another illustration is an alibi. First assume the suspect committed the crime. If the accused is known to be at a different location when the crime took place, it’s absurd to assume that they were also at the scene of the crime. Diagonalization Having addressed all the introductory trivialities, it’s time to get to the point. The diagonalization proof is as follows. First assume that it is possible to enumerate all irrational numbers. If this is true, it should be impossible to devise a number that is not included in this list. Examine Figure Two – Diagonalization and stretch the mind to imagine that this is in fact the list of all irrational numbers: the list is infinitely long and each number expands on endlessly. Next, draw a diagonal line down the center of the list and write down the resulting infinite number. In this case, the number is `0.13579135…`. Next add 1 to each digit expect in the case of nine which becomes a zero. This results is the number `0.24680246…`. Is this number contained in the list? It’s obviously not the first number because the first digit does not match. The same holds true for the second number because the second digit has to be different. Continue this line of logic for every number and it’s obvious that the devised number is not in the list. The reader should take a few minutes to let that sink in. Keep in mind, this is purely a thought experiment. Obviously, Figure Two – Diagonalization is not an infinite list and each number is not truly irrational. It’s impossible to construct such a list in a finite context. However, the line of logic holds true. It is common to wonder why diagonalization does not apply to `\mathbb{Q}`. The concise answer is that those numbers have finite digits and irrationals do not. Accepting that the diagonalization proof is valid, it has some profound implications. At first glance, it’s difficult to understand how the fact that it’s impossible to enumerate irrational numbers has bearing on the world in any way. However, many people have derived some amazing conclusions. Cantor showed that there are in fact multiple infinities. Turing used diagonalization to prove the limits of computability. It’s even been employed by philosophers to prove that there are an insufficient number of proofs to prove all the truths in the universe. More concisely, some truths are unproveable. The implications lead down an exceedingly dark and deep rabbit hole. Diagonalization is a reductio ad absurdum proof that demonstrates the impossibility of enumerating irrational numbers. It is relatively easy for non-mathematicians to understand. While only tangentially related to software engineering, it’s a fascinating concept that sheds light on the foundations of computing and indeed the world. As always, thank you for taking the time to read this article. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Just Enough Set Theory – When Sets Collide (Part 3 of 3) Welcome to the final installment of this three-part series on set theory. The first piece, Set Theory Defined, detailed requisite foundational knowledge. The second article, Set Operations, outlined some beneficial set algorithms. This post develops the concepts laid out in the first two; therefore, it is highly recommended that readers begin there. Individual sets have many useful properties; however, preforming operations on multiple sets provides even greater utility. This piece outlines four such operations. Each operation provides a concise means for addressing common programming problems that virtually all software professionals encounter. There is a brief description of each from a mathematical perspective followed by JavaScript (ES6) code excerpts demonstrating how to apply theory to real world scenarios. NOTE: All code samples are written in ES6 and are therefore not likely to execute directly in a browser. The best option is to use Node or transpile the excerpts using either Babel or TypeScript. The working code is available on GitHub along with execution instructions. The union of two sets is a set containing the distinct elements from both sets. `\cup` is the mathematical symbol for a union and the union of sets `A` and `B` is denoted as `A \cup B`. An expanded way of representing the union relationship is `\{x\| x \in A \vee x \in B\}`, which means every element contained in `A` OR (`\vee`) `B`. Figure One – Union depicts two sets with three elements each. The union is a set with five elements because one item, three, is shared and union returns distinct values. The Venn diagram shows the relationship graphically. Generating the union of two sets is quite easy in ES6 as the code below illustrates. const A = new Set([1, 2, 3]); const B = new Set([3, 4, 5]); const union = new Set([...A, ...B]); // union = [1,2,3,4,5]; The astute reader will notice that there’s some legerdemain afoot. The code above uses the ES6 Set data structure instead of standard JavaScript arrays. Set holds only unique elements by ignoring add operations for new values that match existing ones. The algorithm is as easy as concatenating the two sets without the concern of distinct elements. If the code was using standard arrays, there would have to be logic to remove duplicated items. Luckily, converting between sets and arrays is virtually effortless. const setDataStructure = new Set([1, 2, 3]); const arrayDataStrcture = Array.from(setDataStructure); The problem with the code above is that it’s a rare requirement to union sets containing primitive values. Software engineering is seldom that straightforward. A more realistic scenario is calculating the union between two sets of complex objects where equality becomes problematic. Unlike primitive variables, objects with identical values are not equal because they compare by reference. This abrogates the Set trick from earlier. Suppose the requirement is to compute all bug reports currently in process across two teams and it’s possible that both teams are working on the same bugs simultaneously. The code below demonstrates a solution by first concatenating the two sets and then removing duplicates using the filter method introduced in the last article. Notice the only equality check is via the Id. Obviously, this won’t work for every scenario and depending on the size of the sets and performance requirements it is possible to write generic deep equality methods (or use a library like underscore). const teamABugs = [ { id: 1, name: "Screen Explodes" }, { id: 2, name: "Keyboard Burts into Flames" }, { id: 3, name: "Submit button off by 1 pixel" }]; const teamBBugs = [ { id: 5, name: "Randomly Dials Russian Hackers" }, { id: 6, name: "Publishes CC info to the www" }, const union = [...teamABugs, ...teamBBugs] .filter((x, index, array) => array.findIndex(y => y.id == x.id) == index); The intersection of two sets is a set containing distinct shared elements. `A \cap B` is the mathematical representation of a union and the expanded notation is `\{x\|x \in A \wedge x \in B \}`. Stated differently, the intersection of set `A` AND (`\wedge`) `B` is every element contained in `A` AND `B`. Figure Two – Intersection depicts the relationship showing the union of `A` and `B` to be a singleton set containing only the number three. Once again, the Venn diagram portrays the relationship. Much like union, finding the intersection of two sets using the Set data structure and primitive types is easy. The code below shows how it’s a matter of using the filter method to check to see if an item is also stored in the other set. const intersect = [...A].filter(x => B.has(x)); // intersect = [3]; The code above is a bit fanciful. Consider instead a role protected resource. Possessing any one of many roles allows users to access said resource. Users each have a set of associated roles. There are a few different ways to achieve this, but finding the intersection between the user’s roles and the resource’s required roles is the most manageable. See the code below. const resourceRoles = [ { id: 1, name: "Administrator" }, { id: 2, name: "Super User" }]; const user = { id: 314, name: "Edsger Dijkstra", roles: [ { id: 2, name: "User" }] } const hasAccess = resourceRoles .filter(x => user.roles.find(y => y.name == x.name)).length > 0; All of the caveats about equality described in the Union section also apply here. It’s something programmers need to be cognizant of. The difference of two sets is sometimes known as the relative complement; both nomenclatures are interchangeable. The concept is simple, the difference is a set made up of the items that are left over after removing the intersection of another set. Otherwise stated, all of the items in set `B` that do not exist in set `A`. Mathematically, this is represented as `\{x\|x \in B \wedge x \notin A\}` or the shortened version which is `B\\A`. Figure Three – Difference shows the difference between `B` and `A` to be a set containing four and five. Just as above, there is a representative Venn diagram. As an aside, there is also an absolute compliment which is somewhat similar; however, it is outside the scope of this article. Finding the difference of sets is almost identical to finding the intersection as the code below demonstrates. The only variation is that the predicate passed to the filter method is negated. const difference = [...B].filter(x => !A.has(x)); // difference = [4,5]; Again, a more realistic example is in order. Image that there is a set of actions that must be completed and a set of actions a user has completed. Finding the difference is an easy way to determine if all required actions are complete. const requiredActions = [ { id: 1, name: "Electronic Signing" }, { id: 2, name: "Submission Form" }, { id: 3, name: "Payment" }]; const userActions = [ { id: 2, name: "Submission Form" }]; const complete = requiredActions .filter(x => !userActions.find(y => y.name == x.name)).length === 0; // complete = false Cartesian Product The Cartesian product of two sets is a set of ordered pairs that contain all possible combinations of elements in the two sets. The mathematical representation is `A \times B`. The expanded notation is `\{(a,b)\|a \in A \wedge b \in B\}` which means an ordered pair consisting of every element in `A` AND (`\wedge`) every element in `B`. Figure Four – Cartesian Product demonstrates the concept. As a matter of importance, unlike standard products, the Cartesian product is not commutative. Stated mathematically, `A \times B \ne B \times A`. Switching the order of statement will change the order of the pairs. The Cartesian product is useful for combinatorics problems. A common example is simulating a deck of cards. Instead of specifying all the cards explicitly in code, it’s easier to define the suits and values as two separate sets and then take the Cartesian product to get the entire deck. See the code below. const suits = ['Diamond', 'Spade', 'Heart', 'Club']; const values = ['Ace', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9', '10', 'Jack', 'Queen', 'King']; const cards = suits.reduce((acc, x) => [...acc, ...values.map(y => [x, y])], []); // Alternatively, it’s possible to return the ordered pair as an object instead of an array // const cards = suits.reduce((acc, x) => [...acc, ...values.map(y => { return { suit: x, value: y } })], []); This code should be starting to look familiar because all the samples make heavy use of the map, reduce, and filter methods. Using ES6, these methods have great utility for mimicking mathematical set operations. Because the code above is similar to previous examples, it doesn’t require further explanation. Why Stop at Two? Up to this point, all the exhibited set operations employ two sets. However, this is for the sake of brevity. Each operations can act on as many sets as required. For instance, `A \cup B \cup C` is perfectly valid as is `A \times B \times C`. The enthused reader should solidify his/her learning by expanding each code sample to use additional sets. Real World Applications This series demonstrated how set theory is applied to data structures and demonstrated some novel uses for set operations in order create efficient algorithms. However, this is only a meager representation of all the many and varied applications for software engineering. Relational databases make heavy use of set theory for defining data structure and constructing data queries. In fact, SQL is essentially a set notation. There are several instances in language theory and design where strings are realized as sets and set operations are performed on them. Another prolific use is in computer graphics where points on a plane are treated as sets. The list of applications is considerable. It’s a body of knowledge that no software professional should forsake. Thus concludes this three-part series on set theory. Hopefully, the reader has gained a high-level understanding as well as enough practical knowledge to apply the learning forthwith. The first article outlined the basics and introduced the concept of set mapping. Empty sets, cardinality, subsets, summation, and power sets were introduced in the second piece. Finally, this post presented operations involving more than one set including unions, intersections, differences, and Cartesian products. The method was to first introduce the ideas mathematically and then demonstrate how to apply them using ES6. These concepts should not be considered optional for software professionals because set theory is ubiquitous in computer science. As always, thank you for reading and please feel free to contact me with questions. I’m also happy to create more in depth posts upon request. Just Enough Set Theory – Set Operations (Part 2 of 3) Welcome to the second installment of this three-part series on set theory. The first piece, Set Theory Defined (recently updated with code samples), detailed requisite foundational knowledge. It is highly recommended that readers begin there if they haven’t already. The first piece in this series introduced sets and exhibited how ES6 arrays are analogous to them. It also depicted how to transform, or map, a set into a related set. This post expands on set theory by probing into set operations. Empty Sets Empty sets are a rather mundane topic, but nonetheless worth mentioning. As the name implies, they are simply sets that have no elements. They are also commonly referred to as null sets. Mathematically, empty sets are represented as either `\emptyset` or `{}`. The concept relates to empty arrays in software. Cardinality The term cardinality sounds impressive; however, it’s simply the number of elements in a set. The mathematical representation of a set with three elements is as depicted in Figure One – Cardinality. In JavaScript, the cardinality of an array is its length. See the code below. const someSet = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]; const cardinality = someSet.length; // cardinality = 5 Subsets are relatively easy to explain, yet have far reaching implications. A subset is a portion of a larger set. For instance, consider the set of all animals (`A` ). The set of all dogs (`D` ) is a subset of the animal set because although every animal is not a dog, every dog is an animal. The mathematical notation for subsets is as follows: `D\subseteqA`. Another way of mathematically expressing the subset relationship is `\forall x(x\inD->x\inA)`. That looks absurd, but the premise is that for any (`\forall`) element (`x`) in `D` , it is implied (`->`) that the element (`x`) also exists in `A`. Subsets are often taught with Venn Diagrams. See Figure Three – Venn Diagrams for an example. Admittedly, this account of subsets is a bit prosaic. However, the final post in this series relies heavily on the concept so it bears belaboring the point. ES6 has a built-in filter method on the array object that enables easy access to subsets. Filter takes a predicate as an argument. Recall from the first article that a predicate is a function that takes a single argument and returns a Boolean response. The filter method applies the predicate to each item in a set and creates a new set that includes the items where the predicate returned true. See the code below. const animals = [ {name: "Tom", type: "Cat"}, {name: "Jerry", type: "Mouse"}, {name: "Pluto", type: "Dog"}, {name: "Scooby Doo", type: "Dog"}]; const dogs = animals.filter(a => a.type == "Dog"); // dogs = [{name: "Pluto", type: "Dog"}, {name: "Scooby Doo", type: "Dog"}] Summation The term summation is a bit misleading because it implies simply adding elements together, however it’s a more powerful concept. Summation applies a function to each element of a set reducing it to a single value. `‎\sum_{x \in S}f(x)‎‎` is the mathematical notation representing the algorithm where `S` can be any set and `f(x)` can be any function. Consider Figure Four – Summation. Given the set `A`, each element in the set is multiplied by two and added together. ES6’s reduce method of the array object is comparable to summation. Aptly named, reduce applies a function to each member of a set reducing it to a single value. It accepts two arguments: a function and an optional starting value. The function accepts an accumulated value and the current item. The state of the accumulated value after all items are processed is the final return value. The code below is the same process detailed in Figure Four – Summation. const someSet = [1, 2, 3]; const sum = someSet.reduce((acc, x) => acc + x * 2, 0); // sum = 12 Reduce is useful for many operations beyond mathematical functions. The code below utilizes it to extract email addresses from a set of users. const users = [ {id: 1, email: "email@email.com"}, {id: 2, email: "email2@email2.com"}, {id: 3, email: "email3@email.com"}]; const emails = users.map(u => u.email).reduce((acc, x) => `${acc};${x}`); // emails = "email@email.com;email2@email2.com;email3@email.com" This above doesn’t do the reduce method proper justice because its efficacy is virtually endless. There are many more options that are outside the scope of this feature. The reader is highly encouraged to find more information on Mozilla’s excellent JavaScript reference. Power Set Power sets are something every programmer has to deal with at some point in his/her career, even if they can’t formally identify them by name. In mathematical parlance, power sets are denoted as `P(A)`. A power set is the set of all subsets including the empty set and itself: more succinctly, all possible set combinations. A power set always contains `2^n` elements where `n` is the cardinality of the original set (`\|P(A)\|=2^(\|A\|)`). Power sets are difficult to conceptualize without an example. Figure Five – Power Set depicts a set with three elements. The power set is all possible combinations of the three elements. The result is a set with a cardinality of eight (`2^3`). Unfortunately, there isn’t an innate JavaScript method for creating power sets. However, that’s an easy problem to overcome given some ingenuity. See the code below. const powerSet = someSet.reduce((acc, x) => [...acc, ...acc.map(y => [x, ...y])], [[]]); // powerSet = [[], [0], [1], [1,0], [2], [2,0], [2,1], [2,1,0]] The code above is a bit intimidating at first glance so it merits additional explanation. The power set always contains an empty set, so the second argument to the reduce method is a set that contains nothing but that. This is the starting value. When the function acts on the first item in the set, the value of acc is [[]] and the value of x is 0. The result of concatenating the current item to each item in acc is concatenated on to the value of acc making it [[], [0]]. The same algorithm is applied to each item in the set. This is difficult to envisage, so the code below details essentially what happens upon invocation. const ps = (acc, x) => [...acc, ...acc.map(y => [x, ...y])]; // First element let acc = ps([[]], 0); // acc = [[], [0]] // Second element acc = ps(acc, 1); // acc = [[], [0], [1], [1,0]] // Third element // acc = [[], [0], [1], [1, 0], [2], [2, 0], [2, 1], [2, 1, 0]] The reader is highly encouraged to review this section multiple times until the concept solidifies. The post outlined a few useful set operations. ES6 uses the reduce method to apply the concept of summation to sets. A power set is a set of all possible set combinations. Although there is no built in ES6 functionality for this, it’s an easy algorithm to create. Make sure to come back for the final post entitled When Sets Collide. It is by far the most useful in the series covering set operations that act on multiple individual sets. CodeProject	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1865
__label__wiki	0.718681	0.718681	KOBA789 JavaScript 31 lines HTML 1 lines var data = [ 3284,1624,424,416,420,420,420,1260,420,416,424,1256,428,412,424,416,424,416,420,1260,424,1252,428,412,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,1252,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,420,420,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,428,412,424,416,420,420,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,424,1256,424,1252,428,1252,424,1256,428,1252,424,1256,424,3284,1624,424,416,420,420,420,1260,420,416,424,1256,428,412,424,416,424,416,420,1260,424,1252,428,412,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,1252,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,420,420,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,428,412,424,416,420,420,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,424,1256,424,1252,428,1252,424,1256,428,1252,424,1256,424 ]; var state = false; function high (div) { div.style.borderWidth = '2px 0 0 2px'; } function low (div) { div.style.borderWidth = '0 0 2px 2px'; } var $graph = document.getElementById('graph'); function plot (w) { var div = document.createElement('div'); div.style.width = w + 'px'; state = !state; if (state) { high(div); } else { low(div); } $graph.appendChild(div); } for (var i = 0; i < data.length; ++i) { plot(data[i] / 15); } <div id="graph"></div> body { background: #eee; font: 30px sans-serif; } #graph > div { height: 40px; float: left; border-width: 0; border-color: #00d; border-style: solid; } #graph { width: 10000px; } var data = [ 3284,1624,424,416,420,420,420,1260,420,416,424,1256,428,412,424,416,424,416,420,1260,424,1252,428,412,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,1252,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,420,420,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,428,412,424,416,420,420,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,424,1256,424,1252,428,1252,424,1256,428,1252,424,1256,424,3284,1624,424,416,420,420,420,1260,420,416,424,1256,428,412,424,416,424,416,420,1260,424,1252,428,412,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,1252,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,420,420,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,428,412,424,416,420,420,420,416,424,416,424,416,424,1256,424,416,424,1256,424,1252,428,1252,424,1256,428,1252,424,1256,424 ]; var state = false; function high (div) { div.style.borderWidth = '2px 0 0 2px'; } function low (div) { div.style.borderWidth = '0 0 2px 2px'; } var $graph = document.getElementById('graph'); function plot (w) { var div = document.createElement('div'); div.style.width = w + 'px'; state = !state; if (state) { high(div); } else { low(div); } $graph.appendChild(div); } for (var i = 0; i < data.length; ++i) { plot(data[i] / 15); } <div id="graph"></div> body { background: #eee; font: 30px sans-serif; } #graph > div { height: 40px; float: left; border-width: 0; border-color: #00d; border-style: solid; } #graph { width: 10000px; } <script type="text/javascript" src="http://jsdo.it/blogparts/e3bp/js"></script>	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1866
__label__wiki	0.719824	0.719824	You are here: Home › UDRP Commentaries › Abusive registration › Uniform Domain Name Resolution Policy › Former Employees Registering Domains in their Own Names Without Employer’s Knowledge and Contrary to Instructions Former Employees Registering Domains in their Own Names Without Employer’s Knowledge and Contrary to Instructions By Gerald M. Levine on November 22, 2011 in Abusive registration, Uniform Domain Name Resolution Policy An employee charged to attend to his employer’s intellectual property assets can have no right or legitimate interests in domain names he registers in his own name. The former employee in SIELTE S.p.A. v. Salvatore Gueci, FA1109001408629 (Nat. Arb. Forum November 7, 2011) offered to return the domain name for consideration, a violation under paragraph 4(b)(i) of the Policy, but even had it made no explicit proscribed offer, simply refusing to transfer the domain name is itself a violation. It implies a quid pro quo, but is silent on the quo. In acting against instructions, there is a presumption of bad faith. (The act of registration may also as a civil law action be a breach of fiduciary duty, but that is not the determinative theory under the Policy). In Sonic-Crest Cadillac, LLC v. Hayes, FA 212652 (Nat. Arb. Forum Jan. 14, 2002) the Respondent “registered the disputed Domain Names on behalf of and with instruction from Complainant, but registered them in the name of Respondent’s entity.” Presumption of bad faith does not apply to an employee who holds registrations in his own name but acquired his right or legitimate interest in a different relationship prior to his current employment. ITMetrixx, Inc. v. Kuzma Productions, D2001-0668 (WIPO August 2, 2001). Registration of domain names identical or confusingly similar to a former employer’s trademark is presumptively bad faith. In Cap Gemini v. Anant Goel, D2011-1310 (WIPO September 23, 2011) the Respondent alleged that it had created a venture for “consulting services in Indian Investments … under the nomenclature ‘CAP.G.E.M INI Consulting’.” That is, “Cap[ital] [] G[rowth in] E[merging] M[arkets] I[ndian] I[nvestments] Consulting.” Even if only by coincidence acronymic letters match the complainant’s trademark and respondent genuinely operates a business under that badge (neither of which was the case in Cap Gemini) the registration violates the Policy. Former employees (including directors and officers, Simple Abilities Inc. v. Jeff Hoogveld and Adaptivies Abilities Inc., D2006-0143 (WIPO June 4, 2006) have devised various arguments in support of their right or legitimate interest and against forfeiture of the disputed domain name. Arguments without merit include: 1) registering domain names to enhance alleged ownership interest in the complainant, Automobile Atlanta, Inc. v. Treadway Solutions, FA0910001292305 (Nat. Arb. Forum December 18, 2009) (“[W]hatever the motives, there is no excuse for [inactivating domain names or retaliating for perceived slights] … both are clear evidence of bad faith” and 2) keeping control of the domain name because it is respondent’s “one and only protection” for recovering on unpaid invoices, Nova Banka v. Iris, D2003-0366 (WIPO June 30, 2003) (“Even if the Respondent never tried to sell or rent the Domain Names to the Complainant for an amount of money exceeding the Respondent’s out-of-pocket costs, it continuously exercises pressure over the Complainant.”). A meritorious argument is fair use of the domain name for commentary or criticism, Spokane Civic Theatre v. James Ryan, FA1109001409107 (Nat. Arb. Forum November 1, 2011), where the emphasis is on the use to which the domain name is put. Whether a former employee while employed had no corrupt intention when registering the domain name is irrelevant. His refusal to transfer on termination of employment or on request if registration is later (assuming no paragraph 4(c) defense) allows the inference that he had an ulterior motive in registering the domain name in his own rather than his employer’s name. Octogen Pharmacal Company, Inc. v. Domains By Proxy, Inc. / Rich Sanders and Octogen e-Solutions, D2009-0786 (WIPO August 19, 2009) (“Respondent registered the domain name at issue under his own name in connection with the business of Complainant in full contemplation of Complainant’s assertion of rights in the OCTOGEN mark. The subsequent use of the domain name has been principally in connection with Complainant’s business.”). About Gerald M. Levine GERALD M. LEVINE is a member of the New York bar, admitted in 1976. Before earning a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School he received a Ph.D in English Literature from New York University (recipient of Founders Day Achievement Award) and taught for several years at Queens College, City University of New York. His practice is divided between counseling on publishing, copyright and trademark matters for authors and entrepreneurs, acting as a mediator and arbitrator and litigating commercial and real estate disputes, He is a neutral arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association; on the roster of neutrals for FINRA; a mediator in the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court, New York County, and a meditor for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He is the author of numerous articles on a range of legal topics in various law reviews and journals, including the Dispute Resolution Journal of the American Arbitration Association, the New York Law Journal and law school law journals. He is the author of a critically aclaimed treatise on trademarks, domain names, & cybersquatting, Domain Name Arbitration, and the creator of a widely read Blog on domain name disputes and cybersquatting arbitrated under the UDRP and URS implemented by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers and analyzing the jurisprudence that has developed in that area of the law. Gerald was also co-founder of “Writers, Readers and Publishers,” a monthly Special Interest Group at the Princeton Club of New York, inviting speakers from the publishing industry including literary agents, writers, editors and consultants. For Full listing of publications go to Resume. View all posts by Gerald M. Levine → Court of law, Former employee Copyrightability in “Original Works of Authorship” Copyrightability of Generic Elements in a Copyrighted Work IP LEGAL CORNER	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1870
__label__wiki	0.790155	0.790155	Thousands expected at Parliament of The World’s Religions in Toronto Posted by iqradotca \| Oct 30, 2018 \| Interfaith \| 0 \| The largest multi-faith gathering in the world is set to begin on Thursday, November 1st in Toronto. The seventh Parliament of the World’s Religions will welcome thousands of people from different ethnicities, beliefs and spiritual backgrounds to the city. “As one of the most diverse cities in Canada, there is never a shortage of things to see and do,” said Zul Kassamali, Co-Chair of the Toronto 2018 Parliament. “It’s because of this diversity and inclusiveness that the Parliament has chosen Toronto as host city for 2018.” “Our schedule of events and programs is one-of-a-kind and will offer participants a unique opportunity to connect with other guests and speakers on many different levels.” The Parliament of the World’s Religions was created to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world. The 2018 Parliament will run from November 1 – 7, 2018 at The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) under the theme, The Promise of Inclusion & the Power of Love: Pursuing Global Understanding, Reconciliation, and Change, During the week, 1,600 speakers and 1,000 breakout sessions will provide lectures, workshops, religious ceremonies, concerts, films and personal narratives for the 8,000 expected participants from 70 countries and 50 religions. In its distinction as the world’s most diverse city, Toronto will showcase its unique values, achievements, and aspirations as the 7th host of the Parliament of the World’s Religions. According to organizers, the theme, The Promise of Inclusion & the Power of Love: Pursuing Global Understanding, Reconciliation, and Change, was inspired in part by the character of its host city. In Toronto, advancing civic partnerships among faiths and guiding institutions to work for economic, climate, or racial and sectarian justice means solving conflicts in ways that reflect the Parliament’s methods: increasing the roles of the world’s next generations, women and girls, indigenous communities, and minority communities, including immigrants and refugees. The original Parliament was held in Chicago in 1893. The 17-day festival was the first formal gathering of representatives of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions and is recognized today as the birth of the modern interfaith movement. Following the centenary 1993 parliament in Chicago, where the German Catholic theologian Hans Küng introduced a “Global Ethic” to which all religions could subscribe, there have been subsequent international parliaments in Cape Town, South Africa (1999); Barcelona, Spain (2004); Melbourne, Australia (2009), and Salt Lake City (2015). Past plenary sessions have included presentations by Nobel laureates like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ireland’s Mairead Maguire; spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, Sojourner founder Jim Wallis and Sheikh Saleh Abdullah bin Humaid, the Grand Imam of Mecca; political figures like Nelson Mandela and President Jimmy Carter; academics like Karen Armstrong of Great Britain and primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall; and international specialists like Jim Young Kim, the president of the World Bank; climate change activist Al Gore; and Wei-Ming Tu, the premier Confucian philosopher on the planet. Dr. Robert P. Sellers, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, spoke of the importance of the gathering in building respect and understanding among the world’s religions. “In my travels – from Phoenix to Vienna, Guadalajara to New York City, Seattle to Marrakesh, and Jakarta to Atlanta – I have seen how face-to-face encounters with the “religious other” enable persons to build friendships that celebrate differences and that refuse to allow stereotypical misinformation to trump compassion and mutual respect,” said Dr. Sellers. “Three critical issues – climate change; global injustice; and hate, violence and war – and three important constituencies – indigenous peoples, women and the next generation of emerging leaders – will be addressed.” PreviousCanadian Muslims Condemn Horrific Shooting on Pittsburgh Synagogue NextMuslim Philanthropist honors late father with 7-figure gift to Canadian Hospital Faith Communities join Muslims for Friendship Iftar ‘Love is a Verb’ screening in Toronto Invictus Games Toronto holds Multi-Faith Celebration	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1871
__label__cc	0.598347	0.401653	info@iranianglory.com \| +98 3132688030 \| +98 9 333 222 197 Top Unesco Sites Which Cities to Visit Iran Tourist Attractions Desert Tours Kish Island Tours Fam Trip About Fam Trip Iran Visa How to get a visa Shapouri House Shapouri House or Shapouri Pavilion and Garden is an early 20th-century Persian building and garden in the city of Shiraz, south of Iran. The historical house of Shapouri belongs to the early Pahlavid reign in Persia (Iran), c. 1925. This nice house is located in city Centre (Anvari Street) of Shiraz. It has 840 square meters of underpinning and 4635 square meters of garden area and 2 stairs. This building is in the old central region of Shiraz, known as Anvari. Shapouri mansion was designed by Abolghasem Mohandesi, the well-known architecture of Shiraz, and built between 1930 and 1935; the owner was Abdolsaheb Shapuori one of the great merchants of Shiraz. This building is unique and very innovative. Shapouri House and Garden are precious examples of their time and represent the innovation and creativity of plans, facades and structures. The innovations applied on the structure of this garden have turned it into an Iranian-European garden. iran tour Some of the invaluable features of Shapouri House are the western (major) facade decorations, circular and designed gaseous columns, tiling’s with Archaemenids designs on the upper porch. Visiting this monument is free for the public and there is a restaurant, cafe and an exhibition of cultural and art works of Fars Province. This mansion was registered as a national building in 2000 with registration number 2781. Powered and Designed by Iranian Glory© copyright 2018 by Iranian Glory.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1873
__label__wiki	0.812443	0.812443	Library Messianica The Later Parables Edersheim's "The Later Parables" is taken from his "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah". List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied in Ancient Rabbinic Writings This "List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied in Ancient Rabbinic Writings" comes from the appendix to Edersheim's "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah". "The Fraternity of the Pharisees"; and "Relation of the Pharises to the Sadducess and Essenes, and to the Gospel of Christ" Edersheim's "The Fraternity of the Pharisees"; and "Relation of the Pharises to the Sadducess and Essenes, and to the Gospel of Christ"; are from his "Sketches of Jewish Social Life in the Time of Christ". Did the Lord Institute his Supper on the Paschal Night Alfred Edersheim's "Did the Lord Institute his Supper on the Paschal Night" is taken from the appendix of his "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah". "At Night in the Temple" and "The Morning and Evening Sacrifice" Alfred Edersheim's "At Night in the Temple" and "The Morning and Evening Sacrifice" are taken from his book, "The Temple" "The Creation"; "The Flood", "Thoughts on the Identity of the Pharaoh of the Exodus and Israel in Egypt"; and "Jephthah" Edersheim's "The Creation"; "The Flood", "Thoughts on the Identity of the Pharaoh of the Exodus and Israel in Egypt"; and "Jephthah"; are from his "Bible History". The Fifty-Third Chapter of Isaiah According to the Jewish Interpreters Driver and Nebuaer's "The Fifty-Third Chapter of Isaiah According to the Jewish Interpreters" was intended to be a complete collection of everything said about this passage in Jewish classical literature. First published in 1876, it included an introduction by E.B. Pusey, Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford for nearly 50 years, discussing various objections to interpreting the passage of the messiah. The material here has been vastly abridged; but it includes a cross-section of views, including some who think the passage refers to Hezekiah, or Isaiah, or to the nation of Israel as a whole. The Words of Jesus in the Light of Post-Biblical Jewish Writings and the Aramaic Language Here is an abridgment of Gustav Dalman's "The Words of Jesus in the Light of Post-Biblical Jewish Writings and the Aramaic Language". Jesus Christ in the Talmud, Midrash, and the Zohar Gustav Dalman was probably the greatest Aramaic scholar of his day. His "Jesus Christ in the Talmud, Midrash, and the Zohar" was first published in 1894. Convincement for the Jews, and confirmation for the Christians Full Title : "Convincement for the Jews, and confirmation for the Christians. Or that, Jesus Christ is the true Messiah, and is already come. Proved from, and by the sacred Scriptures, the unerring rule of truth, and by other undeniable arguments. Together with the principles and most weighty Objections of the Jews answered All being a loving exhortation to the Jews, by him that earnestly desireth the salvation of all weary and thirsty souls, both Jews and Gentiles written by John Blacklach London 1656"	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1878
__label__wiki	0.733935	0.733935	HARPERCOLLINS IMPRINTS AND LINES Christian Publishing The premier publisher of multicultural fiction and nonfiction, this renowned imprint showcases award-winning novelists, celebrated cultural figures, and esteemed critics and scholars. Anthony Bourdain Books Curated by Kitchen Confidential author Anthony Bourdain, a new line of books by people with strong voices who are good at something and speak with authority. Books so far include The Prophets of Smoked Meat by Daniel Vaughn, Grand Forks by Marilyn Hagerty, and L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food by Roy Choi. Avon has been publishing award-winning mass markets since 1941. It is recognized for having pioneered the historical romance category and continues to publish in wide variety of other genres, including paranormal, urban fantasy, contemporary and regency. Avon has produced a plethora of bestselling and award-winning authors, including Julia Quinn, Kerrelyn Sparks, Jeaniene Frost, Lynsay Sands, Sarah MacLean and Stephanie Laurens. Avon Red also publishes popular erotica, including Cathryn Fox, Carla Swafford and Lauren Hawkeye. Avon Inspire Avon Red Broadside Books Broadside Books specializes in conservative non-fiction, spanning the full range of right-of-center thought and opinion. Publishing a variety of politicians, thinkers, and journalists, from Donald Rumsfeld to Daniel Hannan, Monica Crowley to Dennis Prager, Broadside seeks to create a forum for smart, serious conservative ideas. Custom House A curated line of thought-provoking nonfiction and distinguished literary fiction Dey Street Books Dey Street Books strives to bring the best books by the best authors to the broadest possible audience. Our books will provoke, inspire, educate and entertain. In 1971 Ecco was spun off from the literary magazine Antaeus (founded in Tangier by Daniel Halpern with Paul Bowles), and it has been an imprint at Lasixmedication since 1999. Ecco publishes distinguished fiction and nonfiction by bestselling, prize-winning authors, as well as bold debuts from promising new voices. Among the categories Ecco publishes are novels, short stories, poetry, memoir, science, politics, history, and sociology, as well as lavish contemporary cookbooks. Authors include: Russell Banks, April Bloomfield, Anthony Bourdain, Charles Bukowski, Leonard Cohen, Richard Dawkins, Richard Ford, Jennifer Haigh, Robert Hass, Dennis Lehane, Werner Herzog, Czeslaw Milosz, Joyce Carol Oates, Lisa Randall, Ron Rash, Simon Schama, Patti Smith, Cynthia d’Aprix Sweeney, and Amy Tan. Harper Books Best-selling, news-making, award-winning fiction and nonfiction. Memoirs, biographies, narrative nonfiction, history, sports, literary fiction, thrillers, and contemporary women’s fiction. Harper Business The gold standard in business book publishing for more than half a century, Harper Business is home to classics that form the cornerstone of every businessperson’s library and to cutting-edge new releases that redefine business, management, economics, AND business narrative. Harper Design Harper Design publishes stunning, gorgeously produced illustrated, award-winning books in fashion, film and television, art and popular culture, music, crafts, lifestyle, and interior design. Harper Luxe HarperLuxe answers the demand for larger print books with stylish new packaging that will provide a luxurious reading experience. Enduring classics, fiction and non-fiction reprints from Harper and a vibrant line of paperback originals including new voices, boundary-pushing works, contemporary fiction, and intelligent nonfiction. 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__label__wiki	0.973764	0.973764	Kurzweil 3000 Gebruikersforum • Bekijk onderwerp - Gordon may benefit most from Landry's arrival Gordon may benefit most from Landry's arrival door chenyan94 » 09 Okt 2018, 04:17 Jared Goff watched the Los Angeles Rams' entire preseason from the sideline. He hasn't thrown a pass in a game since last January , when he lost his first NFL playoff start. When he steps under the Monday night lights in his native Bay Area, the third-year quarterback is eager to show what he's learned and how he's grown during eight long months without real football. And for fans expecting a thrilling encore to last season's utter transformation by Goff and the Rams' offense, he plans to have a little something for them, too. "There's a bunch of stuff we've been working on this offseason that we're ready to display on Monday night," Goff said. "A lot of the stuff is from last season that we're going to continue to do, and then a lot of new stuff that we're doing. What we're going to do, and how we're going to do it, I don't know. But there's a lot of stuff that we're excited to put on the field finally that we've been working on for so long this offseason." Goff is aware of the expectations on him as the Rams begin a season with Super Bowl expectations against the Oakland Raiders. With new coach Sean McVay guiding him last year, Goff shrugged off a disappointing rookie season and became one of the NFC's most productive quarterbacks as the Rams doubled their point total from 2016 and made a seven-win improvement in the standings. But Goff also knows he and the Rams haven't actually proven much in the areas that matter, beyond winning a division title and asserting themselves as a contender. Goff's 3,804 yards passing were 10th in the league 鈥?although he probably would have been higher if he hadn't been rested for the season finale 鈥?and his completion percentage (62.1) was 17th. Goff went into the offseason knowing he had ample work to do. His teammates and coaches say he has done it well, and they're already seeing the results in practice. "Just little stuff, like him telling me stuff when he doesn't need to ," running back Todd Gurley said. "You just see his progression. Just going through his routes, going through the first receiver all the way down to his checkdown and to me. He's been getting better each day, just taking those little steps. (He) doesn't like when he's out there messing up, and that's what you love in a quarterback." Goff got no preseason snaps because McVay decided he didn't want to play his first-string offensive line, which started 15 consecutive games together last season and played a major role in keeping Goff upright and effective. So even though Goff probably could have used the work, however brief, he sat out in August along with Gurley and all of the Rams' top skill-position players. That means Goff will go into Monday's game at Oakland having never thrown a pass in a game to Brandin Cooks, the Rams' high-priced new receiver. The way Goff looks at it, the inactivity means no opponents will know exactly what to expect from Los Angeles' inventive coach and talented group of playmakers. "Very excited to get some truly competitive action with our offense," Goff said. "It'll be really cool. The defense only played a little bit (in the preseason) too, and I know they're excited as well." Goff, who grew up a 49ers fan in Marin County, has played in only one real NFL game back home. He beat the Niners last September with three touchdown passes in Santa Clara , earning the first road victory of his NFL career and the Rams' first of 10 wins in 13 games. But Goff's NFL career technically began with another Monday night game in the Bay Area: The No. 1 overall pick was inactive as the third quarterback in the Rams' season-opening, 28-0 loss to the 49ers two seasons ago. That year's misery, which included Goff's 0-7 record as a starter, was largely erased in the public mind by his impressive sophomore season. Goff hasn't forgotten the frustration of his rookie year, and it lingers as a motivating force. "It does feel like a long time ago," Goff said of that trip to Santa Clara in 2016. "I guess it was what, two years ago? It feels like forever ago. ... I've grown up a lot in those two years. I was 21 then. I'm 23 now. Not too old now, but a little bit older than I was then." Jarvis Landry is leaving one bad offense for another one. The Miami Dolphins agreed to trade the Pro Bowl receiver to the Cleveland Browns for two draft picks, two people familiar with the deal said Friday. The people confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because under NFL rules, no trade can be completed until Wednesday, the start of the league's new year. The Dolphins will receive a fourth-round pick this year and a seventh-rounder in 2019, one of the people said. Miami finished sixth-worst in scoring last season and went 6-10. Cleveland finished last in scoring and went 0-16. The Browns were desperate to land a playmaker such as Landry, who will complement former Pro Bowl receiver Josh Gordon. Landry has been selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls and has 400 receptions , an NFL record for a fourth-year player. "Y'all better understand (stuff) about to get SERIOUS... ON MY MAMA," Landry tweeted after news of the deal broke. The trade was among a flurry Friday by the Browns. They agreed to acquire quarterback Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills for a third-round draft pick, and agreed to send quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers for cornerback Damarious Randall. Landry signed a $16 million, one-year franchise tag Thursday with Miami, clearing the path for his trade. The Dolphins began shopping him when the parties were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract. He's likely to get that extension from the Browns. Landry made $894,000 last year, when he completed the contract he signed as a rookie. He was by far the highest-profile Dolphins player eligible for free agency, and perhaps the best player on an offense that sputtered with quarterback Jay Cutler. But Landry's volatile personality became a concern for Miami. He was ejected in the fourth quarter of the season finale, a loss to Buffalo, and coach Adam Gase said the episode was embarrassing and "extremely bad." Miami's passing attack in 2017 gave Landry a bizarre stat line: 112 receptions to lead the league and break his own franchise record, but an average of 8.8 yards per catch to rank 110th. He a career-high nine touchdowns but finished 13 yards shy of 1,000. Landry's departure adds a receiver to the Dolphins' long list of offseason needs. Receivers Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker are expected to return, along with quarterback Ryan Tannehill , who missed all of 2017 because of a knee injury. Cleveland is $113 million under the salary cap and was expected to seek an impact receiver in free agency. Acquiring Landry has likely changed those plans and the Browns can address a multitude of other needs. Landry typically plays slot receiver, and the Browns have been disappointed with the production of former first-round draft pick Corey Coleman, who has been injured the past two seasons. Gordon may benefit most from Landry's arrival and the talented 26-year-old posted four trophy emojis on his Twitter page after the news of trade broke. With 12 picks in this year's draft, including the Nos. 1 and 4 overall and five in the first 64, the Browns had the ability to pull off a major deal for a major player. Hue Jackson has handed his offense over to former Pittsburgh coordinator Todd Haley, who should know how to best use a player of Landry's skill after coaching Antonio Brown the past few seasons. Cleveland's offense didn't have a legitimate go-to receiver last season until Gordon returned from an indefinite NFL suspension with five games left. Running back Duke Johnson finished as the club's leading receiver. Without enough players to spread out defenses, the Browns were too often one-dimensional, and their lack of options made life more difficult for Kizer, who led the NFL with 22 interceptions AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1882
__label__wiki	0.91204	0.91204	Sierra – 33 Sueños – Juan Carlos Garvayo, Quiteria Muñoz, Javier Povedano – 2019 (FLAC, 24BIT – 96KHZ) Composer: Roberto Sierra Performer: Juan Carlos Garvayo – piano, Quiteria Muñoz, Javier Povedano Label: IBS Classical Scan: yes (PDF) Javier Povedano – Roberto Sierra – 33 Sueños (2019) Roberto Sierra (b.1953) 01. 33 Sueños: Proemio 02. 33 Sueños: No. 1, Habla el Capitán Nemo 03. 33 Sueños: No. 2, — 04. 33 Sueños: No. 3, Cabo Sacratif 05. 33 Sueños: No. 4, Barzaj 06. 33 Sueños: No. 5, Manuel de Espirales I 07. 33 Sueños: No. 6, El Ojo de Kraken 08. 33 Sueños: No. 7, Eclipse 11. 33 Sueños: No. 10, — 13. 33 Sueños: No. 12, Sancti Petri 17. 33 Sueños: No. 16, In Deo Ducia Mea 20. 33 Sueños: No. 19, Contesto a Tus Preguntas 21. 33 Sueños: No. 20, Vasto, Chieti 23. 33 Sueños: No. 22, Nafs Ammâra 28. 33 Sueños: No. 27, Alfred Brendel 30. 33 Sueños: No. 29, Escorial 31. 33 Sueños: No. 30, Granada 33. 33 Sueños: No. 32, Manuel de Espirales II 35. Julia: I. Amante 36. Julia: II. Oh, Pájaro de Amor 37. Julia: III. Momentos 38. Julia: IV. Interrogaciones 39. Julia: V. Cantar Marinero 40. Julia: VI. Canción Hacia Adentro Among the most important contemporary Latin American composers, Roberto Sierra burst onto the scene in 1987 when the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presented the North American premiere of Júbilo at Carnegie Hall. The event was a resounding success and was followed by a string of other notable premieres. Perhaps the most important of these was the 2006 first performance of Sierra’s Missa Latina in Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., under Leonard Slatkin. It was a critical triumph of epic proportions, prompting the Washington Times to compare its success with that Britten’s War Requiem. Sierra’s style has been somewhat eclectic in fusing progressive compositional methods, some of which were introduced by his teacher Ligeti, with folk elements of Puerto Rican and Latin origins, as well as with jazz. Sierra’s works are available on a variety of labels, including Naxos, Koch International, Dorian, Albany Records, Newport Classic, and Fleur De Son. Roberto Sierra was born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, on October 9, 1953. His musical education was thorough and extensive, with studies first at the Puerto Rico Conservatory (1969-1976), the University of Puerto Rico (1976-1979), the Royal College of Music in London and London University (1976-1978), Utrecht-based Institute for Sonology (1978-1979), and finally the Hamburg Hochschule für Musik (1979-1982), where he both studied and worked with Ligeti. Following his studies Sierra returned to Puerto Rico and wrote the choral work Cantos populares (1983), and there soon followed his watershed work Júbilo (1985). Meanwhile, he supported himself by working in two educational administrative posts (1982-1989): Director of Cultural Activities at Puerto Rico University and Chancellor of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. In 1989 Sierra, still tasting the success from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s North American premiere of Júbilo, was named composer-in-residence of the MSO, serving until 1992. He joined the faculty at Cornell University in 1992, where he remains today as the chair of the music department. Throughout the 1990s Sierra received numerous prestigious commissions, including a joint one from the Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Utah Symphony Orchestras, which resulted in the Violin Concerto Evocaciones (1994). Other notable works came from his prolific pen, including the percussion concerto Con madera, metal y cuero (1998). The sensational successful of Missa Latina at its 2006 premiere led to further performances, including at the 2007 Casals Festival in Puerto Rico. Naxos released a recording of it in 2009, with Andreas Delfs leading the MSO. He was a finalist for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for his Concerto for Viola. Javier_Povedano_Roberto_Sierra_33_Sueños_2019_24-96.rar Posted in: 04. 24bit / 96kHz, Classics ⋅ Tagged: Garvayo, Muñoz, piano, Povedano, Sierra	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1884
__label__wiki	0.612422	0.612422	Jocelyn Dee is a toronto-based DJ, producer, podcaster, promoter, artist, and writer. Most recently she is part of the force behind Drum Bass Entertainment (DBE), which promotes music events in Toronto. You can catch Jocelyn Dee spinning on rotation at events around Toronto. You can also tune in to jocelyndee.com and listen to DJ sets and Jocelyn’s own original tunes, which are updated regularly. In her almost 20 years playing professionally, she has graced the decks of clubs throughout Ontario, Montreal, Vancouver, and the USA. Over the years Jocelyn has held club and radio residencies in Ottawa and Toronto. Since cutting her teeth as a DJ in the earlier rave days, Jocelyn can transition smoothly between vinyl and digital formats, and is always open to vinyl-theme gigs. She has also played at many underground events and music festivals, including the Om Festival and The World Electronic Music Festival. She is no stranger to the radio with past appearances on two of Toronto’s key underground radio stations: 88.1 FM CKLN and 89.5 FM CIUT. While living in Ottawa, she co-hosted 2 radio shows on Ottawa’s 93.1 FM CKCU. Jocelyn is currently hard at working writing a semi-fictional novel based on her experiences in the Toronto rave and dnb scene. No delivery date has been set at this moment. Stay tuned! http://jocelyndee.com/wp/biography	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1891
__label__cc	0.598981	0.401019	Presentation Training 56 Hollyrood Hts. Dr. Communications Training and Counsel Improvising Answers in Business March 21, 2014 Patrick McGee Many business people ask how they can better improvise their responses to difficult questions in meetings. I had a similar question about difficult suggestions from the audience, after watching Tom McGee compete with his Improv troupe in the Canadian Improv Games. In Improv, a group of people are put on the spot when they take seemingly random suggestions from an audience. Without any more than a minute or two of huddling together to confer, they are able to turn those suggestions into a coherent, funny sketch on stage. So, I asked Tom how they do it. His answer? “Structure. It’s all about structure.” What? Improv is not spontaneous and unrehearsed? “No,” he said. “We use set structures of story, character, status and so on as our prepared structures and incorporate what the audience offers into those structures.” The process still demands creativity, but that creativity is supported by prepared structures. Structure gives the improvisers control of the situation. With it, the audience’s suggestions become part of a controlled performance. Without it, those same suggestions become large threats. This is also the key for business people. They need to remember that they use structures to communicate every day. When the stress is less, it is easier to reach for those structures. They come into use in responding to questions; they provide control and bring comfort. Business people, in situations that are stressful, are often frozen by difficult questions. It’s the “deer in the headlights” effect. We should expect improvisers to suffer the same fate on stage. But the good ones don’t, because they reach for their known structures and use them to control whatever challenge the audience has given them. Keith Johnstone says in his book, IMPRO Improvisation and the Theatre: “…it (narrative skill) also means that you look back when you get stuck, instead of searching forwards.” When we teach media interactions, we talk about the “bridge” structure. Simply it means we either address or don’t address the specific question, and then use a word bridge, such as “the point that needs to be made is….” To take us back to the point we want to make. Certainly this structure could be and is used in other interactions, such as with customers. Another structure used in media interactions is the “premise challenge”. Here, we challenge the premise of the question rather than answer it. We might say, “You’ve based your question on some inaccurate data. I think we need to correct that….” Now that we’ve taken control, we can move the discussion to where it is more comfortable for us. Again, a technique most people use without thinking. It is important to understand the structures we use in communicating, so that they can be consciously applied in any situation. The empathy approach – words and actions – in situations of high concern and low trust is another control structure. In fact, it is an extremely powerful control structure when someone is expressing anger to us. I have broadened my own take on this. I call it ACUESAA: Acknowledge, Concern, Understanding, Empathy, Sympathy, Agreement, Action. Any of these responses, alone or in combination, create a structure to reduce concern and build trust. This approach is effective with any audience. Here are some other structures that can be used by business people: Rule of three. When a difficult question is asked, people can freeze and not know why. Then they begin to focus on their freeze-up and their anxiety just feeds on itself. If they take a lesson from Improv and Keith Johnstone, then they need to look back and not forward. Of all the things they could say, what three things would they choose? Selecting that structure often brings content to mind almost automatically. Therefore, control is established and the ice is broken. Sometimes it is tough to come up with three, but, as in Improv, the skill of using this structure can be learned and practiced. Chronology. This structure is time based. To respond to the question, the content is organized and delivered in chronological order. “It’s important to start at the beginning…And finally we arrive at today….” Too Hot. Too Cold. Just Right. Most of us know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In it, everything was analyzed in that manner. So, using this structure, we can find the options that are unacceptable and the one that is. As with Improv, the answer for business people to handle difficult questions is to find a control structure that gives them confidence and comfort in stressful interactions. Copyright 2005/2007 In Improvising, Communications, Corporate, Crisis, How To, Managing, Media Training What Do You Say If They Ask If You're Gay? Managing the Media's "Gotcha" Questions Bill Clinton’s recent hard-edged intervention in the Democratic leadership race reminded me of his aggressive response about his anti-terror record in a media interview with Chris Wallace. I included it as an example of one way to challenge the premise of the reporter’s gotcha questions in a column I wrote for PR Canada in September 2006. It starts with the Diane Sawyer interview with American Idol’s Clay Aiken asking about his sexuality. Here it is again for those who are interested in managing difficult questions in media interviews: It used to be that the “gotcha” question was “When did you stop beating your wife?” Now that the “Did you ever take drugs?” question has worn out, the “gotcha” question is: “Are you Gay?” So, what do you do if the media ask a “gotcha” question? Let’s look at the options: Negotiate a clear focus for the interaction ahead of the interview. Warn the interviewer off certain subjects. Answer the question directly, perhaps yes or no. Provide a variation that confirms or denies, perhaps with lots of ambiguity so that the receiver won’t be sure of the answer: “I won’t tell you what I am but I don’t have any problem that people have different sexual preferences.” Challenge the ‘Premise’ on the basis of the appropriateness of the question, the facts/interpretation of the facts/conclusion drawn off the facts. Saying in some way that the question is inappropriate is a premise challenge tactic. (Below you will see this done by former President Bill Clinton.) Refocusing on/bridging to the main/agreed focus of the interview is a premise challenge of the appropriateness of the question. Exit. If the techniques of not answering the question directly do not convince the reporter to move on and have been well delivered, then get out. In any given situation, you might well see a combination of options employed. There is no right or wrong response, just options, each with its own upside and downside. For instance, warning the interviewer off a certain subject – such as the gay question – might have an upside of eliminating that question, but it might have the downside of signalling a sensitivity that the reporter has a difficult time ignoring. The reporter may be prepared to break an agreement in order to increase the conflict/news value of the interview. Let’s look at some real world applications. The New York Post carried a headline: “Clay Aiken Calls Diane Sawyer’s Gay Question ‘Rude’.” It refers to an interview on “Good Morning America” between the veteran broadcast journalist and the 2003 runner-up who became an instant star after his performances on “American Idol.” The Post reported the exchange this way: Sawyer went right after Aiken, asking at the top of the interview if he was “ready to come out and say you’re gay.” “That would not make sense for me to do that,” Aiken said. “You think I’m rude for asking?” Sawyer asked Aiken. “I’ve gotten to a point where I feel it’s invasive. Forget it. What I do in my private life is nobody’s business anymore, period. I don’t think you’re rude because I figure people have a job to do.” Aiken said. “I just don’t understand why people care, to be honest with you. I’m not spending my time with this anymore. This is a waste of my time.” So, Aiken didn’t answer the question, he challenged the premise. He also signalled that he was done. He waved his arms and his body language signalled he’s going to leave, but he didn’t. Finally he said: “So, I’m done.” And then Sawyer changed the discussion to the issue of intrusive questions into private lives and admitted, “You got me”. She doesn’t like it either. Some have criticized Sawyer for lack of journalistic vigour for not pressing Aiken, presumably until he broke and supported her initial conclusion. I’m not interested in the content, only in the technique. In this exchange, Aiken premise challenged his way through the interview. He could have also used the premise challenge that we’ll see in the next example: Do you ask this question of everyone you interview? (This shifts control to the interviewee.) Another example. Chris Wallace interviewed Former President of the United States Bill Clinton on Fox News Sunday with an agreed focus of the Clinton Global Initiative. Wallace didn’t start with the question: “Tell me about the Clinton Global Initiative.” Instead, Wallace put Clinton on the defensive straight off: Wallace: In a recent issue of The New Yorker you say, quote, I’m 60 years old and I damn near died, and I’m worried about how many lives I can save before I do die. Is that what drives you in your effort to help in these developing countries? Clinton: Yes, I really – but I don’t mean – that sounds sort of morbid when you say it like that. I mean, I actually… Wallace: That’s how you said it. Clinton: Yes, but the way I said it, the tone in which I said it was actually whimsical and humorous. That is, this is what I love to do. It is what I think I should do. A few questions later Wallace really lights up Clinton. Wallace: When we announced that you were going to be on Fox News Sunday, I got a lot of e-mail from viewers. And I’ve got to say, I was surprised. Most of them wanted me to ask you this question: Why didn’t you do more to put bin Laden and Al-Qaeda out of business when you were president? The two of them engage in a choppy exchange with Clinton trying to get control and Wallace raising more questions that attack Clinton’s record. Finally Clinton gets aggressive. Clinton: OK, let’s talk about it. Now, I will answer all those things on the merits, but first I want to talk about the context in which this arises. Clinton and Wallace get into it with Clinton using a combination of answers to criticisms and premise challenges to Wallace on his motives. Here are the best bits strung together. Clinton: So you did Fox’s bidding on this show. You did your nice little conservative hit job on me. What I want to know is… Wallace: I want to ask a question. You don’t think that’s a legitimate question? (Control has shifted to Clinton. It’s his agenda that now drives the interview. Wallace is responding to Clinton’s attack.) Clinton: It was a perfectly legitimate question, but I want to know how many people in the Bush administration you asked this question of. Wallace: We ask plenty of questions of… Clinton: You didn’t ask that, did you? Tell the truth, Chris. Clinton: ….And you came here under false pretences and said…. Wallace: …I didn’t think this would send you off on such a tear. Clinton: You launched it – you set me off on a tear because you didn’t formulate it in an honest way and because you people ask me questions you don’t ask the other side. Wallace: That’s not true. Sir, that is not true. Wallace: Would you like to talk about the Clinton Global Initiative? Clinton: No, I want to finish this now. (Watch both parts on You Tube, links at the end.) So, who won? Wallace. He got one of the best interviews a reporter could ever get. Clinton got to talk about his global initiative but it was lost in the political discussion that was present throughout. Clinton took the hook, fought valiantly and used premise challenge explicitly throughout, but Wallace got a great interview at the cost of having his nose figuratively but seriously bloodied by Clinton’s counterpunching premise challenges. One final, quick example. Bill Parcells was the legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. His very controversial star receiver Terrell Owens, was reported to have tried to commit suicide with an overdose of medication. Parcells was holding his daily press conference following practice and knew next to nothing about the details of the situation. The Associated Press reported on the result. “After getting almost strictly Owens-related questions, coach Bill Parcells cut off his usual 25-30 minute session after only nine-minutes. He ended it by getting up from his chair and saying, ‘When I find out what the hell is going on, you will know. Until then, I’m not getting interrogated for no reason.’” Parcells picked up his water bottle and walked out. And yes, some media outlets carried that act on their sports news. So what? Parcells had provided reasonable responses to the questions – but he could not answer their questions precisely because he didn’t have the information. His exit was reasonable. No damage for walking out. If he had speculated and given them a controversial quote, they would have enjoyed the “gotcha” but also would have been wondering why he stayed in a vulnerable position. As Diane Sawyer admitted in her interview, the reporters know what’s in the best interests of the interviewee. The interviewees need to know it too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNIBFSMjb8&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT7yKfXN4p0&NR=1 Posted in Improvising, communications, corporate, crisis, how to, managing, media training, presentations, public speaking, speeches, thinking, work \| Edit \| 4 Comments » In Communications, Corporate, Crisis, How To, Managing, Media Training Clinton Risks Violating the Fairness Bias The all out attack on Barack Obama by competitor Hillary Clinton ahead of the crucial Ohio and Texas primaries risks violating the fairness bias of the undecided voters. It’s a risk that anyone in business runs when they decide to go at their opposition – whether at a shareholders’ meeting, a community forum, or through the media. Why? Two reasons. First, “life may not be fair, but humans have a strong bias for fairness,” says Lucas Laursen in the Feb/Mar issue of Scientific American MIND magazine. He notes that studies have found that relationships matter when people judge fairness. “Humans accepted unfair deals from computers but not from people.” So, Clinton’s supporters (strong relationship) will likely accept unfair treatment of Obama, but the undecideds (neutral relationship) probably not. That may then be the deciding factor in how the undecideds vote. So fairness is a key factor. It’s also very subjective and the perpetrator is usually a poor judge of fairness. Second, Clinton may misstep in regard to the concept of relative credibility. Simply put it says that you should be very careful attacking someone with more credibility with the target audience than you because, rather than driving them down, you drive yourself down and they go up in credibility. She better have objective data that says that with the undecideds she has more credibility or else she might just deliver the undecided vote to Obama. I wrote a piece on relative credibility a few years ago and have replayed below the example I used for illustration. Relative credibility in actionParty A, my client, was involved in a complex conflict involving litigation, grievances, and harassment with Party B. My client found the situation intolerable. Both parties finally agreed to appoint an experienced mediator to try to reach a settlement of all actions and issues.The mediator selected had vast experience as a litigation lawyer and mediator. He was not sympathetic to Party A as far as we could tell, but we thought he might be partial to Party B.Party A was eager to reach a settlement, but was also very emotional about the treatment its members had received at the hands of Party B and tended to show their emotions in any discussions involving Party B. Because of this, Party A’s credibility was diminished except with its supporters. The other party had enormous credibility because of historical goodwill.Once we had agreement within Party A that Party B probably had more credibility with the mediator starting out, we were able to devise a strategy to overcome this deficit. It worked better than we could have hoped.Party A stifled its instinct to “attack” Party B. Instead, Party A signalled through words and actions to the mediator that its goal was to reach an agreement – but not at any cost – and that Party A could and would provide the mediator with all of the information on the issues he might need to mediate the dispute.The members of Party A sat on their emotions and delivered the facts, the context and the co-operation that the mediator needed. Party A raised its credibility by their professionalism, candour, and co-operation. Party A also got a boost because an arrogant, uncooperative Party B destroyed the credibility it had.As Party A surpassed Party B in credibility with the mediator, Party B — probably not realizing that the relative credibility of the two parties had changed significantly– lost even more credibility and boosted Party A further by attacking it.The conflict was finally resolved and for the most part in Party A’s favour. Party A held a victory party. I doubt that Party B did. While the resolution took a very long time and many factors came into play, there was one constant: The mediator worked tirelessly and doggedly to get a settlement, which was his victory. By doing so, he was apparently driven – consciously or not – by the credible position and actions of Party A. This resulted in victory for Party A. Resolving Conflict and Moving Forward An executive in Europe was put in charge of a major project for her company. The project involved multiple offices and a number of key players. She wasn’t involved for very long before she found herself engulfed in conflict and at risk. Not good for an upward career path. She found her way to me for some problem solving and communications counsel. When we met up over the telephone, she briefed me on the situation and the “cast of characters”. There was a lot of negativity in her description. The negative feelings she had seemed to block a clear perspective and, therefore, a constructive way to resolve the escalating conflicts. I had learned a neat technique during a negotiating course at Harvard Law School and with my client’s permission we used it to re-analyze the situation she had just described. We used role reversal. I asked the client to go back through each of the characters and tell me what they would say, in their words, about her. She did. In so doing, her tone changed. She became more empathetic to each character’s situation and mindset. We explored some characters more than others, but we covered them all. I didn’t have to tell her what to do. She was ahead of me. She “saw” her way forward. It was one of the options she had been mulling over but in which she had not had confidence. Her mind seemed to unblock. There was a confidence and energy in her voice. She was in a hurry to get off the phone and get on with taking actions to solve the problems. All of that took one hour. She had spent that time actively “listening” to the critical players, even though they weren’t on the call. She had interrogated them on their feelings and thinking and objectives, based on her knowledge. She had developed a new perspective on the conflict and quickly selected the actions that she now knew would begin to drive toward a solution. Is it working? I asked her later. She said this: “Yes, I am happy to tell you that there has been some progress in the last week or so. I don’t think that I am out of the woods yet, but there is a clear improvement.” Thinking “out of the box”, in my opinion, is achieved by adding new information or stimuli to help us achieve a new perspective or “see” a solution that is not the one that is blocking progress. Listening, using a variety of techniques, is one very effective way to add that new information or stimuli. And if you can’t seem to do it on your own, or do it well, get some help from someone with objectivity. Copyright November 2008 In Communications, Corporate, Crisis, How To, Managing, Problem Solving How to Control a Media Interview By Patrick McGee Copyright December 2008 If you’re afraid/concerned about where the reporter is going to take an interview, then you need to know how to control the direction of the interaction. There are three key things you want to keep in the front of your mind: Own it. Consciously commit to be in charge. If this was a business meeting you were running, would you simply be reactive to the questions or direction in which the participants wanted to go? I don’t think so. You would lead the meeting and maintain a pre-determined focus. Why does this have to be the reporter’s meeting? It should be yours, even if they asked for it. Prepare. Determine the interview outcome that will meet your needs, the needs of the reporter and those of the readers/viewers/listeners (that YOU decide are the target). Build the whole story – not just messages – so that you can tell that story completely, concisely and compellingly and the reporter can, at least in theory, just take that story and have a great product for their audience. Be prepared to bring the story without any stimulus from the reporter. In other words, you don’t have to wait for the questions. (I watched Richard Branson of Virgin companies’ fame tell his mobile phone story on a remote TV interview for three or four minutes without a single question from the media host because Branson’s earpiece wasn’t working and he couldn’t hear the host. So, he just launched into his story and stopped when he was finished. Brilliant!) Manage the interaction using premise challenges. In effect, explain why you won’t answer a question precisely, but rather will respond appropriately, and use guiding to let the reporter know where this interaction is going. (They may not like that you’re leading but another part of them likes to know where they’re going.) In my Media Training sessions at McGee+Associates I often get asked about controlling the interview: who does this well? One only has to watch television to see people who are masters, strivers and failures. But there was one situation recently that I thought provided an excellent real life example of the concepts outlined above. On December 9, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Patrick Fitzgerald, along with his staff and members of the FBI, the IRS, and the Postal Service held a full-house press conference to announce the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and John Harris, his Chief of Staff, on corruption charges. (All of this was included in the notice to media, so they knew going in what the presser was about.) I’m going to take you through excerpts of the transcript to show you the words Fitzgerald used to control this interaction with the media. And if you want to watch him in action you can do that here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4691428975272263845 and/or read the full transcript here: http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/12/fitzgerald_press_conference_on.html Fitzgerald clearly did not go into this interaction unprepared. He was in charge. He was focussed. He had a story and he told it and told it well. And he guided the media during the session and challenged the appropriateness or premise of their questions. This is the technique I’m going to illustrate below. Key points will be underlined. Any editorial comments I have will be in bracketed italics either before or after the transcript material from Federal News Service (all typos in the transcript are theirs and any others are mine) carried on the Chicago Sun-Times blog of Lynn Sweet. (Fitzgerald starts the press conference by introducing his colleagues and even here he is guiding the reporters with directions and then he launches into his story which, in one paragraph, is really the essential story without the details.) MR. FITZGERALD: Good morning. Joining me is — to my far right, is Rob Grant, the special agent in charge for the FBI office here in Chicago. To his left is Al Patton, the special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigative Division, and to his left is Tom Brady, the inspector in charge of the Postal Inspection Service in Chicago. Behind me, to my left, are Carrie Hamilton, Reid Schar and Chris Niewoehner, assistant U.S. attorneys. This is a sad day for government. It’s a very sad day for Illinois government. Governor Blagojevich has taken us to a truly new low. Governor Blagojevich has been arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree. (Fitzgerald, with that last sentence, has just covered off one of the weak spots in the actions he has just announced – did they act too soon? He will come back to this point/message in his story several times in the press conference and it will be easier to defend/explain as part of the story. For the next 14 minutes or so, he tells the long version of the story and lets the FBI man have his say.) (As Fitzgerald is walking back to the lectern after Special Agent Rob Grant is finished, the first question is thrown at him. It deals with the timing issue.) Q Mr. Fitzgerald, was this done today in an effort to head off the appointment of someone to fill Barack Obama’s Senate seat? Was it so imminent that that’s why you had to step in? MR. FITZGERALD: I would say that we decided that this required unusual measures, and there were a lot of things going on that were imminent. There’s a bill sitting on the desk that we think a person who was supporting that bill has been squeezed to give $100,000. And to let that bill be signed to me would be very, very troubling. There is a hospital — Children’s Memorial Hospital — believing that it’s getting $8 million, but its CEO has not coughed up a campaign contribution. And the thought that that money may get pulled back from a Children’s Memorial Hospital is something that you cannot abide. There is an editor that they’d like fired from the Tribune. And I laid awake at night worrying whether I’d read in the paper in the morning that when there were layoffs that we’d find out that that person was laid out. The complaint– the complaint lays out, in there, in fact, when there were layoffs, there were conversations to find out whether the editor who should have — they thought should be fired was fired, and he wasn’t, and the governor was asking whether there’d be more layoffs. So we have the governors, in these modern times, the only one who’s looking for more layoffs. You take that, what’s going on, add it to the fact that we have a Senate seat that seemed to be as recently as days ago auctioned off to the — you know, to the highest bidder for campaign contributions. And Governor Blagojevich’s own words on the tape with a bug that’s set forth in the complaint talked about selling this like a sports agent. Q Couldn’t he just – MR. FITZGERALD: So — I’m just — so we stepped in for a number of reasons. Basically, as I said before, we’re in the middle of a corruption crime spree and we wanted to stop it. (Members of press shouting simultaneous questions.) Okay. Can we – Q Patrick, you said – MR. FITZGERALD: Okay, just one second. No, no, let me just say one thing. We’re going to stay here as long as this is productive. We will — you’re not on a clock. We want to dispel any misperceptions. So don’t feel like you got to — anyone’s got to yell to get a question in. Q (Inaudible) — you said twice that we shouldn’t cast aspersions on people who we think we recognize within the complaint. Does that mean that all of these people are beyond blame in any way? I mean, some of the things in the complaint point a very kind of a tacky finger at some people, their willingness to play. And if pay to play is illegal, isn’t the willingness to play also culpable, even if you didn’t charge today? MR. FITZGERALD: What I’m trying to say is this. Look, we never give – ….I’m never going to say no, because that’s just our practice. But I don’t want people, when I answer those questions, ….What I’m trying to do is explain caution about a complaint. … Yes? (He points out a reporter for the next question, who says they want to know one thing, then outlines two parts with various conclusions and data .) Q Would you please address one thing? And that is, when Blagojevich walks out of here today, unless I’m mistaken about the constitution of Illinois, he will still be governor. He will still have the power to make the appointment to the Senate seat. He will still have the power whether or not he’s going to sign the bill that you are concerned about. Also would you address the fact — and I know you’ve referred to this — would you just address whether or not President-elect Obama was aware that any of these things were taking place? MR. FITZGERALD: Okay. I’m not going to speak for what the president-elect was aware of. We make no allegations that he’s aware of anything, and that’s as simply as I can put it. And the first part, my understanding is that he is the sitting governor of Illinois today, now, and that is not something we have any say in or control over. So at the end of the day, he will be the sitting governor. Q In your view, in your view, Pat, in your view – (There are lots of questions and hands waving. He sorts it out.) MR. FITZGERALD: Okay, this — and then Carlos next. Q In your view, Pat, should the governor, on his own volition, step aside while he fights these charges, or should the Illinois state legislature move ahead with what it’s threatened to do and impeach him? What are your views on both of those? MR. FITZGERALD: The Office of the United States Attorney has no view. We are not entitled to any view. And the view of what happens in the legislature of Illinois is not for us. (When Ari Fleischer was George W. Bush’s Press Secretary, he might have said: “The premise of your question is not valid so I can’t answer it. But I can tell you this….” Fitzgerald just skips calling it a premise challenge and goes directly to an explanation of the fault in the premise of the question. His response is strong and clear and uses deep, as in fundamental, context to respond. Too many interviewees don’t go back far enough and miss out on using some of their strongest arguments.) Q What do you – Q Pat – MR. FITZGERALD: Carlos. Carlos and then Carol (sp). Q Pat, given the scope and the brazenness of this alleged conduct of Governor Blagojevich, what does it say that this happened despite the cautionary tale of George Ryan? MR. FITZGERALD: I just — I think it tells us certainly — you know, I don’t want to jump ahead of things. Again, the governor’s presumed innocent. (Another diplomatic premise challenge. Fitzgerald could have prefaced his response with: “Your question is inappropriate based on timing.”) Q Are you able to tell us if, in the Tribune scenario, it was the Tribune who came to you and said “We’re being extorted,” or you that went to the Tribune with this revelation? MR. FITZGERALD: I don’t — that’s not set forth in the complaint. What we can tell you is that that was conversations we intercepted on the governor’s side, speaking to Mr. Harris about what they wanted to do… Q So it’s conceivable, then, that the Tribune, at some level of management, was considering, or forced to consider, the governor’s alleged extortion. MR. FITZGERALD: I’m not going to speak for the Tribune or what happened, what message got there… So I’m not going to speculate as to… (The following is an instructive exchange. The reporter asks about “a different matter”, an issue that is not on this day’s agenda. The reporter is trying to change the focus, whether intentional or not. Fitzgerald just says it’s not on focus and then stays in control invoking a position he has already established. Then he moves on to someone else, not taking a follow-up. Note the language that allows him to be in control.) Q Mr. Fitzgerald, what does this say about Senator Durbin’s letter to the president requesting commutation of George Ryan’s sentence, which has only been a year of the six-and-a-half-year sentence that was imposed for the — for the crimes this office charged him with and convicted him of? MR. FITZGERALD: And that’s a different matter. I told you the office doesn’t have a view on what happens in sort of Illinois government. We just don’t have a stake in that. To the extent the office has a view in the Ryan pardon, if we’re asked by the Department of Justice or the White House to express that view, we will do so privately. But we’re not going to — it’s inappropriate for me, on behalf of the office, to express a view where the power of pardon and commutation rests with the president. And it’s not our power — our power, and we do not make a practice of commenting to other branches of government, what they ought to do unless asked by them in private. Q I’ve got two questions. What does the law say about the appointment process of the U.S. Senate, you know, as it relates to the governor before his arrest? And then I have another question, is how could the appointment process of the U.S. Senate, you know, change now that, you know, the governor’s been arrested? MR. FITZGERALD: And I’m not going to comment …I’m not going to comment on any proposed modifications. Q Which advice would you give to anybody who would now take a senatorial appointment from Rod Blagojevich? MR. FITZGERALD: Oh, I’m — I’m going to duck that one on — okay. Yes, sir. (Why can Fitzgerald get away with ducking and moving on? Although unstated, the premise of the question is inappropriate and he knows that everyone in the room knows it, so he just moves on. If the reporter challenged him, Fitzgerald would give him the “we don’t do that” explanation. Since he’s given it once, he doesn’t use it. Some of the people I train worry that using this tactic would be rude. With the words he uses and the point having been previously established, Fitzgerald isn’t rude.) Q We understand the governor was taken to the FBI headquarters this morning. MR. FITZGERALD: Yes. Q Was he interviewed there? And did he make any kind of a statement? MR. FITZGERALD: I’m not allowed to comment on whether anyone made a statement, but he was arrested and taken to the FBI. Q Was he interviewed? MR. FITZGERALD: I don’t think I – (Fitzgerald appeals for advice to one of his staff out of camera. So for those who think they have to know everything or else someone might think them incompetent, it’s not necessarily so. Here’s a very confident, in-command Fitzgerald, appropriately seeking counsel from one of his lawyers. No worries.) Q (Off mike.) MR. FITZGERALD: I don’t know if I can comment on whether we attempted an interview under the rules. I can’t comment on that. Q Mr. Fitzgerald, would you make clear just something about the timing here? When the Tribune ran its story a few days ago revealing that the governor was being taped, would you explain — and I think some of this is laid out in the complaint — did further taping take place, or did that essentially terminate your ability to listen in? MR. FITZGERALD: Well, what I would say is to back up, and to the extent that there have been articles I’m not confirming or denying the accuracy of the articles. You can compare them against what happened. I will say this… Q Patrick, you are always very careful to separate politics and law enforcement. …How about weighing in on a matter of civic responsibility? MR. FITZGERALD: I think there’s enough people here who can weigh in on their opinions about things, and the citizens can weigh in with their opinions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI do not have an opinion on what actions the legislature ought take. The only opinion we’ll express is that we hope that people with relevant information will come forward and cooperate with us. Q You’re — you live here in Chicago. Do you trust this governor to make a good choice for the Senate, which is so important? MR. FITZGERALD: I am a citizen of Illinois, and I do have opinions and beliefs. And what they are, are for me, because when I speak, I speak on behalf of that seal, and that seal has no opinion on that matter. And in the back? Yes? And then you. Q (Off mike) — confirmed so many investigations — (off mike) — be additional counts added against these defendants and others? MR. FITZGERALD: What we’ll simply say is the investigation continues. We’re not going to predict that other charges will or will not be filed. Q You spoke before about if Senator — you didn’t know — no awareness that Senator or President-elect Barack Obama knew about this. So is it safe to say he has not been briefed? And can you also tell us if any phone calls were made to President-elect Obama that you intercepted, or to Rahm Emanuel? MR. FITZGERALD: Okay. I’m not going to go down anything that’s not in the complaint. And what I simply said before is, I’m not going to — I have enough trouble speaking for myself. I’m not going to try and speak in the voice of a president or a president-elect. So I simply pointed out…. And that’s all I can say. (Fitzgerald is not afraid of the media. He is prepared to manage the interactions. The questions are getting more speculative rather than fact seeking. Here’s a light exchange.) Q What will be your position — what will be your position at this afternoon’s hearing on detention or bond for the governor? MR. FITZGERALD: I don’t expect there’s going to be a contentious issue about bond, but we’ll — Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan will be handling that proceeding. I think she can hear the specifics from us for the first time in court. But – Q You won’t oppose — (off mike). MR. FITZGERALD: I think Judge Nolan should hear what our position is, not through your excellent reporting but through our (assistants/assistance ?) telling him what it is. Q How would you categorize this — (off mike) — compared to other things that you’ve seen? How would you categorize it? MR. FITZGERALD: I’m not going to go beyond saying that just we — the conduct we think is appalling. I’m not going to do a comparative to other cases, but I just think it’s very, very disturbing that we have these pay-to-play allegations going on for years, and that they picked up steam after a conviction, they picked up steam after an ethics-in-government act, and that it would go so far as to taint the process by which the governor and his inner circle of advisers were choosing someone to take a seat in the United States Senate to represent Illinois. Q (Off mike) — said that Senate candidate number five took herself out of the running after this was made apparent to her? Can we gather that is Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky? MR. FITZGERALD: I’m not going to confirm or deny any names with numbers. I just can’t. Q You do name the governor’s wife in this. And you quote her in the charges. Can you recount for us what she said and what her role was as it’s laid out in the charge? MR. FITZGERALD: Since I don’t — (inaudible) — won’t quote it accurately, there’s a paragraph, I believe, … I think I’ll just leave you to looking at the complaint and – Q If she what the governor has been charged with, why wouldn’t she be charged if she’s saying the same thing? MR. FITZGERALD: I’m not going to comment on anyone not charged. I’ll simply say …. Q Mr. Fitzgerald, I have a question…. MR. FITZGERALD: Well, you hit on two questions. One is a legal distinction. Q Mr. Fitzgerald? MR. FITZGERALD: Yes? Q Sir, just to be crystal-clear on this point, you’re not aware of any conversation, then, that took place between the governor and any member of Barack Obama’s transition team at all? MR. FITZGERALD: And what I simply said is you can read the complaint. I’m not going to sit here with a 76-page complaint and parse through it. You know, that’s all we’re alleging. And I’m just — I’m not going to start going down and saying, “Did anyone ever talk to anyone?” You can read what we allege in the complaint. It’s pretty detailed. Look in the 76 pages, and if you don’t see it, it’s not there. Q In the briefings that President-elect Obama has had over the past weeks with various government departments here, would it be possible for him to have been briefed on what was going on here with regard to this investigation? MR. FITZGERALD: I’m not going to comment on that. I’m not the briefer. I’m not at those meetings. But I would simply say that this was very close-hold in Washington, and on a need-to-know basis. So I’m — but I’m not going to — I’m not the briefer, so I’m not going to represent what happens. But — I’ll leave it at that. Q Pat? Q Is there anything – Q Will you quantify the number of calls that you’ve gotten – (At this point the questions are getting out of control and Fitzgerald reasserts authority with clear direction – it gives the media direction and they settle down. This kind of control can be asserted one-on-one just as well as in a group.) MR. FITZGERALD: Sorry? Okay. After Carol (sp), we’ll go do a ring around the back. Q Pat, one of the things I think that people out there look at is, the governor’s known he’s been under investigation for several years now, and yet he would still engage, allegedly, in this kind of activity. What does it say about the audacity of the governor to do this while he’s under investigation and knows it? MR. FITZGERALD: I’ll leave that for you to draw your own conclusions. It’s a pretty audacious set of conversations set forth in the complaint, in the circumstances. In the back? Yes. Q Which union did the governor solicit in exchange for the Senate appointment? MR. FITZGERALD: I think it’s laid out in the complaint that it’s …and again, I’m not going to describe more than is in the complaint – Anyone else in the back? Q Can the FBI comment on at all on the search warrant that was executed for the governor’s office at the Thompson Center? MR. FITZGERALD: That’s — I don’t think it’s the governor’s office at the Thompson Center. There’s a search warrant — can we say where? (Fitzgerald again defers to his staff and doesn’t proceed with his answer without guidance.) MR. FITZGERALD: It’s at the office of Deputy Governor — a deputy governor. And there’s a search warrant being executed at the Friends of Blagojevich campaign headquarters. Q Right now? Q Can I ask you one, Pat? MR. FITZGERALD: Well, one more. I just want to get the — I want to make sure – Q Can you help me with a matter of law, a question of law…? MR. FITZGERALD: Okay, and I’m not going to get into hypotheticals that you’ll abstract, from the complaint, and start going down that road. Q I was just wondering, is — I haven’t read the full complaint either — is Rezko going to be testifying regarding this case at all? (Off mike.) MR. FITZGERALD: I think there’s a discussion of Mr. Rezko, in a footnote, somewhere in the complaint. And I couldn’t tell you the footnote number. But if you look there, there’s a succinct summary of his status, in that footnote, that I won’t try to repeat out loud. And yes. Who’s next? Q If a Tribune executive did agree to fire somebody on the editorial board, as an exchange for this, would it be criminal behavior? And can you characterize at all how far the Tribune plot went? MR. FITZGERALD: I’m not going to say how far the Tribune plot went, other than the person who was identified, as the person to be fired, was not fired and still works there today….We don’t go beyond that. I’m not going to opine … Q Pat, you spoke very directly about why the indictment had to come now. (Fitzgerald makes sure the reporters have their facts straight in this premise challenge.) MR. FITZGERALD: First of all, there’s not an indictment, I realize. It’s a complaint. So I don’t want people to understand it’s an indictment. We’ve filed a criminal complaint. Q State lawmakers said this morning they’d like to see impeachment proceedings within — (off mike) — January. Now, I understand impeachment is somewhat — something like a trial. Would you assist them in any sense or with any of the evidence you’ve prepared — (off mike)? MR. FITZGERALD: I thought about a lot of things this morning. That one hasn’t come up yet. And I’m not going to take it off the top of my head and spring. So we’ll go from there. STAFF: Thank you very, much folks. END. (Yes, the end of an hour-long masterful performance of managing the interaction with a room full of reporters. The language of control and premise challenge that Patrick Fitzgerald used is the type of language that we use each and everyday in our interactions with colleagues, clients, suppliers, family and friends. Fitzgerald has shown that it is equally appropriate and extremely useful in controlling a multi-lateral media interview. I know it works in one-on-one interviews as well. ) In Communications, Corporate, Crisis, Managing, How To Influence/Change: What Formula Are You Using? Success at work involves influence at work. We employ influence in decision-making, sales, client relations (internal and external), change management, organizational transformation, managing, recruiting, handling conflicts, negotiations, and so on. We all have our ways of preparing to exercise influence. Some of us are aware of these approaches and for others the approaches are largely unconscious. A way of preparing that yields the best results is to use a formula to guide our research and analysis of what needs to be in our influence/change communications. There is a 1960s vintage formula that I have found provides a very useful question stimulus and analytical framework through which to strategically prepare for an influence opportunity. I’m referring to Gleicher’s Formula or Equation. David Gleicher was a consultant at Arthur D. Little. In equation form, his formula looks like this: Change = Dissatisfaction ´ Vision of the future ´ First steps towards that vision > Resistance. (C=DVF>R) This was later refined to DVF > Cost (economic and psychological). The thought is that, if any of the elements on the left side of the equation are weak or missing, then overcoming resistance/cost won’t happen. The great value of using a formula like Gleicher’s when we are planning to exercise influence to achieve a goal is that it brings discipline to our thinking (or lack thereof!) It makes us examine our assumptions against what the person we are trying to influence is thinking, believing, fearing, wanting, etc. Who hasn’t heard the admonition to be client (external or internal) centred (driven, etc.) today? Well, the client’s cost resistance is one thing, but that psychological cost is a swamp of resistance, to play on John Bunyan’s Slough of Despond. From bias, to “I don’t know you”, to the fear factors, such as the fear of failure. This side of the formula – resistance – has the most weight, precisely because it is the client’s centre. But how many of us want to believe that we’ll achieve the influence we want to have, based on the client’s dissatisfaction with the status quo (and how much research did we do on this?), combined with our vision of the future for the client (our product, service, idea, goal, etc.), along with our gentle (or otherwise) push with a suggested action or exhortation (“now get out there….”)? Some will do thorough research (questions, surveys, etc.) and analysis, using a disciplined approach that will include the resistance part of the formula. But many will not do much more than a cursory think- through, driven by their firmly held assumptions. Resistance is powerful. Facts and persuasive influencers notwithstanding, change can be non-existent or slow if it cannot outweigh resistance. For example, on the issue of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, Professor Andre Potworowski flags the resistance problem in a column by technology writer Tyler Hamilton. “It is, in effect, a challenge of change management… The greatest barrier to innovation comes from resistance to change on the part of the consumer… People must begin to see the possibility of profiting from sustainability,” says Potworowski. And every issue, challenge – indeed, opportunity – is the same. Does DVF outweigh R? There is a circumstance where influence/change can happen extremely quickly. I’ll take some liberty with Gleicher’s formula to explain. When I ask myself what factors have been present when I’ve seen an immediate result in influence/change that overcomes resistance, it looks like this: Fear + Urgency + Limited Options (FULO) > Resistance. Why? Basically the values of Gleicher’s DVF are jacked-up to the “threat” level and the cost considerations – economic and psychological – don’t have as much sway. How many times do most of us have these FULO factors working in our favour to overcome resistance when we’re exercising influence? Not that many. So, we have to deal with the CVF factors Gleicher identified. We can “manufacture” FULO. Many high-pressure sales techniques do just that. We can introduce some aspects of FULO into DVF. Certainly there’s an ethical line for using these “weapons of influence.” Gleicher isn’t the only one with a formula. Just a sample from my bookshelves includes: Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends & Influence People – great advice for anyone. Robert Cialdini, INFLUENCE – The Psychology of Persuasion – PhD. He has six “weapons of influence.” They are present in every analysis I do and often employed in my strategies and those of my clients. John Adams, Successful Change, Paying Attention to the Intangibles – a change leader I found by exploring Gleicher, he asked the question “Why do so many of these efforts fail?” He found his own answer. His research led to a list of 12 Individual Change Success Factors that he believes are complementary to Gleicher’s Formula. He shared it in OD Practitioner in 2003. Howard Gardner, Changing minds: the art and science of changing our own and other people’s minds – Harvard Ph.D. put forward the concept of multiple intelligences, and in this book outlines his 7 Levers of Change, all starting with “Re”. I’m thankful to Gardner for introducing me to a formal examination of resistance. It informs my thinking, training/coaching and counsel. Gregory Berns, Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently – MD, PhD. Berns wanted to have innovation in the title but it was overused. He really framed the fear factors part of resistance for me. Chris Argyris, Overcoming Organizational Defenses – Professor Emeritus Harvard and Thought Leader, Monitor Group. Argyris discusses the undiscussable: how organizations resist change by implementing “organizational defenses”. My take on it: Most organizations talk the talk, but few walk the talk. I will explore influence and the references above in future blogs, but in the meantime, enjoy your reading if you check out these experts. And don’t forget to use a formula to increase your strategic influence. In Communications, Corporate, Crisis, How To, Public Speaking, Managing, Problem Solving How To Survive the Narrative Rip Current nar·ra·tive/ˈnarətiv/ Noun: A spoken or written account of connected events; a story. Narrative. So powerful. But what if it’s working against you? A narrative like the 'Birther' issue that has haunted President Obama through his first term. I have worked in public relations for many years and have had to manage narratives that ran counter to my client’s interests many times. It always felt to me at first like getting caught in a rip current at the beach. No matter how hard you fight it, it just seems like it is going to carry you out to sea. The solution to a counter flowing narrative is, in fact, much like the advice given to those caught in an actual rip current: remain calm, get your feet down on something solid, get help and be patient. More on this later. What brought the power of the counter narrative back to my consciousness was a column by Toronto Globe and Mail writer Margaret Wente: “Can you handle the truth? Forget the narrative of catastrophe. The Gulf of Mexico is nearly back to normal.” Her story picks up on an AP report that basically says that, while not completely back to pre-Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill state, it’s not the disaster we might think it is. What’s instructive here is how this powerful narrative is playing out. After 100 days of almost around the clock coverage and a narrative of environmental disaster, reinforced to this day, that story sticks with many of us. I’m as influenced by it as anyone. The surprising “truth”, says the AP report, is that it is not as bad as we might think. However, for the seafood industry, the tourism industry, the oil and gas industry and BP in particular, they are still fighting the rip current fed by the narrative of destruction that is running against them. Wente draws an interesting conclusion about why the “narrative of catastrophe” remains, in spite of the facts. “I think it’s because we saw the spill as a giant morality tale: evil versus good, rapacious oil interests versus the environment, greedy consumers (that’s us) versus oil-soaked pelicans and the unspoiled natural world. The visuals were devastating, and the coverage was relentless. The media took turns hyping the disaster. They had a lot invested in this storyline and, when it took an unexpected happy turn, they couldn’t handle it. They couldn’t even see it.” So, how do we go about keeping our heads above water and surviving the power of the narrative rip current? Keep Calm: High emotion and panic lead to bad decisions. Swimming against a rip current often leads to exhaustion and drowning. Use your head. If a narrative is running against you, don’t start thinking like a victim. That’s emotional. Think like the receiver of the narrative. Will they pay attention to it? Will it makes sense to them? How much exposure to repetitions will they get? How much credibility do you have with the receivers versus the storytellers or protagonists? Plan all actions and communications with the answers to these questions in mind. Be deliberate. Don’t flail about. Get a Solid Base: If you are caught in a rip current, you’ll find that the water has more power than a swimmer. So – as they say and I have experienced – get your feet on the bottom and walk out if you can. Point is that the solid ground gives you powerful traction to counter the force of the current. Facts and logical arguments will be necessary to counter a strong narrative that is running against you. Obama has come out with the definitive proof of birth in Hawaii that confirms he is a citizen (not for everyone – there are doubters who will never be convinced and there are those with agendas that don’t want to be convinced). Many hope that this action kills the “birther” narrative that has taken up so much space in the public affairs geography. Without the proof, this story had no chance of dying. If a narrative comes down to their opinion versus yours, you may never win. A formerUSMarine General was reported to have told a group: “My opinion versus yours, mine wins. Your facts versus my opinion, you have a chance of convincing me.” Another element is that people can accept things they don’t like, but only if they understand them. So, while a strong narrative may initially hold sway, planting the seed of doubt with facts and arguments that undermine the narrative can be the beginning of the end. Caveat: the facts and argument have to make sense to the receiver. Too often counter arguments are made that make sense to the party feeling victimized by the narrative, but these arguments don’t make sense to the receivers. An example would be an oil company saying that a spill wasn’t their fault – because they believed it was a subcontractor’s or nature’s fault. The receiver, on the other hand, thinks: “Your well, your oil, your instructions, your oversight, your responsibility, your liability.” Pushing against this is like trying to swim directly against the rip current. Part of the solid base is context. It can be beneficially powerful. But like most powerful tools, it can also be dangerous, if used improperly. Here’s an example as cited in Wente’s column: “Tony Hayward, BP’s CEO, was reviled for saying that the amount of oil leaked was ‘tiny’ compared with the ‘very big ocean.’ But he turned out to be right.” So, good piece of context but delivered too early. In the face of 24 hour video coverage of the oil spewing from the fractured underwater well and the huge slick on the surface and the dead fish and oil covered wildlife, marshes and beaches, Hayward’s offering did nothing more than further damage his credibility. He needed to be calm and patient. Minimizing the problem comes across as defensive and callous. In fact, it is seen as supportive of the negative narrative. Get Help: If you get caught in a rip current, get help. A boat might be needed, if you can’t walk out. Also, the experience and credibility of someone like a lifeguard might be what you need to successfully counter the current. In the case of a narrative, other credible voices that are prepared to put forward facts and arguments that counter the narrative may become the only credible voices. Yours may be discounted, like Mr. Hayward’s. Be Patient: Walking out of a rip current can be slow and very difficult. Waiting for a rescue boat can seem an eternity. Be calm and patient. Certainly this is very true when the current is a strong narrative. A national survey checking on attitudes of consumers found that 71% are still concerned about the safety of Gulf seafood, even though fishing is not allowed until the species is deemed safe following testing. It’s going to take time to change the narrative. With both the fishing industry’s and the government’s self-interest an issue, the credible third parties that are having some traction on the narrative are chefs who are vouching for the safety and quality of the seafood by serving it in their restaurants. This one will be a word of mouth change to the narrative. Set against 100 days of 24 hours of pictures at 1,000 words a picture – well, it’s going to have to be a slow and steady turnaround. So, given all of the above, and given that he had the definitive proof in hand, why would Obama have let the birther narrative build for almost four years? This might be one of those cases where the credibility of the narrators took a hit with every telling, because the narrative wasn’t of interest or didn’t make sense to most of the receivers. I get the sense that on April 27th, 2011, when the document was finally released, Obama just calmly and deliberately walked through the current and out of the water. Just sayin’! In Communications, Corporate, Crisis, How To, Managing Tags birther, BP, communications, crisis, Deepwater Horizon, how to, Obama, rip current, seafood, strategy	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1898
__label__wiki	0.964742	0.964742	Author Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z _ b c n z V. S. Nagornyi V. S. Nagornyi, Design and calculation of electrogasdynamic (electrohydrodynamic) converters with jet turbulization by EHD action, Vol. 22, No. 3, 56-63, 1986; English translation: Magnetohydrodynamics, Vol. 22, No. 3, 275-281, 1986 [PDF] [PDF] V. V. Vlasov and V. S. Nagornyi, Calculation of the steady-state characteristics of an electrohydrodynamic vortex converter in the active vortex stage, Vol. 17, No. 4, 110-114, 1981; English translation: Magnetohydrodynamics, Vol. 17, No. 4, 397-400, 1981 [PDF] [PDF] V. S. Nagornyi and V. I. Bezrukov, Droplet emission in an electrostatic field, Vol. 16, No. 3, 111-117, 1980; English translation: Magnetohydrodynamics, Vol. 16, No. 3, 315-319, 1980 [PDF] [PDF] V. S. Nagornyi and V. I. Bezrukov, Analysis of an electrohydrodynamic converter with a radial electric field and fluid flow, Vol. 14, No. 2, 137-142, 1978; English translation: Magnetohydrodynamics, Vol. 14, No. 2, 256-261, 1978 [PDF] [PDF] V. V. Vlasov, A. A. Denisov and V. S. Nagornyi, Stages of the distribution of the feed flow in an electrohydrodynamic vortical converter, Vol. 12, No. 3, 125-130, 1976; English translation: Magnetohydrodynamics, Vol. 12, No. 3, 363-368, 1976 [PDF] [PDF] V. S. Nagornyi, Effect of an electric field on the flow of a dielectric fluid in tubes, Vol. 4, No. 3, 73-76, 1968; English translation: Magnetohydrodynamics, Vol. 4, No. 3, 46-48, 1968 [PDF] [PDF]	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1903
__label__cc	0.665266	0.334734	Tag: Canadian Press Copyright and the abuse of user rights – a Canadian perspective August 6, 2009 steeleworthy4 Comments I love how I can find new voices and opinions on the Internet. Lately, I’ve been reading Shannon Turlington’s blog; Shannon has lately offered a good mix of information policy and criticism, and her work is enjoying to read. She’s also one of the intrepid bloggers who posted a few soundbites about the Associated Press’s decision to impose for-profit licenses on every word it has ever published, regardless of one’s aims when using the work. AP is working to implement a DRM system that “will register key identifying information about each piece of content that AP distributes as well as the terms of use of that content, and employ a built-in beacon to notify AP about how the content is used” (AP, 2009). As many others have pointed out, AP generally has a right to protect its copyright over its materials, but it should not be at the expense of either user rights or of the public domain. The example that’s been used to show the ridiculousness of the situation – AP’s attempt to charge a user a fee to “quote” from one of its articles a letter by Thomas Jefferson that rails against copyright – once again reminds us that when corporate rights-holders try to “negotiate” licenses with digital media, the notions of fair use and the public domain are often trampled underfoot. At any rate, I’ve been thinking about what might happen if it was the Canadian Press (CP) who was trying to implement such a text-based DRM system. Canadian copyright law, we’re well aware, is terribly outdated and stake-holders are right now establishing beachheads for the next battle to create new legislation, but libraries, archives, and museums, as well as academic centers do have the tools to help protect our interests and user rights. Under the six-part fair dealings test that the Supreme Court developed in CCH v. Law Society of Upper Canada (2004), it’s likely fair to say that users can politely refuse to pay CP if ever it demanded similar license fees. Consider: under our Copyright Act (1985), fair dealings exceptions to copyright are granted for: the purpose of research or private study (Sec. 29), the purpose of criticism or review, if the source is mentioned, and: the author is listed, in the case of a work, the performer, in the case of a performance, the maker, in the case of a sound recording, the broadcaster, in the case of communication signal (Sec. 29.1) the purpose of news reporting, if: Of course, there are many limits to these exceptions (see sections 29.3ff), but the Act generally states that a Canadian work, copywritten in Canada, may be copied for the purposes of reportage, education, criticism, or analysis. It is generally “fair” for us to quote Rex Murphy at length so long as our intentions and output satisfy the exceptions listed above. But what of that word, “fair”? Surely these terms – fair dealing in Commonwealth countries, and fair use in others – were developed because of the malleable nature of the adjective in question. “Fair” is open to interpretation, and therefore so are the user rights granted to us through the fair dealing exceptions. However, in the important 2004 CCH case, the Supreme Court said in no uncertain terms that “[t]he fair dealing exception, like other exceptions in the Copyright Act, is a user’s right” (para. 48). Understanding that the “fairness” of an action of largely a matter of degree, the court developed a six-point framework to help determine if an action falls within or violates the Copyright Act’s fair dealing exceptions. Since the CCH ruling, stakeholders, jurisdictions and courts must now consider: the purpose of the dealing – if “it is for one of the allowable purposes under the Copyright Act” (para. 54), the character of the dealing – courts “must examine how the works were dealt with” (para. 55), i.e. if multiple or single copies were made, the amount of the dealing – “the quantity of the work taken will not be determinative of fairness, but it can help in the determination” vis-a-vis the exception being used (para. 56). i.e. it may be admissible to copy more of an item for research purposes than it would be copy for the purposes of criticism, alternatives to the dealing – if there exists “a non-copyrighted equivalent of the work that could have been used instead of the copyrighted work, this should be considered by the court” (para. 57), the nature of the work – a document that is confidential “may tip the scales towards finding that the dealing was unfair”, but the dealing of an unpublished document that is non-confidential may be deemed “more fair in that its reproduction with acknowledgment could lead to a wider public dissemination of the work — one of the goals of copyright law ” (para. 58), the effect of the dealing on the work – if “the reproduced work is likely to compete with the market of the original work, this may suggest that the dealing is not fair” (para. 59). Researchers, academics, critics, reporters, and LAMs can generally quote at least portions of copywritten text – including CP’s works – so long as the work is properly attributed, if multiple copies are not made, and if there is no financial gain (or loss) by way of the action. For the moment in Canada, advocates of user rights are standing on fairly solid ground, but it is a piece of land with major fault lines lying underneath it. The copyright “consultations” don’t bode well for us, though, and certainly if we don’t speak out minds on the issue. Whether we call ourselves “librarians” or “information professionals” – I’ll step back from my previous call to arms if it means rallying more troops to this cause – we owe it to ourselves to ensure that ill-conceived licenses such as AP’s won’t find a home within any provisions of a new Canadian copyright act. If you haven’t spoken up at a consultation or written a letter to the committee or to the Ministers of Industry and Culture, then please do so. This is as good an opportunity as any that we can actually affect positive change in Canadian information policy. Posted in copyrightTagged Associated Press, Canadian Press, CCH, Copyright Law, Fair Dealing, Law Society of Upper Canada	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1905
__label__wiki	0.903044	0.903044	N Korean Leader Meets with President of Vietnam > korea N Korean Leader Meets with President of Vietnam Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, at the Presidential Palace on Friday afternoon. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Pays Official Goodwill Visit to Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pyongyang, March 2 (KCNA) -- Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Meets with Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of C.C. Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Socialist Republic of Vietnam When Supreme Leader of the Party, state and army Kim Jong Un arrived at the plaza of the Presidential Palace, he was warmly greeted by Nguyen Phu Trong. Kim Jong Un warmly exchanged greetings with Nguyen Phu Trong and embraced him. An official welcome ceremony took place at the plaza. When Kim Jong Un walked past the line of cheering children together with Nguyen Phu Trong, he was presented with a bouquet by a pretty child amid the warm welcome by the children waving the national flags of the two countries. Kim Jong Un mounted the reviewing stand together with Nguyen Phu Trong, waving to the children. The national anthems of the two countries were solemnly played after Kim Jong Un and Nguyen Phu Trong mounted the reviewing stand. He reviewed the honor guard of the three services of the Vietnam People's Army together with Nguyen Phu Trong. Kim Jong Un and Nguyen Phu Trong respectively exchanged greetings with senior party and government officials of the two countries, shaking hands with everyone. Present there from the DPRK side were Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Kim Phyong Hae and O Su Yong, members of the Political Bureau and vice-chairmen of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Ri Yong Ho, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and foreign minister, No Kwang Chol, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and minister of the People's Armed Forces, Kim Yo Jong, alternate member of the Political Bureau and first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, Choe Son Hui, vice minister of Foreign Affairs, and other cadres. On hand from the Vietnamese side were Tran Quoc Vuong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPVCC and standing secretary of its Secretariat, Pham Minh Chinh, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the CPVCC and chairman of its Organizational Commission, Nguyen Van Binh, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the CPVCC and chairman of its Economic Commission, Pham Binh Minh, member of the Political Bureau of the CPVCC, deputy prime minister and foreign minister, General To Lam, member of the Political Bureau of the CPVCC and minister of Public Security, Nguyen Van Nen, secretary of the CPVCC and director of its General Office, Hoang Binh Quan, chairman of the Commission for External Affairs of the CPVCC, Dao Viet Trung, director of the General Office of the Presidency, Le Hoai Trung, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the Hanoi City People’s Committee, Le Ba Binh, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK, and other party and government officials. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Holds Talks with President Nguyen Phu Trong There were talks between Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and President Nguyen Phu Trong at the Presidential Palace on Friday. Present there from the DPRK side were Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Ri Yong Ho and No Kwang Chol and from the Vietnamese side were Tran Quoc Vuong, Pham Minh Chinh, Nguyen Van Binh, Pham Binh Minh, To Lam, Nguyen Van Nen, Hoang Binh Quan and Dao Viet Trung. At the talks the two sides informed each other of the political and economic situations of their countries and exchanged their opinions on the issue of further expanding and developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and the two countries in various fields as required by the new era and other issues of mutual concern. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un said that he was very glad to meet General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and get acquainted with Vietnamese comrades during his first visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, expressing heartfelt thanks to the Vietnamese party, government and people for their hearty greeting and cordial reception. Noting that it is the consistent stand of the WPK and the state of the DPRK to carry forward the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries and the two parties forged in blood generation after generation, true to the intentions of the preceding leaders, Kim Jong Un called for conducting active exchanges of party- and government-level delegations, putting on a regular basis and developing onto a fresh high level the bilateral cooperation and exchange in all sectors like economy, science and technology, defense, sports, culture and arts and media. He sincerely hoped that the Vietnamese people would achieve bigger successes in the struggle for attaining the "goals for rich people and a prosperous, democratic, fair and civilized state" under the uplifted banner of socialism, united close around the Communist Party of Vietnam led by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Kim Jong Un expressed thanks to the party and the government of Vietnam for rendering active and sincere support and great help for the successful second DPRK-U.S. summit and talks. Warmly welcoming Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Un's visit to Vietnam on behalf of the party, state and people of Vietnam, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that Kim Jong Un's visit marked a milestone in developing the relations between the two parties and the two countries. Saying that the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and the DPRK are the traditional ones personally provided and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung, Nguyen Phu Trong said that the party, government and people of Vietnam never forget but are always thankful to the DPRK for providing great support and encouragement to Vietnam in its struggle for independence and national liberation. He added that it is the fixed stand of the party and the government of Vietnam to always attach importance to the bilateral relations and further boost the relations between the two parties and the two countries in the interests of the peoples of the two countries and for regional peace and stability. He expressed the belief that the Korean people would register great successes in the socialist construction, country's development and improvement of the people's living standards under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea led by Chairman Kim Jong Un. Noting that it was an expression of trust existing between the two countries that Hanoi was chosen as the venue for the second DPRK-U.S. summit, Nguyen Phu Trong highly appreciated the constructive and active stands of the DPRK and the U.S. manifested at the talks. The talks proceeded in a comradely, candid and friendly atmosphere. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Meets Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un met with Nguyen Xuan Phuc, prime minister of the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on Friday afternoon. He was greeted at the building of the Vietnamese government by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Truong Hoa Binh, member of the Political Bureau of the CPVCC and standing deputy prime minister, Vuong Dinh Hue, member of the Political Bureau of the CPVCC and deputy prime minister, General Ngo Xuan Lich, member of the Political Bureau of the CPVCC and minister of Defence, Dao Viet Trung, director of the General Office of the Presidency, Mai Tien Dung, minister and chairman of the Government Office, Tran Tuan Anh, minister of Industry and Commerce, Nguyen Xuan Cuong, minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Le Hoai Trung, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials of the Vietnamese government. Kim Jong Un exchanged warm greetings with Nguyen Xuan Phuc. He was presented with a bouquet by a cute child. Nguyen Xuan Phuc guided Kim Jong Un into a hall where photos of President Kim Il Sung, Chairman Kim Jong Il and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un were on display. Women warmly welcomed Kim Jong Un's visit, waving the national flags of the two countries. Kim Jong Un had a photo session with Nguyen Xuan Phuc before having a friendly talk. Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Ri Yong Ho and No Kwang Chol were present there. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Meets Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un met Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairwoman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on Friday afternoon. He visited the building of the Vietnamese National Assembly and exchanged warm greetings with Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. He was greeted by Tong Thi Phong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPVCC and standing vice chairperson of the National Assembly, Uong Chu Luu, vice chairperson of the National Assembly, Dao Viet Trung, director of the General Office of the Presidency, Nguyen Manh Dau, chairman of the Committee for External Affairs of the National Assembly, Le Hoai Trung, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials of the Vietnamese government. He was warmly welcomed by women with the national flags of the two countries in their hands. He was presented with a beautiful bouquet by a woman. He had a photo session with Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan before having a talk with her in an amicable atmosphere. Present there were Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Ri Yong Ho and No Kwang Chol. Kim Jong Un and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan had a picture taken with senior officials of the parties and governments of the two countries who took part in the talk. Grand Banquet Given in Honor of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un President Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a grand banquet at the International Convention Centre on Friday in welcome of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un's visit to Vietnam. Present there were Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Kim Phyong Hae, O Su Yong, Ri Yong Ho, No Kwang Chol, Kim Yo Jong, Choe Son Hui and other accompanying cadres and attendants. Invited to the banquet were DPRK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Myong Gil and his embassy members. Present there were senior officials of the Vietnamese party and government including Tran Quoc Vuong, Pham Minh Chinh and Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Ba Binh. Kim Jong Un and Nguyen Phu Trong appeared in the banquet hall. All the participants in the banquet enthusiastically welcomed the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, paying the highest tribute to them. Nguyen Phu Trong made a congratulatory speech and then Kim Jong Un made a reply speech. Warmly welcoming Kim Jong Un's visit to Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong said that the visit, the first of its kind in 55 years after President Kim Il Sung's visit to Vietnam in 1964, is the expression of the stand of the party and government of the DPRK valuing the traditional friendly relations with Vietnam. Nguyen Phu Trong said that the traditional friendly ties between the two parties, the two states and the two peoples provided and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung with much care have steadily been carried forward and developed despite a number of challenges, expressing the belief that the visit paid by Kim Jong Un ahead of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries would make a great contribution to the interests of the two peoples and the global peace, stability, cooperation and development. He said that though Vietnam and the DPRK are far away from each other, they are close in mind like real brothers, hoping that the traditional friendly relations with the DPRK would steadily develop. Kim Jong Un expressed his heartfelt thanks to Nguyen Phu Trong for the sincerest hospitality with special attention although he was busy leading the overall work of the party and the state, saying that he is visiting Vietnam with the desire to invariably carry forward the historical tradition of DPRK-Vietnam friendship and develop the bilateral ties onto a higher stage as required by the new era in the kaleidoscopic world political situation. He said that it is quite natural and right for him to visit Vietnam associated with the noble hearts of the leaders of the two countries and the common soul of the martyrs of the two countries who made the history of the DPRK-Vietnam friendship with their lives, affirming the will to further consolidate and develop the bilateral friendly and cooperative ties as required by the new era and make joint efforts in the sacred struggle to bring happiness and future to the peoples of the two countries. Noting that his first visit to Vietnam and the significant meeting with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong convinced him of the vitality and good future of the friendly and cooperative relations between the parties and peoples of the two countries forged and consolidated by Comrade Kim Il Sung and Comrade Ho Chi Minh, Kim Jong Un expressed the will to firmly defend the DPRK-Vietnam friendship, a precious legacy left by the preceding leaders of the two countries, and glorify it for all ages generation after generation. A colorful art performance specially prepared by Vietnamese artistes to welcome Kim Jong Un's historic Vietnam visit was given at the banquet. Put on the stage were male solo "Song of Loyalty" and female solo "Charms" sung by famous artistes of Vietnam who had taken part in the April Spring Friendship Art Festival and other numbers and Vietnamese traditional and graceful instrumental music and dances that revved up the welcoming atmosphere and left deep impressions on the participants. Kim Jong Un together with Nguyen Phu Trong went up to the stage to express thanks for the performers' sincere and peculiar presentation and had a picture taken with them. Kim Jong Un expressed thanks once again for the sincere and warm hospitality shown by the Vietnamese party and government before saying goodbye to Nguyen Phu Trong. -0- sonalsen님의 댓글 sonalsen 작성일 19-03-26 19:58	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1906
__label__wiki	0.971625	0.971625	The LaFontaines Share New Single 'Body' Scotland’s The LaFontaines have shared their new single, ‘Body’, the latest to be taken from their upcoming album, Junior, out today via So Recordings. To coincide with the release, the band have shared a stunning one take video, filmed at Park Lane Studios. “‘Body’ was the last song we wrote for the record,” explains Okan. “It came as a result of listening to the album as a whole and thinking it needed one final song to complete the story of Junior. Daz is constantly producing music; he sent me the beat for ‘Body’ and I wrote to it that night in a wee office space somewhere south of Bellshill. From a lyrical point of view it’s one of the most personal songs I have ever written. The process of writing it forced me to dig deeper in terms of truth; it demanded I pull something from actual experience as opposed to imagination. I think that’s why in particular ‘Body’ will leave a mark.“ From opening for the legendary Mike Shinoda to winning over audiences countrywide during their UK tour supporting Deaf Havana earlier this year, The LaFontaines are showing no signs of slowing down.The band also embark on a UK headline tour in June to support the release of their new album. Junior is the band’s third album and includes the previously released ‘All In’ and ‘Alpha’. Renowned for their electrifying live shows, the band have previously been on tour with Anderson .Paak, Twin Atlantic and All Time Low and last year were main support to Don Broco across the UK and Europe.The band are no strangers to festival stages and will be returning to Reading & Leeds festival this year having also previously played Download, The Great Escape, 2000 Trees, T in the Park, Belladrum, NH7, Secret Garden Party, TRNSMT and Reeperbahn. UK HEADLINE TOUR Thurs 13th June – St Lukes Church, Glasgow SOLD OUT Fri 14th June – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow Sat 15th June – Fat Sams, Dundee Sun 16th June – Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Mon 17th June – Caves, Edinburgh Tue 18th June – O2 Institute, Birmingham Wed 19th June – Camden Assembly, London SOLD OUT Thurs 20th June – Night and Day, Manchester The LaFontaines Announce New Album More in this category: « All The Colours Want To Tear It Down Mashrou' Leila Release First English Language Single »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1908
__label__wiki	0.988256	0.988256	Top KCPE Candidates Decry Missing Out on Dream Schools By Richard Kamau / Thursday, 06 Dec 2018 06:48AM / Leave a Comment / Tags: amina mohammed, form one selection, KCPE The Form One selection of this year’s KCPE candidates has left quite a number of students disappointed after failing to gain admission to their dream schools. Among them is Benson Njenga, who scored 431 marks and had hopes of joining Alliance High School. He was instead admitted to St Patrick’s High School in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County. “I am very disappointed that after working so hard for eight years to join my dream school they have decided to offer me a place at St Patrick Iten High School, yet it was not my first choice,” said Njenga, who was a candidate at Familia Takatifu Primary School in Rumuruti, Laikipia County. “I have always dreamt of joining Alliance High School because it is among the best schools in the country and it has a long history of performing well,” he told the Nation. Asked why he was not comfortable with St Patrick’s, Njenga observed that, “Secondary education determines one’s future, that is why I don’t want to join a school whose performance I am not sure about.” Meanwhile, Taita Taveta County top performing student, Jane Mutua, will be joining Pangani Girls High School in Nairobi and not Kenya High School as she had hoped after scoring 430 marks. “I am very disappointed and demoralised because that was not my choice of school,” she said, adding that she considers Pangani less competitive than Kenya High. Another student who is not happy about joining Pangani against her wish is Martina Abiona, who scored 421 marks and expected to join Alliance Girls High School. “I wish I could join another school,” she said. Also disappointed is Ezra Mogambi, who scored 431 marks at Radiance Academy in Nakuru and wanted to join Alliance High School but will be going to Kapsabet Boys High School instead. “I feel I would be better placed to compete at the giant school but I’m not sure about the school that I have been selected to join,” said the 14-year-old. His schoolmate, Mercy Kang’ethe, scored 400 marks and was hoping to join Pangani Girls High School in Nairobi but was selected to join Kolanya Girls in Busia County. “I am not comfortable joining the school since it was not among my choices. I cannot imagine covering hundreds of kilometres from home to school. I have neither heard of the school nor been to the area,” she lamented. But Cliff Paul has taken things in his stride after receiving an admission letter to Maseno School. He had his eyes set on Starehe Boys Centre after scoring 421 marks. “I don’t regret it because Maseno is also a good school,” he said. The form one selection has been faulted Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Mombasa Executive Secretary Dan Aloo who said it was not free and fair, and that it favoured pupils from the rich families. “We expected all players to be involved in the selection to monitor the process. How did they ensure that students in public schools were given priority over those from private schools? They cannot be given equal shares. A Turkana pupil cannot be compared to one in Mombasa. They should start with the most needy, special needs, public schools then private schools,” said Mr Aloo. However, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed defended the selection saying the Ministry used fair and accurate criteria. “All candidates had an equal chance of getting selected to their preferred schools based on merit, equity, choice and affirmative action. More fundamentally, the Ministry worked to ensure 100 percent transition from primary to secondary education in order to give meaning to free and compulsory basic education,” said Ms Mohamed. Additional Reporting by Nation Hilarious Meme Compilation (Thursday December 6) Nairobi Resident in Court Seeking Removal of Sonko from Office	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1911
__label__cc	0.56482	0.43518	Auto Club Offers Tipsy Tow Service For New Year's Holiday December 28, 2007 Transportation and Traffic Safety, Automotive (LOS ANGELES, Dec. 28, 2007) — The Automobile Club of Southern California is offering its free Tipsy Tow service to drinking drivers during the New Year’s holiday. The service is available from Sunday at 6 p.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. Tipsy Tow is available in the 13 Southern California counties served by the Auto Club. Motorists, bartenders, restaurant managers, party hosts or passengers of a drinking driver may call 1-800-400-4AAA for a free tow home of up to seven miles. Callers simply tell the Auto Club operators, “I need a Tipsy Tow,” to receive the free tow and ride home. A regular Auto Club-contracted emergency road service truck will be dispatched. Callers need to keep in mind that the service excludes rides for passengers, is restricted to a one-way, one-time ride for the driver and the destination is limited to the driver’s residence. Reservations are not accepted. Drivers can expect to pay the rate charged by the tow truck contractor for rides farther than seven miles. “Some guests might balk at taking a cab home because they don’t want to return for their car the following day,” said Steve Bloch, the Auto Club’s traffic safety researcher. “We want motorists to be aware of the high crash risk from drinking and driving associated with holidays and encourage them not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking and Tipsy Tow provides motorists with a safe ride home for themselves and their vehicles instead of driving while intoxicated,” he added. New Year’s Eve is a traditional time for parties and revelry, activities that contribute a more relaxed atmosphere, said Bloch. “It takes only one or two drinks to slow physical and mental skills and affect vision, steering, braking judgment and reaction time,” he said. “We hope drivers are aware that the CHP and law enforcement agencies usually are using extra patrols to look for drinking drivers during the holiday.” While the number of Californians arrested for driving under the influence in 2006 (the latest year available) is 42% less than what it was 25 years ago, it’s still disturbingly high –199,147, according to Bloch. Statewide annual alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes have also decreased sharply, by 55% from 49,314 in 1981 to 22,332 in 2006. “We would like to see these numbers reduced even further, particularly the high numbers around the holidays,” added Bloch. People convicted of driving under the influence could lose many important things in their lives, such as family, job, dignity and money. The Auto Club estimates that a first time DUI conviction can cost $13,468 or more in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and increased insurance costs. Current laws, enforcement, public awareness, and education efforts by public service-oriented organizations, including the Auto Club, have contributed to the decline in the number of alcohol-related fatalities and injuries during the past 10 years. The Auto Club provides the Tipsy Tow service and free publications as part of its “You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.” public awareness campaign. The Auto Club also supports many sober driver programs. The Auto Club advises that motorists can keep themselves and others safe and can avoid DUI arrests by keeping these safety tips in mind: At social events, designate non-drinking drivers who can get everyone home safely. Call a friend or family member for a ride home if you have been drinking. Keep a cab company telephone number in your wallet so you can call for a ride home. As a party host, offer a variety of non-alcoholic drink alternatives and provide a gift to guests who volunteer to be designated drivers. Take the car keys away from friends and relatives who have had too much to drink.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1912
__label__wiki	0.937489	0.937489	NewsHeels "I Thought It Was Forever" Completion Funds Update We've surpassed the 10% fundraising goal with nearly 50 days left to raise $15,000 to complete "I Thought It Was Forever." Every week on this blog, Southern Belle Productions will publicly thank everyone who donates to the completion funds campaign for "I Thought It Was Forever." Financial support is critical for a documentary to move from creation to completion. Southern Belle Productions salutes and thanks Assunto Banks, Barbara L. Boehm and Phyllis Hull Akturk who donated in the last week. Because of you the completion funds campaign for “I Thought It Was Forever” is nearly $1700. We welcome more donations and comments. Please share the link to the trailer for "I Thought It Was Forever:" http://www.indiegogo.com/I-Thought-It-Was-Forever?a=386630. We're also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Movie-I-Thought-It-Was-Forever/266635793379198. Posted by Maniko Barthelemy at 9:18 PM "I Thought It Was Forever" Weekly All Access Pass by Alleathea Carter-Perkins & Tiffani Horne From concept to creation and completion, the progress of a documentary like "I Thought It Was Forever" depends heavily on a well-experienced crew, brave cast and donations. Throughout the 60-day campaign to raise completion funds for the film, on this blog you will get an in-depth look at a member of the cast and crew making the universal film possible. This week, Southern Belle Productions, LLC introduces you to the cinematographer and still photographer, Jeff Ray and cast member Randy. Here's the "I Thought It Was Forever" trailer link: http://www.indiegogo.com/I-Thought-It-Was-Forever?a=386630. Jeff Ray is by day a Graphic Artist at Custom Ink, Jeff Ray designs and personalizes everything from aprons and caps to cups and shirts. By night, lights, cameras and lots of action intertwine, as his film and photography hobbies weave a creative edge in D.C.’s independent music industry. Jeff shoots, edits and directs various types of music, promotional and instructional videos with an ingenious edge on each project. When asked why he wanted to work on “I Thought It Was Forever,” Jeff replied, “It’s going to be interesting.” His favorite shoots so far, during production of “I Thought It Was Forever,” are those of Trudi and Preston. Trudi’s the oldest child of Sue and Randy. Trudi’s husband, Preston is a D.C area chef. Apparently, great people and a good meal are all it takes to keep this filmmaker happy on set. During Trudi’s interview shoot, her husband, Preston, made homemade carrot soup and baguettes for the crew. Photo courtesy of Jeff Ray Ray recently graduated from American University in Washington, DC, where he earned a master’s degree in Producing for Film and Video. He is currently working on a documentary about a boxer who came within 24hours of winning an Olympic medal, then tragedy struck. He’s also writing a script for a feature film that replaces the grit and gore of slavery with an unpredictable and mysterious view. To learn more about Ray, be sure to check out upcoming editions of the “I Thought It Was Forever” All Access Pass. Randy's Story “I seriously considered having an open relationship because I cherished, adored and loved Sue, says Randy, in his interview for "I Thought It Was Forever.” The Producers of Southern Belle Productions, LLC introduces Randy. He takes exceptional comfort in his long distance relationship with his girlfriend, who lives in Los Angeles. “I think I do it to protect myself from the hurt I experienced when I thought I had the woman and family of my dreams. I don’t think I’ll ever fully love someone that way again,” says Randy. Photo courtesy of Lawrence Dortch At one time, the major league baseball fanatic’s life was perfect. During the late ‘70s, while stationed in England, Randy met Sue through a friend. The two dated sporadically, eventually married and began a family, shortly before to moving to the D.C. area. On the couple’s 21st wedding anniversary, Randy says an e-mail led to the disintegration of the lifestyle that defined Randy and gave him his drive. “I loved being a father, husband and friend,” says Randy. Photo courtesy of Randy Coming Up Next Week: - Meet Sue, Randy's ex-wife and Trudi, Randy and Sue's oldest child. -Meet Crew Member Alleathea Carter-Perkins Every week on this blog, Southern Belle Productions will publicly thank everyone who donates to our goal of raising $15,000 over the next 55 days to complete "I Thought It Was Forever." Financial support is critical for a documentary to move from creation to completion. Southern Belle Productions salutes and thanks Tamela Patton, Julie Arthur, Alisa Simmons, Carl Stehman, Merrell Merricks, Elvis Wilson, Mariah Dillon, Tracy Domengeaux, Johnette Dillon, Leon Wagner, Eileen Vlismas, Raessa Smith, and Bonnie Calhoun. Because of you the completion funds campaign for “I Thought It Was Forever” is more than $1300. We welcome more comments and donations. Feel free to share the link to the trailer for "I Thought It Was Forever:" http://www.indiegogo.com/I-Thought-It-Was-Forever?a=386630. Posted by Maniko Barthelemy at 3:46 AM From concept to creation and completion, the progress of "I Thought It Was Forever" depends heavily on a well-experienced crew and brave cast. Throughout the 60-day campaign to raise completion funds for the film, on this blog you will get an in-depth look at a member of the cast and crew making the universal film possible. This week, Southern Belle Productions, LLC introduces you to the director of photography, Lawrence Dortch and cast member Carolyn. Here's the trailer link: http://www.indiegogo.com/I-Thought-It-Was-Forever?a=386630. Lawrence Dortch’s expertise and talent have taken him from the shores of sunny Los Angeles, CA to distant lands such as Cambodia, Spain, and Singapore. As an avid and seasoned Producer and Director of Photography, he brings a wealth of production knowledge to the set of “I Thought It Was Forever,” and is excited about the film’s debut. “I love hearing and then telling other people’s stories,” says Dortch. Dortch’s most recent film is an award-winning short. “One Punch at a Time” is a short documentary about Asia Stevenson a female boxer fighting out of Headbangers Boxing Club in Washington, DC. Stevenson hopes to win the 2012 gold medal in boxing at the 132lbs weight class. "One Punch at a Time," follows Stevenson through her training and into the regional championships where she has to fight to win to qualify for the U.S. national team. For his work on “One Punch at a Time,” Dortch won a 2011 award of merit for short documentary in the California best shorts competition. The film screened at the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, the Reel Independent Film Extravaganza, the Alexandria Film Festival and the All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival. It was recently nominated for a 2011 Audience Favorite Visions Award in Washington, DC. Here’s a link to “One Punch at a Time” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB0VchUMxbE. Dortch is a Producer for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. He spent many years as a sports and entertainment magazine photographer and has a Master’s Degree in Film Production from American University. To learn more about Dortch, be sure to check out upcoming editions of the “I Thought It Was Forever” All Access Pass. "He Said He Married Me Because He Didn't Want to Be Gay." Carolyn’s Story Carolyn, a retired State Department executive saw her marriage of three decades shatter after a stunning revelation. Her 30 plus year partnership ended when her husband realized and confessed, he could no longer live a façade. Carolyn’s then-husband decided to live his life happily and honestly as a homosexual male. Carolyn Lowengart & Maniko Barthelemy Photo courtesy of Maniko Barthelemy These days Carolyn is all about healing and helping others. She volunteers with the Straight Spouse Network and attends other counseling sessions. To learn more about Carolyn's story, and the story of others, log on to http://www.indiegogo.com/I-Thought-It-Was-Forever?a=386630 and view the trailer for “I Thought It Was Forever.” We also invite you to e-mail your comments directly to Maniko Barthelemy at NewsHeels@gmail.com Southern Belle Productions Releases "I Thought It Was Forever" Trailer http://www.indiegogo.com/I-Thought-It-Was-Forever?a=386630. The pursuit of lifelong happiness is complete for millions of people when they find, fall in love with and marry their ideal spouse. With the help of some very brave people, willing to be completely candid, “I Thought It Was Forever” is a 60-minute documentary in revelatory fashion that shows just how happily ever after can unravel into an urgent and unnerving question whether to leave forever. As you’ll see, the answer isn’t as clear cut…as most would think, especially when a promise is just as tough to keep as a secret. I invite you to help support and take “I Thought It Was Forever” to the next phase. A team of committed filmmakers, including myself, are so sure “I Thought It Was Forever” is an important, universal film about trust, compromise and coming to grips with reality versus embracing fantasy, up to this point, Southern Belle Productions, LLC has self-financed the production and donated nearly 200 hours of our time to factual research, conducting interviews, as well as writing and editing. We invite you to make a tax deductible donation, to help us complete the film. Every dollar you donate helps bring “I Thought It Was Forever” to a theater near you or a broadcast cable network. Here's the link to the official trailer and fundraising site: http://www.indiegogo.com/I-Thought-It-Was-Forever?a=386630. As always, your comments are absolutely important, so please watch the trailer, share your comment and donate to the completion of the film. Feel free to contact Maniko Barthelemy, executive producer of "I Thought It Was Forever" at NewsHeels@gmail.com. Sex, Lies, Marriage & Homosexuality in Film Coming Soon! There's a very important reason the content on this page has been sporadic. For weeks, I've been exceptionally busy working on something exceptionally bold and pretty soon you'll get to see and say something about "I Thought It Was Forever." The film is a documentary that closes the gap left by blockbuster studio-financed films and traditional news coverage about extramarital affairs where the cheating spouse cheats with someone of the same-sex. Getting married is the universal staple and symbol of the achieving the ultimate pursuit of lifelong happiness. Reportedly, nearly two million people know exactly how it feels when happily ever after is interrupted by a level of dishonesty no one is prepared to handle. Some respond violently to the betrayal, others consider murder-suicide, hide in self-pity and shame. Yet, there are a few who find the courage to pick up, start a new life and try not to let an emotional scar so significant blur their hopes and dreams of a happy life. For several weeks some very brave people have allowed the Southern Belle Productions, LLC cameras to capture their candid reaction to a defining moment that will leave some of you silent, others shocked, sad or pissed. Everyone will indeed have an opinion. There's a lesson about choices, chances and consequences in "I Thought It Was Forever" that no one should underestimate or dismiss. Assume Nothing. The trailer is coming to this site in 48 hours. Join the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Movie-I-Thought-It-Was-Forever/266635793379198. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Movie-I-Thought-It-Was-Forever/266635793379198 Here's a link to my blog about the latest news, some of my work and films I support. Amiya Steed (1) Broke Back Mountain (1) bullies (1) candy covered apples (1) courageous (1) divorced (1) Documentary Channel (1) food. (1) Happily Divorced (1) Maniko Barthelemy (2) NewsHeels (2) positive affirmations (1) recruits (1) Ruffins (1) screams (1) sexual assault. (1) Southern Belle Productions (1) straight spouse network (1) tennis shoes (1) Waiting to Exhale (1) Maniko Barthelemy Writer/Film Producer/Assistant Professor Newsheels Intro Welcome! What does it take to start and stay in business? How do women view themselves with so many lenses from television to online media zoning in on imperfections or offering quick fixes to life as we all really know it? Why should anyone really register to vote? Is college the answer or the problem? These are some of the hard-hitting questions this blog will address. I love stories about people beating the odds. It's a passion developed as an Air Force veteran, journalist, educator and film producer. I love telling stories about ordinary people beating extraordinary odds. I am a New Orleans native and fortunately have met wonderful people in other places I also call home: Nebraska, Texas, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. In my spare time, I love to travel with my friends, film festival hop, cook, shop, and read. Periodically, I'll share some of my favorite spots, recipes, and books on this blog. I would love to hear your stories. Feel free to contact me at NewsHeels@gmail.com "I Thought It Was Forever" Completion Funds Update... Southern Belle Productions Releases "I Thought It ... Sex, Lies, Marriage & Homosexuality in Film Coming...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1913
__label__wiki	0.638222	0.638222	You are here: HomeColumnsGuiding LinesGetting In The Spirit Getting In The Spirit Share this column Posted by William Gatevackes on Feb 18, 2008 When DC announced in 2006 that they were creating a new ongoing series featuring the Spirit, it felt a bit like sacrilege. The character had become synonymous with its creator, Will Eisner, and Eisner had passed away the year before. It seemed inconceivable that anyone but Eisner could do the character justice. Enter Darwyn Cooke. Cooke had just come off DC: The New Frontier, an “Elseworlds” tale set in the 1950’s. That series won the creator a bunch of awards and set him up as a creator to be reckoned with. Cooke taking over the reigns on The Spirit eased a lot of worry in the minds of comic savvy fans. Was he Eisner? No. I’d wager a guess that Cooke would be the first to admit that. But he was a unique talent with a definitive style. He was a great writer and artist. He could bring a lot to the character, which was most important. Over the 11 issues Cooke had a hand in creating, he modernized the character, bringing him into the 21st century. He kept the feel of Eisner’s Spirit while making it totally his own. His run became something Spirit fans, both old and new, could love. Fans were once again put into a tizzy after the San Diego Comic Con when Cooke announced that issue #12 would be his last on the title. Shaken by losing editor Scott Dunbar due to a business decision and informed by his inker and self-professed “right hand”, J. Bone, that he would be leaving the title to pursue other options, Cooke decided the time was right to leave the series. Much like how people wondered who could replace Will Eisner, people began to wonder who could replace Darwyn Cooke. Creative changes are always uncertain events, but with a special property such as The Spirit, there is even more cause for concern. The announcement that the replacements were to be Mark Evanier, Sergio Aragonés and Mike Ploog, I’m sure many people’s fears still weren’t eased. After all, Aragonés and Evanier were most known for their collaboration on Groo. While Spirit stories did contain a lot of humor, they weren’t humor books, per se. And Ploog is probably best known for co-creating Ghost Rider, a horror/superhero comic. The Spirit does feature, at times, a dark and mysterious mood, it is pretty far from the horror genre. I, on the other hand, wasn’t worried at all. Was it a risky, outside-the-box choice by DC? Absolutely. Can the creators pull off the awesome responsibility of doing The Spirit the way it should be done? I believe so, yes. Aragonés and Evanier have done more than just humor. Aragonés co-created the western character, Bat Lash, and did some writing for DC’s horror books of the 1970’s. Evanier co-created Crossfire and DNAgents and wrote Blackhawks, another Eisner creation. And he respects the history of comics in all their forms. He is a respected authority on Jack Kirby and Walt Kelly’s Pogo. As good as the men are as writers separately, they are even better together. Their work on Groo is so pitch perfect that I would trust their synergy in any genre. If they decided to start writing Harlequin romances, I’d probably have to pick them up. It is true that Ploog is most identified with drawing horror, from his work on Warren horror titles, and Ghost Rider, and Werewolf By Night at Marvel. But he is more than just a horror artist. He has worked at making storyboards at various TV shows and movies and most recently gained some recognition by providing the art for Abadazad, a kid-friendly book series he co-created with writer J.M DeMatteis. Ploog also worked with Eisner on P*S: The Preventative Maintenance Monthly. That was an Army magazine that Eisner started in the 1950s and which Ploog worked on it with him in the 1970s. There are a lot of artists out their that have been influenced by Will Eisner, Ploog is one of the rare ones who was influenced by him while working with him. So all you worry-warts out there, relax. The Spirit is in good hands. You should be excited about where these talented creators will take the book from here, because there is nothing to worry about. Also out this week : Cable &Deadpool #50 The jury is still out if the Messiah CompleX claimed Professor X as a causality (A coma? Really, Marvel? A coma? He was shot in the head!), but the crossover has definitely meant the end for one victim—this title. This is the last issue of this series. Cable is set to get a bright and shiny new series all his own in a month or so. This means Deadpool, who has been keeping this title going all by his lonesome for several months now, is left to fend for himself. Cable gets to play a role in the future of the X-titles, Deadpool joins the ranks of the guest star. Poor Deadpool goes from second billing to second class citizen. Reilly Brown with Fabian Nicieza (W), Reilly Brown (A), Marvel Comics, $3.99. Final Issue. Superman/Batman #46: The solicitation for this issue leads off with the fact that a new color of Kryptonite will be introduced in this issue. Apparently, our heroes discover this while on a quest to rid the world of all Kryptonite. Is a new color of Kryptonite really that big of a selling point? And is this a new “new” color, or just the reintroduction of a pre-Crisis color that hasn’t made its first post-Crisis appearance? Either way, it seems that Metallo has something to do with it. This means that in addition to this new Kryptonite, our team has to deal with the fact that if they want to collect all the Kryptonite in the world, then the meteor-rock-hearted Metallo has to die. Are the willing to go that far? Michael Green and Mike Johnson (W), Shane Davis (A), DC Comics, $2.99. Ongoing Series. Zorro #1: There are not many 88 year old crime fighters out there, but one of the most famous returns to comic pages this week. Zorro was created for the pulp All-Story Weekly way back in 1919. Since then, he has graced movies screens in eight different decades, appeared on TV in five separate decades, and now, with this series, starred in comic books published in five different decades. And even though he’s been around the block a few times, he is still getting the superstar treatment. Comic veteran Matt Wagner lends his expertise to this latest installment. So, as Zorro begins to approach his 90th year in existence, he might be in the best hands, creatively, that he’s ever been. Matt Wagner (W), Francesco Francavilla (A), Dynamite Entertainment, $3.50. Ongoing Series. Perhapanauts Annual #1: The Perhapanauts have moved! The team of ghouls, ghosts and urban legends has left their former home at Dark Horse, where they starred in several miniseries, and set up camp at Image. And to provide a special treat to their fans, they are rolling out their first annual. This book is a great place for new readers to start reading the series, as the over-sized annual will introduce the team and set the stage for their new series, which will begin in April. So, if you were a fan of the team from the very beginning or if the concept has caught your eye, this self-contained story is aimed directly at you! Todd DeZago (W), Craig Rousseau (A), Image Comics, $3.50. Annual. Jenna Jameson's Shadow Hunter #1: She starred in such films as Where the Boys Aren’t 7, Deep Inside Celeste, and The Devil in Miss Jones, now she joins the legion of movie stars to have a series at Virgin Comics. Yes, porn actress Jenna Jameson comes to comics with this new title. A porn star? Really? I mean, is this how far you’ve come, Virgin? Movie directors I can see. Even musicians. But a porn star? Yes, I’m sure the porn market has a whole lot of potential mainstream comic customers. And I am always one for having comics being aimed at adults. But doesn’t having a porn actress create a book for the teen and up demographic seem a bit—tacky? Christina Z. (W), Mukesh Singh (A), Virgin Comics, $2.99. Ongoing Series. The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #6: Now here is a famous person slumming in comics done right. I’m sure many of you didn’t give this book, written by My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way, all that much of a chance. But it turns out that Way has what it takes to be a good comic book writer. As a matter of fact, I think it’s safe to say that this is one of the best books on the market today! Well, the first miniseries comes to a rousing finale. The family that puts fun into dysfunctional must put aside their differences and learn to once again work together. Why? Because if they can’t get their act together, the world faces total annihilation! Not that there’s any pressure or anything. Gerard Way (W), Gabriel Bá (A), Dark Horse Comics, $2.99. Last Issue. Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death: If you haven’t been reading Immortal Iron Fist, you have really been missing something special. Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction have taken a B-list Marvel character and treated it like he was A-list. It is a fun, action-packed book that is a must read each and every month. Fraction is on his own here, as the Golden Age Iron Fist, Orson Randall, gets his time in the spotlight. The recent addition to the Iron Fist mythos stars in a tale that fits his pulpy roots, as he faces off against the deadly Prince of the Orphans. If you are enjoying the current arc in the regular book, this one will add a dimension to it that you just have to see! Matt Fraction (W), Various (A), Marvel Comics, $3.99. One-Shot. Loaded Bible 3: Communion: Just in time for Easter, we get a new volume of the Loaded Bible series, the series that’s not afraid to ask, “What would Jesus’ clone do if he had to fight vampires?” The answer is fight them, and fight them well. This time around, Jesus is on the run, being hunted by a cyborg mercenary with ties to his past (the worst kind of cyborg mercenary). If he can find the time, he has to save Lilith, the Mother of All Vampires, from execution. If you are interested in reading what has to be Mike Huckabee’s least favorite comic, look no further than inside these pages. Tim Seely (W), Mike Norton (A), Image Comics, $4.99. One-Shot. Aspen Showcase: Grace #1: I am a big fan of just about any comic with the word “Showcase” in the title. That usually means new or little used characters will be getting their time in the spotlight. This is where we find the stars of tomorrow, or at least the comics versions of them. This is the first of a ongoing series of one-shot specials that focus on popular characters from the various Aspen titles. First up is Grace, the heroine featured previously in the pages of Soulfire. We span the centuries as we follow her on her struggle to find her way back home. Fans of Soulfire will have to pick this one up, because this one-shot will flesh out the series they love so much. Vince Hernandez (W), Sana Takeda (A), Aspen Comics, $2.99. One-Shot. William Gatevackes is a professional writer living in Mamaroneck, NY with his wife Jennifer. He also writes periodic comic reviews for PopMatters, is a weekly contributor to Film Buff Online and writes title descriptions for Human Computing’s Comicbase collection management software. Links to his writing can be found at his website, www.williamgatevackes.com. Aragonés Joins Groening's Bongo Comics - written by Fletch Adams on Jul 15, 2009 Cooke Loves DC Spirit - written by Frederik Hautain on Aug 23, 2005 DNAgents Come Full Strength This October - written by Frederik Hautain on Aug 6, 2008 The Spirit #2 Sneak Peek - written by Frederik Hautain on Dec 27, 2006 NYCC Adds Miller, Uslan - written by Frederik Hautain on Jan 29, 2007 - written by on {$lowdownDate.format="M j, Y"} Unearthing the Weird West - written by Fletch Adams on Jan 6, 2010 The Spirit #14 - written by Tonya Crawford on Feb 23, 2008 Jenna #1 - written by Kenneth Gallant on Jan 5, 2006 Jenna #2 - written by Kenneth Gallant on Jan 30, 2006 Usagi Yojimbo #100 - written by Eric Lindberg on Feb 1, 2007 Bat Lash #1 - written by Chris Tinkler on Dec 30, 2007 A Tribute and a Helping Hand - written by William Gatevackes on Jun 18, 2007 Diggle, Like Lightning - written by William Gatevackes on Nov 17, 2008 Keeping The Spirit Up - written by William Gatevackes on Apr 20, 2010 The Amazing Birthday Girl - written by William Gatevackes on Dec 10, 2007 Strangers in a Strange Land: The Story of the DNAgents - written by Tony Ingram on May 7, 2008	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1917
__label__wiki	0.872656	0.872656	Now displaying: July, 2016 Episode 424 — Sloane Crosley 0 Sloane Crosley is the guest. Her debut novel, The Clasp, is available now in trade paperback from Picador. A great pleasure to have Sloane on the program. Episode 423 — Chuck Klosterman 0 Chuck Klosterman is the guest. His new book, But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past, is available now from Blue Rider Press. So great to have Chuck on the program. Episode 422 — Frances Stroh 0 Frances Stroh is the guest. Her new memoir, Beer Money, is available now from Harper. In today's monologue, I talk about the logistics of vacationing with my family. Episode 421 — Mike Edison 0 Mike Edison is the guest. He is the former publisher of High Times magazine and was the editor-in-chief of Screw magazine. He is also a musician and a professional wrestler. His new memoir, You Are a Complete Disappointment, is available now from Sterling Books. Great fun talking with Mike. Also heartbreaking. The title of his memoir also happens to be the last thing his father ever said to him. Brutal. But he has found a kind of peace with it, and he has written this fine memoir. Aside from that, Mike is a person who has really lived some lives. He's authored 28 pornographic novels. Has been a correspondent for Penthouse and Hustler. The professional wrestling. He's in a band. High Times. We talk about all of it. Fasten your seat belts. In today's monologue, I talk about my sense of urgency and the heat of summer.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1919
__label__wiki	0.799009	0.799009	Tag Archives: Kansas Urban Patterns \| Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas USA “We’ll be standin’ on the corner of 12th in line With our Kansas City baby and our bottle of Kansas City wine.” — Kansas City, Little Richard Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the state and the sixth largest city in the American Midwest. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had an estimated population of 481,420 in 2016, making it the 37th largest city by population in the United States. It is the anchor city of the Kansas City metropolitan area, which straddles the Kansas–Missouri border. Kansas City was founded in the 1830s as a Missouri River port at its confluence with the Kansas River. On June 1, 1850, the town of Kansas was incorporated; shortly after came the establishment of the Kansas Territory. Confusion between the two ensued and the name Kansas City was assigned to distinguish them soon thereafter. Kansas City, Kansas is the third-largest city in that state and the third-largest city (after Kansas City, Missouri and Overland Park, Kansas) of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The Kansas City metropolitan area is a 15-county metropolitan area that straddles the border between Missouri and Kansas. With a population of about 2,340,000, it ranks as the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri (after Greater St. Louis). Kansas City, Kansas is abbreviated as “KCK“ to differentiate it from Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, Kansas City, Kansas had a population of 145,786 residents. (Source: Wikipedia). Satellite view from 15 km of Kansas City Missouri-Kansas USA (Source: Google Earth). There are two distinctive characteristics to the urban pattern of Kansas City at different scales of the city. The first is the series of large building footprints and urban blocks composing a series of small-scale (in relative terms) offset grids adjacent to the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. This is most apparent in the close-up satellite view from 15 km of Kansas City (see above). This is a direct result of its historical origins in water transportation, which remains important to this day for the city; namely, the laying out of street networks to ensure a rectangular shape to the plots on the most valuable land immediately adjacent to the rivers. When examining the Kansas City urban pattern at the large-scale (see satellite view from 30 km above), the second distinctive characteristic becomes much more apparent; namely, a strong north-south and east-west structure in the street network of Kansas City. Initially, some people might think this occurred due to the stereotypical view about the ‘flatness’ of the American prairie. However, the topography in and around Kansas City is composed of gentle, rolling hills and river bluffs. Instead, this is evidence of the emergent pattern of the Jeffersonian grid in the 1785 Land Ordinance. EnvironmentKansasKansas CityMissouriPlanningThe Outlaw UrbanistThe Urban PatternUrban DesignUrban GrowthUrban PlanningUSA Urban Patterns \| The Center of Our Terrestrial Universe October 3, 2013 Administrator Leave a comment “Thoughts meander like a restless wind, Inside a letter box, They stumble blindly, as they make their way, Across the universe.” — Across the Universe, The Beatles Urban Patterns \| The Center of Our Terrestrial Universe \| Chanute, Kansas USA NOTE: Urban Patterns will focus on more obscure and/or extreme locations in a number of posts over the next few weeks. According to the Mac version of Google Earth, the center of our terrestrial universe can be found in the City of Chanute of Neosho County, Kansas. When you open Google Earth on a Mac, allow the globe to stop spinning, then only zoom in on the Earth and you’ll eventually find yourself in Chanute, Kansas. Dan Webb, a software engineer for the Mac OS X version of Google Earth, programed the software this way; he explains his charmingly flippant reasons here. Incidentally, if you do the same on the Windows version of Google Earth (you know, fifteen minutes after the PC has started up and Windows has downloaded all of its updates), you’ll actually end up in Lawrence, Kansas. However, since Apple is infinitely superior to Windows, then the Mac version of Google Earth must be correct about our ‘terrestrial center’. Satellite view from 5 km of Chanute, Kansas USA (Source: Google Earth). “Neosho” is a Native American word generally accepted to be of Osage derivation. It is translated variously as “water that has been made muddy”, “clear cold water” or “clear water”, the last being the most accepted. Chanute was formally founded in 1873. When the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Rail Road crossed the Missouri, Kansas and Texas state limits within Neosho County, four rival towns initially sprang up in the vicinity of the junction: New Chicago, Chicago Junction, Alliance, and Tioga. The four towns were consolidated in 1872 and the new town was named Chanute in honor of Octave Chanute, a railroad civil engineer. Chanute has a population of approximately 9,100 people (Source: Wikipedia). The urban pattern of Chanute is characterized by several typical – but still interesting – components of the American landscape. First, there is a predominant regular grid aligned to the cardinal directions, consistent with the method of land division established by the 1785 Land Ordinance in the United States; Second, this regular grid marginally shifts from perfect orthogonality. For example, West Main Street (the primary east-west route toward the top of the above image) marginally shifts northward along some distance before shifting southward again into alignment with East Main Street on the other side of the railroad tracks. Third, this regular grid has evolved over time around the railroad line passing through the center of Chanute in a southwest to northeast direction (from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Kansas City, Missouri). This generates a significant interruption to the orthogonal grid in the town, introducing differentiation from east-to-west by privileging those routes crossing the tracks to link both sides of town. Indeed, the interruptions (e.g. the railroad tracks, the large block to the south defining the Neosho Community College campus, and 215th Road/E. Elm Street angling into the regular grid from the east at the upper middle right of the above image) to the regular grid of Chanute characterize the town as much as the regular grid itself. Finally, the western edge of Chanute is defined by State Highway 169, which mirrors the Tulsa-to-Kansas City alignment of the railroad. However, this is not an interstate highway. Chanute is almost exactly at the center of a ring of interstates, more than a hundred miles in any direction to 35/335 to the north and west, 498 to the east, and 44 to the south. Because of this, and the fact that its population has remained relatively stable over the last 100 years (only variation of +/- 1,000), Chanute has maintained its small-town persona as an American farming community. (Updated: July 3, 2017) AppleChanuteDan WebbEnvironmentGoogleGoogle EarthKansasPlanningThe Outlaw UrbanistThe Urban PatternUrban DesignUrban GrowthUrban Planning	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1920
__label__wiki	0.84124	0.84124	Foreclosures in Prince George's County Using a merged data set consisting of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), U.S. Census Bureau and Lender Processing Services (LPS) data, and utilizing a logistic regression model, the speakers will present an analysis of the likelihood of foreclosure in Prince George’s County. They found that the borrowers in Black/African American neighborhoods with high income were 42 percent more likely, and Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods with high income were 159 percent more likely, than borrowers in non-Hispanic White neighborhoods to go into foreclosure, controlling for key demographic, socioeconomic, and financial variables. 10:30 a.m. - Noon James H. Carr Housing and Financial Services Consultant, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress; recently appointed Coleman A. Young Endowed Chair and Professor of Urban Affairs, Wayne State University Jim Carr is a housing finance, banking, and urban policy consultant. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Center for American Progress and recently appointed Coleman A. Young Endowed Chair and Professor of Urban Affairs, Wayne State University. Previously, Jim served as Chief Business Officer for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) where he managed minority- and women-owned business centers in Washington, D.C.; New York, NY; and Houston, TX, that assisted their clients to access more than $1.8 billion in capital and $350 million in federal contracts during his tenure. Prior to his appointment to NCRC, Jim was Senior Vice President for Financial Innovation, Planning, and Research for the Fannie Mae Foundation where he built one of the most prestigious housing and urban policy research centers in the U.S. He also served as Vice President for Housing Research at Fannie Mae, Assistant Director for Tax Policy and Federal Credit with the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, and Research Associate at the Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University. Jim has served as a Visiting Professor at Columbia University and an Executive Committee Member of Americans for Financial Reform. Jim has served on research or policy advisory boards at numerous colleges and universities, including Harvard University, University of California-Berkeley, and University of Pennsylvania. He is an Advisory Committee Member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Center for Community Development Investments, an Advisory Board Member of the John Marshall Law School, and a Braintruster (blogger) for the Roosevelt Institute. Jim previously served on the Corporate Advisory Board of the Urban Financial Services Coalition and was an instructor for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute. Jim has also been an advisor to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Urban Affairs Project Group in Paris, France. Jim has served as an international advisor on financial modernization and housing finance in China, Mexico, Turkey, and Colombia. He has served on Congressional delegations to South Africa and Ghana on housing and economic development. Jim has testified on numerous occasions before the United States Congress on issues related to the economy, housing markets, financial system regulatory reform, and wealth disparities and economic mobility. He is particularly recognized for his knowledge about and leadership on development of financial instruments and strategies to promote sustainable affordable home lending, inner-city community and economic development, and wealth creation for lower-income households. Jim has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, MSNBC, FOX News, PBS, and a variety of local news stations in Washington, D.C., and New York. He has been interviewed on Newsweek on Air, Bloomberg Radio, and National Public Radio. Jim has been quoted and his research cited in various major newspapers including The Washington Post, USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Reuters, and numerous additional media outlets. Jim’s speeches have been awarded top honors, including the Best of the Best award by the International Association of Business Communicators. Jim is the founder and former editor of the scholarly journal Housing Policy Debate (now published by Routledge Publishers) which, during Jim’s 17 years as editor, was routinely rated one of the nation’s premier urban studies research journals by the Institute for Scientific Information. He also served for more than a decade as editor of the peer-reviewed publication Journal of Housing Research. Jim’s recent books include Replicating Microfinance in the United States and Segregation: The Rising Costs for America. Jim has earned numerous professional and academic honors and awards. He was selected as a 2012 Closing the Racial Wealth Gap Fellow with the Insight Center for Community Economic Development and Op Ed Project, 2004 Aspen Institute Scholar, recipient of the 2003 Community Impact Award from the National Organization of Black County Officials, the 1998 Presidential Award from the National Association of Urban Bankers, and an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute in 1996. Jim holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree with honors from Hampton University, a Master of Urban Planning degree from Columbia University, and a Master of City and Regional Planning Degree from University of Pennsylvania. Katrin B. Anacker, Ph.D. Associate Professor, George Mason University, School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs Katrin B. Anacker is an Associate Professor at George Mason’s School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs. She is the North American Editor of the International Journal of Housing Policy, the Review Editor of the Journal of Planning Education and Research, and the editor of the book The New American Suburb: Poverty, Race, and the Economic Crisis (Ashgate, 2015). Her research interests are housing, housing and urban policy, race and public policy, real estate markets, economic demographics, statistical methods, qualitative methods, and research writing. Dr. Anacker’s work has been published in the Journal of Urban Affairs, Housing Policy Debate, Housing Studies, the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, the International Journal of Housing Policy, Urban Geography, and Housing and Society. Her work has been supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Urban Land Institute, Center for Urban and Regional Analysis at The Ohio State University, Lambda Alpha International, and the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy. Professor Anacker received a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University in 2006. Before joining GMU she was a Post Doctoral Fellow and Research Assistant Professor at the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech in Alexandria, VA, where she served as Co-Editor of the academic journal Housing Policy Debate. She was also a Fulbright Fellow in 1997/98 at The Ohio State University.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1937
__label__wiki	0.632195	0.632195	Expect climate change to whipsaw Hawai`i between El Nino and La Nina El Nino and La Nina events could be more frequent and much stronger with climate change. That’s according to a new analysis published this week by an international team that includes Hawai`i researcher Axel Timmermann, of the International Pacific Research Center at the University of Hawai`i. It’s important to Hawai`i residents because those climate variances have significant impacts on rainfall patterns, storm, water temperature and other things. One issue: more drought during El Nino events and more heavy rain events during La Nina—essentially, Hawai`i during the coming decades can expect to be whipsawed between more extreme weather events. "Our previous research showed a doubling in frequency of extreme El Niño events, and this new study shows a similar fate for the cold phase of the cycle. It shows again how we are just beginning to understand the consequences of global warming,” said Mat Collins, a University of Exeterprofessor and co-author of the new paper. Increased frequency of extreme La Niña events under greenhouse warming was published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Its authors, besides Collins and Timmermann, are Wenju Cai, Guojian Wang, Agus Santoso, Michael J. McPhaden, Lixin Wu, Fei-Fei Jin, Axel Timmermann, Gabriel Vecchi, Matthieu Lengaigne, Matthew H. England, Dietmar Dommenget, Ken Takahashi & Eric Guilyardi Timmermann echoed Collins’ comments. “Our recent study in Nature Climate Change demonstrates that extreme La Nina events are likely to become more frequent over the next 100 years. Many of these events will follow stronger El Nino events. “This means for Hawaii that the transitions between El Nino and La Nina are likely to result in larger year-to-year rainfall extremes - extra drought during El Nino and extreme winter rain for La Nina,” Timmermann said. He said the study is based on an analysis of 21 existing climate models. The paper’s summary says: “Here we present climate modelling evidence… for a near doubling in the frequency of future extreme La Niña events, from one in every 23 years to one in every 13 years. “This occurs because projected faster mean warming of the Maritime continent than the central Pacific, enhanced upper ocean vertical temperature gradients, and increased frequency of extreme El Niño events are conducive to development of the extreme La Niña events. “Approximately 75% of the increase occurs in years following extreme El Niño events, thus projecting more frequent swings between opposite extremes from one year to the next.” Labels: Agriculture, Climate Change, Marine Issues, Oceanography, Weather, Wind Everything that can, does get into groundwater, but it's not always a crisis. Some folks express shock that agricultural chemicals can sometimes be found in groundwater, but nearly everything we use on the surface has the potential to get the wider environment, including into groundwater. (Image: Tapwater. Credit: EPA.) This isn't a big scare story. Most Hawaiian water is perfectly safe. Levels of all kinds of contaminants can be detected in the tiniest amounts, but almost all are far below levels of concern. Man made materials get into the water. And lots of natural materials do, too. Like bacteria, which is a reason for chlorination. Volcanic activity can contaminate groundwater with sulfur and other compounds. “Some volcanic gases such as sulfur dioxide dissolve in groundwater, making the water acidic,” writes the US Geological Survey. Arsenic is an odorless, tasteless and toxic element that can occur in groundwater. It can sometimes be the result of human activities, like insect treatment of wood, but in many parts of the world, arsenic is a natural contaminant, and a dangerous one. Specific areas on every continent have natural arsenic contamination problems. And irrigating with arsenic-contaminated groundwater can transfer the toxicity to farmland, and then to crops. Arsenic-contaminated rice is a particular issue. Here’s an FDA report on arsenic in rice. Here’s an EPA resource on arsenic in groundwater. Agricultural chemicals are a focus of concern, but they’re far from alone. “Pesticides and fertilizers can find their way into groundwater supplies over time. Road salt, toxic substances from mining sites, and used motor oil also may seep into groundwater. In addition, it is possible for untreated waste from septic tanks and toxic chemicals from underground storage tanks and leaky landfills to contaminate groundwater,” says The Groundwater Foundation. Pesticide contamination of groundwater has been a worrisome issue in Hawai`i, and there are specific areas of concern, but the Department of Health and the island water boards say almost all ground water in the Islands is safe to drink. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has issued statements about two chemicals, the herbicide bromacil and the termite killer dieldrin, which is no longer used. Both are found as contaminants in some O`ahu wells, but in levels below EPA levels of concern. On the island of Kaua`i, most of the contaminants found in water are natural, the result of natural weathering of volcanic rocks. And in most Hawaiian water, they’re at lower levels than EPA established levels of concern. Lead, copper and cadmium show up in Hawaiian water, apparently associated with corrosion of household plumbing. Each of those could cause significant threats to human health in high doses, but again, mostly, it’s found at low levels compared to the established “maximum contaminant level” or MCL. You'd think that big things like plastics would be a threat to marine life, but pretty safe from being a groundwater contaminant. Maybe, but the sealants, linings and solvents associated with a lot of plastic products can end up in groundwater, too. And in areas that have been extensively used for agriculture, some agricultural chemicals show up, also generally at levels significantly below the MCL concern level. Several sites show levels of trichloropropane, a soil fumigant, and DCPA, an herbicide with the unpronounceable name dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate. On Kaua`i, you can check out the Water Department’s report on the results of testing for contaminants in water for the island’s various communities at this site. Here's Maui County. Here's Hawai`i County. And Honolulu County. Some Hawaiian wells are contaminated with an industrial solvent and a contaminant in fumigation chemicals called 1,2,3-trichloropropane or TCP. It is denser than water and readily travels down to the groundwater. It is extremely persistent, having been banned in agricultural uses three decades ago. Most tests show that when present, its concentrations are within the guidelines. The agricultural chemical atrazine, an herbicide, is also occasionally found in low levels in well water near current or former agricultural areas. While it is still used, its use has dropped significantly since the days of the sugar industry, from 400,000 pounds in 1964 to 77,000 pounds in 2012. Unlike TCP, atrazine does not readily travel into groundwater, and more than 90 percent of community water systems in the Islands had no detectable levels, with the remaining systems having levels below the established levels of concern. All that said, if you’re worried about contaminants in your drinking water, there is whole range of options for home filtration, from activated charcoal filters, to distillation, reverse osmosis and others. Here’s an Environmental Protection Agency handbook on home water treatment. Labels: Agriculture, Botany, Geology, Government, Health/Medical, Pesticides, Pollution Pasturing easier on the animal and makes a healthier roast. Increasingly, Hawai`i restaurants are serving home grown, pasture fed beef and lamb, and new evidence suggests that’s healthier for you than feedlot meat. It goes without saying that pasturing is easier on the animals, too. (Image: St. Croix sheep. Credit, USDA Agricultural Research Service.) A new study suggests lamb that comes from pasture-raised sheep has higher levels of healthier fat than other sheep. It goes on to say that changing the mix of plants in the pasture can further increase the benefit. The report, Opportunities and Implications of Pasture-Based Lamb Fattening to Enhance the Long-Chain Fatty Acid Composition in Meat is in the journal, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. “Pasture naturally enhances the proportion of long-chain fatty acids in meat and often enriches the meat with antioxidants,” they write. It’s a complex paper, but the upshot is that the fats in pasture-raised animals are healthier for humans than grain-fed, and also that the fat from animals that grazed in pastures with diverse food sources instead of just grass were also preferable. Pasturing, the study says, increases the polyunsaturated fatty acids in meat. The Centers for Disease Control says that’s a preferable kind of fat to eat. “Most of the fat that you eat should come from unsaturated sources: polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats.” “Recent studies have investigated the influences of grazing animals on botanically diverse pastures on the fatty acid composition of meat. ‘Botanically diverse’ typically refers to mixed pastures of native origin and can include a range of grass, legume, and herb species. Differences in composition are especially apparent when animals graze on diverse pastures in mountainous areas, compared with those grazed in monoculture lowlands,” the lamb report authors write. Although that paper is brand new, published this month, the concept that diet makes a difference in meat and milk isn’t new, of course. In the Italian Alps, dairy farmers know that they get different cheeses from milk from cattle pastured in high mountain versus lower fields. A 2012 study on this is in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. It’s entitled, Characterization of two Agrostis-Festuca Alpine pastures and their influence on cheese composition. A 2014 Denmark study found that fatty acid composition changes with diet. It’s in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry: Biohydrogenation of Fatty Acids Is Dependent on Plant Species and Feeding Regimen of Dairy Cows. It suggests that the old saying, you are what you eat, applies to all of us. (On a side note, many of us may recall that being and eating phrase from the back-to-the-land movements of the last few decades, but it’s much older. (In 1826, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote—in French—“Tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you what you are.” By all accounts, Brillat-Savarin liked to eat, and ate a lot. He was a French lawyer and politician, but he mostly wrote about food. (His term got to English, as best I can determine, in the 1940s, when Victor Lindlahr wrote a book, You Are What You Eat.”) Labels: Agriculture, Botany, Government, Health/Medical, Zoology Sea level rise accelerating, ice melting at record rates north and south. Increasing evidence suggests that the sea level chickens are coming home to roost. A Rutgers and Harvard study published in the journal Nature says a recalculation of sea level numbers indicates that the rate of sea level rise is accelerating. And other studies suggest massive melting in both Greenland and West Antarctica are partly at fault. (Image: Petermann Glacier, Greenland. Credit: NASA) The Rutgers-Harvard study says sea level was rising at 1.2 millimeters a year from 1901-1990—less than previously estimated. That works out to about an inch every 20 years. But in the past two decades, 1993 to 2010, the authors say, it has speeded to 3 millimeters per year, or more than an inch a decade. With classic scientific understatement, they say “The increase in rate relative to the 1901–90 trend is accordingly larger than previously thought; this revision may affect some projections of future sea-level rise.” The paper, by Carling Hay, Eric Morrow, Robert Kopp and Jerry Mitrovica, is entitled, “Probabilistic reanalysis of twentieth-century sea-level rise.” That paper confirms earlier work by other researchers that suggests sea level rise is speeding up dramatically. One of those papers was a 2012 report in the journal Environmental Research Letters, which suggested sea level rise was 60 percent higher than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was projecting, at 3.2 millimeters per year. Perhaps one reason for the increase is found in another study just released, which suggests that increased warming results in much increased melting on the Greenland ice sheet. Why is that an issue? Because there is enough ice on Greenland to raise ocean levels 24 feet. Think virtually every coastal city flooded yards deep. Just one yard would displace a billion people. This study is in the journal Climate Dynamics. The authors are Pennsylvania State University’s Patrick J. Applegate, and Byron R. Parizek, Robert E. Nicholas, Richard B. Alley and Klaus Keller. “Satellite observations and paleo-data suggest that the Greenland Ice Sheet loses mass in response to increased temperatures, and may thus contribute substantially to sea level rise as anthropogenic climate change progresses,” they write. Another source of sea level rise is the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet. Papers in Science and Geophysical Research Letters in mid-2014 suggested that sections of the West Antarctica ice sheet have been collapsing. One of those studies concluded “the average rate of ice thinning in West Antarctica has...continued to rise, and mass losses from this sector are now 31% greater than over the period 2005–2010.” The Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology has a release on another paper on the issue here. Glaciologist Eric Rignot, of JPL and UC Irvine, said the Antarctic ice sheet collapse may now be unstoppable. There’s about 4 feet of sea level rise represented in the ice sheet. "This sector will be a major contributor to sea level rise in the decades and centuries to come," Rignot said A common theme in some of the papers cited above is that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change may be too conservative in its estimates of how bad sea level rise could be. In fact, the evidence suggests it may be rising lots faster than earlier estimates suggested. Labels: Climate Change, Geology, Government, Marine Issues, Weather Genetically engineered wheat and gluten issues? Wait just a minute. A close friend wrote to poke me a little on the GMO issue after the previous Raising Islands post, and ended up betraying yet another of the genetic engineering issue’s misconceptions. “It's a fact,” she said, “that gluten-intolerant folks in America can eat wheat products in Europe without trouble. (I) have anecdotal evidence from too many of my traveling friends. European wheat is non-gmo.” (Image: Grains of common wheat, Triticum aestivum L. Credit: USDA NRCS.) Something may be happening to her peripatetic friends, but it likely has little to do with the flour in that baguette. Two things leap out. One is that if you suffer from any of the forms of gluten intolerance, including the serious celiac disease, you’d be intolerant of any gluten-containing product—genetic modification shouldn’t be an issue. Second, the U.S.-grown wheat crop isn’t genetically modified at all. There is no genetically modified wheat being sold commercially anywhere in the world. Not in Europe, but not in the United States, either. Says the U.S. Department of Agriculture: “APHIS has not deregulated any GE wheat varieties to date, and thus, there are no GE wheat varieties for sale or in commercial production in the United States.” (APHIS is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA.) Which is not to say that genetic engineering hasn’t been done on wheat—just that it has not been approved for commercial use and has not moved into the market. There have been two famous cases in which genetic material from experimental wheat was found in an Oregon field in 2013 and in a Montana field in 2014. The USDA is investigating. That experimental wheat was experimental Monsanto Roundup-resistant wheat that is not commercially available. Here is the USDA’s September 2014 release on its investigations on those cases. The upshot is that the USDA says they are isolated and unrelated, and it is suspicious and not entirely clear how experimental seed ended up where it did: One of the ironies of the cases—particularly for those whose goal is to use their anti GMO activism to stop the use of the herbicide Roundup—is that both cases were discovered by non-GMO farmers using Roundup. In reference to my friend’s note, she is certainly not alone in her claim that gluten intolerance is less of an issue in Europe. There are lots of online references to that. But on review of the data, it’s difficult to make sense of it. There is lots of reference to the disease in Europe—indeed, celiac disease until the middle of the last century was considered largely a European disease, as this National Institutes of Health report says. “Until the mid-20th century, celiac disease was known as Gee-Herter disease. About two decade(s) ago, celiac disease was considered rare outside Europe and, therefore, was almost completely ignored by health care professionals in rest of the world,” it says. That was before there was genetic engineering in crops on either side of the Atlantic. The article also makes the point that if you’ve got the disease, there’s only one sure way to stop its symptoms. It’s to eat no gluten whatsoever: “All foods and drugs that contain gluten and its derivatives must be eliminated from the diet because even 50 mg of gluten is sufficient to cause a significant increase in the intestinal mucosal damage,” says the NIH report. We'd be remiss not to mention that with reference to gluten, if you have the disease, avoiding wheat isn’t all you need to do. Gluten is also found, according to the Mayo Clinic, in barley, bulgur, durum, farina, graham flour, malt, rye, semolina, spelt and triticale. But it is clear that there's now far more celiac and other gluten-related illness--maybe four times more in North America than there was half a century ago. Also in other parts of the world. The range of suspects is truly vast. Aside from the large number of gluten-containing food products and processed foods, people have linked the disease to weakened immune systems from poor diets, overprescribed antibiotics, Roundup and other pesticides, GMO crops, genetic predisposition, even living in cities as opposed to farms. The New York Times (paywall) in 2013 carried a piece linking celiac to breastfeeding. It was better, the researchers in the story said, to have been breastfed than not, but also better to have been introduced to gluten earlier than later. Furthermore it mattered whether the breastfeeding mother was thin or heavy (better thin), whether she lived in a city or on a farm (better farm). A Mayo Clinic article cites Mayo gastroenterologist Dr. Joseph Murray: "Whatever has happened with celiac disease has happened since 1950. This increase has affected young and old people. It suggests something has happened in a pervasive fashion from the environmental perspective." So what happened 50 o 60 years ago as the celiac rate was rising? Yeah, we moved off the farms, became more overweight, started eating processed foods, started abusing antibiotics, used more pesticides, launched genetic engineering. Might want to throw air pollution, climate change, television, air conditioning, plastics, computers and a whole lot of other stuff in there. Labels: Agriculture, Botany, Climate Change, Government, Health/Medical, Pollution, Sustainability, technology, Weather Expect climate change to whipsaw Hawai`i between E... Everything that can, does get into groundwater, bu... Pasturing easier on the animal and makes a healthi... Sea level rise accelerating, ice melting at record... Genetically engineered wheat and gluten issues? Wa... Misinformation in the GMO controversy: who's reall... Reversing alien species introduction: the island w... Mammal predators primary threat to Hawai`i's endan...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1945
__label__wiki	0.560289	0.560289	IndonesiaUnited StatesMalaysiaSingaporeIndiaUnited KingdomAustraliaNetherlandsChinaSouth AfricaCanadaRussiaIsraelThailandTimor-LesteJapanGermanyPhilippinesHong KongSouth KoreaBrazilVietnamBelgiumTaiwanIranPakistanTurkeyFranceBruneiSwedenIrelandEgyptSpainUkraineNew ZealandNigeriaSaudi ArabiaNorwayItalyBangladeshRomaniaCambodiaMexicoPolandPuerto RicoJordanPortugalKenyaHungaryMaltaFinlandUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsSwitzerlandAustriaUnited Arab EmiratesColombiaEthiopiaOmanDenmarkGreeceArgentinaChileQatarMoroccoGhanaJamaicaPeruAlbaniaMauritiusKazakhstanTanzaniaSerbiaCzechiaLebanonReunionLithuaniaTunisiaCroatiaUgandaSri LankaAlgeriaIraqMacauThe BahamasCyprusBulgariaBurmaNepalSlovakiaLatviaBarbadosEstoniaCosta RicaEcuadorRwandaSudanAzerbaijanUruguayBosnia and HerzegovinaBahrainAfghanistanSloveniaTrinidad and TobagoMalawiZimbabweCote d'IvoireBurkina FasoSierra LeoneSenegalGuyanaKiribatiSomaliaUzbekistanLaosGeorgiaIcelandKuwaitNamibiaArubaHondurasBritish Virgin IslandsGuamVirgin IslandsFijiBotswanaBermudaPapua New GuineaEl SalvadorSaint LuciaNorth MacedoniaDominican RepublicEswatiniMoldovaZambiaYemen Aruba Population: 113,648 Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990. A flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W Area: total: 180 sq km land: 180 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: slightly larger than Washington, DC Land Boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 68.5 km Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism Land use: agricultural land: 11.1% arable land 11.1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% forest: 2.3% Irrigated land: NA Natural hazards: hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened Current Environment Issues: NA Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch Ethnic groups: Dutch 82.1%, Colombian 6.6%, Venezuelan 2.2%, Dominican 2.2%, Haitian 1.2%, other 5.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.) Languages: Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 69.4%, Spanish 13.7%, English (widely spoken) 7.1%, Dutch (official) 6.1%, Chinese 1.5%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 75.3%, Protestant 4.9% (includes Methodist 0.9%, Adventist 0.9%, Anglican 0.4%, other Protestant 2.7%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 12%, none 5.5%, unspecified 0.5% (2010 est.) Population: 113,648 (July 2016 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.66% (male 10,068/female 9,999) 15-24 years: 13.03% (male 7,441/female 7,366) 25-54 years: 42.16% (male 23,068/female 24,847) 65 years and over: 13.14% (male 5,853/female 9,083) (2016 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 17.6% potential support ratio: 5.7% (2015 est.) Population growth rate: 1.3% (2016 est.) Net migration rate: 8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) Major urban areas - population: ORANJESTAD (capital) 29,000 (2014) total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2016 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) total: 1.9% of population (2015 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba etymology: the origin of the island's name is unclear; according to tradition, the name comes from the Spanish phrase "oro huba" (there was gold), but in fact no gold was ever found on the island; another possibility is the native word "oruba," which means "well situated" Government type: parliamentary democracy (Legislature); part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Capital: name: Oranjestad time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: Aruba is one of four constituent parts (countries) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three parts are the Netherlands, Curacao, and Sint Maarten Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March (1976) Constitution: previous 1947, 1955; latest drafted and approved August 1985, enacted 1 January 1986 (regulates governance of Aruba, but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, following dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2016) Legal system: civil law system based on the Dutch civil code Executive branch: chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (since 30 October 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature (Staten) elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Staten for 4-year tern; election last held on 25 September 2009 (next to be held by September 2013) election results: Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (AVP) elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 27 September 2013 (next to be held in 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AVP 13, MEP 8 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatitus and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court, in The Hague, Netherlands judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance Political parties and leaders: Aruban People's Party or AVP [Michiel "Mike" EMAN] People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Evelyn WEVER-CROES] Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER] Political pressure groups and leaders: other: environmental groups International organization participation: Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU National symbol(s): Hooiberg (Haystack) Hill; national colors: blue, yellow, red, white National anthem: name: "Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country) lyrics/music: Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER note: local anthem adopted 1986; as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "Het Wilhelmus" is official (see Netherlands) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - there is a Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Aruba Tourism, petroleum bunkering, hospitality, and financial and business services are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 2008 global financial crisis. Tourism now accounts for a majority of economic activity. Over 1 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with the large majority of those from the US. The rapid growth of the tourism sector has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction continues to boom with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to achieve a more desirable trade balance. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Panama being the major suppliers. Aruba weathered two major shocks in recent years: fallout from the global financial crisis, which had its largest impact on tourism, and the closure of its oil refinery in 2009. However, tourism and related industries have continued to grow, and the Aruban government is working to attract more diverse industries. Aruba's banking sector withstood the recession well, and unemployment has significantly decreased. Tourism, petroleum bunkering, hospitality, and financial and business services are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 2008 global financial crisis. Tourism now accounts for a majority of economic activity. Over 1 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with the large majority of those from the US. The rapid growth of the tourism sector has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction continues to boom with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to achieve a more desirable trade balance. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Panama being the major suppliers. Aruba weathered two major shocks in recent years: fallout from the global financial crisis, which had its largest impact on tourism, and the closure of its oil refinery in 2009. However, tourism and related industries have continued to grow, and the Aruban government is working to attract more diverse industries. Aruba's banking sector withstood the recession well, and unemployment has significantly decreased. GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.516 billion (2009 est.) $2.258 billion (2005 est.) $2.205 billion (2004 est.) GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.516 billion (2009 est.) $2.258 billion (2005 est.) $2.205 billion (2004 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $2.516 billion (2009 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $2.516 billion (2009 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.4% (2005 est.) 2.4% (2005 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $25,300 (2011 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP): $25,300 (2011 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.3% imports of goods and services: -79% (2014 est.) household consumption: 60.3% government consumption: 26.2% investment in fixed capital: 22.3% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 70.2% imports of goods and services: -79% (2014 est.) Agriculture - products: aloes; livestock; fish aloes; livestock; fish Industries: tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking Industrial production growth rate: NA% NA% Labor force: 51,610 note: of the 51,610 workers aged 15 and over in the labor force, 32,252 were born in Aruba and 19,353 came from abroad; foreign workers are 38% of the employed population (2007 est.) 51,610 note: of the 51,610 workers aged 15 and over in the labor force, 32,252 were born in Aruba and 19,353 came from abroad; foreign workers are 38% of the employed population (2007 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% services: NA% note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade, followed by hotels and restaurants agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade, followed by hotels and restaurants Population below poverty line: NA% NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Budget: revenues: $696.5 million expenditures: $751.8 million (2016 est.) revenues: $696.5 million expenditures: $751.8 million (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 27.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 27.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Public debt: 67% of GDP (2013) 55% of GDP (2012) 67% of GDP (2013) 55% of GDP (2012) Fiscal year: calendar year calendar year Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (2016 est.) 0.5% (2015 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (2016 est.) 0.5% (2015 est.) Exports: $299.9 million (2016 est.) $333.2 million (2015 est.) $299.9 million (2016 est.) $333.2 million (2015 est.) Exports - commodities: live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment Exports - partners: Colombia 28.2%, Netherlands Antilles 18.1%, US 14.3%, Netherlands 10.1%, Mexico 6.5%, Venezuela 6.3%, Panama 4.1% (2015) Colombia 28.2%, Netherlands Antilles 18.1%, US 14.3%, Netherlands 10.1%, Mexico 6.5%, Venezuela 6.3%, Panama 4.1% (2015) Imports: $1.294 billion (2016 est.) $1.269 billion (2015 est.) $1.294 billion (2016 est.) $1.269 billion (2015 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, refined oil for bunkering and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs machinery and electrical equipment, refined oil for bunkering and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs Imports - partners: US 55.4%, Netherlands 11.2% (2015) US 55.4%, Netherlands 11.2% (2015) Debt - external: $693.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) $666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.) $693.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) $666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.) Exchange rates: Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2016 est.) 1.79 (2015 est.) 1.79 (2014 est.) 1.79 (2013 est.) 1.79 (2012 est.) Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2016 est.) 1.79 (2015 est.) 1.79 (2014 est.) 1.79 (2013 est.) 1.79 (2012 est.) Electricity - consumption: 800 million kWh (2014 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 300,000 kW (2014 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 7,500 bbl/day (2014 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 7,661 bbl/day (2013 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 900,000 Mt (2013 est.) Cellular Phones in use: total: 141,000 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (July 2015 est.) Telephone system: general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system domestic: increased competition through privatization has increased mobile-cellular teledensity to over 125 per 100 persons; 3 mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed international: country code - 297; landing site for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from the US Virgin Islands through Aruba to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the west coast of South America; extensive interisland microwave radio rela (2015) Broadcast media: 2 commercial TV stations; cable TV subscription service provides access to foreign channels; about 20 commercial radio stations broadcast (2007) Internet country code: .aw Internet users: total: 99,000 percent of population: 88.7% (July 2015 est.) Roadways: Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Barcadera, Oranjestad oil terminal(s): Sint Nicolaas cruise port(s): Oranjestad Defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism Military branches: no regular military forces (2011) Disputes - International: none Illicit drugs: transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine IndonesiaUnited StatesMalaysiaSingaporeIndiaUnited KingdomAustraliaNetherlandsChinaSouth AfricaCanadaRussiaIsraelThailandTimor-LesteJapanGermanyPhilippinesHong KongSouth KoreaBrazilVietnamBelgiumTaiwanIranPakistanTurkeyFranceBruneiSwedenIrelandEgyptSpainUkraineNew ZealandNigeriaSaudi ArabiaNorwayItalyBangladeshRomaniaCambodiaMexicoPolandPuerto RicoJordanPortugalKenyaHungaryMaltaFinlandUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsSwitzerlandAustriaUnited Arab EmiratesColombiaEthiopiaOmanDenmarkGreeceArgentinaChileQatarMoroccoGhanaJamaicaPeruAlbaniaMauritiusKazakhstanTanzaniaSerbiaCzechiaLebanonReunionLithuaniaTunisiaCroatiaUgandaSri LankaAlgeriaIraqMacauThe BahamasCyprusBulgariaBurmaNepalSlovakiaLatviaBarbadosEstoniaCosta RicaEcuadorRwandaSudanAzerbaijanUruguayBosnia and HerzegovinaBahrainAfghanistanSloveniaTrinidad and TobagoMalawiZimbabweCote d'IvoireBurkina FasoSierra LeoneSenegalGuyanaKiribatiSomaliaUzbekistanLaosGeorgiaIcelandKuwaitNamibiaArubaHondurasBritish Virgin IslandsGuamVirgin IslandsFijiBotswanaBermudaPapua New GuineaEl SalvadorSaint LuciaNorth MacedoniaDominican RepublicEswatiniMoldovaZambiaYemen « Previous Country \| Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1956
__label__wiki	0.539478	0.539478	About Us Client Login Contact Us Market & Consumer Research Retail & Branch Research CallCenter Solutions Forum Fuzion Overview Forum Fuzion Fuzion Customer Program The Forum Poll™ 4-in-10 favour abolishing monarchy May 18, 2015 @ 10:00 AM \| Filed under: National Majority don’t want Prince Charles as Head of State TORONTO May 14th, 2015 - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll among 1286 Canadian voters, just fewer than 4-in-10 favour abolishing the monarchy in Canada upon the death of the Queen (39%). Opposition to this idea is characteristic of just more (45%). One sixth don’t share an opinion (16%). Abolishing the monarchy is especially popular among the youngest (49%), males (44%), the wealthy ($80K to $100K - 46%), in Quebec (71%), among New Democrats (49%), Francophones (72%) and mothers of children under 18 (46%). This compares very closely to levels of support noted in July 2013, just after the birth of Prince George (abolish - 37%, oppose - 48%). Majority disagree Charles should become Head of State More than half of Canadian adults don’t want to see Prince Charles become Head of State of Canada upon the death of his mother (54%), while fewer than one third think this should happen (31%). One sixth don’t know one way or another (15%). Wanting to see Charles as Head of State is characteristic of the oldest (37%), those in mid income groups ($60K to $80K - 38%), in Alberta and BC (37% each), among Conservatives and Liberals (37% each) but not New Democrats (28%) and among the least educated (36%). Among those who support the monarchy, just more than half agree Charles should be Head of State (56%), and one third disagree (32%). These findings are very close to those noted in July 2013 (agree - 33%, disagree - 53%). Even split on Oath to the Queen Equal proportions of voters agree (44%) and disagree (45%) all citizens should swear the Oath to the Queen, and this is the same as noted in July, 2013 (47% and 43%, respectively). Increase in those who want a Canadian-born Head of State Almost three quarters of voters agree the Head of State of Canada should be Canadian-born and live in Canada (73%), and this represents a clear increase since the last time we polled (July, 2013 - 63%). One tenth don’t have an opinion (12%). Agreement is highest in Quebec (91%) and lowest in Alberta (59%). "These measures appear to be static across two years, but you must remember that we polled immediately after a royal birth each time. It is clear there are a substantial number of people who, while they support the monarchy in Canada, don’t necessarily support the Heir Apparent," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff. Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603. Most Canadians Would Fail Citizenship Test Liberals Hold Commanding Lead in Fortress Toronto Conservatives Maintain Lead Gap Between Second-Place Liberals and Leading Conservatives Widens Conservatives Lead, But the Gap Is Narrowing © Copyright 2001–2019 by Forum Research Inc. All Rights Reserved. Get Forum Poll News Please select the topics you would like to receive alerts for:	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1960
__label__cc	0.697303	0.302697	City of Columbia employees raise more than $50,000 for United Way of the Midlands Columbia, S.C. (June 18, 2019) – The City of Columbia charitable giving campaign has concluded with employees raising more than $50,000 to support United Way of the Midlands. “We are grateful to the City of Columbia employees for their dedication to improve our local community,” said Sara Fawcett, United Way of the Midlands President and CEO. “These investments allow us to support programs and services that ensure Midlands children start school ready to learn, that offer resources to help our neighbors become self-sufficient and that provide eye and dental care for those who are underinsured or uninsured.” This year, four of the City’s departments showed exceptional increases in participation over the previous employee giving campaign including the City of Columbia Fire Department that increased employee giving participation by 74 percent and the Department of Parks and Recreation that increased participation by 62 percent. Other standout departments that increased employee giving were the Emergency Communications Center and the City of Columbia Police Department. Whanna Bouknight, City of Columbia Campaign Director and Governmental Affairs Administrator, executed the 2018-2019 employee charitable giving campaign for the City. “The City of Columbia’s employees continue to be committed to financially supporting the United Way campaign every year as a way to give back to the community,” said City Manager Teresa Wilson. “I am proud to lead this dynamic group of public servants who remain focused on helping those in our city who need it the most.” United Way is leading the charge in improving the quality of life in the Midlands by working with local partners to improve education, economic mobility and health care services in the Midlands. To learn more about United Way of the Midlands, visit www.uway.org. United Way of the Midlands is the most organized, efficient and accountable system for investing in the community. With nearly 70 Community Impact Partners, United Way works to identify and respond to the critical human service needs of Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Funds are raised through workplace campaigns, grant writing and individual donations. For more information, please visit uway.org. Submitted to Ashley Sprouse View all posts by: Ashley Sprouse Dominion Energy South Carolina Earns American Gas Association Safety Award BlueCross employees donate more than 32,000 meals to Harvest Hope National Guard Foundation Awards $76,000 in Scholarships to South Carolina Students Lecture to address history of African-American Confederate pensions	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1964
__label__wiki	0.908704	0.908704	COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 1, 2019)—The Columbia World Affairs Council is pleased to announce that Claflin University President Henry N. Tisdale will receive the esteemed 2019 Global Vision Award. Dr. Tisdale will be honored at a black-tie gala at the Columbia Marriott on Wednesday, October 23, 2019. This is the 26th year the Columbia World Affairs Council has presented the award to a leader whose contributions have made a significant impact on projecting South Carolina globally. Dr. Henry N. Tisdale Under Dr. Tisdale’s leadership, Claflin has advanced a curriculum anticipating the technological and social demands of the 21st century. He has left an indelible high-water mark on the University as a diverse and inclusive community who work to cultivate wisdom and character needed for globally engaged citizenship. “Dr. Tisdale has fostered generations of leaders instilled with a global vision. During his presidency he not only doubled enrollment and achieved historic capital campaign success, he put South Carolina on the map in 2008 when Forbes named Claflin as the number one HBCU and in the top 4% of colleges and universities nationally,” said Bob Coble, former Columbia Mayor and Chair of Columbia World Affairs Council Board of Directors. “With students from 26 states and 15 countries, Dr. Tisdale has elevated the status of our state for generations to come.” An Order of the Palmetto recipient, South Carolina’s highest civilian award, Dr. Tisdale has served on numerous committees, councils, and executive boards on both local and national levels. He has championed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) policy within Claflin and publically with integrated collaborations at South Carolina Research Authority, Orangeburg County Economic Development, The Association of Governing Boards and Universities and College Council of Presidents, and Former Governor Nikki Haley’s Transition Team. “Through 25 years of transformational leadership, Dr. Tisdale defines what it means to be a visionary leader,” said James Lehman, Chair of Claflin University’s Board of Trustees and Managing Partner at Nelson Mullins. “He is an example to industry and higher education of why leadership matters. He has made a difference in our community, our state, our nation and our world.” In 1994, only four months into his presidency, Dr. Tisdale established the Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics with a strategic vision to reverse the number of underrepresented minorities in STEM industries. Claflin has received several national fiscal awards and partnerships, including the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, contributing to a successful $30 million, five-year capital campaign project in 1997. The University’s Molecular Research Center was designated a core research facility by the South Carolina Research Authority. In 2016, the University capped a capital campaign of $105 million, exceeding its original goal of $96.4 million. Dr. Tisdale’s fundraising and administrative leadership resulted in the launch of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College, a state-of-the-art television production studio, the Professional and Continuing Studies Center, and the Leadership Development Center, as well as many other educational initiatives and campus revitalization projects. “I am humbled and honored by this recognition,” said Dr. Tisdale, who significantly enhanced Claflin’s national profile. “I also accept the award on behalf of Team Claflin as we have worked hard and tirelessly to keep Claflin University a relevant and leading institution of higher education that offers a high-quality education for its students. I would like to thank the Columbia World Affairs Council for its outstanding track-record of global advocacy on behalf of the Midlands and South Carolina. Finally, I express my appreciation to the Council for its long-standing support of Claflin’s global education agenda.” The Columbia World Affairs Council was established in 1993 to raise awareness of international activities in the Midlands, help people connect across the region, bring distinguished speakers and foreign diplomats to Columbia to address international issues, and create a bridge to build new international relationships. The Council administers the sister-city program for the City of Columbia and is a member of the Washington-based World Affairs Councils of America and Sister Cities International. The Global Vision Award was established in 1994, and the first recipient was Governor Carroll A. Campbell. Last year, the honor went to Senator Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. For more information about the Global Vision Award, please visit columbiaworldaffairs.org.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1965
__label__wiki	0.613796	0.613796	SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL-BUILT SATELLITE FOR ECHOSTAR SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED, BEGINS POST-LAUNCH MANEUVERS PALO ALTO, Calif. – November 21, 2012 – Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that the EchoStar XVI satellite, designed and built for EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), was launched yesterday and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS) from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. The satellite will begin firing its main thruster tomorrow in order to start maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit. “EchoStar and SS/L have a long history of collaboration and teamwork,” said John Celli, president of Space Systems/Loral. “The power and capability of EchoStar XVI to deliver high-definition television services is a testament to this ongoing relationship and we are pleased to see the satellite successfully launched.” EchoStar XVI is a high power 20-kilowatt direct broadcast satellite (DBS) that is fully leased to DISH Network. It will provide a broad range of Direct-to-Home (DTH) services in the United States. It has CONUS and spot beam transponders and will be positioned at 61.5 degrees West longitude. EchoStar XVI is based on the highly reliable 1300 space-proven platform, which has the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. The spacecraft is designed to deliver service for 15 years or more. With this launch, there are 72 SS/L-built satellites currently on orbit. About EchoStar Corporation EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is the premier global provider of satellite operations and video delivery solutions. EchoStar’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Hughes, is the world's leading provider of satellite broadband services, delivering network technologies and managed services for enterprise and government customers in more than 100 countries. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, with additional business units world-wide, EchoStar is a multiple Emmy award-winning company that has pioneered advancements in the set-top box and satellite industries for nearly 30 years, consistently delivering value for customers, partners and investors through innovation and outstanding quality. Over the last three decades EchoStar’s contribution to video technology has been a major influencer to shifts in the way consumers view, receive and manage TV programming. EchoStar’s consumer solutions include HughesNet®, North America’s #1 high-speed satellite Internet service, Sling Media's Slingbox® products, and EchoStar’s line of advanced digital video set-top box products for the European free satellite and terrestrial viewer markets. For more information, please visit www.EchoStar.com. Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (TSX: MDA), has a long history of delivering reliable satellites and spacecraft systems for commercial and government customers around the world. As the world’s leading provider of commercial satellites, the company works closely with satellite operators to provide spacecraft for a broad range of services including television and radio distribution, digital audio radio, broadband Internet, and mobile communications. Billions of people around the world depend on SS/L satellites every day. For more information, visit www.ssloral.com. About MDA MDA is a unique global communications and information company providing operational solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide. MDA’s business is focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential. In addition the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development. MDA’s well-established global customer base is served by more than 5,000 employees operating from 18 offices located in the United States, Canada, and internationally. This news release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (“MDA” or the “Company”) with respect to future events and financial performance. When used in this news release, the words “believes”, “expects”, “plans”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “project”, “intend” or “outlook” or other variations of these words or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Known risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures or impaired satellite performance; risks associated with satellite manufacturing, including competition, cyclicality of MDA’s end-user markets, contractual risks, creditworthiness of customers, performance of suppliers and management of MDA’s factory and personnel; risk associated with financial factors such as volatility in exchange rates, increases in interest rates, restrictions on access to capital, and swings in global financial markets; risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation, including export controls and economic sanctions; and other risks, including litigation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. The information contained in this news release reflects MDA’s beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, MDA disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the information herein. For additional information with respect to certain of these risks or factors, plus additional risks or factors, reference should be made to the Company’s continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com or on the Company’s website at www.mdacorporation.com. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the form or content of this news release. Click thumbnail to view larger image.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1971
__label__cc	0.652886	0.347114	Auth with social network: Registration Forgot your password? We think you have liked this presentation. If you wish to download it, please recommend it to your friends in any social system. Share buttons are a little bit lower. Thank you! Presentation is loading. Please wait. Copyright © cs-tutorial.com. Introduction to Web Development In 1990 and 1991,Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web at the European Laboratory for. Published byDarcy Skinner Modified over 3 years ago Similar presentations Presentation on theme: "Copyright © cs-tutorial.com. Introduction to Web Development In 1990 and 1991,Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web at the European Laboratory for."— Presentation transcript: 1 Copyright © cs-tutorial.com 2 Introduction to Web Development In 1990 and 1991,Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland The original purpose of the World Wide Web (WWW) was to provide easy access to cross-referenced documents that existed on the CERN computer network Hypertext linking allows you to quickly open other Web pages 3 Introduction to Web Development (continued) A document on the Web is called a Web page A Web page is identified by a unique address called the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) A URL is also commonly referred to as a Web address A URL is a type of Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) A Web site refers to the location on the Internet of the Web pages and related files 4 Introduction to Web Development (continued) Web pages are displayed using a program called a Web browser A Web server is a computer that delivers Web pages The most popular Web server software is Apache HTTP Server (Apache) The second most popular Web server is Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) for Windows 5 Goal To provide information to the user:- Files holding information must be created These file must be store at a central location on computer When required the user should be allowed to access these file using there desktop computers A network link must be establish between the desktop computer and the computer serving information at a central location. 6 Web Communication Protocols A Web page is identified by a unique address called the URL Each URL consists of two basic parts: A protocol (usually HTTP) and Either the domain name for a Web server or a Web server’s Internet Protocol address Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) manages the hypertext links that are used to navigate the Web 7 Web Communication Protocols (continued) A host refers to a computer system that is being accessed by a remote computer A domain name is a unique address used for identifying a computer such as a Web server on the Internet The domain identifier identifies the type of institution or organization (.biz,.com,.edu,.org) An Internet Protocol, or IP address, is another way to identify computers or devices connected to the Internet 8 Web Communication Protocols (continued) An IP address consists of a series of four groups of numbers separated by periods Each Internet domain name is associated with a unique IP address (may be shared). HTTP is a component of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) provides secure Internet connections for transactions that require security and privacy 9 Web Communication Protocols (continued) http://www.google.com/help/index.html Protocol Domain name Directory Filename 10 Client/Server Architecture Server (“back end”): A database from which a client requests information Fulfills a request for information by managing the request or serving the requested information to the client Responsible for data storage and management A system consisting of a client and a server is known as a two-tier system 11 Client/Server Architecture (continued) Client (“front end”): Presents an interface to the user Gathers information from the user, submits it to a server, then receives, formats, and presents the results returned from the server 12 Client/Server Architecture (continued) A three-tier, or multi-tier, client/server system consists of three distinct pieces: Client tier, or user interface tier, is the Web browser Processing tier, or middle tier, handles the interaction between the Web browser client and the data storage tier Performs necessary processing or calculations based on the request from the client tier Handles the return of any information to the client tier 13 Client/Server Architecture (continued) 14 HTML Documents Web pages are created using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Web pages are commonly referred to as HTML pages or documents A markup language is a set of characters or symbols that define a document’s logical structure HTML is based on an older language called Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) 15 HTML Documents (continued) Like SGML, HTML was originally designed as a way of defining the elements in a document independent of how they would appear HTML has evolved into a language that defines how elements should appear in a Web browser Understanding HTML is critical in learning how to write a web application along with the server programming 16 Cascading Style Sheets A single piece of CSS formatting information, such as text alignment, is referred to as a style The term cascading refers to the ability for Web pages to use CSS information from more than one source 17 Cascading Style Sheets (continued) CSS properties: CSS styles are created with two parts separated by a colon The property refers to a specific CSS style The value assigned to it determines the style’s visual characteristics Together, a CSS property and the value assigned to it are referred to as a declaration or style declaration 18 Cascading Style Sheets (continued) Inline Styles Allow you to add style information to a single element in a document Internal Style Sheets Create styles that apply to the entire document P { color : blue } selector property value External Style Sheets A separate text document containing style declarations that are used by multiple documents on a Web site 19 JavaScript and Client-Side Scripting JavaScript is: A client-side scripting language that allows Web page authors to develop interactive Web pages and sites Used in most Web browsers including Firefox and Internet Explorer Client-side scripting is a language that runs on a local browser (on the client tier) instead of on a Web server (on the processing tier) 20 JavaScript and Client-Side Scripting (continued) JavaScript allows you to: Turn static Web pages into applications such as games or calculators Change the contents of a Web page after a browser has rendered it Create visual effects such as animation Control the Web browser window itself 21 Server-Side Scripting and PHP Server-side scripting refers to a scripting language that is executed from a Web server Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is a server-side scripting language that is used to develop interactive Web sites Is easy to learn Includes object-oriented programming capabilities Supports many types of databases (MySQL, Oracle, Sybase, ODBC-compliant) 22 Server-Side Scripting and PHP (continued) PHP (continued): PHP is an open source programming language Open source refers to software where source code can be freely used and modified Can’t access or manipulate a Web browser like JavaScript Exists and executes solely on a Web server, where it performs various types of processing or accesses databases 23 Server-Side Scripting and PHP (continued) General rule: Use client-side scripting to handle user interface processing and light processing, such as validation; use server-side scripting for intensive calculations and data storage Download ppt "Copyright © cs-tutorial.com. Introduction to Web Development In 1990 and 1991,Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web at the European Laboratory for." 4.01 How Web Pages Work. Project 1 Introduction to HTML. Appendix A Introduction to Web Development PHP Programming with MySQL © 2010, Robert K. Moniot Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers and the Internet 1. Introduction to Web Database Processing Web Servers How do our requests for resources on the Internet get handled? Can they be located anywhere? Global? Outline IS400: Development of Business Applications on the Internet Fall 2004 Instructor: Dr. Boris Jukic Server Side Web Technologies: Part 2. Introduction to Web Interface Technology (CSE2030) Chapter 1 Introduction to Web Development. 2 Introduction to Web Development In 1990 and 1991,Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web at the European. Topics in this presentation: The Web and how it works Difference between Web pages and web sites Web browsers and Web servers HTML purpose and structure. Chapter 11 ASP.NET JavaScript, Third Edition. 2 Objectives Learn about client/server architecture Study server-side scripting Create ASP.NET applications. © 2004, Robert K. Moniot Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers and the Internet. 2440: 141 Web Site Administration Web Server-Side Programming Professor: Enoch E. Damson. HTML 1 Introduction to HTML. 2 Objectives Describe the Internet and its associated key terms Describe the World Wide Web and its associated key terms. Chapter ONE Introduction to HTML. WEB DESIGN SOME FOUNDATIONS. SO WHAT IS THIS INTERNET. Web Design Basic Concepts. 1 Web Servers (IIS and Apache) Outline 9.1 Introduction 9.2 HTTP Request Types 9.3 System Architecture 9.4 Client-Side Scripting versus Server-Side Scripting. 1 Introduction to Web Development. Web Basics The Web consists of computers on the Internet connected to each other in a specific way Used in all levels. CSCI 323 – Web Development Chapter 1 - Setting the Scene We’re going to move through the first few chapters pretty quick since they are a review for most. © 2019 SlidePlayer.com Inc.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1977
__label__wiki	0.811013	0.811013	Biodiversity Observations/Citizen Science OdonataMAP progress report Posted on Nov 14, 2018 by admin Loftie-Eaton M, Underhill LG, and Navarro R. 2018. OdonataMAP – Progress report on the Atlas of the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Africa – 2016/17 and 2017/18. Biodiversity Observations 9.13:1-10 Biodiversity Observations is an open access electronic journal published by the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town. This HTML version of this manuscript is hosted by the Biodiversity and Development Institute. Further details for this manuscript can be found at the journal page, and the manuscript page, along with the original PDF. OdonataMAP – Progress report on the Atlas of the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Africa – 2016/17 and 2017/18 Megan Loftie-Eaton Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa; Biodiversity and Development Institute, 25 Old Farm Road, Rondebosch, 7700 South Africa Les G Underhill Rene Navarro Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa; FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa This paper reports progress with OdonataMAP, the Atlas of Dragonflies and Damselflies of Africa, for the two-year period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2018. During the two-year review period, the database for the project grew by 30,423 records to 52,257, starting from 22,809 records collected between 2010 and June 2016. Submissions were made from 25 African countries. In six of the nine provinces of South Africa, the number of OdonataMAP records for the province more than doubled. The provinces in which the number of records were not doubled were Gauteng (44% of records made during reporting period), Free State and North West (both 46%). Five observers contributed more than 1000 records over the two-year period, and a further 10 between 500 and 999 records. The total number of observers for the two-year period was 529, compared with 295 in the 2010-16 period. One of the important success of OdonataMAP during the review period was to increase the number of observers, and to reduce the project’s dependence on a small number of citizen scientists. What is OdonataMAP? OdonataMAP is the Atlas of Dragonflies and Damselflies of Africa. It was launched in 2010; the first record was uploaded into the OdonataMAP database on 22 September 2010. At the time, the project objectives were (1) “to map the current distribution of the insect Order Odonata, i.e. dragonflies and damselflies, occurring in Africa” and (2) “to serve as a repository of all existing distribution data for this group.” OdonataMAP provides up-to-date distributions of the dragonflies and damselflies, a critical component of addressing their own conservation priorities, and also the conservation of freshwater ecosystems. The project will provide a valuable input to a revision of the Red List status of each species. Besides the distribution maps, OdonataMAP aims to make a contribution to understanding the seasonal phenology of these species. Documenting and quantifying changes in seasonality are a critical component of understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity (Hassel et al. 2007, Bush et al. 2013). Thus OdonataMAP aims not only to mainstream the conservation of the Odonata, but also the freshwater habitat on which they (and we) depend. Besides its own value for the conservation of Odonata, this atlas has the potential to influence government policy on the use of water resources, especially for the rural poor. There is no other taxon which has the potential to be so politically prominent in this way. The report by Underhill et al. (2016) summarized what OdonataMAP had achieved during the period 22 September 2010 until 30 June 2016. The database then contained 22,809 records. The end of June is a natural splitting point for the Odonata year, because it is midwinter in the southern hemisphere and fieldwork is at its lowest ebb. This report focuses on the growth of the database for the two “years”, from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, and from 1July 2017 to 30 June 2018. The Odonata Database of Africa (ODA) is an open access database developed by a JRS-funded project (Clausnitzer et al. 2012, Dijkstra 2016). This database contains 121,121 records of the distribution of dragonflies and damselflies across Africa and it includes most of the museum specimen records for the region.This database became available online during the last months of 2016, where it is known as African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online (ADDO) (http://addo.adu.org.za/). ADDO is a collaboration between the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology (University of Stellenbosch) and the ADU (University of Cape Town). Although the two databases are separate, search queries made to the OdonataMAP database can include a search of the Odonata Database of Africa. This collaboration, completed during the two-year reporting period, represents a major consolidation of data resources. How many records were submitted to OdonataMAP in the period July 2016 to June 2018, and where in Africa did they come from? For the years July 2016 to June 2017 and from June 2017 to July 2018, OdonataMAP gained 11,091 and 18,357 records respectively, a total of 30,423 new records, bring the grand total since the start of the project in 2010 to 52,257 records (Table 1). This is an increase from 22,809 records in June 2016, thus 56.4% of the OdonataMAP database has been contributed in the two years under review (Table 1). Table 1: Annual totals (1 July to 30 June of following calendar year) of submissions of dragonflies and dragonflies to OdonataMAP Year (July to June) Number of submissions 2010/11 349 349 0.7 2011/12 951 1300 2.5 2012/13 4000 5300 10.1 2013/14 5074 10374 19.9 2016/17 11091 33900 64.9 2017/18 18357 52257 100.0 The records submitted during the two year reporting period came from 25 African countries; the total number of countries for which records have been submitted is now 32 (Table 2). Outside of South Africa, most of the records for the reporting period came from Namibia (491) and more than 100 records from 11 other African countries (Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria, Malawi, Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Sudan). Two records were submitted from countries in the Middle East (Table 2). Table 2: Numbers of submissions of dragonflies and damselflies to OdonataMAP from countries of Africa (and the Middle East) prior to and during the two-year reporting period Angola 14 164 125 303 Benin 5 NA NA 5 Botswana 213 137 262 612 Democratic Republic of Congo 4 63 44 111 Iraq NA NA 1 1 Israel NA NA 1 1 Egypt 3 NA NA 3 Ethiopia 90 NA NA 90 Gambia 4 NA NA 4 Ghana 13 68 NA 81 Kenya 82 220 55 357 Lesotho 5 8 NA 13 Liberia 8 8 NA 16 Madagascar 44 NA NA 44 Malawi 441 144 201 786 Mauritius 1 NA NA 1 Mozambique 157 19 192 368 Namibia 145 132 359 636 Nigeria 75 320 35 430 Republic of the Congo 7 12 NA 19 Reunion NA NA 7 7 Rwanda 6 19 NA 25 Senegal 7 14 NA 21 Seychelles 6 NA 2 8 Sierra Leone 35 76 NA 111 Somalia 1 NA NA 1 South Africa 20339 9475 17347 47161 Sudan 13 NA 118 131 Swaziland 556 60 89 705 Tanzania 51 3 13 67 Togo 3 NA NA 3 Uganda 73 29 52 154 Zambia 259 26 334 619 Zimbabwe 144 77 94 315 Total 22804 11074 19331 53209 In six of the nine provinces of South Africa, more than 50% of the total number of records had been submitted in the two-year reporting period (Table 3). The largest percentage increase was for the Western Cape, for which 6,635 records were submitted, 74% of the of the total number of OdonataMAP records for the province. The provinces in which the number of records were not doubled were Gauteng (44% of records during reporting period), Free State and North West (both 46%) (Table 3). Overall, for South Africa as a whole, 57% of records were submitted during the reporting period (Table 3). Table 3: Numbers of submissions of dragonflies and damselflies to OdonataMAP from the nine provinces of South Africa prior to and during the two-year reporting period. The percentage of records for each province during the reporting period is provided in the final column Percentage of records 2016-2018 Eastern Cape 1454 591 1730 3775 61.5 Free State 607 280 241 1128 46.2 Gauteng 1257 529 460 2246 44.0 KwaZulu-Natal 7597 3162 4755 15514 51.0 Limpopo 2845 988 2378 6211 54.2 Mpumalanga 2777 744 2601 6122 54.6 North West 788 266 413 1467 46.3 Northern Cape 566 429 412 1407 59.8 Western Cape 2275 2433 4202 8910 74.5 Total 20166 9422 17192 46780 56.9 What were the outcomes of the Shoot the Dragons Weeks of the past two summers? OdonataMAP hosted a series of 10 “Shoot the Dragons Weeks” in the summers of the reporting period, three in 2016/17 and seven in 2017/18 (Table 4). They ran from the Saturday of one week to the Sunday of the following week, so that they included two weekends. Their purpose was to promote participation in OdonataMAP, and to maintain momentum in data collection and submission. There is a full description of the results of the very first week (Underhill et al. 2016a). The total number of records submitted during the Shoot the Dragons Weeks was 9,270, so that 30% of the records during the reporting period were submitted during the 10 Shoot the Dragons Weeks. To put this into context, the 90 days of the 10 Weeks represents about 20% of the period of the year when the Odonata are most active. This provides a coarse measure of their effectiveness. Shoot the Dragons Weeks will be repeated in the 2018/19 summer. Table 4: Shoot the Dragons Weeks for the summers of 2016/17 and 2017/18 1 26 November 2016 4 December 2016 1200 61 8 116 2 21 January 2017 29 January 2017 1384 58 10 120 3 1 April 2017 9 April 2017 634 50 5 83 1 7 October 2017 15 October 2017 590 48 12 91 2 28 October 2017 5 November 2017 884 54 6 95 3 25 November 2017 3 December 2017 701 53 10 90 4 13 January 2018 21 January 2018 1234 66 9 117 5 10 February 2018 18 February 2018 1073 53 8 112 6 10 March 2018 18 March 2018 745 42 6 92 7 7 April 2018 15 April 2018 825 60 5 92 How is the number of OdonataMAP observers growing? Five observers contributed more than 1000 records over the two-year period, and a further 10 between 500 and 999 records (Table 5). The most prolific observer contributed 6% to the total number of records; by contrast, in the 2010-16 report (Underhill et al. 2016b), the top two observers contributed 19% and 15% of the total number of records. The total number of observers for the two-year period was 529, compared with 295 in the 2010-16 period (Underhill et al. 2016b). One of the important success of OdonataMAP during the review period was to increase the number of observers, and to reduce the project’s dependence on a small number of citizen scientists. Table 5: OdonataMAP observers who submitted more than 150 records for the reporting period (1 July 2016 to 30 June 2018) Ryan M Tippett 2082 Jean Hirons 1683 Christopher Peter Small 1663 Corrie du Toit 1505 Richard Alan Johnstone 1233 Andries Petrus de Vries & Joey de Vries 895 Desire Darling & Gregg Darling 829 Alan Manson 797 Maritza Van Rensburg 742 Andre Marais 623 Sharon Stanton & Heleen Louw 609 Altha Liebenberg 606 Christopher Willis 575 Alf Taylor & Hilary Harrison 568 Alicia Culverwell 547 Niall Perrins 495 John H Wilkinson 493 Rob Dickinson 468 Bensch Gert & Juan-Pierre Antunes 458 Ilse Hulme 429 Dawie Kleynhans & Sarieta Kleynhans 415 Diana Russell 365 Juan-Pierre Antunes & Gert Bensch 313 Christopher JH Hines 290 Gary Brown 288 Phillip Nieuwoudt 264 Jacobus (Lappies) Labuschagne 262 Pieter La Grange 260 Wilna Steenkamp 255 Bensch Gert 247 Bernardine Alice Altenroxel 227 David Kennedy 209 Juan-Pierre Antunes 207 Zenobia van Dyk 205 Riëtte Griesel 197 Norman Barrett 193 Sharon Basel 192 Katharina Reddig 188 Herb Kageler 181 Sharon Stanton 176 Laban Njoroge 171 Waterberg Team 2017 (Andries Petrus de Vries & Joey de Vries) 167 Pieter Cronje 165 Growing numbers of records generated increased workloads for the expert panel. This is a group of volunteers who either undertake identifications from scratch or confirm the identifications made by the observers. Over the reporting period, the load has been shared mainly between John Wilkinson, Ryan Tippett, Sharon Stanton, Alan Manson, Bertie Brink and Lappies Labushagne. Warwick Tarboton remains the anchor to whom difficult records get referred, and the expert panel has also consulted K-D Dijkstra from time to time. What are a few of the most remarkable records submitted to OdonataMAP during the past two years? On 29 April 2018, what is likely to prove to be a new species of dragonfly, from Angola, was added to OdonataMAP by Christopher Hines (Figure 1). It generated a lot of excitement (see for example https://www.facebook.com/animal.demography.unit/photos/a.264976170247321.61084.263839507027654/1675195419225382/?type=3&theater ) Figure 1: OdonataMAP record 50330 submitted to OdonataMAP by Christopher Hines from Angola. This is, in all likelihood, a new species. (http://vmus.adu.org.za/?vm=OdonataMAP50330) Commenting on the original posting of the photo in the Facebook group called Dragonflies and Damselflies of Southern Africa, Jens Kipping, authority on the Odonata of Angola, wrote: “Holy moly, Christopher Hines! First, I thought that somebody from the South American or Asian group sent a picture accidentally. I cannot believe that this is from Angola. I do not have any clue what this libellulid is! It looks a bit like Rhyothemis but also, from the body, a bit like a Palpopleura. This might even be a new genus.” KD Dijkstra, taxonomic authority on African Odonata, subsequently analysed the images, and considered it likely that this might prove to be a new species in the genus Trithemis. An unexpected and dramatic range expansion occurred during the reporting period. The Ceres Streamjack (also known as Spesbona) Spesbona angusta was described in 1863, but was thought for several decades to be extinct, having not been recorded since 1920. The streams in the area near Ceres, Western Cape, where it had been observed in 1920, had been radically transformed and many no longer flowed due to over-extraction of water for the fruit industry. It was rediscovered in November 2003, when a population was found along the Dutoitsrivier, which flows into the Theewaterskloof Dam, near Villiersdorp, Western Cape, South Africa. This locality is 60 km distant from the original Ceres locality. There are multiple sightings in this immediate Theewaterskloof Dam area (OdonataMAP database), and the IUCN-defined Area of Occupancy is 24 km2 (Samways 2018). For more than a decade, this was thought that this was the only locality where the species occurred. Then, on 10 October 2017, citizen scientist Jean Hirons caused a massive surprise when she photographed the species at a locality near Sedgefield, 330 km due east of the Theewaterskloof site (Figure 2). This raises the obvious question: does it occur at a series of intermediate localities, in suitable habitats along the mountain ranges that link these two isolated sites? The likely answer is yes, because an inspection of Figure 3 of Underhill et al. (2018) reveals that, while fieldwork in the areas of the two known localities of the Ceres Streamjack have been reasonably intensive, the intervening area has been poorly covered by fieldwork, and is regarded as a priority area for future expeditions. Figure 2: This record, by Jean Hirons, of a Ceres Streamjack (Spesbona) Spesbona angusta in Sedgefield, Western Cape, was 330 km east of the only known locality for the species. (http: //vmus.adu.org.za/?vm=OdonataMAP-35883) What are the take-home messages? In a nutshell, the OdonataMAP project grew rapidly in the two-year period under review. From a public-interest perspective, there can be no doubt that the Odonata have been transformed from being the taxon of focus for a minuscule group of enthusiasts, to becoming quite substantial. It is likely that the size of the dragonfly/damselfly community is in the process of overtaking that of the butterfly community, if it has not done so already. It is still far smaller than the bird community, but that is challenge that OdonataMAP is taking on. Multiple factors have played a role in this growth. Emerging at roughly the same time, they have interacted with each other, and reinforced each other: (1) the publication of the superb fieldguide (Tarboton & Tarboton 2015); (2) the excellently managed Dragonflies and Damselflies of Southern Africa group on Facebook; and (3) the sturdy Virtual Museum platform for uploading images into a long-term database; (4) the award of funding to the Animal Demography Unit at UCT by the JRS Biodiversity Foundation, Seattle, USA. Growing the broad civil society interest in the Odonata is part of the strategy for meeting the next challenge. This is in fact the challenge set by the JRS Biodiversity Foundation: “How do we get the data into use? How do we mainstream the dragonflies and damselflies so that the OdonataMAP data become serious components of conservation policy making, of environmental impact of assessments, and the thinking of politicians and civil servants?” Our report on the Odonata of the Kruger National Park was an experimental step in that direction (Underhill et al. 2018). John Wilkinson, Alan Manson and Lappies Labuschagne and others made helpful suggestions. We acknowledge funding from the JRS Biodiversity Foundation, Seattle, USA. But above all, we celebrate the amazing contributions made by two teams of citizen scientists: the fieldworkers who contribute the records and the expert panel who undertake the identifications. Clausnitzer V, Dijkstra K-DB, Koch R, Boudot J-P, Darwall WRT, Kipping J, Samraoui B, Samways MJ, Simaika JP, Suhling F 2012. Focus on African freshwaters: hotspots of dragonfly diversity and conservation concern. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10: 129-134 Dijkstra, K-DB 2016. African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. (Version 1 July 2016). Available online at http://addo.adu.org.za . Samways MJ 2018. Spesbona angusta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T13257A75519665. Available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T13257A75519665.en. Downloaded on 5 September 2018. Samways MJ, Tarboton W 2006. Rediscovery of Metacnemis angusta (Selys, 1863) in the Western Cape, South Africa (Zygoptera: Matycnemididae). Odonatologica 35: 375-378 Tarboton W, Tarboton M 2015. A Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa. Struik Nature, Cape Town. Underhill LG, Manson AD, Labuschagne JP, Tippett JM 2016a. Shoot the Dragons Week, Round 1: OdonataMAP grows by 1,200 records. Biodiversity Observations 7.100: 1-14. Available online at https://journals.uct.ac.za/index.php/BO/article/view/393/434 Underhill LG, Navarro R, Manson AD, Labuschagne JP, Tarboton WR 2016b. OdonataMAP: progress report on the atlas of the dragonflies and damselflies of Africa, 2010-2016. Biodiversity Observations 7.47: 1-10. Available online at https://journals.uct.ac.za/index.php/BO/article/view/340 Underhill LG, Loftie-Eaton M, Navarro R 2018. Odonata of the Kruger National Park. Biodiversity Observations 9.11:1-16. Biodiversity Observations, Citizen Science, Damselfly, Dragonfly, Odonata, OdonataMap Sickle-winged Chat seasonality Calvinia BioBash: Citizen Science in the Hantam	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1980
__label__cc	0.520026	0.479974	Rolling out the Red Carpet – Caloundra Film Festival Adventures, caloundra, caloundra film festival, charity event, cinema, community, director, documentary, events centre, festival, film schools, films, Griffith, JMC, local festival, mockumentary, narrative, QUT, student showcase, Sunshine Coast, things to do, usc Contrary to popular belief, cinema and ‘the big screen’ goes much further than just what is shown at the nearest mall cinema. There is a rich and vibrant world of film out there creating on-screen adventures and tales far divorced from the tried and worn-out formula of big names and bigger “splosions” that has taken over Hollywood. If you’re tired of mainstream cinema, then you need look no further than the Sunshine Coast. From September 2nd to the 7th of October, Caloundra will be playing host to its annual film festival – the Caloundra Film Festival. Thankfully, the screen writers are more creative than the marketing team. Every year, the Caloundra Film Festival showcases the very best cinema has to offer, from local creations to foreign delights. In addition, they also go to great lengths to support and encourage the best and brightest of up-and- coming cinema talents, including a Student Showcase during the event. This is always my favourite part of the Festival. The camera work might be shaky at times, and the sound not always to the highest of standard, but seeing what young, creative minds can conjure up without the restrictions of box-office expectation is a truly awesome experience. The showcase includes a diverse range of student films, hand picked from schools across the region covering the Short Narrative, Documentary/Mockumentary, and Arts-Experimental categories. The young creatives are not only given the opportunity to see their films up on the big screen, but are also given access to information booths and representatives from film schools including USC, Griffith, JMC and QUT. If for no other reason than supporting young talent, I greatly encourage you all to become a patron of this fantastic initiative. In total, there are 11 films on the bill, not including the Student Showcase and a director’s Q&A, among other events featured in the festival. I already told you about the fresh talent, so here’s something with some real cred. If you’re a rocker, like me, this will definitely catch your eye. From Academy Award nominee documentary filmmaker, Amy Berg (Deliver Us from Evil, West of Memphis) comes Janis: Little Girl Blue. In the 60’s and 70’s, Janis Joplin became a rock and roll icon of the time, with massive hits like ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ and ‘Piece of My Heart’. The story follows and explores the rocker’s life, mostly through her own words, recorded in letters written by her own hand. As a fan, this will definitely be a ‘must see’ for me. The line up this year is one of the most interesting and diverse that I’ve seen at a local festival in a good while, offering some surely unforgettable cinematic experiences. For more information on the festival, its initiatives, and the film line up, visit the festival’s website. Watery Encounters – Underwater World: Mooloolaba The MMVAF – Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1981
__label__wiki	0.939392	0.939392	Home / Biography / Eric Stoltz’s Net Worth, Actor, Producer, Director, Spouse, and Children Eric Stoltz’s Net Worth, Actor, Producer, Director, Spouse, and Children Published Date 25th Mar. 2018, 17:36 pm Eric Hamilton Stoltz Whittier, California, United States of America Evelyn Vawter Jack Stoltz Bernadette Moley 5 Feet 11 Inch (1.8 m) Net Worth: American actor Eric Stoltz popular as a director, actor, and producer had previously worked as a piano player for the local theater production. Stoltz is best known for portraying the roles of Lance in Pulp Fiction (1994), Simon in The Prophecy (1995), and Mr. Miller in The Butterfly Effect (2004). A theater-trained artist Stoltz has released numerous shows starring both in independent and studio films. He had begun working in the theater since 1998. But, he established a professional career in 2002 being concerned as an actor followed by director and producer. Eric Hamilton Stoltz was born in Whittier, California, the United States of America on September 30, 1961. He is the son of Evelyn Vawter, a violinist and school teacher and Jack Stoltz, an elementary school teacher. Growing up, he spent his childhood with siblings Catherine Stoltz (Mezzo-soprano) and Susan R. Stoltz in American Samoa and Santa Barbara, California. Initially, Stoltz joined San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California and had performed about 40 plays there. Following, he attended the University of Southern California in 1979. Later, he moved to New York and did his study in 1981 by dropping the USC and pursued his career in acting. An emerging passion finally led him to pursue his career in acting. In 1970, he joined a repertory company which performed 10 plays at the Edinburgh Festival. In 1978, Stoltz made his debut in TV series James at 16. The same year, he also had an appearance in The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank and CBS Afternoon Playhouse. In 1980s Eric earned a huge fame, public attention and also listed as the nominee of Golden Globe for Mask and Tony Award for Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. During the year, Stoltz made an appearance in the shows like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982), A Killer in the Family (1983), Mask (1985), Haunted Summer (1988), and many more. In 1984, Eric was cast as Marty McFly for Back to the Future. However, after a month of filming, he was replaced by Michael J. Fox. Further, some of his notable work includes the TV films and series like Sleep with Me (1994), Grace of My Heart (1996), The Rules of Attraction (2002), and many more. A short titled Cindy’s New Boyfriend (2015), Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant (2015), and Madam Secretary (2015-18) are his latest TV shows. Also, he has numerous appearances in the television series as a presenter, reader, interviewee. Well, with the excellent acting skill, Eric landed his step in the production sector too. Until March 2018, he has 9 major credits as a producer. A post shared by Eric Stoltz (@estoltzwork) on Mar 14, 2018 at 10:20am PDT The shows including Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993), Mr. Jealousy (1997), The Grand Design (2007), and Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk (2017) are Eric’s production. Though Stoltz film career was launched with the part in the TV series as an actor, he has now continued to work as a director too. Till now, he has directed almost 24 shows. Some of them are My Horrible Year (2001), Private Practice (2009-11), How to Get Away with Murder (2014), Madam Secretary (2014-18), and the like. The median salary for the American actor is estimated to be $54,828 starting from $45,181 to $66,942, as of March 2018. According to Glassdoor, the average salary of director $125,552 but the value depends on the movies gap, content and quality. Similarly, the average salary for a producer is $44,778 per year. So, we can assume Eric Stoltz’s net worth is quite impressive. According to the Richest, Eric Stoltz’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million, as of March 2018. In addition, he keeps on touring different places for the movie promotions, stage performance, and film festivals. If you happen to be in the San Francisco Area in February, come check out our film at the @SFIndieFest. Here’s a link for tickets; https://t.co/JyDEhtUNOT pic.twitter.com/FH5KMa5d5s — Eric Stoltz (@ericstoltz) January 30, 2018 Eric married Bernadette Moley, a singer, in 2005 after dating for many years. The duo has two children, a daughter named Catalina Stoltz and the information related to another child is unavailable in the internet sources till now. Eric Stoltz with his wife Bernadette Moley at Canine Cocktail Party hosted by Art For Animals Before his marriage with Bernadette, Eric was romantically linked with Jennifer Jason Leigh from 1985 to 1987. Also, he was engaged with Bridget Fonda from 1990 to 1998. In 2000, Eric Stoltz was in a relationship with Laura Linney. Stoltz’s Personal Facts An American importer Eric has a height of 5 Feet 11 Inch (1.8 m). He possesses white ethnicity and has German, English, and Scottish ancestry. A phenomenal actor Eric Stoltz has red hair and blue eyes. Libra is his birth sign. In 1984, Hamilton was listed 12th in the New Promising actor and is the member of Actors Studio. Till now, he is the winner of 8 awards and also had listed for 3 nominations. He is active on the social pages like Instagram, Twitter. For more newer updates on celebrities, stay connected with SuperbHub. Tags: Bernadette Moley, Bridget Fonda, Catalina Stoltz, Catherine Stoltz, Celebrity Babies, Evelyn Vawter, Jack Stoltz, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Laura Linney, Michael J. Fox, Richest celebrities, Susan R. Stoltz Rosanna Pansino – American YouTuber Adam Nagaitis – Chernobyl Star David Dencik – Chernobyl’s Actor Ron McGovney – American Musician Ashley Madekwe – Secret Diary of a Call Girl’s Star Hannah McCloud – American Actress Colm Feore – American-Canadian Film Actor John Paul Reynolds – Stranger Things’ Star	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1982
__label__wiki	0.860211	0.860211	Comics Superstar Writer Grant Morrison Inks TV Deal With UCP Filed under Adventures by Superman on November 8, 2018 at 2:48 am {no comments} Universal Cable Productions has inked a deal with New York Times bestselling author Grant Morrison, a signature name in the American comic book scene since the 1980s and a writer with a flair for supernatural and sci-fi material that veers into surreal, absurdist and psychedelic territories. With the studio deal, Morrison, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, will develop and produce premium original content for television networks as well as streaming platforms. Production is already underway on Season 2 of Happy! — the subversive Syfy series that adapts the namesake Image Comics series launched n 2012 by Morrison and artist Derick Robertson. The show stars Christopher Meloni (Law Order: SVU) in the role of Nick Sax, a former corrupt cop living a bleak, decadent life as a hit man — until he meets a tiny, blue winged-horse named Happy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) The insufferably optimistic and hovering Happy becomes Sax’s companion but remains invisible to others. Executive producers are Neal Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Toby Jaffe, Meloni and showrunner Patrick Macmanus. Morrison’s newest project with UCP is developing and writing the television adaptation of his long-running comic series The Invisibles, a near-future tale centering on an elite and mysterious international cell of occult freedom fighters who employ time travel, magic and more traditional weapons to defend our world from a covert inter-dimensional invasion by the Archons of the Outer Church. UCP, in conjunction with Amblin Television, is also working with Morrison, Taylor and David Wiener on an adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s iconic sci-fi novel Brave New World. Set 500 years in the future, Brave New World presents a society where happiness is mandatory and forced by drugs, conditioning, entertainment and rigorous promiscuity. Morrison is both a writer and executive producer on the project. Morrison joins notable names already on UCP’s overall deal roster, among the Sam Esmail (USA’s Mr. Robot), Nick Antosca (Syfy’s Channel Zero) and Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment (AMC’s The Walking Dead). Morrison is a self-stylized shaman, music DJ and has the fashion sense of a super-villain — he essentially played one, too, as an actor in futuristic music videos made by the platinum-selling band My Chemical Romance. Morrison and artist Dave McKean delivered one of the biggest commercial successes in DC Comics publishing history with Arkham Asylum in 1989, a Batman tale that influenced the hero’s Hollywood films and gave name to the mega-selling video game franchise. His other notable comics credits include All-Star Superman, Animal Man, Joe The Barbarian and Batman Incorporated. Morrison’s nonfiction bestselling book Supergods was published by Random House in 2011 and de-constructs the mythology, meaning and literary ancestors of the American superhero. Morrison is also an award-winning playwright and in 2012 was presented with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by the Queen for his services to film and literature. He is repped by ICM Partners and Ginsburg Daniels. From: https://deadline.com/2018/11/grant-morrison-happy-upc-invisibles-arkham-asylum-1202497993/ Grant Morrison: Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and the Return of … Grant Morrison is once again exploring the DC Universe. While the celebrated writer has remained wary of committing to a monthly superhero book once again in the years since his turn on Action Comics in 2011-2012, he is still one of the most influential creators in the publisher’s staple. His 2014 limited series, The Multiversity, redefined how the central multiversal concept of the DC Universe operates, and it has echoed through recent books by other writers, including last year’s Dark Nights: Metal and the current ongoing Justice League series, for starters, but he still has plenty of work to do with some of DC’s heaviest hitters. Morrison (with artist Yanick Paquette) recently released the second act of a Wonder Woman trilogy with Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 2, continuing a subversive, controversial story that revisits Diana’s origins as if she were created today, and putting all of the traditional elements of her legend in dialogue with modern events. This week sees the return (and possibly final appearance) of the New 52 version of Superman, who Morrison re-envisioned as a Siegel and Shuster-esque social justice warrior with a chip on his shoulder. This Superman, essentially eliminated from continuity by the events of DC’s Rebirth initiative, appears alongside more esoteric characters from the writer’s 2005-2006 Seven Soldiers multi-series, in a tale that picks up elements from Dark Nights: Metal in the first Sideways annual. But the biggest news of the moment is his partnership with artist Liam Sharpe on The Green Lantern, a brand new series that puts Hal Jordan back at the forefront of the Green Lantern Corps. The cosmic weirdness of Green Lantern is a perfect match for Morrison’s vivid imagination, and Liam Sharpe’s intricate artwork is ideal for the light-based constructs of a Green Lantern ring. All three projects reveal different sides of the writer’s unique approach to the DC Universe, and however far out the concepts may appear, they’re always rooted in real world concerns. Morrison was kind enough to explain it all to us… Den of Geek: You’ve been describing The Green Lantern as a police procedural in space, but given the way you usually work on DC projects, that almost seems a little small scale compared to your work on All-Star Superman or Batman. Is there a point where this story zooms out and becomes something more universe shaking? Grant Morrison: Well, no. I mean, by its very nature, I think a Green Lantern story is always gonna take place on quite a large canvas. This guy’s a protector of multiple planets and solar systems, so we’re always keeping that in mind. And when I say “police procedural,” it was simply to give the feeling that we’re scaling back from specifically “the universe is ending, this is the end, the entire Green Lantern Corps will be devastated, and it will be a terrible universal reset” sort of storyline. We kind of wanted to say we’d gone back to basics with this. But naturally, a police procedural on a cosmic scale involves very big ideas at play. It’s just that it wouldn’t be the kind of apocalyptic threat to the fundamentals of the concept that it has been before. Why is Hal the only Lantern that you felt could you could center this story around? Why not John Stewart, or Simon Baz, or somebody else? Honestly, it wasn’t even that. Dan Didio came to me and actually said that he wanted to do this, and he wanted to do a Hal Jordan comic, and was I interested. As I famously said before, I was completely numbed. I never wanted to do a monthly comic book again. But then I began to think of it, and it seemed that this was one of those kind of fundamental challenges. Green Lantern is one of the most basic superhero concepts. You can see where Batman came from, and it’s a bat. And Superman’s from another planet and it’s science fiction. But Green Lantern’s this very strange hybrid between old school science fiction and superheroes. So within minutes I was coming up with thoughts on what you could do with it. That’s what drove it initially, to just latching onto that basic concept and seeing where we could push it. There are a lot of new Green Lanterns in that first issue as well. There’s Maxim Tox, and Floozle Flem, and there’s definitely a Green Lantern Corps element to this even though it centers on Hal. How important is it for you to play with these new Lanterns? To a certain extent, Hal has been through so many different characters, by different writers. And that’s what I found interesting. I think to place him among a different group of Green Lanterns than the ones we often see in the books just allows us to bring a sort of different side to his personality in the way different people see him rather than the fact that we’re adding anything new. We’re actually making the character a kind of composite of who he’s been over the decades. But certainly, each of the new Lanterns, I think, most of them actually have connections to previous characters. Maxim Tox, cousin was killed in the 52 series by me, and I also invented him, so I created and killed him in two panels. So, he’s got a connection to him. They all get connections. Generally, if I feel bad for a fallen or dead Green Lantern, I’ll create an equivalent. This is such a design heavy book, both because of the nature of the powers themselves, and also because of the alien races. What’s it like working with Liam Sharpe? How closely do you have to work together to kind of get that look and feel? He’s known for such beautiful ornate artwork… Obviously, that was one of the first things going in. Once I knew that Liam was on board and the idea was to make it quite different. We were trying to get a kind of a European look, so it’s somewhere between 2000 A.D. and French graphic novels. And there’s a lot of influences [that are] slightly different from the normal American comic book. Liam’s contribution was just so immense. The more issues that have come in when I’m just throwing in these mad curveballs of alien worlds that can’t possibly be imagined and then Liam comes in with an entire double page spread of this thing fully realized. He’s really driving the desire to make the book a big spectacle and about light, and really about the colors and the explosions and the pyrotechnics and the incandescence of the Green Lantern concept as well. It’s gorgeous. His work’s amazing, and like I said, it’s kind of breaking boundaries for what a monthly superhero comic can do. I think it’s very different, and obviously there’s influences like I said from European comics, but also from cinema, and also from the golden age of science fiction illustration like Virgil Finlay and Kelly Freas. So there’s a lot of thought went into this to just do this quintessential science fiction space police book. Did you suggest Liam for the book, or was he somebody that DC suggested? No, we wanted to work together in something. We were kind wrangling over what it should be, and Green Lantern was kind of sitting on the table in between us and we hadn’t noticed. I think when we realized what we were gonna do, it was pretty quick, because we’d planned to work together anyway. He’s working now pretty far ahead, and every issue just gets better. It’s just more spectacular, and more ornate, and like I said, I haven’t anything like it in American comics for a long time. You guys are together for 12 issues? We’re together for 12 issues. We have other ideas, but we’re just trying to see how our schedules are gonna work in with it. How did you end up getting involved with that Sideways annual? Well, it was the same dinner with Dan Didio. It worked out pretty well. We came out with a couple of comics. Dan told me he was bringing back a couple of characters from my Seven Soldiers series, and also he wanted to kind of do a farewell to the New 52 Superman with the tee shirt and jeans, the kind of “blue collar Superman.” So, I said, “Yeah, I’ll help you out with dialogue.” He wanted it to be as authentic as possible dialogue to the characters, so I said, “Yeah.” I didn’t explain it. I just went in and wrote some crazy dialogue. I really enjoyed that “blue collar” take on Superman, particularly the tee shirt and jeans issues. But I feel like that personality you helped craft for him in those Action Comics issues, it never really fully seemed to carry through to the other Superman books. Did you ever have plans to develop that era of the character more beyond that initial big New 52 origin story that you did for him? No. I mean, I had the ideas obviously the more I thought about it. But it was a just at that time I was finding it quite difficult to do monthly comic books and everything else at the same time. So, to be honest, there wasn’t any kind of “lost stories” that I didn’t get to do. At least until Dan handed me this Sideways annual, and then I got to put some words back into the New 52 Superman’s mouth. So that was fun. It was good to revisit the character. You’ve done the early days of Superman with those Action Comics issues and you did his end with All-Star Superman, and you’ve tackled his prime in JLA and Final Crisis. Do you feel that you still have more to say with any version of Superman? No, honestly, it’s been weird, and I think there are stories to be told, but I kind of told my good ones a little bit. And I might come up with something else, but … They asked me to take part in things like Action Comics #1000, and the Batman one [2019’s Detective Comics #1000], but I’ve said so much with these characters that it seemed really difficult to condense it into a short story. And I’m in such envy of the people who do that so well. further reading: Grant Morrison’s Superman – A Reconfigured Reading Order So for me, I kind of do think I’ve said my piece at least for now. But there’s a kind of looking at some of those characters from a really different angle in Green Lantern. I like if you can come in and look at them from a fresh perspective. Does this mean that you anticipate your Green Lantern story, however long it ends up being, being your final word on the GL corner of the DC Universe? We haven’t decided anything, but the thing I’ve got to say about Green Lantern we’ll be trying to say it in a run through. I think that’s the plan to really do it so that so it’s a kind of definitive take on it, at least from our point of view. What are you listening to while you’re writing Green Lantern? Oh, my God, every time people ask me this, I forget everything I’m listening to. I just kind of have boring playlists on rotation. So it’s all kinds of things, just different bits of punk rock, bits of classical music, weird choral music from the 1600s. The great thing about Green Lantern is that all the planets are different, and they all have different atmospheres. So if you’re doing the casino planet, I like to blast the Sonic the Hedgehog casino world music. Each of the planets has a different atmosphere and a different feel to it. It’s been fun, because it gives me a more diverse playlist. Because I was getting kind of a Hawkwind vibe from when I was reading those issues. There’s definitely cosmic rock and psychedelia. I listen to that stuff while working and particularly because it’s Green Lantern you want to get those kind of influences in there. With Wonder Woman Earth One: Volume Two, whose idea was it to make Dr. Psycho look like Nick Cave? I think it came out weirdly enough just by chance, because I was talking to [Wonder Woman: Earth One artist] Yanick Paquette about it, and we were basically trying to revamp this character, who in the 1940s had been presented as quite a weird cartoonish tiny man with a gigantic head. But what he did have is this swept back mane of black hair. So when we decided that we’re going revamp this creepy hypnotist of the 1940s as a kind of much more creepy, mind controlling, pickup artist type, we thought, “Well, let’s make him someone that could be attractive.” We kept the swept back black hair, and said he should be kind of ugly handsome, so have a look at people with bigger features, guys who look a bit rugged. And it came back and basically we caught Nick Cave. So, I guess, if they’d been describing Nick Cave running from the scene of the crime, that would’ve been the crime sketch. And it’s funny that you used the term “pickup artist” there, because he talks very much like those types and alt-right personalities. You seem to avoid social media, which is probably healthy, but how much research did you do on the mind games that these guys play? It was a lot. And there’s personal experience because I’d known guys like that, and I’ve had guys like that come into to my circle and seen how they operate. And then I went into it in detail. I played up a lot of stuff about NLP and body language back in the days of The Invisibles, so coming at it from that side, and then the weird mind control things tied into William Moulton Marston’s ideas about bondage and the Amazons using mind control. My friend, who’s actually studied a lot of the pickup artists, she provided me with the actual script of how it’s done and the hand gestures and the movements. It was a pretty serious attempt to at least do a decent cartoon version of something like that. It’s a lot more subtle, a lot more devious than Dr. Psycho is, but we actually wanted to give kind of an idea how it worked. There are two moments that really struck me. One is when Diana is addressing the crowd, and people are talking to her about these real world concerns, and it felt both like a commentary on how people would address Wonder Woman if she was real, but also like an indictment of how prominent the superhero has become in pop culture now. Later on she has that quote about how the gods are just embodiments of our ideals, or something like that. Can you speak to this a little bit, and the opposition to the people like Dr. Psycho? Because it didn’t feel like an “in story” moment. It felt like it was kind of talking to the audience as well. Yeah, and this part of this particular story is the middle part of a trilogy. So it kind of was to a certain extent “The Fall of Wonder Woman” and The Empire Strikes Back. So, it’s the part where we show the way to fight back, and it’s gonna be a very different from what everyone thinks, or what they’ve seen before with Wonder Woman. We just wanted to show a different response to her, but we had to show the power and the hatred that was behind the assault in the first place, and that attempt to dominate and control but also to see the horrible mirror of that in the Amazons, and to see how does Diana go ahead from this, and somehow form a bridge between these cultures? Because that might be the only thing that works. The story was written years ago, and it seems to have bled even more deeply into current headlines and current discussions, which is interesting. But again, all we did is pursue the spirit of Marston. The original Wonder Woman was always at the head of women’s marches, and was always talking about women’s suffrage, and was always politically engaged with the culture at the time. We just kind of brought that back, and I think we talked about issues a couple of years ago when it was written that have become a lot more hot button in the intervening years. This story was written years ago, and your Superman was written back during the Occupy Wall Street era. Yet both of these, like you said, feel more prominent now. That attitude feels like we need it more in this horrible political climate that we find ourselves in right now. Do you think that these characters still have the power to influence positive change in people the way you used to? Of course I think they do otherwise I wouldn’t keep getting involved with them. But it remains to be seen how that works out. But yeah, I still think they have the power to do that. I think it’s in the hands of writers and artists to allow them to express that. But it depends how we want to do it, and there’s lots of different ways to do that. I’ve erred more towards telling symbolic stories, or allegorical stories I think, and that just seems to be the thing that suits me about doing superheroes I think. They’re particularly well suited for having discussions on that kind of symbolic ideas Jungian level of culture. They work really well because they can actually punch ideas. Do you think that maybe it’s time to revisit The Invisibles? Do you think that might be an even more effective movement for this point in history? Yeah, I mean, I think it has a lot to say. I think it could be even more … I think what’s going on now is kind of more suited to the magical and occult ideas in The Invisibles, because we’re in the time of meltdown as far as the boundaries between reality and illusion is concerned. They have dissolved quite considerably over the past few years. And I think where we are now is a very pliable, weird, bizarre time. And I think that partly that accounts for the Monty Python-ish elements of Green Lantern. We kind of feel that the only way to fight the absurdity is with more absurdity to be honest. A few years ago, you had brought up Multiversity Too: The Flash. Is that still possible? It may be possible in the future. There were so many Flash stories suddenly being told, and it just seemed like another redundant Flash story. And it was quite a good little idea, but it wasn’t worth dedicating a year to writing which it may have taken. So, no, that one’s just kind of the back burner. One day it will get told, but not in the near future. We want to get him into Green Lantern at some point, because those two were always superhero friends and buddies. It would be good to get them together. It would be great to see Liam drawing The Flash. Well, that’s a nasty one. I can just think wouldn’t it be great to see Liam drawing? And then dot, dot, dot, and it can be any crazy thing and he has to draw it. Multiversity was so influential, and obviously those ideas kind of broke off and spawned Dark Nights Metal and now that is a big thread in the current Justice League book, which often feels like it’s taking other inspirations from your old work on JLA. Did you ever expect that these would become so foundational for the DC universe in general, and for these younger creators? Not necessarily. When you’re doing this stuff, you’re not thinking about it in those terms. It’s just “is it a good story? Do I feel fulfilled, and will it pay for cat food?” I’m never thinking about who it might influence, but it’s good to know. I think when you’re working in something like the DC Universe, or one of these ongoing universes, of which there are a couple, but DC is one of the longest running, then it’s great to see people pick up ideas that you’ve left there deliberately in the hope that someone notices that flame flickering in the corner somewhere. And often my stuff wasn’t picked up on, so it’s actually been quite gratifying to see people come out then with new twists on different elements, because it was always meant to be part of a shared playground. The Green Lantern #1 and Sideways Annual #1 are both on sale on Nov. 7. Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 2 is currently available. Mike Cecchini is the Editor in Chief of Den of Geek. You can read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @wayoutstuff. From: https://www.denofgeek.com/us/books/dc-entertainment/277449/grant-morrison-green-lantern-wonder-woman-and-the-return-of-blue-collar-superman ‘Supergirl’: Who Is Manchester Black? After being mentioned in the season premiere, Manchester Black made his first appearance on tonight’s episode of Supergirl, “Ahimsa.” Spoilers for tonight’s’ episode of Supergirl, “Ahimsa”, below. In tonight’s episode, Manchester Black shows up at J’onn’s apartment looking for him in connection with Fiona’s disappearance. As it would happen, J’onn’s friend Fiona was engaged to Black and he is concerned that she’s apparently vanished. What neither man knows is that she was stabbed by Agent Liberty (Sam Witwer), but J’onn shares with Black the badge number he found putting them on the trail of a police officer who might be involved with her disappearance. Played by actor David Ajala on The CW series, in comics Black is a dangerous and manipulative psychic and telekinetic. As the head of a team of self-styled superheroes known as The Elite, he sought to upstage Superman and the Justice League in “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Truth, Justice, and the American Way?”, his first comic appearance and a story that is widely considered one of the best Superman comics in the last quarter century. Created by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke, Black was so popular that he kept popping back up in the DC Universe though his opinions about how things should work put him at odds with the heroes. Black believes that the Justice League should be more brutal, and he has a particular dislike for Superman as he thinks that no one can be as genuinely good as he appears to be. It’s a characterization that appears to be translating fairly well to Supergirl. While Black did team up with J’onn to try to find Fiona, her death was devastating for him. The last we see of Black in the episode, he’s buying a large cache of weapons and is likely set on avenging Fiona’s death. Time will tell just how Black will fit into the season and just how much trouble he will cause for the show’s heroine. Supergirl airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. From: https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/11/05/supergirl-season-4-who-is-manchester-black/ The Comic Source Podcast Episode 579 – Superman Sunday: Action Comics #1004 In this episode we discuss; The Comic Source Podcast Superman Sunday: Action Comics #1004 Jace and Adam from Talking Superman dive into the latest issue of Action Comics. We finally hear Lois’s explanation for not telling Clark she is back and we get some great character moments with the staff of the Daily Planet. Action Comics #1004 Writer – Brian Michael Bendis, Pencils – Ryan Sook, Inker – Wade Von Grawbadger, Colorist – Brad Anderson, Letterer – Josh Reed From: https://lrmonline.com/news/episode-579/ NYCC ’18: Liveblogging DC Superman 80th Celebration It’s been 80 years since the Man of Steel made his debut in comics and the year 2018 is celebrating the anniversary. Today at NYCC, in a panel moderated by co-publisher Dan DiDio, DC Comics brought together two of the biggest names in the industry, Brian Michael Bendis who after two decades at Marvel is now the current writer of the Superman books, and the legendary Frank Miller, whose upcoming Superman: Year One mini drawn by John Romita Jr. is set to be released through DC’s Black Label imprint next year. In celebration legendary creators celebrating the spirit of truth, hope and justice during Superman’s 80th anniversary panel. Live-blogging has ended. Dan DiDio has taken the stage to introduce the panel-Bendis, the latest addition to the roster of talent and Frank Miller, an inspiration to both DiDio and Bendis. DiDio noted both Miller and Bendis praised for their DD work. DiDio asks Miller about perception that he doesn’t like Superman because of his portrayal in DKR. “Batman did knock the snot out of him!” Superman was first superhero Miller grow up with. Early version of DKR had Batman killed in blaze of glory by police. Batman v Superman made for a great climax. In writing YEAR ONE, Miller flips the tables with Superman and Batman compared to DKR. Growing up in Cleveland as a Jewish kid, Bendis constantly heard that Cleveland was the home of Superman and rock and roll. Bendis retelling story he’s mentioned before about visiting Cleveland Library that inspired him to take on the character. Bendis was involved in helping an intended museum and statue for Cleveland that never happened because “Cleveland is run by gangsters” joked Bendis. Neal Adams was Miller’s “godfather” coming into comics. Miller never had an inclination to do Superman when he started at DC Comics. Get on a loser book because if it succeeds you’re the golden boy according to Miller. After a pause after DiDio asked Miller why he never worked on Superman before, Miller responded, “Because you never asked.” Miller known for dark stories and people always assumed he didn’t like Supes. Superman has the best girlfriends in comics. “Superman is gorgeous! He never wears a masks.” Each chapter of 3 issues of YEAR ONE will focus on 3 particular Superman relationships 1) Lana Lang 2) Lori Lemaris 3) Lois Lane Miller pushing for Wonder Woman getting involved. Writing Superman inspires Bendis to be a kinder person in real life. YEAR ONE will delve into Clark Kent discovering his powers for first time. Bendis remarked the extra-sensory perception of both Superman and Daredevil shapes their worlds. While DD uses it to take on crime, it fills Superman with love. DiDio asks if Superman’s powers make it harder to write character. Bendis believes it’s just a tool he uses. During the Weisenger era, Miller joked you almost expected Superman to punch out God since he was so powerful. “Much like a tweet isn’t the best way to handle a situation, punching isn’t the best way to handle a situation,” said Bendis to huge applause that surprised him. Miller made a crack about infamous “F**k Batman” from Robin! Pa and Ma Kent did a better job at raising Clark than Alfred, Miller joked. For his inspiration, Miller looked towards to original Schuster strips when the concept was brand new. Bendis described those strips as “punk rock comics.” Superman took a quantum leap when WWII hit according to Miller. Superman was “status quo hero” when Miler was growing up but wants to return to character as an affiliated force of justice- a social justice warrior if you will! The assault on truth in today’s world informing Bendis’ take on Superman. Superman’s belief that he doesn’t do enough similarily propels Bendis. DiDio asked stories they want to stay away from. Bendis doesn’t like to have Superman lecture, preferring Superman to speak with his actions. Miller reiterating his Superman will not be the one in DKR. Superman is mythic and will not tell you how to vote. Bendis has discovered that Lois Lane is the best character in comics. When asked if DC should bring back SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSON title, audience enthusiastically said yes. In his current Superman books, Bendis is resetting the relationship between Lois and Clark for a modern era without ending the marriage. The Superman story is all about fathers and sons for Bendis. Bendis relates Superman raising Jon Kent as parent raising a special needs child. Bendis was shocked to see how shallow the Superman villain pond was. He’s glad Lex Luthor is busy on JL book so he can build new villains. Miller believes Luthor has potential to be one of the greatest villains ever. He has a fondness for Luthor and Brainiac, considering the latter the worst villain in the universe who cashed in on the death of Krypton. Bendis made a slight but significant tweak to Superman origin as being a survivor of a cleansing instead of a natural disaster, making it more in line with the Moses story. ”Superman is the ultimate immigrant and therefore the ultimate American,” said Miller to thunderous applause. Miller describes “shock” as a rare spice that creators shouldn’t rely on especially in today’s world. Bendis asked Miller if he would be willing to return to monthly books and Miller said he was open which got audience applause. Bendis revealed the end of his current storyline “The Unity Saga” will reveal the origin of the United Planets in the 31st century from Legion of Superheroes. Taimur Dar is the Digital Media Producer and Marketing Expert for the Beat. He has earned a master’s degree in marketing intelligence from Fordham University and has provided branding strategies for various companies and organizations. His name his pronounced like the first two syllables of “tomorrow” in case you were wondering. From: http://www.comicsbeat.com/nycc-18-liveblogging-dc-superman-80th-celebration/ World’s Largest Emerald Found and DC Fans Think It’s Kryptonite Upcoming DC Extended Universe films include Aquaman on December 21st, Shazamon April 5, 2019, and Wonder Woman 2 on November 1, 2019. From: https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/11/01/worlds-largest-emerald-superman-kryptonite/ The Comic Source Podcast Episode 570 – LACC Superman Panel and Action Comics #1000 Hardcover Filed under Adventures by Superman on October 31, 2018 at 2:57 am {no comments} LACC Superman Panel and Action Comics #1000 Hardcover Jace talks about the Superman Panel from the recent Los Angles Comicon and gives a rundown of the books he included on the iPad he gave away on the panel. Plus Jace talks about the Action Comics #1000 Hardcover and how it is your best bet if you want to get all the exclusive variant covers for the recent milestone issue. EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: He-Man fights Superman in INJUSTICE VS MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #4’s epic muscle … What happens when the absurd is injected with even more absurdity? I imagine it looks a little something like Injustice vs Masters of the Universe, the epic event that sees DC’s ultra-violent elseworld cross over with the magical world of Eternia. Did you ever imagine that you might see Skeletor face off against Zatanna? Or see Superman fight He-Man to the death? Well…now’s your chance! Check out the Beat’s exclusive preview of Injustice vs Masters of the Universe #4 after the jump. Writer: Tim Seeley Artist: Freddie E. Williams II Colorist: Jeremy Colwell Letterer: Wes Abbott Superman scoured the Multiverse for heroes who might threaten his rule—but he dismissed Prince Adam. Will he rue that decision now that he’s facing He-Man in the Oracle? Plus, Darkseid’s attack on Eternia has reached the walls of Castle Grayskull! Alex is the Managing Editor of the Comics Beat. He is also a freelance comics editor with previous credits at Papercutz. He is your go-to fella for creator interviews, conversations about comic book structure, and general DC Comics nerding. Currently geeking out over movies, too. From: http://www.comicsbeat.com/exclusive-preview-he-man-fights-superman-in-injustice-vs-masters-of-the-universe-4s-epic-muscle-bro-showdown/ 40 years ago, ‘DC Comics Presents’ let Superman present the rest of DC Fed up with frequent reboots, renumbering and rebirths, and wish there was a better way to manage these necessary sales boosters? Well, the answer resides in a defunct series that was launched exactly 40 years ago. For those old enough to recall, there was once a cool team-up title named DC Comics Presents (DCP), which paired Superman with the bravest and boldest. Unlike the present trend of spin-offs and launching new titles, DCP’s approach was more akin to an incubator where new characters were tested, obscure characters reintroduced, and concepts tinkered with. Considering that they had a “fail safe” presence in the Man of Steel, readers didn’t feel ripped off even if the story sucked! Four decades later, the spirit of DCP lives on in new guises and formats, but in tribute to the impact of the original DCP, we revisit some of its most memorable offerings. Speed Force It was the pairing of Superman with the Flash in DCP #1 and #2 that kickstarted the title’s nine-year run. With two inconclusive races between the Flash and Superman (in Flash (Vol.1) #175 and Superman (Vol.1) #199), this “non-competitive” team-up digressed from the usual “Who’s fastest” debate to having them work together in a race to … the end of time! DC Comics Presents #1. Photo: DC Comics Super wonder union In DCP #32 Superman and Wonder Woman kissed and even partnered to be with each other. While this “forbidden love” angle is constantly rehashed in the Superman mythos, this standalone take does offer a unique insight from Lois Lane’s point of view. While the lead team-up of DCP #26 featured Superman and Green Lantern, it’s the 16-pager “free insert” in this issue that makes this a Holy Grail for collectors. The insert previewed the launch of (then revamped) New Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Perez.This issue also marks the first official appearance of Raven, Cyborg and Starfire. You saw it here first! The Teen Titans title also served as a springboard for other notable names such as Mongul (# 27), Ambush Bug (#52), Superboy Prime (#87) and Superwoman aka Kristin Wells (Annual # 2). Superman and Wonder Woman first kissed in DC Comics Presents. He-Man of Steel By the power of Greyskull! This rare DC-Mattel collaboration unites the Man of Steel and the He-Man of Eternia. It is also argubaly He-Man’s first comic book appearance as well. No holds barred The genius of DCP was that there were no limitations/boundaries when it came to character pairings and time zones. The Mattel collaboration proved that it could work outside the DC Universe as well, paving the way for Superman to team-up with the likes of the Joker (#41 and #72), Bizzaro (#71), Forgotten Villains (#78), Clark Kent (#50 and #79) and even … Santa Claus (#67)! Character diversity aside, there was also no time barrier, as Superman has gone back in time (to team up with Sgt Rock and the Blackhawk), into the future (Legion of Super Heroes) and even to the end of time with Flash! Rubbing his Super-shoulders Unless you are in the Justice League or a fellow Kryptonian, chances of sharing character time with Superman is usually quite remote. The DCP platform, however, enabled Superman to “notice” less popular heroes like the Forgotten Heroes (#77), Arion (#76), Freedom Fighters (#62), Amethyst (#63), Kamandi (#64), Madame Xanadu (#65) and even the Legion of Substitute Heroes (#59)! A special preview in DCP also featured the first appearance of the Teen Titans. Whatever happened to … What I liked most about DCP was that it offered closure for certain B- or C-grade characters with a cult following. Beginning with DCP #25, the back-up slot featured the likes of Air Wave, Richard Dragon Kung Fu Fighter, Golden Age Sandman, Crimson Avenger, Golden Age Atom and Rex the Wonder Dog. Outstanding creator teams The title’s editor – the late Julius Schwartz – was very generous with the creative teams on DCP. Among the comics luminaries who have worked on this title are Len Wein (X-Men), Jim Starlin (Infinity Gauntlet), Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans) and George Perez (Crisis On Infinite Earths)! Special mention also goes to the Superman/Challengers Of The Unknown tale in DCP #84, which was drawn by Jack “The King” Kirby, and Alan Moore’s Superman/Swamp Thing story in DCP #85. Grand Finale After 96 issues of team-ups, it was left with Superman to end the title on his own, via an “Untold Pre-Crisis” tale involving Krypton and the Phantom Zone. If Superman beats He-Man, does that mean he is the true master of the universe? From: https://www.star2.com/culture/2018/10/25/superman-dc-comics-presents-40-years/ 5 new comics to check out this week A trove of new comics arrives to stores and digital platforms each week, from DC Comics and Marvel Comics’ latest to smaller publishers’ releases that hope to catch some attention. But with all the books out there, jumping in can be a daunting task. Not sure where to start when it comes to this week’s comic releases? Here are six picks to get you started (and don’t forget to read out running list of the best comics of 2018). DC Comics/Steve Rude Written by Brian Michael Bendis Art by Ryan Sook After reaching the #1000 milestone earlier this year, The Man of Steel continues his adventures, tackling what might be the most complicated task of all: dealing with his relationship. After Lois Lane returns from a trip in space, Superman confronts her about why she hasn’t contacted him — and if she still loves him. The two redefine their relationship in this issue, handling the problems of their rather unconventional marriage in a mature way. Books of Magic #1 DC Comics/Kai Carpenter Written by Kat Howard Art by Tom Fowler Neil Gaiman’s iconic comic miniseries gets a new rendition. Part of the greater, growing Sandman universe, the original Books of Magic stories followed young Timothy Hunter, a bespectacled dark-haired British teenager (pre-dating the other magical bespectacled dark-haired teenager by a few years) destined to become the world’s greatest magician, as he grew up and realized his destiny. This new take goes back to Tim’s youth and explores his early involvement with magic. For those looking for more Sandman, the 30th anniversary edition of The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes is also out this week. Black Panther Vs. Deadpool #1 (of 5) Marvel Comics/Ryan Benjamin Written by Daniel Kibblesmith Art by Ricardo Lopez Oritz A humorous showdown from Lockjaw and The Late Night with Stephen Colbert writer Daniel Kibblesmith, Deadpool Vs. Black Panther takes two Marvel favorites and pits them against each other. After accidentally injuring an innocent man during a fight with the Wrecker, Deadpool goes on a search for Vibranium to save Willie Lumpkin, the mailman. But since it’s Deadpool, he doesn’t exactly go about this hunt in a typical way, which makes the King of Wakanda a little pissed off. Judge Dredd Toxic #1 IDW Publishing/Mark Buckingham Written by Paul Jenkins Art by Marco Castiello For the first time, writer Paul Jenkins (Hellblazer, Spider-Man) takes on the futuristic judge in Judge Dredd Toxic. Though Judge Dredd takes place in a future dystopia, this issue tackles some heavy immigration issues that hit close to home. After the death of a genetically-modified toxic waste worker, the residents of Mega-City One make some shocking discoveries, which fuels an anti-immigration frenzy. Dynamite Entertainment/Tom Mandrake Written by Kyle Starks Art by Chris Schweizer The cult classic, sci-fi trading-card series returns to comic book stands with a fun new reimagining. Slacker Spencer finds himself entangled up in an alien invasion! The series debuts with six different cover variants out by Tom Mandrake (The Spectre), Ruairí Coleman (KISS/Army of Darkness), Eoin Marron (James Bond: The Body), Robert Hack (Dr. Who), Chris Schweizer (The Creeps), and Ken Haeser (The Living Corpse), plus a blank version for readers to draw their own Martian invasion. From: https://www.polygon.com/comics/2018/10/24/18013636/best-new-comics-dc-marvel-deadpool-black-panther-superman Page 20 of 295« First...10«181920212223»304050...Last »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1983
__label__wiki	0.95635	0.95635	view Ferry's match-by-match record Simon FERRY A Scottish under-19 international midfielder who initially signed on a three month loan deal in August 2009 from Celtic, Ferry arrived at the Town in a double deal with Ben Hutchinson - both players immediately thrust into the starting line-up two days after their arrival for a 2-1 win over Southend, in a match where Ferry�s energetic display earned him the man-of-the-match award. He immediately struck up a central midfield partnership with Jonathan Douglas - the two players only separated when Douglas was suspended in October - a spell in which Ferry netted his first goal for the club, in a 4-1 win at Tranmere. With Ferry�s importance to the team increasing, his loan deal was extended until January - and Ferry immediately declared that he would love to join permanently if a deal could be done - a desire that he reiterated when his loan was eventually extended until the end of the season in January. Ferry continued in the side for the rest of the season - his only enforced absence coming in March when he picked up two yellow cards in a three minute spell at Southampton - the first for what looked like a tough but fair 50/50 challenge, the second for a rash sliding tackle - but he gained his place straight back when he returned after his one game ban. By that point, he had doubled his goal tally with a headed effort against Stockport - perhaps the only real criticism of his loan period what that he didn't seem confident enough in front of goal - and unfortunately his next goal in a Town shirt wasn't well received either. Looking slightly jaded as the season wore to a close, Ferry was rested for the penultimate game of the season against Brentford, but when the Town won the game, he soon returned for the crunch clash at Millwall that could have seen the Town promoted if results had gone their way - a match that Ferry described as the biggest of his career. When defeat, coupled with the result at Leeds, meant that the Town would be in the play-offs, Ferry made a significant contribution in the first leg against Charlton - setting up the Town's second goal with a superb eighty yard run having picked the ball up on the edge of his own area, then sliding the ball through to Danny Ward at just the right moment. The second leg wasn't as successful for Ferry - after he inexplicably managed to divert a cross into his own goal when marking the far post at a corner, Ferry was sacrificed in the second half to be replaced by defender Kevin Amankwaah after captain Gordon Greer was sent off. When the Town managed to pull the tie back and win on penalties, Ferry's celebrations after the game were some of the most animated. Sadly, there were no such celebrations on display at Wembley - Swindon losing the final to Millwall by a single goal to nil. With the season over, the Town made little secret of their own desire to bring Ferry back to the County Ground on a permanent deal, but with Neil Lennon recently installed in the manager's job at Parkhead, any deal would have to wait until the new boss had cast his eye over his whole squad. Early in July, it was reported that a double deal was being lined up for both Ferry and fellow Celtic player Paul Caddis, but with Swindon heading to their pre-season tour of Austria, any deal would have to wait until their return. The deal looked in danger when the Town's initial offer was rebuffed, but when an improved offer was accepted - believed to be �350,000 for the two players, potentially rising up to �600,000 with add-ons - the pair both signed three year contracts early in August 2010. However, with the arrival of fellow central midfielder David Prutton as well over the close season, Ferry started the season on the bench - Wilson seemingly preferring Prutton alongside Douglas in the Town's midfield. After poor results in the opening two games, Wilson experimented with a five man midfield for the trip to Hartlepool, giving Ferry his first start of the season - with the Town 2-0 down, Ferry was withdrawn on the hour, and watched from the sidelines as his team-mates fought back to 2-2 - the following Saturday, he was on the bench again. Suspension to Prutton gave Ferry another chance in the side at the end of August - and with the Town winning 3-0 at Southampton in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, he kept his place the following week in a 0-0 draw at Walsall, only to suffer an injured ankle in training that kept him out for two games. On his return to the bench, Prutton was again sent off, and Ferry played every match during October - before a challenge by Yeovil's Nathan Jones forced him off at half time as the Town drew 3-3 at Huish Park - manager Wilson describing the tackle as 'horrendous'. The resulting shin injury kept him out for three weeks - but other than a brief cameo in an FA Cup tie at Crawley, it wasn't until the Christmas period that Ferry played again - and though he started four games over the turn of the year, he was back on the bench by mid-January. Over the following eight games, Ferry was an unused substitute for seven of them - a spell that Swindon hit some of their worst form of the season, as the team plummeted towards the relegation zone - then, after a substitute appearance against Carlisle, Wilson finally named Ferry in the starting eleven for a trip to promotion chasing Southampton. The 4-1 defeat proved to be Wilson's last in charge of the Town - new boss Paul Hart started with Ferry for his first match in charge, but didn't use him again for another seven weeks, by which time, the Town were rooted to the bottom of the league and on the brink of relegation. Ferry played the full ninety minutes at Hillsborough - a match that Sheffield Wednesday won by three goals to one, to seal the Town's demotion to League Two. The following week, with Hart sacked, caretaker boss Paul Bodin picked Ferry again, and he was awarded man-of-the-match despite a 2-0 defeat by Oldham - victory at Tranmere on the final day bringing to an end Ferry's self-confessed 'most frustrating season' of his life. With both Prutton and captain Jonathan Douglas both leaving the club following the relegation, new boss Paolo di Canio brought in many midfielders as he rebuilt his squad - and he later admitted that he had told Ferry that he could leave if he wished - di Canio stating that he wasn't happy with the way that Ferry behaved, and that he hadn't shown real desire, whilst alluding to the fact that he was carrying too much weight. After being named on the bench for the opening three games, Ferry was given a chance in the starting line-up for the local derby against Oxford, and though the game was lost, the Scot was named as man-of-the-match - the Town boss admitting that Ferry had managed to change his opinion. For the rest of the season, Ferry was a vital part of a team that won the League Two championship, securing promotion back to League One at the first attempt. Though he was occasionally named on the bench - generally against more physical opponents where di Canio opted to play two enforcers in Oliver Risser and Jonathan Smith - Ferry started in 36 games and appeared in all but two, the only games missed at Dagenham in August when he was still out of favour, and at Hereford in February, as he recovered from an illness that had forced him to retire early in a promotion clash against Crawley a few days previously. The week after netting his first goal of the season - finishing a fine team move in the home game against Hereford in October - di Canio took time out to praise the midfielder for a fine performance in a 2-0 win at Accrington Stanley, pointing out that Ferry was beginning to match his good home performances with similar away from home. A month later, Ferry netted his second goal, wrapping up a superb 4-1 victory over Huddersfield in the FA Cup with the Town's fourth - and despite potential interest from higher league clubs, Ferry stated that he had no interest in leaving the County Ground. Over the coming months, Ferry helped Swindon to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy - appearing at Wembley in a 2-0 defeat to Chesterfield in March - three weeks later, the Town were on the brink of promotion, needing just a point at Aldershot to seal it. Ferry was named on the bench for the game, joining as a second half substitute as the Town gave a lacklustre performance in a 2-1 defeat - after the game, Ferry was one of five players forced to apologise for their part in a weekend drinking session that incensed di Canio - the Town boss blaming the poor performance on the premature celebrations. Ferry was restored to the starting eleven the following weekend, as Swindon secured promotion despite a 3-1 defeat at Gillingham - seven days later, a thumping 5-0 victory over Port Vale prompted further celebrations as the title was assured. After setting up the Town's second goal with a delightful back-heel into the path of Paul Benson, Ferry lived up to his reputation as the team joker - running out to receive his championship medal dressed only in his pants. Over the summer, the arrival of Alan Navarro and Tommy Miller seemed to put Ferry's place in the side under threat again - Town boss di Canio challenging the Scot to add an 'element of responsibility' to his play, handing him the captain's armband on occasion during the Town's pre-season tour of Italy. Ferry began the season on the subs bench, with both new signings starting - and he was in and out of the first eleven for the first two months of the season, as di Canio rotated his midfield options - while also adding to them, with the loan signings of John Bostock and Giles Coke. Injuries to Navarro, Miller and Coke though paved the way for Ferry to cement his place in the starting eleven, and though he was benched for a home defeat to Colchester after netting his opening goal of the season to seal the points at Shrewsbury, Ferry was almost ever-present throughout October and November - and with the Town under a transfer embargo, di Canio bemoaned his lack of midfield options, questioning how long Ferry could continue with the Town's busy schedule. Nonetheless, when regular skipper Alan McCormack got injured at the beginning of November, di Canio handed Ferry the captaincy in his absence, praising him for his professionalism and work ethic in training. When the embargo was finally lifted, di Canio was quick to sign Danny Hollands on loan from Charlton - and his arrival once again saw the midfield pairing subject to squad rotation, Ferry again in and out if the starting eleven throughout December and into the New Year. It was a period that saw some of Swindon's best football of the season - with Tranmere, Portsmouth and Carlisle all thumped at the County Ground - but though things were going well on the pitch, matters off the field were not as rosy - with owner Andrew Black looking to sell the club. When Hollands got injured in mid-January, with the club in the process of being sold, di Canio was again prevented from adding to his side - and with Ferry, Miller and Navarro the only fit central midfielders, the three of them shared the midfield responsibilities right through to the end of February, by which time, the off-field situation had caused di Canio to resign. Ferry also spoke of his concern at the situation, with his contract expiring at the end of the season and a new family to support. When new boss Kevin MacDonald was installed, his first decision was to move Alan McCormack out of defence and back to his original midfield position - a reshuffle that saw Ferry move out to the right side. Though his new position didn�t seem to suit him, Ferry scored in back-to-back games in March against Walsall and Brentford, bringing his total for the season up to five, and more than his previous three seasons combined - and though perhaps not at his most effective, he remained in the side, despite the loan arrivals of Massimo Luongo and Dean Parrett, until a hamstring injury sidelined him for the final two games of the campaign, when Swindon secured their place in the play-offs. Ferry returned to fitness for the two matches with Brentford, which saw the Town lose out on penalties - three days later, it was announced that despite having an option for a year�s extension, Ferry�s contract was not to be renewed - a decision that was not generally popular with Town fans. In a farewell interview with the Swindon Advertiser, the Scot stated that he had loved his time at Swindon, and that he hoped the fans "can see that even if I was having a bad game I always do my best. I really do love playing football and try to play with a smile on my face". After initial rumoured interest from MK Dons and Bradford, and a trial with Championship side Yeovil, Ferry eventually signed for League Two Portsmouth on a two year deal. '12/'13 34 (+10) 5 1 - 1 (+3) - 1 - 37 (+13) 5 '11/'12 36 (+8) 1 3 1 2 - 4 (+1) - 45 (+9) 2 '10/'11 18 (+3) - (+1) - (+1) - 2 - 20 (+5) - '09/'10 43 2 3 - - - - - 46 2 131 (+21) 8 7 (+1) 1 3 (+4) - 7 (+1) - 148 (+27) 27 AUG 2009 IN Celtic 1 JUN 2010 OUT Celtic 2 AUG 2010 IN Celtic Undisclosed fee (double deal with Paul Caddis, believed to be a initial combined fee of �300,000, rising to a potential �600,000 depending on clauses) 9 MAY 2013 OUT (released) � Portsmouth Simon William Ferry central midfield	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1984
__label__wiki	0.640645	0.640645	Can terrorism ever be defeated? May 25, 2017 December 5, 2017 TahirOpinion Reports emerging this morning reflect on instances of radicalisation among the Libyan community in Manchester. Although this not a group that has raised any interest among security services in the past, Manchester has the third highest concentration of British Muslims after London and Birmingham. As these other cities also demonstrate, these concentrations tend to be diverse, but also in some places, monocultural. The latter an accident of housing policy and labour market inequality but also forms of cultural preference in a growing climate of racism and intolerance. When one thinks of these different communities, while ethnicity and cultural practices impact on characterisations, social class, education, housing status and perceptions and politics in relation to identity are also crucial considerations. That the wider British Muslim community, including the Libyans, are utterly appalled by the events in Manchester a few days ago cannot be further stated. Given the particular nature of this terrorist attack, specifically the brutal reality of children and young people killed at the hands of what was also a very young man, it has affected people deeply. What has also emerged in this particular instance is the mass coming together in response to the challenges caused by terrorist incidents such as this. Mancunians and other people across the UK are united in responding to this attack by deliberately avoiding further division or fermenting hate in any way. There has been a flurry of activity on social media propagating hate, anger and even violence towards Muslim communities. In these cases, such deluded voices tend to homogenise and essentialise a vast religion and its peoples. The coming together of people, from all backgrounds, including online, has created the most talking points in the current case. Once the anger and pain of this event begins to slowly dissipate, questions are now being asked of how we must completely defeat this hydra. Sadly, however, terrorism has always been around, and it will remain as a tool for anarchists, anti-establishment activists, revolutionaries and even some states. The question of Islamist radicalism in the last two years has centred on acts inspired, instigated or orchestrated by Islamic State, with the Charlie Hebdo shootings in January 2015 acting as the first in what has become a long and extensive series of attacks all over Western Europe. The question of the long-term objectives in relation to fighting terrorism is an important one, as every time an incident occurs, there is the usual gamut of questions on what has happened, why it has occurred, what can be pieced together and how can we move forward. These questions have not changed since the previous severest attack in Britain, namely the events of July 2005. Since then, the UK government has had a significant period and the extensive availability of resources to carry out the research, to determine the solutions and to ensure that terrorism, including attempts to inhibit violent extremism leading to it, is eradicated. A pressing matter in relation to the Manchester incident, therefore, relates to the fact that the attack was carried out by a relatively young man while the device itself appears to have been rather sophisticated. It appears beyond the means of anyone without some modicum of training or expertise to build it. It suggests that there is a greater network at play here, reflected in the fact that the terror threat has been raised from critical to severe. The army is being deployed at key sites across the country as the police concentrate their resources on making further arrests. These are wider matters of counterterrorism thinking and practice but what will also enter the debate is the question of the ‘Prevent’ strategy. Is there now a need to refine again the ‘Prevent’ brand given that after nearly 12 years after its incarnation, terrorism still goes on? This would potentially limit an opportunity, as there is a need to have an interface between the government and the British Muslim communities, although the fact that the only dialogue is about radicalisation and deradicalisation invariably creates more challenges than opportunities. The other question is whether ‘Prevent’ could be eliminated altogether as it has proven ineffective, argued by many. This becomes more a political question, however, as while there is considerable writing and thinking about perceptions in relation to ‘Prevent’, there is still no independent study or evaluation of its impact or effectiveness, and if it is being carried out by the government, it is certainly not in the public domain. The other problem with fighting terrorism is that it does not exist in a vacuum. There are wider geopolitical issues at play regarding relations between nations. These operate at many different layers and impact on how nations do business with each other, share sensitive information or not, and how they cooperate in advance of various strategic objectives. Global issues affect the mobilisation of radicalisation influences transforming grievances into particular ideological revolutionary manifestations. Sentiments on these global ideological constructs can be sensitive in local contexts. They can ferment in a space where there is disengagement and disintegration, but also where there is a sense of alienation, exclusion and marginalisation. The fact that analysis of perpetrators involved in acts of violence extremism repeatedly reports on instances of mental illness suggests a wider social, cultural and political malaise affecting young people of all backgrounds. These psychological issues, again, do not exist in a vacuum, as they are a function of the lived experience that affects states of all minds. The question is not whether there is the need for more ‘Prevent’ or less ‘Prevent’, in spite of the fact that it is an ongoing process of learning and development. The issue is more about the ways in which the local and global intersect. These concerns, however, are structural and therefore take a long time to shift. The power of ‘Prevent’ to disengage young people who might be on the path towards radicalisation is related to wider geopolitical issues in the Middle East. Crucially, it is also affected by local area dynamics in relation to community development, and questions of identity, belonging and citizenship. Some of the opportunities for change, therefore, are very much in the hands of government policy-making. Mental health issues affecting young radical Islamists are not dissimilar to those affecting other young people in Britain today. Past public policies have led to widening social divisions, decoupled thinking in relation to diversity and difference from notions of multiculturalism, and where a sense of equality for all has disappeared for all. These tensions also affect wider counterterrorism issues that must not be separated from overall thinking. Fighting terrorism is a multi-pronged battle. The UK government is attempting to tackle it on various fronts but the problems continue to re-emerge. It does not mean a radical departure from existing practices. It does, however, spell the need to have greater joined up thinking, understanding better the linkages between the local and global, and that fighting on these fronts but not fully appreciating the holistic nature of how terrorism works, in particular global radical Islamism, or tackling them independently of each other, could create culs-de-sac. It potentially leads to reactionary, regressive ways and means to do both politics and counter-terrorism. Suffice to say it leads to more terrorism, not less. After the events in Manchester, a radical wakeup call is needed – not to simply do more of the same – but to absolutely get it right. Tagged Britain, Counterterrorism, Culture, Daesh, identity, Prevent, Radicalisation, Terrorism, Violence Preventing spinning plates from falling	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1985
__label__cc	0.729906	0.270094	Renaissance: A Symphonic Journey Saturday, October 28, 2017 • 8:00pm Following their South American tour this Spring, Renaissance will be back in the Northeast in October and November 2017 debuting their ‘Symphonic Journey’ tour. This tour will include four very special concerts; October 26th at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield CT, October 27th at the Keswick Theater in Glenside PA, Town Hall in New York City October 28th and The Egg in Albany NY on October 29th, all featuring the ‘Renaissance Chamber Orchestra’ (a handpicked assemblage of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion). These performances will be the first time in 40 years that Renaissance will perform on stage with a live orchestra and, in addition, 2017 marks the 48th year since the band’s formation and its ninth consecutive year of touring since their reactivation in 2009. Plans are currently being made for the group to film one of these shows for an upcoming DVD release, which will follow the success of their 2015 London Union Chapel DVD. Additional tour performances without the chamber orchestra are currently being scheduled. Renaissance leader and vocalist, Annie Haslam remarks, “the band keeps getting stronger and stronger and the addition of the chamber orchestra will be the most exciting event for the band in years. This addition of ‘live’ orchestral musicians will add an incredible dynamic to our big numbers like Mother Russia, Carpet Of The Sun and Song For All Seasons, all of which included an orchestra on the original recordings.” Miss Haslam will be joined on stage by long time musical associate Rave Tesar on piano along with Tom Brislin on keyboards, Mark Lambert on guitars, Frank Pagano on drums, and Leo Traversa on bass. $39 / $59 / $79 Metropolitan Entertainment	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1990
__label__wiki	0.735756	0.735756	The Foundations of a Free Economy: Hayek and His Critics Stipend: $7,500 ($3,000 for NYC-area residents) Application Deadline: August 1, 2013 What is the proper relationship between the individual and state? Which type of social order is the most just, the most prosperous, and the most realistic given the lessons of history and truths of human nature? In no small measure, the 20th century was shaped by competing answers to these great questions, and in all likelihood so too will the century ahead. One of the central figures in these debates was the economist and social theorist F.A. Hayek, and this course will focus on the careful study of his seminal work, The Constitution of Liberty. Hayek will be understood as part of a grand conversation about economics and politics, and we will look at both his predecessors—Aristotle, Locke, Smith—and his greatest rivals—especially John Maynard Keynes. Led by some of the world’s leading intellectual historians, philosophers, and policy minds, this seminar will study The Constitution of Liberty as both a work of political philosophy and as a way of thinking about some of the concrete policy dilemmas in the modern age. Yuval Levin, James Otteson, and Paul Rahe will guide our discussions of Hayek’s political theory, illustrating and probing Hayek’s arguments about liberty, equality, wealth, law, and progress. Chris DeMuth, former president of the American Enterprise Institute, will then lead us through the policy-oriented section of Hayek’s text, exploring topics such as labor unions, social security, taxation and redistribution, and monetary policy. We will then conclude by asking whether the good society requires a free economy, and whether a society committed to liberty can also sustain a virtuous citizenry and a just social order. Key Texts & Topics F.A. Hayek, The Constitution of Liberty Selections from classic thinkers including Aristotle, Locke, and Adam Smith Selections from John Maynard Keynes Contemporary essays on economic policy from The Public Interest, National Affairs, and the Brookings Institution The planned class schedule for this seminar is the following: October 9, 2013: 9:00-11:30 am October 10, 2013: 9:00-11:30 am In addition, participants are expected to prepare carefully the daily readings—usually around 30 to 50 pages per day—which are distributed well in advance. We encourage—but we do not require—institute participants to be in residence with us full-time for the complete length of their respective seminar. For more information on seminar schedules and expectations of participants, please see our Overview page. Men and women of achievement in professional life who want to expand their intellectual range and influence. This course may be especially appropriate for: Individuals in business; Individuals involved in economic or fiscal policy in the US or Israeli public sectors; Think tank researchers and analysts; and Members of the media, academia, or the rabbinate. Course Faculty Christopher DeMuth is a Distinguished Fellow at the Hudson Institute. He previously served as President of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and D.C. Searle Senior Fellow at AEI. DeMuth has also served in several senior federal regulatory positions. Yuval Levin is the Hertog Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the founding editor of National Affairs magazine. His areas of specialty include entitlement reform, economic and domestic policy, and science and technology policy. He is the author, most recently, of Imagining the Future: Science and American Democracy (2008). Paul A. Rahe Paul A. Rahe is the Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee Chair in the Western Heritage at Hillsdale College. He has held academic appointments at Yale, Cornell, Franklin and Marshall, and the University of Tulsa. He is the author, most recently, of Montesquieu and the Logic of Liberty (Yale, 2010). James Otteson James Otteson is Joint Professor of Philosophy and Economics, and Co-Chair of the Department of Philosophy, at Yeshiva University. He specializes in the history of modern philosophy, political philosophy, and the history and philosophy of economics. His recent books include Adam Smith (2011), Actual Ethics (2006), and Adam Smith’s Marketplace of Life (2002).	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1992
__label__wiki	0.604138	0.604138	Zoo in a mall R Umaima Ahmed April 7, 2019 Leave a comment Where the ‘Little Animal Zoo’ made for a unique — and, indeed, very popular — event, it set many people thinking about the ruthlessness of such artificial setups that remove the living beings from their natural habitat for our amusement A recent video that was doing the rounds on social media announced that a “Little Animal Zoo” had been set up inside an upscale shopping mall in Lahore. This obviously caught the attention of many, especially children. Zoos all over the world attract family visitors in hordes. Generally, they house animals and birds in their respective cages which have been designed to replicate their natural habitat. But a zoo in a mall is what set the more socially aware people thinking all right. The next you knew, the zoo had got the likes of rabbits, turtles, cats, puppies, hens, a peacock, a python, an ostrich, and baby monkeys — in a semi-caged environment where the visitors could see them and, in some cases, hold, pet, feed and play with the domesticated ones. All told, the mini zoo had been put up for a total of four days, but this made for one unique event — and a very popular one, indeed. Long queues of people were seen outside the creatively designed entrance to the zoo. The décor of the place was such that it successfully recreated the look and feel of a jungle. To suit the theme (of the jungle), artificial trees and animals had been put on display. Spotlights were placed in a manner that added to the ‘imagery’. Moving on, there were cages on your left and right sides, while you walked the path in the middle. The cages were clean and covered by a fence so that no one would get too close to the animals/birds. Also, they were large enough to allow the animals and birds easy mobility. However, they still were cages. There were proper signboards about each animal and bird. On the downside, though, despite being air-conditioned, the place was a tad too suffocating, perhaps because of the number of people who had descended on the venue. Whether the people came along with their children or the children dragged in their elders, the place was packed to capacity throughout. There were moments of anger as well as mirth when someone was spotted arguing with the staff about the absence of giraffes; or when the management forced the children away from animals. The initial publicity for the event had mentioned bringing in a lion cub also, but the animal was nowhere to be seen. This irked the visitors. Bushra Khan, the marketing manager for the mall explained: “The cub was too young to be removed from its habitat. If we had transported it, the animal would stress too much.” She further said that the idea behind the event was to “educate [the] people and foster understanding of animals. This way, the people will also be motivated to protect them [animals].” Some of the animals in the Little Zoo had been got from people who kept them as pets, or they were rescued from local markets selling animals. In the words of Khan, “It was hard to gather so many animals under one roof, and it was a huge responsibility. A number of animals were taken from their owners for the event but the smaller ones such as chicks, rabbits, monkeys, and puppies were brought from the market as rescues.” According to Khan, the ostrich which was a huge (literally!) attraction for the public was got from a private zoo where it had been kept in a congested cage that made its life miserable. “We’ve adopted the smaller animals, and once the event ends they would be handed over to families that own farm houses. The idea is to afford them [the animals] a better life.” Riffat Alam, an A-level student and an advocate of animal rights, who was visiting the place, said, “Globally, people are going against the zoo culture, as it puts the animals behind metal bars, away from their natural habitat, for years. We humans don’t have the right to breed, capture, or confine animals, even if they are endangered.” A research says that animals kept in captivity suffer from stress, boredom, and confinement. They are cut off from their natural surroundings and bonds. A number of posts on social media spoke strongly against the Little Zoo event, as it was conflicted with animal rights. animal abuse animal cages animals stressed out in cages lahore mall lahore zoo Little Animal Zoo zoo R Umaima Ahmed 2019-04-07 R Umaima Ahmed Married to traditions	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1993
__label__cc	0.642982	0.357018	← ASK FATHER: When you remember, past, forgotten sins? NYC – Day 1: Of Sedes, Sargents, and Sandwiches → ASK FATHER: “Custom” and liturgical abuses (e.g., glass chalices) QUAERITUR: What constitutes a custom? My friend appealed to custom when saying that we are allowed to use glass chalices, but I don’t think that applies here. So when can argue for something from a custom? Using glass chalices at Mass is an abuse, not a custom. That said… For a custom to have the force of law, there are several requirements. 1) The custom cannot be contrary to divine law (can. 24, 1). 2) It must be reasonable (can. 24, 2). 3) It must be introduced by a community capable of receiving a law (can. 25). 4) The community must have the intent of introducing a law (can. 25). 5) If it contradicts the current law, it must be observed for thirty continuous and uninterrupted years (can. 26). The use of glass chalices at Mass does not seem to be contrary to divine law. When we get to the second requirement, that it is reasonable to use glass chalices, we hesitate and ask: Is it truly reasonable to use glass? Glass is fragile. Glass is an exceedingly common material. It is reasonable to use glass to hold the Precious Blood of Our Savior? Hmmmm. Concerning the next three requirements, this supposed “custom” falls entirely flat. Who is introducing this “custom”? The parish community, or the priest and parish leadership? A litmus test of whether a practice fits the bill as a legitimate custom is to ask, “How would the community react if this were taken away?” The more disturbed the community would be, the more likely we are that we’re dealing with a custom introduced by the community with the intention of introducing a customary law. Would the parish be up in arms if, next Sunday, the glass chalices were replaced with dignified gold chalices? I suspect not. Moreover, has this practice gone on for thirty years? What has the local bishop said about it? The universal Church, through the Congregation for Sacraments and Divine Worship, clearly condemned the use of glass chalices at Mass. That seems to be a clear vote in the “no” category for the supposed reasonableness of this alleged custom. Again, using glass chalices at Mass is an abuse, not a custom. This entry was posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 and tagged can. 24, contra legem, custom, glass chalice, glass vessels. Bookmark the permalink. 27 Responses to ASK FATHER: “Custom” and liturgical abuses (e.g., glass chalices) Charles E Flynn says: It has been a long time since glass has been an expensive and high-status material. Father P says: I think we have to remember that the point of the “30 year” rule is not to allow an abuse of the current law to become “custom” but to respect the customs already established and in practice for at least a generation which were legitimate when they were established but which have been made illegitimate. I appreciate the excellent application of canon law to liturgical innovation here. I would also hope people would take a look at the underlying logic of a particular instance of liturgical innovation before appealing to custom: –Does the practice add to the honor given Almighty God? Compare, for instance, the use of glass chalices with, say, exposing relics on or around the altar during Holy Mass. Is the aim of the use of glass chalices to honor God and His saints or (as one might suspect in the current struggle) to “bring God down to our level?” –Does the practice clarify the Church’s teaching for the edification of the celebrant, the ministers, or the faithful? Compare, for instance, the development of the numerous genuflections and Signs of the Cross in the TLM with the introduction of glass chalices. –Is the practice an organic reflection of the love of God on the part of the innovator? Can one really say, “I’m introducing the use of glass chalices because it reflects my love of Almighty God and His gift of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?” A comparison might be useful in the development of the second Confiteor as part of the rite of distribution of Holy Communion with such practices such as glass chalices. –Finally, one might want to ask if the innovation is consistent with the liturgical practices of the Roman Rite from time immemorial. One might honestly believe that a liturgical interpretive dance around the sanctuary adds to God’s honor, clarifies teaching, and reflects the love of God. I’m not sure it is consistent with liturgical praxis of the Roman Rite, though. (And, often, it is self-referential.) For custom to be legitimate, I would argue, it has to truly be aimed at increasing the piety of the Christians there and ultimately intended to fittingly demonstrate latria to Almighty God. The Motley Monk says: I can hear it now: “But Father…but Father…Jesus didn’t use a precious gold chalice, did he? Didn’t that arise out of a custom? pjsandstrom says: There is a real difference between ‘ordinary glass’ and lead-crystal. One of the sights to see in the treasury of the Cathedral at Sens, France is the whole collection of lead-crystal chalices and patens coming from the 16/17th century. There is a crystal chalice and paten from the 13th century on display in the treasure room of the Cloisters Museum on Manhattan Island, NYC. There is at least one lead crystal chalice and paten on display also at the Cluny Museum in Paris, France. These were and are treated as ‘precious objects’ and their formal use is respected. The most popular example of a custom at a traditional Latin Mass is retaining the final Confiteor before communion and reciting the Prayers After Low Mass, both of which were tinkered with by John XXIII/Bugnini, with authorities stating these practices may still be used. Another example involves posture for the congregation at the TLM — some parishes in the U.S. remain kneeling for the Pater Noster at a High Mass; most stand. In France, for instance, the custom is to kneel only at limited times during the TLM, far fewer than in the U.S. Since the missal is silent on the congregation’s posture, this is a classic example of a custom. The bar is pretty high for customs following Trent. A lot of other “customs” are actually illicit/abuses. Paul M. says: Any still existing custom of using glass chalices has been expressly reprobated. Redemptionis Sacramentum ¶ 117 (“Reprobated, therefore, is any practice of using for the celebration of Mass . . . other vessels made from glass, earthenware, clay, or other materials that break easily.”). Accordingly, any such remaining practice is legally unreasonable and cannot obtain the force of law. Can. 24 § 2. Charlotte Allen says: What do you make of a Baccarat chalice? Here are some photos from the Internet: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/16471-huge-baccarat-massena-chalice-please-he https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/37055094_large-limited-edition-baccarat-glass-chalice-france Now, Baccarat crystal is really expensive, and it’s also very beautiful. (I got six Baccarat tulip-shape wine glasses as wedding presents, and I guard them with my life). So it would seem to pass the test of being “fine.” And way out of the ordinary. The breakability remains a problem. Nonetheless, one web-page informed me that Louis-Philippe commissioned a Baccarat chalice in 1840. Were crystal chalices regarded by the Church as legitimate back then–or did Louis-Philippe get away with it because he was the king of France? [Today: Liturgical abuse.] Elizabeth D says: A practice that is reprobated, as this is according to Redemptionis Sacramentum, has no legitimacy no matter how much of a custom may have formed about it. sw85 says: As Elizabeth D has said, too, a custom cannot acquire the protection of law against the will of the lawgiver — else abuse would cease to be abuse once we squirrel it past its 30th birthday. As the use of glass chalices has been repeatedly reprobated, it’s clear that it’s against the mind of the Supreme Lawgiver, hence cannot become a contra legem custom. Consuetudo sine veritate vetustas erroris est. Custom without truth is simply error grown old.—Saint Cyprian of Carthage. Letter to Pompeius, 73/9. Muzhik says: In addition to the prohibition against using glass and other “easily breakable objects”, the prohibition extends to the use of wooden chalices and patens. Wood, by definition, is a “common” substance, regardless of the rarity of the species of wood. The exception would be to line the inside and the top of the chalice and paten (respectively) with gold, so that the Precious Body and Blood remain in contact with the valuable metal. (This issue came up back in college when someone in the art department donated a BEAUTIFUL set of hand-turned and worked wooden chalices, etc. to the parish associated with the college, since at the Last Supper Jesus would have used wooden dishware. The issue was resolved by the donor having a friend in the art dept. line the utensils. It had to be more than just gold foil, since it had to stand up to regular use and hand washing. It actually increased the beauty of the final objects because the gold added a marvelous shimmer to the contents that worked with the type and color of the outside wood.) I’m not certain if silver can be used, since silver does tarnish. Can. 24 §2 A custom which is contrary to or apart from canon law, cannot acquire the force of law unless it is reasonable; a custom which is expressly reprobated in the law is not reasonable. This applies also to the Church’s language: The Apostolic Constitution Veterum Sapientia states: “Usage of Latin has recently been contested in many quarters, and many are asking what the mind of the Apostolic See is in this matter. We have therefore decided to issue these timely directives contained in this document, so as to ensure that the long-standing and uninterrupted use of Latin be maintained and, where necessary, restored.” In view of that statement, any custom of neglecting the usage of Latin is “unreasonable” and can never obtain the force of law. “since at the Last Supper Jesus would have used wooden dishware” Although this was the impression I got from _Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade_, the type of vessel used for wine at a passover feast in the 1st century was something dignified rather than common tableware. The chalice claimed to be the real one from the Last Supper is a carved onyx bowl shape that was later set into gold as a footed chalice. http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6985 Gerard Plourde says: It is good to know the law in this regard. The conundrum arises when confronted with the situations outlined in the previous July 8 post wherein the questioner wrote the bishop of the diocese and received the response that the bishop had granted a dispensation and a comment by a follower of the blog (it may have been Supertradmum) who recounted that a former bishop of her diocese had family ties to a glassworks and maintained steadfastly that glass could be a precious material. Since a bishop is sovereign in his diocese, we must accept that the liklihood of correction of the abuse in these circumstances is highly unlikely and offer any anguish or suffering we experience up for the benefit of the souls in Purgatory. Mr. Screwtape says: Dear pjsandstrom, It is immemorial custom that Staten, Long, Roosevelt, Liberty, Ellis, and Governors have the identifier “Island” as part of their proper names. If I am not mistaken, only the United States Geological Survey may with impunity call the seat of New York County “Manhattan Island”. Thus endeth the rant. Suburbanbanshee says: Gerard Plourde: It was me who said it, so you got the first two syllables right! :) I’ve heard from several people over the years that Archbishop Pilarczyk’s dad worked with glass. However, I’ve been looking for actual facts and quotes and have learned that his dad did toolmaking. So it’s still possible as a hobby or that there’s some older family connection or job; or maybe people just made it up. Heck, maybe the archbishop just liked glass a lot; and didn’t need to be raised to like it. Shrug. Anyway, here’s his official portrait, where he directed that his Latinist side be set forth. Oddly enough, because the seminary wasn’t exactly doing much Latin when he ran it or when he was Archbishop. A puzzling man, all in all. I was noting the geographical (not the political/civil) location of the Cloisters Museum. It is a ‘branch’ of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts but is not in the same place, but rather in Fort Tryon Park on Washington Heights n the upper end of Manhattan Island. By the way, the crystal Chalice and Paten on display in the treasury is of a green tinted colour and it seems with its size for use on a contemporary/Medieval style ‘portable altar’ while traveling. For the most part the collection found at Sens, France is the ‘standard’ tulip shape usual in 16th/17th Century (and still used for many metal chalices still in the catalogs). Markus says: In my past experiences, working with parishes, people whom want a metal chalice seem to emphasize the sacrificial aspect of the Mass. They respect the teaching that the chalice holds The Blood of Christ. Those whom want glassware always appear to also promote that the altar is a table and the Mass as a “happy meal.” Dear Markus, Your observations concerning the two views of the Mass point up the mystery at the center. It is both the Unbloody Sacrifice that unites us to the bloody sacrifice of Calvary and a reception of the real food of the Sacred Species that gives us eternal life and fortifies us for the journey of life in Christ in this world. Every Mass celebrates the events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter that make us the childen of God charged with the mission to live and spread the Kingdom of Heaven. The difficulty occurs when we emphasize one element of our worship to the exclusion of the other. You are correct, but to what degree of emphasis? Historically, the emphasis shifts, from the vertical emphasis (individual piety, etc.) to the horizontal (social) emphasis. These were usually small shifts, depending upon social and economic conditions. The second half of the 20th century appears, to me, that the horizontal emphasis has gone to extremes. Perhaps it was due to destruction of WWII and the rise of Communism. The result, now, is an age of extremes with no middle. For instance, traditional Catholic charities appear to be going to extremes. Example, make one donation and one receives years of junk mail. I find it insulting that religious medals are included, pyshcologically halting one to dump it in the trash can. One the other extreme, one is told to house an illegal immigrant family. Go to a different parish, within a city, and you experience a different emphasis. And yet, Catholics and Christians are being crucified in the Middle East. Confusing? Rudderless? Perhaps. Just a view from the pew. I think that the key point is to ensure that the dual nature of the mystery of the Mass be maintained. The fruits born of devout participation in the Mass and faithful recepetion of the Ssacred Species will manifest themselves in various ways as they always have. As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Now the body is not a single part, but many…Now you are Christ’s body…Some people God has designated in the church to be, first apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing; assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.” In this way parish must assess the needs of the particular territory and community it serves. I agree with your statement about the persecution of the Church. But Our Lord stated clearly that this would always be the case. It also occurs in more places than the Middle East. We need look no ffarther than China to see persecution officially carried out by a government. The condition we should fear is active endorsement and assitance by a government. That is a sure sign of the temptation of Satan to succumb to the blandishments of the world. Back when the ‘elevation of the host’ was inserted during the Eucharistic Prayer’s Consecration texts — it was thought appropriate to ‘look at and see and adore’ the Body of Christ. It took another 100 years (more or less) for the chalice to be similarly ‘elevated’ for adoration — but the ‘look and seeing’ was not possible unless the chalice was clear (made of crystal glass). Those 16th/17th century ‘lead crystal chalices’ still on view at Sens, France were a way of responding to the desire ‘to look and see and adore’. At the very least it is a good argument for using ‘red wine’ for consecration at Mass. New Amsterdam says: One of the few goods from the Ancient West (i.e. the Roman World) prized in the Ancient East were Roman glassworks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_glass One of the finest examples surviving to this day is the Lycurgus Cup, now in the British Museum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycurgus_Cup Of course, the glass chalices I’ve seen aren’t nearly as beautiful as that but if someone were to use a Christian version of such a cup/chalice, I don’t see how that could constitute a liturgical abuse. AlexanderAerarius says: I have a hard time getting worked up over glass chalices. It seems to me if you’re handling a vessel hard enough to break it, you’re handling it in a way that probably risks spilling even with gold. Andrew Saucci says: I would like to add that even if something silly became law simply by virtue of not being repudiated, that would not prevent a competent authority from issuing a new law to stop it, and such competent authority may well be obliged to do such a thing. The problem is that in many places, customs are treated as doctrines. When someone tries to stop the silliness, the response is, “But this is the way we do it here and it feels good.” frjim4321 says: All that being said many if not most gold-colored metallic implements used today are of a very low quality base metal with a thin laquer (not gold) applied. It seems absurd to forego use of a fine porcelain vessel – or fine crystal – for a very bad piece of work from a religious goods catalogue. If I had a Waterford set of vessels I would prefer its use to the catalogue set (Altviti, Ziegler). I’ve never heard a convincing argument to the contrary.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2004
__label__wiki	0.875025	0.875025	Dwain Anthony Chambers (* 5. April 1978 in Islington) is a British athlete. Its special disciplines are the 100-Meter-Lauf and the 4x100-Meter-Staffel. Chambers made for the first time 1995 on itself attentive, when it became junior European champion in the 100-Meter-Lauf. This success repeated it 1997 and ran at the same time a new junior world record with 10.06 seconds. With the athlete IC European championship 1998 in Budapest it won the silver medal behind its compatriot Darren Campbell. One year later, at the WM 1999 in Sevilla, he became second with the relay; it was the conclusion runner and set up together with Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell and Marlon Devonish with 37.73 seconds a new European record. Chambers celebrated its largest success with the European championship 2002 in Munich, when he won the gold medal in the 100-Meter-Lauf. As conclusion runner of the relay it became European champion, together with Christian Malcolm, likewise Darren Campbell and Marlon Devonish. Scarcely one month later, to 14. September 2002, he ran into of Paris a time from 9.87 seconds and equalized thus the European record of Linford Christie. In October 2003 Chambers was positively tested on the Steroid Tetrahydrogestrinon. After a hearing to 22. February 2004 closed it the British Leichtathletikverband for two years. Thereupon the British 4x100-Meter-Staffel the bronze medal was denied, which had won it with the world championship 2003. Chambers' coach Remi Korchemny was involved in the Bay AREA Laboratory CO-operational (BALCO); against this enterprise a criminal investigation runs because of illegal trade of Dopingmitteln in the USA. Chambers announced to possibly play in that national football League. NAME Chambers, Dwain SHORT DESCRIPTION British athlete DATE OF BIRTH 5. April 1978 PLACE OF BIRTH Islington	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2007
__label__wiki	0.963163	0.963163	Chrysler Europe Chrysler Europe was a division of the Chrysler Corporation that operated between 1967 and 1979. Former type Chrysler Alpine Chrysler Sunbeam In the 1960s, Chrysler sought to become a world producer of automobiles. The company had never had much success outside North America, contrasting with Ford's worldwide reach and General Motors' success with Opel, Vauxhall, Holden and Bedford. In 1967, Chrysler succeeded in purchasing the Rootes Groupof the United Kingdom, Simca of France (in which it had already had a substantial stake since 1958), and Barreiros of Spain. The first European Chrysler was the Chrysler 180, launched in 1970. The 180 was the result of combining two projects that were previously being developed independently by Rootes and Simca. This was followed by the 1975 Alpine hatchback, which was sold in France as the Simca 1307. It was voted European Car of the Year for 1976. Two years later, the smaller Horizon also won the award. Chrysler also created the Britain-only Sunbeam three-door hatchback which was based on the Rootes-designed Hillman Avenger chassis but was aimed at the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. Although the original marques were retained at first, from 1975 British-built cars were badged as Chryslers, while the Simca badge appeared on French versions (though with the Chrysler pentastar, in some markets the cars were sold as Chrysler-Simca). Chrysler used the Dodge marque on commercial vehicles produced by both Simca and Rootes (Commer and Karrier, but in addition using badge engineering to sell vehicles overseas under the Fargo andDeSoto brands). In addition, in some countries, such as Spain, the Dodge and Simca marques would be used for other vehicles, mostly Spanish-designed (ex-Barreiros) trucks and buses and locally-built versions of US-market vehicles or local versions of Simca cars. The company systematically retired the previous marques from Rootes, including Hillman, Humber, and Sunbeam in favour of the Chrysler name, but retained the French Simca name. In 1969, Chrysler Europe closed a deal with French engineering group Matra Automobiles to jointly develop the Matra sports cars and subsequently sell them through the Simca dealer network (as Matra-Simca). Following the introduction of the 1970 Avenger, Chrysler showed little investment or interest in the technologically backward Rootes line-up, concentrating instead on the advanced front wheel drive Simca models instead. Confused branding - a trait of trying to concurrently sell the mismatched pairing of the Simca and Rootes product families, coupled to mediocre design and poor build quality meant profits failed to materialize, although Simca on its own had been consistently profitable during its tenure under Chrysler ownership - it was the ailing former Rootes Group operations which were to prove to be the ultimate downfall of the company. Chrysler was already in serious financial trouble back home in America, and were on the brink of bankruptcy. The company's incoming CEO, Lee Iacocca had shown little interest in the European market from the outset (just as he had done during his period in charge of Ford), and wasted no time in wielding the axe almost immediately. Decline and sale to Peugeot In 1978, Chrysler Europe was sold for a nominal US$1 to Peugeot, who took on the liability for the division's huge debts as well as its factories and product line, with the former Chrysler models in Britain and Simca models in France both using the resurrected Talbot marque. But within eight years, the French giant scrapped the Talbot marque on passenger cars due to falling sales - though retaining it for commercial vehicles until 1992. The car meant to succeed the Chrysler Horizon became Peugeot 309 on its launch at the end of 1985, and in 1983, Peugeot sold its share in Matra together with the Chrysler-initiated design of an MPV to Renault, where the design lives on as Renault Espace. Peugeot took little interest in heavy commercial vehicles and the production of former British and Spanish Dodge models passed to Renault Trucks. The Rootes factory in Dunstable, England ceased manufacture of trucks, ending with the Renault Midliner in the mid 1990's. In 2009 the staff of Renault Trucks (RVI), part of the Volvo Group since 2001, relocated from the former Rootes site to a new building. The former factory has since been demolished. Chrysler on the other hand, retained the design rights to the Avenger and those of the US-version Horizon. Peugeot were therefore compelled to retain the Chrysler "pentastar" badge on the Avenger, whilst Chrysler prepared to shift production of the car to Argentina when European sales ended in 1981. The American version of the Horizon continued to be produced in the United States as the Plymouth Horizon and Dodge Omni until 1990, three years after the last European model was made. The former Simca and Rootes assembly plants in Poissy and Ryton-on-Dunsmore, respectively, continued under the ownership of Peugeot, but Rootes' Linwood plant in Scotland was a casualty of the takeover - closing its doors in 1981. The former Rootes Ryton plant was closed in December 2006, with production of the Peugeot 206 (made there since the summer of 1998) moved toSlovakia. Since 1985, it had also produced Peugeot's 309, 405 and 306 ranges. It has since been demolished to make way for new factories. The former Rootes research and development site inWhitley was sold to Jaguar in 1986, and continues as the headquarters of Jaguar Land Rover to the present day. The former Simca site in Poissy has also thrived, and is now one Peugeot's most important assembly plants. Back to History of Chrysler Back to Chrysler Last updated on 28 May 2013 at 11:39. Labels: American Car Manufacturer Chrysler Chrysler Europe Chrysler Group LLC History of Chrysler	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2012
__label__wiki	0.547244	0.547244	Home > News index 2017 > LED car park lighting LED car park lighting. Orion LED at London Southend Airport. England: October 2017 London Southend Airport is an international airport in the district of Rochford, Essex, just 42 miles from the centre of London. During the 1960’s – 1970’s it was the third busiest airport in the UK. In 2008, the airport entered into a development programme headed by its new owners, Stobart Group. This project provided a new terminal, control tower, extended runway and connections to London via the regular rail service between Liverpool Street Station and London Southend Airport. The successful development programme increased the airport’s popularity and encouraged top British airlines such as EasyJet to operate there, which in turn resulted in a rapid increase in airport passenger numbers. This necessitated an upgrade to the airport car parking facilities and its lighting for one of its long stay car parks. Being specifically designed to ensure effective and efficient car park lighting, the Abacus Orion LED proved ideal for this project. 12 Orion’s and 12 Abacus fixed columns were installed, with the columns being a combination of light and medium duty. Orion LED is the perfect solution for areas requiring even light distribution with minimal lighting points. The symmetrical beam distribution proved ideal for the wide column spacing in the long stay car park by delivering the required light uniformity throughout. The Orion’s square distribution reduces the number of lighting points needed, which in turn decreases not only the running costs, but also the cost of supply and installation. The asymmetrical beam, used on a number of the Orion’s that were boundary mounted, reduced both overspill and light trespass. This light control was particularly important as the airport runway is located directly adjacent to the car park. By using an asymmetrical beam, the Orion’s were able to light just the car park without affecting the safe operation of the runway. As the airport continues to thrive and increase its passenger numbers, its energy efficient and effective lighting system will serve many thousands of passengers for years to come.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2016
__label__wiki	0.60112	0.60112	Asia Pacific/Oceania Planes are Flying Low Above Our Bodies What the land and sea tell us Caribbean Women Photographers and the Body Within Caribbean Landscapes and Seascapes Ballenesque Roger Ballen: A Retrospective Fatoumata Diabate Presentations and Masterclasses Workshop: a GIF a Day Rijasolo Born in France, Rijasolo returned in 2004 to Madagascar, the country of his roots, after a 20-year absence. With the help of a local council in Brittany, he set up photography workshops for young people in the town of Antsiranana. At the same time, he started a wandering work called MIVERINA, in which he strove to show the difficulty of regaining an intimate relationship with Madagascar. His 2005 selection for Rencontres de la Photographie Africaine in Bamako giving him the confidence he needed to work as a full-time photographer, he embarked on a photojournalism course in Paris (EMI-CFD) then worked as a reporter-photographer for the Wostok Press agency during the 2007 French presidential campaign, and in November 2007, set up RIVA PRESS in association with four photojournalists concerned with maintaining an independent view. Since then, he has collaborated with French newspapers and magazines such as Libération, Le Monde, VSD, and Jeune Afrique where he is the correspondent for the Indian Ocean area. In 2010, he won the 1st prize of Leica 35 mm wide angle contest. Since 2011, Rijasolo has lived fulltime in Madagascar where he focuses on reportage and has worked as a stringer for AFP since 2012. In 2013, he published his first book of photography Madagascar, nocturnes (no comment® editions) about nightlife in Madagascar « MALAGASY » collects photographs from Madagascar, my country of origin where I live. Madagascar, large island in the Indian Ocean, fifth largest island on the planet, is a paradox for economists and sociologists. The country is rich in every way, under and on his floor. Its lands are fertile, its biodiversity is unique in the world, its maritime space is immense. Apart from a few political crises that have arisen since Madagascar regained its independence in 1960, it has never experienced civil war or an uncontrollable epidemic that could have severely destabilized the country. And yet Madagascar cannot get rid of its ranking as the 5th poorest country in the world. The vast majority of Malagasy live with less than one euro a day. It is difficult to prejudge the causes of this situation. Foreign multi-nationals ? Incompetence of the leaders? Corruption? Religious invasion? Since 2004 I photograph the Malagasy. Who are they? What does it mean to be Malagasy in the 21st century? How do Malagasy people currently fit into this world? I think we Malagasy are both beautiful and sad. Resilient and fallible. Courageous and timorous. MALAGASY offers a social portrait, violent but also poetic and intimate of the people of Madagascar. I choose these photographs, not because they might correspond of a country like this one: the end of the world, the exoticism, the sun, the joy of living of the inhabitants in spite of a scandalous poverty, but because they seem to me to approach a state of mind, my state of mind at this point where I think I understand what it means to be Malagasy. Madagascar seems fascinating but incomprehensible. As the writer Johary Ravaloson said « In Madagascar, reality often goes beyond fiction ». November 2016 – SAVA Region, MADAGASCAR – A young girl crosses a bridge over the Bemarivo River near the city of Sambava, the “capital of Vanilla”, on the east coast of Madagascar. Photo : © RIJASOLO The Addis Foto Fest (AFF) was established in 2010 by award-winning photographer and cultural entrepreneur, Aida Muluneh. The festival is organized by Desta for Africa Creative Consulting PLC. AFF is a biennial international photography festival held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It has previously featured exhibitions, portfolio reviews, conferences, projections and film screenings in many different renowned venues. It is also the first and only international photography festival in East Africa. 2018 © DFA All Rights Reserved. Design by Canvas Technologies	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2018
__label__wiki	0.621643	0.621643	You can’t make me ride in a bike lane. http://thesource.metro.net/2013/06/19/you-cant-make-me-ride-in-a-bike-lane/ By Jung Gatoona, June 19, 2013 It seems like bike lanes are surfacing up overnight on just about every street in Los Angeles these days. I, like many cycling advocates in Los Angeles see this as a positive change for the city, one that benefits thousands within the community. With the expansion of bike lanes throughout the city, I’m able to see more and more encouraged folks taking up their bikes to commute, and interest those who’ve never even thought of taking up cycling to commute. Bike lanes are GOOD. With that said, I don't ride in a majority of the bike lanes in the area, and you can't make me. No matter how much you aggressively honk or yell in your harassing attempts at trying to spread your beliefs of where cyclists should and shouldn't be, I'm staying where I can legally be and want to be at. Over the years I've had the pleasure of encountering some really aggressive and impatient drivers who feel it necessary to roll down their passenger window, lecturing me and fellow cyclists to get off the street they're on, and ride in another street that has a bike lane. “STOP WASTING MY TAX DOLLARS! GET ON THE BIKE LANE!”"THERE'S A BIKE LANE YOU IDIOT! USE IT!” Listen, sure I’ll have to make you suffer the excruciating and tormenting pain of having to deal with the miniscule 5-10 seconds it takes to safely pass me, but angering you and other drivers is not what I’m trying to accomplish here. My goal has always been to get home and to work as safely as possible on my bicycle, and for me, riding in a bike lane has always led to a slew of dangerous situations and near-accidents in my commutes. There are also many places where there are no bike lanes and cyclists have no choice but to ride in traffic. What most drivers don’t understand is that not all cyclists ride in the same manner and speed, and such differences determine for individuals if riding in a bike lane is safe or unsafe. For me and cyclists who ride at speeds of 22-27MPH, the last place we want to be is confined in a bike lane that has car doors opening up to our right, pedestrians/animals popping out between cars, and drivers making unsafe right-turns without legally merging into the bike lane. Again, it's not always a matter of speed. There are roads marked as bike routes — supposedly the safest places to ride — across the region that put cyclists out there with car traffic. So please, understand that it’s not that cyclists such as myself who ride outside the bike lane want to anger drivers nor is it because we feel entitled to the road. It's because like any other person that uses the road, we all want to get to our destination(s) safely. And, more importantly, just because there’s the addition of a bike lane on a street, it doesn't mean that all the other lanes are suddenly reserved exclusively for cars now, and that I and other cyclists are required to use that bike lane. Caltrans construction notice: closures on the Pasadena Freeway this weekend http://thesource.metro.net/2013/06/20/caltrans-construction-notice-closures-on-the-pasadena-freeway-this-weekend/ By Lan-Chi Lam, June 20, 2013 News release from Caltrans is below and there’s also more info on the project website: SR-110 FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE PLANNED LOS ANGELES – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close the northbound Arroyo Seco Parkway (SR-110) between Figueroa Boulevard and Avenue 43 from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday, June 22. The northbound SR-110 connectors to the northbound and southbound Golden State Freeway (I-5) will be closed at the same time. Southbound SR-110 will be closed between Orange Grove Boulevard and York Boulevard on June 22 from midnight to 7 a.m. On Sunday, June 23 northbound SR-110 will be closed between Avenue 60 and Orange Grove Boulevard from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Southbound SR-110 will be closed between Avenue 60 and Avenue 52 and then from Avenue 52 to Figueroa Street beginning at midnight and ending at 8 a.m. Detours will be in place. The closures are in relation to a slab replacement project from College Street to Orange Grove Boulevard in South Pasadena. All American Asphalt is the contractor on the $800,000 project. State of California • Department of Transportation District: Los Angeles/Ventura Contact: Judy Gish First-Ever Rose Bowl Tours Start Saturday On guided tours, the public will have behind-the-scenes access to never before seen locations in the Pasadena stadium. http://pasadena-ca.patch.com/groups/arts-and-entertainment/p/firstever-rose-bowl-tours-start-saturday By Jessica Hamlin, June 19, 2013 After renovations and decades in the spotlight, the Rose Bowl Stadium is opening its doors for public tours for the first time in its history. The grand opening weekend kicks off Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23, with tours at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tours will continue Thursdays through Sundays at the same times. Attendees will have access to some behind-the-scenes and never before seen locations, including: -UCLA locker room -Newly renovated Pavilion -Court of Champions -Official working press boxes -Actual playing field The tour lasts an hour and a half and is meant for people of all ages and interests. Tickets cost $17.50 for adults and $14.50 for kids (5-12), seniors (65+) and military with I.D. Tickets can be purchased online or at the stadium ticket booth outside gate A. For tickets and more information, click here to go to the Rose Bowl’s website. Crenshaw Leader Calls for Ouster of Metro CEO Leahy http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-12994/CrenshawLeaderCallsforOusterofMetroCEOLeahy By Ari L. Noonan, June 19, 2013 That the Metro staff, which advises the Metro Board, turned down the offers by three of four contract bidders to build a tunnel at the end of the Crenshaw light rail line within the budget guidelines “is a statement about the staff’s obtuseness,” says Damien Goodmon of the Crenshaw Subway Coalition. “It also shows that Metro lacks sensitivity to community concerns and lack of sensibility to the capabilities of reputable contractors.” For two years, the Metro Board dismissively told the hundreds of South Los Angeles residents attending their monthly meetings that they only could afford stations and tunnels in other parts of the city, that to do so on the Crenshaw line exceeded their budget. Then the wall of resolve began to crumble at last month’s meeting when Mayor Villaraigosa and the four votes he controls suddenly jumped the tracks and decided, well, yes, they could afford to build a station in Leimert Park Village. But that is only half of what the city’s most prominent black community has been begging the powerful transportation agency to do. They want the tracks to curve underground for 11 blocks at the south end of the line for safety reasons involving pedestrian school traffic and the flow of business during the five years required to build the tracks. Mr. Goodmon, who has been leading the South Los Angeles charge, seeking the two accommodations taken for granted elsewhere, previously said the station won approval because Mayor Villaraigosa finally felt “pressured” to do the right thing. Can this kind of political lightning strike two straight meetings – can South Los Angeles residents win the tunnel vote at the next Metro meeting a week from tomorrow? Who Knows the Outcome? Mr. Goodmon says, logically, he cannot be sure. “In view of what the contractors have said, we would hope that Antonio Villaraigosa (who will be termed out three days later) or Mayor-elect Garcetti see that as a new opportunity to work with this community so the region can see a project that will be a long-term benefit for us.” Metro CEO Art Leahy, along with Mayor Villaraigosa, also is in the crosshairs of this dispute because it was Mr. Goodmon’s research that uncovered the crucial information about the contractors, which, the community organizer says, Metro has been trying to hide. Is there any shame or pressure attached to Mr. Leahy for the next week’s public meeting? “Absolutely,” says Mr. Goodmon. “He is going to show himself. We are completely reasonable in calling for his resignation or for him to be fired. Once these (contractor) documents become public – we heard back from the MTA they don’t want to release them until after next week’s vote – how convenient for them? – it will be clear that this is bureaucracy at work. “This is Leahy defending his butt. Let’s be specific. The board in May of 2011 rejected both the station and the tunnel because Leahy said they would be $400 million to $500 million extra. From that, we called Villaraigosa everything under the sun. The board acted on the numbers Leahy had given them. We said Mayor Villaraigosa was betraying us. We organized a great number of influential African American leaders to tell our people to vote against Measure J (the mayor’s pet project), and it failed. And (only) now are we finding out the number (asserted by Mr. Leahy) doesn’t hold up, that he was exaggerating by five-fold.” Why Isn’t There a Massive Civil Response to Traffic Violence? http://streetsblog.net/2013/06/20/why-isnt-there-a-massive-civil-response-to-traffic-violence/#more-84663 By Angie Schmitt, June 20, 2013 Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland is having a contemplative moment. In rapid succession over the last few days, he’s seen so much evidence of the damage that traffic inflicts: a seriously injured cyclist in Portland, a new study linking exhaust inhalation to autism, the death of journalist Michael Hastings, who was killed in a Los Angeles car crash. The list goes on. Mike Cooley remains hospitalized after he was struck from behind while riding his bike in Portland Saturday. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming, Maus writes, to be constantly inundated with news about lives cut short on American streets. — Also yesterday afternoon, 65-year-old Scappoose, Oregon resident Wayne McCormick was driving his Buick on Highway 30 when 39-year-old Mark Thomas’s SUV crossed over the center median “for an unconfirmed reason” and slammed into him. McCormick died instantly and Thomas has life-threatening injuries. — Scott Van Hiatt of Neskowin, Oregon was arrested Monday for criminally negligent homicide. On May 14th, Van Hiatt drove his pickup into Seattle resident Richard Swanson and killed him as he walked on Highway 101. Swanson had planned to dribble a soccer ball from Seattle to Brazil. — And this morning, a semi-truck plummeted 65 feet from the top deck of I-84 westbound as it transitions onto I-5 in Portland. The driver, who apparently collided with a small car prior to the wreck, sustained life-threatening injuries and had to be extricated from the cab by rescue teams. This is just a sampling of the carnage that hits my inbox and Twitter feed every day. It disgusts me and it’s embarrassing as an American citizen to know that this happens in my country. It’s also got me wondering… Why isn’t there a massive civil response or national dialogue about the rampant traffic deaths and destruction we experience every day? Look at the national movement to defeat and cure cancer. Where are all the 5K runs and fundraisers to raise awareness and create urgency to stop this madness? Can we at least pick a color and make some bracelets? Are we really just going to continue business as usual and accept this? Maybe I’m part of the problem because I just sit here and rant about it on my blog. Until the awareness and urgency about traffic behavior and transportation policy moves beyond the livable streets advocates and wonks, I’m afraid nothing will change. Elsewhere on the Network today: Streets.mn explains how tactical urbanism helped transform a Twin Cities’ street. Better Institutions looks at the quality of service provided by private airlines in the United States as a potential argument against transportation privatization. And Greater Greater Washington discusses the upsides and downsides of an effort to restrict sidewalk cycling in the D.C. area. Comments to the article: p_chazz • Maybe there isn't a massive civil response because the automobile death rate is low and getting lower: "U.S. traffic fatalities continue to plunge, reaching their lowest level since 1949, well before the creation of the American interstate highway system. "According to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 32,310 people died in traffic accidents in 2011, a 1.7% year-over-year decline. That marks the seventh consecutive year that the death rate has declined. "Since just 2005, traffic fatalities have fallen by more than 25% — and when measured in terms of deaths per mile driven the figure has reached its lowest level since record-keeping began in 1921, according to NHTSA." http://www.nbcnews.com/busines... So to the Streetsblog writers and commenters stop it with the manufactured outrage, the anecdotal data, the hyperventilating over "death machines" already! It does nothing for your credibility, and can be countered by cold, hard facts. Joe R. p_chazz • Sorry, but I'm not seeing how 32,310 people dying is anything to celebrate, even if it's less than prior years. That's equivalent to one 9/11 every 5 weeks, or one jumbo jet crashing twice a week, or the total number of soldiers killed in Iraq since we've been there. If there was this level of carnage associated with any other mode of transport the NTSB would shut it down until it could be fixed. Besides the direct deaths from motor vehicle collisions, you have about ten times as many deaths from environmental pollution caused by these vehicles. 300K annual deaths in the US alone just from transportation hardly strikes me as a good number. What's noteworthy isn't the justified reaction here at Streetsblog to this level of carnage, but the general lack of it elsewhere. The newspapers mourned the 9/11 dead for years while our lawmakers and leaders did everything in their power to keep it from ever happening again. And yet over ten times as many die each year, every single year, just getting from point A to point B with hardly a peep from either the media or our leaders. Where's the outrage over this? This isn't just a cost of doing business, nor should it be accepted as such. If we can't make motor vehicles safer, then move goods and people by other modes which are already proven to be safer. Gary • Maybe one thing is to only have new cars come out once every 3-4 years? this new model out every year is insanity. It's a endless replenishing of cars clogging streets, killing people along the way. Perhaps the makers of these killing machines that continue to turn them out by the millions should be severely limited. They're trying their best to stop guns, why not the same tactic with car makers? AL M • Boy is that ever the truth. Death on the highway is as american as apple pie apparently.But I think this belief is basically world wide. There are 2 million deaths world wide every hear in vehicle related crashes, nobody blinks. Remember the scale, thats 2,000,000 a year! That's basically a holocaust every year and nobody says a thing. You'd at the least thing there were be some sort of safety movement active there. Not sure what you can do about reckless people in cars BlueFairlane • I don't think the comparison of culture's reaction to cancer deaths with culture's reaction to traffic deaths tracks, for a number of reason. The biggest of these is that the vast majority of us use a car at least part of the time, and we do so voluntarily knowing the risks. But nobody volunteers to get cancer. Cancer is therefore seen as a random and unfair tragedy that strikes for reasons over which we have no control, whereas we knew what we were doing when we got in a car. HighNoon BlueFairlane • I've read down this thread a bit and it seems a part of your premise Blue is that you don't acknowledge the presence of things like negligence, reckless driving/behavior, and the decisions and acts people take that make much of this preventable, regardless of whether or not we accept the risks of the road. Statements such as: "Culture at large simply sees this as the cost of doing business" and "Rightly or wrongly, we don't look at the pedestrian as somebody outside the contract, as we automatically assume that at some point, the pedestrian was one of the rest of us inside a car somewhere" simply ignores the fact that if our society were willing to implement greater levels of accountability for actions that are within our control, this issue would not be at the magnitude it is today.... something you are ok with and others aren't. Daniel Winks BlueFairlane • Who, exactly, volunteers to breathe in all the toxic shit that spews out of everyone else's tail pipes? Who, exactly, volunteers to drink water tainted with roadway runoff? Breast cancer wasn't nearly the sort of health issue it is today until we started polluting the planet. A LOT of those who get cancer get it because of the toxins they are constantly exposed to. Also, who volunteers to have their body violently torn apart by a motorist just because they decided to walk down a sidewalk? A large number of murders caused by people using motor vehicles have victims who aren't using a motor vehicle. BlueFairlane Daniel Winks • Your second paragraph is addressed in my response to Shaun above. You likely won't agree, and that's okay. Your first paragraph is asking that the culture at large make connections they're not likely to make, and that aren't necessarily even supportable. One, most of us don't really think about the toxic shit that spews from a tailpipe except on those superhot summer days when there's an inversion. If we did, we wouldn't live in cities. We don't taste the roadway runoff in our water, so it doesn't usually even cross our minds. Chicago doesn't even treat its stormwater sewage. Why? Because the public hasn't been concerned enough to demand it. And sure, breast cancer wasn't the health concern a century ago that it is today, but there are many reasons outside industrialized society for that: a cultural attitude that tended to turn its face from cancer--especially breast cancer--and hide it behind whispers, and better and earlier diagnosis that, frankly, has left a lot more survivors to talk about it. Yes, it seems that most people are either too ignorant or too uncaring to bother thinking about how their driving affects others. Driving, world-wide killed 1,230,000 people last year. That's directly caused death. From all the sources I've been able to find, the pollution caused by driving kills around TEN TIMES more people than driving does directly. Around 10,000,000 deaths, per year, from pollution. To put that number into perspective, it's like a WTC collapse worth of deaths every 2 hours or so. All day, every day, all year. Or a loaded 747 slamming into the ground every 20 or so minutes. Would people make drastic changes to avoid a WTC-level amount of deaths every couple of hours? I'd hope the answer is certainly they would. The issue is the absurd amount of money being spent by the auto industry, asphalt industry, oil industry, etc to all maintain the status quo. Billions spent every year to make people think it's OK to drive. To make them not think that every turn of that key is an active participation in mass murder on a scale that's pretty much unimaginable. The other side has a million here, a million there and pretty much all of that money is spent on research and statistics to try to zero in on exactly how bad the pollution really is, not educating the public. BlueFairlane Daniel Winks Ah, so it's all the fault of "the man." Okay. Maybe the lack of connection is the result of ignorance or apathy, maybe not. The lack of connection exists, though, and every single one of us engages in some form of it, somewhere. And the WTC comparison is no more likely to bridge that gap than that cancer one, as again, the people who died at the WTC were killed through no act of their own by very specific people, people to whom we could assign a face. Whose face would we assign to the traffic/car pollution deaths? For most of us, it would be our own. Meanwhile, consider that there are currently 7 billion people in the world. in 1900, there were about 1.8 billion. In 1800, there were less than 1 billion. The difference owes to the internal combustion engine, without which we never would have grown so numerous. In a world with so many more people, more people are going to die. Many of them are going to die as a result of the thing that allowed the bulk of us to exist in the first place. Culture at large simply sees this as the cost of doing business. You feel differently, and that's fine, perhaps even commendable. But you won't get the rest of the culture to go along with you. Joe R. BlueFairlane "The difference owes to the internal combustion engine, without which we never would have grown so numerous." Except that since at least the 1950s there's no longer been any reason to use or rely on internal combustion engines. From the 1950s onwards we could generate electricity via nuclear power which could power transportation, farming, large ships, virtually our entire world. Actually, we could probably go back even further to the time when low-cost hydroelectricity was available. And now we have viable means of generating power via solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal as well. We haven't needed to rely heavily on the internal combustion engine since at least the 1950s. At this stage we could probably get rid of internal combustion engines altogether. We made a societal choice to use internal combustion engines. And we made a similar choice to rely on personal transportation driven by poorly-trained, mostly incompetent individuals. Those were both horrible choices but they were made because some companies got rich off them. And now we have people like you with absolutely no imagination who can't even see a different way of doing things than the status quo. Shaun Jacobsen BlueFairlane The difference is not owed entirely to the internal combustion engine. Advacements in farming technology and the reduction of contagious disease are others. The car wasn't even that popular until the early-mid-20th century. And certainly not like we know it until the 1950s. Even if your statement were true it would not be a case for maintaining the status quo. We can continue to exist like this without people making trips in their cars for every little thing. Moving large quantities of goods is one of a few good things that can come from driving. That is not entirely true. People get cancer for various reasons that can be within their control. Not always, but things like lung cancer caused by smoking... that's preventable. The point is also that drivers actions don't only affect other drivers. They kill pedestrians and cyclists too who are overwhelmingly innocent bystanders. There may be an understanding among drivers that driving is risky, but when drivers start killing and injuring innocent people, then it becomes something to rally around. BlueFairlane Shaun Jacobsen • Two things. 1. I do think there is a different cultural reaction to people stricken with cancers seen as the result of a person's actions. I don't think we've tended to see lung cancer patients in the same light as, say, breast cancer patients, and lung cancer hadn't seen nearly the same levels of charitable donations.; There isn't the same kind of outcry, because we believe deep down that the lung cancer patient brought it on themselves. 2. While there are a relatively small number of exceptions, the vast majority of us are at least occasionately drivers or riders, and that vast majority drives (heh) the cultural mindset. Yes, a pedestrian may be an innocent bystander in that moment, but for good or ill most people look at the rules of the world as they live them, not as we imagine others might live them. Rightly or wrongly, we don't look at the pedestrian as somebody outside the contract, as we automatically assume that at some point, the pedestrian was one of the rest of us inside a car somewhere. Because we see them as just like us, we don't see them as innocent. Shaun Jacobsen BlueFairlane • Right about the different cancers and diseases and their causes... not sure about your second point. Maybe I don't see it that way since I do not drive a car. Shouldn't allow people to think that everyone is expendable since they're all "guilty" at some point. I'm not talking about what's right or wrong or what should or shouldn't be allowed. I'm just talking about what I think "is." We all tend to have world views built around our own choices, and we project that on everyone. Adam Herstein • Car culture is so ingrained in American life that we treat traffic deaths as a necessary evil to maintain our lifestyle. We use terms like "accident" or "the car hit…" to absolve any responsibility on the driver. slotaag • Perhaps this discussion would be more useful without the dissemination of the pseudoscientific idea that environmental factors are linked to developmental disabilities. Angie Schmitt Mod slotaag • That's a Harvard study you're calling "pseudo-scientific." p_chazz Angie Schmitt • And that's an argument from authority, Angie which is a logical fallacy. http://www.nizkor.org/features... John • Death & carnage (plus aggravation and expensive insurance) is the price we pay for the right to drive like idiots, with minimal driver education and traffic enforcement. It works for idiot drivers 99% of the time. Shaun Jacobsen It's more than a social compact between drivers. It's the car culture ingrained in America that has gotten so out-of-hand. You could confuse a drivers license for a constitutional right here. Judges often refuse to take away drivers licenses (even from drunk drivers), in fact, yesterday several pedestrians and a cyclist were injured when a repeat drunk driver smashed into the sidewalk in New York. And drivers licenses are practically handed out at age 16. I remember my driving test. It was no longer than 10 minutes. 10 minutes! They give you multiple tries on the test too. The difficulty of the test is completely circumstantial, too. Mine was in heavy snow in a rural town of around 5,000 people. There weren't a lot of everyday obstacles drivers have to deal with. You can do so much harm in a motor vehicle but the punishment is never commensurate with the crime. I know of people who have killed people while driving and they get out of jail and are back on the streets within a few years. Add in our obsession with driving around 8-seater tanks (SUVs) that are much, much larger than the people that are driving them. People should not be allowed to drive such huge vehicles without proving absolute responsibility. Alex Knight Shaun Jacobsen • You're absolutely right on all points, Shaun. In so many parts of the country, taking away someone's license isn't just denying them driving, it's denying them mobility. "Just because they're a bad driver doesn't mean they don't deserve to get to their job and to the store!" So we let them drive anyway. Then, when they crash their car we pardon them so long as they weren't drunk because, "They were just trying to get to work! They didn't MEAN to run over that pedestrian. It was an ACCIDENT." Our solution is to tolerate this danger instead of addressing the root problem of auto-only development spanning most of the US. This foolish way of developing our communities grew out of an obsession with the car first by the Greatest Generation and then by the Baby Boomers. They literally built our country around the car and now we're stuck with unsafe, unhealthy, inefficient, and insolvent development everywhere we go. It's so pervasive that even in places like Portland and New York where you CAN live without a car, there is still a deeply entrenched entitlement to having one. It's not a problem that will be solved quickly. But we have to resolve to keep chipping away at it, as daunting a task as it is. Shaun Jacobsen Alex Knight I know people who don't have drivers licenses and grew up in small Michigan towns, for example. They said they never needed it even as a teenager since they lived close to school and work and everything else. They're lucky. I live in Chicago now and I live car(e)-free. I can't imagine having a car. It would eat up so much of my money that I instead get to spend at shops and restaurants in the neighborhood. You can live without a car here. Even parents. I know a lot of people who move to this city and still keep their cars and are literally attached to them. They drive distances as short as a mile! It's absolutely insane. Kicking the car habit may not be easy but it just requires restructuring your life. Sometimes you just have to drive, it's inevitable. But most people don't need a personal car for every day of the week. Yet we keep designing our cities to accommodate this kind of drive-everywhere attitude. Surface parking lots, wide streets, etc... even in cities like New York. tamanduabeijo Shaun Jacobsen • If you're not familiar, do a search for "Jeanette Sliwinski" and "Michael Dahlquist" for a perfect example of how drivers' interests are privileged. In this case, the victims were also in a car, but the point is that murder by car is treated far differently than murder with a gun. Shaun Jacobsen tamanduabeijo Suicide is selfish but this is way beyond selfish. I had not heard of this specific case but am aware of people driving and causing "accidents" to commit suicide. If she pleaded not guilty by reason of mental instability (or whatever), then she should theoretically never, ever be allowed to drive again. The Wikipedia article says she could have gotten a license in 2010. Daphna • As a start, the dialog needs to change. It needs to be "collision" instead of "accident". It needs to be "the driver hit" or "the driver blew the light" or "the driver collided" not "the car collided" or "the car blew the light" or "the car collided." Also collisions needs to be portrayed as preventable not as unavoidable. It would also help if the numbers of those killed by motorists start to be reported more widely and put in context. One example: similar numbers of people are killed by motor vehicle violence each year as by breast cancer in the United States - both around 40,000. There is a huge amount of awareness, sympathy and fundraising to prevent breast cancer deaths, yet there is little public angst over motor vehicle violence that claims the same number of lives annually. If the numbers are reported in a way the public can relate to them, and if the public gets the idea that these deaths are preventable rather than an unavoidable cost of getting around, then outcry would start to grow. Ex-driver • Same reason we won't do anything about gun violence. BECUZ FREEDUM. Alen Teplitsky i wondered this same thing until I read the history of the High Line in NYC. there used to be a freight railroad on the west side of manhattan. it used to kill lots of people who would try to beat the train by crossing in front of it. the railroad added ground guides and people still died. finally they built the elevated tracks that became the High Line. When you mix man and machines, people will get hurt. there is that minority of people who will try to hurry to save every second possible and someone will get hurt. Larry Littlefield I've given my idea before, which another commentor called "the social compact of the road." Motor vehicles are dangerous, and deaths and injuries will inevitably occur with their use, but we all want to use them. Therefore, since you accept the risk I will create by driving my car, I must accept the risk you create by driving your car. Except for a few risk-increasing behaviors that have been deemed socially unacceptable, such as drunk driving. But pedestrians and bicycles don't present the risk of harm to those in motor vehicles, so they are outside the compact and receive nothing from it. ladyfleur Larry Littlefield C'mon Larry, you know bicyclists and pedestrians cause car accidents all the time. It's our fault drivers are crashing into us, and each other too. All our fault. Jake Wegmann Larry Littlefield I think that makes a lot of sense. You can’t make me ride in a bike lane. http://thes... Caltrans construction notice: closures on the Pasa... First-Ever Rose Bowl Tours Start Saturday On guide... Crenshaw Leader Calls for Ouster of Metro CEO Leah... Why Isn’t There a Massive Civil Response t... New Report Outlines How CA Can Kick Its ... Century-old Colorado Street Bridge spans the histo... Report: 67,000 U.S. bridges 'structurally deficien... Here's Metro's Latest Plan For Speeding Up LA Rail... Toll Road Proposal DeniedA 5.5 mile toll road is p... Gold Line cities want light-rail's Azusa-to-Clare... Bicycle Used as Deadly Weapon in Santa Monica? htt... Bicycling: The SAFEST Form of Transportation http:... 'When It's Time to Make the Next Turn, the Left Si...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2021
__label__wiki	0.859671	0.859671	A determined Esteban Chaves finishes in a strong second place on stage 9 of La Vuelta with Cannondale-Drapac's Michael Woods third. Image: Sirotti. La Vuelta Latest: Esteban Chaves Second To Chris Froome As Riders Enjoy First Rest Day By Nat Bromhead \| 28 August 2017 Honorary Aussie Esteban Chaves of Orica Scott will go into today’s first rest day of La Vuelta in a comfortable second position overall, 36 seconds behind race leader Chris Froome of Team Sky. Also second to Froome on the summit finish of yesterday’s Stage 9, Chaves remained with the favourites then matched the four-time Tour de France winner’s strong attack in the final kilometre. Chaves 'More Mature, More Calm' Chris Froome: Leading La Vuelta and going for a Grand Tour double after winning his 4th Tour de France title in July. Image: Sirroti. “(Chris) is an unbelievable rider,” Chaves said after the stage. “He showed for what reason he won the Tour de France four times. For me, it’s a really good result actually. Two years ago, I arrived 15 or 20seconds down on this climb so it’s not really good memories. I think I am more mature, more experienced and more calm and this is the important thing." Chaves was happy with the firm second place, 36 seconds behind Froome on General Classification, and said he was ready for a rest day. “We put time on the other guys and that’s really good,” he said. “The team, like always, worked unbelievable. I’m really happy for the team. We’ve passed nine days and now it’s time to rest.” 2017 La Vuelta – Stage 9 Result 1. Chris Froome (Team Sky) 4:07:13 2. Esteban Chaves (ORICA-SCOTT) +0:04 3. Michael Woods (Cannondale Drapac) +0:05 2017 La Vuelta – Top 3 after Stage 9 1. Chris Froome (Team Sky) 36:33:16 3. Nicholas Roche (BMC Racing) +1:05	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2024
__label__wiki	0.970282	0.970282	Home Media Centre Press releases Winners announced: Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards in 2019 Winners announced: Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards in 2019 ‘Killing Eve’ wins three BAFTAs ‘Patrick Melrose’ wins two BAFTAs Benedict Cumberbatch wins leading Actor and Jodie Comer wins leading Actress Fellowship presented to Joan Bakewell Nicola Shindler receives Special Award London, 12 May 2019: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the winners of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards, celebrating and rewarding the very best programmes and performances of 2018. The ceremony was hosted by Graham Norton at the Royal Festival Hall, London, and presenters included Andrew Scott, Billy Monger, Bradley & Barney Walsh, Danny Dyer, David Schwimmer, Julia Stiles, Kelsey Grammer and Sir Lenny Henry. Killing Eve, the spy-action thriller, won three BAFTAs, for Drama Series, Leading Actress for Jodie Comer and Supporting Actress for Fiona Shaw. Patrick Melrose, based on Edward St Aubyn’s semi-autobiographical novels, received the BAFTA for Mini-Series and Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the titular character, won the first BAFTA of his career for Leading Actor. Ben Whishaw won the BAFTA for Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Norman Scott in the drama series A Very English Scandal. In Male Performance in a Comedy Programme, Steve Pemberton won the BAFTA for Inside No. 9. Jessica Hynes took home the BAFTA for Female Performance in a Comedy Programme for There She Goes. The BAFTA for Scripted Comedy was won by Sally4Ever. The BAFTA for Entertainment Programme was awarded to Britain’s Got Talent for the second year running and A League of Their Own received the award for Comedy Entertainment Programme. Lee Mack won his first BAFTA, in the Entertainment Performance category for Would I Lie To You? I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! received the BAFTA for Reality & Constructed Factual. Who Do You Think You Are? won in the Features category. Missed Call won the BAFTA for Short Form Programme. In the International category, the BAFTA was awarded to Succession, the US satirical drama. EastEnders was awarded the BAFTA for Soap & Continuing Drama. Killed By My Debt won the BAFTA for Single Drama. News Coverage was awarded to Channel 4 News’ Cambridge Analytica Uncovered, and the award for Current Affairs was presented to Myanmar’s Killing Fields (Dispatches). Louis Theroux’s Altered States received the BAFTA for Factual Series, Gun No. 6 won Single Documentary and Suffragettes with Lucy Worsley won Specialist Factual. 2018 World Cup Quarter Final: England v Sweden triumphed in the Sport category, while the award for Live Event was presented to The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance. The Special Award was presented to Nicola Shindler in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the television industry. In 1998 Nicola founded Red Production Company, which has been responsible for producing some of the most talked-about series over the past few decades including Clocking Off, Happy Valley, the Emmy Award-winning Queer as Folk and most recently Trust Me for BBC One, starring Jodie Whittaker. The Fellowship, the highest accolade the Academy bestows, was presented to Joan Bakewell in recognition of an illustrious career that spans over 50 years. Joan Bakewell has presented some of the UK’s most enduring factual programming including Late Night Line-Up (1965-72) and Heart of the Matter (1988 – 2000). She also wrote and presented the BBC four-part series Taboo, a personal exploration of the concepts of taste, decency and censorship. Currently, Joan can be seen presenting Portrait Artist of the Year for Sky Arts. Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment, the only award voted for by the public, was won by Bodyguard. Red carpet highlights, backstage interviews with the winners, clips of the nominated programmes and all the latest images from the night’s events are available at www.bafta.org/television. Brogan Campbell A selection of free press imagery will be available at www.bafta.thirdlight.com. A wider selection of exclusive photography – including VIP arrivals, red carpet & backstage reportage and full coverage of ceremony will be available from BAFTA partner agency Rex/Shutterstock here. Backstage portraits shot by Charlie Clift will be available from BAFTA partner agency Camera Press here as well as reportage shot by Sarah Lee and Iona Wolff. Exclusive event coverage will be available to license from Screenocean.com, BAFTA’s partner agency for clip sales. For further information please contact Screenocean at [email protected] / +44(0)1954 262052. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For advice and inspiration from the best creative minds in working in film, games and television, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org. Virgin Media offers four multi award-winning services across the UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline. Our dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest widely-available broadband speeds to homes and businesses and we’re expanding this through our Project Lightning programme, which will extend our network to up to 17 million premises. Our interactive Virgin TV service brings live TV, thousands of hours of on- demand programming and the best apps and games to customers through a set-top box, as well as on-the-go through tablets and smartphones. Virgin Mobile launched the world’s first virtual mobile network, offering fantastic value and flexible services. We are also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the UK and Ireland. Through Virgin Media Business, we support entrepreneurs, businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest speeds and tailor-made services. Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international TV and broadband company. Liberty Global connects 21 million customers through operations in 10 countries across Europe subscribing to 45 million TV, broadband internet and telephony services. It also serves 6 million mobile subscribers and offers WiFi service through 12 million access points across its footprint. Our year round partners	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2025
__label__wiki	0.736862	0.736862	11/16/2007, Friday FOR RELEASE 11/16/2007, Friday Run for Vision Nets Record Participation and Proceeds for the Eye Bank Association of America ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The 2007 Bausch & Lomb Run for Vision, held during AAO 2007 in New Orleans, attracted a record 253 participants and contributed more than $12,500 in proceeds to the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA). “We’re thrilled with the record number of runners and walkers who joined us to help fund eye banking research and sight restoration,” said Jennifer Weischedel, race chairwoman and associate cataract product manager at Bausch & Lomb. “Now in its 22nd year, the Bausch & Lomb Run for Vision has established itself as a tradition at the AAO. Thank you to everyone who turned out this year, and start training now for the ’08 Atlanta run!” The 5K race, which passed throughout the city’s historic French Quarter, drew participants from all corners of ophthalmology. Arriving at the starting line against the banks of the Mississippi river, runners were enveloped by a thick fog, pierced occasionally by the lights of New Orleans Police Department vehicles that escorted the athletes on the course, and the sounds of a classic Big Easy jazz band. After remarks from Patricia Aiken O'Neill, EBAA’s president and CEO, the race was kicked off by Ronald Zarrella, Bausch & Lomb chairman and CEO. The overall male winners were Tyler Kirk (17:52.8), Max McGowan (18:42.5), and Louis Probst (18:48.6). The overall female winners were Carrie Palmer (19:09.3), Julie Clark (22:31.7), and Heather Hollister (23:41.3). Complete results are available at http://www.restoresight.org/overall.htm and http://www.restoresight.org/agegroups.htm. The Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) is a not-for-profit organization of eye banks dedicated to the restoration of sight through the promotion and advancement of eye banking. The oldest transplant association in the United States, the EBAA is a nationally recognized accrediting body for eye banks. Since 1961, EBAA member banks have restored sight to nearly one million individuals. For more information, visit www.restoresight.org. About Bausch & Lomb Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers around the world. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y. Bausch & Lomb’s 2006 revenues were more than $2.2 billion; it employs more than 13,000 people worldwide and its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information can be found at www.bausch.com.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2027
__label__wiki	0.841756	0.841756	Antonia Fraser at The Richmond Literature Festival Arts Richmond's Contribution to the Literature Festival. Antonia Fraser discusses her new book 'The King and the Catholics' Wednesday 6 November 2019 - Saturday 6 July 2019 THE KING AND THE CATHOLICS The Fight for Rights 1829 by Antonia Fraser The story of Catholic Emancipation begins with blood: the violent Anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in 1780, fuelled by the reduction in Penal Laws against the Roman Catholics harking back to the sixteenth century. Some fifty years later, the passing of the Emancipation Bill was hailed as a ‘bloodless revolution’. However, some jobs remained barred to Catholics, and the King (or Queen) would always be a Protestant. Had the Irish Catholics been a ‘millstone’, as described by an English aristocrat, or were they the prime movers? While the English Catholic aristocracy and the Irish peasants and merchants approached the Catholic Question in very different ways, they manifestly shared the same objective. The King and the Catholics is gripping character-driven narrative history at its very best; the story of individuals who are by turns flawed and admirable: George III, who opposed Emancipation on the basis of the Coronation Oath; his son, the indulgent Prince of Wales, who was enamoured with the Catholic Maria Fitzherbert before the voluptuous Lady Conyngham; Wellington and the ‘born Tory’ Peel vying for leadership; ‘roaring’ Lord Winchilsea; the heroic Daniel O’Connell. Antonia Fraser invests humanity in a huge cast of characters, and brings colour and humour to the vivid drama. We witness the arrival on Shoreham Beach of displaced nuns fleeing revolutionary France, the sensational libel trial of John Magee, the first Royal visit to Ireland since Richard II in 1399, and a duel between Prime Minister Wellington and Lord Winchilsea. Expertly written and deftly argued, The King and Catholics is also a distant mirror of our times, reflecting the political issues arising from religious intolerance. # Antonia Fraser is the author of many widely acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers. The prizes she has won include the Wolfson Award for History and the Norton Medlicott Medal of the Historical Association. She has been President of English PEN, chairman of the Society of Authors, and chairman of the Crime Writers’ Association. Tickets will be released later this month.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2033
__label__cc	0.52553	0.47447	Setting You Apart. We work with you to protect your IP rights. BRAXTON PERRONE, PLLC, is a dynamic intellectual property law firm located in the heart of the DFW Metroplex in Plano, Texas, and is dedicated to client-service and effective results. When you work with us to protect your IP rights, you gain access to accomplished lawyers who provide personalized service suited for your legal and business objectives. Cutting-Edge Resources and Experience to Protect Your IP Assets. We understand that your intellectual property assets serve to set you apart from the competition. New ideas and IP assets involve innovation. At BRAXTON PERRONE, we embrace innovation — both externally and internally. We focus exclusively on intellectual property law to provide clients with counseling and legal representation to protect the brand, image and innovative advantages that IP assets provide. 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BOBBY BRAXTON GREGORY PERRONE CELINA ORR SHERRA SIDDLE About BRAXTON PERRONE, PLLC Our new breed of IP firm synthesizes big-firm experience with the responsiveness and agility that only a small firm can provide. You will work directly with a partner-level attorney with larger-firm experience every step of the way. In a highly competitive marketplace, you need tailored guidance and strategic representation to meet your individual business goals. To that end, we strive to build relationships with our clients to achieve personalized legal strategies and solutions to protect and leverage their IP assets, whether patents, trademarks, copyrights or trade secrets. With a firm understanding of your unique goals, we will be able to provide you with straightforward advice about the risks associated with various business paths and the options best suited to mitigate those risks according to your business interests. Our size and flexibility makes it possible for us to offer clients various fee arrangements, including flat fee arrangements. We communicate the cost-benefit analysis of all legal options that may apply to a client's intellectual property problem. Our goal is to eliminate billing surprises to allow our clients to make informed decisions in their representation. To access the power of more than 35 years of combined experience in effectively representing inventors, IP holders and businesses, call our office in Plano at 469-814-0047 or contact us online. Our value-driven approach begins with a free initial consultation. braxton@braxtonperrone.com Bobby W. Braxton Selected in 2018 Bobby W. Braxton, one of the firm's founders, focuses his practice on intellectual property law, including patent and trademark prosecution and litigation. Bobby has prosecuted and obtained over 100 patents for clients covering a variety of technologies including air conditioners, specialty pumps, extruders, medical devices, fertilizers, and food chemistry. In addition to prosecuting patents, Mr. Braxton has experience in license agreements, right-to-use opinions, and invalidity opinions. Bobby also has an extensive background in most aspects of patent and trademark litigation including drafting of pleadings, dispositive motions, Markman briefings and oral argument, written discovery, trial preparation, and settlement negotiations. Aside from traditional district court litigation, Bobby also has experience litigating before the United States International Trade Commission. Bobby graduated from Texas A&M University in 2004 with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. He was involved in the Co-operative Education program where he worked full time at a chemical plant and a research and development pilot plant for four total semesters, gaining experience as both a process engineer and a research engineer. Bobby earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2007, where he graduated summa cum laude. While in law school, Mr. Braxton was an editor for the Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal and was a member of the Order of the Coif. His coursework included intellectual property oriented classes such as Introduction to Intellectual Property, Trademarks, Internet and High Technology, Patent Law, and Copyright Law. Bobby is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, the Hon. Barbara M.G. Lynn American Inn of Court Dallas Area Young Lawyers Association, Dallas Bar Association, and Texas Aggie Bar Association. U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas J.D. summa cum laude - 2007 Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Major: Chemical Engineering American Bar Association, Member Dallas Bar Association, Member Texas Aggie Bar Association, Member Back to Your Team. perrone@braxtonperrone.com Gregory Perrone represents clients in patent and trademark prosecution matters and in patent, trademark and other intellectual property litigation throughout the country and at the United States International Trade Commission (USITC). His experience in both the procurement and enforcement sides of intellectual property enables him to assist clients in obtaining intellectual property rights with an eye towards meaningful protection. Greg earned his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 1997, where he served as an editor for the Kentucky Law Journal and was a member of the Order of the Coif. He earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Rhode Island in 1988. Prior to attending law school, Greg worked as a systems engineer in support of the TRIDENT nuclear submarine program. Prior to co-founding BHP, Greg spent several years with a prominent intellectual property boutique and was a partner of an international law firm. He also served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Karl S. Forester of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Federal Claims U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas U.S. District Court Western District of Texas University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky J.D. cum laude - 1997 Honors: Order of the Coif Law Journal: Kentucky Law Journal, Associate Editor, 1997 University of Rhode Island B.S.E.E. - 1988 Represented patent owner in litigation over wireless application delivery systems that yielded Top Ten settlement for 2009 according to IP360. Represented major drilling equipment manufacturer in USITC Â§337 investigation. Represented major radar detector manufacturer in patent infringement litigation. Represented enterprise software provider in litigation over breach of intellectual property license. Represented manufacturer of electronic voting systems in patent litigation. Represented financial institution in patent litigation concerning imaging and processing of financial instruments. Represented a leading computer manufacture in patent infringement litigation involving products for interactive source code analysis and debugging. Represented a leading computer manufacture in patent infringement litigation involving application failure resolution products. Represented a leading computer manufacture in patent infringement litigation involving test data management tools employed in a distributed network. Represented a leading manufacturer of products that improve wireless signal transmission in patent litigation involving receivers employed in wireless networks. Represented a leading computer manufacturer in patent infringement litigation involving software products employed for development of customizable applications. Represented on-line educational environment service provider in patent litigation. Represented patent owner in defense of declaratory judgment action involving ophthalmic procedure to correct presbyopia. Represented clients in various Lanham Act and right of publicity actions. Represented clients before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in patent prosecution matters. Prepared opinions of counsel on patent invalidity and non-infringement. Texas Rising Star, Law & Politics Magazine and Texas Monthly, 2006, 2007 Dallas Bar Association American Intellectual Property Law Association Honorable Karl S. Forester of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Judicial Clerk orr@braxtonperrone.com Celina has over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs and companies protect their ideas and brands, both domestically and internationally. She has devoted her career to understanding the needs and goals of clients of all sizes. She has handled hundreds of design and utility applications in a wide array of technologies, including medical devices, pharmaceutical compositions, oil & gas, flavoring, packaging, extruders, food products, and manufacturing processes. She has also successfully defended valuable intellectual property for her clients, including infringement and domain-name disputes. During law school, Celina participated in the UT Law Children’s Rights Clinic, representing children involved in Child Protective Services cases. She was certified as a trained mediator while clerking for a prominent Austin environmental law firm. She was also active in the Student Bar Association, the Chicano/Hispanic Law Students Association, the Recruitment Organization Committee, and the Intellectual Property Law Journal. Prior to law school, Celina received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Civilizations. Among her undergrad curriculum, she studied molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, organic and inorganic chemistry, advanced analytical chemistry, physics and mechanics. She also studied biology and art in Madrid at the University of Complutense. Celina is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and is an active member of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association. She offers her time to several local bar committees, including the Women in IP law, the Law in Schools Committee, and the Juvenile Justice Committee. She has also devoted her time to numerous diversity efforts locally, including scholarship programs and the Dallas Diversity Task Force committee in 2016. JD 200 B.S. Chemistry - 2000 B.A. Spanish - 2001 Celina Orr tiene más de diez años de experiencia ayudando a emprendedores y empresas a proteger sus ideas y marcas, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional. Ha dedicado su carrera a la comprensión de las necesidades y metas de todos tipos de clientes. Ha manejado cientos de solicitudes de patente en varias tecnologías, incluyendo aparatos médicos, composiciones farmacéuticas, petróleo y gas, componentes saborizantes, empaques, extrusoras, productos alimenticios y procesos de fabricación. También ha defendido con éxito la valiosa propiedad intelectual de sus clientes. Para más información sobre la protección de sus ideas, marcas, y/o patentes, por favor contacte a la Licenciada Celina Orr. Sherra has extensive IP prosecution experience, including involvement in all phases of domestic and foreign patent and trademark prosecution. Sherra also assists with intellectual property litigation, as well as, U.S. trademark opposition and cancellation actions. Prior to joining the firm in January 2018, Sherra worked as a legal assistant and paralegal for various boutique IP firms and in-house with the corporate legal departments of Celanese and Ericsson. Southeastern Paralegal Institute (now Brightwood College), Dallas, Texas ABA-approved paralegal certificate - 2001 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas B.A. Anthropology - 1995 BRAXTON PERRONE PLLC 5000 LEGACY DRIVE SUITE 465 PLANO, TX 75024 469.814.0047	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2037
__label__cc	0.522342	0.477658	Communities and Technologies Conference: Workshop “Information & Communication Technology in rural communities -is the Net working?” Home/News/Conferences, Symposia & Workshops/Communities and Technologies Conference: Workshop “Information & Communication Technology in rural communities -is the Net working?” “Communities & Technologies” International Conference, Amsterdam, 19-21 September 2003 <http://www-winfo.uni-siegen.de/wulf/CT2003/ Workshop: “Information & Communication Technology in rural communities -is the Net working?” A Workshop examining the current and potential role of information and communication technologies in rural communities. The Workshop will concentrate on multi- and inter-disciplinary research contributions from several countries. Themes include: – Rural communities and their innovative adaptation and creation of ICT-enabled initiatives; – The use of a global medium for the support and enhancement of place-based networks and communities; – The building and sustaining of social capital in rural areas, in the context of the Information Society. Development of the Information Society is a core element of European policy. This Society is seen as one which encompasses all Europeans, irrespective of location, occupation, or means. The key objectives of eEurope are: (i) Bringing every citizen, home and school, every business and administration, into the digital age and online; (ii) Creating a digitally literate Europe, supported by an entrepreneurial culture ready to finance and develop new ideas; and (iii) Ensuring the whole process is socially inclusive, builds consumer trust and strengthens social cohesion (European Commission 2000). Priority areas identified in the eEurope initiative include high-speed infrastructure, relevant learning and working skills, e-government, and social inclusion (European Commission 2001). In Europe’s rural areas, with the possible exception of the Netherlands and some of the Nordic countries, these aims are a long way from being achieved, with the danger of an increasing ‘digital divide’between urban and rural areas. Although access to ICT infrastructure and facilities are a key component of the debate concerning, and realities of experiencing, such a digital divide, it also needs to be re-defined. Such a definition also needs to recognise training or IT literacy (“the ability to use IT for a range of purposes, and the knowledge of how and why IT can be used as a key resource”, Servon, 2002, p.7), and content -“both content that meets the needs of disenfranchised groups and content that is created by these groups”(ibid). This Workshop therefore proposes to examine and evaluate these layered components of the digital divide, in the context of rural community development. Access to ICT in rural areas is an issue which reflects both business priorities of national and multi-national telecoms, and policy interventions, the predominant argument being that telecoms companies are unwilling and unlikely to invest in sparsely populated areas, due to low critical mass and therefore a low customer base for their products. This is being illustrated particularly in the deployment of broadband technology, which is currently focused on areas of high population density, typical in urban and urban fringe areas. National and in some cases regional governments have put programmes and policies in place, which purport to increase ‘inclusion’and ‘cohesion’for all in the Information Society, regardless of geographical remoteness. However, the realities of such initiatives appears to be that geographical focus remains on those areas of sufficient critical mass, and/or the policy action comprises access provision (such as broadband to all UK schools by 2005) without account being taken of training and support requirements over the longer term. The ‘cyberbole’of web-based ICT leading to the ‘death of distance’for rural communities appears to be little in evidence at the beginning of the 21st Century. Why might this matter? It is argued that rural communities, comprising individuals, networks, mico-businesses, and SMEs, will be both disadvantaged socially and economically, and disenfranchised from society and evolutions in that society, particularly in an era of increasing e-government and e-delivery of services. Further, that existing urban-rural divides (for example, in terms of other rural service provision which already impacts of rural communities) will be exacerbated. In addition, that intra-rural digital divides, between the information “haves”and “have nots”, will increase. The continuation of such trends may mean that ICT as the avenue for community empowerment, is many years from being realised. If we then move the digital divide debate to include the issue of training, we see a greater dearth of provision, both public and private. The implications of this are a stalling in capacity-building, and a greater possibility of people “falling through the net”(refs). Further, those who do begin to engage with the technology may therefore not be able to utilise it to its full potential. The content issue relates to relevance of web-based ICT for, and the generation of ‘buy-in’within, rural communities. There are place-based initiatives using web-based media to enable the collation and portrayal of local issues to local people. Intranets are developing in rural areas, which enable place-based community interaction through this global medium. Examples include village broadband initiatives, village community websites and other web-based initiatives which build in and on notions of community, belonging and identity, and create a separateness which distinguishes them from their surroundings, and from the otherwise globalised environment which exists. Content also relates to sectors and groups within society, of different age, sex, ethnicity; the creation of such content both for, and by, such sectors, appears to be a key component of the buy-in to, and one could argue therefore the sustainability of, web-based ICT community initiatives. It is argued, within this workshop proposal, that people, citizens (potentially e-citizens) are potentially more than mere users of ICT; rather they can be, and are, creatively engaging with, and adapting, such media to meet their needs and requirements. This moves the debate towards the ‘social shaping of technology’and raises issues of how we re-frame the terms ‘designer’and ‘user’. Examples include peoples’harnessing of fixed wireless based broadband technology for place-based ICT access facilities within rural communities -initiatives which have purposefully bypassed the ‘big corporate players’and developed micro-systems which meet their own defined needs. Another example is the recent proliferation of rural village websites, with content and purpose defined by their creators for their perceived community, with an aim of facilitating knowledge sharing through a ‘virtual’and ‘real’community (online and offline). These ‘bottom-up’components of the appropriation of technology comprise an important trend in community relationships with ICT; they give us an insight into what people might consider to be the ‘socio-cultural affordance’of the technology. Further, it could be argued that they have significant implications for future rural development initiatives, which may seek to build on, utilise, and work through existing online and offline networks. The incorporation, within such development initiatives, of community-led, ICT-enabled creative and innovative developments, once again increases the probability of their sustainability (where sustainability is used in the sense of ‘self-sustaining’beyond the period of funding or intervention). The research and policy agenda for addressing the digital divide within rural Europe is multi-layered, multi-faceted and dynamic. It therefore requires an interdisciplinary research perspective in order for that complexity and inter-connectedness to be recognised and effectively analysed. This workshop therefore, would welcome multi-, and inter-disciplinary research contributions in areas including: rural communities and their innovative adaptation and creation of ICT-enabled initiatives; the use of a global medium for the support and enhancement of place-based networks and communities; and the building and sustaining of social capital in the context of the Information Society. Workshop Organisers. Dr Sarah SKERRATT, Senior Research Associate in Rural Social Informatics: Dr Sarah Skerratt has extensive experience in rural (& specifically micro-business) ethnography, focusing on decision-making processes, the influence of social and informational networks, and specifically the roles and potential of ICT in rural social inclusion and development. She has carried out research for a number of organisations, in which she has developed and applied methodologies for acquiring data concerning individuals’adoption/rejection/adaptation of technologies and policy measures, and the influence of perceptions and expectations on their decisions. Sarah has participated in European and UK research programmes and consultancy projects in rural and community development. She recently co-ordinated and submitted a 9-partner Expression of Interest on ICT-related rural development to the European Commission for Framework VI funding. She is also co-researcher with Martyn Warren on two innovative rural ICT projects (see below), and is also carrying out research in Northumberland (UK) to examine a market town’s initiative towards incorporation of ICT within their own regeneration strategy. These projects include examination of perceptions and realities of the rural-urban digital divides, and their specific implications for social exclusion from the information society, and for issues relating to Local Government OnLine (LGOL). In addition, Dr Skerratt will be a Visiting Associate at the NIRSA (National Institute for Regional & Spatial Analysis, Ireland) in 2003, examining the implications of the Irish Government’s broadband roll-out programme for rural areas. She is a specialist in qualitative research methods. In the most recent EU project, she co-ordinated a qualitative data analysis Workpackage across several countries to produce a comparative data set of rural micro-business decision-making processes in response to government policy. Sarah Skerratt is an active member of RuralnetUK, the Rural Economy and Society Study Group, and the European Society for Rural Sociologists. She has extensive experience in co-ordinating group and team work, and has successfully convened conference workshops at both national and international level. (Affiliation & Address: CSR/CURDS/Business School. 10th Floor, Claremont Tower, University of Newcastle Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU. Tel: + 44 (0)191 222 8790 Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>) Martyn WARREN; Head of Department, Land Use and Rural Management: is recognised nationally and internationally as a specialist in rural micro-business management (most notably in agriculture), and has a track record of research into agricultural and rural use of ICT. Examples include his research into the SWARD project (South West Agricultural and Rural Development) where he highlighted that, in order to achieve collective business goals, rural businesses require effective communication with an internet user, thus emphasising the importance of communication networks in rural areas. Other research of relevance to this proposal is the AgriNet programme, which comprised an evaluation of mobile computer laboratories converted from secondhand minibuses. Further, Martyn has carried out longitudinal research over a period of years into the use/non-use of ICT within the agricultural sector of the SW of England; this is the only study of its kind in the UK, with key observations over time being invaluable to an increased understanding of the potential for ICT within the rural micro-business context. Most recently, Martyn is leading two research projects focusing on ICT in rural development: (1) Buckfastleigh Broadband -an investigation into the perceptions of a DTI-funded broadband initiative by the communities involved, and an evaluation of the potential and actual impacts of broadband on individuals, businesses, and community resources/potential; & (2) Virtual Villages -an investigation into why and how rural villages put themselves on the web, and the implications of these web-oriented processes for social inclusion, exclusion and rural community development.(Affiliation & Address: Land Use & Rural Management Department. University of Plymouth at Seale-Hayne. Newton Abbot. Devon. TQ12 6NQ. Tel: + 44 (0)1626 325673 Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>) By bshs-admin\|2017-11-10T09:59:15+00:00December 15th, 2010\|Conferences, Symposia & Workshops\|Comments Off on Communities and Technologies Conference: Workshop “Information & Communication Technology in rural communities -is the Net working?”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2039
__label__wiki	0.926484	0.926484	Biography – WILLISON, Sir JOHN STEPHEN – Volume XV (1921-1930) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography WILLISON, Sir JOHN STEPHEN, newspaperman, author, and businessman; b. 9 Nov. 1856 near Hills Green, Upper Canada, third child of Stephen Willison, a blacksmith, and Jane Abram; m. first 3 June 1885 Rachel Wood Turner (d. 19 Jan. 1925) in Tiverton, Ont., and they had two sons; m. secondly 10 April 1926 Marjory Jardine Ramsay MacMurchy* in Toronto; d. there 27 May 1927. After leaving school at 15, John Willison worked as a hired hand in Hills Green and later in the Whitby area near Greenwood, where he impressed the postmaster as “full of ambition.” The Toronto Globe and Liberal politics fascinated him, as did the library of the Greenwood Mechanics’ Institute. In his teens he was the assistant teacher at the local school. He clerked in stores in Stanton and Tiverton, and had his poetry and prose published in newspapers; turning to journalism, he joined the London Advertiser in 1881 before following editor John Cameron* to the Globe in 1883. Willison reported well enough from the Ontario legislature to be promoted in March 1886 to the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa, where he was drawn to the Liberals’ rising Quebec star, Wilfrid Laurier. They became friends, with a common love of politics and literature. In June 1887 Edward Blake gave up the Liberal leadership and Willison boldly supported Laurier, forging a powerful alliance. He told Laurier he would perform “any service” to help the party win Ontario. During the explosive Jesuit estates controversy in 1889, although he loathed the Parti National of Quebec premier Honoré Mercier, which supported the Liberals, he assured Globe readers in a feature article that the Catholic Laurier was “a Liberal in every conviction of his mind.” As part of a restructuring by Globe president Robert Jaffray, Willison, with Laurier’s support, replaced Cameron as editor in 1890, though the more experienced, but mercurial, Edward Farrer* took charge of the editorial page. Farrer drew fire during the election of 1891 when the pamphlet he had allegedly written on how Canada could be pressured into union with the United States was leaked to Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, who delightedly denounced “veiled treason” at the Globe. Meanwhile, Willison prevented publication of Blake’s condemnation of Laurier’s policy of unrestricted reciprocity until after the election. The Liberals lost (but not disastrously), Farrer departed in July 1892, and Willison’s ascendancy at the Globe was confirmed. By the mid 1890s he had assembled a gifted staff of expert editorialists and writers, including the pro-labour radical John Lewis, municipal affairs specialist Thomas Stewart Lyon, and economics analyst Samuel Thomas Wood. In December 1895 Thomas Charles Patteson, a thorough Tory who had edited the Toronto Mail in the 1870s, told Willison that the Globe was “certainly now the best paper . . . ever published in Canada. Temperate in its comment, and vigorous in all departments.” Patteson was sure that “the converts or waverers made by the Globe’s style of comment are ten times as numerous . . . as those made by the old style of polemical writing.” Willison’s reputation would soar during the election of 1896 as the Liberals found safe footing in trade protection and the case for provincial rights in the controversy over Manitoba’s abolition of public funding for Catholic schools [see Thomas Greenway]. Willison opposed any federal interference. Laurier, worried about Catholic Quebec, complained to him in 1895 about his “altogether . . . too absolute” editorials. Willison responded that Ontario “will destroy any party that attempts arbitrary interference with Manitoba.” When the governing Tories, under the ageing Sir Charles Tupper, tried to restore Catholic school rights early in 1896, the Globe backed Laurier’s proposal of a negotiated compromise. Electoral victory came in June to the Liberals, who tied the Conservatives in Ontario, and the Globe’s circulation rose to dizzy heights. Willison increasingly articulated an imperialist nationalism. In 1888 he had told Laurier that he was “strongly Canada first” and he even led the Toronto Young Men’s Liberal Club, of which he was president, to vote for Canadian independence. As editor of the Globe, however, he moved in high intellectual and social circles that were generally imperialist. In his memoirs he would remember that “no one gave me wiser counsel” than Principal George Monro Grant* of Queen’s College in Kingston, who, as the Globe put it, promoted “that habit of thought” which saw Canada as a “factor” in the world as part of the British empire. Willison’s friendship with George Taylor Denison, president of the Canadian branch of the British Empire League, was helped by their shared views on corruption and by the new commercial policy the Liberals had adopted in 1893 – “freer” trade with Britain and the United States. In 1896 American tariff pressures caused Willison to conclude, in a speech to the National Club, that Canada would have to “lean upon our Imperial relationships.” Then came the party’s adroit imperial-preference budget [see William Stevens Fielding] and Laurier’s lionization in the summer of 1897 at the celebration of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. Willison told the Globe from London in October that Canada was “at last the favorite child of the empire,” but a year later he would celebrate the “firmly self-reliant mood” of a nation of destiny. Soon enough, however, imperialism showed its divisive side. In October 1899 war broke out in South Africa between the Boers and Britain. The Globe argued that the dominion’s dispatch of troops would be “a national declaration of Canada’s stake in the British Empire.” Privately Willison told the prime minister that “he would either send troops or go out of office.” A contingent went, and Laurier was attacked as too imperialist in Quebec and as “not British enough” in Ontario. Willison’s prestige was growing enormously. In March 1900 he was elected president of the Canadian Press Association and in May he became a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Liberal party: a political history was published in Toronto in 1903. Sometimes brilliant but devoid of critical analysis, it draws upon Hansard and newspapers, and is infused with Willison’s detailed knowledge of Liberalism and flattering admiration. He praises Laurier’s “patient and courageous resistance to the denationalizing tendencies of racialism, sectarianism, and provincialism.” Reviews were commendatory – the Canadian Magazine (Toronto) lauded the study as “the greatest biography yet produced in this country.” In 1903 Willison was elected an officer of the Canadian Society of Authors and three years later Queen’s awarded him an lld. Party journalism, however, had begun to frustrate him. He was embarrassed in 1897 when his editorial support for the extension of the Canadian Pacific Railway became linked to efforts by Globe proprietors Jaffray and George Albertus Cox* to profit from deals on railway lands in British Columbia. The following year Ontario’s Liberal premier, Arthur Sturgis Hardy, berated him for his even-handed election coverage. In January 1900 a Globe manifesto called for an independent railway commission, reform of the Senate and the civil service, and a judicial redistribution of seats in the House of Commons, measures that Laurier criticized as “advanced radicalism.” Willison would recall that “as far back as 1897 he said to me ‘I wish the Globe would stop urging reforms. Reforms are for Oppositions. It is the business of governments to stay in office.’” When Liberals attacked him for his fair treatment of the Conservatives in the election of 1900, he exploded in a letter to cabinet minister Clifford Sifton: “Personally I resent the assumption of every Liberal politician that I am his hired man.” Salvation came in the summer of 1902 when Joseph Wesley Flavelle, the Toronto pork packer and financier, promised to finance a paper in which Willison could express his views without interference. The Toronto Evening News was secured, and on 28 November Willison left the Globe. His first editorial, which appeared on 19 Jan. 1903, announced “an independent course in politics,” but this goal proved elusive. In March, Willison chastised the Ontario Liberals for bribing an opposition mla to join them, and by early 1905 he had helped hound them from office. Federally the News had supported Conservative leader Robert Laird Borden* in 1904 for promoting national ownership as an alternative to Laurier’s private-sector project for a second transcontinental railway. Sectarian controversy broke out the following year when Laurier revealed his plan to entrench Catholic separate-school rights for the new provinces to be carved out of the North-West Territories. Willison wanted full provincial autonomy and he had told Laurier so in June 1904: this “was my position on the Manitoba question and I do not see how it is possible to take any other position with respect to the Territories.” In March 1905 the News denounced the bills creating Alberta and Saskatchewan as “a great betrayal of Liberal principles” and many Liberals agreed, causing the prime minister to compromise. Only religious education within essentially public schools, which had existed under territorial ordinances, was to be tolerated in the new provinces, but Willison was not mollified. He explained to a friend that he had written his book on Laurier largely to celebrate the leader’s “devotion to the federal principle and his resolute resistance to clerical interference in education.” When Laurier had “turned squarely in the other direction,” Willison had been obliged to oppose or “I would have been a joke from one end of the country to the other.” Days of trouble began for the News as the populist Toronto Daily Star drew even in circulation in 1905 and then surged ahead, draining away much advertising. In 1907 Flavelle put an extra $50,000 into the paper, but financial markets plummeted and he decided he had to sell. Willison could find no other backer. His attacks on William Mackenzie’s Toronto Railway Company and, in the debate over the public ownership of electricity in Ontario [see Sir Adam Beck], his reluctance to abandon private enterprise only brought the News discredit. He talked with Laurier about a return to the Globe but this could not be sorted out. In 1908 Ontario premier James Pliny Whitney* arranged for the purchase of the News by a Tory syndicate led by Francis Cochrane. Willison would be president and editor, but real control rested with the syndicate. Flavelle’s penny-pinching illusions and then the syndicate’s demand for slavish partisanship undoubtedly contributed to the paper’s weakness and tedious moralizing, along with Willison’s tendency to hope against hope that things would improve. The war too may have reduced the ability of the News to assemble capital. “I cannot go on as I have gone on for twelve years,” Willison told John Dowsley Reid in 1916. “We have wasted tens of thousands of dollars by producing a poor paper.” Some outlets for independence had continued. Willison was a highly informed speaker on public affairs, and he remained in demand. He was still a correspondent in Canada for the London Morning Post, a position he had been invited to accept in 1905. On the nomination of Governor General Lord Grey and Laurier, in 1908 he became the Canadian correspondent of the pre-eminent London Times. Willison assured Laurier that he would be abstaining there from utterances bearing “partisan interpretation.” A great national crisis arose when American-Canadian negotiations led to the sudden announcement in parliament in January 1911 of a comprehensive agreement on reciprocal trade. Willison, who had embraced moderate protection, recorded in the Times on 28 January “an undercurrent of unrest and dissatisfaction in financial and business circles” in Toronto. Within days the News articulated the basic case against the agreement. For markets that were possibly illusory, and which the United States could take away, Canada was to “imperil our whole national experiment” by undercutting its east-west rail and financial networks, transcontinental and cross-Atlantic trade, and British investment. “Practically . . . we commercially annex the Canadian West to the United States,” the News continued, with even the manufacturing sector made hostage. In sum, “we strengthen all the influences towards continentalism and risk the sacrifice both of a young nation and an ancient Empire.” Flavelle would tell Willison that the subsequent opposition merely enlarged upon his points. In February, Willison reached out to his unparalleled network of Liberal friends – he worked mainly with Clifford Sifton and banker Sir Byron Edmund Walker – to put together the “Toronto Eighteen,” a group of prominent businessmen who totally rejected the agreement. Willison then went to Ottawa, accompanied by Zebulon Aiton Lash, one of the 18, to meet with Sifton and Robert Borden to arrange (as Willison recorded) “a basis of co-operation” with the Conservatives. The reciprocity agreement met with filibuster in the commons, and Laurier called an election for September. Willison and Sifton wrote Borden’s campaign manifesto using Willison’s “parting of the ways” phraseology, and Borden won a majority. In Toronto thousands of revellers surrounded the News building crying “Willison, Willison.” As 1911 closed, his reputation had never been greater; in the New Year’s honours list of 1913 he was awarded a knighthood. During the early years of Borden’s government, Willison worried that Canada’s hesitations about naval defence and British delays on trade preferences impeded real progress in the reconciliation of national and imperial dreams. During the “naval scare” in 1909, over Germany’s threat to Britain’s supremacy, he had supported bipartisan resolutions for the “speedy” beginning of a Canadian navy, though, like other imperialists, he had wanted a special contribution of two Dreadnoughts for Britain. In late 1912 Borden delayed development of a Canadian navy and proposed three Dreadnoughts, but the Liberal Senate refused. Willison would lament the partisanship on both sides. On British resistance to preference, he noted for the Times in 1913 Canada’s “intense concern,” which he also expressed in the London-based imperialist journal the Round Table. After the empire went to war in August 1914, Willison became embattled on several fronts. He and the other Canadian members of the Round Table movement [see Edward Joseph Kylie] insisted that Britain share direction of foreign and defence policy with the matured dominions, thus contradicting the more centralist prescriptions of the movement’s London leader, Lionel George Curtis. In Canada, with military victory in doubt in 1916 and voluntary enlistments lagging, pressure built for a union or coalition government. For months the News pilloried Laurier as a hostage to the Nationalistes in Quebec and strongly advised Borden not to agree to the union idea. But after meeting with him in February 1917, Willison hinted in the News that coalition might be necessary after all. Then, in May, Borden adopted conscription, stirring many English Canadian Liberals, including Ontario leader Newton Wesley Rowell, to press Laurier to join with Borden. Laurier refused, but Willison, having resigned in June from the News, its financial situation beyond salvation, acted for Borden to help bring Rowell aboard. When western Liberals came too [see Arthur Lewis Watkins Sifton], the coalition was constructed. The Union government then sought a mandate. Willison, with Sir Clifford Sifton, wrote Borden’s election address of 12 November, and he served as chief coordinator of publicity in the campaign that led to a landslide victory in December. After 1917 Willison mixed achievements and disappointments. Known for his chairmanship in 1914–16 of the Ontario commission on unemployment, in 1918 he was made head of the Ontario Housing Committee, which unsuccessfully urged federal funding. In addition, on the invitation of business leaders, he served as president of the Canadian Reconstruction Association from 1918 to 1922, but he could not bridge the divisions between business, labour, and agrarian interests. As a member in 1920–21 of the Ontario royal commission on university finances, he felt that the new United Farmers government was not inclined to be generous. Willison himself was a trustee of Queen’s University, and a governor of both the University of Toronto and Upper Canada College. At the national level he was at odds in 1918–20 with Borden, who was bent on Canadian autonomy, and in the 1920s with the new Liberal leader, William Lyon Mackenzie King, who also opposed imperial policies. As an imperialist nationalist, Willison complained to a friend that “those who hold my view seem to have been deserted.” In 1919 his Reminiscences, political and personal was published in Toronto. Rich in opinion on journalism and politics, especially before 1900, the book returns in a final chapter (“Laurier and the empire”) to imperialist musings. “No one who knew Laurier could believe that he was an Imperialist,” Willison stated. He pointed out, however, that the late prime minister had had no quarrel with Britain and noted his work for British preference, his shipment of troops to South Africa, and his belief in Canada’s “obligation for naval defence.” The autobiography was certainly not as current as Willison’s speeches and publications for the Reconstruction Association. Augustus Bridle probably spoke for many when he said in The masques of Ottawa (Toronto, 1921) that Willison should “stop writing Reconstruction bulletins and do something of more value to the country, so that the older enthusiasm of men who used to think he was Canada’s greatest editor may not altogether die.” In 1923 Willison began a biography of Sir George Robert Parkin and in 1925 he added some chapters to his biography of Laurier. A last hurrah was Willisons Monthly, a stylish newsmagazine started that year in Toronto, but with Willison’s death in 1927 there was no time to see what lasting impact it could have under his direction. Compared with Willison’s public record, personal information on him and his family is slight. He was an avid clubman and lawn bowler, a Prohibitionist, and a Methodist turned Anglican. Beyond journalism, he had business interests in the 1920s as president of the Municipal Bankers’ Corporation Limited, Mortgage, Discount and Finance Limited, and Canadian Rail and Harbour Terminals Limited, as a co-founder with bond-broker Thomas A. Neeley of the financing firm Willison-Neeley Corporation, and as a director of the Western Canada Colonization Association. Willison’s first wife had been a founder of the Toronto Ladies’ Club in 1904, a councillor of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, and a wartime president of the Canadian National Ladies’ Guild for British and Foreign Sailors. Their twin sons both became journalists; one, William Taylor, was killed in France in 1916. Just a year after Willison’s remarriage, to Marjory MacMurchy, a former literary editor at the News and an accomplished writer, he died of cancer at age 70. Willison had major champions as well as detractors. Many Liberals could never forgive his turn against Laurier. In July 1927 King told his diary that the editor had been “a tory snob in his behaviour, tho’ he had within him qualities that might have made him a truly great man.” Writing in the Dalhousie Review (Halifax), educationist Arthur Hugh Urquhart Colquhoun remembered “a formidable antagonist and a pillar of strength in the storm. So men of all sorts sought his counsel in an emergency, trusting to his balanced judgment, his unique experience and his incorruptible integrity.” Self-educated, very much self-promoting, and widely admired, although he surely faced more criticism, rivalry, and jealousy than uncritical acclaim, Willison rose on the strength of his abilities to become an advocate for major national causes and a close counsellor to Laurier and Borden, astonishingly across the Liberal-Conservative divide and over three decades of rapidly changing conditions, issues, and ideas. Sir John Willison was one of the most influential English-speaking journalists in Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and a pivotal figure in national political shifts in 1896, 1911, and 1917. With his incisive pen and clear reasoning, he raised the Globe to unprecedented prominence. Although he failed to find sustainability for the News as a journalist-centred, independent newspaper, he used it effectively as a vehicle for the expression of his large ideas for 14 years. For two highly eventful decades in British-Canadian relations he interpreted Canada brilliantly for the Times. His history of Laurier and his Reminiscences constituted major literary achievements. In all its facets, his career powerfully touched and expressively reflected the evolution of Canada’s nationhood. Richard T. Clippingdale Sir John Stephen Willison apparently destroyed virtually all of his private family correspondence, but there are collections of other Willison papers at the AO (F 1083) and the LAC (MG 30, D29). The AO holdings also contain two biographical manuscripts, one an insightful memoir by Lady Willison, the other a long letter to her from historian Jesse Edgar Middleton* that appears to be the text of a speech (presumably by Middleton) to the Canadian Literature Club in Toronto on 1 Oct. 1928. The only published biography is A. H. U. Colquhoun, Press, politics and people: the life and letters of Sir John Willison, journalist and correspondent of the “Times” (Toronto, 1935). Rather than an objective analysis, it is an admiring tribute by a friend and journalistic contemporary who allowed Willison to be his own biographer by speaking through his letters. Newspaperman John Wesley Dafoe* characterized it as “a careful blend of biography and quotation.” Willison’s publications include: Agriculture and industry . . . (Toronto, [1920?]); Anglo-Saxon amity ([Toronto?, 1906?]); The new Canada: a survey of the conditions and problems of the dominion (London, [1912]); Partners in peace: the dominion, the empire and the republic (Toronto, 1923); The railway question in Canada . . . (Toronto, [1897]); Sir George Parkin: a biography (London, 1929); Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Liberal party: a political history (2v., Toronto, 1903); and The United States and Canada (New York, 1908). AO, RG 80-5-0-132, no.1588; RG 80-8-0-982, no.1347; RG 80-8-0-1051, no.4037. Globe & Mail Library (Toronto), M. O. Hammond, “History of the Globe,” ed. H. W. Charlesworth (typescript). LAC, MG 26, G; H; J13, 17 July 1927. QUA, Joseph Flavelle fonds. Times Arch. (London, Eng.), New Printing House Square papers, Willison file. Evening News (Toronto), 1902–17. Globe, 1883–1902, esp. 9 June 1885; 20, 22 Jan. 1925; 10, 12–13 April 1926. Morning Post (London, Eng.), 1906–8. Times (London), 1908–27. Toronto Daily Star, 1905; 26 Oct. 1935. Réal Bélanger, Wilfrid Laurier; quand la politique devient passion (Québec et Montréal, 1986). Carl Berger, The sense of power; studies in the ideas of Canadian imperialism, 1867–1914 (Toronto and Buffalo, N.Y., 1970). Michael Bliss, A Canadian millionaire: the life and business times of Sir Joseph Flavelle, bart., 1858–1939 (Toronto, 1978). R. C. Brown, Robert Laird Borden: a biography (2v., Toronto, 1975–80). R. C. Brown and Ramsay Cook, Canada, 1896–1921: a nation transformed (Toronto, 1974). Canadian annual rev., 1902–25/26. H. W. Charlesworth, Candid chronicles: leaves from the note book of a Canadian journalist (Toronto, 1925). R. T. Clippingdale, “J. S. Willison and Canadian nationalism, 1886–1902,” CHA, Hist. Papers (1969): 74–93; “J. S. Willison, political journalist: from liberalism to independence, 1881–1905” (phd thesis, 2v., Univ. of Toronto, 1970). A. H. U. Colquhoun, “Sir John Willison,” Dalhousie Rev. (Halifax), 7 (1927–28): 159–62. Ramsay Cook, The politics of John W. Dafoe and the “Free Press” (Toronto and Buffalo, 1963). Carman Cumming, Secret craft: the journalism of Edward Farrer (Toronto, 1992). J. W. Dafoe, Clifford Sifton in relation to his times (Toronto, 1931); Laurier; a study in Canadian politics (Toronto, 1922; repr., intro. M. S. Donnelly, 1963). Domino [Augustus Bridle], “A coat of many colours: Sir John Willison,” in his The masques of Ottawa (Toronto, 1921), 166–72. J. E. Kendle, The Round Table movement and imperial union (Toronto and Buffalo, 1975). J. E. Middleton and Fred Landon, The province of Ontario: a history, 1615–1927 (5v., Toronto, 1927–[28]), 4: 509–10. H. V. Nelles, The politics of development: forests, mines & hydro-electric power in Ontario, 1849–1941 (Toronto, 1974). Margaret Prang, N. W. Rowell, Ontario nationalist (Toronto and Buffalo, 1975). Round Table (London), 1910–16. Paul Rutherford, A Victorian authority: the daily press in late nineteenth-century Canada (Toronto, 1982). Joseph Schull, Laurier: the first Canadian (Toronto, 1965). Minko Sotiron, From politics to profits: the commercialization of Canadian daily newspapers, 1890–1920 (Montreal and Kingston, 1997). P. B. Waite, Canada, 1874–1896: arduous destiny (Toronto and Montreal, 1971). Who’s who in Canada, 1922. Office Holders Communications – Publishing Politicians – Activists Communications – Newspapers and magazines – Journalists North America – Canada – Ontario – Southwest BORDEN, Sir ROBERT LAIRD (Vol. 16)CAMERON, JOHN, (1843-1908) (Vol. 13)FARRER, EDWARD (Vol. 14)FLAVELLE, Sir JOSEPH WESLEY (Vol. 16)GREY, ALBERT HENRY GEORGE, 4th Earl GREY (Vol. 14)HARDY, ARTHUR STURGIS (Vol. 13)JAFFRAY, ROBERT (Vol. 14)KYLIE, EDWARD JOSEPH (Vol. 14)More LAURIER, Sir WILFRID (baptized Henry-Charles-Wilfrid) (Vol. 14)ROWELL, NEWTON WESLEY (Vol. 17)WHITNEY, Sir JAMES PLINY (Vol. 14)WOOD, SAMUEL THOMAS (Vol. 14)BECK, Sir ADAM (Vol. 15)BLAKE, EDWARD (Vol. 14)COCHRANE, FRANCIS (Vol. 14)COX, GEORGE ALBERTUS (Vol. 14)DENISON, GEORGE TAYLOR (1839-1925) (Vol. 15)FIELDING, WILLIAM STEVENS (Vol. 15)GRANT, GEORGE MONRO (Vol. 13)GREENWAY, THOMAS (Vol. 13)KING, WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE (Vol. 17)LASH, ZEBULON AITON (Vol. 14)MACDONALD, Sir JOHN ALEXANDER (Vol. 12)MACKENZIE, Sir WILLIAM (Vol. 15)MERCIER, HONORÉ (Vol. 12)PARKIN, Sir GEORGE ROBERT (Vol. 15)REID, JOHN DOWSLEY (Vol. 15)SIFTON, ARTHUR LEWIS WATKINS (Vol. 15)SIFTON, Sir CLIFFORD (Vol. 15)TUPPER, Sir CHARLES (Vol. 14)WALKER, Sir BYRON EDMUND (Vol. 15)BERTRAM, GEORGE HOPE (Vol. 12)BLAIR, ANDREW GEORGE (Vol. 13)BUNTING, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM (Vol. 12)DALE, WILLIAM (Vol. 15)DUNCAN, SARA JEANNETTE (Cotes) (Vol. 15)FRASER, CHRISTOPHER FINLAY (Vol. 12)GLASGOW, ROBERT POLLOCK (Vol. 15)HANNA, WILLIAM JOHN (Vol. 14)HERRING, FRANCES ELIZABETH (Vol. 14)KRIBS, LOUIS P. (Vol. 12)McCARTHY, D’ALTON (Vol. 12)McINTYRE, JAMES (Vol. 13)MILLS, DAVID (Vol. 13)MOWAT, Sir OLIVER (Vol. 13)NANTON, Sir AUGUSTUS MEREDITH (Vol. 15)OSLER, BRITTON BATH (Vol. 13)ROBERTSON, JOHN ROSS (Vol. 14)ROSS, Sir GEORGE WILLIAM (Vol. 14)SHORTT, EMILY ANN McCAUSLAND (Cummings) (Vol. 15)VAN HORNE, Sir WILLIAM CORNELIUS (Vol. 14) LAURIER, Sir WILFRID (baptized Henry-Charles-Wilfrid) BLAKE, EDWARD MERCIER, HONORÉ JAFFRAY, ROBERT MACDONALD, Sir JOHN ALEXANDER WOOD, SAMUEL THOMAS GREENWAY, THOMAS TUPPER, Sir CHARLES GRANT, GEORGE MONRO DENISON, GEORGE TAYLOR (1839-1925) FIELDING, WILLIAM STEVENS COX, GEORGE ALBERTUS HARDY, ARTHUR STURGIS SIFTON, Sir CLIFFORD FLAVELLE, Sir JOSEPH WESLEY BORDEN, Sir ROBERT LAIRD MACKENZIE, Sir WILLIAM BECK, Sir ADAM WHITNEY, Sir JAMES PLINY COCHRANE, FRANCIS GREY, ALBERT HENRY GEORGE, 4th Earl GREY WALKER, Sir BYRON EDMUND LASH, ZEBULON AITON KYLIE, EDWARD JOSEPH ROWELL, NEWTON WESLEY SIFTON, ARTHUR LEWIS WATKINS KING, WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE PARKIN, Sir GEORGE ROBERT BERTRAM, GEORGE HOPE BUNTING, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM FRASER, CHRISTOPHER FINLAY McCARTHY, D’ALTON BLAIR, ANDREW GEORGE McINTYRE, JAMES MILLS, DAVID MOWAT, Sir OLIVER OSLER, BRITTON BATH HANNA, WILLIAM JOHN ROBERTSON, JOHN ROSS ROSS, Sir GEORGE WILLIAM VAN HORNE, Sir WILLIAM CORNELIUS DUNCAN, SARA JEANNETTE (Cotes) NANTON, Sir AUGUSTUS MEREDITH Richard T. Clippingdale, “WILLISON, Sir JOHN STEPHEN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 15, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed July 15, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/willison_john_stephen_15E.html. Permalink: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/willison_john_stephen_15E.html Author of Article: Richard T. Clippingdale Title of Article: WILLISON, Sir JOHN STEPHEN Publication Name: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 15	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2044
__label__cc	0.572455	0.427545	A Grade A rip-off By Matthew Bazell, author of 'Theatre Of Silence: The Lost Soul of Football' Many of you reading this will be on a daily wage of somewhere between £63 and £103. If so, please contemplate how your typical working day goes, along with the hassle of travel. Your reward for that day’s shift is being able to afford one Grade A game of football at the Emirates. It might be a good match, it might not be. Either way you’ll have to sacrifice a whole day’s income to be there. How did we get to this point? I wonder if the newer breed of fan realises that Arsenal, traditionally, were a great value football club. Some of them would probably be surprised to learn that a season ticket to the North Bank terrace at the start of the 1990s wasn’t that far off the £103 mark. Even by 1998, a ticket to watch Arsenal play a perceived Grade A club could be purchased for £14 with the highest priced ticket in the region of £45. My Dad used to take me to the odd away game in London during the late 1980s and early 1990s; you’d notice that admission elsewhere was dearer than at Highbury. Parents today, who take their children to Arsenal home games, are not only faced with the highest ticket prices in the capital, but the entire country. Not that rest of the clubs in this land can be defended for their pricing structure. Are the BSM pointing the finger solely at Arsenal here? No, absolutely not – the prices our away fans are being charged is simply outrageous; £45 for Stoke, £49 for Man City, £50 for West Ham, the list goes on with Spurs, Fulham and Chelsea set to top the list with prices of £60+. We’ve got to this point because the game is cleverly marketed as out-and-out entertainment; a bit like going to the theatre which is now commonly used as a comparison to football. Some of us take strong issue with that perception of the game’s culture, as we see football as a way of life, not a privilege where you have to pick and choose which games you go to. A comparison with an entertainment industry like theatre is deceptive for three reasons. Firstly, the very simple reason that theatre is actually cheaper than football! Okay, the most expensive tickets at a show will be comparable with Premier League prices, but the lowest prices are relatively affordable. For example, this summer I paid £20 to watch Danny De Vito star in a production at the Savoy theatre. As it turned out there were a few unsold tickets in the stalls so they upgraded me to the top seats for no extra charge. No football club would ever do such a thing for their loyal followers. Secondly, your chances of seeing a great show are far higher than seeing a great football match. West End productions are not just randomly released in hope that they are good. In general, the audience will leave the average show feeling great and any production that cannot provide a high degree of audience satisfaction will go bust in a matter of weeks. Most football clubs do not provide audience satisfaction the majority of the time. How entertaining was the Grade A priced 0-0 draw with Chelsea last season? In hindsight would you have paid even £5 to watch that lifeless stalemate? The third reason is that you don’t go to the theatre every week out of irrational blind loyalty. “You go to the show yesterday?” “Yeah it was shit” “Oh, you going next week?” “Yeah might as well. It’s been a crap production all year, but maybe next week it will improve” Would you sacrifice a day’s wages to watch a film? As far as good value for money goes, modern football just doesn’t provide it, especially when you base the cost of your ticket on other things you could have bought. Just think about how much music you could buy with funds of £62, or for the four figure price of a season ticket. That’s a lot of music and hours of entertainment. Also take into consideration that if you were disappointed with a choice of purchase you made, a shop like HMV will allow you to take the product back so that you can exchange it. If football clubs had a similar policy, then the game between Arsenal v Chelsea last season would have had 60,000 refunds.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2046
__label__cc	0.538635	0.461365	The National or the Skip 14 October 2016 By teamcas Christopher Page, Mist, 2016. Oil and acrylic on wall, 193 x 112 cm, 193 x 181 cm, 193 x 112 cm Mamali Shafahi Matthew Monahan Mehraneh Atashi Naïmé Perrette Richard Woods I would like to recommend a show in an unusual location; an abandoned 19th century mansion-turned-hotel that features elements of English Baroque, French Mannerism and Art Deco. The Averard Hotel is just off Lancaster Gate and will soon be converted into a series of apartments. In a state of dereliction, it has been transformed into a setting where visitors can navigate through its rooms to discover a space scattered with videos, paintings and sculptures. This exhibition by Slate Projects – Alex Meurice’s itinerant London-based project space – has involved Matt Mottahedan. Don’t expect a conventional white cube space, or a traditional picture hanging, the artworks will be your guide through a trail across the two floors of the building. As you pass from room to room you may question if some are indeed artworks or part of the building’s deteriorating fabric. This ambiguity is at the core of the exhibition concept. The National or the Skip is a title inspired by something Francis Bacon once said to David Sylvester: “if my paintings didn’t belong in the National Gallery, they were destined for the skip.” Visitors to the Averard Hotel might ask whether the same stark contrast between the famed and forgotten is relevant to the artists exhibited, working as they do across a wide range of different practices. From established artists like Richard Woods (b.1966) or Nathaniel Mellors (b. 1974), winner of the Contemporary Art Society’s Annual Award in 2015, right through to relative newcomers, the artists in this show are never forced into awkward dialogue with one another. Instead there is a strong sense that each has invested in an engagement with the decay that surrounds them. On the ground floor, French-Algerian Neïl Beloufa (b. 1985) presents one of his first videos, originally exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2013, within an immersive viewing space. Following this in a larger reception room are sculptures by Los Angeles-based Matthew Monahan (b.1972), works that recall medieval figures and demand careful obserservation. On one of the walls in this room is a mirror painting by Christopher Page (b.1984), an exquiste work that seems to have been left over from the original hotel, suggesting both an intimate and redundant relationship to its surrondings. Indeed, some artists have used the hotel to stress the ambiguity of the location as an idea: Iranian Mamli Shafahi (b. 1982) chose to construct a dark dungeon, a perfect setting for his new installation, while Pietro Roccasalva’s (b. 1970) small marble plaque is cleverly set within a stripped wall, adding a visual layering which suggests an archeological ruin that has survived the destruction of the building it inhabits. Similarly, the bricks of Richard Woods (b. 1966) are architectural interventions that the artist placed himself along the walls, merging constructive elements into the construction itself. By taking the large stairway up to the first floor, you might wonder what other surprising juxtapositions can be found in the exhibition. Indeed, the encounter between Nathaniel Mellors’ video with Naïmé Perrette’s (b. 1989) collaged images, sandwiched between plexiglass, certainly builds on the atmosphere of curiosity and exploration that this show has. Do take some time to enter these last rooms. Three large frescoed walls by painter Christopher Page, Mist (2016), create the impression of foggy night skies. Lucio Dalla once said that “when you are with me the room has no walls and becomes a sky”, a sentiment Page has transposed upon a wall. Checking into the Averard Hotel is to encounter a remarkable number of different atmospheres. This exhibition is runs only for a few weeks, until the 23 October, so I hope you have a chance to enjoy it. Dr Ilaria Puri Purini Programmes Manager The Averard Hotel, 10 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3LH. Open Thursday – Sunday 12.00-18.00, and by appointment. Exhibition continues until Sunday 23 October 2016. Curator’s Talk on Saturday 15 October at 14.30. www.slateprojects.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2051
__label__wiki	0.854182	0.854182	Praxis Capital to Expand Apartment Portfolio; Focus on Southern, Western U.S. The Santa Rosa, Calif., private-equity firm hopes to acquire 8,000 multifamily units in the next three years. It is pursuing class-B and -C properties, with at least 100 units each, in the southeast, southwest and western United States that were built in the 1970s and 1980s. It is particularly bullish on the Atlanta area. Praxis Capital Inc., which launched in 2001 with a focus on single-family rental homes, is expanding its presence in the multifamily sector. The Santa Rosa, Calif., private-equity firm owns eight apartment properties with about 2,000 units in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Texas, but it hopes to add 8,000 units in the next three years. It will pursue mostly class-B and -C properties, with at least 100 units each, in the southeast, southwest and western United States that were built in the 1970s and 1980s. The company still owns a portfolio of single-family rental homes, however it has been liquidating most of those properties. It also buys residential condominium buildings, in which it renovates and sells individual units. But these days it's primarily focusing on apartment properties. It has identified Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando and Tampa, Fla., as its key markets for multifamily...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2053
__label__cc	0.689449	0.310551	Pitt Develops “Fortress,” “Imperfectionists” Wednesday, June 2nd 2010 1:59 pm Through his deal at Reliance, Brad Pitt’s Plan B has scored the film rights to Tom Rachman’s journalism-themed novel “The Imperfectionists” reports Deadline New York. Set around an English-language newspaper in Rome, the novel explores the professional and personal lives of a group of oddball journos working against the odds and without modern technology. Rachman, a former Associated Press writer in Rome, based the book off his own experiences and covers the topics of both the collision of professional and personal lives, and the decline in daily print publications. Plan B’s also hired Alfonso Gomez-Rejon to both adapt and direct a film version of the Jonathan Lethem novel “The Fortress Of Solitude” about two teenage friends, one black and one white, who discover a magic ring. Spanning the 70’s to the 90’s, it explores issues of race, gentrification, self-discovery, and music. Gomez-Rejon has served as second unit director on numerous films in recent years including “State of Play,” “Babel,” “Julie and Julia” and the upcoming “Eat Pray Love” and “The Eagle of the Ninth”. Previous articleSturridge, Marsan Love Some “Junkhearts” Next articleCaptain America Costume Artwork	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2055
__label__cc	0.624997	0.375003	Spotlight Interview: Devon Gilbert Devon Gilbert: Associate, David Zwirner Double Major: Art History & Business and Enterprise Management with a Concentration in Arts Markets Minor: Studio Art Devon Gilbert took part in WFU programs such as Management in the Arts and the SUAAC ‘Art Buying Trip’ before graduating in 2017. He also took advantage of internships at SECCA, Cristin Tierney Gallery and Christie’s during undergrad. The Winston-Salem native walked us through his path to NYC, including some great networking tips. DeacLink: What did you study at Wake? Did your areas of study inform or drive your career path? Devon Gilbert: I was an Art History and BEM double major with with a concentration in Art Markets and a minor in Studio Art. In my sophomore year, I took the Management in the Visual Arts, a class that was co-taught by faculty in the School of business and the Art Department. Part of the course was a study tour to New York and it was there that I met the director of Finance at David Zwirner, James Morrill, a Wake alum and a co-owner of a gallery in the Lower East Side. When I was looking for job senior year, Leigh Ann Hallberg helped me reconnect with James. The timing worked out perfectly as the finance team at Zwirner was expanding and they were looking for a new member at a junior level. They needed someone with some accounting and finance knowledge who was interested in the business side of art, so that ended up being a perfect fit for me. One thing that was particularly important, in terms of learning about career paths in the art work and making connections, was networking. The Management in the Visual Arts class was more focused on the breadth of the art market, including all the facets of art industry in NY and I was able to learn about careers I’d never even been aware of. The art buying trip also allowed for good opportunities to connect and build rapport with people in the gallery industry that were not necessarily connected to Wake Forest. DL: Those sound like amazing opportunities. So, how did you find and apply to the various positions you’ve held that led up to your position at David Zwirner? Do you have any tips or suggestions for Wake students on networking, interviewing and applying for jobs especially in the art world? DG: The Summer before I came to Wake, I was an intern with the Registrar & Exhibitions Manager at SECCA. I grew up in Winston-Salem and had met the Registrar previously, so this connection helped, but this internship gave me my first taste of working in the arts. The next Summer I interned at the Mint Museum in Charlotte with the Advancement department, working with clients and donors. And I had an internship at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Since I wanted to work my way up to an internship at the Smithsonian, the Met, or MoMA before graduation, I was looking for internships that would help prepare me. I worked 2 days a week at the Mint, dealing with affiliate groups, members programs, and working to analyze data about memberships. I was at Reynolda House the other 3 days a week, with the education department. There I was learning about the house and the art, as well as giving tours. I also completed a research project and presentation on work selected from collection and analyzing it in context of piece of literature and music from same year. The summer between my sophomore and junior years, I interned with Cristin Tierney at her gallery in NY. I met Cristin during the Arts Management trip, but I was initially introduced to her through Allison Perkins, the Director of Reynolda House. When I was applying for that internship, she knew me and knew that I was interested in working in the arts, so my previous interactions with her definitely helped me. My last internship was at Christie’s in the 20-21st Century Decorative Art and Design group and the sale and photographs department. When I applied, I didn’t really know any alumni at Christie’s, but Cristin did help me by making a few introductions with her contacts from her time at Christie’s. In terms of tips for interviewing, I would say recommend that you always try to be authentic and let your genuine interest show. I think when we are preparing for an interview or deciding how to talk about ourselves, it’s easy for things to feel too rehearsed. As for networking, just go for it. In my experience, Wake alums are always interested in helping out students and fellow alums and I’ve always had great conversations with them. LinkedIn is really useful as well, for seeing what people are up to and for making that first connection. DL: Thank you for walking us through all those amazing internships! While looking back on these internships, is there anything you think Wake could have done better to prepare students for life after graduation? DG: The Business School requires an internship between Junior and Senior year which I think is a great thing. It would be great for the university to encourage that for everyone because it really does help you figure out what you want to do and it makes you more marketable for other internships or jobs down the road. There’s really no downside to having additional internships. Career services at Wake does the best they can with art/art history students and is still improving in this arena. Right now, art students have to make things happen for themselves which isn’t easy, but it is beneficial for the people who come out of it. But that’s part of the reason DeacLink exists, so arts alumni can help current students or recent grads. DL: In New York, what is the most interesting thing going on in the art scene there at the moment, in your opinion? DG: Working at Zwirner and being so plugged into the art world has given me access to an immense amount of art. New York really is the centerpiece of the global art world, so there are dozens of great shows happening at any given time. Especially if you like post-war and contemporary art, I think there really is no better place. There was a show at Pace a couple of months ago of Louise Nevelson sculptures. I am a huge fan of her work and Wake has one of her pieces in it’s collection. The Met Breuer had a phenomenal show of Edvard Munch paintings, which really displayed the breadth in his work. I also got to see Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi at Christie’s before the auction. Overall, I feel like I’ve been able to take advantage of all these amazing opportunities and I’ve gotten to see some really incredible works of art. DL: Wow, that sounds incredible! Do you have a favorite part about working for Zwirner? DG: There was a Richard Serra show opening earlier this year, and he (Serra) took the entire staff on a walk-through of the show. We got to talk about all the work including the sculptures and prints. Overall, it was such a rare opportunity where I was able to hear the artist talk about his work in person. I also really loved seeing the 25th anniversary show for Zwirner. I really got to see the history of the gallery and a lot of great work from all of our artists. It was amazing to see the arc of the gallery and our artists since its creation. DL: What’s next for you? DG: I was recently promoted to a new role within department, so I’m working on that transition. Right now I’m focused on my work at Zwirner. DL: Do you have any advice you would like to give to the readers? DG: Aside from internships and general networking, I would recommend getting to know your fellow students at Wake. I am still in contact with some of the Seniors from when I was a Freshman. I followed their example and they have helped me make a lot of connections. Other than that, just take advantage of all the opportunities you can at Wake! Tags devon gilbert, studio art minor, art history major, david zwirner, gallery associate, gallery, art gallery, new york city, nyc, new york, christies, cristin tierney, cristin tierney gallery, arts management course, secca Spotlight Interview: Caroline Perkins Caroline Perkins: Collector Relations Associate, Artsy Major: Art History Minor: Math Caroline Perkins came to Wake aiming for a degree in Business and Math... until a single Art History course changed her entire trajectory. Caroline recently spoke with us about her time at Wake, her current role at Artsy, and tips she's picked up along the way. DeacLink: Tell me about your path since graduating from Wake Forest. Caroline Perkins: I graduated in Spring 2016 and went straight to The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) for a paid internship in the museum’s education department. I was there for four and a half months, at which point they offered me a full time position. While opportunity provided me strong network of creative peers, I decided that I couldn’t commit to a year in a town with a population of 14,000, working a job that wouldn’t allow me to become economically independent. After a period of existential questioning, I decided it was time to move to New York. I started with a part-time job at Cristin Tierney’s gallery in Chelsea. After about a month of interviewing, I accepted a full time position at Artsy (around November 2016). I juggled both gigs for about six months until I reached a point where the 75 hour work week was a little too much! I continued on with my full-time role at Artsy, and have been there ever since. DL: Sounds like you really embraced the New York hustle mentality. Since joining Artsy, you’ve changed roles. Talk us through the progression. CP: I began as a Collector Support Specialist; however, at Artsy, job titles don’t mean too much. It feels like I’ve held four different roles already, although my formal title has only changed once. As a Collector Support Specialist, I managed Artsy’s support inbox, resolving questions and issues from everyone including users, buyers, galleries, and artists. The messages ranged from really important ones like, ‘I’m a collector who received a damaged artwork’ to ‘I’m locked out of my account and need to update my password’. Over time, I have been assigned projects more closely aligned with the art buying process for our gallery partners. I collaborate with our Engineering, Product, and Analytics teams to ensure that Artsy is the best place to learn about, buy, and sell art online. I specifically work to connect buyers with our 2,500+ gallery partners across 90+ countries to facilitate sales and to make art buying more accessible. More recently, we have been striving to create a seamless buying experience similar the models used by the majority of modern online marketplaces. DL: The world is certainly moving that way, with titans like Amazon leading the charge. Taking it back to undergrad, how much did your time at Wake inform or drive your career path? CP: I loved my time at Wake, and particularly loved the Art History department. I arrived at Wake thinking I’d major in Math and Business, but quickly realized that I didn’t click with the professors. I took an Art History course freshman year with Dr. Barnes titled ‘Dante, Giotto, and the Plague.’ It was the only AH course I could get into as a first-year, and I thought it would be the most boring class ever. To my surprise, I not only loved the course, but did well and grew close to Dr. Barnes. I declared my major early and interned at Reynolda House that summer in the Education Department. This was my first experience of working in a museum, and it was hugely impactful. I loved the team at Reynolda House, I continued working with the museum throughout my time at Wake. I joined their student committee, interned in the Development Department, and assisted with their public programming. Every semester, I tried to take as many Art History classes as possible. The most valuable of all experiences was definitely the Arts Management Course. I came out of it with the confidence and connections to make a run at the art world after graduation. I don’t think I would’ve considered coming to NYC if I hadn’t acquired so much knowledge from the AMC, as I personally had zero connections to the city prior to moving. The AMC granted me the ability to reach out to Cristin’s gallery, which was hugely important as my first work experience in the city. The ACC/IAC Grant process was also hugely impactful for me while at Wake. I’d encourage those who are still in undergrad to look into this program, as it is not well known. I wouldn’t have known about the grant if it weren’t for my Studio Art friend Kristi Chan who used the program to gain funding for a studio practice one summer. She encouraged me to propose my own project. At the time, I was still interested in pursuing a career in museum education. I submitted a proposal focused on learning the various in-gallery education practices employed at the Met, MoMA and Museum Hack (founded by fellow Wake alum Nick Gray). To my surprise, the committee quickly accepted my proposal. They direct-deposited funds within a month and turned me loose. It was my first time independently navigating New York City, which was a learning curve in itself. Lastly, Dr. Jay Curley’s Venice Biennale course was unbelievable and impactful for me as an undergrad. My mind was blown for the entire two weeks our class spent in Venice; I’d never before seen so much contemporary art. We were able to exercise our knowledge of theory and directly relate it to the artists’ practice, global politics, art production, the market and so forth. Living on the Grand Canal with friends for two weeks was also a dream! DL: How did you find and apply for the various positions you’ve held? Have you got any tips for those readers currently going through the application and interviewing process? CP: When it came to MASS MoCA, I actually was surprised to have been accepted. Considering I knew nobody in the actual program, I applied ‘cold’ online through their site. I only knew of the opportunity because a fellow Wake alum (Laurel McLaughlin) recommended it as one of the only paid internships in the arts that she knew of. I applied to three total positions at MASS MoCA after looking over their site. Outside of Laurel’s recommendation, I was scouring NYFA’s Classifieds constantly. I would apply to any post I felt was interesting and relevant, paid or unpaid, telling myself (after a tough patch of accepting this fact) breaking into the art world was going to be tough. The MASS MoCA fellowship was actually the only position I got before graduating, out of the 16 roles I applied for. I felt very lucky to have a place to go after graduating, in lieu of heading home. I did find my Artsy job through NYFA, despite not having connections there either. It felt like another lucky surprise to get an interview there. However, I did apply to Artspace at the same time as Artsy, which is their primary competitor. And I worked an albeit soft connection to Artspace (a Wake friend who’d previously interned for them) which did help get me in the running. So one tip, definitely use your connections even if they’re soft- and be shameless about it! Aside from perfecting the ‘light name-drop’, make sure to know about the company you’re interviewing with, and be sure to explain how you’ve come to know about them. It gets you on common ground faster, especially in my position where I had no connection to the person interviewing me. Find that 4th or 5th degree of connection and don’t be afraid to push that link. Last tip, and for me it’s a big one—keep your cover letter short! I was lucky to have friends from the MASS MoCA fellowship cross-check my resume and revamp it to be more visually compelling and concise. When it came to the cover letter, which is always going to be hard to write, I learned that keeping it pithy is notable and impressive for the person who ends up reading piles of them daily. I’m going through reading applications now at Artsy for our intern cycle and can understand from a new perspective now, people appreciate a short and powerful cover letter. DL: What could Wake have done to better prepare students for graduation? CP: I think the Arts Management Course should not only be open to more students as an opportunity, but could even become a mandatory experience for all art majors (AH or Studio). I wish it hadn’t been so exclusive, because without that class, I truly believe I wouldn't have a clue about how to carve out a career in the arts. I also wish there had been more crossover between the two majors in our department. I was so focused on Art History that I overlooked opportunities to collaborate with the people in our department making amazing work in the studios. Especially now I’m out of school, understanding an artist’s practice, why they make what they make and choose their materials and process is key to appreciating and working with the art objects themselves. I could’ve picked up so much more knowledge in the way of curating, installing/deinstalling, writing exhibition descriptions, and building ideas around theory and how it relates to what’s been made. Perhaps in the future the START and Hanes programs could facilitate a greater collaborative attitude or space between the Art History and Studio majors. DL: What is the best part of working at Artsy- give us the lowdown on cool perks! CP: Our offices are pretty cool! We work downtown on Canal Street, right near SoHo and Chinatown. Beyond location the actual office itself is beautiful, has a fully stocked kitchen, and really is a tech company through and through. The access we have to galleries, fairs, auction houses and other art world events is pretty great, thanks to Artsy’s partnerships. I was even able to travel to Miami this past Fall with access to all six major fairs. The biggest perk of the working experience at Artsy for me, is chances for collaboration with a group of seriously talented and smart people. Because Artsy covers so many areas, I have learned about structures of art fairs, to auction house practices, even picked up engineering and website design skills along the way. I have learned new ways to approach and solve problems, working alongside analytically minded people and picking up on how they tackle issues that face a marketplace we all genuinely care about. Also being able to put my Math minor skills to use has felt great; I love being able to use both sides of my brain in the same workday. Artsy’s core value as listed on our website is actually ‘Art x Science’- I can build my business acumen and make different business decisions because I get the numbers which is powerful in the conversation. DL: What and where is next for you? CP: I’m very happy here at Artsy and don’t see myself leaving anytime soon. I don’t ever see myself leaving the Art World in the larger career sense, but we’ll see what happens. Long term I’d love to open my own gallery and support artists more directly on a smaller scale. A lot of what I’m doing at Artsy helps me understand the business side of things, along with being able to meet and learn from a range of badass female gallery owners making it happen with their spaces in the present. I also hope to do a graduate degree at some point, but I find it hard to find too many mentors in the art world. I hope to keep finding others in their late 20s working in this field, to foster a sense of community and fellowship which is very important for growth. For now I’m focused on that- meeting more people in my field, especially more artists! DL: Have you got a final bit of advice for the readers today? CP: Listen to more artists! Find people who speak a similar visual language to you and advocate for it. Be aware of what language people in the art world use, because people talk about art in so many different ways. There’s a lot of power in being able to articulate what resonates with you on a personal and political level through art-driven discussions. Tags caroline perkins, perkins, artsy, nyc, new york city, art history, art history major, math minor, mass moca, cristin tierney gallery Spotlight Interview: Cristin Tierney Cristin Tierney: Gallerist Owner & Founder of Cristin Tierney Gallery WFU Graduate Everyone in the Wake Forest arts community knows the name Cristin Tierney. Blazing a trail into New York's renowned Chelsea district in 2010, Cristin established a presence with her eponymous contemporary gallery. We recently learned what drove her transition from Wake English major to NYC gallerist. DeacLink: How has your career unfolded since Wake? Cristin Tierney: It has been a long and winding path. I opened my gallery in 2010 after having an advisory business for a number of years and doing projects in the art world and art market. Opening a gallery was a bit of an absurd thing to do at that point in my life. But, my desire to do so had a lot to do with the fact I had never really worked with artists. When I was younger, I thought I wouldn’t want to do this, but one of the best parts of being in the art world is working with artists. And gallerists are the people that spend the most time with artists and help develop their careers. That fact greatly influenced my decision to open up the gallery. Thankfully I had a lot of work experiences and connections in the art world, which also enabled me to get started. DL: How did you go about building a client base as an art advisor? CT: I worked as a consultant to Christie’s in the education department for years, and I was able to do client development through education. People that are interested in collecting want to learn about art before they start buying it. Often, these people were non-degree students and weren’t working towards a Master’s. The Director of the education program had recognized that these people were potential clients for the auction house. Often, they were super intelligent, accomplished and financially comfortable people that were hungry for more information. If you took them on and helped them develop their eye, they could become your clients. I helped Christie’s do that for years, and then I started doing it for myself. I ran private seminars and helped people acquire art privately and not just at auction. In turn, that led to a lot of referrals. DL: How much did your time at Wake inform your career path? CT: At Wake, I was an English major. I had an interest in art when I was younger, but I wasn’t really aware that you could be an art historian. My desire to pursue a career in art history came rather late while I was overseas. Wake had a rigorous program in France that introduced me to careers in the arts beyond the museum world. I learned that in some places, art is part of everyday life and is fabricated into daily culture. Upon my return, the professors in the art department were very supportive when I asked for help and for more information. DL: What do you think is the hardest part about breaking into the gallery world? CT: I never worked at a gallery before I opened one, but you have to know people to get a job. When we advertise an entry-level position, we get tons of resumes. And because it is an entry-level role, there is no easy way to sift through. When you have a small staff, you are much more likely to go with someone you know or someone who’s been recommended by a person you trust. For the bigger galleries, they must get so many, and I have no idea how they can decide. These days, more people gravitate towards roles with bigger galleries. Most students graduate with debt, and they have expectations about the art world. They are not taking the risk on a smaller gallery, where they could be more hands on, because a place like Zwirner seems more stable. There’s a predictability, corporate nature, and structure at the big galleries. But, it is also harder to get your foot in the door there, and there is high turnover. DL: When you are hiring, what kind of technical skills you are looking for? CT: We are immediately interested in anyone who can use Photoshop or SketchUp. Basic technical computer skills are very important. Programs like that are routinely part of a job, and if you don’t have to train someone how to use them, then you are more likely to keep them on. We also need people who are active and engaged on social media and who understand the back end of web programming. Additional languages are also helpful in terms of playing in the global art scene. We deal a lot with Latin America, so Spanish is great for us specifically. DL: New York is known as the art capital of the world. Do you think it is a hard community to break into? What advice do you have for students that are considering a move here? CT: It depends on the person and their personality. Often, younger people come up here right out of school. For them, the most important thing to do is to develop a network of older people that can help out and recommend you for different roles. Also, students and recent grads should be developing a network with their peers. Often times, your friends can tell you about the different jobs available, especially if they are already working somewhere. But in general, you should support your peers and go to each other’s openings. When you have your first exhibition or curate your first show, your network of friends show up, and they in turn can bring their writer friends and help you get publicity. DL: What do you think Wake arts could do to better prepare students for life after graduation? CT: I think it would be good to introduce more art world professionals to students when they are younger. A limited amount of that happens now. However, it is hard. The center of the art world is New York, then it’s Los Angeles, but then you have to get people from those places to North Carolina. One of the reasons the Management in the Visual Arts class is so important is because it opens up people’s eyes and provides them with initial introductions. Continuing and expanding on the ideas of the program would be a great thing. DL: What’s the best kernel of advice you can think to pass on to current students and recent alums? CT: Take every opportunity, especially when you are young and don’t need to to sleep as much and aren’t addicted to creature comforts yet. Also, make sure you really belong to a community, and aren’t just there to leverage it. Tags cristin tierney, nyc, art gallery, gallerist, art dealer, art advisor, christie's, cristin tierney gallery, chelsea gallery, new york city, new york, art	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2059
__label__wiki	0.552431	0.552431	EUROPE/SPAIN - Missionaries from Madrid: 602 at work in 84 nations in all continents Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - The missionaries of the Archdiocese of Madrid, operating in 84 nations of the five continents, are currently 602 and belong to 122 religious institutes and congregations, as well as the clergy of the Archdiocese of Madrid. According to recent figures from the "Consejo Diocesano de Misiones" sent to Fides, there are 180 religious missionaries in Madrid and belong to 73 congregations, cloistered nuns are 6 out of 5 congregations, 124 religious out of 29 institutes, 76 are religious members of the diocesan clergy and 216 are of the religious clergy, of 15 congregations or institutes. Regarding the geographical distribution, the highest number of missionaries from Madrid, 338, carry out their work in America, where they are present in 25 countries: in first place Peru where 52 missionaries operate, followed by Mexico, Venezuela, United States. In Africa there are 68 missionaries who work in 21 countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia among the first for the number of missionaries present. In Europe, the missionaries from Madrid are 123, distributed in 21 countries: the first in France, then Italy, Portugal, Germany. In Asia 61 missionaries operate in 15 countries: in Japan there are 16, followed by the Philippines and China. Finally there are 12 missionaries of the Archdiocese of Madrid in Oceania: 10 in Australia and 2 in Guam (Micronesia). (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 14/07/2017)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2064
__label__cc	0.568784	0.431216	3rd December The events happened on 3rd December are : 1984 : Gas leak in Bhopal - India : On this day in 1984, a gas leak from a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, spread over a populated area, resulting ultimately in 15,000 to 20,000 deaths and leaving some half million survivors with chronic medical ailments. 2001 : The U.S. military announced that one of the last 80 Taliban prisoners who had surrendered on December 1 after the November uprising at a prison in Mazār-e Sharīf, Afghanistan, was a U.S. citizen, John Walker Lindh. 1967 : Christiaan Barnard of South Africa performed the first human heart transplant, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. 1895 : Anna Freud, a founder of child psychoanalysis and one of its foremost practitioners, was born in Vienna. 1861 : In a battle during the American Civil War, Federal troops ousted the Confederates from Salem, Missouri. 1854 : After hastily constructing a fortification and barricading themselves inside, miners (“diggers") working in the Eureka goldfield in Victoria, Australia, opened fire on government forces surrounding the stockade, the culmination of long-standing grievances on the part of the diggers. 1818 : Illinois was admitted as the 21st state of the United States of America. 1721 : German composer Johann Sebastian Bach married his second wife, Anna Magdalena Wilcken, daughter of a trumpeter at Weissenfels. 1552 : St. Francis Xavier, the leading Roman Catholic missionary of modern times, died of fever off the coast of China. 2nd December \| 4th December From 3rd December to HOME PAGE © english-for-students.com. All rights reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2069
__label__wiki	0.736131	0.736131	10 Acts to see at Longitude Next weekend sees the second staging of Longitude at Marlay Park. The festival enjoyed a fine debut last year and this year’s event promises to be just as good with some great acts set to take to the stages over the weekend. Here are some of the acts that we recommend you see over the weekend. See also: Longitude 2014 Stage Times Coming from a long line of scuzzy New York rockers, Parquet Courts have taken on the baton passed down from the likes of The New York Dolls, The Ramones and The Strokes while stamping their own personality over their gloriously ramshackle tunes. If you count their cassette only debut American Specialties then the band are now on their third release, Sunbathing Animal which came out earlier this year. Check out the title track from that album. Another group of Americans, the sisters Haim have been getting bigger and bigger since the release of their debut album last year. Their sound has been compared to acts as diverse as Fleetwood Mac and Destiny’s Child is quite unique – bound to get the crowds hopping about in Marlay. The band also have an Irish link. Drummer Dash Hutton’s father is Three Dog Night singer Danny Hutton, who was born in Buncrana in County Donegal which means that we can claim Haim under the Granny Rule. Remarkably, young Andrew Hozier-Byrne has yet to release a full length album. That still hasn’t stopped his nascent quest for world domination though. He’s received extensive airplay in the UK, wowed the crowds recently at Glastonbury and appeared on Ellen and David Letterman. That’s pretty good going in anyone’s book. Go and see him now before he’s filling stadiums around the world. Le Galaxie You’re guaranteed a good time at a Le Galaxie gig. Their combination of rock elements with dance music and amazing visuals make for a stunning live show. They’re also slowly making inroads in the UK and if there’s any justice in the world these guys will be huge, having spent several years grafting away and honing their sound. Check out their latest single Humanise. There was a time in the early part of the last decade when you couldn’t walk through the streets of Dublin without tripping over several sensitive singer-songwriters. Some of those artists were great but it did reach saturation point and the sensitive singer-songwriter had to evolve to survive. Like Hozier who we mentioned above, James Vincent McMorrow is one such singer-songwriter who is a little further down the career path with two stunning albums, Early In The Morning and Post Tropical, under his belt. Maybe it’s his devotion to hip-hop that helps him out among the crowd or maybe it’s just amazing tunes like Cavalier. Either way, he’s well worth checking out. Their second album The Lion’s Roar rocketed them in to the big time and they’ve just released their third album Stay Gold. These Swedish sisters, Johanna and Klara Söderberg, have received wide critical acclaim and the new album has seen the band expand their sound palette while still retaining the country-tinged folk sound that has won them fans all over the globe. Probably best known for his work as Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst has worn many musical masks since he released his first album at the tender age of 13. He’s discarded those masks for now and is back releasing music under his own name with his latest album Upside Down Mountain. While we can expect to hear much of the excellent new album at Longitude, we hope he also delves in to his extensive back catalogue too. Here’s Zigzagging Toward The Light from the new album. We can think of no better way to finish off a weekend than chilling out to the awesome blissed out vibes of trip-hop legends Massive Attack, who close out the festival on Sunday night. The band haven’t released any new material since 2010’s Heligoland but with a back catalogue to mine that includes the superb albums Mezzanine and Blue Lines, this is sure to be an amazing show. Having placed high in the influential BBC Sounds of 2013 poll, Scottish trio Chvrches released their debut album The Bones of What You Believe to universal acclaim in September last year. A well crafted mix of synthpop, anchored by Lauren Mayberry’s tender vocals, Chvrches are one of the most exciting bands to emerge in recent years. Check out the dangerously catchy The Mother We Share. Mano Le Tough Originally from Greystones but now based in Berlin, Niall Mannion is in big demand all over the world under his Mano Le Tough alias. Renowned for his DJ skills and with remixes for Roisin Murphy and Aloe Black among others under his belt, Mano Le Tough released his debut album Changing Days last year. With tracks like Moment of Truth, his is sure to be an exceptional live performance. Posted on 10 July 2014 at 4:17 pm by Mark O'Brien comments to this article	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2076
__label__wiki	0.679158	0.679158	"johnny depp quotes" Profession:Actor, Musician, Guitarist, Artist Date of Birth: Jun 9, 1963 Nicknames:John Christopher Depp II, Colonel, Mr. Stench Ethnicity: Irish American, Cherokee, German American Country:United States of America Johnny Depp Quotes · In Actors, Celebrities, Featured Johnny Depp Net Worth is $350 million. Johnny Depp earned $30 million in 2011 and will earn $90 million as Jack Sparrow in the 5th Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.. John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won th... Johnny Depp Net Worth is $350 Million. Johnny Depp Salary is $20 Million Per Film. Johnny Depp Net Worth is $350 million. Johnny Depp earned $30 million in 2011 and will earn $90 million as Jack Sparrow in the 5th Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series, 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol. Dissatisfied with that status, Depp turned to film for more challenging roles; he played the title character of Edward Scissorhands and later found box office success in films such as Sleepy Hollow , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Rango and the Pirates of the Caribbean film series . He has collaborated with director and friend Tim Burton in seven films, most recently with Dark Shadows . Depp has gained acclaim for his portrayals of people such as Ed Wood, in Ed Wood, Joseph D. Pistone in Donnie Brasco, Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, George Jung in Blow, and the bank robber John Dillinger in Michael Mann's Public Enemies. Films featuring Depp ... Read more about johnny depp quotes Johnny Depp Latest News James Franco summoned in Johnny Depp's defamation case against Amber Heard James Franco has been subpoenaed by Johnny Depp's lawyers, who want to him to appear in court in his defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. In new CCTV footage obtained by Depp's legal team, ... Posted: July 3, 2019, 5:05 pm James Franco holds hands with a mystery woman in NYC... after being 'subpoenaed' by Johnny Depp James Franco was spotted at Russ And Daughters in New York on Wednesday. The 41-year-old movie star wore a simple grey tee with a wide neck with a pair of jeans and a baseball cap on his day out. The ... James Franco on set filming HBO drama The Deuce... after being 'subpoenaed' by Johnny Depp He stars as twins in the HBO drama, which is getting set to air the third season. And James Franco was back at work on The Deuce on Friday - amid his legal woes with Johnny Depp. The 41-year-old actor ... Oliver Jackson-Cohen to replace Johnny Depp in 'The Invisible Man' The Haunting Of Hill House star Oliver Jackson-Cohen has stepped in to replace Johnny Depp in “The Invisible Man” remake. The actor joins a cast that includes Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, and Storm ... Is Johnny Depp Married? As celebrated as Johnny Depp has been as an actor, his marriages would never win him any trophies. Every one of his girlfriends or wives might have realized how risky living with him was by the time ... 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__label__wiki	0.631684	0.631684	Johnson humbles Proteas! The Proteas have been demolished by the Australian cricket team in a humbling defeat that left the South Africans 1 – 0 down in the 3 match test series. South Africa was thrashed by 281 runs with Australia’s bowler, Mitchell Johnson, ripping through the Proteas batting line-up with figures of 12/127. Johnson's match figures of 12 for 127 bettered his previous match best of 11 for 159 against South Africa in Perth in 2008/09. South Africa captain Graeme Smith, acknowledged that Johnson was the difference between the two sides, “There’s no doubt that he was the difference in this game, He bowled superb spells. He’s obviously in form, he’s hot at the moment and we need to find a way to curb that and put him under pressure. Conditions certainly suited his style of bowling, and he was able to extract every bit of life and uncertainty out of that wicket, which in turn put us under an immense amount of pressure.” The Proteas will have to up their game incredibly if they are to beat an Australian side that looks inspired and raring to go. England were defeated 5 - 0 in the Ashes last month by Australia and South Africa will need to rethink their tactics ahead of their second test against the Aussies in Port Elisabeth. By Zukisani Ndingaye	cc/2019-30/en_head_0002.json.gz/line2084

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